Tuesday Morning Thoughts

I just love waking up, drinking coffee, reading newspapers and watching morning news on television IN THE MORNING. It's just so, ahhh.... natural. The way God meant for it to be. Pure bliss. I am soaking it up this week, don't even let me complain about anything - this is the life!

I hope to post Pope pics when I get to work... it's just to much of a pain on this computer, sorry, Steve Jobs, it just is.

TRICIA is leaving the hospital today! Please pray for her and Nathan and baby Gwyneth... their journey is far from over, but it is an exciting new chapter.

HAPPY PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARY! Boo on Barack Obama for ditching PA for Indiana tonight, I really wanted to go to my old state for the Primary and BO ruined my plans :( Whatever. I'm traveling in a few days to see a man I'd much rather see anyway.... he's way cuter.

A couple of thoughts on Good Morning America... GO Robin! Shout out to her for going without the wig. Robin's battle with cancer has been courageous and no doubt an inspiration to people everywhere, and I think she's just AWESOME in general and she looks great. And what in the world with Chris Cuomo (whom I also have come to really love) interviewing Hillary Clinton with his shirt all unbuttoned. Poll: Was Chris Cuomo trying to get fresh with Hillary?

Happy Earth Day, too. Maybe I'll throw something in a recycling bin.

Someone please set up a blog for my mother so she'll leave me alone. Any takers?

I'm pretty sure it was exactly one year ago today that my life changed. I said at the time my life would be split in two... BEFORE I met Harry Connick Jr., and AFTER. Well, one year post meeting, I think it definitely was a turning point for me. Too bad I wasn't able to follow Pope Benedict XVI to New York, where Harry Connick Jr. performed two original compositions for him. One day, I'll hear the composition I'm sure he has written for me, one day... :)

All I want is a real good tan...

Well Pope Benedict XVI came and went and my first major production at Hearst-Argyle Television went off as a hit!  It already seems like it was forever ago, even though this time last week, he wasn't even here yet, I was super stressed and cramming tons of Catholic info in my little head.  A week later, I think I've pretty much forgotten all of that, I can breathe in and out easily and I have a killer farmer's tan! 

I'm blogging at work... shhhhhhhh.  It's a good thing people don't depend on my blog for news, or ya'll would be really out of date! Haha. 

This is the first time I've had a chance to import the pictures from my camera, and I had to steal many of the pics from Nikole's Facebook page anyway because my pictures really weren't all that great. I blame my mother and father for that.  They made me short.

Anyway... here goes the photo blog... hope you enjoy!   Scratch that.  There are people watching.  More top secret Pope photo blogging to come.  BRB. (as in be right back - not THE BRB! hee hee)

Wow.. quite a blogfest for a random Tuesday morning. I just had to get that all off my chest before the crazy week gets even crazier. I'm affectionately calling it Pope Gate 2008. It's not like it's controversial (well, depending on who you talk to) but Pope Gate 2008 rhymes, so there it is.

I have to share with you what my co-worker, Eric said to me yesterday. I'm working days all this week. Yesterday, I started off the week in a nice business suit, complete with makeup on my face and shoes on my feet. (This is quite a departure from my usual black pants plus a random shirt, socks with no shoes and makeup that has aspirations of making on my face but rarely ever does) I walk in Monday morning and Eric says "Oh, look - it's business Barbie." Shut up! Hahahaha... I think I'll wear another suit today, just for Eric :)

I just heard Matt Lauer on "Today" tease that he will be live at the White House tomorrow. I know that's right! Because yesterday I spent a couple of hours at the Secret Service office straightening out a problem with one of my correspondent's credentials. And the only other person who was there also having issues - was an NBC producer. And I totally saved the day! I had someone from my office send a picture to my blackberry and then I sent it right there, to the Secret Service, and it worked. Then the NBC producer copied me to get his correspondent's credential taken care of. His correspondent? Yeah - Matt Lauer. Guess you can't be too recognizable for the Secret Service.. they're pretty hard core about protecting the Pope.

Hope I get to see Matt at the White House tomorrow morning! I wonder if he'll remember me from when Mom & I snapped pics on the old Today Show set - or even more memorable - when I was dressed like a lighthouse circa 1999? It's not likely, and that's just fine with me.

Okay, contrary to popular belief, I don't make any money off of this blog (it actually costs me about $7 bucks a month) so I better set the MacBook down and get ready for work.

Hope you all have a good day! You may not hear anything else from me until the Pope is out of here!

Oh, Baby!

One of my dearest friends is having a baby. In February, when I was in Texas, I got a voice mail from Courtney. Call her back, she said. She had something to tell me. I knew what it was. I am just overjoyed that she and Ro are going to be parents. It's so exciting! Last week, they found out it's a boy! I can't wait to meet this little guy. I totally called the sex too. Ricky Bobby, all the way. Doesn't Courtney just look glorious? I haven't been this excited for a baby to pop out since my sister was pregnant with Brayden! Court and Ro will be great parents and I know for sure baby Ro will be as adorable as it gets!

A Soldier's Send Off

My little brother, Chris, leaves for Basic Training on Thursday. Over the weekend, my family got together to celebrate how proud we are of him and to show him that. I hope he knows. Because we are. All of us. SO proud. So excited for and with him. My 6 year od nephew, Brayden said it best. We were in the car, on the way home and Brayden asked who's party that was. (There was no birthday cake, so it was a logical question to ask) My sister explained to Brayden that it was Chris's party - because he has a new job. Brayden asked what that was. Tracy said, "He's in the Army now." Brayden sat straight up, wide eyed. "HE'S IN THE *ARMY* NOW?" "WHOAAAA!!!" Brayden thought it was SO cool. Then he said, "I wish somebody woulda had told me that." We all smiled and laughed a little but I think that joy, that pride, that "wow" that Brayden expressed in his booster seat in the back of my sister's SUV - that's the same feeling we're all experiencing now. Chris - we love you. Kick butt.

Brokaw's 2nd Birthday!

I'm watching Morning Joe from home again. I've officially decided that I like watching Morning Joe at work, but I LOVE watching it at home. With my coffee and my paper... SO much more like I think it was MEANT to be.

Today, April 15th, is Brokaw puggle's 2nd birthday! I guess he is officially not a puppy anymore :( But he still looks like one to me! And he certainly still acts like a puppy. Not so much with the chewing of random stuff, but definitely with the getting into things and stealing them for fun. Brokaw is a handful but he brings so much joy to my life! I'd be so bored and lonely without him. Happy Birthday Bub! (No, we're not having a party, but I did buy him some Frosty Paws - he'll get that when I get home from work tonight)

Quick Update

Just checking in really quickly - I'm working dayside this week and it's great! But right now it's 9:00pm and I'm about ready to crash! I'm watching the CMT awards waiting on my boy Kenny Chesney. This is the first time I've really ever seen this Hannah Montana girl, Miley Cyrus (don't even know if I spelled that right) and all I can do is laugh as I watch Billy Ray Cyrus. I am loving the Achy Breaky flashbacks - I was SO into Billy Ray when I was a kid. I remember my mom took me to a Billy Ray Cyrus concert at the Norfolk Scope and I saw a guy peeing in public for the first time. Then Billy Ray said something on stage like "If Virginia is for lovers than I'm a human vibrator!" You know where this is going. Just one guess what my 11 year old self turned up to my mom and asked? Yep, you got it. Back to Miley - I don't get it. But I guess I'm not supposed to, I'm old.

I need to post pics from Chris's going away party from over the weekend. And I have so much to blog about but I just don't have the strength. I'm about to fall asleep right now.

How about a blog to-do list:

-Chris's party

-Courtney's baby

-Matt Lauer

-Brokaw's 2nd birthday!

There you go. Enough to keep you coming back? I hope so.

Now - shout out to Pope Benedict for coming to America so I can work days this week! (Well, I know he didn't come for me to work days, but it certainly is a blessing!) Every time I see him with his hands like that, I can't help but think he's raising the roof! Okay, better go, I'm seriously exhausted and Brokaw just brought me the shampoo from my shower. Think he needs attention?

Brown Sandwich

It was so great to see Gretchen and Jason and Angela and Jason's parents this weekend - I'm starting to feel like we're family! I definitely can't wait until they live so close!

Cherry Blossoms

Brokaw and I left at about 8:00 this morning and walked the Mt. Vernon Trail all the way to the Tidal Basin, then walked around it, and back. I know it was more than 15 miles. We didn't get back until 2:00pm, and my legs and feet hurt like I ran in a race. The backpack probably didn't help. Brokaw had his backpack too, he was in charge of carrying our lunch and our water! I wonder if his legs are tired? He did participate in the break we took which consisted of laying in an open field, watching planes take off at Reagan National Airport. Pictures..

Oh, Saturday!

Oh, the peace that is Saturday morning, I am in love.

After a hectic week at work and what turned out to be quite a stressful curtain escapade yesterday, I am ready for my Saturday.

I'm on my 3rd cup of coffee.  The bills are paid, the window is open, the Washington Post is read and a long, hot, shower has been taken.  Aaaahhh.

I packed my backpack (and Brokaw's) and we're going to walk down to the Tidal Basin to take in the Cherry Blossoms.  I'm taking my camera - I hope it doesn't die on me - it hasn't been charged in a while.  I'm taking my laptop, too.  Hope to have a second to breathe in and out.  Hopefully the walk doesn't kill me... and I hope I don't look like a special needs Biggest Loser contestant with my backpack, walking a dog who is also wearing a backpack (I'm making him carry our water and lunch).

Then... this evening - I'm catching up with the infamous Baum-diggitys in Baltimore.  Man, I can't wait until Gretchen & Jason are here permanently.

HI MOM!! I love that my mom reads my blog.  No offense, but when I get a comment from her, it makes my day unlike any other comments.  I guess a small part of me is still the kid putting together the talent show in the living room -"Moooommmmmm -- look! Are you watching?"

It's Saturday.  Cheers!