I'm really going to miss our 6 p.m. producer and social media editor, Jen Ayres.  She is a Missouri girl, she's a super newsie and she is just a great woman to be around.

She's the thumbs behind our social media accounts - her thumbs cannot be replaced!

Anyway, Jen is a good egg.  She's going to spend more time working as a mommy.  I hope one day she'll come back into news.  It's tough to see someone like her walk out of a newsroom.

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Her little boy Carter is totally worth it!  He is the cutest little tadpole ever.  

And, nice photobomb, Gary!  Miss you already, Jen!

Well, it continues. Gary and Eric took the plunge tonight.  The best $1.99 I've spent (on ice.)  

We do have one more day of call outs.  Coach Gary Andersen and Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said they would accept my challenge.  YES.

Well, that escalated quickly... 

It started when Jenn Hoff (now at KOIN in Portland) called me out on air to do the #IceBucketChallenge.

Anyway, out of sheer laziness, I bailed on my friend Hannah when she asked to tape the challenge in the morning.  I was thinking, "Oh, I don't really need to do that..."

But then as I drove to work, I started to think... "I HAVE to do it!"

I started thinking of the people I knew impacted by ALS.  And, then I realized, I was one of them.  I did several stories on a girl named Haley Stevens, a high schooler who found out she had ALS days before her 16th birthday.  Her doctors had never seen someone so young with that diagnosis.  She died at age 17.  

I never got to see Haley as a bubbly teenager.  I met her when she lost her ability to walk and talk.  An entire community was heartbroken when she left us, and I don't want to forget her.

Donate to her walk 

So, I mentioned Haley before we did the deed.  So thankful for our producer Krystal Webb for letting this happen on air!  Though I think any producer would get a kick out of dumping ice cold water on their peeps... by the way... I also donated to Haley's team for the ALS walk in September! 

WATCH me take on the #IceBucketChallenge

And I'm so thankful that Mary Jo and Adam Schrager took on the challenge during the morning show!  Apparently, the Dane County sheriff Dave Mahoney will be taking it on, too... check back!  I hear we might have a new challenge on the night beat, too!!!

ALSO CONSIDER SUPPORTING:
The ALS Association Wisconsin Chapter
Tough as Steele:  Supporting Andy Steele, Dane Co. deputy diagnosed with ALS

We just built a doggie doo doo digester... also known as a waste composter.  I believe it's more accurate to say "composter", but I think "doggie doo doo digester" has a nice ring to it.

Why?  Because we have two 90 lb. rottweilers who go to the bathroom a lot.  Here's one culprit eating a stick.  You know what sticks turn into? 5-pound turds!

Jim worked so hard digging the composter.  It's very easy and cheap.  Basically, you saw off the bottom of a trash can, drill some holes in it and stick it in the ground.

You dump the waste inside, and then every now and then you add some septic tank stuff you buy at the store.  The greatest thing?  Our yard is smell-free! We also have fewer flies.  It's so easy, even a caveman can do it!

We found the video very useful... however we will call this guy out on ONE LIE.  It took us like 10 times as long to dig the hole.  But maybe we're not as strong as "muscles" below:

It is so cool that I got to take my sister to an LGBT event in Madison.  There is some thought in Korea that gay people don't exist OR that it's a disease!  So even though my sister is NOT like those Koreans, I thought it would still be nice to take her to a PRIDE event.

WATCH this explanation of how the LGBT community lives in Korea via Eat Your Kimchi.

We didn't have a big talk or anything, but earlier in the day I taught her what it means to dress in drag.  I think we were both amazed at some of the YouTube videos I found.  Great makeup tutorials!

Anyway, there's a lot to say here about Old School Koreans, but I'll save it for a rainy day.  My sister and I had a lot of fun just spending some time downtown and hanging out.  We said HI to a couple of folks, but overall, we thought it was just nice to be around great peeps!

I think after our recent downtown adventure, we need to get her on a pedal pub.

This is from the night when we brought MINNIE home in 2008:

And this is a pic of PIPER before we got her in 2012: 

I am a NEW, BIG fan of OSS in Madison.  The sausage shop opened up last winter so it's getting ready to embark on its first Badger football season!  I can't wait.  It's location is in the perfect spot for brats, beer and football... or if you have to go to the doctor (since mine is literally right across the street.)

Channel 3000 editor Hannah McClung and I went recently for an upcoming Sip and Savor feature in Madison Magazine. 

The sausages were awesome.  We tried the bahn mi -- it is so awesome!  The folks at OSS said it is their best seller right now... it's got Vietnamese influences, but it's just downright delicious.  The cheese curds were literally to die for.  So, I went back two days later with my husband.  Now there are 3 new devoted fans.  Put them on your list!  

Ever need a little ginger for a recipe but end up with a ton leftover?  

Simple tip:  peel the ginger, cut it up in slices and freeze.  It will practically keep forever.