October 2009 Archives

   I recently did my first overnight reporting gig for Fox 5 and it landed me in the heart of Hollywood for the Season Finale of "So You Think You Can Dance."  (Our exclusive interivew with winner Jineane seen in photograph to the right). For a former dance major, this was a great assignment.  But with these work opportunities, always comes a healthy helping of "mommy guilt" to go with it, you know, for being away.  I have to say though, I've made progress in this department.  (Big statement for a child raised in an Irish Catholic family.)

   Since my return to television after an 8 month hiatus, I learned a lot about who I really am. Not who I think I'm supposed to be.  Maybe other Moms out there have had similar experiences.  It's like the great debate that happens during every maternity leave.  "Should I stay home or go back to work?"  And, I've always told all my friends and my little sister the same thing:  "You won't know until you live it."  There's no way of knowing how you'll really feel until you walk the walk.  You'll either learn, you can't bear to be away from your child, or like I did, you're a better Mom when you work outside the home.  Which brings me back to "Hollyweird".

   It was truly fun to be unfettered and in the "foxhole" so to speak once again, reporting out in the field.  I had a great photographer Chad Voisen for good camaraderie and collaboration (photo below).  And, I was actually proud of myself that "I still had it"...because make no mistake, though they represent different challenges and skill sets, field reporting is much more taxing physically.  And, this old broad could still do it!  (Though it took a few days to recover...friend and colleague Susan Lennon laughed about that fact pretty hard with me.)

   So, the next time YOU have a chance to dust off your wings and spread them a bit...trust me, the stretch feels pretty darn good.  Just remember, if you're my age...there's a good chance you might pull a muscle. LOL

  Stay tuned, if you're a "So You Think You Can Dance" fan....my one on one with San Diegan and judge Mary Murphy...coming in November.

   Well, once again I'm apologizing for falling out of the blogosphere.  But since the last time I blogged, we've launched a new newscast at 6pm, a dear friend was diagnosed with breast cancer, the kids returned to school with all the activities, homework and field trips that go with it.  In other words, "life" happened.

   So here I am, back in familiar territory, recalibrating my life yet again, prioritizing what's truly important and what can wait.  Obviously, family and friends don't fall into that last category, nor do my anchoring/reporting assigments, so that leaves the blog.  And to be totally honest, when life is throwing a lot at you at once, creativity and inspiration are hard to come by...so if you're reading this, trust me, you were a lot better off.

   Anyways, I am slowly figuring out how to manage the new workflow, my family "cruise director" duties, and be a "present" friend.  I even have a little leftover "for me" at the end of the day.  Okay, maybe that last part was pushing it, but then again, I'm a work in progress.

   Thanks for your patience...and stay tuned for my next broadcast.  wink, wink.