Christmas Card from Iraq December 19, 2006

Cat Greenleaf, Lifestyle Reporter

Note: Cat continues her correspondence with a local soldier serving in Iraq.

As you might’ve read in November, I’m in touch with a soldier in Iraq who we met on a story earlier this year. He reached out to us this week with his impressions on the holiday season where he is.

Hey Cat,

Hows everything. Enjoying the holidays I hope. I’m doing okay over here. Calling home and hearing from wifey can be emotional though. I am going to try and make this the last time I am not home for Christmas.

I am not much of a holiday guy but when someone really wants you there it makes that part of the year important.

I have to say that all of us over here realize our families aren’t with us so we adjust appropriately. Plus we can talk to each other since we’re all going through the same thing. With loved ones back home it’s difficult. Everyone doesn’t have a husband or wife or son or daughter that’s stuck in Iraq for the holidays, so it’s hard to find someone else to identify with. I am lucky to have her, especially putting up with this.

Well, take care as always.

Peace.

On The Road Again December 14, 2006

Cat Greenleaf, Lifestyle Contributor

I have a hard time saying no to a few things in my life. And anyone over 65 who has ever asked me to do anything will tell you that I absolutely cannot refuse a senior citizen, no matter what. That is precisely how the Sweet Adelines Brooklyn Chorus got me to sing “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson with them this week.

Despite my feeble protests, I was a goner. And then, despite my feeble singing, it was a ball. These gals are spirited, talented, and as their name promises, sweet.
A minor side note (pun intended): the first concert I ever attended was “Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Family Picnic” in New Jersey, about a million years ago, with my sister and my dad. That’s pretty embarrassing, but not half as bad as my performance with the Sweet Adelines.

Click here to see for yourself!

Notes From Iraq November 28, 2006

Cat Greenleaf, Lifestyle Contributor

While we were covering a story in Grand Army Plaza a few months back, we happened to meet a young soldier who had just learned he was about to ship off to Iraq for a year. He and his fiancee had only a few days notice to pull together a wedding which had originally been planned for months down the road. We became instantly invited guests to their impromptu ceremony and have kept in touch via email since that day.

This morning, our soldier gave us permission to share his perceptions of what his life is like on the ground in Iraq. We’re honored that he’s opened his world to us, and we will protect him by withholding his name and the names of his family members.
For as long as he is willing to share with us, we will continue to share his words with you:

Hey Cat,
Not much to really write about. We’re in a basic routine right now. We have a little fun whenever we can and do our jobs. I have some digital footage out in town but I’ll have to send it later.

People are poor out here but they’re still living day to day. We drive through and get the looks. I gauge whether I’m in a friendly neighborhood by how many people wave back when I wave. If I get 1 in five 5 its not looking good. The kids always wave, so if you don’t get a wave from the kids or a look of excitement, time to worry.

The situation over here is weird and I have to say even though I’m here it’s even more confusing to me and I can’t really say what is working and what isn’t. The one thing I can say is that despite the poverty in some areas, its not like in the States. It doesn’t go hand in hand with drug abuse and domestic violence.

Iraqis as a whole are tough people so they’ll be okay. Anyway I will keep in touch and I should be home in April. I’m expecting. Well [my wife] is expecting, I think I mentioned that but I’m not sure.., and I’ll try and get leave for that due date. She knows the sex of the baby but she’s not telling me, wants me to twist in the wind for a bit. I’m happy though and can’t wait to be a dad.

Chicken Soup: Good for the Soles November 17, 2006

Cat Greenleaf, Lifestyle Contributor

In our world of video games, Internet, and tons of TV, I love to see people actually get out of the house and MOVE.

And when the kids in Harlem came up with the dance “Chicken Noodle Soup“, they were really moving! Then, when Bianca “Young B” Dupree and DJ Web-star came out with the rap song to accompany the dance, they didn’t fall back on X-rated lyrics or shoot-em-up hooks. As my colleagues pointed out on the set after we ran our piece about the duo, “Chicken Noodle Soup” is actually 3 minutes of good clean fun.

And without any disrespect to anyone else’s tunes, I find this one refreshing.
I like that kids like it, and it’s not explicit or overly mature. In fact young people -and older people- are dancing to it all over the nation, as simple and unassuming as it is. It’s funny – I find something very classic and calming in a song that’s gained fame through the modern youtube.com.

Go figure.

Creative Marketing and Nun-such November 17, 2006

Cat Greenleaf, Lifestyle Contributor

I applaud the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco! As you might have seen in our piece this week, when they were in need of funding to support their aging population, they came up with the genius marketing plan: Adopt-a-Nun. You pay them 160 dollars a year, and they promise to pray for you.

It’s a great campaign because everyone wins: they make money for their elderly, and not only do you get prayed for, but you also get to tell people at dinner parties that you’ve rented your very own nun, and that they make great gifts. There’s also an inherent kitsch value which New Yorkers find invaluable.

But perhaps the real smarts behind the Adopt-a-Nun campaign is that they’re selling you something you’d be getting anyway – their prayers and good wishes. And, knowing that, people pay for them anyway, which is a nice thing. And I believe then when even one person does a nice thing for another person, everyone wins.

PS: we got so many calls after this story ran that we realize the nuns’ sales plan is clearly striking a cord. In case you feel the need for your very own sister, here’s their website.

Wedding Watchers November 9, 2006

Cat Greenleaf, Lifestyle Contributor

How It Happens:

The Wedding Watchers story came to us as we were shooting another piece in Grand Army Plaza a couple of months ago. It literally walked right to us.

The Queen Watcher, Rhoda Hill, stepped up, introduced herself, told us about the group, we loved it, and boom – it became a story.

When we’re not dealing with breaking news, that’s often the way our favorite stories come about: chance meetings, tips from friends & family, and notes and calls from YOU.

Especially with feature pieces like mine, your suggestions are invaluable. So when something cool is happening in your community, or you see something interesting going on, or you yourself are up to a quirky and different pursuit, please do fill me in. We can’t guarantee it’ll make it onto t.v., but you never know…