Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen

It’s just 5 weeks away, and my legs are barkin’. The Las Vegas Rock ‘N Roll marathon/half marathon is December 6th! I am the honorary chairman for the Crohn’s and Colitis foundation of American, the official charity for this race.

I love being part of Team Challenge, the group of people that are racing and raising money for the foundation. You can check them out at ccteamchallenge.org.

Many of the team members have Crohn’s or colitis, yet they power through it and train for the race anyway. These guys are the true heroes in my opinion.

I just ran 9 miles while being healthy Sunday for training and I feel like a bus hit me this morning.

This is the 3rd half marathon of the year for me, and I think I am done running for a while after this. I love and respect the people that have these diseases so much that I can suck it up for one last this year, it’s the least I can do!

Wish me luck, and in a few weeks I’ll solicit for some jokes to tell while I MC the event at the MGM in Vegas.

By Writer Keith

If you haven’t heard yet, Morning Express with Robin Meade has a new Facebook page. And I can tell you one thing: Writer Keith likes this. It’s a great way for us, the entire show team, to hear from you as the morning goes on. Plus, it gives you a way to hear what is going on in the world of news, sports, and entertainment. It’s a way for you to talk with other viewers and many mornings your comments could make it on TV. You can even see if Robin is coming to your city to sign her new book (which actually comes out on my birthday, September 10th. Coincidence? I think so.)

Please keep your status updates to things like 'Making spaghetti for the kids.'

Now I am sure many of you have already signed up for Facebook. It’s a great way to catch up with old friends you may not have seen in years. I’ve found all sorts of people I had forgotten about from high school and from middle school (more on that in a bit). If you are still on the fence and are reading this blog, why not join? It don’t cost nothing. So if you are new to the site or an old pro that needs some reminders, I wanted to go over some stuff I’ve noticed about what people post on their “wall” and other benefits of the site. Some good, some not so good.

1) Please do not post status updates that are WAYYYYY too personal

Sure, posting stuff on the site can be fun. “Alyssa is making pizza,” “O’B is driving to New Hampshire,” “Max is cruising the freshman dorms.” But sometimes, people seem to air a lot of dirty laundry on there. Do I really need to know about all of the problems you are having with your significant other? “John says he knows why divorce is so expensive ... it’s worth every penny.” “Mary thinks her boyfriend better sleep with one eye open. I know about your affair and I know where the crazy glue is.” I have had to block some people off of my list because of them venting about divorce, break-ups, infidelity, everything. Folks, let’s just keep it to making spaghetti. And please don't write about how drunk you are. Your employer, or future employer, will see it.

2) Old pictures: It’s a two-way street

Many of us have had the moment: Looking at old pictures and cringing because of the crazy hairstyles and fashion. Well now they can be posted for the entire world to see on people’s Facebook photo album. At first I thought it was funny. I saw some old pics of classmates from St. John’s elementary and middle school. The amount of big hair and claw hairstyles (that big poof that teenage girls used to do with their bangs) made me laugh out loud. But then a picture from my junior prom hit the web. Now the fashion wasn’t too bad (except that I weighed about 110 pounds and had the same 7 ½ hat size), but I thought I had all pictures of me destroyed from that dance. I had fun, but my prom date was a disaster. To put it in perspective, the prom was the same night as the OJ Bronco chase. OJ had a better night.

3) Do you really need to do that many polls or invite me to a game?

Many people like to do these polls or top 5 lists. Who are your favorite bands, do you agree with such and such policy. These are fun…every once in a while. There are some people who do 10 of these a day, clogging up your wall. Do you need to spend that amount of time every day letting people know that you would choose King Kong Bundy and Courtney Love as your body guard? And please: No more invites for fantasy games. If I want to join something I will. Please don’t ask me to hide a body from your Mafia War fantasy world.

4) Tips from other people and keeping up with things back home

Facebook has been a great help for me with getting tips for my new baby. It seems about 800 people on my friends list have had a kid within the past 3 months. In fact, three of the women from my high school class and two guys from college had a baby the same month as mine. So we all get to watch our kids grow at the same rate and give advice and empathize with each other.

It can also help out with tough times back home. Things you may have never heard about, you’ll hear about. A classmate of mine from high school recently passed away. I won’t go into the details, but it is always tough to lose someone you know at such a young age. Thanks to the website, I was able to keep up with the details and send thoughts and prayers to those who were closer to my classmate than I was. I am not sure if it helped, but I know it didn’t hurt.

Well that’s it. What are some of things you like/dislike about Facebook. You can post your comments on the blog or on our fancy new show Facebook group.

Team Challenge – check it out! - is headed West this week. The Napa to Sonoma half Marathon is this Sunday, and my wife and I are flying out to participate in the run for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.

You can support me by making a donation to the CCFA!

This weekend is going to be very fun. Since I'm the honorary chairman for the foundation, I get to MC the Saturday night pasta dinner before the race. What an honor, I get to recognize the people that are racing to find a cure for the diseases by raising money and awareness. I can't wait to meet the heroes that trained while their diseases were flaring up. I couldn't imagine the strength it takes to do that! I'll share the details of the events next week when I get back from Califonia.

This past Saturday was my last long run with my wife, 12 miles. The path we take only crosses over 4 streets, and I had an issue on the very first crossing. The light just changed green and some insane lady barreled around the blind corner and almost took us out in the crosswalk. Then she had the nerve to shake her head at me, the guy with the right-of-way! I was glad her window was down, because she got an earful.

Polite version: I told her she was most likely born without the benefit of a working brain, and lacked the blessing of common sense.

Anyway, this week is much easier (until the race, which I dread).

Monday: weights, 3 mile at a 8:30 pace
Tuesday: weights, 4 miles
Wednesday: weights, 30 minute tempo run
Thursday: weights, 2 miles
Friday: we fly out to CA
Saturday: rest
Sunday Race, 13.1 miles. My personal best is 1 hour 49 minutes. I will try to beat it, but I am weighing in at 200 lbs.

From Baby Gwen, Morning Express Infant Correspondent (as told to Writer Keith)

Hey all … hope all is going well as you are getting ready for a few off days. I have to tell you being a newborn is tough. The eating, the constant visits, the burping. So far all I can eat is formula which as of now only comes in one flavor. Would it kill these people to make something in strawberry or butter pecan? This milk taste is getting old.

I am telling you ... eating, burping, sleeping and writing for the Morning Express blog can take a lot out of a little girl.

I am somewhat of a night owl. On any given night, I’ll be up from midnight to 5am. My parents don’t seem to mind. Unfortunately, the only things on tv are infomercials and re-runs of “B.J. & The Bear.”

Speaking of TV, my dad likes to watch of this new show called “Beverly Hills, 90210” with me. It’s on 4 times a day. I have no idea how they can crank out new shows every day. What a dedicated cast. However, I do not like the one the call “Donna.” She couldn’t act her way out of a paper bag.

When we were at the hospital, I got to see my first Red Sox-Yankees game with dad. Every time the one called “A-Rod” came up to bat, we both tensed up. I think daddy got tense because he really doesn’t like him. For me, I think it was gas.

People keep asking me what my opinion is of the president’s plans for revamping the health care system. I give everyone the same answer: “What the heck do you want from me? I’m only 4 weeks old.”

I’ve met a lot of people since I’ve been born. These people who have trouble pronouncing the letter “R” flew down to see me for a few days. They are my “Boston grandparents.” My uncle Danny did a great job of feeding me. Plus my godparents are expecting to have my cousin sometime in January. My godmother told us when we were in the hospital that she was pregnant. Daddy said he knew already because how scared my godfather looked when he held me for the first time.

Daddy says he really misses his car. Before I came home, the doctor told him and mommy that they were forbidden from the three-letter word that brought us to the hospital.

I have these diapers that start out yellow, but turn blue when I need a changing. It’s like wearing a Ziplock bag.

I am only a month old, but I already have a security guard. My dog Barrett stood right in front of me right after he smelled me. He also growled at anyone that tried to get near me. That was nice.

I had my first photo shoot a couple of weeks ago. They were primping and prodding me. Hey: I’ll smile when I want to, bub. And what is with the props like angel wings? What am I? Carrot Top?

When we go for rides, mommy and daddy play classical music because they think it will make me smarter. For God’s sake, I am already writing a blog for a major news organization. At this rate, I’ll be doing math by next month. Can’t a girl get some Skynard or some Grand Funk when we are going around town?

Well that’s it for now. Hope you have a nice weekend.

Writer Keith

Dear Atlanta Braves,

I was extremely excited this past Thursday to see that single game tickets for the home season were going on sale. I was looking forward to buying tickets for one of the games that my beloved Boston Red Sox were in town. See, I'd buy all three games but my daughter will most likely be two weeks old by the time the Sox hit town.

Don't worry about that booing, you have 5 more games to warm this crowd up.

So you can imagine my surprise when I found out that the only way to get Red Sox-Braves tickets was to buy a multi-game pack. I understand you can't sell out your ballpark for regular season games during the week, but holding customers that cheer for certain teams (Red Sox and Yankees) over the barrel is just flat out wrong.

This may be the first time since 1918 that Yankee fans and Red Sox fans see eye-to-eye. Well with the exception of agreeing that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez should never have been together.

As you may or may not know, the economy is in the toilet. I don't think it is that much of a stretch to say attendance at ballparks across the country is going to be down this year. Many families cannot afford to go to one Major League Baseball game, let alone six. So why would you put provisions on fans that are willing customers?

Along with that, think about how you may be hurting our local economy. Many people may have been looking to fly into our fair city to catch the series. What are they going to do with three sets of other tickets? I have flown to Baltimore in September to catch the Sox play the Orioles. With a team 20 games out of the lead, the fine people of Baltimore were happy to get money for their hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, and bars seeing as Camden Yards would have been pretty much a graveyard for any other team.

I have been an Atlanta resident for nearly ten years. The only times I have seen Turner Field full is for three teams. Boston, the Yankees, and the Cubs. See, our fine town is filled with people from other places. I enjoy going to "the Ted" despite the fact that there is pretty much nothing to do around the stadium and that the ushers can be sometimes pushy. I was so much looking forward to see my Red Sox during Saturday afternoon’s matinee, but was given the facepalm by your ticketing policy.

Maybe it's me, but I'd rather have a sell-out for ten games then have a bunch of disinterested fans.

What about you? were you burned by the Braves' multi-game ticket plan? Any other baseball ticket policies that you find disappointing?

By Writer Keith

Many of us have time-honored family traditions during the holiday season. Be it from the recipes, when to open gifts, someone having too much egg nog, and the ultimate realization of why we only spend a limited amount of hours with extended family on major holidays.

I know this year is tough for a lot of you with the economy being in the toilet. It sorta doesn’t feel like Christmas this year. That’s why I am here to help. I’ve scoured YouTube to find some of my favorite holiday moments from TV and the movies. Sure, “Captain Nostalgia” may be riding again, but this time it’s for a good cause and hopefully it will brighten up your day a little bit. So grab some nog, sit back, and enjoy. Away we go.

Nothing says Christmas and the 1980’s quite like the Andy Williams special. From the garish sweaters to the kinda creepy song where Andy talks about hanging out with underage kids, the 1985 version was a keeper. NBC emptied their bench of all their young sitcom stars to go and search for Santa. This clip is worth watching just for the Alfonso Ribero/Natalie from “The Facts of Life” segment.

Not to be outdone by Andy was the cheddar factor that was “A Very Brady Christmas.” Apparently, Greg grew a hideous mustache, Jan was an architect and Cindy was a whole different actress. That and we finally got the resolution that after 30 years, Sam and Alice weren’t married yet … and Sam still makes bad jokes about meat.

Some of my favorite traditions were the commercials that only ran at Christmastime. The Budweiser Clydesdales marching in the snow. And this McDonald’s relic from 1983. It taught us so many messages: good will, helping others. It also marked one of the final times that McDonalds showed a healthy activity (ice skating) and tied it to their food.

Of course there is the world’s all-time longest running commercial. Did Liz Taylor film this thing after she wrapped Cleopatra? It has been on for 50 straight Christmases and I don’t know anyone who buys it. Do they just sell it by the gallon and the commercial is a reminder to fill up? And why does she have a problem with this O’Brien fellow?

Or how about this classic? Nothing says “I forgot you were going to be at the party and this was the only thing I could find at the 24/7 drug store.” I mean, if you are stuck in this predicament, do what my family does … buy scratch tickets.

It’s not a holiday unless you get an ice cream cake from Carvel. I bring this up because of this St. Patrick’s Day commercial which had me and Bob Van Dillen in stitches earlier this year. If they wanted to go full Irish stereotype they should have given “Cookie O’Puss” a bottle of Bushmills and had him pick a fight with “Fudgie the Whale.” Read the rest of this entry »

From Writer Keith

One trimester down, two to go. It’s been an interesting time so far for the gestation period of my soon to be new baby Dustin Lester Jacoby.

When a 6’4”, 285 pound defensive lineman tells you your kid looks like a squirrel you just sorta just take his word for it.

My wife has her good days and her bad days and her days where she gives me that look that says “you did this to me!” We’ve also discovered what the baby likes to eat and what the baby hates. Our kid apparently loves boneless buffalo wings but really hates Mexican food.

Also, kids menus at restaurants have been a big help since my wife finds eating several small meals a day suits her better than three big ones. I’d rather pay $4 for a half-eaten kids meal than $20 for a half-eaten adults meal.

Like the good guy that I pretend to be, I have made every single doctor’s appointment. It is incredible. We got to show the first ultra-sound pics to everyone in our family.

My cousin Kyle thinks the kid looks like a squirrel. I’d argue with him, but he’s a college football player that can bench over 400 pounds. Sometimes you have to pick your battles.

Our doctors so far have been in full “CYA” mode (cover your a**) in most of our appointments. “There’s a 15% chance of this, a 20% chance of that ...”. This kind of talk freaks my wife out, but they are just protecting themselves from any lawsuit. Still, it’s not real good bedside manner.

Now the fun part: registering for baby gifts.

My wife has advised me that we can’t register for a 50-inch flat screen TV despite my insistence that I want my kid to watch “The Wiggles” in hi-def.

We started at one of those baby specialty stores. They sat down, consulted with us, and annoyed me something fierce.

While I applaud the advances in child safety, somehow my parents managed to raise me without all of these gadgets. Then seeing the prices on the “suggested registry items” I told my wife that “these people should be put in jail.”

We’re in a lousy economy and the store expects our family to dish out 100 bucks for some video baby monitor? I am pretty sure if the kid is screaming from its room, I’ll wake up. I don’t really need to see it on the TV.

When we finished registering, they gave us a list of stuff “we forgot.” I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

Wisely, we went to one of those mega-department stores after registering at the baby store and found most of our items at 20% or more cheaper. Guess where we were pointing the “registering gun” at next?

So now the exciting time begins. We are planning to find out if we are having a boy or the girl in the next couple of weeks. The room we have picked out is bright blue, not exactly gender neutral. I will continue to try and make as many doctor’s appointments as possible. From everything I’ve read, the second trimester is a lot easier. Thank goodness. I am exhausted.

By Writer Keith

It’s the announcement people have been waiting for all summer. No, not who will be on the Vice Presidential ticket. It’s the new cast of the ABC hit “Dancing With The Stars!” I’ll be honest with you … I have not been on board with this show since day one. I don’t care to watch ballroom dancing and I really don’t care about watching marginal celebrities ballroom dancing. I have never watched a moment of the show, except for the clips of Marie Osmond going keister over teakettle that one time. But for reasons beyond me, it’s a smash. People love it. That is why I have some sad news for you fans out there. It pains me to say that will be the last season of “Dancing With The Stars.” Hey, it’s been a nice run.

So what inside information do I have that this is the final season? None. Did I go to a fortuneteller? Nope. But I do know TV. And I do know about proven theories and guaranteed certainties. The curtain will fall on the show because of the following two words:

Ted McGinley.

Yes, as soon as I heard that this veteran actor was on the cast I knew that time was running out. McGinley seems to have made a career of joining long-running shows just about when their time’s up. To paraphrase Apollo Creed, McGinley has retired more shows than social security. Tree leaves in New Hampshire have a better chance of hanging on in the fall than some of his shows. He is the patron saint of the website jumptheshark.com where people try and figure out why shows went wrong.

Now this isn’t his fault. He was usually a good-looking replacement after stars from a show have left. But rest assured, if you are working on a show he comes on you better have your agent on speed dial. Let’s take a look at his hit list.

Happy Days
McGinley played Roger Philips starting in 1980. He was Mrs. C’s nephew and the coach of the Jefferson High Basketball team. By the time he joined the show Richie and Malph were off fighting the “war,” Joanie loved Chachi, and Fonzie was on his way to growing a beard and teaching auto shop. Sir John Gielgud couldn’t have saved this show. By 1984, the doors at Arnold’s were closed and the show was canceled.

The Love Boat
Fresh off of the demise of Happy Days, McGinley came on board “The Love Boat” in 1984 as your cruise photographer “Ace”. This was also the same year that Cruise Director Julie McCoy jumped ship. This was also the time that they could only get people like Jimmy “J.J.” Walker and Menudo to get on board. The Love Boat finally sank in 1986.

Somehow during this time, McGinley found time to be in one of the best college comedies of the decade “Revenge of the Nerds.” This was all well and good until he made a return appearance in “Revenge of the Nerds 3 and 4.”

Married With Children
McGinley was on this show the longest, filling in as Marcy’s new husband for eight years. By the time this was cancelled in 1997, it had run its course. McGinley’s 164 shows were not enough to save this one from the chopping block. But it is fun to note that this was his longest run on a sitcom by more than 100 shows.

Welcome Back, Kotter
Imagine how tough it was to replace Vinnie Barbarino! Wait … that wasn’t McGinley? (checking IMDB) … Let’s move on!

There have been more, but I think you get the point. Much like the laws of gravity, this is pretty close to an exact science. Vegas wouldn’t lay odds on something like this.

Passionate viewers may try and vote McGinley off early just to give the show a chance. But ultimately, the viewers will be ok. They’ll find a new show. If I were a contestant, though, I’d be worried. I mean what do people like Kim Kardashian have to fall back on? Wait, don’t answer that. Just get those Tivo’s ready, this could be the last dance for a while.

Jennifer Westhoven reported on the band AC/DC’s new album today, and how it will be sold exclusively at Wal-Mart. That reminded Robin of another AC/DC song, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.” For years Robin thought the band was singing “Dirty deeds and the guns are cheap,” and she was surprised to learn that she was wrong.

Her comment really got us talking–and trading–emails behind the scenes… and inspired a lot of emails from our viewers!

Have you ever messed up a song title, or lyrics?? Read what our show team and viewers had to say – and then add your own.

The release of AC/DC's newest album sent Morning Express producers on a lyrical trip down memory lane.

Morning Express Supervising Producer Dave:
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising.” Instead of “There’s a bad moon on the rise,” I thought it said “There’s a bathroom on the right.”

Writer Mike:
“The ants are my friends, they’re blowing in the wind” … instead of “The answer my friend is blowing in the wind.”

Bob:
The gal I anchored with in Charlotte started singing that song "I come from the land down under", and when she got to the part "He gave me a vegemite sandwich", she sang "Gave him a bite of my sandwich".

Rafer:
I thought the line “big ‘ol jet airliner” [in Steve Miller’s “Jet Airliner”] was “big old Jed and Lionel” as in two big guys were gonna carry you away. I thought “Beast of Burden” was “I’ll never leave your pizza burnin’”.

Producer Darian:
Jimmy Hendrix “Purple Haze” – He is singing, “excuse me while I kiss this sky,” I thought he was saying “excuse me while kiss this guy”.

Copy editor Tony:
Steve Perry’s “Oh Sherrie” starts out with the line “You should’ve been gone” … apparently not “cinnamon gum.” I didn’t learn the difference ‘til I was 29.

Rafer:
I also thought “Dirty Deeds done dirt cheap” was “Dirty knees and the thunder chief.”

Copy editor Tony:
That’s better than “dirty deeds, under sheets” … my mind wanders.

Writer Keith:
I thought I heard “With the lights out, it’s less dangerous. Here we are now, entertain us” in Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Turns out it was “whargblee, ehsatsamm, whargblee, yahgh, 14.”

Producer Tim:
Not necessarily wrong lyrics, just wrong spelling which changes things for The Temptations classic “Papa was a Rolling Stone”…. I heard “Whereever he laid his hat was his home, and when he died, all he left us was A LOAN” I didn’t think that was such a bad thing, nice guy gave them money … But he actually left them “ALONE.”

“G,” Texas:
On the subject of getting song lyrics incorrect as a child, how about "this is what it sounds like ... when adults cry" (instead "when doves cry" as Prince intended it)!!

Dana, Colorado:
As a kid I couldn't understand why George Michael was singing "Hairless Whisper" (Careless Whisper)!

Ed, Indiana:
Song word confusion, The Bee Gees, "More than a woman", my take was "Bald Headed Woman" …

Robin:
“Be a juke box hero, got stars in his eyes;” I thought it was “and be a juke box hero, lah diddy dee dah.”

Bob:
I thought “Hold me closer tiny dancer” by Elton John was “Hold me closer Tony Danza.”

Rafer:
I thought it was “Hold me close I’m tired of dancing.” Seriously, I had issues.

Shelley, Missouri:
"Songs that You Got Wrong" - My niece, Emily (now 28 years old!) used to sing Paul Young’s song...."Every time you go away, you take a piece of meat with you" …

Jocelyn, New York:
As a child I thought Cher's song "Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves" was “Gypsies, Chimpanzees”!

Kirk, Seattle:
Remember the song by ELO, I believe called “Blinded by the Light?” There is a line that I still don’t know the true words to, but it sounds like, “Blinded by the light, wake up like a dude should in the middle of the night…” That is always what I hear when I catch this song on the radio. Hilarious.

Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen

The only reason I decided to become a meteorologist in high school was to predict when the waves would be perfect for surfing. Yes, very short-sighted indeed. What was I going to do, make my living off of great waves?

Photographer Kem McNair catches a black-tip shark swimming just feet away from Florida surfer.

Anyway, surfing is still my favorite thing to do to this day, regardless of the fact that I live in a landlocked city with the nearest ocean five hours away. Anytime there is a hurricane swell or big waves leading the weather segment for the day, it's gravy for me. When I checked my email today, I found this surfing photo that anchor Christi Paul had forwarded to me. I thought it would work well in the weather segment to explain how the swell from Hurricane Bertha near Bermuda was producing big waves and rip currents along the East Coast.

As I looked more closely at the photo, I saw why Christi had forwarded it to me with this as the subject line: "Hey Bobby…just something to think about next time you hit the waves!" It's a big black tip shark, about four feet away from a surfer. The shark is apparently fishing, and doesn't care that a human is right there. I know Florida is the shark-bite capital of the country, but this photo still makes me think "You're gonna need a bigger boat!"

To my non-surfing friends, this is just more proof that man is not meant to be in the ocean. Of course, it's not going to keep me out of the water. I grew up surfing in oil slicks, hypodermic needles, and floating garbage. A small shark doesn't compare! All you have to do is catch one wave, and you'll understand why I can't give up surfing.

Check out a larger view of the photo »