KFYR-TV North Dakota's NBC News Leader

Emily Catalano
ecatalano@kfyrtv.com

As I Lay Dieting
5-21-08

I don`t diet. I know I probably could stand to lose a few pounds, but it`s always seemed like too much work - depriving myself of my favorite foods, just to fit into a smaller jeans size? It`s never really made much sense to me. In fact, as I write this, my dinner of French fries is baking in the oven, and I`m sipping on a Vanilla Coke.

I suppose I owe my love of food to my childhood, because I grew up eating really delicious home-cooked meals. My parents had us eat dinner together every night, and so I relate food with being around family, friends, and good times - three of my favorite things. It`s not that I haven`t tried to diet a few times. I have. But I always take it a little too far, and then burn out really quickly.

Last summer, a friend from school told me about My Pyramid.gov, a government site where you record everything you eat each day. If you follow the food pyramid guidelines, you get little smiley faces to keep you motivated. But say you don`t eat enough grain, or two to three servings of dairy one day, you get a little frowny face. I lived for those smiley faces. Well, for about two weeks. Then, I grew tired of counting out every baby carrot I put in my salad (drizzled with 2 Tbs. of oil and vinegar), and went back to eating double cheeseburgers every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. And Saturday.

The anchors of Country Morning Today, Alison Adair and Chris Gallegos, have taken on the task of getting fit during a series they`re running called Lose Weight in `08. And, I`m completely in awe of them. They`ve been working out almost daily, counting calories, and skipping dessert. It`s been about three weeks, and they`re really doing great.

At a recent barbeque, Chris and Ali (who are my very good friends, and who I absolutely love, even when they`re chastising me), were shocked by the amount of food I stuffed into my body. Every hot dog, hamburger, and delicious spoonful of mayonnaise-covered macaroni salad I shoveled into my mouth earned me a `Do you know how many calories are in that?` or a `You just ate four servings of Doritos. FOUR servings, Emily. Really.`

Now, I`m the first to admit - I eat like a horse. I love burgers, wings, steak, fries (Ooh, and steak fries), sandwiches, pasta,
burritos, cookies, ice cream…Mmmm. Anything, really. (I even throw in fruit and vegetables every once in a while, too.) And yes, I`ve been known to go back for seconds, and even thirds. But, that`s my choice. Very few things in life make me as happy as sitting down to a delicious Italian dinner. At least, very few things I`d choose to blog about.

I know how lucky I am that I`m at a healthy weight. And, I know that someday I`m probably going to have to stop eating as much as I do. I also might have to start exercising a bit, too. Not just to maintain my weight, but also to maintain my health. But for now, I`m going to take advantage of my good genes and good luck, and order that quesadilla with extra sour cream.

By the way, Chris and Ali aren`t only doing an amazing job keeping up with their diets, they also look great. So who knows…when their challenge is over, they might be just the motivation I need to get myself in a gym.

Happy Mother`s Day
5-9-08

My mother is one of a kind. Actually, I guess I can`t really say that...too many people tell us we`re exactly alike. So to say she`s warm, funny, and genuinely cares about people more than anyone I know is actually kind of a compliment to me (or at least that`s what I`m going to tell myself.)

My parents still live in western Pennsylvania, and being so far away from my mom is hard. There are a lot of things I miss about her, with her cooking at the top of the list. My mom is a social worker, and worked crazy hours while we were growing up. Yet every evening, my mom would still have a home-cooked meal on our table. Sure, we always ate around 9 p.m., but her cooking was worth it. I`m beyond amazed that she could even find the energy to do it. I live on my own, and when I come home from work, I can barely manage to cook a frozen burrito and Cheez-Its.

Growing up, I had a close group of friends, and they always gravitated toward my mom. It took me until I wasn`t living at home anymore to realize why - my mom never tried to be our friend, she never tried to be cool, and she certainly never tried to live through us. She was always a mom first, which was exactly what we needed.

There are certainly things about my mom that drive me crazy (her ability to carry on an entire conversation with a brick wall comes to mind) and we certainly had our fights growing up (spilling sugar on the kitchen floor still paralyzes me with fear, to the point that I`ll get out a mop to make sure every last grain is accounted for), but she was, and is, the best.

I know that someday, years from now, I`m going to have kids, and I`m going to try to be exactly the same mother that mine was. Sure, some things will be different - my mom and I aren`t completely the same, after all - but I just hope that my kids will love and respect me half as much as I do my mom.

So, Mom, thanks for putting up with the craziness. I love you, and Happy Mother`s Day.

A Few of My Favorite Things
2-25-08

February is not my favorite month.

It`s cold, it`s kind of boring, and everyone in the world seems to be in a collective slump. And for the last week, I`ve been in a slump myself, which has less to do with any particular problem or concern, and more to do with general end-of-winter malaise.

Now, don`t get me wrong…I love my life here in North Dakota. I have great friends, I love my work (actually, I can`t even call what I do "work,"… I know people who work, and my fun job is no comparison), and I`m generally a happy and optimistic person. But for some reason, February always gets me.

So to remind myself of some of the great things about life, (and to prove to my bosses that I actually can handle the responsibility of a blog,) I thought I`d write about a few of my favorite things. I`m a western-Pennsylvania girl at heart, and quite a few of them are somewhat regional to "home," so bear with me.

The Top Eleven List

1. The Clarks: Not a well-known band, but I grew up with them, and they have music for any mood I happen to find myself in at any given time. Go online, buy their "Between Now and Then" CD, and become a lifelong fan.

2. Bowling: Bowling and I just met recently, but we`re already best friends. A few weeks ago, I got five strikes in a row, so now I`m thinking about upping my training for an Olympic run.

3. My video iPod: I know, blogging about your sweet iPod is pretty early-2006, but I couldn`t get through the day without mine. It helps me focus when I`m writing at work, and come on…doesn`t everyone need a little music in their lives?

4. Anthony Bourdain - No Reservations: If you`re not familiar with Bourdain, his show on the Travel Channel, or his fabulous, curmudgeonly writing style, you`re missing out. Especially if you`re at all interested in food, travel, and adventure (also known as the three essentials in life.)

5. Hot chocolate, extra milk and whipped cream : I don`t drink coffee, so I`m somewhat of an outcast in the newsroom. But, my daily "hot chocolate run" with a few of my colleagues is one of my favorite parts of the morning.

6. The Steelers: Yes, they should have been much higher on the list. But, it`s off-season right now, and I`m feeling a little alone in the land of Vikings and Packers fans. I can almost feel the glow of spring training, though.

7. Highway 1806: Since I`ve been in ND, I`ve taken quite a few long drives, looking at the sights. And 1806 (North or South, both great) always provides those classic, North Dakota views: open prairies, big skies, and even a random wild animal or two.

8. Skype.com: My baby brother is spending a semester studying in Italy (and probably enjoying the lower drinking age….hmmm, Eric?), and Skype has been amazing. It`s a free service that lets you make international calls online. You download it, hook a microphone up to your computer and it`s just like chatting on the phone, without those nasty bills.

9. Primanti Bros. Sandwiches: Possibly the best sandwich in the world. What makes them so special (and delicious) are the fries and coleslaw, placed directly between the buns. Don`t even think about ordering it on the side, or you`ll be breaking my heart. If you`re ever within, say, 500 miles of Pittsburgh, do yourself a favor and stop by the original Strip District shop. Order a deluxe grilled chicken and cheese, extra slaw. You`ll thank me later. (This also would be a good time to introduce Sarris Chocolates and Capogiro Gelato to everyone, but that deliciousness deserves a blog of its own.)

10. Smoothie Operator: I`m slowly becoming obsessed with the orange-and-strawberry smoothies from this shop on Main Ave. Seriously, pounds and pounds of fruit go into their drinks, and sometimes it`s the only thing I`ll consume all day that hasn`t been deep-fried, covered in Ranch dressing, or bought from a vending machine.

11. The promise of Spring: It`s coming, I know it is. Cliff Naylor and Kevin Lawrence have both personally assured me that the worst winter weather is over, and I`m choosing to take their word for it. Spring is my favorite season (I do love new beginnings, and all), and I can`t wait until we all can take off our heavy coats, start our cars on the first try, and see the sun after 6 p.m.

Ahh… somehow, I`m feeling much better.

Going, Going, Going
2-15-08

Someone once told me that when you find what you`re supposed to be doing in life, you`ll have all the energy and ambition you`ll ever need...and I never thought it was true before, but lately, I`m thinking they`re right.

I`ve been so busy lately, doing stories for both KFYR and as a member of MTV`s Street Team. And it`s been difficult, doing what is essentially two full-time jobs. But, I`ve also had more energy lately than I`ve ever had, and it`s led to some really good stories.

Last week, in order to cover Super Tuesday, MTV sent those of us in the "Tuesday" states these awesome Nokia phones, and instructions to go out during the day, filming anything we wanted to cover our caucuses. The kicker was that anything we filmed would be uploaded directly (and in real time) to the web. Essentially, they were giving us live broadcasting capabilities (which, as both a tech geek and a reporter, was pretty cool).

And trust me, it would have been amazing...there was one problem, though. AT&T was the company providing the service for the phones, and (as I found out that Monday) AT&T doesn`t have service here in North Dakota. So, I wasn`t able to do exactly what I wanted, but I did figure out a way to broadcast through wireless Internet, at least in places that had wireless service.

Even though that made for a pretty stressful day, I had a great time. It was so much fun being able to go around to different places throughout the day (the Republican caucus, the Democratic caucus, University of Mary...there was stuff happening everywhere), and file from the field. It did feel like we were right on the cusp of technology, and in five years, I really think that live shooting is going to be the norm for journalists - and I`m looking forward to being a part of that, as well.

Doing that, and keeping up with my responsibilities at KFYR has been a challenge, but I`ve been lucky that my (fabulous, incredibly intelligent, and endlessly patient) bosses here have been so supportive. I`m really excited about keeping up this double-duty throughout the year, and trying my hand at different forms of reporting and writing. So, even if I don`t sleep for the next nine months, I have a suspicion that when it`s all over, I`m going to look back on this as a great time. And then take a very long nap.

A Hard Day`s Night
1-18-08

Whenever I find myself complaining about how busy I am, or that I don`t have enough time in the day, I try to remind myself of one of my favorite sayings: To whom much is given, much is expected.

And that was really the focus of my last week. A few months ago, my boss, Monica Hannan, asked me if I`d be interested in applying for a position with MTV News as a member of their Street Team `08, covering the presidential election for North Dakota. Of course, I jumped at the chance. So I went through the application process, had a few interviews, and about a month ago, I found out I got the job.

Last week, I was in New York, attending our orientation. It was amazing to meet so many young people (there`s 51 of us, one from every state, plus Washington D.C.) who are so passionate about politics and journalism. MTV loaded us down with equipment, gave us some instructions, and then sent us back to our home states to get started.

While I`ll be doing work for MTV, nothing will change in my position here at KFYR. I`ll still be producing a brand-new iNews everyday, and I`ll also continue reporting tech stories, as well as continually updating our website.

So even though this new opportunity means that my workload is going to be insane for the next year, I`m thrilled. You`ll be able to find my stories at
Think MTV and you`ll get see special reports about some of the things I`ll be covering right here on KFYR, including some great online-only content.

And I`m always looking for a good story idea, so if you have any, then send me an e-mail. I can`t wait to see where this crazy journey takes me, and I hope you`ll all come along for the ride.

Black Dog
12—20-07

For most of my life, I`ve had a dog. And, for the last twelve years, that dog has been a black miniature cocker spaniel named Lincoln.

I love Lincoln like a brother. And, in my family, that`s what dogs are to us. They eat with us, sleep with us, celebrate with us...and Lincoln`s pretty much been the fourth child in the Catalano family since we first brought him home.

After I moved to North Dakota, my brother Eric went to college in New York, and my sister Angela left home to teach in West Virginia, Lincoln took our place as the kid in the house. He was the one who stayed with my parents after we all went away.

Well, as dogs do, Lincoln got older, slower and more mellow. And then last week, he started to get sick. Our poor little Lincoln passed away a few nights ago, quietly, while being petted by my mother.

When I go home for New Year`s, I know I`m going to be really sad the first time I walk into my parent`s house and he`s not there to greet me. But, like anything upsetting in life, I know that in time, it`ll get easier.

I think every child deserves to have one good dog in their life, and for me, that dog was my Lincoln.

Give A Little Bit
12-11-07

I love the holidays. It`s not my favorite time of year (that would be anytime I can go outside without having to wear six layers), but I do enjoy them when they come around. I love the idea of people getting together, eating good food, laughing, and focusing on what`s important in life.

And, isn`t that the point of the holidays? In the midst of the extended mall hours, and the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, and Oprah`s Favorite Things, people have forgotten why we celebrate every year. It`s not about cooking the perfect meal, or buying the coolest present.

I know it means something different to everybody, but to me, the holidays mean that every year, I get to take time to think about what I have to be grateful for in life. And I think the best way to show my gratitude is to give to others. So here`s a list of my favorite charities, the ones that I personally support.

Kiva Kiva is a group that partners small business owners in third-world countries with people who are willing to give them small loans. The best part about it is that you get to pick where your money is going to, and watch then watch the company`s progress.

Do Something and
Volunteer Match Two of the best starting places for people to find ways to volunteer in their area.

Donors Choose One of the coolest donor sites I`ve found, you can pick different educational projects across the country to give to, based on your interests.

Ronald McDonald House As one of the gold-standards for charities, the Ronald McDonald House helps families across the country whose sick children are receiving care in area hospitals.

There are thousands more worthy causes to give to, so if you have any favorites, send them along and I`ll add them to the list, or highlight them in an iNews webcast.

Happy Holidays!

Big Yellow Taxi
11-12-07

Last week, NBC did a network-wide campaign called "Green Week." The campaign was aimed at bringing awareness about the sorry state of our environment, and what can be done to save it. Not only did the entertainment programs feature episodes with "green" storylines, but the news division also featured special environmental reports.

Since I`ve been in Bismarck, I`ve been a lot more conscientious about what my carbon footprint will be. Maybe it`s because I`m surrounded by such beautiful scenery that I appreciate nature more than I ever have. But I think it`s mostly because for the first time in my life, I feel like an actual adult, and I know I have a responsibility to leave things a little better than I found it.

And, I thought I was doing pretty well, too. I recycle everything I can, I support groups that support environmental causes, and I use canvas bags when I go shopping. So, I was feeling pretty good about myself, until I took a look around my apartment. I was typing this blog on a computer that had been left on all day while I was out. Not only was I listening to my iPod, but I was also watching tv on mute. And all four lights in my apartment were turned on.

It gets worse. I had one of my windows open, but I didn`t turn off my heater. And I`d just spent a good part of the day taking a Sunday drive, wasting precious gas, and precious gas money.

I realized that I was wasting so much energy, and so needlessly. And, I think it`s something that we all do. It`s easy not to worry about it, because sometimes it feels like the problem is so big, there`s nothing we can do to change it. But after seeing how much I was wasting, I resolved to change my ways. I`m going to make sure that I`m doing everything I can to make my impact as low as possible.

So if anyone has any suggestions for how I can become more "green" in my own household, I would love to hear them.

And I`m already making progress...I just got up, and turned out all the lights.

The Times, They Are A-Changing
10-24-07

I`ve been in Bismarck for just about two months now; enough time to figure out if I like it here or not. And I`m realizing that I don`t like it. I love it here. And no one is more surprised by that than I am.

I spent the last four years in Philadelphia, learning how to live and make it on my own in the city. Philly was good to me. I loved it there, and I loved my friends, my job, my school, and the life that I made for myself. But I also knew that there was a lot more that I wanted to do, and see, and I decided to move on.

So, I ended up in North Dakota, completely expecting to hate it. And, for about a day, all I did was complain. I complained that people were too friendly, because everyone kept talking to me while I was out shopping. I complained that it was too quiet, then a train would pass by my window, and I would complain that it was too loud. I called my parents and complained about the parking, and the $10 ticket that I had just received.

Needless to say, I was pretty miserable that day. So, I told myself that I had a decision to make. I could continue to find fault in everything, or I could shut up, smile, and try to enjoy my new life. It wasn`t very hard. The first time I took a drive outside of the city, I fell in love with the state. I never thought that it would be so beautiful, or the sky would be so big, or that I would be so comfortable, surrounded by nothing but fields and fields.

I think it definitely helps that I love my new job, and the friends that I`ve made here so far. I`m even getting used to having people talk to me in the grocery store, and I kind of miss it if someone doesn`t strike up a conversation while I`m waiting to be checked out. I also made a very wise investment of a parking pass at a ramp.

A year ago, I never would have thought that I`d be here. But, I think you can`t grow if you don`t change, and this was the biggest change I could make. And I`m so glad I did it.

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