Blond Across The Pond

A New Blog

2009-07-03T21:10:00.000-07:00

Hello dearest friends and family and wonderful readers. I have started a new and improved blog, http://www.denaedarcy.com/. Please visit me there! While I do love being the Blond Across the Pond, I am no longer "across the pond" and my hair color might change. :)

Thank you for supporting me these past 3 years through my international adventures. Feel free to still read and comment on articles here, but I hope to see you at my new spot on the web.

Cheers,
Denae D'Arcy

"Life Begins at 30"

2009-06-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

Today is June 29th and you know what that means. My birthday is just a few days away. This year, I'm turning 30.

My darling Kingsley and I were chatting the other day:

Me: Pook, I'm not ready to turn 30.

Him: Pook, life begins at 30.

That's the perspective I'm going to take. Kingsley is great at encouraging me and I'm going to hop on the "Celebrate 30!" bandwagon. To do so, I'd like to record my accomplishments in my 20s. This is more for my benefit than yours but thanks for humoring me.

I was 20 when I landed my first TV job in Hazard, Kentucky at WYMT. I was thrilled to have a full-time news anchor position and that was the job where I learned to shoot my own stories and edit them. At 22, I worked for WATE in Knoxville as night side reporter and weekend evening anchor. Then, at age 24 I got a job as morning reporter, weekend morning anchor in market 33, Cincinnati, Ohio. Landing a job at a larger market (WKRC) at such a young age has been my greatest television news career accomplishment thus far. While working in Cincinnati, I was making a fantastic salary and was too flashy for my own good. I owned a Lexus in my 20s. The joys of singledom and no kids = extra money for things. But then at 26 I started itching for something more. Cue my idea for travel and higher education.

With 3 suitcases, savings and student loans I got on a plane to London. While there, I traveled to France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, South Africa, Holland and Denmark. I rode the canals of Venice, stood along the Seine in Paris and drank from the fountain of youth in Lisbon. I even survived cage diving with Great White sharks off the coast of Gansbaai.

At 27, I met my husband, Kingsley and fell in love. I also earned my Master's degree and through higher education, I examined other cultures, customs, politics and religions. World travel changed my religion and politics in the most exceptional ways in my 20s.

In my 20s, I became even better friends with my parents and brother and love the chance to spend time with them. I won awards for news stories and also became a published writer in my 20s. I played a small part on the big screen in a mainstream movie, State of Play. And the biggie: I became a wife at age 29! I'm also proud to say in my late 20s, I'm in better shape than my early 20s. I dropped 2 sizes more than a year ago and have kept the weight off with a different lifestyle of eating. (It feels so good to be thin! There, I said it. It isn't easy and takes extreme self discipline - so I will take this one opportunity in celebration of 30th and say - I like my body.)

I suffered heartache, heartbreak, sadness beyond belief, depression, anger, despair, hatred and loss. I also genuinely loved others, laughed out loud, dreamed big, met goals, made life-long friends, took chances and felt exhilaration - just being alive.

Advice for folks in their 20s? Don't stress over the small things and really, truly try to learn what you want and need to be happy - then pursue it. Life is too short to be on a campaign to please others.

My goals for my 30s include getting my husband over here on our finalized Visa, paying off all debt, becoming a first-time home buyer, investing time and energy in continued world travel, and marching on with my career goals, however they might change in this age of developing media. I also want to publish a book, use my Spanish (6 years of study) and learn to play the piano. If you know me in a few years, please ask me how the goals are coming on. :)

Fern Ridge

2009-06-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Nice day near the water. 80s and sunny! Hope you are having a beautiful weekend too.

Tribute to Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T00:19:00.000-07:00

When I was in grade school, my parents bought me a little pink cassette player and my brother got one just like it in grey. We each selected a "tape" we wanted. I picked Michael Jackson's Bad and my brother wanted Beach Boys. We would play each of our tapes and nag one another with why our music was better than the other one.

I listened to my Bad tape over and over and over, memorizing all the words. When I was old enough to be allowed to watch MTV, I would try to mimick Michael Jackson's dance moves from music videos. As a young dancer in tap, ballet and jazz lessons, I was star struck with Michael Jackson and his flashy outfits.

Whether you love him or hate him, it is difficult to deny his success or talent as an entertainer. Five of his albums were the greatest selling albums of all time. Thriller sold 40 million copies alone. Most pop starts these day are influenced somewhat by his sound.

I have never been emotional about the passing of a "star." Even when Princess Diana died, I did not feel a personal connection. When the news of Michael Jackson's death hit the web, I was really surprised with the emotion I felt. For the first time, I feel that my childhood is very far away and yep, I'm growing older. Michael's music made me happy and it made me feel like dancing.

Rest in peace, Michael and thanks for the peace that you gave me through music.

My favorite Michael Jackson song is:

The Way You Make Me Feel

The King of Pop RIP

2009-06-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

TMZ is reporting Michael Jackson has died at the age of 50 from cardiac arrest. CNN reports a 911 call came from Jackson's home late today and medics responded. They reportedly began CPR on him immediately. He died at the hospital. This is a sad day for Jackson fans. More as soon as it comes out.

On the Way to Work...

2009-06-24T21:20:00.001-07:00

I drove past 3 alpacas today. 2 brown, 1 white. I "tweeted" about this and a nice man emailed me a link to his blog about alpacas.

Strange but true.

This is what an alpaca looks like:

Beer + Lime = Blimey!

2009-06-23T21:46:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: No one is paying me to write this review. I'm in Eugene, Oregon, waiting for my husband to move here from England so I have extra time on my hands. Plus, it is officially summer and I fell prey to the marketing scheme targeting women who would like to try beer but not PBR (But hey - why not? It has its own Facebook page).

The contestants are:

Bud Light Lime

Miller Light Lime

Michelob Ultra Lime Cactus

First, I tried the Miller Light Lime. It isn't bad but reminded me of those bad-girl days of high school when we used to beg my friend's older brother to buy us a 6 pack of Zima. It is drinkable - but not very good.

Next, Michelob Ultra Lime Cactus. This also tastes a bit like a wine cooler but it isn't as fizzy and the after taste is better. It has less "beer" taste overall but the major bonus is 105 calories per brew.

On to Bud Light Lime. Out of all 3, this probably tasted the best. It didn't remind me at all of Corona but if it was the only beer left on the shelf and I was going camping for the weekend, I would buy it. Otherwise, no thank you.

Nice Shot!

2009-06-22T17:58:00.000-07:00

Pundit Danger

2009-06-21T16:51:00.000-07:00

From one journalist to one posing as a journalist: please consider the impact of what you do and say. Inciting violence and murder through words and false excitement is horrendous. Hiding behind your misuse of the media's "freedom of speech" is even worse.

When people in the public eye, be it Brad Pitt or FOX News' Bill O'Reilly (such a nice guy watch this immature, unprofessional, temper tantrum), people listen to what you say and take it for gold. SOME right-wing, white, straight, Christian conservative men and women hold O'Reilly up to be a god (God knows why - probably because while listening to him they can justify feelings of superiority) and his veiled hate speeches about homosexuals, minorities, illegal immigrants and doctors who perform abortions may have encouraged 7 murders since the election of President Obama.

The most recent event was in Washington when white supremacist James W. von Brunn marched into the holocaust museum and gunned down an African-American guard. The suspect left a note in his car that said, "You want my weapons - this is how you'll get them. The Holocaust is a lie. Obama was created by Jews."

NPR's Jonathan Chait writes "it's somewhat apparent from Von Brunn's writing that he did identify with the Republican Party on some basic partisan questions. He cheered conservatives for getting Dan Rather fired, believed Sarah Palin was unfairly hounded by the media, and so on. Indeed, if there's anything surprising and disturbing about Von Brunn's beliefs, it's that he identifies ...closely with the Republican Party."

Pundits who encourage hatred and action through presenting situations such as: "Watch out America! Obama is going to get your guns! Protect your God-given American rights! This is not fair and America is being DESTROYED by gay men, illegal Mexicans and people who aren't Christians. What is happening to FAMILY VALUES!???? Don't let our God-blessed country GO DOWN THE DRAIN!" are irresponsible. Clearly the men (Ken Blackwell is another one that scares me with his tunnel dualism) who are paid millions to bring in television ratings do not care how their endless, ignorant, fear monger ranting effects our communities.

There are those who are not intelligent enough to consider the other side of the story. Perhaps they were raised in a poor, small community and have not had exposure to other cultures, rights, religions, differences or governments. Debate is essential in a free nation and all ideas, while not accurate, should be shared. However, in a free nation, debate should be responsible and present information, not encourage fear. Fear often leads to undue violence.

Eugene Tweetup

2009-06-20T01:45:00.001-07:00

I really enjoy meeting new people on Twitter. Twitter - which you too can sign up for - is another social networking site where you type a message in 140 characters or less. Users "follow" other users to read their "tweets" or messages. It's great fun.

Myself (@blondacrossthep) and John (@EugeneGuy) arranged a meeting in Eugene for the local Twitter users. Among "tweeple" the meeting is known as a "tweetup."

We met at the High Street Brewery on Thursday to say hello, network and enjoy the Oregon sunshine. Good times.

tweet : a message, 140 characters or less
tweeple or tweeps : Twitter users
tweetup : Twitter user get-together

Rollin' Again

2009-06-20T01:05:00.000-07:00

I am almost feeling more proud of myself at this moment than when I achieved my Master's degree from The University of Westminster in London.

Last weekend, I unlocked my bike and started off for a ride when something didn't feel right. The chain had come off the center cog. I parked it again and felt a little sad. I'd have to wait until the following weekend to take it to the bike shop to have it fixed.

This week, I told Kingsley (my husband) about it and he said: "You don't need to take it to the shop, you can fix it yourself!" ???!!! He explained how to do it (via Skype) and in my mind really I was thinking: "Um, there's no way I can do that. Too complicated."

The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to try to fix the $50 Craigslist bike myself. After all - if Kingsley thinks I can fix it, then maybe - just maybe - I can fix it.

So, tonight during a bit of down time during work, I watched a video that showed me how to put the chain back on. Then, when I got home, I kicked off a wild Friday night by sitting home and working on my bike.

You can see, the chain is off.

Here's another look.

I took these pictures thinking - what if I DO fix it, might want to document this moment.

I followed directions, needed my flashlight to really check out how the gears work but...

I did it! You gotta celebrate the small things...

Random, Quick Friday Night Post

2009-06-19T22:51:00.001-07:00

I have to anchor a newscast for KVAL in 10 minutes but I wanted to quickly say: I'm excited about this summer.

Summer officially begins at 10:45 Pacific time tomorrow and this is going to be the first summer of my married life.

Kingsley better get himself over here so we can high-tail it to the Oregon Coast to splash in the waves, sip Pinot Noir while looking over the green Willamette Valley, on a whim drive to Portland to hang with the cool North Western folks, and pack up the Jeep and pitch a tent at Packard Creek camping ground near Oakridge.

Welcome, Summer. Glad to see you again.

Dumb and Dumber

2009-06-17T01:11:00.000-07:00

The joys of hitting the streets with a microphone and a notebook outweigh the troubles. That said, wow. Some of the folks are CRAZY. Our night side reporter is on vacation so I've been reporting the last 2 nights. Going out to turn a story keeps my on-the-street skills sharp.

Tonight, I was interviewing a woman about why she thinks the county should use federal money to open up more jail beds for criminals. We were just standing in the hallway, with my photographer Kelly, quietly talking. Out of the corner of my eye, I see someone sauntering up, snickering. She starts taking pictures of us with her cell phone. That's not a problem, she can take pictures wherever she wants on public property. I respect and adore the 1st Amendment. But then... she interrupts our interview.

Crazy Lady: "Oh look, Dumb and Dumber."

Me: "Please, move on."

CL: (Walking away) "You're the only one who can take pictures here?"

Me: "We're not insulting you."

CL: (Over her shoulder) "You're insulting my intelligence!" (That was a pretty good one.)

CL: "RICK DANCER SUCKS C--K!"

(several people in the area stop and look over...)

Me: ????

I have no idea who Rick Dancer is...except that he randomly ran for Secretary of State this year after being an anchor at KEZI and I work for KVAL. The poor lady thought she got us with that comment though. Reporting is fabulous for people watching.

SPJ Awards Ceremony

2009-06-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago I attended the Society of Professional Journalists awards ceremony at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Oregon. It was a small ceremony but I won an award for my investigative piece, Cameras in the Courts.

After the ceremony where we enjoyed a nice meal and dessert, I got a chance to snap a few pictures of this goat. It was closing time at the zoo so we didn't get to see many animals. I want to go back when I have time.

'N Boer Maak 'N Plan

2009-06-12T14:25:00.001-07:00

(Credit goes to my friend Paul for this...)

A man in South Africa was tired of people breaking into his shop so he gave his dog a haircut. Everyone in Africa recognizes a lion...

Roar!! No more break-ins so far...

"'N boer maak 'n plan" is Afrikaans for "A farmer makes a plan..."

Our Slideshow

2009-06-12T01:39:00.000-07:00

I made this to show just before we were announced at our wedding reception. Yes, it is cheesy but allowed our guests a chance to share in our travels and some of the moments in which we fell in love.

Dreamin'

2009-06-11T02:17:00.000-07:00

I race into the dressing room and start fixing my hair. I realize that even though it is a short, black, permed wig, it is my REAL hair. My heart pounds. I start messing with the painfully short, straight bangs trying to make it look decent when I worry - I'm missing the beginning of the show!

Over the loud speaker is the cue: "Mic check!" I start speaking into the lav microphone I'm wearing and rush out of the room. An engineer stops me in the hallway and yells about the mic check, "Why aren't you giving us a check?" I keep counting out loud as I race down the hall and sit down at the table on the stage with seconds to spare.

The curtain slowly rises and I realize I don't know any of the lines, dances or songs for the MUSICAL I'm about to star in. I fumble on the table for the script and open the first page while faking a huge smile.

My family is in the audience and the lights are very bright.

I completely wing the first scene because I only have one line and the others in the play compliment my performance. Inside, I'm shaking. Thank goodness I wake before I have to suffer another second.

Today, I remember the dream so clearly. It must have something to do with letting go of the stress of the wedding or maybe its my 30th b-day coming up... Not sure, but I hope tonight's sleep is sound.

What about you? Have any nightmares lately?

A Link to the Professional Photos

2009-06-09T18:50:00.000-07:00

Our talented photographer Anne Powell McGowan has posted our professional photos online.

View them by clicking on this link.

The event name is "Denae and Kingsley." The password is case sensitive as "Parker."

You will have to enter your email address to see the pictures.

The Professional Photos

2009-06-05T14:18:00.000-07:00

One of the best decisions we made for our wedding was to hire the talented Anne Powell McGowan to do our photography. She has sent me some of the previews for use on my blog. Enjoy! ...And if you need a wonderful journalistic artist to take your wedding photos, contact her. She travels.

Beans, Beans Good for Your Heart...

2009-06-04T20:19:00.001-07:00

Black beans could be THE perfect food. Plenty of fiber, no fat and only 110 calories for a 1/2 cup. So, I'm going to try this easy recipe (on the Bush beans can) and you should too:

Black Bean Soup
2 cans black beans, do not drain
1 can reduced sodium chicken broth
1/2 c salsa
1 T chili powder
Sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped onion, cilantro (optional)

Mash one can of beans with potato masher or food processor. Pour both cans of beans into medium saucepan. Add chicken broth, salsa, and chili powder. Bring to a boil. If desired, top with sour cream, shredded cheese, onion, or cilantro.

A Few Books

2009-06-04T12:56:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm not planning a wedding for 6 hours of the day (before and after my full-time gig) I have some time to hit the books.

I just finished Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez. Debbie moved to Kabul to help start a beauty school and give Afghani women a chance to learn skills, enjoy fellowship and make money. The book was very interesting - hard to put down but the ending was disappointing. But, this is a memoir not a novel and life doesn't always have a happy ending. Def worth a read!

After looking up the book, I found drama surrounding it. Read about it on NPR's website.

My other memoir is an oldie by Isak Dinesen, Out of Africa. Isak moves to Kenya, which was then a British Colony to work on a coffee plantation and ends up running it by herself. Maybe you've seen the movie? It was written in the 1930s and so far is also a good read. She presents such details about the African landscape, safaris and what she calls "the Natives."

Also waiting patiently on my bedside table is Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik. Gopnik writes about his life as a North American in Paris. The book is a collection of essays from when he lived there. I adore Paris and cannot wait to dig in to this.

Sampling the Grapes

2009-06-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

On Memorial Day, a fab group of us went to Chateau Lorane on Lake Louise for the Fine Arts and Wine Festival 2009. The day was gorgeous and there were at least 30 different wines to sample. From white to red to sweet Raspberry Mead varieties...we had such a nice time.

My favorite was the selection of reds and I bought a glass of the Petite Syrah.

Next stop, King Estate Winery.

It is set up on a hill over looking the valley and has a lively tasting room with funny, knowledgable staff. They also create and serve Organic Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio.

Life Can Be Sweet

2009-06-02T00:28:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite areas in Eugene is close to the University of Oregon campus at 19th and Agate. There are 2 restaurants, 1 pub, 1 bistro and an ice cream shop. All of the establishments in the neighborhood have outdoor seating areas which are perfect to soak up the rare bit of Oregon sunshine.

After going to Agate Alley Bistro (fantastic happy hour with $5 veggie burgers and fries) with 2 friends on Memorial Day weekend, I decided to splurge and have an ice cream cone at Prince Puckler's. It was fabulous. But don't take my word for it. Read the 23 reviews on the place.

Now, this is NOT meant to be a political post so spare me the complaints but when Barak Obama was campaigning in Eugene, he stopped for ice cream at Prince Puckler's. They even have the Register Guard article on the wall. I tried to search for the actual on-line article but the Guard's archive search function is quite poor. Nevertheless...President Obama's favorite flavor of ice cream is Mint Chocolate Chip which is MY favorite as well!

The sun was shining so I really went overboard and sat on a swing in a nearby park while enjoying the treat. I do love spring and what feels like an early summer.

A Weekend on the Horizon

2009-05-29T20:42:00.001-07:00

On tap for the weekend: the Society of Professional Journalists awards ceremony. One of my 2008 news stories has won an award and I'm excited. The ceremony is being hosted at the Oregon Zoo and I'll meet a couple of colleagues there for the dinner.

I also have some wedding gift shopping to do at Crate and Barrel which should be fun. Don't you just love that store?

What are you up to?

Before the Ceremony

2009-05-27T00:17:00.000-07:00

We all decided to get ready together in the building adjacent to the Village Chapel. The bridesmaids (Casey, Adrian and Desiree) all chose their style of dress themselves. My only pointer was that it should be chocolate brown to go with the color scheme. Casey wore a long dress as she was the Matron of Honor.

The shoe shot...gotta love designer pumps for wedding festivities!

Adrian and Desiree each carried poises with fuchsia roses, fuchsia orchids and satin creme-colored ribbons.

My bouquet was similar with the addition of pink hydrangeas and monkey tails. I LOVED all of the flowers. Don Baker with Brunswick Town Florist is amazing.

Casey's flowers were a remake of mine just smaller.

Such lovely ladies!

Getting Ready on Sunday

2009-05-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

We went to the Island Retreat Salon and Spa on Bald Head Island which just opened in April. It is impressive with several treatment rooms and a lovely area to relax. Kelly did our up-dos and she was very good. Mom had her make-up done by Isla and it also turned out lovely.

Our Welcome Dinner

2009-05-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely day for our Welcome Dinner. The sun was shining and after 4pm they closed the pool area for our wedding party. We lounged in privacy and then came back at 6:30 for our Low County Boil served with Key Lime pie and peach cobbler. The boil was oysters, crab legs already split by the chef as well as chicken, potatoes, salad... yummy! We served it buffet style and our guests went back a few times to enjoy.

Live orchids surrounded by shells collected over the years on Bald Head Island

Adrian and Casey (bridesmaids) and I

Mom designed the decorations using candles the color of the sea and we added sand and flat marbles. When the sun set, the lighting was perfect and so warm. Roots Reggae floated through the speakers and the doors were open so guests could enjoy outside inside and go in and out to visit the open bar.

Mom and I and Grandma

Saturday

2009-05-22T00:40:00.000-07:00

Saturday (the day before the wedding) was the most stressful day of all for me. We had so much to do before the Welcome Dinner including the rehearsal. I didn't get any pictures except this one with Casey. She's my Matron of Honor and she made this sweet little tissue bouquet for me to practice walking down the aisle with. My Daddio wore his sunglasses to walk me down as practice and I had no idea why. Later it hit me...he was feeling emotional and didn't want anyone to see!

Thankfully, later in the day we all had a small chance to relax and enjoy the sunshine. We met at the pool at the Shoal's Club and some of us headed out to the beach from there. My mom, grandma and Great Aunt Alice also chilled on the deck by rocking in the chairs while looking at the ocean. They look so peaceful.

One of my bridesmaids and best friends from London, Desiree came over for the wedding. She and Paul (Kingsley's Best Man) and I spent a really nice time together on the beach just chatting and enjoying the sound of the waves. I haven't seen them for a while so it was salve to the soul to just relax and talk and listen to what's up in their lives.

Saturday I also got to hang with Adrian, one of my other bridesmaids. She brought her darling son Henry along and he let me hold him. He's not afraid of strangers and I never heard him cry once during the entire weekend. What a sweetheart! I just love being around Ace (her nickname). She is such a positive influence and very full of happiness and life.

Des, my South African soul sister just had to go for a swim. She braved the waves and threw all caution to the wind and went for it. I was too chicken because the water was a little chilly.

More pics tomorrow!

A link to a few photos

2009-05-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

Check out my Facebook Album from this weekend.

The Cocktail Party

2009-05-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

My pictures are coming up in order of how I shot them so I'll post the weekend in order. On Friday evening, we hosted a cocktail party for all of the guests already on the island. We had such a fun time introducing Kingsley's family to my family and spending time with friends we hadn't seen in ages!

Adrian, me and Casey - two of the bridesmaids

Our good friends Jason and Tonya brought a bottle of Dom to celebrate - we were VERY spoiled by them.

The guys talk about weddings (yeah right) on the patio overlooking the ocean

The new "brothers" - Kingsley and Dannen are friends and I am so thankful

A look inside the beach house my mother reserved for the occasion. It was a great space where we could entertain 40 people easily

At the party, Kingsley and I opened one of the presents from my family - 10 sets of our china!

It's Kate Spade!!

More pictures later...I have hundreds!

Mr. and Mrs.

2009-05-20T04:16:00.000-07:00

This is the happy couple at the after-party on our wedding day.

We did it! Our wedding weekend was fabulous and I feel relieved that it all went well and the stress is over. We have such lovely, new memories made with special friends and family. I will post details ASAP. Right now - it's back to Oregon, back to work!

Wedding Weekend Journal Part 1

2009-05-14T04:13:00.000-07:00

The things people say...

Don’t you love experiencing fun times in life moment by moment? Since I’m carrying my wedding dress with me during my travels, people can’t resist a comment. Here’s what I’ve heard so far on my first leg of the wedding weekend:

1. Very large, very serious TSA agent: “Are you really sending your dress through the x-ray machine?!” (After he saw the look on my face he immediately said “Just kidding.”)

2. Fellow passenger going through security: “Are you getting married?” Me: “Yes.” Him: “Don’t do it. There’s still time…” Ummm??

3. Man sitting next to me on the plane: “You’re getting married? Wow. You seem so calm.”

So far, I AM feeling pretty calm. Last night I had a teary-eyed moment when I began thinking about how important Kingsley is to me. I really am in love and it is a wonderful feeling. Kingsley made it to North Carolina. Thank you, God. There was a worry that he wouldn’t make it past the border because of our visa status. He is there and I am on my way to him.

PS - My dress had its own seat on 2 flights and I buckled it in. ;)

Where does the time go?

2009-05-12T22:32:00.000-07:00

In September 2006, I set sail (okay I boarded an airplane) to London, U.K. for the first time. I didn't know what would happen but I was pretty sure I would earn my Master's degree (yes!). Who ever knew I would fall in love?

In June 2008, after more than a year of dating, my darling Kingsley asked me to marry him. Thus I kicked off a mammoth project: planning our wedding. All of the details down to the size and shape of ribbon border on our gorgeous programs to the font and ink color on our dinner menus have been designed by me with generous help and inspiration from my mom. I've selected special gifts for guests and the wedding party and even picked out cocktail napkins for our cocktail party on Friday. Wow. Time flies. Two months ago I remember thinking, only two months left - so much to do!

Perhaps you are planning your own wedding or getting ready to. Enjoy the details. Get yourself a subscription to Elegant Bride and Martha Stewart Weddings. I did, but it all goes by so quickly. Also, I would recommend - ladies - have an idea of what you want on your wedding day. I didn't even have a clue and it takes time to discover what you really like. There are too many choices out there - trust me.

The stress of planning it all is over. Yes, I had a fly-off-the-handle moment last night which was compounded by wedding planning stress, work stress, groom bachelor-party stories (do they EVER grow up?), travel plans and a new hormone treatment (don't start BC just before the wedding, girls) but all is well and we are very much looking forward to our sweet union and future together. I cannot wait to see our friends from London, my friends and family from all over the U.S. and Kingsley's family from South Africa.

Kings is getting on his flight now to the U.S. and I have one more day at work until I go to the airport. Tonight I will load my suitcases into my car (the same ones I took to London in 2006) and dream of my groom and our special day.

Friends and Family

2009-05-11T21:34:00.000-07:00

I am really looking forward to seeing my family and my friends. My cousins will be visiting Bald Head Island this weekend as well as both sets of aunts and uncles. Some of my friends from high school (way back in the days of PHS) will be there to share my special weekend as well as college. It is funny how people grow and lives change and now many of my friends have begun their own lives and have children. How exciting!

I also cannot wait to spend time with my grandmother. She is one of my biggest fans and reads my blog every day. Even Dannen, my bro will be there with his friends Jason and Tanya to help me celebrate. I am looking forward to enjoying warmth, sunshine, good food and stepping away from this stressful job.

The news these days is not positive. It really brings me down to have to report on distruction due to finacial hardships. So many people are struggling and I would like to be away from that for a little while. Thank goodness I have a vacay on the horizon.

Wedding Stress

2009-05-07T02:28:00.000-07:00

I know it happens to every bride but it is not fun and it is not easy: dealing with WEDDING STRESS. I have large zit on my left cheek and I wonder why Mt. Kilimanjaro must sprout up on my face at a time like this. We're 10 days till the wedding. It needs to go away.

So in checking our wedding venders today, I call the tuxedo shop to make sure the measurements of our best man are in. I was actually calling them in a day after I got them. (Yes, he waited until this late to confirm he was coming..) On the phone the agent says, hmmm we don't have a wedding under that name. I give my name, the groom's name, my father's name and the best man's name. Nothing. We try all of our phone numbers. Nothing. We try the date of the wedding the location...nothing. They do not have a record of us ever coming in.

My heart is beating. I'm at work and also working on deadline for Sweeps (4 stories air next week while I'm out of town). No worries. I hang up and call my father. He says, no - we didn't pay deposits. I hang up and call my mom. She says yes - we paid deposits. I log onto my bank account and check the dates. Mom logs on and checks her credit card statements. Meantime, Caren the kind manager of Men's Wearhouse, says she'll call the district manager and see if there is anything they can do to get us in tuxedos on the wedding date.

3pm: I have to go into our nightly news meeting with colleagues and my boss and concentrate on the stories of the day and the ideas I'm pitching for Saving You Money.

Back at my desk, I call the manager once more and she says "We give all brides and grooms a large black and white folder with the group number on the front when a booking is made." I don't remember that at all and it dawns on me (DING!): "Is there another formal wear shop in the Wilmington mall?" "Yes, there's Cape Fear Formal Wear." Poor Caren. Poor Mom, poor Dad, my poor pounding heart. I had called the wrong shop!

All's well tonight and I printed the place cards out with no drama. Thank goodness.

Mission Accomplished

2009-05-05T01:32:00.000-07:00

All's well and the dress fits. Thank goodness. I don't know if I could cope if it didn't. We tried it on, packed it up and it is in my possession. Besides that, we had a fabulous time in Portland. We even went to Urban Farmer and did some people watching. Very interesting.

On the town! Our friends Seth and Addison also met us for fun in the big city.

Picking up THE dress

2009-05-01T22:48:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I venture to Portland with friends. We are going to spend the night in the city and they will attend my final dress fitting. I will try on my gorgeous gown and if all is perfect, I will bring it home with me. How happy am I?

One of most spectacular things about this weekend is the most fabulous deal we found on accommodation. We took a spin on Priceline.com and selected the "Name You Own Price" option. We gambled and tried for a 4 star for $80 total and guess what...we got it! I recommend trying this on your travels because you can save money AND acquire great accommodation, especially if you are splitting the cost of the room as we plan to do.

We are staying at the historic but newly renovated, Benson Hotel. It is a fixture in downtown Portland and is within walking distance to all the fun a big city has to offer.

Our wedding blog

2009-05-01T04:00:00.000-07:00

Less than two weeks until friends and family convene on Bald Head Island near the Old Baldy Lighthouse (est. 1817) for our wedding. If you would like to read more about how Kingsley and I met, please visit our website.

Life is good

2009-05-01T03:36:00.000-07:00

Do you notice the positive aspects of everyday life? This is something I struggle with when I feel overwhelmed.

I interviewed a "Life Coach" today for a report I am researching. Maria runs Lovin' Life in Eugene. This lady is full of energy and even though I tend to view life as half full and half empty at the same time...she has an amazing outlook on things.

From talking with her for about 20 minutes for the story - I have a challenge to pass along. We can do it together!

1. To begin, we are supposed to start noticing things in our life to be thankful for. Even if it is simply: "Whew, I was able to pay my rent this month. I'm thankful to have a place to live." 2. Whatever "challenge" you are up against right now, meditate on an ideal outcome. Then, imagine the outcome you want happening. 3. Do not worry. Start training your mind to dwell on something else as soon as it wanders to anxiety.

Maria says these steps won't immediately snap us into a wonderland of milk and honey but she says give it a try for a week and then revisit whether your mindset changed the course of your life...even in small ways.

Here's what I plan to do: 1. Have grateful thoughts about my upcoming nuptials (so many friends and family are doing so much for us!). 2. Imagine walking down the aisle happy and energized with content guests. 3. Rather than worrying about things I cannot control, I'm going to think about the little details things I adore about my big day.

Anything you can do in your life to try this with me?? It's only 1 week.

Disclaimer: I did ask Maria, "What about people who are naturally negative and find this exercise to be ridiculous?" She said pretty much said not everyone can go from miserable to fulfilled overnight. Ha!

2 Weeks

2009-04-29T00:56:00.001-07:00

Sneak peak of my wedding dress fitting

From tomorrow, I have just 2 weeks until I fly out of Eugene, to go to my wedding. I cannot believe it! I wonder if every bride feels the way I do? You plan and plan but do most women come to a silent point and ask themselves: are you prepared to walk down the aisle and say the vows??

It is really happening to me. After all these years of finding out who I really am, working hard during dance lessons, taking math tests, venturing out as a green journalist in my career, dating guys - some good and some bad - it is almost time to become a married woman, a man's wife, a life-long partner to another person.

I am very happy and am thankful for my groom's courage. While I am tonight looking online for customized napkins for the cocktail party, he is checking off a list of things to do before he moves to a new country. How brave! Kingsley is not only becoming a husband, eventually he will become a citizen of my country. Love allows awesome things.

There still seems so much to do but I am ready to become a wife and cannot wait for the special day.

In the news

2009-04-25T14:02:00.000-07:00

Eugene Weekly, a weekly newspaper in Eugene gave me a shout out for the work I did in getting cameras into the Lane County circuit courts.

Also serving the public interest was KVAL-TV’s work to get a video camera in the courtroom as a “pool” for all the local media to use. News anchor and reporter Denae D’Arcy did her research and discovered that Oregon law allows cameras in courtrooms unless judges “set forth substantial reasons for the denial.” Even when backed by state law and an Oregon Supreme Court decision favoring cameras in the courtroom, D’Arcy and the KVAL newsroom still endured a long, dragged-out struggle. ”In my experience of fighting this, they don’t want us there,” she told a gathering of media people during the trial. “I don’t think our battle is against each other. It’s against the courts.”

The media meeting at KVAL April 16 was an attempt to hash out problems EW and other media had in getting video from KVAL in a timely manner. Judge Jack Billings had agreed to the video camera access April 6 with a number of provisions, including “KVAL is expected to make the video available to any media which requests it.” Sounds simple enough, but it soon got complicated, and even the court staff got involved, finally asking the squabbling media to work it out among themselves. More meetings are planned to avoid technical and policy problems with future pool coverage.

And in St. Joseph, Missouri, where I grew up as a child, this piece was published by St. Joe Live. My grandma is so proud of my accomplishments and she supports my dreams. So, she called the St. Joe newspaper and reporter Blake Hannon called me. He interviewed me over the phone and wrote this article:

Many people went to see the political thriller “State of Play,” starring Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck, last weekend. Jackie Crawford of St. Joseph was one of them, but she wasn’t there to see A-list actors. She was looking for “Reporter #5,” played by her granddaughter and St. Joe native, Denae D’Arcy.

“I went to see the movie, and she’s certainly there,” Crawford says.

The crazy part is, the role that Denae D’Arcy played in the film is a role she plays in real life.

D’Arcy, 29, was born and raised on South 40th Street in St. Joseph and attended Pickett Elementary School before moving to Tennessee with her family. She attended college at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn., obtaining a bachelor’s degree in mass communication specializing in journalism. From there, she got TV anchor/reporter jobs in Hazard, Ky., Knoxville, Tenn., and Cincinnati, Ohio, before moving to London, England, to attend the University of Westminister for a master’s degree in international journalism.

While living in London, she got a job as a nanny for Justine Wright, a film editor for the Oscar-winning film “The Last King of Scotland” and the new film “State of Play.” After three months, D’Arcy got a job as an anchor and reporter for KVAL TV in Eugene, Ore., but she also got a request from her former employer.

“(Wright) called me up and said, ‘Hey, I’m working on this movie, could you help me out?’” D’Arcy says.

The help came in a fake news story D’Arcy recorded in the KVAL studio that she sent to Wright, which would later end up as part of a news montage in “State of Play.”

D’Arcy’s role in the film is a small one. She didn’t get to meet any celebrities and has no plans to quit her day job. But even the minor results of her work in the film, from phone calls received from London colleagues to her presence in the Internet Movie Database (imdb.com), still registers.

“It said (I’m) listed as an “actress” and this kind of hit me as kind of a big deal,” D’Arcy says.

A Sign-off to Winter

2009-04-24T21:36:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the lovely Spring weather we are having in Western Oregon, here is my sign-off to winter. See ya again next year.

Imagine...

2009-04-24T01:16:00.000-07:00

Imagine living in a country where on election day you are afraid to walk out of your house.

The presidential election took place in South Africa yesterday. The "ruling" party in South Africa presently is the African National Congress. The man who ran for President and was awarded the office is Jacob Zuma. He has 6 wives (this is allowed in his tribal culture) and is from the Zulu tribe. He grew up herding goats. Read more here from Time magazine about Zuma. (A wide belief of the Zulu people is all misfortune is a result of a evil sorcery or offended spirits, nothing really happens because of natural causes.) The Zulu people are the ethnic majority in South Africa.

President Zuma during a wedding ceremony where he married his 5th wife who bore 2 of his children.

President Zuma before he was elected President during an interview.

The only break-away opposition party is COPE or Congress of the People. The party's official Gerlad Yona, was shot to death on election day. His wife was also shot but survived and his children ran through the streets trying to save themselves and managed to get away from three assassins who reportedly drove away in a car marked with an ANC sticker. Read more from my future sister-in-law who first wrote about the elections.

Hostages released by communist rebels on one of the day of elections.

And now to Patna, India... the month-long election began today with bombing in the streets. Suspected communist rebels attacked a van carrying election officials with a homemade bomb. Two were badly injured. On the same day, communist rebels hijacked a train so people couldn't get to the polls. Luckily, they were later released without being killed.

This is what is happening in other countries - but how many Americans even notice what goes on around the world? That's how I felt before I traveled outside of the U-S. Ah, why should I care, those people are so far away...

More and more our world is becoming dependent on other countries. Diplomacy and knowledge of the workings of world politics is integral for success in the global climate. My future in-laws all live in South Africa and had only two men to choose from on election day. One party made sure to KILL a top official of the other party. Do you think folks might be a little scared to vote for the COPE party? You betcha.

Do we take our freedoms, choices, debates for granted and bicker about how the new administration is trying to solve problems? At least we had two strong candidates to chose from.

Need travel...

2009-04-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

I AM going across the nation to North Carolina next month for my wedding but this gorgeous, fresh, spring weather has inflicted a painful nostalgia for traveling around Europe with a student travel club.

How about a trip south of the border and to Brazil, perhaps Rio de Janeiro? Where do you want to go?

Beautiful day for a bachelorette

2009-04-19T15:56:00.001-07:00

My friend Natasha arranged to have a limo for the girls last night to head to Sweet Cheeks Winery outside of Eugene in the Willamette Valley. Kim, Elissa, Staci, Laura, Jen, Annie, and Natasha all pitched in and I didn't have to pay a cent! How lucky am I?

We rode out to the winery and ordered a Sweet Cheeks Riesling Vintage, Pinot Noir 2007 and 2008 and a Pinot Gris 2007. We also sampled a Rose which is a blent of the Pinot Noir, Riesling and Pinot Gris. The wine is smooth with a nice finish. Great label.

The best part of the day for me was sitting on the patio at Sweet Cheeks and looking out at the valley. The sun was shining and it was in the 70s will only a slight breeze. Perfect weather for girl chat over a glass of vino.

Natasha found this adorable "Bride-to-be" sash and I wore it most of the night. At one point, I was feeling a little shy so I put it in my purse...Kim got it out and told me to put it back on. Ha!!!

Later, after dinner at the Oregon Electric Station in Eugene (the wine cellar is in a temperature-controlled old rail car - so cool!), we all moved on to Davis, a nightclub. There we had a cocktail and danced until our feet were sore. Such a fun day! I'm very thankful to have such lovely, kind, FUN friends!

Saturday will be a blast

2009-04-17T22:02:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Natasha has planned a get-together for the ladies in Eugene, Oregon who weren't able to attend my bachelorette gig in Vegas. I don't know much about the plans except the ladies have reserved a limousine for the evening and we are going wine tasting (my favorite)!

I am absolutely stoked for tomorrow since the weather is supposed to be gorgeous - 70s and sunny - in Lane County. The limo picks us up at 4:30pm and we are heading to Sweet Cheeks...one of the many wineries in the Willamette Valley. I've never been to Sweet Cheeks and cannot wait to try the label and check the view of the vineyards.

After that, we have dinner plans and a girls' dance-a-thon lined up for Davis' in Eugene. I will be walking down the aisle one month from today and cannot wait to be with my darling.

Denae in State of Play

2009-04-17T14:23:00.001-07:00

State of Play with Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck came out today and I was able to film my short clip. Hope you enjoy and please, go see the movie!

I would really like to have a pet

2009-04-17T00:23:00.000-07:00

Kingsford Goes to the Beach - video powered by Metacafe

Boycott media with an agenda

2009-04-15T18:50:00.001-07:00

Our KVAL reporter was verbally assaulted by protestors at a local "Tea Party" where people protested taxes. They got in her face screaming about the "liberal media" and also grabbed her reporters notebook. What the hell is wrong with people?

As a journalist, I have a real problem with media promoting agendas.

Apparently, this morning FOX News Network announced that liberal media would not cover the "Tea Parties" and if they do show up to give them a hard time. FYI: All media other than FOX Network is not necessarily the liberal media.

I am so embarrassed for the conservatives who got in the face of our young reporter tonight. They are giving their cause a bad name and they seem like fanatics. The abrasive and outrageous behavior of these people overshadowed their message today.

In our newsroom, the phone has been ringing off the wall with calls from people attending this protest demanding coverage and the funny thing is WE WERE THERE. Several have been horribly rude to me for no reason!

Champagne, flowers and chocolate

2009-04-09T01:48:00.000-07:00

We popped the top the first night in Vegas! My sweet friend Ace couldn't be with us so she sent a bottle of bubbly to the room. So much fun...

Casey, Jordan and I also spent one morning at the Bellagio enjoying the Chihuly exhibit of glass blooms on the ceiling of the lobby and this lovely Spring exhibit with hundreds of varieties of tulips.

And one of my most favorite spots in Vegas - the Jean Philippe Patisserie in the Bellagio. The desserts are unreal and they serve crepes for breakfast just like in France. Yum!

While waiting in line for an over-priced White Chocolate Mocha, which was worth the $6.50 by the way, you get to watch this amazing fountain of chocolate which flows from the ceiling.

A few of the high points

2009-04-09T01:30:00.000-07:00

During our Saturday night on the town in Vegas we ran into a few celebrities. First, Holly Madison. She is a former Playboy Bunny who starred in the reality TV show "Girls Next Door." Holly was Hugh Hefner's girlfriend in the series which still runs on E! six seasons after it began.

We were walking out of an elevator on our way out of the Ghostbar Nightclub when I passed her. I asked politely, "Holly, may I have my picture with you?" She was nice and beautiful in person (also very skinny) and said "Yes, if you hurry up."

Later in the evening we decided to have champagne at the champagne bar in N9NE, one of the other upscale lounges in The Palms. There, we ran into Jamie Foxx, who played in the award-winning movie Ray. Foxx first hit on my friend Casey by saying "Hey, baby." I asked him if I could have my picture with him and he said "Sure." He looks a bit intense in the picture but it was getting late.

Still later in the evening, Casey hit it big on the blackjack table. Yes, those are $100 bills in her hand. She was generous and paid for a top-notch 3 course Spring tasting dinner for us at Craftsteak Steakhouse the next evening at the MGM Grand. The dinner was one of my most favorite things of the trip.

A close second has to be the lingerie shower my friends hosted for me by the pool at The Palms. I'm going to be a married woman in 5 weeks and it was so fun to open presents that contained frilly, girly, pink numbers.

Las Vegas

2009-04-07T13:51:00.000-07:00

I have to head off to work but wanted to post a few pics of Vegas. We had a lovely time and my most favorite moments were eating gorgeous dinners and fantastic restaurants. I'll post the menus later. The Palms' pool was amazing and we had glorious sunshine all weekend.

Casey brought this tiara and it was a blast to wear. "Bride to Be!"

View of the Fantasy Tower from the pool.

The Bellagio hotel lobby has a Chihuly exhibit with hand-blown glass blooms.

The view from our room.

Dinner tonight

2009-04-05T16:25:00.000-07:00

Sping tasting menu at Craftsteak at the MGM -- this is where we are headed this evening. YAY! Hoping to do some celebrity sighting as well. The CMA awards are tonight - live at the MGM.

FIRST COURSE
Shaved Fennel SaladGrilled Quail, VincottoBuffalo Mozzarella, Red Pepper CaponataPersian Cucumber, Lemon Vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE
Prime Beef Flat Iron SteakGrilled Angus Beef Skirt SteakDiver Sea Scallops

SIDE DISHES
Yukon Gold Potato PuréeSugar Snap Peas, Ricotta SalataRoasted Shiitake Mushrooms

DESSERT
Chef’s Selection

Sommelier Wine Pairing - one glass with each course

Vegas Baby

2009-04-05T14:31:00.000-07:00

Vegas is wonderful! Sunshine and fruity drinks by the pool. I will post pics soon.

The Countdown Begins

2009-04-03T00:36:00.000-07:00

I have been a single lady for almost 30 years. The countdown begins to the end of being a bachelorette. To celebrate my best friend Casey, her sister Jordan and I are headed to Vegas.

We are staying at The Palms Casino and hotel and will be going to Ghostbar, Moon, and Rain nightclubs. I have been to Rain and Ghostbar and they are fabulous. The Palms also has a restaurant called The Little Buddha which I cannot wait to try (mostly sushi).

On Sunday, the weather is predicted to be clear, sunny and 72F. I cannot wait to sip a fruity adult beverage (possibly with an umbrella in it) and chat to my gal pal Casey (who is the matron of honor) about wedding plans.

Is my lucky star shining or what!? I also got the latest issue of Martha Stewart Weddings in the mail today. I plan to read it on the plane ...well maybe after I wake up from my nap. I'm too afraid to fall asleep and miss my flight so I'm going to power through without sleep and snooze on the plane.

Make-up

2009-04-01T01:04:00.001-07:00

My experience with makeup has changed drastically over the years. I remember as a young girl heading into the bathroom, carefully closing the door, easing out my mother's makeup drawer and spilling her loose powder all over the bathroom. I just wanted to try it and of course, be as beautiful as she is.

That night, my 'blankie' went bye-bye as punishment. I was 5 at that point and my mom was waiting for any chance she could get to throw it out and put a stop to thumb sucking. Eeew. That worked but I've never gotten over my love for pigments, makeup brushes and techniques. I was lucky enough to learn from a true artist when I worked as a reporter/anchor at WKRC in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Make-up is so much fun! So is Anni who works at the MAC counter at Macy's at Valley River Center. Go to see her. You will be rewarded with a look that you love. I visited her on Saturday to practice my bridal look.

A bridal look for a TV anchor is different from that of a saleswoman. I wear layers of makeup everyday and do not feel natural in a barely-there virginal display. So, I asked that we do dramatic eyes.

We began with these colors:

She showed me how to highlight and use under-eye concealer with a brush...

The eyes turned out to be lovely I think.

I so wish I would've fixed my hair that day but here is the final look. My friends like it but think we should maybe do a bit more color on the cheeks. What do YOU think?

Candid Camera

2009-03-31T00:29:00.001-07:00

It is so hard to be away from the one you love and watch them go through tough times.

Kingsley is a British citizen and I am an American citizen. He needs a visa to live here even though we are getting married. Despite what many people believe, marrying an American citizen does not give you automatic permission to be in the US. God, how I wish it was that easy.

Our K-1 Fiance visa petition was approved by the US government but now Kingsley has received the information on how to apply for the actual visa through the US Embassy in London. There are literally 4 steps (just to apply to get an interview!!) with about 8 components to each step. Details include: x-rays, blood tests, fingerprints, photo verification, forms, online forms an interview, affidavit of financial means, every address ever lived at, police certificates...

We both (along with his dear mother) have now spent hours online researching the steps and reading the lists of things the US government needs. This is all for a non-immigrant visa! I can only imagine the horrendous amount of work applying to become a citizen will entail.

At the end of the day, here I am alone in Oregon while my love is in London and we are both afraid to talk about how all of this upsets us so much. If we mention our disappointment out loud, I'll probably start crying and Kingsley is already stressed enough! Why can't life be just a tilch easier?

It unlikely Kings will be awarded a fiance visa before our wedding so he will have to return to the UK and that is not what we wanted at all. I am feeling sad for myself but the worst part is feeling helpless when it comes to encouraging Kingsley.

Advice? An encouraging word for me??

Paperwork

2009-03-29T14:28:00.001-07:00

I finally started in on the long task or stuffing invites. It was fun though because I love the quality of the paper.

The invites are from William Arthur and come with a gold bow. Nice!

Some are finished...

A few more...

Finally the whole lot...

BATP's Inner-dorkyness

2009-03-26T22:51:00.000-07:00

I know I'm pretty cool. I mean, come on. Who isn't cool these days? But sometimes, you have to confess the inner-dorkyness.

I like to crochet AND I fall down a lot.

I've tripped and fallen twice outside my apartment in the last week. My neighbors must truly think I have a health problem which causes me to seizure and fall over when I see daylight.

Two different nights I decided to move my plants. Once when it was hailing and I wanted to put them under cover. That's when I slipped on the ice. Last night I decided to put the plants back out on the sidewalk and I tripped on my pant leg and fell again. This time I have a knee cap the size of a grapefruit and a broken tera-cotta pot. My plants are trying to kill me.

AND, I'm kinda dorky.

Our wedding blog

2009-03-26T15:00:00.001-07:00

I've been keeping a wedding blog as well to let friends and family know about arrangements and wedding registries. Click here to visit.

The cure for writer's block...

2009-03-25T00:30:00.000-07:00

...is to ramble. You're supposed to start writing even if it is a spew of nonsense. I apologize up front for the lack of creativity or cognate thoughts in this post.

I'm babysitting my friend Kim's cat Violet. She is small and still in the kitten phase, absolutely adorable. She meows like a tiny mouse. I finally had to remove the annoying bell collar, though. At 5 in the morning I was still listening to: tingalingaling, tingtingting, tingaling...

I raced outside to save my plants from the hail on Sunday. Instead of walking out calmly and moving them in an athletically confident way, I ran wild like I was saving children from a fire. So, of course, I slipped on the ice and fell. When I fell, a 1/2 inch long splinter lodged into my hand. I felt a tiny bit of pain and glanced at it for a minute and thought it was a scratch. Later, I picked it out using my nails and was impressed with my own toughness.

My upstairs neighbors have been going at it - romantically shall we say - for an hour. My goal is to be in a house (one that I own) or at least in the penthouse suite by this time next year.

Our wedding invitations arrived today and I love them. They are a gorgeous, weighty ivory paper with raised gold lettering. The font is perfect and the small shell motif: classy with a twist of whimsy. I need to print addresses, buy a million stamps (they have to go on the response cards too) and get to stuffing. Where oh where is my groom when I need his fun spirit during chores? It is hard to explain the moment when you first see your name printed on a wedding invitation and you are the bride!

I've started Ebay-ing to see if it is possible to actually make money. So far, I'm up about $10 on two items but the amount of work is not worth it. I'm going to try my luck and evaluate after one month.

My work duties have doubled and while the day goes by must faster, my challenge is to remain calm under pressure during the hours leading up the newscast and let go of the stress when I walk out to my car at night. I listen to BBC World News on the ride home and it makes me feel lighter to know a new day is dawning in London as mine is ending here.

I love 94% fat free microwave popcorn. It could possibly be the perfect food.

Recession Seafood Platter

2009-03-22T18:55:00.001-07:00

Haha. My mother-in-law-to-be has a fantastic sense of humor and sent this "South Africa Recession Seafood Platter." Hope your weekend was full of great laughs.

Spring has Sprung

2009-03-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

We made it through winter! Friday was the first official day of spring and I celebrated early by planting Pansies and Anemone on Thursday evening. We had mild temperatures and a lovely sunset. Today, though, back to cold and rainy. Hope you are having a great weekend!

To Do

2009-03-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

Just when you think you're almost finished...

1. Invitations
2. Photobook for guests
3. Buy/pack steamer for dress
4. Decide on and email signature cocktail choices to caterer
5. Buy things for and create welcome baskets
6. Buy special sugar cookies for favors
7. Dress fittings
8. Book airline ticket
9. Makeup practice and buy all products MAC
10. Design and print ceremony programs
11. Design and print cocktail hour menus
12. Gift for parents
13. Gift for groom
14. Place cards
15. Design place card table and buy decorations
16. Table numbers
17. Schedule mani/pedi
18. Design and build Photoshow for reception of bride and groom
19. Pack scrapbook
20. Ask friend Kevy (professional videographer) about recording the ceremony
21. Change mothers' flowers from corsage to posies
22. Change all attendants' flowers to fuchsia
23. Ask dad about making a speech
24. Speech from bride/groom

And that's just the half of it... Brides: what am I missing? Most of the other big stuff is complete.

The Pope and Condoms

2009-03-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

Whoa, this is a shocker. The Pope was quoted saying "condoms increase the problem of AIDS" in Africa today. This is horribly troubling on so many levels. The Vatican has released a statement backing up his reasoning. There has been, understandably, outrage all over the world after hearing this.

“My reaction is that this represents a major step backwards in terms of global health education, is entirely counter-productive, and is likely to lead to increases in HIV infection in Africa and elsewhere,” said Prof Quentin Sattentau, Professor of Immunology at Britain’s Oxford University.

The Business Day article goes on to say: The Church teaches that fidelity within heterosexual marriage and abstinence are the best ways to stop AIDS. Asked about the criticism, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the pope was “maintaining the position of his predecessors”.

What? Because of the history of Catholic beliefs - which say "no" to birth control, we must throw out all sound reasoning, responsibility and truth? Pope Benedict XVI is supposed to be an educated man.

Are his comments much different from those of the former South African deputy president Jacob Zuma? Zuma testified in a rape case brought against him by a HIV positive women in public court that he minimised his risk of contracting the AIDS virus during unprotected sex, "by taking a shower afterwards."

Did the Pope, revered by many as a world leader, do anything to educate people today?

He did say this: "The saving message of the Gospel needs to be proclaimed loud and clear so that the light of Christ can shine into the darkness of people's lives," as the president and other political leaders looked on.

“Anything that reduces AIDS on a depressed continent like Africa should be welcomed,” said Adeleke Agbola, a lawyer in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation.

I understand, reason doesn't always jive with religion. But guess what? - even if you present an iron-clad stance on abstinence until marriage - condoms prevent the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.

HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS, infects 33 million people globally and has killed 25 million.

A New York Times editorial said the pope “deserves no credence when he distorts scientific findings” about condoms.

France's foreign minister already has something to say about this nonsense: “While it is not up to us to pass a judgement on the doctrines of the Church, we consider that such remarks put in danger public health policy and imperative needs regarding the protection of human life.”

Belgian Health Minister Laurette Onkelinx said the pope’s comments “... reflect a dangerous doctrinaire vision. His declarations could demolish years of prevention and education and endanger many human lives.”

Major Slacker

2009-03-17T21:28:00.000-07:00

I'm kinda anal about updating my blog, like e'ery day. But...recently I've been a Major Slacker.

Below are possible reasons as to why I've had no time for Blond Across the Pond (You can vote on your favorite):

1. Laziness
2. New responsibilities at work
3. Too much time with the chips and salsa
4. Someone's getting hitched
5. Needed more time to write long petitions against the new Facebook
6. Shopping E-bay every night to find the perfect shade of fuchsia shoes
7. Daydreaming about a girls weekend in Vegas
8. The nose picking habit is back
9. Busy reading Rich Like Them
10. Crochet

The Opera

2009-03-16T00:41:00.001-07:00

Sunday was fun with a quick trip to the matinee performance of The Eugene Opera's Don Giovanni. This was written by Wolfgang Armadeus Mozart, performed in Italian and the music was phenomenal. In a box seat, I had a perfect view into the orchestra pit and was mesmerized by the musicians and different instruments.

Don Giovanni is a womanizer who attempts to bed every woman he comes across. Eventually those he betrayed come together to band against him. He never repents.

The performance was touching and the talent amazing. Here's a short clip from a wedding celebration which Giovanni crashes trying to seduce the bride...

How was your weekend?

Escape to Nature

2009-03-13T00:05:00.000-07:00

There's lots of moments to experience nature on Bald Head Island. We stayed in a home on the golf course hidden by trees. At dusk, we would take nature walks and found the roosting spot for White Ibis (marsh land bird). It was truly amazing to see them soar in one after the other at night. They are huge birds.

We also found the nest of an Osprey (one of the largest birds of prey in North America). Apparently it lays eggs in its nest on the edge of the golf course each year.

Mom posed by a huge old tree on our walk. It was Feb and still quite chilly.

Da' Boys

2009-03-12T00:26:00.000-07:00

The boys (Kingsley and my Daddio) were actually pretty helpful during all of the crazed wedding planning on Bald Head Island. Kingsley is (usually) a very calm person and he helped balance my anxiety over making sure things are going to be "perfect" for the wedding. Mom and I have lofty ideas and high hopes and I am so happy with how things are turning out.

Daddio provided comic relief as well as a sense of calm and I'm so happy they were both there to help mom and I enjoy the vacation while we were planning. They took us out to dinner for surf and turf, cooked and even hunted for seashells -- which we need for a wedding project.

They also got some time on the golf course, of COURSE.

One of the stops during the trip was the tux shop.

Kings is going to wear a gorgeous espresso brown tuxedo with ivory shirt and ivory vest and tie (shown on model).

Daddio and Paul (best man) will wear the same tux with dark brown matching tie and vest. They are all going to be so handsome and I look forward to checking out my gorgeous groom on our wedding day!

Game Night!

2009-03-08T14:55:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun last night. My friend Annie was heading over to her friend's house to hang out and I met up with them. After awhile we decided to break out the board games. It has been so long since I've played! We had some stiff competition (girls versus boys) for Cranium. The guys won because they cheated (kidding) and it was a blast.

Look how cute the playing pieces are:

And one of the best moments of the night - when Eric drew a green card and had to act out a celebrity. See if you can guess who it is supposed to be:

If you need stress relief, try Cranium. We were shouting, laughing, drawing, acting, spelling and puppeting - having a fab time.

My Pink Nubby Robe

2009-03-08T03:04:00.001-07:00

I'm actually being quite candid while I write this post. I am crying a little. My pink nubby robe that I have had since high school had to be retired today. I ripped a hole in the back while moving furniture and I am mourning for it like a family pet. Why this strange emotional reaction for a piece of fabric?

I guess I'm going through some growing pains. When you are engaged to be married no one tells you that this huge change of marriage can be a little scary.
Since the age of 17, I have lived away from my parent's home working to get ahead in college and full-time employment. For 12 years I have made my own decisions and really haven't had to okay anything with anyone. That is going to change as marriage is a partnership and when you make a life-time commitment you no longer only think of yourself.

My nubby pink robe was soft. It had been washed hundreds of times. I even specially spot-treated this robe when I spilled ink on it during collage. But it is not pretty. The sleeves are too short and it is horribly ugly and shoddy. It is just not appropriate for a newly wed. This kind of robe is only for the single girl, worn in the comfort of her private space. The tear was inevitable because it was threadbare and the fabric discolored from repeated washings.

As comfortable as it is, and although I have had it for 16 years, I know I cannot keep my pink robe. Before I placed it in the trash this morning, I held it to my face for a long time. I smelled it's comforting smell and felt the well-worn cloth. It reminded me of a pink blanket I had as a young child.

I will not keep the robe. My life is changing and I should get ready for it. Another full length, warm and cozy robe will come along. Perhaps it will also be pink! The up-swing of getting married however, is I won't always need a long nubby robe - there will be other ways to stay warm. :)

Tough Job But Someone Has To Do It

2009-03-07T14:23:00.000-08:00

I blogged about all of the jobs I needed to get done while on Bald Head Island for the wedding. Well, one of our stop-offs was the cake lady. Mary Norwood has been baking wedding cakes for 20 years and she has experience transporting them to BHI and setting them up. Perfect!

We are doing a cake similar to the one in the picture except with ivory butter cream frosting and fuchsia flowers including orchid blossoms. I also do not want greenery as shown in the picture. Our silver tray will be different than this one as it is on a foot.

We tasted a yellow cake with butter cream frosting. We decided to go plain (Kingsley doesn't like chocolate) but my mom and I insisted on raspberry swirl for the filling.

Yumm! Of course I needed to go back for more...

Mary brought out the cake models so we could determine what size we like. We decided to go with the sizing below...and the tray the cake is on.

Whatcha think?

Wish My Thumbs Were Faster

2009-03-06T20:43:00.000-08:00

Had a nice conversation with a good friend tonight. Made me feel a little old.

Friend: "I sent him texts but he doesn't text me back. He calls. I don't like that..."
Me: (Gulp) "Um, I'd rather call instead of text too."
Friend: "Oh."
Me: "How old is this guy?"
Friend: "Early 30s."
Me: "Oh."

My gorgeous friend is a few years younger than me and she is very quick at the texting. I can also text with the best of them but I would prefer to email, Facebook or call. I'm just not too fast at texing. Granted, it could be the CRAP phone I have. It is a Sprint model, tiny and always automatically changes to words like dron instead of from.

Am I the only one left in this world who isn't excelling in texting?

Led Astray

2009-03-05T20:48:00.000-08:00

It looks so friendly AND helpful doesn't it?

Just a nice piece of technology... but really, it is evil. This little tool will try to ruin your life. Problem is, it happens slowly.

*Ding* Turn right onto Jackson Blvd in 1.2 miles.

Simple enough. You smile to yourself thinking, ah...this is so fabulous. Even though I'm driving in another state to a shopping mall I've never seen before...no worries. I have a GPS!

*Ding* Turn left in 2.5 miles.

While on Bald Head Island planning my wedding, mom and I decided to go shopping. We wanted to get a few details squared away for the wedding weekend including candles and details for menus and such... We used my father's precious GPS to lead us into Wilmington, NC. Arriving in less than an hour, we smiled at each other with the false sense of security that comes with letting a satellite-operated tool guide your way.

After running our errands in Wilmington, my mom and I programmed our final destination into the GPS and started driving. Blabbing away about orchids versus roses and cream versus ivory we followed our trusty electronic leader. After about 35 minutes we noticed nothing looked familiar but according to G we were only 10 miles from Southport (where you catch the boat to the island.)

*Ding* Turn left in 2 miles.

Peering at the GPS screen, I notice our route seems to end in a body of water ahead. On our map there is a broken green line crossing said body of water. My mind was trying to catch up with the computer and I was too slow to figure out what was going on. It hit my mom first...

Mom: "Oh NO!" "Ohhhhhh noooooo!"

Me: "What?"

Mom: "This stupid thing took us the wrong way."

Me: "How do you know...?"

Mom: "I just saw the signs for the Fort Fisher Ferry. It is taking us to a ferry to get across to Southport!!!!!"

Me: "You have got to be kidding me! Okay, well we are close to Southport...less than 8 miles away. Maybe we can find another way?"

We stopped the car and tried to program in another route. GPS was firm and steadfast...leading us straight into the water via a ferry. Not good. So... I broke out the Atlas and turned to North Carolina. I wasn't going to let a piece of plastic get the better of me!

Long story short, there was no way to get to Southport from Fort Fisher because there are no bridges across the inter-coastal waterway. We were stuck driving all the way back to Wilmington, crossing the water via the interstate and going to Bald Head Island back the way we came.

As we started driving away from our turn-around point...

*Ding* Make a legal U-turn.

Me, Mom: "SHUT UP!"

Some Guy That Goes On TV to Get A Wife

2009-03-04T18:57:00.001-08:00

I should immediately post a disclaimer: it has been years since I've watched an episode of The Bachelor. Even so, I hate it. How silly for women to line up and fight over one man. The concept goes against what I think should happen in a normal dating scenario. How do these girls even know if they'll like this guy and his child?

Worse than the show? The obsession over it by American reality TV fans.

It's the top story on the web right now. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Yahoo and Google is clogged with messages and news stories about the guy dumping the last contestant. She is supposed to get a ring and a wedding proposal but she didn't. A horrible ending! Tears! Outrage from fans!

Hmmm...could it be IT WAS PLANNED THAT WAY? The ABC producers are not stupid. Whatever drives the ratings and they have doubled over last year. Please, do yourself a favor and pick up a book.

Travel Is A Gal's Best Friend

2009-03-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

Even though I live for the moment of take-off from one destination headed to another, there are aspects of air-travel I could do without. Taking flight often messes with my head (perhaps it's the altitude?) and I begin muttering to myself under my breath.

"When, WHEN are you going to change careers and get a job that can pay for first class flights?"

Gosh, I love to hate air travel. Have you ever had to deal with this one: The boarding agent calls your "zone" and you go through the ticket line. As it inches down the corridor toward the plane, everyone seems to be crabby. There is no luggage room left on the flight so the attendant checks your rolling bag (checks to see if there is anything they can break on the way to the belly of the plane). The crowd in front of you starts to slowly part as travelers find their rows, re-adjust their overhead baggage, stand and clean their reading glasses in the aisle and finally sit down to let you pass.

Slowly, lugging a huge carry-on to avoid over-priced checked baggage fees, you make your way toward the back of the plane. Checking the row numbers, with a creeping sense of dread you notice one open seat in the back of the plane, near the bathroom, in between two very large people. Your heart of heart sinks. 5 hours cramped into misery. With a forced smile you grin and say, "How are you?" as you attempt to slide into your seat without knocking over a super-sized McDonald's Diet Coke.

The man I sat next to from Atlanta to Portland was an interesting character. He clearly felt he was entitled to the arm rest and not only used it the entire trip, he nudged me with his elbow every time he moved. Not that big of a deal except I tried sleep as an escape and was not able to get shut eye with the never-ending nudging. After a while I opened my right eye and looked at him without turning my head. Was this a joke? Yes, the joke is on the economy fare passenger. But really, there are worse things...

My trip to North Carolina was divine. More posting tomorrow! I have jet lag.

Survival

2009-02-26T18:52:00.000-08:00

We made it through an intense day of wedding planning. Intense as in... no one's life was in danger but yes, someone eluded to the fact that after the practice run for my up-do, it looked like someone's bottom.

How could that happen? Well, I'll post pictures later.

Beyond all of the wedding planning WORK I am very much enjoying being with my darling. We went to try on tuxedos today and he and my father looked so handsome.

Ready, Steady, Go!

2009-02-24T21:05:00.000-08:00

I ran by Rite Aid to pick up a travel size of toothpaste and some "spot" creme. When I'm stressed it shows up in irritating little "bumps" on my face.

My newly selected library books are in order from heaviest to lightest and I plan to pack several.

I checked in for my flight online and printed out boarding passes. As soon as I get home from I'll shower, load the car and drive 2 hours to Portland. My flight leaves at 6am.

Traveling all the way from the West coast to the East coast should be a snap. Once I get to my vacation destination, the work begins. Wedding planning is about to elevate to a whole new level.

Last night I spent an hour and a half typing out an itenerary for wedding vendor meetings. Since this is a destination wedding I had to include addresses, phone numbers, driving directions and contact names to every appointment. We have A LOT to get done.

The list includes: cake tasting, florist, hairstylist to practice up-do, makeup to trial run a dreamy, flawless look (my expectations might be too high here) and tuxedo rentals on Thursday. If we can accomplish all of that, we're half way done.

On Friday we'll meet with our caterers for the welcome dinner and for the reception. We need to settle the menus, confirm 100s of tiny details and pay the bills. Then, when all of that is finished, we need to meet with our weekend-of wedding coordinator.

Hopefully there will be a little time for rest and relaxation but this gal has a lot to get done.

A Few Thoughts on Oscars Fashion

2009-02-22T23:51:00.000-08:00

Angelina's tattoo is trashy and yes, those are wrinkles on her forehead. I think MAC has tattoo cover-up that could be used for the red carpet. Less than $50 a bottle, you can afford it girl! Dress by Elie Saab.

Brad, the facial hair is ugly. The salt and pepper goatee does nothing for the masses. Are you sporting some wrinkles as well my friend? Having 10 kids aging you a bit, eh?

Anne Hathaway is super thin and I want to know how she does it. She always pulls off a fresh, young look and I think she is pretty. However, so many women on the red carpet were wearing white or ivory. Who is getting married? Dress by Armani Prive.

Beyonce, no. I am such a fan of yours and I always think you have a cute style. What happened? The huge, ballgown and mermaid with crinoline dominated the carpet and it was scary, except for Marisa Tomei...

You are all class gal, but don't trip on that ridiculous train. Dress by Versace.

Who IS THAT with Daniel Craig? Please send the dress back ASAP, the 80s is calling. Also, let's not forget the power of proper under-garments. Eeek.

Frieda Prito and Dev Patel looked really nice. I like the color of the dress even though it is a bit too "prom" for me. Dress by John Galliano.

Two More Days...

2009-02-22T20:19:00.000-08:00

Old Baldy Lighthouse

I am flying to Bald Head Island, North Carolina on Wednesday morning from Portland. My darling fiance and I will be reunited in Wilmington, NC around 5pm Eastern. We haven't seen one another since January 18th and this will be a sweet reunion.

Our time will mostly be spent verifying wedding vendors, picking out a tuxedo, tasting wedding cake and selecting our welcome dinner and reception menu. My Mommio and Daddio are also kind enough to meet us there, take care of lodging and give their support during wedding planning.

I know we will be busy but I plan to bask in the love of the engagment phase and the excitement of wedding planning. Of course, I'll update you along the way...

Pets Gone Wild

2009-02-20T22:05:00.000-08:00

This is one of the most bizarre news stories of the week. A woman's pet chimpanzee went on a vicious rampage, attacking the woman's friend and tearing her face off. The woman is still in critical condition and is a candidate for a facial implant. When police arrived, the chimp attacked officers so they shot and killed it. Now, more details about the animal are coming out.

It seems the pet owner, Sandra H erold raised the chimp named Travis from a baby to a 200 pound adult. The animal was trained to bathe itself, dress itself and even brush the owner's hair each evening. This strange union was going on in Connecticut in the U-S. Where else, right?

Travis, Associated Press

Sandra fed Travis steak and lobster and ate across from the chimp at the table every night. Get this, she served it wine in long stem glasses and he bathed with her at night and slept in the same bed with her. I wouldn't even believe this except it is top news on every network across the nation right now.

Some reports say Sandra gave the animal Xanax in a cup of tea on the day of the attack because he was acting aggressive. If you know of a news story that is even crazier than this one...let me know!

Nailed It

2009-02-20T00:16:00.000-08:00

I don't know why I'm writing about this. There are many interesting topics out there on which to pontificate. However, I would much rather bore you with the mundane details of my day-to-day.

Such as: I broke a rule and spent money on a "want" item instead of a "need."

As a bride, you have to be conscience of how much moola you are handing over each week. Most of it needs to be budgeted in such a way to support the lifestyle of "planning a wedding." But tonight on my dinner break, I threw all caution to the wind and purchased Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat.

Yes, I admit it. I slapped down the $5.49 onto the counter with a deviant smirk. Dreaming of shiny nails and toes, I walked out of Rite Aid with my head held high. I've never purchased my own top coat. I only do polish. 2 coats, sometimes 3 but nothing as luxurious as an acrylic top coat.

I'll have to let you know if it works. The product claims to keep a manicure chip-free for 10 days. I was so excited about this that 30 minutes after getting home from work, I'm painting my nails. Maybelline Wet Shine Bubble Bath. Day #1...

Spring Has Sprung

2009-02-18T19:12:00.000-08:00

I do adore this time of year. Spring breaks through winter in the most subtle ways and if you don't pay attention, you'll miss it.

Walking to the library today, I noticed tiny blooms pushing their way through mulch in a flower bed. They were yellow and white (possibly Crocus?) surrounded by vivid green. Gorgeous!

Spring seems to come out of nowhere so try not to miss it this year.

Valentine's Day and Zombies

2009-02-15T13:52:00.000-08:00

Natasha and I went out to dinner on Valentine's Day since both of our sweeties live in other cities.

Despite a rainy night, we met at Sushi Ya on 8th Avenue to dine at the sushi bar. By 9:30pm the place was beginning to clear out (this is Eugene, folks...) but the sushi chefs were knowledgeable and fast. I ordered the cucumber rolls, the Philadelphia roll (salmon, cream cheese, avocado) and the Willamette (spicy tuna, green onion and a special sauce).

After dinner, we headed to John Henry's a lounge/bar/club on Oak Street. We heard they were playing only Michael Jackson and Prince so OF COURSE we needed to wear our dancing shoes and represent the 80s/90s.

Little did we know, there was also a Monster Ball in Eugene on Valentine's Day. This city is a bit strange, honestly. So...while Thriller was playing...people who were dressed up as zombies began coming out the woodwork. I looked through my pictures and remembered that I was so scared by some of the costumes last night that I didn't even get close enough to take pictures. Except for this one:

He wasn't that scary. The event coordinator even set the mood with a fog machine.

Combat Stress This Valentine's Day

2009-02-13T18:38:00.000-08:00

Do you have a sweetie this Valentine's Day? If so, be sure to lock lips with them as much as possible. A neuroscientist at Lafayette College says kissing lowers stress levels in the body. You might wonder how that's possible.

Wendy Hill told the American Association for the Advancement of Science that kissing creates a "significant changes in... levels of the chemicals oxytocin, which affects pair bonding, and cortisol, which is associated with stress."

A study of college couples showed after kissing for 15 minutes while listening to music there was a "decline in cortisol, an indication their stress levels declined."

Feeling stressed out? Try kissing...and have a Happy Valentine's Day! xxx

KVAL's Mascots

2009-02-12T21:03:00.000-08:00

One of our sports anchors brought his dogs to the station last night while he picked up some gear. They are so adorable. I couldn't help but take a video. They make me smile and I want one.

P.S. I apologize for the creepy "baby talk" voice. I couldn't help it!

Dust It Off

2009-02-12T00:27:00.000-08:00

Last night our 11pm producer went home sick. When that happens, the duty of producing usually falls to me. No worries. I'm always up for a bit of a challenge (producing and anchoring)...but producing does not come naturally to me. Live reports at 5am in 10 degrees below freezing? Yes, ask WKRC's Randy Erwin, I can do that.

So, I stacked the show ("stacked" is news speak for finding news stories and putting them in order). I had written the new elements and the readers (the names at the top of the scripts) were in. Yes, I forgot to get a rundown to Emily our editor but she kindly called to remind me. All was going well.

It was a good thing, really, because the Fisher Communications' CEO Cathleen Brown was in town. She attended our afternoon editorial meeting and was going to be watching the 11pm newscast as well. Major pressure, but all was under control.

Never get comfortable in a newsroom. Ever. The second you do this happens:

"Beeeeeeeeppppp Beep Beeeeep Beeeeeepppp. Engine 11, Engine 5, Tower 19, Medic 2, we have a report of a Hydrochloric Acid spill at Union Pacific Railway..."

I jumped out of my chair and ran to the other side of the newsroom where the scanners are located. David, my co-anchor looks at me and horrified, we look back at the scanners. The dispatcher repeats the call. Yikes.

I start making phone calls to our news contacts. While I dial, I'm considering our resources. Our night-side news photographer called in sick and my only reporter is in the edit bays trying to edit her own package for the 10pm FOX newscast. What to do? I call our on-call photographer and get him moving toward the staging address.

After a very tense 20 minutes, the situation does not seem drastic and our photographer returns with video. I'm feeling very proud of myself for keeping my cool, adding the story as breaking news, writing an explainer of the chemical and getting in the video. I freeze (lock the rundown so no more changes can be made) and print scripts at 10:51pm. Perfect, I have 5 minutes to do makeup, 1 minute to walk to the studio and 3 minutes to mic up and do a microphone test.

I whip out my MAC minerals powder, grab a brush and . . . accidentally spill it all over my black suit.

You will notice in this picture I'm smiling but at the time it happened, I was not. Luckily, Molly another reporter who is a size 00P had a black jacket I could quickly borrow but the sleeves came down just past my elbows.

What a day! I'm looking forward to the weekend...

Happy Birthday Little Bro-Bro!

2009-02-10T19:37:00.001-08:00

Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, OH

Dannen turned 28 today and I am proud of him.

He's been to Iraq and back for the U.S. Army, is graduating from the esteemed Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University in August, is top salesman at his company and owns his own pad.

The best thing about my bro? He is genuinely a nice person. Dannen cares when someone is down and out. He'll drop everything to help a friend and really listens when you need someone to talk to. You can also always count on him to do what he says he is going to do.

Happy Birthday, Dannen! This is YOUR year.

Books and Tile

2009-02-08T21:52:00.000-08:00

This was a short weekend. Yesterday, I worked for a colleague and was tired after the 11pm newscast so I headed home. To entertain myself today, I went to the library and picked up these memoirs: Who Do You Think You Are? by Alyse Myers, Home to Roost by Bob Sheasley (A Backyard Farmer Chases Chickens Through the Ages) and Sex Talks to Girls by Maureen Seaton. I also managed to grab two issues each of Metropolitan Home and Martha Stewart Living.

I also visited home improvement store, The Home Depot this afternoon and looked at everything from carpeting to bathroom vanities to light fixtures. Yes, I'm back to my overwhelming desire to own a house and benefit from the homeowners (up to $15,000) and 1st time home buyer ($7,500) tax credits. FYI, the 1st time home buyers credit is for buyers who purchase before July 2009.

It really is amazing all of the STUFF they sell at The Home Depot. I could've spent hours looking up and down the isles.

An aside: Kind Home Depot clerks, 12 of you asked me if you could help me with anything during the hour I was in there. While I certainly appreciate your desire to provide assistance, I would feel less intimidated if you back off slightly. I promise to approach you if I have questions about the backer board (for tile) I'm blankly staring at.

One such kind employee named Bill called out to me "Aren't you DeNarcy from Channel 13?" A little surprised (viewers do not recognize me in public since I've been working for KVAL) I said yes and introduced myself. He shook my hand and said "Wow, you look good in person." If I had a dollar for every time I heard that... We chatted for a minute and I kindly went on my way thanking him for the compliment.

Is it Monday already?

They Wore Masks

2009-02-06T13:57:00.000-08:00

My time in Oregon has afforded me the oppotunity to see wild life at its best. I've written about the deer that hang out in the meadow behind the KVAL TV station. I've also blogged video of a flock of wild turkies in the hills of Blanton Heights. But on my way home two nights ago, the nature aspect notched up to perhaps a bit much.

I was driving home after the 11pm news and noticed the familiar flash of animal eyes in my headlights. In the road ahead, there were four small eyes gleaming. I slowed down thinking it was a couple of cats but no, when I got closer I witnessed two raccoons in a private moment.

They were MATING in the middle of the road. Even though I inched my car forward, I didn't have the heart to gun the engine or run over them. It was a quick union and they scurried off. Instead of crying, I laughed. Such a contrast between life in London and life in Eugene! It's wild.

Palm Springs Promotes Spring Fever

2009-02-04T01:14:00.001-08:00

Short sleeves in January in the desert. We enjoyed 70 degrees F during the day and sunshine. It dropped to about 50 degrees F when the sun went down.

This is the Goldfish Flower, found on the grounds of our resort. The blooms resemble tiny goldfish:

Lots of Palms.

This is the terrace where we ate lunch at the on-site Mexican restaurant:

We picked grapefruit from the trees outside our suite:

Here's hoping spring is around the corner!

Explore the Seas From Home

2009-02-03T00:56:00.000-08:00

Google launched a new toy called Google Oceans. The makers use satellites to show off the different oceans. Whereas before, they were indicated by vasts planes of blue, now you can interact with them as you can with the Google Earth.

Try it out here.

Super Bowl Ads

2009-02-03T00:28:00.000-08:00

There were winners and losers in the 2009 competition for the best Super Bowl ad.

Watching the game we clearly got a sense that the recession has also hit the advertising industry. I was unimpressed with the commercials this year but there was one shining star. This little gem from some out-of-work brothers produced with a low budget for Doritos:

And Tivo reports the advertisement most re-played among Super Bowl viewers (shallow, uneducated men no doubt) was from Godaddy.com. The second commercial in this series with female race car driver Danica Patrick:

Hey, Danica, next time can do you the smart, successful women in the U-S a favor? Skip the chauvinistic, brainless ads and make a name for yourself by using your talent, not your sex. Who are you racing for anyway?

White Out in London

2009-02-02T12:44:00.000-08:00

London got 5-6 inches of snow for the first time in 30 years. The trains stopped running nad even bus service was down.

Kingsley is from South Africa and saw snow for the first time at age 24...so, when it snows the man is in heaven.

Kings studied sculpture in college and has an artistic side. Hilarious:

The eyes are golf balls and the red lips are from a TK Maxx receipt.

A Foul Game

2009-02-01T23:48:00.001-08:00

Steelers 27, Cardinals 23

Is anyone else embarrassed by the amount of personal foul penalties in the Super Bowl? I watched grown men shove each other after the play was over for no apparent reason. Why do some football and basketball professional athletes these days act like little boys? Whether they want to be or not, these guys are role models for younger athletes. Too bad they can't grow up.

In Rugby, with the guys start acting silly and shoving one another the refree actually stops the game, reminds them it is a "gentlemen's game" and they get back to it.

Show some class and save your energy for catching a ball!

The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew

2009-02-01T20:43:00.000-08:00

Kingsley and I took the bus from Richmond just a few stops to Kew to tour the Royal Botanical Gardens. It was winter of course so the outdoor sites were a bit grim but inside the glass houses...the plants were alive and full of color.

The gardens were first started in 1868 and have grown since then. I took a photo of one of the archived pictures taken inside the glass house we toured:

I forgot to take notes on the species we viewed but I just love the colors.

This is my favorite picture... Kingsley showed me one of the 'Banana Trees' that were in his backyard as a child. Apparently he would always fight with it doing karate moves. He demonstrated one such move for the photo.

Deadlines

2009-01-30T16:36:00.001-08:00

I apologize to you, faithful Blond reader. My life has been a mix of travel, professional deadlines and full speed wedding planning. I promise to update you on my trip to Palm Springs and my Avantoure assignments this weekend. Happy Friday!

Stuck in The Snow

2009-01-27T11:32:00.000-08:00

Up at 4:30 this morning along with my faithful daddio, we made it to the airport at 5:30, an hour before my red-eye flight. No troubles through ticketing and I stripped dutifully through security removing my jacket, boots and scarf.

The hang-up began about 10 minutes before take-off.

I was slumped in my seat, at the back of the plane, across from the smelly bathroom, trying to get some shut-eye. The pilot announced an "electrical failure" on the plane. Noooo. He said the mechanics prescribed a power-down and we patiently waited. 10 more minutes tick by and we get the word: they can fix the plane but we need to de-board. I've been through this before so I grab all of my gear because I know there's a chance we won't see the inside of this plane again.

It gets later and later into the morning and finally the Delta representative announces the plane will leave before 8:30 (2 hours after scheduled departure). That puts us in (they say!) at 11am. I checked with the rep and she said I should be fine with my 11:15am connection to Eugene. We land in snowy Salt Lake City, Utah at 11:30 when the plane is leaving. Big frowny face here: :(

There's only one more flight leaving SLC late in the evening so I elect to stay in a hotel and get some shut-eye. I'm not feeling too well and I need food. Delta is putting me up at the Crystal Inn downtown with a free shuttle and food vouchers before I leave the airport. At least I have my connection to you and my other online friends. This way, travel isn't too lonely. I'm also reading a great memoir by Patricia Harman, The Blue Cotton Gown. Always helps when you have a good book...and gorgeous scenery. The snow-covered mountains here are awesome.

Quick Trip to California

2009-01-24T23:50:00.000-08:00

My mom and dad are in Palm Springs for a business convention (my dad's this time). They invited me to come down for the weekend so I couldn't pass up the chance to relax in 70 degrees weather. Today was sunny and clear and we sat by the pool for about an hour.

Tonight we dined at Clint Eastwood's Hollywood inspired, Hog's Breath Inn.

We are staying at the La Qunita Golf Resort and Spa and it is gorgeous. The mountains set a beautiful backdrop for the dry landscape. We even saw a road runner (bird) while walking back to our casita this afternoon and we picked grapefruit for our breakfast in the morning.

We Have Some Really Cool Friends

2009-01-24T08:40:00.000-08:00

Kingsley and I are very blessed to have a group of lovely friends in London. When we first got engaged, there was talk of an engagement party when I traveled back to the UK. Even though I made plans to visit Kingsley again, there were no plans for a party. Little did I know...

On the Friday night before I returned to the US, Kingsley said he had booked a restaurant for dinner for 2. Sounded romantic and I was happy. We got ready and ended up at Chakalaka in Chiswick. As we were walking up the stairs, our 'song' started playing. I looked at Kingsley and he had a huge smile on his face. Coming round the corner, we were met with "Surprise!" from about 20 of our closest friends.

My girls (L - R) Margaux, Clare, Desiree and Sabina even put together a special dance for us and performed it before Kingsley gave a short speech.

Kings showed his suave moves on the dance floor...and I laughed and laughed!

I just felt so special being surrounded by people who wanted to celebrate our engagement and went out of their way to plan a fabulous night! Thank you!

Not to mention the food... Chakalaka serves traditional South African dishes such as a Poiki Pot or Potjeikos (pic below). It's a one-pot-meal cooked in a cast iron pot. The chef does individual servings at Chakalaka and I ordered the lamb. The meat is slow cooked with veggies in a delicious broth and served with a yellow rice, almonds and dates. Wowee!