Queenkv’s Brainpickings

It’s so big.
And it’s in Kansas.

My entry for Photo Friday’s challenge: Heavy.

Four years ago, Cawker City’s ball of twine weighed 17,866 pounds. I suspect it’s bigger now since the city defends its title of “World’s Biggest Ball of Twine” with an annual festival that has folks adding twine to the ball.

We’re heading back to California in a few minutes…

originally uploaded by queenkv.

We checked out at the Christmas Lights at the Plaza in Kansas City. Always a beautiful sight.

I plan on updating my twitter over the next few days. You can follow my succinct notes on our cross-country roadtrip back to California on twitter.

Whirlwind.
This week went by in a blur. I said good-bye to so many people. I tried to bottle-up all the memories: favorite pubs, sayings, jokes, meals and other things that made me smile in Kansas.

My body feels dazed and confused. It’s torn between wanting some shut-eye to wanting to keep moving with all the little chores leading up to our big move. I spent the day organizing stuff after producing the morning show.

Good times. The movers drop by tomorrow. Soon, we’ll end-up sleeping on the floor with our baby.

This weekend, I squeezed in one more skating session at the Expocentre.

My Jumps from Kris Vera-Phillips on Vimeo.

After my newscast, I stay up for Blood+ on Adult Swim. It’s a beautiful, violent anime with a dark origin story.

My baby loves the camera…

originally uploaded by queenkv.

My puppy freaked out. But I think we managed to snap one decent shot with Santa before she ran away.

This look like a hot new film, especially with Kevin Spacey playing a MIT professor.

Paying for college is painful…these math geeks make Vegas poney some financial aid.

The new trailer for the film “21″ which is based on the best-selling book “Bringing Down The House” by Ben Mezrich, a fact-based story about a group of MIT students who learn to count cards and take Vegas for millions. Starring Kevin Spacey, Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, and Lawrence Fishburne, written by Allan Loeb and directed by Robert Luketic.

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originally uploaded by queenkv.

Mark’s in California taking care of business.

I’m thrilled about this new house he found for us. He snapped the picture with a dinky cell phone camera.

I’m on a mission to digitize my VHS tapes. I have about 1/3 finished so far.

My First Competition from Kris Vera-Phillips on Vimeo.
This video dates back to 1984. It’s my first competition inside the Brea Mall. I was 5 years old.

Somebody told my dad I had talent. Can you see potential in the little girl stumbling through her routine set to a Marylin Monroe classic?

My new station e-mailed several staff newsletters. It’s all to help me catch-up with whats up in the Sacramento newsroom. In the past few weeks, they’ve been all over the California Wildfires, the I-5 truck crash and now the oil spill by the San Francisco Bay.

And their morning crew broke this story with their news chopper.
Hiker Rescued From Quarry Ledge

How cool! (and of course, thank heavens the hiker made it out with minor injuries)

I’m happy with Mark’s progress on the ice.
We’ll have him jumping in no time!

Mark Skating from Kris Vera-Phillips on Vimeo.

I like holding his hand as we glide around the rink.
I also like having him by the railing when I try to jump. His faith and love helped me get over some really bad falls, on the ice and in the rest of my life.