Yesterday, as I was chilling in Topeka, I was also checking out national news online, on TV and on the radio. CNN, MSNBC and other networks aired some amazing video of a tanker fire on the MacArthur Maze: the interchange connecting the East Bay to San Francisco.
The elevated roadway that fell carried eastbound traffic from the Bay Bridge onto Interstates 580 and 980 and state Highway 24. It draped like a blanket over a roadway below, a connector from southbound I-80 to I-880 that also was severely damaged. - SF Chronicle
Before this accident, it was a pain to navigate the different freeways knotting into each other at this interchange. During rush hour traffic, it took me about 45 minutes to cover the distance between Richmond and San Francisco. Today, I heard on NPR that about 200,000 people use the Maze daily. Imagine where that leaves them for their daily work/school commutes. I hope BART can handle it all.
I’m also amazed and grateful that nobody got hurt.
I found this video via Jade Park’s blog. Um, good luck Bay Area commuters. You will need it.
I was a little late for mass this morning because my baby needed some cuddling. Daisy’s a needy puppy sometimes. But I’m made it in time for the second reading and the Gospel. This morning, Father’s Tom’s talked about being a Good Shepherd. Then he gave a shout out to male students from Hayden High and asked them to consider answering vocations. Some boys in front of me responded with a thumbs up at the podium.
Father Tom also compared God and faith to one of the most dramatic scenes from Titanic…the part when Jack and Rose are sinking with that huge ship and he makes her promise to “never let go.” OK, it’s cheesy but still a sweet thought. I also liked how Father Tom used that scene to illustrate the different types of relationships people have as they grow-up; from children hanging on to their parents for survival to adults holding on to spouse or a friend for the ups and downs of daily life.
I’m a little lonely in Kansas, especially with Mark in the Bay Area for work. But thanks to e-mail, cell phones and my blogs, I still feel like I can lean on my relationships with my family and friends. Yesterday, I was able to chat to my parents. We compared warm weather in Cali and Topeka and dished on how my brother’s family was gearing up for my niece’s singing recital, later that evening. Good times. Then Mark sent me a beautiful picture of the Golden Gate Bridge to my cell phone. They’re about 2000 miles away, but I still feel like I’m included in their lives.
I also have tendency of holding on to good memories, so let’s take a look back at my rockin’ trip to Vegas.
Then the cork broke inside a bottle of cheap red wine. So Mark came up with the idea of using a coffee filter to save what’s left of the alcohol. My hubby is so smart!
The next day, we had dinner at Hyakumi inside Caesar’s Palace. It’s located across from Cleopatra’s Barge. This sashimi platter had some amazingly fresh pieces of fish - tuna, salmon, yellow tail and more. I also ordered up a side of a toro roll - the fatty part of the tuna. It tasted buttery and smooth. Our server was a sweet Filipina who recognized my dad from earlier visits. Despite carding me, she took care of all our culinary needs.
My dad got us tickets to see The Producers at Paris. A thoroughly entertaining show starring David Hasseloff as the cross-dressing director. The former Knight Rider knows how to sing and he made a hell of an entrance in that sparkling black and silver dress. I hope for his sake he wasn’t wearing heels for that scene. The men who played Leo and Max were from London’s West End production. The original movie with Gene Wilder is still my favorite version, but I warmed up to the latest incarnation of the show. Since Springtime for Hitler was made for Broadway, it was a pleasure to watch the outrageous costumes, songs and dances on the Vegas stage.
Springtime for Hitler and Germany
Watch out, Europe
We’re going on tour!
Our show tickets gave us a two-for-one drink special at Napoleon’s. These dueling piano players took requests for any rock ‘n’ roll song, as long you were willing to tip often. And at times, they’d avoid doing a song if you were willing to tip more. Folks were having a good time and they played a bawdy tune for a birthday girl. We requested “November Rain”, by Gun and Roses. They took one look at our request, played some snipit of another November Rain song and said it was a bad idea. Grrr….I was annoyed they couldn’t even make fun of the right Guns and Roses song. So, yeah.
This Digg post made me break out into giggles during my 10:00 show on Friday night. I tried to justify my online habits to myself, but it was losing battle. I sadly identify with several items on this top 10 list. I am a nerd. Someone needs to save me from my blogging self.
I can’t explain the appeal of twittering - I whip out my cell phone to twitter a random thought from a party, concert or journalism convention. I don’t know why I’m bullet-pointing topics to touch-on in my work blog, as I’m driving Daisy to Bark Park. And I know it’s not healthy to feel like my Powerbook is a necessary accessory on vacation. The idea: using my Powerbook to download pictures and blog about my vacation antics. Sad, I know.
Last night, after a rockin’ Kill Bill party in Lawrence hosted by my fellow producer Fally, I made an effort to avoid powering up my Powerbook. I spent about an hour on the couch watching mindless TV with Daisy. Then I tucked her into her crate with her Bobo and some treats. I wiped off my make-up, changed into some pajamas and climbed into bed. On my cell phone, I said good-night to Mark in SF.
And at 12:47 AM - I twittered a good night post via cell phone.
Last night, we went into severe weather mode in the newsroom. My boss warned us we could be in for a long night. So I made arrangements with day care for Daisy to spend the night. Daisy and I love the folks at Dog Day Afternoon. They are so helpful, especially with Mark in Berkeley.
Still, no tornadoes touched down in our viewing area. I ended my anti-climatic night at work with an empty apartment.
I can’t wait to bring my baby home this afternoon.
Last week in Vegas, I met Twinkle, Ate’ Gigi’s new baby. She’s eating on top of the counter with Tita Chita, because Twinkle likes to eat out of Freddie’s bowl. She’s about 4 months old and enjoys being picked up and cuddled. She fits in the palm of my hand. Twinkle loves humans and she respects us so much, that she can’t help doing some submissive pee. Twinkle can’t help taking a tinkle every now and then.
SFGate reported 73-year-old David Halberstam was killed in a car wreck. He was on his way to a interview for a book he was planning about a legendary 1958 football game between the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts.
According to the article:
Halberstam had been in the Bay Area to deliver a speech at UC Berkeley about what it means to turn reporting into a work of history, said Orville Schell, the dean at Berkeley’s graduate school of journalism.
During my class on films from 1939 — a Berkeley professor mused on Dorothy’s reaction to waking up on her aunt’s farm in Kansas. She said she wondered if Dorothy was truly happy to be home: a sepia-colored land stuck in the Depression. She asked: How could Dorothy be content with Kansas after the Technicolor paradise of Oz? She was buddy-buddy with magical beings, adored by little People plus she had Emerald City residents bowing at her feet. She as happy to leave that all behind?
I think I finally understood my professor’s point when my plane touched down at MCI on Thursday night.
On our last night in Vegas, we strolled through Bellagio’s gardens with my boss and general manager. I love how this space is separated from the smoke and bling of the casino next door. It’s an oasis from gambling and in my case, losing money. If Bellagio decided to enter a float into the Rose Parade, I’m sure the hotel could pull-off an award winning entry. Its gardeners have an amazing eye for color, detail and whimsy.
On Thursday, I felt hollow as I left behind the glitz, glam and promise of Vegas. Then, I felt sad when I came home to an empty apartment. Things will be better when Mark finishes up his next business trip in Cali. He’s currently enjoying good food and family in Southern California. This morning, I had Ramen noodles for breakfast. Yes, I need to do some grocery shopping.
Yesterday, I was happy to throw myself back into work. I soaked up the energy from the newsroom; starting off as a little ball at the top of hill and rolled down into a snowball by show time. Lot’s of emotion over Virginia Tech’s day of mourning. Plus, drivers stuck on I-70 in Topeka. Traffic is something that simply doesn’t happen in this part of Kansas. Last night, I needed video of the accidents and everyone on shift was out on other stories. Crazy! Thankfully, our on-call photog stepped up and shot the accident scenes.
OK - a few more words on the shootings at Virginia Tech. From the casinos, to the airport to my newsroom in Kansas, people could not stop talking about what happened and what could have been done to save lives.
News stations could not resist the race card. Newsrooms told reporters to go out into the community and see if there was a backlash against South Koreans and Asian people; similar to 9/11 and Arab-Americans. Others were directed to get the “South Korean” perspective and ask “how did they feel about the shooter being one of their own?”
What the hell? Last year, did news people go into white communities and ask the same thing for the Amish schoolhouse shootings? I think that’s a fair question. At the convention, I heard how a Vegas station tried to send one of their reporters out into the Asian community. She was Hapa. Her newsroom told her to talk to anybody and she asked if she was assigned to this story because she was part Asian. Another good question.
I think a South Korean businessman from Cho’s neighborhood said it best to one network reporter: It doesn’t matter if he was South Korean. The shooter could have been anybody, any race.
LAS VEGAS HILTON, LAS VEGAS — I’m finishing up my lunch break at the RTNDA Convention. I forgot my cell phone in the newsroom, however, I remembered my Powerbook. So, I’ve been chatting with Mark to coordinate dinner ideas and to ask my dad to give me a ride home after my last session.
What a trip to be blogging in on the edge of the casino, surrounded by gamblers, journalists, businessmen and tourists. My lunch neighbor’s doing web phone calls with a webcam. Cool beans.
It’s been an action-packed week: TV news icon sightings like Tim Russert and Chris Matthews, helpful sessions on writing and web production, plus meeting other broadcast journalists from around the country. I’ve soaked up so much information and I have some serious inspiration for my producing gig back in Kansas. Tonight, I’m heading to dinner with my boss. It should be interesting.
Last night at Paris, we shared a table with two radio directors attending NAB. We discuss Imus and his PC faux pas with Rutger’s women’s basketball team. I showed them how to use the camera function on their new Razors. They tried to snap pictures of what they described as a call-girl hook-up at the bar. “…checking out the under-arm action.” When they found out I was a news producer, one said: “As the producer, you should see The Producers.”
We told them we had ticket’s for that evening’s performance.
And we had a blast! Imagine, Knight Ridder’s David Hasseloff playing the cross-dressing director. He made a fabulous entrance in a sparkling black and silver dress. I had no idea he could sing…and he did that so well.
LAS VEGAS — 70 degrees and beautiful. I’m staying at Ate Gigi’s house and we just got over a little bit of drama. Some a-hole stole Ate’s Treo. To make a long story short, she called the police and had her service canceled. So family: watch for a new number from Ate G.
I’m in Sin City for my second RTNDA conference. It gives me a chance to soak up more information on the news industry plus a chance to hang out with family. However, I didn’t count on spending an evening trying to catch a Treo thief at a gas station.
Earlier today, I went to my first network affiliates’ meeting for ABC. The Big Cheese gave us the low down on new summer programming and improved services for stations around the country. One news director asked the Big Cheese if there was any way Good Morning America anchors could tone down their love-fest for American Idol. I agree with the Big Cheese when they said toning down the love-fest would have little affect on the American Idol madness that has gripped the viewing audience…again.
During the meeting, my boss checked in with a blogger’s report on the Apple announcement at NAB. It was about a new version of Final Cut Pro - editing in HD and other platforms. Way sexy, cool.
Overall, I’m looking forward to making my second RTNDA experience a learning one. Two years ago, I was fresh out of Medill and hustling for a job. I worried about trying to make lasting impressions on the next news director or general manager. This year, I have a news job and I’m feel secure in my producing gig. This year’s conference has Chris Matthews will explore web strategies for Elections 2008. CNN’s Christiane Amanpour will be honored tomorrow night during a reception.
I plan on blogging from the convention kiosk and any place with a wifi connection. However, Twitter will probably be more up-to-date on my convention adventures, As long as I have reception, I will update my Twitter via my cell phone. Feel free to follow along via Twitter.
“Is this a vacation after training me?” asked my AP.
“No, I’m attending a journalism conference,” I replied.
But next week’s Vegas trip is also a much needed break from Topeka. I wish I could bring Daisy along. But I know she’ll enjoy her time at Dog Day Afternoon; running around the doggie ranch, wrestling with her bitches and being cute for the human workers. Good times.
This week — I posted a new episode for my podcast…check it out if you want to listen to some cool indie rock and electronica music. I’m also feeling warm and fuzzy inside about props from the man behind KCUR’s Sonic Spectrum. In a myspace message, he wrote “fantastic review.” It’s in regards to the one I posted on the show’s B-Day concert a few weekends ago. Robert Moore is a brilliant DJ/music afficionado and it’s so cool to get props from him.
Now let’s answering something that’s been puzzling my honey for the Easter season: What happened to the size of the Cadberry egg?
Humor is needed after this week. The morning shift has been brutal on my sleep schedule and patience. Only two more morning shows until Vegas. I know I can make it.
I thought this would be the Easter Sunday when I get to prepare a lovely dinner for Mark and Daisy…and enjoy a relaxing celebration of Spring, the Lord and all that jazz.
Well, I fit in plenty of relaxing with a long nap in the middle of the day. Then I spent the early evening hours with my yoga practice and reading headlines. I hope these morning rituals will fool my body into waking up for my graveyard shift. Instead of enjoying the Easter holiday, I’m getting ready for work. Hello to the lonely hours in the newsroom, the scanner harping about mothers, sons, fathers and daughters smacking themselves around like a Jerry Springer show and guzzling 6 cups of coffee to stay awake until sunrise.
Bottom-line: I’m a team player, willing to step off my night shift to cover the morning show. Plus, some people were not cut out to be journalists.
Let’s move on to some happier thoughts, pictures and flavors.
Last night, we had some tasty Cajun food in Kansas City. This is Mark’s seafood platter from Jazz: A Louisiana Kitchen. According to the sign, the oyster bar on site has been around since 1933. I loved dipping the fried oysters and shrimp in the tangy cocktail sauce. Mark enjoyed his hush puppies: sweet and savory.
On St. Patrick’s weekend, we took a detour to Council Grove. This is what’s left of an 80-foot tree where Native Americans and White settlers made a pact. They agreed not to kill each other as the wagons traveled down the Santa Fe Trail. The 80-foot tree was called “Council Grove.”
We missed the St. Paddy’s parade in Emporia. So we did Guinness and pool at Natasha’s. I had a fantastic game and I was one ball away from winning….then I decided to scratch on the eight ball. It was like the luck of the Irish came back and bit me in the butt.
Memories of my night shift. On Fridays, we often went out to lunch before my shift. This is one tasty chicken torta from El Charros in Topeka. Heavy on the onions but I still liked the yummy chicken pieces, lettuce and special sauce. It tasted special…just like my night shift.
