Leseeeee... I covered health stories in the morning show, the noon, and coming up tonite at 5 and I have to keep them all straight. One that came up in each show is this story about green tea:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080330200640.htm

Green tea is definitely part of my morning ritual. If you ever spot a hastily placed coffee cup in a shot when I'm anchoring.. it's not coffee. It's my tea! And the New Seasons where I shop has a loose leaf chai green tea, which I was inspired to try after reading all 12,000 pages of Sacred Games (set in India and the characters drink chai constantly). Okay, it's not 12,000 pages, but it's a whopper of a novel and took me a spell to get through it.

Hey-- if you know someone who smokes.. here is another story that came up:
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-sci-lung3apr03,1,483181.story

And this one is a really big deal.. even if it doesn't seem like it at first blush:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-02-wellpoint-no-pay-errors_N.htm

Look.. I got some absolutely stunning flowers from three of my most awesome friends today: Kris, Gina, and Karen!!! It's my birthday. I'm 34. And I'm totally cool with that. I only had a small moment when I turned 30 but then I got over myself. :-)

And Willie in Master Control walked out two KGW balloons ((two because Jennifer Iveson also has a birthday)) during our 4:30am newscast..

Over the years he has produced flowers, balloons, a towel, and all kinds of other things at random times. I have no clue where he stashes this stuff!!! Thanks Willie!

Happy Thursday-It's-Almost-Friday!
sstricklen@kgw.com