I wanted to let you know that I'm taking yet another Friday off ... and starting a long weekend. Sorry I won't be blogging today, but I will be back on Monday.

I also wanted to say "thanks" to everyone who has taken time over the last year to respond to my entries with your thoughts, criticisms and support. It is your responses that make me want to keep writing and keep sharing my insights and experiences.

See you Monday!

A former prominent African-American TV anchor once told me you haven't really "made it" until you get a racist letter from a viewer in the mail.

After 13 years on Pittsburgh TV, I finally "made it".

It wasn't much. Just a postcard from some viewer who wasn't pleased that I sit next to a beautiful, blond-haired white woman. Hey, if it's jealousy, I can understand that. Who wouldn't want to be next to Kelly Frey for two hours? It wasn't threatening and it wasn't a long note. While the person had great penmanship, they could have at least spelled my last name right. Why is it that racists are horrible spellers. Also, if you are going to throw in the letters "KKK" in a hate message, please use official company stationery and don't just scribble in the letters. It tends to have more credibility that way.

I don't mean to be flippant. I know this is not funny, but I think humor allows me to deal with something that is quite unexpected. I guess I think in this day in age we have gotten past this racist stuff. Then again, look at the Michael Vick incident and it's clear race permeates everything we do and say in this country.

Am I angry? No. Am I worried? No. I guess I'm a bit put off because the coward did not bother put his or her name ( I'm not going to be sexist here ) on the note. Frankly, I have no problem with people having racist feelings as long as they are up front about them. It's how they feel and that is their business. I used to work in the South and while some southerners have been seen as racists over the course of history, at least they are upfront about their feelings. You can hate me all you want - just take responsibility.

I thought I would share this with you because I always feel when I speak to you in this format, it's a two-way conversation. I also feel that by sharing this story, you understand that no one is immune from this sort of garbage and we must recognize it still exists. I also feel that shining a light on racism often makes the offenders crawl back into their holes - or where ever they came from.

I'm sure as I continue to spend more time on television and move into more high-profile roles in my career, I will continue to encounter those who would judge me based on appearance. To them, I say you are in the minority and that I will continue to live my life the way that I always have - without regards to skin color. One more message for those author of that note - if he or she reads this: Next time, at least spell my name right. It's on the screen for crying out loud.

A question on a survey I just took gave me pause.

I'm beginning to enjoy these three-day weekends. I have some vacation time and - thanks to a suggestion from Kelly -- I decided to take each Friday off this month. It's made for some fun weekends and some surprisingly-delightful getaways.


This weekend, Sharon and I went to a black tie event for the Ladies Hospital Aid Society. We had not been to a black tie event in quite a while. It was somewhat strange tossing on the tux, but the best part of the night was after dinner. The dance floor was in use on the 17th floor of the Omni William Penn -- and we danced the night away.


Sharon and I danced -- and I hit the floor with both Sally Wiggin and Marcie Cipriani who were in attendance. We did everything from 70's music to some of the songs that mdfe you groove in 80's. I had forgotten how much fun it is to dance and the let music take control. When Sharon and I first met, we danced all the time - at places in the Strip like Rosebud, Metropol and Heaven downtown ( OK, I'm dating myself ). Now, if you want to dance - and you are over 35 - your options are limited unless you are into salsa.



Sunday, we took a 90 minute drive to Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County Maryland. We played Wisp golf resort. It's so beautiful and so close to us. Just to see the lake will take your breath away. One thing I did not realize was how big channel 4 is down in Deep Creek Lake. We are their TV station - and from the moment I walked onto the resort to the time I left - I felt like I was in Pittsburgh. People were so nice and so welcoming. I would encourage you to do a weekend in Maryland ( plus the roads are much better ).



I wish I could blog more, but I have some work to do. We are getting ready to kick off our new look next week and we got some behind the scenes stuff to do. Thanks again to all of you who take the time to write. It makes me want to write every day and - as always - I will try and write back.

A mid-morning show discussion with Kelly started me to thinking about this topic. I was finishing up the planning for tonight's "Check It Out" segment - going through the "Ticket" insert of today's Tribune-Review, when I happened upon a review of band playing in Millvale this weekend.

I was watching ESPN, which yesterday stood for Entertainment and Speculation Programming Network. The network went on all afternoon, speculating what was next for Michael Vick after he plead guilty to dogfighting charges. Guessing as to whether he would return to the league and what team he would play for and whether he would play quarterback or not, etc.




Stop.



Am I the only one offended that people are even talking about what happens once he gets "out" of prison? He has plead guilty to what - at best - is conspiracy to torture and kill dogs. In my book, that is murder. Yes, I did blog a few weeks ago that there are other crimes - like rape and spousal abuse - that don't draw the outrage of this latest incident. Still, at that time, he was not guilty of anything. Now that he has essentially admitted to being involved in dogfighting - he has committed a heinous crime and should not only be jailed, but also banned from ever playing in the NFL again.



He will be a convicted criminal when he is released and this the chance for the NFL - and its new commissioner - to take a stand. Playing pro football for a living is a privileged, not a right. If this league - which runs commercials ad nauseum about how involved they are in the community - wants to make a real statement, they will tell Michael Vick to look elsewhere for employment. If not, then the league is talking out of both sides of its mouth and it will be one more reason for me to head to the golf course rather than the TV on NFL Sundays.

Shifting gears - the Princeton Review released it's much-anticipated annual list of top party schools in the country. I guess the folks at WVU have reason to proud or ashamed - depending on your point of view. WVU was picked as the nation's top party school - and Penn State was sixth. The Mountaineers championship-caliber football team didn't finish that high.


I do not know how they quantify this sort of stuff, but having been down to WVU, I find the students there do like to have a good time - and they are genuinely nice people. I think the shame here is the fact that alcohol is still so closely related to the college experience. It seems the tow go hand-and-hand - and that is a shame. There should be more to the college experience - and the fact that beer plays such a large role in our view of what college life is like sells short what the experience could - and should be about.


That being said -- how about my Alma mater! Ohio University finished 9th in the poll. Still, that's an improvement from my college days in Athens - when Playboy made us the top-ranked party school my sophomore year. Then, the next year, we weren't even on the list! But there was an explanation at the bottom of the page - and here it is:


"Ohio University was left of this year's list intentionally. We refuse to rank the professionals with the amateurs".

Just got back from a wonderful weekend at home. I spent the last couple of days with my parents and visiting my brother -- and both live in Chicago.

Chicago - the place of my birth but hardly my hometown. As they say, I was there long enough to enjoy "a cup of coffee" before moving at a very young age. Getting back to the Windy City - which I do from time to time - is always fun. I forget what a dynamic and interesting city it is.

It's kind of a smaller New York or a larger Boston - depending on your viewpoint. It's a city which never rolls up its downtown streets. There are people always out and about - 24/7 - of every age. While we love our Steelers, the passion Chicago has for it's Cubs is unlike anything I have seen before. When they are winning, it seems everyone it town is wearing a Cubs cap.

While walking the Windy City streets on a Saturday, I saw two wedding parties having pictures taken - one inside the cavernous interior of Union Station and one outside the gates of Wrigley Field.

When I do go home and spend time in Chicago, it makes me wonder if Pittsburgh will ever become as vibrant and exciting. Sure, our city is heading in the right direction with all the development and recent construction, but downtown streets can be desolate on some days. Also, let's be honest: This town will never care that much about baseball.

I do not regret the time I have spent here. Pittsburgh has been my home during my late 20's and all of my 30's. I guess I just wish the big downtown boom had happened when I was a little younger so I could have fully enjoyed it.

Of course, while I wax poetic about Chicago, there is always a Pittsburgh connection to any good story. Here's mine: My brother and I were walking in Wrigleyville ( the residential neighborhood where Wrigley Field is located ), when we walked by some Cubs fans on the stoop of a house when I heard these words: "Andrew Stockey". Turns out one of the guys in Cubs gear was from Pittsburgh's south hills. We stopped and posed for a picture. I guess even in Chicago, you are never far from Pittsburgh.

Before I start blogging away, I just wanted to say "thanks" to everyone who sent vacation ideas. I was absolutely overwhelmed. I got 30 suggestions from all of you -- everywhere from the Outer Banks to Aruba. I have decided to forward all these suggestions to Sharon. After all, she is the one making the final decision. Also, it guarantees she won't say "I can't come up with a place to go." Thanks again -- you ladies (and it was all ladies who sent ideas) are tremendous.

In my years as a sportscaster, I also became somewhat of a workaholic. Sometimes because of the lack of people available to cover sports and sometimes because of the time of year. I used to joke that once training camp started, summer was over and I told Sharon I would not see her until the Steelers were out of the playoffs ( so you can imagine what the Super Bowl season was like ).

FEELING GREAT:


FEELING GUILTY:

I've never been to Erie, so the idea of going there for a weekend at the beach wasn't exactly the most appetizing proposition I have ever had. I mean when I think of the beach, I think Ocean City, not one hour west of Buffalo. Still, Sharon wanted to go to the beach this weekend so I agreed - as long as I could play golf nearby while she was getting some sun. My theory being I really didn't need much more sun - after all, I have had this tan for 39 years.

After her beach day - and my less-than-stellar round - we went with another couple to downtown Erie for dinner. It was cool because we ate at an old firehouse called "Pufferbelly's" which was converted into a restaurant. Not a bad place - and downtown Erie seemed to be bustling with nightlife. I'm guessing it was because there was a big biker convention in town - the "Roar at the Shore" as it were.

But then came the highlight of my trip - and the part I enjoyed most. We were walking down State Street with another couple, trying to decide which bar we wanted to stop into for a nightcap. That's when we walked past a place called "Twelve O One". It was a wine and tapas restaurant that seemed very cutting edge after walking by some local taverns.

Once inside, we found out it had been open just five weeks. It's menu featured a selection of wines and self-made cocktails - including a tasty mojito. I was stuffed from dinner, but I still decided to sample their blue crab cake -- and it was YUM-MY! I highly recommend "Twelve O One" if you are swinging by Erie.

Oh, the other thing about the restaurant - when we all walked him, these six ladies at one of the table screamed my name. Turns out, they were Pittsburghers and wondering what I was doing in town. They were very nice - and they asked about Robin.

Finally, speaking of Robin, it was great to see her this morning. She looks good following her surgery to remove a lump in her breast and she seems very upbeat. We wish her well and I know she appreciates the well wishes from all of you -- even if most of the letters start out with the words "I love seeing Kelly, Andrew .. and you in the mornings".

I have today off, but I wanted to leave you this thought before I took the day off.

Thursday morning was a first for me. While I have been involved in breaking news coverage that interrupts regular programming ( remember Big Ben's motorcycle accident ), I had never been asked to play such an important role in covering such a huge tragedy.

Thursday's flooding from those sudden storms forced me into the anchor chair to solo anchor the coverage which lasted upwards of two hours. Since Kelly was out on a story at the time, it was just me and Don Schwenneker. Don is a real pro and a gentle and steadying hand when weather-related events take place. I could not have gotten through our coverage without him.

While on camera it may seem calm and planned, behind the scenes it's crazy. Producers working to confirm information and then get that information to you to present to the audience. We also did not have video of the flooding immediately and had to rely on pictures from viewers as well as videos -- including that dramatic video of the house on fire after being struck by lightning. Never did I realize how critical the viewers as videographers could be in the process of telling a story.

When it was all said and done, I thought we did a good job as a news organization presenting the story as it was happening - and perhaps I showed myself something in the process. I learned that maybe I do have the skills to be a news anchor. The most important thing we can do as anchors is handle breaking news situations. By all accounts, I did OK .. and I'll be better next time.

Finally, I know we probably got many phone calls about breaking into "Regis and Kelly" and whatever we show at 10am. For those people who called into gripe and complain, let me tell you something: Our job is to first and foremost inform our viewers when disaster hits our region. That is the public trust we have as a television station and anything less would be shirking our responsibilities. We don't do it often, but when we do please understand - it's for the greater good.

Today is the day Steeler Nation has been on pins and needles waiting to hear. OK, maybe not pins and needles. Perhaps whoopie cushions would be more appropriate.

Just a few thoughts from the weekend .... as I sip my first cup of coffee this week.

One thing I have discovered about blogging: It gives me a chance to speak without really speaking and a chance to discuss my feelings and release inner thoughts through the written word. That is what today's entry entails.

I made a mistake Wednesday. My error did not hurt anyone, did no damage and did not cause anybody to get in trouble. Still -- for various reasons - I cannot go into detail about my error. Suffice it to say, I let some very important people in my life down and for that, I am sorry.

Still, apologizing has not cleared my conscience or my soul. I have that feeling you have as a kid when you knew you did something wrong and you knew waiting nervously for your father to get home. You knew your dad would be angry and might spank you. You remember that feeling? That's how I feel right now and I have not felt that way in a long time.

Mistakes hurt because when you do something wrong, you fear it will outweigh all the good will you have accumulated in people over the years. Even worse, you feel the people who trust you might not feel as confident in your skills in the future.

Yes, everybody does make mistakes -- and the true test of character is how we bounce back from those errors. So I will try today to make amends for my mistakes - and try to do better. That is all we can do when we mess up. In just doing our best every single day, we slowly win back the trust of our friends, family and colleagues.

Sorry I'm being so secretive, but it's not the mistake that deserves the focus. It is the desire to do right where you have done wrong and let down others. That is my lesson learned.