Queenkv’s Brainpickings

Today – I slept in until 6:30 AM.
24 hours earlier – I was printing scripts for my director, swapping out stories for a live report at a deadly accident scene and writing teases for my 2-hour show.

Yesterday – I wrapped up my last day of work in Sacramento TV News. It’s the end of my contract and I decided to pass on my station’s offer to renew it for another 3 years. Bottom line – my hubby and I want to move to the Bay Area and start a family.

One of the highlights of my week – interviewing Joel McHale and Ken Jeong from Community.

Both are funny men and I totally fell in love with McHale’s brand of snarky humor on the Soup. (Who needs to watch all the crap on TV when McHale can some it up with a 5-second commentary on the Soup? I know!) Both also, nearly, hijacked my show as I was counting down my anchor to wrap up the interview. We needed to hit another time slot for the Today show update and they clearly wanted to keep chatting. If you watch the interview carefully, I think you can see my anchor flinch as she hears me in her ear…saying “WRAP!”

“You can keep talking to us…I don’t care. You don’t have important news to fill.” – Joel McHale to my anchor.

Thank God for funny interviews like these because next week will be hell for me in the newsroom.
2 weeks and 3 days left.

It feels like my work days are blending together. We’re in the middle of sweeps. I’m slammed with crazy hours, breaking news and guest requests inside the newsroom.

Before sweeps, I produced a very cool show with Dr. Oz. He even changed out of his suit and into some medical scrubs. Then he did yoga inside the studio – barefoot.

And something for my dad. Peter Yarrow, of “Peter, Paul and Mary” performed on my show. I have some lovely memories of my dad singing “Puff, the Magic Dragon.” Peter sang that song for us and chatted about his new children’s book.

I’m trying to stay positive and I’m trying to find some safe places to deal with my stress.
Only 3 weeks and 3 days to go.

For Halloween, I brought in some Halloween Oreo Cookies for my co-workers. Only 130 calories per package.

I also brought in all my Cal gear for my Tailgate Fashion Show. I asked everyone to bring in their college school gear for our set. Somehow, Andre snuck into my bag. Again.

You remember this bear right? He’s been nearly everywhere with his partner-in-crime, Louie.

After Andre did his cameo on my morning show, I gave him a tour of my newsroom.

Me: “Good Morning Bill and Giuliana! It’s Kris in Sacramento.”
Bill and Giuliana Rancic: “Hello Sacramento!”

That’s my typical greeting over IFB for our satellite interviews. On that morning, I was chatting to our guests in Chicago: the former Apprentice and his new bride from E! News. It’s fun talking into the ears of TV personalities, movie stars and Miss California USA (before she made headlines with her opposite marriage answer)

My anchor snapped this picture of me in the booth. I know. I look pissy. On that morning, I produced 2 morning shows on 4 hours of sleep.

Beyond my vampire hours – I still perk up when I meet TV and movie stars.

We interviewed D. L. Hughley when he came into Sacramento for his stand-up act. It looks like he’s going to be a correspondent on the new Jay Leno show.

And my inner Trekker jumped for joy when I met the Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager.

We interviewed him about his new film that debuted at the Sacramento Film Festival

Just in case that Haas job doesn’t work out….

It’s an old joke between my hubby and me. It goes back to our first months of dating. At that time, I was also on my first months at Haas. UC Berkeley classified me as being “on probation.” That joke came up anytime I felt insecure with my job (aka stupid and I don’t know what I’m doing). One of us would point out some random job, like working at a cafe, and say: “In case that Haas job doesn’t work out….”

This is a fancy latte by the 2nd Best Barista in the World. A few weeks ago, I was brewing up espresso drinks next to barista champ, Heather Perry. She was on a “Got Milk” tour of the state and we interviewed her for our morning show.

She also brought cookies.

If you haven’t figured it out already…I was poking fun at myself for April 1. But feel free to check out my “resume” tape…

For those of you who clicked on the link, THANKS! You made my day!

As for my career, I’m happy to be right here.

Wiped out before Hump Day.

This is the view outside of my newsroom, before I start working on my show. When I leave work, sometimes the sunlight seems to bright for my eyes.

The sun’s still out and it’s almost bedtime.
I am a vampire.

I finished up a short, 2-day week, inside the newsroom.

Our weekend morning show features some interesting guests. We interviewed folks from the State Fair last month. One of them folded up dollar bills and made these cute origami pigs for us.

My anchor and meteorologist were tickled by the pigs. I said I could have used it for some chips from a vending machine.

More Origami, originally uploaded by queenkv.

Still, the pigs were cute and they looked neat on TV after the cameras zoomed in for their close-ups.