Behind the Podcast: Episode 8 Kate Welshofer

You know Kate from watching Spectrum News in the evening, from her YouTube adventures and even her FAMOUS cat... Brian Williams. Well, now you get to learn about her motivations and what drives her success. I spent the afternoon with Kate at her home along side Brian Williams and a 5 foot tall tin giraffe. Our conversation was funny, inspirational, and thought provoking.

Despite Brian's desire to be the star, he took a back seat on this day as I learned how Kate's life is connected by the randomness of permission NOT to go to college, a mall job and a sea serpent!

And spoiler alert... you're going to be left on a big cliffhanger this week! 

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Even Cats Love Snow?

I have heard of dogs loving snow- but CATS? Yes- that's the case for my cat Boo.... or should I say my husband's cat- she chose him. I'm still a little bitter about that one- but I digress. Boo was a feral cat but we rescued her when she was maybe 3 weeks old.  She didn't really have a long time out in the wild to develop this sense of "need" to be outside--- or at least I thought!


This cat will do ANYTHING to get outside!

As you can see in this video she got outside when we got all that snow a while back and you would think it was too cold for her... NOPE! She L-O-V-E-D it! As exasperated I am with trying to prevent her from getting out-  I have to admit it was so cute seeing her frolic around in the snow!

I guess you can take the cat out of the wilderness... but not the wilderness out of the cat!

Cat Trauma

I think Boo Kitty suffered some serious trauma at our week long absence from the house. We were sure to make sure she was well fed and visited while we were gone but didn't take into account she's used to being held and cuddled A LOT. With three kids and a father who can't seem to leave her alone- she's become accustomed to being around people.

We think she managed to escape the house when a visitor came. She possibly spent days outside. When we came home we couldn't find her at first. A shake of the bag of cat food and my daughter found her in the garage. She ran upstairs and began to pig out on some food. Then something strange happened. She began to hover around anyone in the room. If we left the room she would meow loudly looking for someone. She even SAT ON MY LAP! Seriously- this cat usually only reserves that for the boys in the house.

A shift has occurred in her personality. Gone is the cat who is always looking for an open door or window to escape from. She's perfectly content sitting in the middle of a busy room watching people go about their business. I gotta say I like this change in her... but I wonder what adventures she had that made her get to this point in life.

Snow Day

These pictures reminds me of my favorite movie series Twilight. As you know... I have a litttttttle obsession with it!  In Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 the cinematographers shot these sweeping pictures of the forests in Washington and Edward and Bella also needed to travel to Alaska to recruit family members to testify that their child was born not bitten. It was a wonderful way to set the tone for the film which tried to show tell the  juxtaposition of the vibrancy of love and the coldness of death.

Sounds like I've watched the movie one too many times... right?

But while I enjoyed this on screen- snow is really not my friend. You think after living in Alaska for 9 years, Reno Nevada for 2, Syracuse for almost 2 and Albany for 7--- I would be used to and perhaps even embrace the cold and snow. NOT. I'm a summer baby through and through. I don't even really want snow on Christmas. I know- that's just not right... but it's oh so true!

So, yesterday when the snow started to fly--- it was actually after I got to work in the middle of the night. I was kinda surprised with the snow closings and delays were coming in. Yes- I work at the news station- but you have to understand I anchor news for 5 different television markets and I didn't remember telling anyone snow was coming!

First- my kid's school was on a 2 hour delay. Then it was cancelled. That meant work... then go home and entertain bored kiddos! I love spending more time with them. I envisioned coloring and art projects, maybe some cocoa and to bed early.  The reality was I was also dreading the more plausible scenario the "Mommy- can we go outside?!!?" question that I knew was coming.

Sure enough- as I walked in the door- the request came. I gave hubby an exasperated look. I mean, he had been outside snow blowing the driveway... and I was informed by the kids that they were snug as a bug in a rug in my bed watching tv while he was outside. GRRR

Hubby instructed the kiddos to get their gear on. Yeah, he wasn't happy with me--- (but he's the one who had me sitting on the side of a mountain top the whole first winter I met him. Yeah- I thought I'd be a cute snow boarder--- that was the beginning of my breakup with winter. I digress.) but he helped them none the less. I'm more than happy to be the let's go out and play mom--- as long as the temperature is at least 50 degrees!

They went out and had fun and I stayed watching at the window nice and toastie inside. A couple hours later- they got antsy again. My son jerry-rigged himself a teddy bear on a piece of ribbon and duct taped it to the ceiling so he could practice some tae kwon do kicks. The cat would have loved to be able to reach it and the girls were doing something with tape in their room--- as long as no one was screaming I was fine with it.

Snow days seem fun in theory- but let's face it- the kids do enjoy going to school. They may not like the work- but their minds flourish regardless. Boo Boo Kitty enjoys her alone time and a short break from the kiddos and mom enjoys not being pressured to go out in the snow.

What did you do on your snow day yesterday? I'd love to hear from you.