Queenkv’s Brainpickings

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Charmed - it’s about three witches living in San Francisco. If you can get past the self-righteous attitudes and suspend your disbelief the rhyming spells - you can get some amazing skyline shots of San Francisco - the Golden Gate Bridge, financial district, the Mission and more. With the Smiths blaring in the background - a montage of Bay Area hot spots fly across the screen. It feels like I get a little closer home. It plays in the morning - so that’s like my mimosa to end my working day.

The Apprentice - I also love the look of New York City. The pulse of it - the action. And I also love watching MBA’s get fired….I suppose that’s from back when I used to work at a business school. I’ve observed plenty of business students who would BS their way through presentations, plans and computer troubleshooting. I had one too many customers who claimed they were “power users” in the lab. One even had the nerve to tell one of my workers that he’d end up making three times as much as the student by the time he left. So…it’s a petty pleasure to watch these folks get taken down a couple notches by the Donald. I end up taping this show to watch the next morning after work.

The Amazing Race - I try to convince Mark we’d have a blast on this show with all the traveling. He insists that he’d be too stressed trying to beat the other couples. I love all the different locations these lucky people get to travel to. I imagine how I could have outwitted them on the challenges. I know Mark and I would have a fighting chance…besides - all we had to do was figure out the puzzle, trivia question, etc - and then take a break to enjoy the touristy sights. Good game plan there. I catch this show before our evening cast.

Top Chef - It’s a reality show that pits chefs from around the nation against each other. It’s also set in San Francisco. Their first challenge was to work the line in Fleur de Lys - wowa! And the last challenge had them shopping for ingredients at Berkeley Bowl. Sweet! I love cooking and it’s pleasure to watch these folks concoct yummy-looking dishes. I got hooked on the show since I was also a Project Runway junkie….

And I may be getting into ABC’s The Evidence. At the end of this week’s episode - the detectives drive up to the Bay Bridge and they get a cup of joe at Red’s Java Cafe. It’s a fantastic dive next to the bay with cheap food and greasy counters. Watching them inside Red’s - just hit me up with more homesickness. It seemed like an authentic - SF cop thing to do.

And yes, Daisy likes watching all the shows with me. She ends up hopping into my lap when she hears the theme song for our 10:00 Evening News. And after the first block news finishes up, the commercials run through and when weather goes on - she hops off my lap and heads to the bedroom. This gives me enough time to top off my coffee cup and tuck her into bed for the evening….Cutest dog ever!

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I remember heading down Center street to see East is East. I was upset with something…more unwanted drama from my real life. I ran into a co-worker from the computer lab. When he found out I wasn’t meeting anybody, he felt sorry for me. He said he wasn’t doing anything important and he could watch the film with me. I didn’t want to force him to watch a 2-hour film he hadn’t heard of before…plus, I wasn’t in the mood to be nice and sociable. So I sent him on his way. I didn’t need his pity.

So…good-bye to Act 1 & 2. I’ll miss you.

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Mark is in Berkeley for work. I miss him terribly. But Daisy won’t let me be lonely. Between outdoor potty breaks and cuddling in front of Top Chef, Charmed and TV news…we’re doing well. It’s nice to have someone to talk to. Plus, she’s my family now in the heartland.

Yesterday, I did yoga. At the end of class, I fell asleep in savasana. I didn’t hear them wrap up the class…and I felt a little embrassed. Still, it must mean my yoga practice is working if I get that relaxed.

I thiknk they’re trying to close up shop…time to do some grocery shopping and go home to my baby.

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Last week - I clocked in a few more overtime hours. I got tied up producing promos for our show. A little bit of drama there…but once I had a day to figure it out, I did so.

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And after one morning show, it looked like the only folks in the newsroom was the folks at the assignment desk and myself…and we had a fire by the freeway. I volunteered to transport port camera gear to the photographer. It got me out of the more tedious duty of producing promos for the show. I picked up the photog at his house and he directed me to the freeway fire. I helped him lug his tripod and gear through wet mulch and mud. My slacks got a nice dirt coating after that shoot. I chatted to the fire marshall as the photog shot the flames and smoke. Smoke blew into my eyes. Trucks from other fire districts transported about 5000 gallons of water to the site. Later, I did the on-camera interview with the chief. Apparently, some folks back at the station could hear me asking questions on the b-roll. After we finished up shooting - we went back to the newsroom. I handed over my notes to a reporter and went home…a few hours late.

It’s fun to be field producing, every now and then…

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Daisy also made her debut on our station. She got a cameo in one of our reporter’s stories about her day care. According to Mark, Daisy was more interested in the photog than the camera.

Last Saturday, we attended the Spirit, Mind and Body Fair at the Kansas Expocentre. We ran into a guy we featured our morning program. He invited us to check out his home….converted from a missile base. I took a leap of faith and got some chakra work on my body. I told her I had a lot of stress from work. She had me lay down on a table and she tucked my legs over a pillow. She rubbed my shoulders and my head. She used soy oil and I think some lavendar oils as well. I focused on breathing and letting go. I felt reassured when she said she worked with angels by her side. Then I couldn’t feel her hands on me…but I felt a buzz running up and down my body. Afterwards, she told me she did some innner surgery…I had blockage on my solar plexus chakra - which could be from stress, bad vibes, something…She said she didn’t like to name it anything - otherwise that attention could give the thing power and transform it into an actual problem. After that session, I felt so open…like a helium ballon. And sleepy…oh so sleepy. On the weekend, I typically manage to stay up all day and sleep at night. After this session, I took a three hour nap. I felt rested. I felt good.

She also told me the obvious - that I needed to keep work at work. That I had to give myself a break…that I didn’t have to be perfect…and in fact that perfection comes from something before my time. She said I should try walking barefoot on the grass, somewhere…maybe when it’s warmer.

Now I’m working on keeping work and work…and coming home to my family.

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