This will be my 41st Christmas with an artificial tree. I only had one year in which I chose a real tree and for me, it wasn't worth it. I know most people love the real thing but I'm very comfortable with the "non-real" thing. My parents have always had an artificial tree and my grandparents always had one too, in fact they had a silver Christmas tree! (I always thought that was really cool).

I guess I'm keeping up with a family tradition. Here's the deal with artificial trees....You can always count on them (you know what you're getting every year), they're much cleaner, they're safer and they're easier to put up and take down.

I know the big draw for real trees for families is the experience each year of picking one out or cutting one down. However for my family, the experience of putting the tree together each year is just as important.

Just like my "I hate rain" blog, I know I'm probably in the minority when it comes to liking artificial Christmas trees over real trees, but thats perfectly okay with me. Whatever tree you have, or don't have, it doesn't really matter. After all, its the beauty of the holiday season itself that really counts.

Okay, here's the deal, I hate rain. I'm sorry, but it's true. Everybody always gives me such a surprised look when they hear that, but I have my reasons...trust me.
Every time rain is forecast for the Valley, everybody gets excited and I get nervous. I know that living here in the desert, we need the rain more than other parts of the country, but I'd go for 365 days of sunshine if it was up to me.

It all dates back to my childhood. I grew up in New York (we moved here when I was 13). Back east, the weather is always a concern. Sunny days aren't all that common. When you're a kid, all you want to do is play outside, and when it rains, you can't do that. For me it went further than that. I love baseball. As a kid, I wanted to play baseball every single day. Of course from November to April you can't play ball in New York because its too cold and many times there was snow on the ground. So when it was warm enough to break out the gloves and bats, I wouldn't want ANYTHING to interfere with that. That's where the rain comes in.

I don't know how many little league games I had "rained-out", but each time it happened, I was crushed. Rain took the National Pastime away from me so often that I've held a grudge all these years. Now I have an 11-year old son Joey, who plays in many baseball leagues here in the valley. You can bet that I check the forecast a few days before each game he plays. Fortunately, his games almost never get "rained-out" but I'm always worried about it.

Throw in the fact that I worked for 8 years in Mobile, Alabama which gets more rainfall than almost every other place in the country, and hopefully you can understand my point of view. By the way, there is a slight chance of showers this weekend and Joey has a couple of games scheduled.....Here I go again....I'm already nervous!!!!!!

For the past 9 years, I've been the Sports Director here at CBS-5. That is an evening shift if you're wondering. Before that I spent 8 years as a sportscaster in Mobile, Alabama and before that I spent about a year a sportscaster in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Last Monday I started my new job here at KPHO, and it is a drastic change. Sportscasting is out and newscasting is in. Adding to that....the evening's are out and the mornings are in! I'm very excited to be a part of our CBS-5 morning news team, however this opportunity came as a big surprise to me and to my fellow co-workers. Of course it'll take some time for everyone to get used to this new chapter, but I'm very confident that it will be a positive move for all involved.

I will certainly miss doing the sports and working with our staff in that department, but I just felt like now was a great time to make a change. With a week under my belt on the morning news desk, I can tell you that everyone has made me feel very welcome. Nicole Crites is a terrific person and co-anchor. Paul Horton is a creative and entertaining meteorologist. Marya Piani does a bit of anything and everything with ease. The off-air staff is great as well.....I am so impressed how everything works so smoothly at such an early morning hour!

Speaking of those early hours, I'm still not used to turning my life upside down in terms of sleeping. Everyone tells me it'll take a few weeks or maybe months to get into a routine. I realize I'm taking over for a very popular valley broadcaster in Mike Chamberlin, but guess what!?!?!.....you won't have to look long to find him. Mike has moved into my old office and will be doing the sports along with Gary Cruz. (See.....we're all one big CBS-5 happy family).

Email me at ccoraggi@kpho.com