Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Big Changes in TV

If you haven't noticed, there's a lot of familar faces on TV this year that won't be back for another year in 2011-12.

Oprah Winfrey's last show aired today after a 25 year run.  Since I can remember, her showed aired weekdays at 4pm on the Cleveland ABC affliate, WEWS.  Her replacement is undecided, but now that he has her OWN (pardon the pun) network, she can give all kinds of people new shows (her best friend Gayle King has a new show). 

One rumor replacement for Oprah is Katie Couric, who just stepped down as the CBS Evening News anchor.  Her replacement will be Scott Pelley.  It's uncertain whether Couric plans to stay employed by CBS.  Couric's previous job was at host of NBC's Today Show.  Upon leaving her job there, she was replaced by Merideth Vierra, who previously was the monitor on ABC's The View.  Vierra announced that she was stepping down as the Today Show's co-host, due to her husband's poor health.  He has suffered from mulitple sceloris for several years and was recently diagnosed with a form of cancer, so she needs to spend more time at home.  She'll still be working for NBC, probably on a show like Dateline that would only require her being on air one day a week.

Two of TV's oldest personalities (excluding those on CBS's 60 Minutes) have either retired or announced their retirement.  Larry King (77 years old) retired in December after 25 years on the air hosting CNN's Larry King Live.  British journalist and commenator Piers Morgan now has a show, Piers Morgan Tonight, airing in King's old time slot.  Regis Philbin (almost 80 years old), co-host of Regis and Kelly Live, announced his retirement, effective in November.  Regis has been on air more than any TV personality in history.  Martin Short is among the favorites to replace him.  Last, but not least (actually he is least when it comes to sanity) is right-wing shock jock Glenn Beck, who will be leaving his talk show on FOX News.  Unfortunately, he will still host a radio show, so he won't be going away.  At least we don't have to look at him anymore.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Week of Paid Vacation, May 15 to 21

June 12 marks my 10th anniversary since I started working at Acme, which means I get three weeks of paid vacation this year.  I scheduled my three weeks for May 15-21, July 11-17, and Nov. 28-Dec. 4.  This will be a review of my first week, from May 15-21, which consisted of several one day trips.

On Sunday, Scott and I greeted for the 10AM Sunday service at St. Andrew's.  Following the service, we went home and changed out of out suits into our casual clothes before heading on our first road trip of the week.  We drove out to Mansfield to see the old State Reformatory where the Shawshank Redemption was filmed.  We stopped for lunch along the way at the Lodi Station Outlets Food Court.  We arrived in Mansfield just in time for the first tour at 1:30.  The Mansfield Reformatory operated from 1896-1990 before being closed due to its horrible condition.  Thousands of inmates sued on the basis that the building violated their 8th amendment rights, regarding cruel and ususual punishment.  One could easily see where they had a case.  Despite the rude crowd (people were more interested in talking and taking pictures than listening to the tour guide), it was a good tour.  I don't think I need to go back for the haunted house they host their since it was creepy enough during daylight hours.

On Monday, I went to Kent St. and Scott showed me around the campus.  Scott is currently attending school their while working for residential services and I'm going to start taking classes there for Fall 2011 semester.  Scott showed me where the shootings took place at in 1970, in which Mom was on campus when it all went down.  On Tuesday, Scott and I went to Presque Isle in Erie, PA and played the slot machines.  We made penny and nickle bets and I bet about $35, $20 of the casinos and $15 of my own.  We stopped for lunch at Golden Corral along the way. 

On Wednesday, I visited Cuyahoga Falls High School and Schnee Learning Center where I completed my student teaching in 2008.  On Thursday, I hung out w/ Mom while she did some arrands, plus I picked up some groceries at Acme 6 in Norton.  On Friday, Scott and I had lunch at IHOP before heading to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.  It was the first time I was there in almost 15 years.  I bought a couple of neat book while I was there.  The one bad thing about Friday during my vacation week is that I have to go to Acme to check my work schedule for next week.

On Saturday, I went to Cincinnati w/ Mom and Dad for Cousin Kate's 3rd birthday party.  Dad drove my 2007 Chevy Impala since Mom is trying to conserve miles on her 1998 Lumina, which she won't be driving much longer.  We stopped for lunch at the Jeffersonville Prime Outlets Food Court along the way.  When I got to Cousin Krissy and Brett's house, we talked for a while, had supper, and Kate opened her gifts.  Her birthday will be on May 25.  Aunt Kathy, Uncle Tom, Krissy, Brett, Cousin Ellie, and Brett's family (parents and brother) were all there.  Grandma Maybin and Susie visited, but they left before we arrived.