Keith's Blog
Buffalo's most senior Anchorman, on the air continuously at Eyewitness News now for 23 years.
Keith began his career in the news business in 1971 at CKLW-TV and Radio in Detroit/Windsor, his hometown. After stints in Detroit, Ottawa, Toronto and Salt Lake City he arrived at WKBW-TV to Anchor Eyewitness News at 5 and within a few years was Anchoring at 6 and 11 as well.
"I can't believe how time has flown by, it seems like just yesterday when i arrived in the Queen City and it felt like home from day one"
Keith has travelled the world to bring Western New Yorkers the news that affects them for decades now. Most notably, with the troops during the Iraq war, Hurricane releif efforts in the Carribean, the political conventions from coast to coast and in Los Angeles from the very beginning of the O J Simpson story. Keith and his wife Linda, along with their dog "Frankie", live in the Village of Lewiston, with three of their four children now grown and the youngest finishing college in Washington DC.
Well, I just lost two weeks of my life. I suppose it could have been a lot worse but it is still hard to take. Two weeks ago I was helping my son pack up for his move to Florida. I bent over to pick up a box and that was all it took. I went down like a brick as my back went out. The pain in my spine was bad enough but those "spasms" are a real killer. I managed to get home somehow and collapse into bed. Six days went by before i finally had to call my fireman neighbor to come over and lift me out of the sack! I spent the next two days in a chair and then almost another week before i could actually stand up, get in the car and go back to work.
I know there are many other people who have to deal with a lot worse than that but for someone who is so busy and has so much to do, it's just a real downer.
You know what the very worst part of it was? Thanksgiving Day, with about twenty of my relatives over for dinner. As I lay in bed, unable to move, one by one they paraded upstairs to see the sorry soul. A few words and then they were back downstairs feasting on the Thanksgiving meal. I could smell the turkey, and the stuffing, and the cranberry sauce, and the pumpkin pie. I'm never helping anyone move again!
I know there are many other people who have to deal with a lot worse than that but for someone who is so busy and has so much to do, it's just a real downer.
You know what the very worst part of it was? Thanksgiving Day, with about twenty of my relatives over for dinner. As I lay in bed, unable to move, one by one they paraded upstairs to see the sorry soul. A few words and then they were back downstairs feasting on the Thanksgiving meal. I could smell the turkey, and the stuffing, and the cranberry sauce, and the pumpkin pie. I'm never helping anyone move again!
Just back from a week in Florida and Halloween came early for me this year. I came home from dinner one night and as I climbed the stairs headed for bed, I got the fright of my life! I turned the corner on the third floor landing and almost had a stroke! Guess what was standing on the top of the stairway? Mister Gecko! The biggest one I have ever seen! This guy was about six inches long and had a color I had never seen before. He was a little white, a little tan and almost translucent. I could see right through him! How in the world he got into the house I don't know. Anyway, it was time for immediate removal! I had visions of waking up in the middle of the night with that lizard and his suction-cup feet plastered across my face! It was quite a sight as I ran around trying to catch this slippery critter. He just stood there and stared at me until I grabbed a towel and a bucket. Those feet allow these guys to go anywhere. He ran across the carpet, then up the wall and then across the ceiling. You should see him run upside down! Eventually I think I tired him out and I cornered him so he stuck his head into the carpet and tried to play dead. I wasn't buying it. I didn't want to actually touch him because I heard once you can get warts from these things! I through the towel over him, but when i tried to pick him up, his feet were suction-cupped to the baseboard! I felt bad when about an inch of his tail came off in my hand, but i hear they just grow them back anyway. After twenty minutes of chasing each other around the house I finally got him into the bucket, took him outside and let him go. I'm still waking up in the middle of the night with the sweats. He could have eaten me in my sleep!
It's a good thing I like to work. I was never one to just lie around on the couch and watch TV. It seems there is always something to fix around the house, so I keep pretty busy doing that stuff.
Anyway, when I say i like to work, I am mainly talking about the job I have in downtown Buffalo, that I actually get paid for. I read the other day that the average American family is now paying about $15,000 a year for health insurance, or at least they are paying a portion of that amount with their employer paying the rest. If they are lucky enough to have an employer. Are you kidding me? Who could afford not to work anymore? As my car was being serviced at the dealer the other day I walked around the lot to kill some time. Just who is buying these $60,000 SUV's these days? My first house cost $38,000 in 1975! My $3.00 prescription co-pay a few years ago, is now $30.00. So as I watch my income keep going down and my expenses keep going up, I guess i will continue to work until I wake up dead one morning.
Anyway, when I say i like to work, I am mainly talking about the job I have in downtown Buffalo, that I actually get paid for. I read the other day that the average American family is now paying about $15,000 a year for health insurance, or at least they are paying a portion of that amount with their employer paying the rest. If they are lucky enough to have an employer. Are you kidding me? Who could afford not to work anymore? As my car was being serviced at the dealer the other day I walked around the lot to kill some time. Just who is buying these $60,000 SUV's these days? My first house cost $38,000 in 1975! My $3.00 prescription co-pay a few years ago, is now $30.00. So as I watch my income keep going down and my expenses keep going up, I guess i will continue to work until I wake up dead one morning.
I remember about 23 years ago when my boss came to me one day and asked if I wouldn't mind working the night shift for a month. Just temporary, he said.
To make a long story short, that month turned into almost 24 years now. Anyway, working nights has always worked out well for me. It gives me time to do all those important things I have to do in the daytime. You know, cutting the grass, picking up the shirts at the cleaners, going to the bank and picking up prescriptions at the drug store. Among so many other things. How would I ever have time to do all that stuff if I worked days?
One drawback to working nights is that I usually have to eat out every night. I'm not a big "brown bagger". The usual spots are pretty exclusive, Arby's, MacDonald's, Burger King and various other establishments. Well tonight I decided I wanted a "real" meal for a change. Went to Betty's on Virginia street downtown. Very good! Meat Loaf. Came with a salad, mashed potatoes and green beans. And the best part was that someone else paid the bill! I should go to fancier places more often I think.
To make a long story short, that month turned into almost 24 years now. Anyway, working nights has always worked out well for me. It gives me time to do all those important things I have to do in the daytime. You know, cutting the grass, picking up the shirts at the cleaners, going to the bank and picking up prescriptions at the drug store. Among so many other things. How would I ever have time to do all that stuff if I worked days?
One drawback to working nights is that I usually have to eat out every night. I'm not a big "brown bagger". The usual spots are pretty exclusive, Arby's, MacDonald's, Burger King and various other establishments. Well tonight I decided I wanted a "real" meal for a change. Went to Betty's on Virginia street downtown. Very good! Meat Loaf. Came with a salad, mashed potatoes and green beans. And the best part was that someone else paid the bill! I should go to fancier places more often I think.
Get ready to have some fun! The big Lewiston Art Fest is on tap for this weekend. More than 175 Artists from all over the United States and Canada will be in the village along Center Street. The even runs all day Saturday and Sunday.
And then, my favorite! The Historic Lewiston Jazz Festival is set for Friday and Saturday, August 26-27. The headline act for Friday night is "Hilario Duran" and his big Latin band out of Toronto. On Saturday night we are bringing in the one and only "Kurt Elling" out of Chicago.
Please come and take in some great music, food and fun, you might even see Frankie and me walking Center Street!
And then, my favorite! The Historic Lewiston Jazz Festival is set for Friday and Saturday, August 26-27. The headline act for Friday night is "Hilario Duran" and his big Latin band out of Toronto. On Saturday night we are bringing in the one and only "Kurt Elling" out of Chicago.
Please come and take in some great music, food and fun, you might even see Frankie and me walking Center Street!
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