We Are Who We Are

  I was having a conversation with a friend at work the other day about drawing the line between the "professional" and the "personal" online. (Actually, it wasn't as much a conversation as it was a series of emails, but that could be another topic for another time.) Our conclusion -- it's nearly impossible. And that may not be all bad.

  We are who we are -- and social media allows us to share that. These days, it seems even big corporations are trying to be more human. They've got facebook pages and twitter accounts. They're listening and responding. They're building their brands by connecting with their customers.

  Individually, we're all doing the same thing. It sounds so impersonal -- building a brand -- but that's what it is. The truth is, you can make it as personal as you're comfortable with. When I'm on television, I'm me -- I'm not playing some anchorman character. I talk about my family, my favorite teams, my love of coffee, etc. I react to things, like the human that I am. When I'm at the grocery store, I'm me. So when I'm online, I'm me. It's all I know how to be.

  Of course, that's not to say there are no limits. There are limits. But they are different for everyone. And it may take some time to figure out what works for you and what doesn't. It's a work in progress -- but, isn't everything in life.

Today's title: The wisdom (haha!) of Ke$ha

  

  

  

A Spoon Full of Sugar...

That's what helps the medicine go down, right? Yeah, sure it does.

Mary Poppins has never met my son Ben.

Ben's pretty stubborn a cute kid. And he's not a fan of penicillin. It looks "cherry-licious" to me. But he says it tastes yucky. He's just getting over a case of strep throat -- and getting him to take his medicine has been a big production. We've tried just about everything -- surprise attack, hiding it in juice, rewards, bribes, threats -- it's not working.

Help. Seriously, fellow parents or grandparents, my wife and I need some advice. When it comes to children being stubborn, we pick our battles. But we want him to get better -- and this is a battle we need to win!

Today's title- The original Super Nanny.

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

  I spent some time Tuesday morning shooting a news story at relatively new place in New Haven called The Grove on Orange Street. (You can see the story here on wtnh.com.) It's a "co-working" space. At first glance, it's a relatively nondescript storefront that provides office space for people who may otherwise be working at their dining room tables. But a look a little deeper, as I did, and you'll see it provides so much more.

  I found Jeff Kubarych at a desk along the wall under some striking photos taken in Cuba. Jeff is a self-employed marketing consultant. He joined The Grove, looking for a workspace outside of his home office. What he found was a community.

  "I always say, you're only as smart as the people around you," Jeff told me, "and when you're by yourself, there's not a lot of learning that can happen."

  He's learning now, because he's collaborating in ways he never expected. And that's just what The Grove's co-founder Ken Janke likes to hear. He and Slate Ballard founded the place to be much more than an office where people can work. They want it to be a place where people can find support. A community which will inspire them to grow. Ken says you can set up you laptop in a coffee shop -- but no one knows you. And they don't really care what you're doing. At the Grove, they know your name and what you're doing. And they want to help you succeed.

  Jeff Kubarych's business is marketing. But his passion seems to be creativity. He believes there's creativity in all of us -- but we forget, are too busy or too scared to tap into it. After spending some time at The Grove, he and few other "Grovers" (I don't know if they call themselves that) launched Create 96 as an outlet for his creativity. And anyone else's.

  That's the thing that hit me the most about this place -- the power of the people here. There's a real positive energy. Some are self-employed; some work for non-profits. Some have full-time memberships, some are here only a few hours a week. But they're all dreamers. And they value the dreams of others.

Today's title - It's pretty obvious.

Here We Go Again

We were in "Weather Alert" mode again this morning on Good Morning Connecticut. Gil had his sleeves rolled up, Teresa was telling us about several crashes and the Mobile Weather Lab was on the road. No, it wasn't the worst snow storm we've had this winter -- not even close. In fact, with this being a holiday for many people, and many schools and businesses closed, the timing wasn't terrible.

But Friday afternoon, I was wearing shorts. And I wasn't the only one. That's what made this little dose of reality a little more difficult to take. It's February 21st, and no matter what Phil or Chuckles say, we know it's still winter. But once you get a taste of spring, it's tough to turn back.

Well, at least spring training has started in Florida and Arizona. Let's Go Mets! (Hope springs eternal...)

Today's title - a one-hit wonder from the 90's.

Because Sometimes 140 Characters Isn't Enough

So, here we go. I've started a blog. I know, I'm a little late to the party. Here's the thing, I never felt the need to blog, because I figured nobody cared what I had to say about this, that or the other thing. But I really enjoy writing. And I enjoy the sense of community that can come from being online. And I'd like a chance to extend my place in that community.

Sure, you can watch me on television -- but there are limits to what I can say or do on the newscast. And I have a boss.

You can also find me on facebook -- but a lot of people are on facebook. And a single post can be lost among your dozens, hundreds or thousands of friends.

Finally, you can follow me on twitter -- but sometimes 140 characters isn't enough.

So, I'll use this space to write about all kinds of things. Maybe it'll be a news story that gets my attention. Perhaps it'll be a parenting dilemma I run into while dealing with my children. One day I may just gush about something I love. And I guarantee I'll vent about sports. (I'm a Mets fan, there's a lot about which to vent.)

So, I hope that you'll stop by, read and join the conversation by leaving a comment. Got a question? Ask away -- you'll probably inspire a blog topic.

See. I couldn't have said all that in 140 characters.