US of A

Sweet land of liberty, 

I love you!

Writer's Block

I am a writer. Really, truly, I am. Unfortunately I am one who is currently suffering from writer's block. See for yourself. Enjoy peeking into my "diary" ...

Share the Road

I love everything about cycling except one thing: people in cars.

They're dangerous. And distracted. Cell phones, radios, GPS systems - cyclists constantly compete for motorists' attention. This morning, one cyclist lost that battle. He was struck and killed along a rural road in Douglas County, Missouri. It is the second death in the Kansas City area this year.

Every cyclist I know has had a scare with motorists. Including myself. It's not because we're not paying attention. Trust me. Our eyes are open wide - scanning intersections, corners, allies - looking, hoping, praying a car doesn't take us out. It can be terrifying, and exhilarating in a twisted sort of way. But mostly it's just plain scary.

So, if cycling is so dangerous, why do we ride? It's simple. We ride because:

1) It's like flying. With tires.
2) We like sunshine.
3) The smell of country roads.
4) The burn in our legs.
5) The calluses on our hands.
6) The spin of our tires.
7) The sound of our shoes clipping into our pedals.
8) The comradery.
9) The freedom.
10) The JOY.


We won't stop riding. You won't stop driving, so let's meet in the middle, and SHARE THE ROAD.

Check out these links:

Bikes Fly Off the Racks
KC Metro Bike Fatalities
Safety is Sexy
Share the Road Safely

2007 Tour of Missouri photos taken by yours truly.

Behind the Scenes

Fellow bloggers, I might be confusing you.

Yes, I love video. I love to script it, shoot it, edit it. YES! I heart video production, but the main reason for me even starting a blog is because I write. So why don't I write about writing in my blog? Because I'm afraid of you! =) My BFF blogger sister-friend, Casee, would call me a total hypocrite after a comment I recently left her about writing, but I digress...

One of these days I'll tackle my fear, until then please feel free to peruse through the videos in my blog like this one produced at my day job. =)

The video below is a behind the scenes look at life on the job with FOX 4 reporter Paul Herdtner and photojournalist Jim Monteleone. The story that day, there were five BB gun shootings on Kansas City's east side at metro bus stops. This is what happened before Paul's live shot made air... Enjoy!

Boy Who Stole My Heart...

His name is Liam. He just turned three.

When he was nine months old, this was his favorite game...

Two years, three months later, it's still a hit...

He's precious. I can't imagine loving a child more!

Happy Birthday Sir Liam!

Car Karaoke - Lost in Oklahoma

When you're stuck on a toll road, lost in Oklahoma, you tend to get creative.

Don't you? I did.

It started with a song ... and turned in to a three-day karaoke festival in my car.

Sing with me. Won't you? =)

And please, no lectures on the dangers of reckless driving.




What else does one do while lost in Oklahoma enjoying car karaoke? Take pictures of course...

Um, so I guess I've been tagged

THANKS LAURA MANIVONG!

What were you doing five years ago?
I don't even know what I was doing yesterday let alone five years ago...

What are five things on your to-do list for today (in no particular order)?
1. Run
2. Edit video story
3. Post news pkgs online
4. Finish this random "You've been tagged" thing.
5. Sleep

What are five snacks you enjoy?
1. Mt. Dew
2. Wheat Thins
3. Fruit Smoothies
4. Kit Kat
5. Did I say Mt. Dew?

What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?
1. Build/renovate orphanages in Tanzania and throughout Africa
2. TRAVEL
3. TRAVEL
4. TRAVEL
5. TRAVEL

What are five of your bad habits?
1. Hitting the snooze button
2. Feeding stray cats
3. Speeding
4. Hanging up before the other person says "bye"
5. Laughing too loud

What are five places where you have lived?
1. I heart Kansas City!
2. Los Angeles
3. Maryville, Mo.
4. Sioux City, Iowa (puke!)
5. Poplar Bluff, Mo.

What are five jobs you've had?
1. Television web producer/video editor
2. Topical producer
3. Commercial producer
4. Sonic Carhop
5. Hardees - You want some fries with that shake?

Those I've tagged:

Casee

Sandy

Tess

Happy Thoughts

Pink Shoes

Oh wait, on second thought...

After John McCain spent 395 days lobbying for Rev. John Hagee's endorsement, he's now saying, Oh wait, on second thought ... maybe not.

Why?

Because Hagee's been busted. Busted for a controversial topic he made regarding Hitler and the Jews. Apparently Hagee said Hitler was sent by God to hunt them.

Hagee's words, not mine:

"Then God sent a hunter. A hunter is someone with a gun and he forces you. Hitler was a hunter. And the Bible says -- Jeremiah writing -- 'They shall hunt them from every mountain and from every hill and from the holes of the rocks,' meaning there's no place to hide. And that might be offensive to some people but don't let your heart be offended. I didn't write it, Jeremiah wrote it. It was the truth and it is the truth. How did it happen? Because God allowed it to happen. Why did it happen? Because God said my top priority for the Jewish people is to get them to come back to the land of Israel."

And on YouTube...



After the uproar regarding Rev. Wright, the media, albeit a little late, is digging up dirt across party lines. (See my April 26 post about Hagee)

Still, when it comes to pastors, spiritual advisers, I believe President Reagan said it best when telling Baptists they can't endorse him, but he could them. Wise. Very wise. A president who points to a group of people and says, "Yes. They stand for what I believe in."

Now if only the 2008 presidential candidates would do the same. Let's just hope none of them point to the FLDS.

Ha!

I sang with Colbie Caillat!

Chatting with Colbie Caillat is more like talking with your BFF than a famous musician. Her casual, shy demeanor sets you at ease, and her ready smile makes you feel like an instant friend.



I had the privilege of speaking with the 22-year-old Malibu songbird Friday night before her sold out concert at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City.

From the moment she said hello, I was charmed, but that could be because I'm a fan. A huge fan. Bubbly's my ring tone, but I promise I don't have posters of her in my bedroom. I stopped that after New Kids on the Block.

Click here to watch the interview. You'll find out how Bubbly got its name and why Colbie was named after a car dealership. Seriously.

Colbie sank into a sofa backstage and chatted with me about everything from her battle with stage fright to why her song Bubbly starts out with, "Will you count me in?"

The highlight was when she tracked down her custom made, super cute guitar and broke into song. We sang Bubbly. Hello! WE sang Bubbly. I was over the moon.

Below is a Mad Mugz piece I did with fans at the concert. Check it out!



And check out these devoted fans who sang a little ditty at my request! OMG it was so much fun!

Elizabeth C. Bunce on FOX 4 News

My friend, Elizabeth C. Bunce, author of A Curse Dark As Gold, made a guest appearance on FOX 4 News. It was like she'd done a million of these live interviews - she was so good.

This is a behind the scenes look at what happened before she went on air...