U-report unhappiness
I see that some of you are disappointed in the U-Report pictures that are being posted on this blog. There have definitely been some changes lately as to what happens to your photos when you send them in. They now go into a bigger pool of weather photos. I thought that this would be a good thing since this blog is about weather, and the pictures that are sent in will get another forum to be shared (along with your personal fun photos that you’ve been sending which will also be posted)
I guess some of you feel a little slighted by this, and I can understand that. It was very personalized before — and I was the one uploading all of your pictures on my own. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been pretty run down as I’ve mentioned before, and the blog was suffering a bit. I’m a person that likes to do things 110 percent, and it was tough for me to get the energy to write, comment, and post pictures during one of the worst weather stretches this country has every seen. When there’s record breaking tornadoes and historic floods, it was hard to check in as frequently as I would’ve liked to. I always wanted this to be a fun thing for me. The moment it wasn’t fun anymore, I wouldn’t want to do it. Last week in a moment of weakness, I almost told the Viewer Services folks I couldn’t do this blog anymore.
So the other day when I was having trouble putting pictures up to the website I asked for some help. We have some great new interns here at Fox that are now helping me upload pictures, and they are doing it more frequently than I could ever do. I know that Bill mentioned he didn’t like the U-Report logo on the pictures - that it looked like a “post card”…I thought it looked kind of cool, but I understand your points. I will bring up your concerns to the folks that are in charge of putting the stamp on them.
I guess my point is I need some help right now with the blog. As it stands, I try to write something in the morning at work, and will post weather-related articles when I see things that catch my eye. I wish I had more time to respond to your comments like I did before, but truth be told - lately with all of the breaking weather, it’s been tough. And of course, I have not been feeling 100 percent to put it mildly. I’m starting to feel a little better every day, and once the weather calms down a little bit, I will have more time to dedicate myself to this forum, and I will also be able to start uploading photos again.
I still think this is a very personal blog, and I know each and every one of you by name. I don’t expect this blog to become just a generic place where anyone can come and say whatever they want. If it does, I’ll re-evaluate. I still look at all the comments, and if someone is out of line, I will not post it. I will keep this a friendly, happy environment.
If some of you don’t feel comfortable posting pictures anymore, I respect that. You are welcome here anytime, and I will be happy to hear from you if you want to drop by and say Hi.
You are always encouraged to post your thoughts and suggestions to make this blog a better place.
jd
JD, you keep doing what you are doing. You posting a blog+our pictures is a huge bonus.
How much do we pay to get to interact with the “weather machine”?
ZERO.
therefore, we should be thankful for what we have!
Good night!
Thanks Greg Ray. You are a “ray” of sunshine!
My life is now complete!
JD,
I echo what Greg said. I enjoy reading your blog and above all else, your health comes first. TAKE IT EASY! Having you respond is a great added bonus, but you are a very busy lady and those of us who adore you understand. Take care, JB
PS: Send some cool weather down here to Texas…..PLEASE
Thanks JB - believe me, there’s a lot of thing I would like to do with the weather these days!
Hey Janice..
I kinda thought when you were a sick a couple of weeks ago that you might end the blog..but I was really hoping that you wouldn’t..but would understand if you did..I know you have alot going on in your life..with health issues and severe weather.I know it can be overwhelming.. I want you to know that I will keep coming here until you run me off..LOL..we all need help sometimes and I am glad you have the support…You have spoiled us with your personal touch.. which we all love..but I want you to feel better..so do what you have to do to do that..You have my full support..
Take Care..
Deb
Hey Deb, I appreciate your support as always. I think it’ll get easier in the next few weeks…
Hey JD,
What you say does make a good deal of sense. As I mentioned this blog must add to your daily work load and I’ve often wondered how you did it all, the blog, your job, the rash of severe weather and personal things. I do have a great deal of gratitude for your devotion to this blog.
It sounds like you and few other people are still battling a bug that doesn’t want to give up that easily, nothing worse than that sort of fight. Don, Don and I were talking about our fears that Fox might be tampering with things and I feel ashamed that I didn’t step back and gave it a little more thought.
Personally I do like the post card look to the pictures on the front page, but I do have some concerns with the logo. Yes it takes time to work the wrinkles out of the sheets and to ask for help is always the wise choice. So as I deal with a little Foot in Mouth versus a little Tongue in Cheek I know you will be able, in time, to iron out those wrinkles.
Thank you for the post.
No problem Bill. I’ll keep voicing the concerns and suggestions you have for the Blog.
Hey Janice,
I think you do a wonderful job with this blog. I was just bragging about you to my friend Lisa this afternoon. I told her how sweet you are and how you always make me feel special. You make everyone feel special with your personal responses. This blog feels like a family and a lot of that has to do with you. I know you have been extremely busy lately with all the crazy weather, but you still manage to post things on the blog. I also know you’ve been dealing with health issues so I would much rather you take care of yourself than tire yourself out too much with this blog. My issue about the U-report is that I would feel funny about sending one of the crazy pictures of myself if someone else besides you sees it first. I know it gets posted here for the world to see, but we’re like family and it’s not so bad. I won’t have any problems with posting scenic shots and I plan to keep that up.
Again, I think you do a great job with keeping this blog personal. I would never criticize that. I love you and I think you’re wonderful and you have a wonderful group of bloggers. I plan on hanging around for a long time! You just take care of yourself and get back to 100%. I’ve been keeping you in my prayers.
Take care,
Margie
Thanks Margie. I’m trying to keep everything in perspective. I appreciate your comments and suggestions as well as your continued support.
JD, you are the absolute best. This IS a personal blog because look at this one we’re responding to - that you (as well as all of us) can say what we want, how we feel, etc. I myself am weary about the UReport idea still, but think its really cool. Seeing as you ARE the Weather Machine - I guess we still have to share you.
But you really are doing a wonderful job, and thank you for inviting us into your daily life.
Thank Michelle! Like everything, it takes some time to get used to new things. We’ll see how things evolve over the next few weeks.
JD….
Thanks for taking the time to let us all know about you and the blog.
I’m thinking that first and foremost is your health. Just as you have gotten to know us on a first name basis, we have gotten to know you and as a bonus we get to see you every day. More than anything else, we want you to feel better.
Probably what I know I am feeling, and most of the rest of us is that we really had gotten used to having more of you than maybe we should have expected. You have a demanding job and I really understand your time constraints.
One of the great parts of this blog is that it reallly became a part of your personality. We all became a great little community with trust and care for eachother. Not many places like this and it is very special. I know for myself, it is a special little part of my daily life.
Most importantly, sorry for repeating myself, get yourself better and then find a level of comfort for yourself and all will work itself out.
Also, please let me know if you ever got that picture and had an opportunity to post. It was the one with my daughter last weekend.
Hi to everyone.
Sunny
Hey Sunny
I will try to find that picture you sent in. Thanks for your kindness and support.
Janice …
This is humanity and we all are in the same boat in some form or another….
I have no complaints about the blog and understand your time constraints and your personal as well as health considerations….
Just do what you can do….and if that means (either now or maybe somewhere down the road even) that the blog gets too much …that that is ok too…Sad sure…but ok…
Ive appreciated getting to “known” both you and other bloggers a bit better…its been an uplifting experience…
I think if it ever gets to not being that way for you…then yes re-evaluation is a good thing in life….
Hugs to you…and thanks for all that you do….
Dawn
(PS…picked a few greenhouse tomatoes today for the first time this season)
Hey Dawn. You have always been a welcome addition to this blog - and I’ve never heard you complain about a thing. You are an inspiration to us all!
Janice
Your health comes first.
Thanks,
Don
I concur with all said here. I know we all enjoy the interaction and if you can’t get to the photos, so be it. I think we all fear your little “hometown blog” going corporate.
Look what that did to the Beatles!
Your health is more important than our little ramblings and please never forget that……besides, you have enough problems with that and being a Ottawa Senators fan. That was enough this year to make anybody sick.
Thanks Don and Don. Yeah, I’ve kind of given up on those Ottawa Sens! They give us such a great season, and then playoff season comes and it’s always such a letdown. I guess there’s always next year!
It’s one of the best blogs I’ve ever seen, and enjoy coming here a bunch of times a day to see what’s new.
As others have said, look after your health 1st. 
Wouldn’t be a fun place for us all if you were sick.
Don: JD could be a Toronto Maple Leaf fan now talk about hopeless. haha
Keep up the great job here.
Hugs from the OV JD. 
Thanks a bunch Peter!
Miss the OV!
The draft is tonight and tomorrow Pete! On that day, we all have hope! Even my beloved Canukle-Heads!
Hey Janice-
There is absolutely no need to apologize for anything. You do a wonderful job on air and managing this blog. Sure they may be some problems with the site and glitches, but just keep on doing what you do best, and if certain ppl dont like it and criticize you, then that is their problem. Please dont worry yourself sick over this matter.
Thanks Brad. I tend to stress over things I can’t control, and I need to stop doing this!
There are more impt things in life!
Hi JD Yes the OV misses you, but we all are proud of your success’s and you’re at the best news operation in the world.
Don, yes the draft is just up the road from me.
Pete: I hope you were one of the thousands of fans sitting in the Arena watching the draft. (I keep wanting to call it the Correl(sp) Centre). That is a group of hardcore hockey fans there!
Hang in there JD, you’re the best, no complaints here!
Hey Don, Nope I wasn’t a person sitting in the Corel Centre, now known as the Scotia Bank Centre I think. Scotia something.
Corel Center was such a better name. 
I actually forgot it was happening in Ottawa this year till you mentioned it. (Turned it on once I posted in the blog) A OV citizen is heading to your Canukes Cody Hodgson. 
If he’s as good at playing hockey as his Dad and Uncle being involved in politics and business, might as well just bring the Cup to Vancouver. (His father could been Premier of Ontario (think Governor) had he choose or if Chris (Cody’s father had been born an American, President of the USA.)
Please try not to stress over things that you cannot control. Just think of it as a minor setback to achieving your goals. I also dont want you to overwork yourself, look what happened to Tim Russert. His wife said he was under a tremenous amount of stress during the week before his death. Its really sad what happened to him.
Hey Pete! I hope you’re right. The Canucks are basically rebuilding! And the Leafs made a good pick! (call the media) I’ve seen Luke Schenn play for the Kelowna Rockets and he is one helluva defenceman. When he knocks you off the puck…..you STAY knocked off the puck!
I thought Janices Sens were going to pick up Pickerd to replace Emery at goal. That kid is unbelieveable! The Chiefs played his Tri-City Americans on the way to the Memorial Cup and it was the best 7 game goalie matchup series I have ever seen. That kid could stop a flying puck in the middle of a race riot! Instead, the Sens went Swedish so Alfredsson has some help.
Next year, they have to be better than “Top team in december…….road kill for Pittsburgh in April”
I am also a huge fan of NHL hockey. One of my favorite players is Mike Comrie, of the NY Islanders, I sure hope they can win a championship soon.
Its also great to see Barry Melrose returning to coaching, he was great player back in the day.