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Chris Waddell was the subject of a recent "CBS Evening News" story. He's attempting to become the first paraplegic to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. His latest blog was submitted Sept. 28, 2009.

Writing from 18-thousand feet on what promises to be a pretty chilly evening.

Left at 6am with a variety of expectations. Consensus had us staying at Hans-Meyer. That looked optimistic after our first adventure on the winch. The first quarter mile took about an hour and a half. Soon thereafter we moved to the boards and picked up the pace considerably. I decided to push on past Hans-Meyer at just past 12:30.

Some of the terrain that I rode on the boards absolutely amazed me. I had thoughts of sleeping in the crater. Then we started the push past Gilman’s Point. As I rode the boards, my front wheels became light – something I thought I would only experience on slick rock.

As I covered the last 50 yards in at least a half hour, I had the vague thought that this must be what it is like to drown within reach of shore.

The day's end mocked me as I attempted to reach it in two to four foot increments.

Bob, Nate and I are snuggled into our tent 18-thousand feet.

The line of sun long departed up and the temperature is dropping, the wind rising and we are optimistic for a summit push tomorrow.
Waddell Summit Update, 9/25
Waddell Summit Update, 9/23
Waddell Summit Update, 9/21 Late
See Karen Brown's profile of Chris Waddell
Read Karen Brown's profile of Chris Waddell

Chris Waddell was the subject of a recent CBS Evening News story. He's attempting to become the first paraplegic to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. His blog below was submitted Sept. 23, 2009.

We've dubbed the new vehicle Kubwa, which means huge or really huge in Swahili depending on inflection. I'd hoped to call it son of a bomba, but no one else seemed to see the humor as much as I did, and "huge" really seems appropriate for this vehicle with its wheels straight out of a monster truck rally.

We've just left Mobility Care, which will manufacture our donated wheelchairs. After the climb we'll meet the first three wheelchair recipients. To me, this is as exciting as our climb of Kili, for which we're now driving to the Marangu Hotel for an early morning start.

Waddell's Summit Update, Late 9/21
Waddell's Summit Update 9/21
See Karen Brown's profile of Chris Waddell
Read Karen Brown's Blog

I don't think that I'm a typical wheelchair user. It's funny that my life didn't take an obvious turn after my accident--whatever that means. I realize that I'm a participant in not taking an obvious path, but I'm also the product of some great opportunities.

Many people aided me from doctors, nurses, family, friends, and total strangers. We just never know what twists and turns our lives will take. With our Mobilty Care relationship and with the climb and documentary film I hope that we can provide some twists and turns for people who'd long ago assumed an obvious straight path.

As I lay in bed last night unable to sleep with anticipation, I wondered how I could find that quiet place that would allow me to rest, to relax, and to nod off.

I wondered if it was a person, a memory, maybe just counting backwards from 1000 by 3's. Nothing soothed the disquiet, until I thought, I need help. Ease finally came.

As my friend Nate, our doctor on the trip, and resident Kubwa said, "If you
don't ask for help, we don't have a purpose."

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Chris Waddell was the subject of a recent CBS Evening News story. He's attempting to become the first paraplegic to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. His blog below was submitted late Sept. 21, 2009.

So it’s finally happening.

We arrived today after 29 hours of traveling. Two stops, fairly easy. I’m excited, nervous and my world has shrunk from grand dreams to those elements essential to traveling to Africa, reaching the 19,340-foot summit, documenting it and donating wheelchairs and a handcycle.

It feels strange when months of preparation and dreams boil down to one moment or at least one finite period of time that holds the key for the future. Kilimanjaro is the linchpin. After two years of work, this is the beginning, or hopefully the beginning.

Each night, the magnitude of that thought has yanked me from sleep. My chest tightens as I consider the altitude. All of my old demons, worries and fears want their due. Facing those insecurities might be as good reasons as any to climb the mountain.

Waddell's Summit Update 9/21
See Karen Brown's profile of Chris Waddell
Read Karen Brown's Blog

As an organization, we’ve set goals to change the landscape for people with disabilities, and to give opportunities to people who don’t have many, but there’s also a personal journey for me that I’ve had difficulty articulating.

During the lead up to the climb, I’ve tried to drop my shield when telling the story - something that makes me feel more vulnerable yet honest too. In the past, I had hidden behind the persona that I’d created by leaving the hospital for Middlebury two months after my accident and by winning a fair number of races during my career.

While I enjoyed the persona of overcoming all odds, it’s not entirely true. This project has been a struggle physically, emotionally, financially, and in almost every other way. I don’t like to be vulnerable. I’d love to know that I’ve prepared in such a way that nothing can derail me. I don’t. I think we have a really good shot, but this journey about achieving a level of honesty that let’s me enjoy the moment. I don’t want to hide behind some persona - my mountain is to try not to.

Please follow us as we climb. We start our ascent on September 24th and will hopefully summit on the 28th. We should be back down on the 30th .

We really appreciate all of your support. It will be heartening to know that you are on our side when it’s cold and dark on the mountain - actually it’s heartening when it’s warm and sunny before I leave.

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Chris Waddell was the subject of a recent CBS Evening News story. He's attempting to become the first paraplegic to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. His blog below was submitted Sept. 21, 2009.

We're here. Everything arrived but the rigs and Dave Penney's gear, which should arrive tomorrow evening on the next flight from Amsterdam. Not having the rigs will make things more challenging, but that's why we built in a couple of days before the climb.

It was really nice to get on the plane after the frenetic pace of getting ready, but the inactivity was difficult too. Movies, books and sleep were not quite enough to rest my fitful mind which is continually working out mountain scenarios. I know that part of my personal goal is to quiet my mind, but it's more difficult when there's no physical action. Ah, the lessons begin before the mountain.

The team is tremendous as always. Director Amanda Stoddard, director of photography Patrick Reddish, cinematographer Mike Stoner, and multiple media manager Ryan Gass are excited, prepared, and capturing footage along the way.

See Karen Brown's profile of Chris Waddell
Read Karen Brown's Blog

For security reasons they weren't able to catch Bob More, in flip flops, giving me a piggyback down the stairs from the plane to Tarmac. Bob, who was a fraternity brother and is the President of the One Rev board, and Nate Bryan, who ski raced with me at Middlebury and is our doctor, are new additions to the team. Along with Expedition Manager Dave Penney, it's a great group that has weathered the day and a half of travel from U.S. Mountain West to slightly sub-equatorial Tanzania.

The air was a soft, smooth 80 degrees as we disembarked into a deep darkness absent of street lights or almost any other lights.

I'm writing in the Rover as we drive from the remote airport to the busy city of Arusha. Meeting our drivers, Peter and Kihigo, with hugs and handshakes felt like a homecoming after our previous two trips. The more people we get to know, the more connected we are to Africa and
Tanzaia.

I hope for quality rest before the street corner preacher with the speakers, I'm sure he'll still be there, starts his sermon at about 5am tomorrow morning. From the big, deep dark sky, to the friends, the Rovers and even that early morning preacher, we're feeling comfortable and ready.

CBS News National Correspondent Jeff Glor with a sneak peak at his piece tonight on the CBS Evening News.

Hi everybody on cbsnews.com. It’s Jeff Glor outside the Staples Center in LA, the morning before the Michael Jackson memorial service here. You can see this enormous white board, that’s been set up. Folks taking pictures out in front of it. And literally thousands of people have been coming by to sign this board all morning long. If we pivot across the street, you can see the Nokia Plaza, where there are layers and layers television cameras, and tv correspondents preparing for this service tomorrow. I’m told that to get into this area tomorrow, you need a blue wristband, like the one on my arm right there. That’s to just get into the area, not even to get into the service itself. Police are going to try to keep people back as best they can. Make sure this is a safe environment. A story we’re working on for the evening news tonight is on the cost associated with this service: both the money that’s going to be generated for the city of Los Angeles, but also the amount of money they’ll be spending. Hope to see you at 6:30 eastern time for the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.
See you then.

It's almost un-American, but in towns and cities from coast to coast this Fourth of July is coming in with more of a whimper than a bang.

There are no crackling fireworks in the skies...and no marching bands playing Sousa.

The economy is raining unfortunately on those parades.

Bismark, Missouri canceled the annual Freedom Fest. The town can't afford the 10-thousand-dollar price tag for the party. Moline, Illinois canceled its Summerfest, as well.

In places where the show will go on, the rocket's red glare may be less colorful, the finale less spectacular. Instead of a professional band, some communities will have students entertain for free. Others are organizing art shows, historical re-enactments or poetry contests.

It stinks to miss out on the fireworks, but the holiday is about celebrating the freedom we all have in this great country. And no one can extinguish that flame.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

That's a page from my notebook.
I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.

We here at Couric & Co. just wanted to take a few minutes and welcome our new cousins in blog-land, Political Hotsheet and World Watch.

Hotsheet is taking the chair previously filled by Horserace, the late, great blog about all things from the campaign trail. It's turning a fresh eye on Washington as the next administration shapes up. Check it out here.

World Watch will include dispatches from our team of foreign correspondents and staff at the London Bureau. It's already up and running with a few posts from Correspondent Sheila MacVicar about the terror – and ensuing investigation into the massacre – in Mumbai. It'll include breaking news items and more in-depth reporting than we can sometimes fit into a broadcast. So check it here and check back often!

And don't forget to give our new neighbors a warm welcome. Leave them a few comments or drop us a note and let us know what you think.

From CBS News Producer Jennifer Yuille:
Prospective first lady Cindy McCain told Katie Couric in an interview Wednesday that people would not be questioning whether or not Governor Palin could handle raising a family and performing the duties of vice president “if she were a man.”

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I have to confess, before last Friday I didn’t know very much about “Mommy Blogs.” It wasn’t a world I inhabited, and I wasn’t sure what to expect.

The Silicon Valley Moms Group was in town for the annual BlogHer conference, a gathering for women entrepreneurs in the Web world, so we invited them to my office for a visit. There was no better way to learn who they were, and why they wrote about their lives online.

Many of these women blog from home while raising young children. Some have jobs outside the home and spend their free time online with their friends. All of them are smart, successful, and tech savvy.

Since the meeting I’ve been reading through some of the blogs to see what they’re like and what subject matter they discuss.

It is not just cookie recipes and potty training tips. These women tackle everything from the 2008 presidential election to who will win American Idol. They exchange ideas, boost each other up, and keep each other informed about the world around them.

The comments on the blogs are as interesting as the entries themselves. Real conversations are happening on these sites. As one blogger from NYC Moms Blog said, it’s like the world’s biggest college classroom.

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This post is written by guest blogger Francois Bringer, a former CBS News producer and current documentary filmmaker. You can read Attkisson's report on Hillary Clinton's 1996 Bosnia trip here.

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Yes this is me, in the middle of this picture, listening intently to two very famous American women chatting politely aboard a U.S. military plane. We were on our way to Bosnia to visit the troops, almost twelve years ago to this day. The shot was taken on the fourth leg of a grueling First-Lady-does-Europe-in-five-days trip.

I was a CBS News pool producer then. With my CBS colleagues, we were responsible for providing everything that a U.S. TV correspondent would need to cover such a journey. That means we handled all the video, interviews, natural sound and edits from the trip you may have seen in the news on CNN, ABC, NBC or of course CBS.

I got to meet and work alongside then-First Lady Hillary Clinton for this whole crazy week. In a typical day, she would meet the highest ranking official in the country, visit ruins and museums, admire the work of charities, kiss babies, have lunch with dignitaries … and then dinner with leaders of the opposition. At every stop she’d answer the band of reporters' questions. Mrs. Clinton was simply astonishing. Her unfailing (and effortless) politeness with everyone, her interest in the historic or the mundane, her well-briefed self and steely composure after days of this schedule, her ability to keep smiling (and stay chic!) were simply outstanding. Only very gifted beings can project such strength over such long hours – and she did it. She had it. She did not make a faux-pas the whole week.

Which brings us back to the landing in Tuzla.

[Editor's note: Read on for more photos from the trip, as well as Francois's story of a CBS News editor's sharp eye that may have saved lives - including that of the former First Lady.]

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