Queenkv’s Brainpickings

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Like many young punks growing up, I didn’t think I’d make it to my 30th birthday. I was too wild for my own good. Besides, being an adult was so ordinary! I couldn’t imagine myself being married nor could I see myself working and paying bills.

When I was younger, 30 seemed like the end of the world. It was the end of the countdown to settling down. I figured if I made it to 30, I would be knocked up or have already given birth to a mini-Kristina or two. I imagined I would have settled for a white-collar drone job that simply paid the bills. I pictured myself with a dumpy body. Between taking care of kids and working full-time, I imagined wouldn’t have any time to take care of myself.

Now I know I’m coming to terms with being an adult. It feels like my life is far from ordinary and I am grateful for the amazing adventures I’ve had around the country and the world.

I’ve had one foot in Rome and the other in Vatican City.

I straddled the Prime Meridian.

I also towered over the International Boundary at Niagara Falls.

On the road, Mark and I drove to Chicago, New York and back to California. And then onwards to my first news job in Kansas.

In the Sunflower State, I watched tornadoes twist on our skycams. I also watched homes, farms and towns washed away by the floods.

In London, I rubbed shoulders with Jude Law and Sienna Miller. I also interviewed Pierce Brosnan at a movie premiere at Leicester Square.

In Washington D.C., I covered the President’s Inaugural Ball and I interviewed Senator Obama on his first day in Congress.

So far, I’m having fun as an adult - with my marriage and career. Mark believes in me. That gives me the courage to face the challenges in television news. My family loves me. That gives me the strength to endure the roller coaster nature of the media industry. My friends get me. That helps me balance working hard and playing harder.

Standing at the edge of 30, I can imagine a future with kids. I can see little Marks and Kristinas running around, getting in trouble and being amazing. We’ll take them to Disney World (so that other people won’t think I’m a monster for dissing on Mickey Mouse). I’ll drive them to baseball practice and dance rehearsals. Mark will help them with math and science homework. We’ll introduce them to Europe and the Philippines. We’ll show them it’s OK to be different. When I’m ready to be a mom, I will do everything in my power to help our kids make their dreams come true.

If anything, turning 30 is like the start of another adventure. So, rock on!

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The mass had a running commentary for the Lenten season. It was weird but it would have made more sense if we caught the explanation at the beginning of the ceremony.

After church, we kicked off our private taxi service. We picked up my Medill buddy, Sara, near UCSF. Next, we went back to Topeka (a street in SF. Serious!) and picked up my Kansas co-worker, Dana. We made it out of Bayview and headed down to the Mission to see Susan and Tom and their doggies.

It was a beautiful Sunday night — meeting new people, catching up with friends and eating good food. I was running on fumes and a couple of hours of sleep but I was just happy to spend time with my friends.

Susan and Tom introduced us to Circolo. It’s a hip Asian-inspired restaurant in the Mission. On Saturday nights, it turns into a dance club. The servers were nice and patient with our group. I am always a sucker for foie gras and I enjoyed our goose liver trio. This appetizer had three preparations of foie: savory, sweet and succulent. I also digged Susan’s entree: a tasty sea bass with a miso glaze. The fish tasted delicate, with a delightful buttery aftertaste. I also enjoyed my veggie dish, the shitake risotto. The creamy arbrio rice was the perfect canvas for the yummy chunks of mushroom.

Bottom line: it was a pleasure to explore new flavors with this intersection of friends from Berkeley, San Francisco, Medill and Kansas.

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A few weeks ago, I did coffee with a San Jose reporter. We met through AAJA and he has some amazing contacts in the business. He knows reporters and anchors at my old station in Kansas and my new one in Sacramento. We chatted about news, presidential candidates and weather. We’re both happy to escape Midwest winters.

Then we moved on to my favorite topic: food. He told me he had some yummy Filipino food in Lenexa. He also discovered balut at a Vietnamese restaurant in the Kansas City area. He said it’s not on the menu and you simply to have to ask for it. He said it’s one of his favorite Filipino delicacies, along with kari kari and halo halo.

Here’s a video of Anthony Bourdain trying Hot Vit Lon in Vietnam for his show “Cook’s Tour”. He’s a little more open-minded to tasting exotic stuff. On his trip to Nambia, he tried a warthog’s anus. Seriously.

I wonder if I’d have the same reaction. Balut and/or warthog.

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It’s been a fun getting to know our new home town of Vacaville. I’ve also had a blast returning to my home state of California. We may be living out of a suitcase, but we’ve found ways to fill this week with nesting chores, shopping, eating and other new resident experiences.

It feels so good to be home. We’re still renters but I think we can catch-up on our debt with the nice pay boost from my new job.

I think Daisy’s adjusting to her new life in California. The puppy must be thinking: “I’m not in Kansas anymore.” It helps to have a huge backyard and a doggie door. Mark managed to make that door fit with cardboard pieces. He also drilled holes through the aluminum panels. Such a handy hubby!

I also love our running/bike trail that winds ’round behind our house. I like watching the red, orange and yellow leaves falling on my morning jogs. It’s like watching the end of fall in my backyard. Who said California didn’t have seasons? (OK, may be I did! Still, I’m fine with skipping winter, really.) Waking up to 50 degrees now feels balmy to me.

I’m happy my parents are up and checking out our new house. It feels so comforting to have family living only 6 hours away. Daisy freaked out with the new people in her territory. After some submissive pee, she eventually settled down and let them pet her. She’s a nervous puppy from the pound. We’re simply trying to figure out and adapt to her anxiety issues.

We drove around Sacramento today — we drove by my new station and had dinner in Old Sacramento. My EPs’ e-mailed my training schedule for the next two weeks. It’s a little overwhelming but I can’t wait to start working. I know I can rock this Capital City by working hard and playing harder.

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We had time to pull over to the side of the road and sample the salty chunks. It tasted just like the stuff sprinkled over french fries!

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The drive through Nevada was mostly flat and empty. We passed several signs that said: “Prison Area: Hitchiking Prohibited.” I wondered why the state would build prisons so close to the interstate.

Road Trip: Day 3 from Kris Vera-Phillips on Vimeo.

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We met-up with my Medill buddy Sara in the Biggest Little City in the World. We seem to end-up traveling together, whether in Europe or the USA. She’s on a work move to San Francisco. I’m thrilled to have her as a Cali neighbor.

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We ended-up at Harrah’s Cafe Napa for dinner. They have some tasty $10 Asian entree specials from 4 PM until Midnight. I ordered the Walnut Shrimp with fried rice. It came with shrimp and salmon sushi plus fried soft crab legs. Loved everything but the rice. It was covered with this fruity melon sauce that clashed with the savory sweet walnut shrimp.

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Daisy and I fell asleep watching Reno’s local news. I couldn’t believe one local sports anchor pronounced V.A. Tech: “VA” Tech. What the hell?

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We crossed the California border on Day 4 of our Road Trip. Mark and I cheered. My eyes watered-up. So happy!

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It took us 4 days to travel from Kansas to California. I know we could have saved ourselves a day of travel but we didn’t want to drive through the Sierras at night. Despite the weather challenges, I thought our road trip was an adventurous vacation from work. It was also a neat way to spend A LOT of time with the hubby and our baby.

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We drove north on Highway 75 to Nebraska. After a few route turns, we ended up in the capital city of Lincoln. It had a bumpin’ downtown district.

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We did lunch at Brother’s. I ordered a local brew: the Three Stone Ale. Brother’s had glossy hardwood floors, flat screen TV’s tuned to ESPN channels and plenty of pub games like bowling lanes and pool tables.

After lunch, we ended-up on I-80. This interstate will take us all the way to Sacramento. The 20-degree temperatures made pumping gas and taking the puppy out for her potty a frigid experience.

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After crossing the Wyoming border, Daisy and Mark took a potty break by the Lincoln Monument. We were shocked and delighted to see it from I-80. We saw the temperatures jumped up to the 30s. That made it feel like springtime for our road trip!

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We spent the night in Laramie and had dinner at Tommy Jacks. We loved the stuffed olives with Asiago cheese.
Despite it’s notorious past (the brutal murder of a gay college student a few years ago), it looks like a charming town. Cute boutique stores, coffee shops and other downtown haunts. Plus it has a Christmas flair since the streets are decked out with holiday lights and trimmings.

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I also ordered the Easy Street Wheat. It was the server’s favorite local brew (even though it’s made in Colorado). The bottle instructions has drinkers pouring half the liquid into the glass, swirling the wheat stuff and then adding the rest of the beer. It had a subtle hearty taste and a smooth finish.
So far so good.

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I glowed when our morning anchor liked my writing when I had to sub in for Good Morning Kansas.

I teared up when we said good-bye to our anchor.

I cried in the newsroom when Fally whipped out her accordion and played “There Ain’t No Bugs on Me.”

I laughed when I had to count down my anchor, weather man and sports dude in the middle of their good-bye to me in the last block of my last show.
Didn’t stop me from trying to wrap them before the end of show.

Kansas has been an amazing experience. I’m happy we had the chance to live, work and play in the Sunflower State for the last two years.

Now…Wagons West! Wish us luck on our road trip to Northern California. It’s Daisy’s first road Trip. Um…maybe you should also pray for us and the car.

Cheers!

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