Queenkv’s Brainpickings

Exploring the other side of the rainbow

July 25, 2008

Here We Come!

COVINA, CALIF — Time flies when I back in So Cal with my family. We’re driving back to Nor Cal in a few hours.

I’m grateful many of them agreed to take a day off to sync up with my funky weekend schedule. My sleep schedule was also messed up. I’m sure I’ll be back to my graveyard existence in a day or so. Imagine me, walking around with the LA sun on my face and falling asleep at night with the hubby. It’s like I had a normal day job…or something.

A few brief notes on my weekend in So Cal before I head out for one more jogging excursion.

  • The 5.5-hour drive down I-5 felt like a piece of cake.
  • I ate too much good food. I also drank too much. Still, both activities are necessary and savored when I’m hanging out with my family. It’s a blessing to feel loved and accepted without the pressure of having to impress people and prove myself. Time outside of the newsroom can be a good thing.
  • Meeting up with a former Kansas buddy and comparing our post-Topeka notes. He lives in a fantastic part of West Hollywood and sounds content.
  • Running next to the Pacific was a dream come true. I loved breathing the ocean hair and leaving my shoe prints in the sand. Mark said it best, it was a recharging experience.
  • Jennie, Scott and Kai! Yah!!!! I missed them so much! Kai likes to jump around and may be he would get along with Daisy. Then again, maybe not. Still, the humans had a fun and challenging time at the Lucky Strike Bowling alley at the Block. I shot some video with the Flip Camera and will post it in a bit.
  • I loved the Mozart concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Beautiful music, balmy weather and an iconic LA setting.

No matter where we go - for work, school or pleasure - I feel my roots draw me back to So Cal.

As always, I wish I could stay longer.

June 8, 2008

Puppy Update

So, it looks like Daisy’s doing better after her second visit to the veterinarian.

Her painful story started Thursday afternoon. She kept licking her front right paw. In the past, she’s been quite good about chewing out the burrs and foxtails from her paws. In fact, she prefers to do it herself instead of letting her humans take a whack. She’s such an independent puppy.

On Friday, I canceled her grooming appointment and dropped by the Vet at Pet Smart. The vet’s office required a full canine exam. That means the medical assistant checked out her heart rate, ears, eyes and then he stuck a thermometer up her butt. Poor Daisy, she hates that part of the exam.

May 28, 2008

24 Hours

LAS VEGAS, NV – I’m waking up on my last day in Sin City. The Terrace Pointe Cafe at the Wynn has free wi-fi. We’re driving back to Nor Cal in a couple of hours.

At work, my co-workers complained about the civilians who chatted up their holiday plans: grilling, traveling and other ideas on how to enjoy their work-free day. I suppose folks in the TV news biz don’t like to be reminded that a federal holiday is simply another day in the newsroom.

This year, I got a chance to enjoy the holiday. That’s after surviving an 8-hour car ride to my second hometown, Vegas. The hubby and I promised ourselves we’ll fly next time.

We enjoyed yummy Filipino food on our first night in Vegas: kari kari, bbq beef, adobo, lumpia and more. My family also got a tasty mocha cake from Red Ribbon. Mark and I blew out our birthday candles for the snapping cameras. Yes, I’m not the only shutterbug in my family.

Yesterday, we had breakfast with my morning anchor from Topeka, KS. She sounds like she’s having a blast in this market - live shots, breaking news and anchoring the weekend morning show. We compared our experiences at our new stations and remembered the good ole’ days of Good Morning Kansas. There’s an amazing, talented group of folks working in our Topeka newsroom. I learned so much from them. I suspect they miss me as much as I miss them. Maybe.

Next - my hubby and I soaked up sun and atmosphere by the pool at the Wynn. I caught up with my Amy Tan book and sipped mojitos, Coronas and margaritas. Paradise.

Finally, we indulged in a tasty dinner at Craftsteak - Tom Colicchio’s restaurant and site of the season finale for the 1st season of Top Chef. The food geek inside me almost had a culinary orgasm as I followed in the footsteps of my favorite reality TV series.

I don’t want to go home, but I know we’ll come back soon.

Of course I have pictures of all this.
I’ll post them later.

May 22, 2008

The Last Days of Saturn

Viva my weekend.
I’m taking it easy for these last days of being 29-years-old.



originally uploaded by queenkv.

Last month, we ended up in Lodi after the Stockton Asparagus Festival. An air-conditioned wine tasting at the Lodi Visitor’s Center helped revive us. The festival was fun but we were wiped out from walking through 100-degree weather and the mob of hungry people.

Mark and I fell in love with 2 different bottles of Tempranillo wine. One from Uvaggio. Another one by M.Cosentio: 2004 Temp (Kirschenmann Vineyard).

One year ago, Mark and I were living in Kansas. I was working on the 10:00 News and he was telecommuting to Berkeley.

Two years ago, we celebrated Mark’s 30th birthday in Vegas.

And next week, we return to Sin City to celebrate my 30th Birthday. Rock on! My dad’s already planning a tasty menu of yummy Filipino food for our first night in town. I might as well stop eating on Sunday so that I have plenty of room in my tummy.

May 19, 2008

Ron Burgundy Interviews Tom Brokaw!

I was tickled to watch Ron Burgundy interview the most distinguished anchorman of our time at Radio City Music Hall during the Funny or Die tour.
read more | digg story

April 28, 2008

Pushing Myself

I clocked another 3 miles of running by Alamo Creek this morning. I needed the cardio after my deep-fried eating fest in Stockton this weekend.



originally uploaded by queenkv.

Last week, I landed my axel at Vacaville Ice Sports. I felt like a rock star. I also feel like I’ve made so much progress since I first stepped on the ice in Topeka. When I was competing, this jump was my Achilles’ heel. It messed with my head and it took me forever to master it. About three years, I think. But it also serves as the basically building block for more difficult jumps. After landing the damn thing, I was able to move on to those jumps and more.


My Axel from Kris Vera-Phillips on Vimeo.

I think I’ll managed to get all my double jumps back after this. I’m super happy with last weekend’s sharpening job on my blades. I thought it was worth the 1 1/2 drive to Novato. (yes, Mark drove…but that’s not the point!)

March 23, 2008

Better than Bunnies!

I have Easter bunnies and festivities on the brain. Earlier this week, I produced the Noon show and we had Thumper on as a guest. This SPCA bunny was a little sick and it couldn’t stop throwing up on our mall set. Thankfully, we had an Easter Bunny (dude in a costume) to wave at the camera and distract the viewers.

My weather gal says we’ll have beautiful weather for this morning’s Easter egg hunts. My co-workers are decorating eggs and hiding them from their kids.

Last month, I met my cousin’s dog Kai. He likes to bounce like a bunny. He’s also super nice and so wonderful with kids.

Meet Kai from Kris Vera-Phillips on Vimeo.

Then there’s my Daisy. She loved hunting bunnies back in Topeka. She loves running around the backyard.
And she’s not great with kids, but she’s getting better.

One Big Yard from Kris Vera-Phillips on Vimeo.

Maybe I can strap some bunny ears on Daisy. I wonder how long they’d last.
So, Happy Easter!

March 11, 2008

Feeding the Soul

I’m waking up with aches and pains from our snowboarding weekend in Tahoe. I will post video, pix and thoughts about our snow adventures later.



originally uploaded by queenkv.

A couple of weekends ago, we went to mass at St. Ignatius in the City by the Bay. It’s a beautiful Jesuit church next to the University of San Francisco.

January 16, 2008

Stumbling on New Comfort Food

I’m enjoying my Sunday with some indie rock/pop/electronica on KSPC. This weekend, we started covering our bare white walls with posters from Casablanca and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. We also started hanging up pictures from our wedding day. I get all warm and fuzzy inside watching this space transform more into our home.

My vampire shift for work is physically and mentally challenging. So, I try to find balance on my days off: going to yoga classes, catching up on chores, playing with the puppy, meeting up with friends and trying new food spots.



originally uploaded by queenkv.

In San Francisco, Susan and Tom introduced us to Farmer Brown’s a few weekends ago. It’s all about local, organic farm food with a Southern twist. These angel biscuits mixed cornbread with a touch of jalapeño. The honey butter spread nicely complimented the sweet and spicy tones.

November 9, 2007

2 Years



originally uploaded by queenkv.

Daisy likes running on Shunga Trail when the leaves change color. That’s when she has more falling leaves to chase on our morning jogs. Daisy’s managed to run about 1.45 miles when we’re together.

Maybe she’ll catch-up to my 2-mile routine in California. Such a healthy puppy!

Autumn is a beautiful season in the Midwest. I’ll miss it.

This month marks our 2 year anniversary of living in Topeka and the Sunflower State. 2 years ago, we took a road trip East on I-70 to our new home in Kansas. It’s been a hell of an adventure, for my career and for our personal lives.

My parents are making plans to help us settle in our new California home. Now, I’m all about packing packing packing. And organizing all our worldly possessions.

I can’t wait to go home.

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