It's been so long since I posted that I almost forgot HOW to do it.

Yikes!

I guess you can call this post a life update of sorts even though nothing major has happened in my life lately.

To put it in simple terms, it's been busy. Really busy.

Just looking at the last few weeks, I've had some pretty cool adventures here in Siouxland (for those not from the tri-state area, Siouxland refers to the Sioux City, Iowa area and surrounding cities in Nebraska and South Dakota).

Anyway, we have a military base here in town, the 185th Air Refueling Wing. A few weekends ago, they held an open house for the community and had some of their airplanes on display, including these massive planes from other air bases across the country. Massive doesn't even begin to describe these plane. Many of them they had open for us to walk around in, sit in the cockpits and bunkers, lay down in the refueling hub.

I've always had a fascination with these airplanes. The airbase is across the river from where I grew up so I've spent my life looking at these planes from afar, watching them fly overhead from my backyard. To get the opportunity to see them up close was magical.

With my job at the television station, I was able to get a sneak peak of sorts at their open house the day before. I had a personal tour of the base as they were bringing in planes and jets, watching them land and practice flyovers. At one point, I found myself standing underneath the tail of a refueling plane, watching a bomber jet land and taxi in. As the jet taxied down the runway and onto the base to be parked for the event, I was blasted by expelled jet fumes.

It. Was. Amazing.

I ended up going to the open house the next day and the amount of people who came out to support the base and the airmen on the base put a smile on my face. Thousands of people showed up, of all ages.

I won't even begin to describe what I saw, so I will just show you.

For two hours, on a Saturday afternoon, I was in heaven. Sitting in the cockpit of these planes, just imagining what it feels like to fly.

Okay, enough about the planes... for now.

Last week was an adventure in itself and one of the most challenging weeks I've had in quite some time.

I found myself filling in as the morning news producer at my station. Now, this wasn't the first time I've ever produced a morning newscast. In fact, I learned how to produce on a morning show at my previous station... 18 months ago.

Yeah, it had been a while.

The think about morning shows is, you are working overnights. This is something I had done in the past but to transition it overnights for just a week, it was a challenge in itself.

And I loved every minute of it.

Between the new hours, the challenge of producing a 2-hour show versus a half-hour newscast, plus working with a team I hadn't had the privilege of really working with before made for a fun week full of many learning opportunities.

Along with a shifted schedule, I also found myself standing on top of a 12-story building in the middle of a Sioux City afternoon, peering over the edge at the people below.

Don't worry, I was strapped to a harness. 

I had the opportunity to participate in a fundraiser for our local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters called "Over the Edge" where fundraisers go "over the edge" of a building, repelling solo down 12-stories with people looking on.

It was absolutely terrifying.

I had quite the cheering squad waiting for me at the bottom and knowing they were there helped calm the nerves just at tad.

After I was harnessed up, went through a quick training, I found myself literally standing over the edge of this building with nothing but a harness and a rope holding me up.

I began my slow descend down and nearly seven minutes later, my feet touched the ground and I couldn't have been happier! Now, I'm not scared of heights, but just the thought of stepping off the edge of a rooftop gives me the shudders.

Here is a photo my friend Nate took just moments after I landed back on solid ground. My face says it all.

There are a few videos from this, including the GoPro footage from my helmet so stay tuned for those! And when I do get around to posting them, don't mind my language in the beginning :)

Anyway, that's the life update of sorts. Nothing too exciting... yet!

KC

Wow... it's been a while!!!

For my first post of 2017, I'm going to ask for YOUR help!

I was asked to enter a photo contest with my best photos of 2016. My problem is, I can't decide!

I have included my favorites in an album on Facebook, which will be linked below, all I have for you is one simple task.

GO VOTE!!!!

Simply "like" your favorite, or favorites, in the album and that's it!

That's all I have for now but expect a new post very soon :)

KC

Normally I don't chime in on TV show changes, at least not in a sense like this but with the shocking announcement today...here it goes.

I started watching Castle (ABC) just a few short months ago after discovering it on TNT. Almost immediately, I felt a connection to the lead, Kate Beckett. Her independence, her courage, her determination and bravery are all things I came to admire about this fictional character. A big part of the character is the actor who portrays her, Stana Katic.

It was announced today that Katic and costar, Tamala Jones (Lanie Parish) would not be returning if the show would continue on to season 9. ABC allegedly didn't offer them contract renewals. If that is the case, I'm sure ABC had a decent reason in doing this... frankly, I don't care.

The reason I am writing this is to address the exit of Katic and her character, Beckett. The show may be called Castle but you can't have Castle without Beckett. Rick Castle doesn't exist without Kate Beckett. Plain and simple. Can't have one without the other. So how are the writers on this show going to get rid of Beckett if Castle is renewed for a new season?

Here are my thoughts...

1: Divorce.

I'm going to start out with my least favorite one here. Castle writers toyed with a breakup this season and it was AWFUL. Even though it didn't last long, Castle was a MESS without Beckett and was obsessed with winning her back. IT TOOK HIM FOUR YEARS TO GET HER TO ADMIT FEELING FOR HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE! He wouldn't back down without a fight. Plus... a Caskett break-up for real would ruin the fantasy of these two beloved characters.

2: Fast forward:

This goes along the lines of the divorce story. In order for the writers to have them "break up," they couldn't just come back in season 9 and say "hey, Kate and Rick broke up" but no time has passed. They would have to fast forward a few years and give Castle a new life.

3: Background Character:

Castle writers could very well keep Castle and Beckett together and just write her as a background character that we hear about but never see. Castle and the boys could still be fighting crime in the 12th and Beckett could still be the Captain but we would never see her. She would be part of the storyline in a way that the characters would "interact" with her by "bringing" her evidence or "debriefing" her but we would never ACTUALLY see Kate Beckett.

4: Kill her off:

This is probably the most unpopular opinion among Castle fans but hear me out. Last season on Grey's Anatomy (also ABC), front-runner and major character Derek Shepherd was killed off when Patrick Dempsey left the show. The writers on Grey's decided that it was best to kill Derek off. Why? Because Derek loved Meredith and his family so much that there was no way he would leave them. The only logical way to take him out of the show was to have him die. And the way they did it? He died doing what he knew how to do best, saving lives. This opened up many storylines for his onscreen wife and allowed her character to grow. It also allowed fans to mourn along with her. Killing off Beckett in a way that makes sense, like a shooting (which would SUCK), makes more sense than just having her up and leave Castle. After what they went through this season, she wouldn't do that. Plus, it would ruin the magic of these two characters and the love story we have all watched evolve the last 8 seasons. As much as we would all HATE to see Kate die, having her go in a way that honors the character and EVERYTHING she stands for would be more honorable than having her leave Castle.

So there you go. My thoughts on this shocking announcements. What do you say? If Castle would continue with a season 9, how would you like to see Kate leave? Please comment below!

K

News.

When you hear that word, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Tragedy?

Disaster?

Pain?

Suffering?

Something else?

News is much more than the bad and the ugly. It's more then the tragedy and pain. It's more then the good.

It's real. It's raw. It tells a story.

Radio. Television. Newspapers. Apps. Online.

The possibilities are endless.

News has become a part of my life. It has become something that I can't escape from, nor do I want to.

I currently work at a local news station. I also currently work at a local radio station. I have written and published stories on a handful of websites ranging from motorsports websites to places like Thought Catalog and Huffington Post. I have created and been a part of podcasts and web chats.

In short, news is a BIG part of my life.

News is a big part of YOUR life.

News is more than just the bad. It's more than the murders and the car crashes and the deaths. It's so... very... much... more.

One wise man once said...

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,' I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world."

Helpers.

Heroes.

Mister Rogers said it perfectly.

As a society, as a news outlet, you have to report the bad and the ugly and the painful. Those stories need to be told. They need to be heard.

But in every tragedy, there is a shining light. In the midst of the sadness, there is a smile. 

You just have to look.

I never really understood the importance of news until I immersed myself in it. All aspects of it.

Whether you are listening to the radio, watching TV or reading an article, news is important.

Local, national, worldly, it all matters and it all influences us. Even if you don't realize it.

Working in the news industry, in any way, shape or form, has been one of my greatest pleasures.

Whether I'm writing a NASCAR article or something fun and exciting, covering a house fire or school children lending a helping hand, chatting with a local or chatting on the radio, news is a part of my life.

And it's FANTASTIC.

Next time you find yourself watching the news...whether that be on your television or online...look for the good within the bad, the smile within the frown, the heroes among the tragedy. Let the whole story be told.

News is powerful... so let it empower you.

KC

Katie,

I hope it's alright that I call you that. I feel like I know you, even though we have never met. I am writing this letter, in the off chance that you see it, to tell you thank you.

Let me back up a bit. I am a big fan of the app TimeHop and every day, they feature some big event in history. Today... it was Today. The Today Show premiered 64 years ago today and according to the app, the show has been on the air for 23,360 days.

Let's go to the late-1990s...I distinctly remember watching the Today Show every morning before getting ready for school. Every morning. It never failed. This young girl, just staring at the TV screen. I was young, 7-8 years old. I wasn't watching the news itself. Instead, I was watching you. I was mesmerized by your work, even if I didn't understand it at the time.

I remember telling myself that I wanted to do that...whatever it was that you were doing. It wasn't until years later that I learned was "news" was. It wasn't until I was older that I realized that you and the rest of the Today Show family were keeping America informed, keeping us all aware of what was going on in the world. It wasn't until I was old enough to understand that I really saw the impact that you were making on us all and especially on me.

Although I never took it to heart until college, a part of me always knew I would find my home in the world of broadcast media and news. I remember thinking to myself, many times, that I wanted to do what you were doing. I wanted to sit at that anchor desk. I wanted to interview people from all walks of life. I wanted to be in the middle of the action. I wanted to bring people the news.

I never told anyone that. I'm not really sure why. It wasn't until my sophomore year of college that I finally took that leap and really fell in love with broadcast media.

Radio was where I ended up working throughout college and I absolutely loved it and still do. Radio is and always will be a love of mine. It wasn't until just a few months ago that I took that leap into television news. While my face isn't the one on screen, I still feel like I am part of something great. News is great, even when it isn't.

I guess I got a little off track here so let me turn this train around a bit. I am here to thank you.

I am here to say thank you for being a familiar face on the TV screen every morning throughout my childhood.

Thank you for showing me that news is more than just the bad, there is so much good out there too.

Thank you for helping me realize that my passion, my love, my dreams, all lie in broadcast media and news.

I was devastated when you announced you were leaving the Today Show. I still remember watching your last show and I think I even told myself that I would never watch the show without you on...but Matt Lauer and Al Roker are hard men to turn away from!

I have followed your career since you left Today and you have only inspired me more. Thank you for showing me that women can be just as badass as the men in news. We can be just as amazing.

I would love to get the chance to tell you this in person one day. To tell you that you have influenced my life in so many ways, just by doing something that you love.

I still watch Today as often as I can. Savannah, Natalie, Hoda, Kathie Lee and everyone else who has sat behind that anchor desk at some point has had an influence on my dreams and goals to one day sit there too.

I now find myself working at a local ABC station and loving every minute of it. I have learned so much in just a few months and have met some amazing people. And this is just the first step in my journey!

So... thank you.

And even if you never do read this letter, that's okay too.

Oh... and one more thing...

Thank you for having an equally awesome name as me.

Sincerely,

This 23-year-old newsie,

Katie Copple

I am a music lover!!!! So, here are three random songs on my iPhone.

This first one is more of an album: Grey's Anatomy "Song Beneath A Song" soundtrack. You know that episode in season 7 where Callie and Arizona are in a car accident and they fly Addison in because Callie is pregnant with Mark's baby and needs a lot of surgery and almost dies and the entire cast sings about it? It's my guilty pleasure! A lot of Grey's fans think it's the worst episode created but I have watched it too many times to count! And the soundtrack is just the same. Have you heard Sara Ramirez sing???

He Mele No Lilo from the Lilo & Stitch Movie

I absolutely love this song! I don't exactly know what it means but the melody is beautiful!

Wannabe by Spicegirls

Because who doesn't have this song on their phone?!

What are some random songs on your phone?

K

What are my five fears? Gosh, where do I start? Don't we all have fear? Some rational, some, maybe not so much? Fear is a natural emotion, something we shouldn't be ashamed of. Yet, I'm almost afraid to admit mine. But nonetheless, here we go.

Failure.

I think everyone has this fear to some extent. The fear of not reaching every goal that you set for yourself, or that others set for you. The fear of not reaching your full potential or the fear of making the wrong decision that turns you down a different path. Need I keep going?

Changing For The Wrong Reasons.

I fear that someday, somewhere down the road, someone will come into my life that is bad for me, but I won't know it. Will I change my life, my dreams, my aspirations for them? Will I sacrifice myself and my happiness for someone else?

Being Alone.

Will I ever find the one? I hope so.

So I mentioned irrational fears...and I have one... or two.... ish.

I have an odd fear of the volume button on the radio/tv/computer/anything with a volume option and it being set at an odd number. This may be a tad OCD, I don't know, but it freaks me out! Irrational, right?

Cemeteries.

I hate them. I won't go near them. I wasn't always this way but it started to develop when my Grandma died before I started 6th grade. I refuse to go to the cemetery and visit the grave stones. Which is terrible and I kick myself every time but I just cannot do it. Physically cannot do it. Just a few months ago, I got up the courage, or so I thought, to go visit my grandparents gravesides after school one day. I didn't make it past the front gate. I couldn't get myself to go any further. I don't know if I ever will be able to.

So, there you go. A few of my fears. What are yours? Comment here or post them to my Facebook page!

K

This one. Always. 

the writers on Grey's Anatomy are brilliant writers and come up with some of the greatest monologues and lines and this is just one of them. 

This quote though, said by leading lady Ellen Pompeo who plays Meredith Grey, is one that has stuck with me since I first heard it. 

Even the biggest failure, even the worst, beats the hell out of never trying.

Take a moment and go back to my post on Oct. 30th. 

Can someone else's failures be your biggest motivation?

Can your own failures be your biggest motivation?

Yes.

Learn from your mistakes. Make changes. 

Knowing is better than wondering, walking is better than sleeping and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beats the hell out ov never trying. 

​K

If I were to write this post a week from now, my day would be entirely  different.

My day as been non-eventful. 

I started my day at work. A 6am lifeguard shift back at my hometown YMCA, a place I haven't been since I moved to Lincoln a little over two months ago. Starting my day at the Y, seeing some of my favorite members and seeing the looks on their faces when they saw who was carrying the guard tube was priceless. 

After that, I slept, and I watched Netflix, and I slept with an icepack on my ribcage. 

For those who may not have seen my social media pages, I have bruised and possibly broken ribs on my left side. Wonderful.

I did end my day somewhat eventful by having dinner with one of my good friends from the Y which was the perfect way to start the weekend! 

​K

People who walk and or ride in the street when there is a sidewalk.

If there is a bike lane, use it. If you are going to ride your bike in the street, please try and keep a decent speed!

People who talk to me while I'm reading or writing.

This one bothers me more than it probable should but I get so engrossed in my book or what I am currently working on! Reading and writing are two of my biggest passions. When I get in to a good book... you better leave me alone!!!

BAD GRAMMAR!!!!

This is definitely my biggest one. We all make grammar mistakes, me included, but people who constantly misuse words and make other big grammar mistakes over and over again... please go take an English course at your local college.

What are your pet peeves?

K