Breaking news:Knife-wielding person sighted in newsroom

It was just another Wednesday. Now usually, I'm off on Wednesdays, but this one time I was working. I walked into the newsroom, ready for any challenge that came my way. But this was not what I was expecting.

Minutes after I got out of the elevator - I hadn't even taken off my coat yet - I spotted a glint. It was an unmistakable glint - the lights were reflecting off the blade of a knife.

The blade was gleaming as the person who wielded it brandished it about, gesturing wildly. It was an almost brand new knife with a sharp edge. And I screamed.

Only, I screamed in delight for the knife-wielding person was none other than Kathy McLaughlin. And she came bearing gifts!

Kathy bought in a very delicious bundt cake for the folks hard at work. I managed to grab a couple of slices and I can assure you every morsel was super.

Learn something from this, folks: Keep the cakes coming. We'll be happy to provide the knife!

Change is here!

Here's a complete turnaround. Former cops reporter Kathianne Boniello, who would start climbing walls if there wasn't a drug bust or killing or fire in the city for a few days, has found a new calling -- as a canine fashionista!

I'm not kidding. She recently bought a really cute ensemble for Roxy, the dog she shares with her boyfriend, Dylan.

In Boniello's words:

"Whatever people have been using to melt the ice in my neighborhood lately, it hurts Roxy's feet. She's been limping when we walk and it makes me so sad! So I finally went out and got her some winter boots.

I'm not sure they fit correctly - our first foray outside, she walked funky, then kind of sideways/diagonal for a while, and then two of them fell off and I didn't know it until we were down the block :-) But, we put them back on and seemed to get the hang of it after a while and there was no more limping.

She looks kind of snazzy, huh?"

Seriously, dude, there's possibility of minting money here. Have you considered becoming a pet fashion consultant? After seeing Roxy's jazzy ensemble, I'm sure you'll have no problems attracting clients and then you can charge them to dress up their pets ...

Just sayin'.

It probably will pay better than journalism. But then, doesn't everything?

BTW, for more on Roxy's ensemble, visit Michael Woyton's blog on PoJo. I'm going to try and link it here - hope it works!

Kathianne Boniello/Courtesy photo

Frrrrrreezing no more

Ah the warmth!

That may seem strange coming from me, but it's true. In my freezing workplace, I've found a natural source of warmth -- a fleece jacket bequeathed to me by Kathy McLaughlin. I only just found out about this valuable gift.

Many of you may be quite familiar with this jacket -- I've borrowed it so many times from Kathy when I've been freezing at work. It big, black, warm and comfy. And did i mention it's warm?

I discovered the jacket after the whole space heater fiasco, that blew the fuse on the copy desk side. I realized maybe the space heater wasn't such a good idea after all!

Actually, I didn't even know Kathy had left the jacket behind until she reminded me of it. So thanks a million Kathy. There's at least one thing to look forward to when I go to work ;o

Photo: DARRYL BAUTISTA/Poughkeepsie Journal

Boomer Gal's back

Here's some good news (and we surely need it): Kathy Norton's column is back. No, not at PoJo, but on the air at WAMC, the NPR station in Albany.

The station asked her to stay on as a contributor, so she's continuing the column under another title (Boomer Times) on the airwaves. Check out their Web site, www.wamc.org, search for Norton and you'll find one or two new ones posted there. Or you can simply check this - the latest I could find

Kathy is also starting to put together a Web site for "new columns, and other related features, with a long-range biz plan."

A teaser: Her next column is: "Accessorizing for your downsizing. ... Drop that cardboard box! Go out with a flair!"

For those who missed it, Kathy bought in a "stylish bag" to carry out her stuff from work.

Other updates:

Kathy McLaughlin is doing a volunteer photo gig for the American Heart Association.

Mike Eagleson is celebrating he's not on the local roads the same time as I am.

Jim Sheahan is probably destroying many futures by speaking at a Media Writing class at RCK.

Danielle Bermingham is visiting the Hudson Valley near the end of Jan.

Dave Webb, John Ferro, Dan Shapley, Alice Hunt and Kathianne Bonielloe are my friends of Facebook.

Looking for a place to go

Now that I have a week's "vacation," I'm looking for a place to go.
Sure, I've a car now and "new found freedom" (quote, Mike Eagleson), but the irony is I've no cash -- probably not even enough to fill gas (yes, I know prices are down!!)
The challenge is to balance my budget and pick a place that's interesting. Which probably means visiting family in Jersey or Buffalo and if I'm adventurous enough -- D.C. But I'm open to any and all suggestions.
Here's another good idea courtesy Michael Woyton: Let's all take a vacation together. We sure need it.

Breaking news at work

Some more sad news at work, as some of you might already know. For detailed info check out Jim Hopkins. I guess maybe this is a better way to go than more layoffs. Anymore people go and I guess we won't be able to function properly. But then that's what I thought the last time.

The Boss is being honored

OK, so this is not a suck up. Seriously.

The Boss is one of 15 Information Center Supervisor Recognition Award winners across Gannett. Among other things, the award recognizes her efforts to move us to the Universal Desk era and the RTC age. Also, it makes note of her grooming copy editors into new roles "while losing copy editors with more than 50 years of experience." (Guess who??) She gets a certificate and $1K.

On a more somber note, her mom's not doing so well and was hospitalized recently for an irregular heart beat.

Many changes in 2009

Hi all. Happy New Year. Made it back from a hectic trip to India and Pakistan and a glorious wedding. More on that later. But just wanted to update you on all the happenings at PoJo.

So, we moved printing to Westchester. I wasn't here, but those who were bid a tearful farewell to the ol' printing press. Also, deadlines are earlier, which is good in a way because you still have time to go out after. So if anyone's free after 10 ...

And as for other changes, the regular and dedicated readers of PoJo may have noticed those already. Judith, SundayBiz will now be part of B and For Kids won't be a full page Mondays. Stay tuned for more to come.

But the silver lining is we've got new commuting columnists. Orlando will truly appreciate this. Tony's back but most importantly Alice is taking over -- gee, a real writer writing a column!!! We love Alice. Promise me you won't write about train rides to Yankee Stadium. Please ... pretty please?