NancyLoo.net

My fave!

My parents never read to me during my childhood.  We speak Chinese to each other and English is our second language.  Perhaps that’s why National Reading Month (March) and the recent birthday of Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Suess, have me feeling new appreciation for a particular children’s book.

“Oh Say Can You Say?” is my favorite Dr Seuss book.  It’s filled with silly tongue twisters and I’ve read it aloud to my children countless times.  Long before I decided to become a broadcast journalist, I knew the importance of being able to communicate in a clear and concise manner.

My kids are reading on their own now and I’m always plodding through at least two novels. I can’t remember the last time I got to read “Oh Say Can You Say?”  and it’d probably take me awhile to find it.  Say, maybe I will and then have some green eggs and ham!

This post was inspired by the Yahoo! Mother Board.

Hitting "SAVE" for NancyLoo.net

For a number of reasons, I’ve decided not to divert traffic from this website to my blog at Chicago Now.  I guess I just don’t want to kill myself off online!  I’ve been writing in all sorts of web spaces anyway so what’s another?  While I’ll be posting here far less often, I’ll continue to blog on the Fox Chicago website, the Chicago Moms Blog and (this just in) the Yahoo Mother Board along with Chicago Now.

I became a journalist because I love to write which is why I want to encourage more young people to focus on it.  Along with a good friend, MJ Tam, we recently launched a website called Young Chicagonista.  Please indulge me by checking it out and reading this week’s Huffington Post article on our site.  Write on!

THIS JUST IN:  I’m moving!  Actually, I’m moving this blog to a bigger and better space in the virtual world.

Not now, but very soon!

Sometime next week, this blog will migrate over to Chicago Now, a popular community of bloggers overseen by the Chicago Tribune.  This web address will still direct you there and my blog will have a whole new title and look.  However, I’ll get to continue blogging about whatever I want, whenever I want.

As many of you know, I’ve worked on television here for nearly a decade.  I LOVE Chicago so it’s such an honor to get to blog about my adventures all over town and have a platform to spark conversations and allow people to share their opinions.

Thanks to the many of you who’ve followed this blog since its launch.  Now, come along with me to Chicago Now and spread the word!

We often talk about the darnedest things while on our way to cover stories.  For some reason, cameraman Sean Gibbons and I started talking about pandas.  I think it’s because we passed a Panda Express before we got to our location.  Sean asked why pandas on loan from China always have double names like “Tian Tian” at the National Zoo in Washington D.C.

"Loo Loo"

We didn’t spend much time discussing why.  We decided to assign panda names to some of our co-workers.

"Sean Sean"

"Sol Sol"

Me = “Loo Loo”, Sean Gibbons = “Sean Sean”, Sondra Solarte = “Sol Sol”, Ed Flynn = “Flynn Flynn”, Matt Butterfield = “Butt Butt” and Patrick Elwood = “Pat Pat”.

"Pat Pat"

"Flynn Flynn"

"Butt Butt"

"Tom"

Then, there’s cameraman Stewart Orlin.  He’s incredibly witty, intelligent and somewhat shy.  He’s also got an extremely wry sense of humor.  After conferring with Sean and Ed, we decided that Stewart’s panda name just couldn’t conform with the others.  He’s “Tom”.  What’s your panda name?

Word up!

Today’s post “Not Me in the Bee” is over at Chicago Moms Blog.  Click here to make a beeline over there to check it out!  Thanks for stopping by.

One of my girlfriends had to get married this week.  No, she’s not pregnant.  She’s Chinese and timing is everything when it comes to things like weddings, business ventures and births.  This New York Times story on my friend’s marriage might help you to better understand.

The approach of the Lunar New Year on February 14th has many Asians rushing to do all kinds of things.  I just got a haircut because one doesn’t want to be near scissors, knives or any sharp objects around the new year – you may cut off any good vibes.  The house has to be clean and all brooms, dusters and cleaning supplies have to be stored away – you don’t want any of your good fortune swept away.

Years ago while I was on vacation, my mother called me in a panic to warn, “Don’t go swimming.  Stay away from the water!”  According to my Chinese horoscope that year, my luck might not cover me if I ventured into any large bodies of water.  She was truly worried that I’d drown or something.  Nothing like hanging out at the wading pool!

I haven’t always been so superstitious.  And it’s not just with Chinese culture.  I also try to avoid the number 13, walking under ladders and opening umbrellas while indoors.  I even lift my feet when crossing railroad tracks and try to hold my breath when going over bridges.  I don’t know why.  Do we become more afraid of tempting fate as we age?  When I mentioned some of this to my hairdresser this weekend, she shared that she always has to touch the outside of her airplane before she boards a flight.  Hey, it’s kept her safe all these years.  Maybe I’ll start doing that, too.

2010 is a Tiger year and the cycle indicates a “white metal” Tiger.  Overall, astrologers predict a lot of drama and ferocity but success since the Tiger is among those who rule the jungle.  Kung Hei Fat Choi!

It’s been a bad week.  I’m still not fully recovered from that weekend cold.  Then, I had to worry about my car in the big Toyota recall.  Oh, and perhaps you heard about this. There’s really not much I can say about that at this point.

Roll on!

I traded-in my luxury car last year to help save the world in a hybrid.  I confess to truly missing the Ultimate Driving Machine but I’ve saved a lot of money on gas and far lower emissions can only be good for the environment.

I’m finally feeling rested and YIPEE – hybrid models are not part of the Toyota recall.  But I’ll never be able to respond to the hundreds of messages and emails I’ve received about that other thing I mentioned.  Wow!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I'm as sick as a dog but not Nutty!

It’s no fun being sick.  Believe me, I’d rather be working.  But I’m starting this week with my first sick day in years.  In the eight years I’ve been with Fox Chicago, I think I’ve accrued over 50 sick days!  My parents always stressed working – people get left behind when they’re immobile so it’s better to stay on the move.

Good thing it’s just a cold.  I’ve blasted it with just about everything in the medicine chest. I always forget how potent NyQuil is until I take it again.  Is it me or is one dose equal to about half a bottle of Jack?  Now I’m waiting for the Zicam to kick in.  I started that on Friday when I felt a sore throat coming on.

Time to make more tea.  By the way, my parents are right about remaining on the sideline in the rat race of life.  Since I didn’t go to work today, I didn’t make my usual check-ins on foursquare.  What a downer to get this email: “Sorry for the bad news, but Eliza has just replaced you as mayor of Starbucks (225 N. Michigan)!  Don’t take it too hard – a few more checkins and you could be back on top.”

Many thanks to all of you who advised me to get well soon.  I will!

There are dozens of Asian organizations and groups throughout Chicago:  Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Pakistani and many more.  It’s diversity within the diversity of our city!  The local Asian community joins together annually for a common celebration ahead of the Lunar New Year.   The Asian American Coalition event usually attracts over a thousand people and I always enjoy being among the emcees for the annual gala.

All week, I worried about what to wear.  I hate buying evening gowns.  They’re expensive and little-worn.  So I decided to just go with one of the dresses already in my closet. Would people recognize it?  Is it out of fashion?  How trivial.  There’s nothing like reality to knock things into perspective.

Euna Lee of Current TV

The keynote speaker for the evening was Euna Lee of Current TV.  She was quite emotional in recalling her 140 days of captivity last year within North Korea.  Click here for a great synopsis by Dan Rozek of the Chicago Sun-Times. It was nice to finally meet Euna.  She expressed true gratitude for the vigils we held here in Chicago while she and Laura Ling were prisoners.  Laura had called me days after they were freed.  I was touched she would take the time to call just about everyone who had a role in the nationwide vigils.

Adorable Hannah.

As Euna broke down during her speech last night, she was joined on stage by her husband and 5-year-old daughter, Hannah.  All eyes were glued to the photogenic family on stage as Euna talked about the horrid situation that continues to play out along the border of North Korea and China.  For many women there, evening gowns and what to wear are of no concern whatsoever.

A major media push!

I was honored to take part in today’s media telethon to raise money for the Red Cross of Greater Chicago.  My latest blog “Chicago Helps Haiti” is over at the Fox Chicago website.   Please click here to check it out.  Happy surfing!