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.

The keys to keep blogging...

This blog is about this blog.  Its existence and readership are now permeating many facets of my life. In the Fox Chicago newsroom, quite a few co-workers tell me they’re reading this blog daily.   Even my boss approached me to say, “I love your blog!”  When we had an issue with some equipment earlier this week, a technician blurted, “Blog about that – how a lot of our stuff doesn’t work!”

Even my former co-workers are checking in.   One newscast producer-turned-executive in NYC, emails “I am very impressed with your blog.  You go, girl!”  Another wrote, “Great website.  I’ll tell the gang at 7 Lincoln Square!”  That’s the address of WABC-TV, where I worked for seven years before joining Fox Chicago.

At “Back-to-School” night, I’m caught off guard when my daughter’s math teacher tells me she loves Scrabble, too.  She had read about my Scrabble addiction on my blog.  ”How do you know about my blog?”, I asked.  ”Oh, I heard about it from ______, the English teacher.”   Soon after, a mom of a classmate tells me how much she enjoyed the post “Question Mark Died”.  Wow, people are even recalling my blog titles!

I’m touched that one of my high school classmates in California is also dropping in here regularly. She writes her own blog and it’s great to get to know her in a new way.

I made MORE work for myself with this blog!

At my daughter’s cheerleading practice last night, another mom is quick to tell me, “I love your blog.” Might I write more about all the people she watches on TV?  Or how about that guy who’s no longer with the station?

I better watch what I say in here – though I can talk about the middle school history teacher. His colleagues call him “The Sage”. I love his passion for history and the way he breaks it down for middle schoolers to understand.  But he doesn’t like computers, boasting to parents, “I’m old and about to retire.”

Never mind.  He might still hear about this from the English and math teachers.

Say goodbye to the dog & get to school!

I took today off so I could be a “normal” mom for the first day of school.  I’m usually on television during the morning hours.  But today, I was able to make breakfast and help my middle schooler with her hair.  My husband used to say “I don’t do braids!”  By kindergarten, she wouldn’t let him even brush her hair in the morning.  She’s quite independent now, telling me just yesterday, “I already have my outfits picked out for the first three days.”  That’s after she insisted we make a special trip to her school yesterday in order to decorate her locker and make sure everything is in order.

She reminds me of me.  By 7th grade, I had already decided on a career in journalism.  I love writing and words (which explains my Scrabble addiction).  I can’t recall my parents ever making a big deal out of the first day of school.  It was just a given that I’d go and try to excel.

My parents owned a Chinese restaurant throughout my childhood.  Hard work.  Long hours.  We spent little time at our house.  I’d go to the restaurant after school to do my homework in a booth and then help out as a hostess or waitress.  I was a student council officer, cheerleader, gymnast, German Club president, school paper editor, you-name-it. My parents only heard about my exploits.  They weren’t around for much because they were always busy working.

But it’s that work that allowed for my college education and career in television.  I’ll be back at work tomorrow morning.  My daughter has no problems doing her own hair.