Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

We still get everything done!

The shows must go on.

But it's definitely a different feeling, mood, working with a total skeleton crew.

I drove into the parking garage which was only 20 percent full.

Co-workers have been exchanging holiday cards and gifts all week and will continue doing so until everyone gets back from vacations.

And as always, the newsroom food table is at full capacity. We are never lacking for tasty treats and have all been on a sugar high for the last week and a half!

I said it before and I'll say it again, I really do wish we could bottle the 'feeling,' the 'mojo' which emanates throughout. It's a wonderful feeling!

I wish you all the best holiday season, a very merry Christmas and hopes that you all are surrounded by the love of family and friends in the coming days and the new year!

Can there be MORE food in the newsroom???

The news must go on--just as the 'official' start of the 'holiday' of your choice has kicked into full throttle.

It's been a long week.

Everyone I've run into in the newsroom has given a huge 'thank God it's Friday' sigh. And of course I have my 'Happy Friday' sign from Chris Tye on display!!

This week and the next two to three weeks that follow will be filled with gift giving and receiving, the exchange of holiday cards, politically correct holiday greetings, a daily check of the schedule as staffers take end of the year vacations, and more food than usual on the newsroom community table --if you can believe!

Today when I arrived, there was a huge meat tray with the works: potato salad, pickles, olives, meat and cheese....on top of the cookies, Malley's candy, and hopefully a full bottle of Pepto Bismol, Tums, or Pepcid!

I made a final trek to the WKYC Company store to get the latest goods--the newest t-shirts, a very cool new sweatshirt that says WKYC Staff, and a few other mugs, caps and mouse pads. You can never have enough wkyc garb. I hope my family feels the same way!!

I've always thought how great would it be to bottle up the feeling of gladness and joy that engulfs the world the few weeks leading up to Christmas. Honestly, we're pretty lucky. Working in a newsroom so close with your fellow co-workers, I think we do capture this feeling year round. Not a bad gig!

Have a great weekend everyone!

The news waits for no one

Finally able to come up for air! Friday took it all out of me.

Friday I learned that the news waits for no one...like the postman --thru rain and snow and ...well you know the saying!

I'm gonna resort to being a bit 'all about me' right now, JUST to explain my story!

Friday, December 19th was the last day before my vacation. I must add, this is THE VERY FIRST time I have actually been off the entire week of Christmas in my entire broadcasting career. I was so looking forward to getting all caught up, putting all my ducks in a row before being off for a week so that when I got back I didn't have a mound of anything to tackle.

Friday, December 19th was also my birthday. No way, no how am I saying how old...however, the last thing I wanted to do on my birthday and the day before vacation is work overtime.

Normally, not a problem. That's why I prefaced this entry with the 'selfish' and 'self-absorbed' explainer!

Mr. News reared his ugly head just to foul up my perfectly orchestrated plan.

He crashed a little plane into a house in Stark County....sent the Cleveland Homicide unit to a person killed on Dibble on Cleveland's east side.....placed a suspicious package under a government vehicle at an Army recruiting station in Medina County.....and turned off the power to thousands in the western suburbs--without their consent!

But wait, there's more!

ALL of this on the day when I am web girl --meaning the normal person who handles the web is not in for the bulk of my shift and I have to focus more on the web than normal, including putting the reporters' video packages on the web...

Amazingly enough, I got all of the necessary work completed...and most of my other agenda checked off. But, it was one heck of a shift. I did wind up working over about an hour and then I just had to throw in the towel and concede that whatever was not done was not getting done until vacation ends.

At one point, I was the only person in the newsroom for quite a while. Romona Robinson walked back in and said, "Dani, do you realize that before I came in, you were the only person in the newsroom?" I told her --"that is why I am always talking to myself. There is usually no one in here with me!!"

On days like these, you do the best you can. You ARE only one person. With breaking news, I first and foremost have to get a crew out to the story WHILE I am attempting to toss something on the web and hopefully beat the competition at that task! Friday, we had so much stuff and one of them (the plane crash) was huge. I could not shoot the bomb threat or power outage but still put those stories on the web. As much new content as possible is what I strive for when it comes to the web. And as much UP TO THE MINUTE content, especially!

That's all I did. Oh, I answered the phones and listened to the scanners of course....but the bulk of my duties was web, web, web. I had to leave my archiving and future preps and court checks and wading through all of my email and messages and so much more on the back burner while I dealt with trying to win the big breaking news story on the air as well as on the web. I think we did it!

And my birthday was not half bad, either. Everyone remembered it and made me feel like queen for a day --a very crazed and busy queen, but none the less!

The day I get back from vacation, I'll just have to take a deep breath, tackle one task at a time, remember that I am only one person and see where the chips fall!

Happy Holidays to all of you! In this fast-paced world, I hope you can slow down, enjoy the moment, savor memorable occasions, delight in those around you and surround yourself with the unconditional love of family and friends!

Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: Malley's Chocolates

I confess. I've become a chocolate snob. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE chocolate. I won't eat just any 'ole' chocolate, but I love it! If you give me the option of white cake or chocolate, hands down, chocolate. Same thing with sprinkles, puddings, cookies, cupcakes, brownies, shakes, milk...and the ultimate: chocolate chip ice cream or any chocolate ice cream medley.

So driving by Malley's Chocolates--ok, you don't just drive by Malley's without making a pit stop!!

To have in our own backyard one of the original chocolate dynasties is outrageous.

We've been celebrating holidays and special events my entire life with Malley's Chocolates. For Mom's special day, all the chocolate covered fruits from strawberries to raspberries and beyond! Every celebrated holiday throughout the year ranging from Valentine's Day thru Christmas and Hanukkah (and in between) have their very own unique specialty treats. It's tradition. I will not let a holiday go by without getting our 'usuals' and keeping the traditions alive!

Right here in our very own backyard.

The confectionery dream began in 1935 at the corner of Madison and Lewis in Lakewood when Mike Malley turned his visions into reality. When you think of Malley's you think of chocolate but Malley made and still makes some of the most scrumptious ice cream concoctions. It's hard to believe that what started as the Malley family living in the rear rooms of their store has turned into 17 retail stores (4 of those having ice cream parlors) and a huge mail order business.

At Easter, kids of all ages can visit BunnyLand and get their favorites such as Carmallow eggs, spiced or regular jelly beans, chocolate bunnies or any of the Easter delicacies. At Christmastime, Malley's oftentimes takes customers on a walk down memory lane showcasing old fashioned candies, authentic toys, and remembrances of Cleveland Christmas days gone by.

One other trademark, you could say, of Malley's is the popularity of their fundraising programs. I know when I was a little girl, I sold Malley's candy bars. Did you?

This holiday season, no matter what religion or nationality, hometown or age, Malley's has something for you. Take a stroll into your nearest Malley's Chocolates store and, you too, will see and smell and taste why Malley's Chocolates is this week's Holiday Hidden Gem!

Share your Holiday Lights

It's that time of year when many show their holiday cheer by decorating their homes to the hilt, inside and out!

If you've gift wrapped the outside of your house with strings and strings of lights, blowup Santa's, garland and holly and anything else you can imagine, send us a line!

Log onto wkyc.com under our Life /Holiday Guide section to share your festive photos!

You can also email your address to me or to newsdesk@wkyc.com so we can try to send a camera crew out to showcase your masterpiece during Channel 3 News at 11pm!

Feel free to include in your email any interesting tidbits such as

• how many bright lights illuminate your house
• how long it took you and the family to decorate
• how long you've been wooing your neighbors with these displays
• why you chose your theme
• and anything else that you deem pertinent

We'll try to get to as many homes as possible from now until New Year's Day!

Happy Holidays and thanks for watching Channel 3 News!