In the TV news business, a "soundbite" is a pithy comment from someone involved in the story. Sometimes you will hear people say that an interview subject "speaks in soundbites" which means he or she gives the reporter or interviewer perfect, short, right-to-the-point words and phrases that tell the story in a meaningful, emotional and/or entertaining way. A "soundbite" is obviously different from a SOUND BITE. That would be something like carrots as opposed to a pile of chocolate chips smothered in whipped cream. Or, a SOUND BITE may refer to perfectly aligned teeth. In the case of this silly little waste of the e-universe, Sound Bites just means a few items that have little or nothing to do with each other...like me and an accurate weather forecast.

*Thank you to the fine students, faculty and parents of Westridge Elementary School. Yesterday was the kick-off to their annual Reading Is Fun-damental event and I was lucky enough to be a small part by reading a book with the 400+ in the school's gym. I say "with" rather than "to" because they all helped get the story told. The book I shared is a favorite called Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Just before moving to Kansas City, I visited a small school in rural Wisconsin. This was a school with K-12 in the same building. They presented me with the book, having all signed it. Today, a lot of those names are attached to full-grown human beings with little kids of their own. It is a sign of how good things, like this book, last. It is a sign that a book is a gift that keeps on giving. It is a sign that I am getting very old. They pasted a picture in front, too. There is snow on the ground in the photograph which means I may have been visiting anytime from early September through late May.

I love being a part of these reading events because I really do love to read. When I was about the age of the Westridge students, I came as close to actually winning a competition as I've ever done. In second grade, Miss Bawden, had us all keep track of the books we'd read by creating "Reading Worms," adding multi-colored, round stickers as we sent along. It should have been called "Reading Caterpillars" or something cute. "Reading Worms" sounds like a condition brought on by actually eating books that have gone bad. Anyway, I had a decent sized worm going and growing when another student, named Scott...sort of my Lex Luthor all through grade school...spent an entire weekend at the library and created something more like the Loch Ness monster than a cute little book-worm! I'm not bitter. It would be silly and a sign of stunted emotional development for me to obsess over something like this so many years later. Let's just say, I hope Scott is happy that he won. He had the longest reading worm. He prevented me from actually winning something. I'm not saying it's his fault, but, frankly, I've never been able to stoke any competitive fire since. Still, I'm not obsessed or anything. I barely think about it at all, anymore. Maybe every couple days but that doesn't mean I'm not past it. Good, Scott. Good for you...and your lousy, stinking, three and half foot reading worm.

After the reading was over, it was time for a little Q&A. I got a question I don't believe I've ever had before in all the school visits I've made. It was a simple little query: "What do you eat for breakfast?" I know that breakfast is still considered the most important meal of the day but, when your day starts around 2:00 a.m., a hearty meal is not very likely. Back in college, breakfast meant a glass of chocolate milk and a half dozen Oreos. Today, it means a half cup of dry Cheerios that I eat on the way into Channel 9. Not very impressive. Not a very good example for growing minds. Still, at least I didn't have to 'fess up to wolfing down pastries...that would have made me a roll model instead of a role model.

*We had plenty of trick-or-treaters on Halloween. I did not do much in the way of door duty. As I mentioned yesterday, the kids were all headed different directions. My hauntingly lovely wife, Jessica, answered most of the costumed kids. The one time I did, I encountered a guy with a pillow case. He must have been about 43 years old. He just stood there with the bag held open. "Well?" I said. "What?" he replied. "No candy without the proper expression. That's the law," I stated. He looked at me dully before mumbling: "Uh. Um. Oh, Trick or treat?" Now, maybe he wasn't really 43 years old. Maybe it was just a great costume, but how many kids are going to dress up like Willy Loman?

*Finally, on a sad note, you've all heard of the passing of Robert Goulet. My mom liked watching him on the Ed Sullivan show back in the 60s. About 20 years ago, when Mr. Goulet was in Kansas City, as the star of South Pacific, I had the honor and pleasure of doing a brief interview with the golden-throated star. He could not have been more friendly. Every now and then, you encounter a performer who completely shuts down once the on-air part of the encounter is over. They rush for the exit or cloister themselves with their "people." Not, Robert Goulet. He was as relaxed, funny and warm off camera, as on. He asked me if I'd be able to see his weekend performances. I had to tell him that, unfortunately, I'd be out of town...getting married! After he expressed congratulations, I, not knowing when to shut up, asked if he'd like to drive up north with me and sing at the wedding. I made it clear that I was willing to pay up to 20 dollars. A laughing Mr. Goulet expressed regret at not being able to make it. He was one of the good guys.