Saturday, March 24, 2007

Signs of Spring

In a last-ditch effort for Winter to get its snow on...

the city was surprised with a St. Patrick's Day snowfall.





Two Yellow Snow Angels
So what does one do when it's nasty outside???
Put a little Spring in your step at a shoe party!

As most Stahr parties go, this extravaganza was filled with good people...


good food...
good fun...

and good shoes!

Wow... I was actually springing into action with my camera!








More proof of Spring?
Love blossoming!

Can you tell who is the professional photographer?And who is NOT?

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

As of Late...

I hung out with my friend, Chip, on Saturday night to hear some live bands. I was totally blown away by Heather Park's performance. The girl's got PIPES! Totally impressed. I wish my voice were as good as hers. Check out her site.

Monday, March 12, 2007

Seasons Change... I Hope!!!


I'm hoping winter is finally over. Weeks of snow on the ground is more than I can handle!
Sure... it looks pretty. But don't let it fool you! That snow requires FREEZING temperatures! Just imagine walking the dogs every morning and every night in it!!!

But now it's (hopefully) onto warmer weather. The time has changed and hopefully it means times are a changin.
Today the sun was out. My old roomie, Paola, and I met up at Union Square and walked around for a bit.We spent time shopping, had lunch, and then found a bench to sit on and chat. But mostly we sat beside the dog park and watched the puppies play.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Namesake



This is my Aunt Jane. This is the first picture she and Uncle Don have been able to send via email, so I thought I would share. Isn't she a cutie?

I'm glad to see that they keep pictures up of me in their home. Can you find my college graduation pic in the background?
(Hey, it's my blog. I can make a picture of my aunt all about me if I want, right?)

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Keeping Busy

Apparently my prayers for miracles have been working!!!

I have had so many people get in touch with me "just because!" I've had family and friends to chat with and write... and I've even had my evenings filled with old friends and new ones. It's been so great!

Last night I went out to dinner with a friend of mine and told him about my recent increased faith in miracles. I told him, "Your phone call was one of those miracles!"
And the same goes for YOU! Thank you especially to those of you who have contacted me over the past few days as I've prayed for miracles. I am SO BLESSED!

I typically tell people I have only one friend in New York. She's valuable to me!
But my other friends have been coming out of the woodwork! :)
Plus, I just got an email from some of my friends from back home in the DC hood. They're coming into town this weekend and we will likely get into similar trouble as we did in Madrigals in high school. Or maybe not. I don't think there are any houses for us to T.P. in New York...

Nonetheless, still. Miracles of Many.

I can't wait to see what the next miracle will be! More chocolate cake?!!!

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

On Tara and Timing

I guess I opened a can of worms...
My darling DC online correspondent, Tara, is now talking about the idea of timing - and waiting - specifically in dating.

This is Tara's response to this.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about the Lord's timing, other people's timing, and mine.

I read something recently (maybe The Secret? I dunno) that discussed the idea that time is only a concept of man. Otherwise, time, in a sense is non-existent. So what you want is already out there, it's just a matter of catching up to you -- or you catching up to it.

An interesting concept.

A lot of my favorite movies have to do with timing of romance, time-travel, or even finding your true love in another time by something like reincarnation. I'm fascinated by it. But I think it's all easier for me to enjoy when timing plays a clever role in someone else's life and not mine!

I'm trying to avoid giving too many thoughts on this. I'm still working on my own theories.

Plus, I'm still waiting. I'm not sure what's next for me, in general. I've been waiting a few months to be hired fulltime. And I'm still waiting.
When you are waiting for something you've been promised, do you keep waiting? Do you take matters into your own hands? Does it depened on the situation?

Yum

By the way... I finally got some chocolate cake last night. Mmmmm...

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

It's a Small World After All...

Today I was working on a book called "Family 360." You know how employees get six-month reviews at work? This is the similar, but is a workbork for those getting reviewed by family members. It's goal is to help balance work and family life while strengthening families.
It also gives advice for strengthening the relationship between husband and wife. One of the tips: Schedule a regular "date night."

I knew I was dealing with familiar territory at that point.

I looked up some background on the authors and noticed a.) that they both had attended BYU and b.) at one point they had worked alongside John Stewart, who's a friend and bishop in my stake in Oregon. I quickly wrote his wife a note saying hello.

Then it was time to interview the family. The husband works for Nike. They live in the Portland area.

I contacted the husband and he conferenced his wife in. When he connected her she asked, "Tamara, is Vicki Wikle your mother?"
With a huge smile on my face I beamed, "She's my brother's mother-in-law!"
"I was just with her this morning!", she said.

I have been working in this business a long time. And so far, this is the second time something like this has happened to me! The last time was just in October when I was assigned to work with one of my closest friends from junior high!

I have been counting the small miracles in my life lately.
Another one for the list!

Monday, March 05, 2007

My Master's Project

I don't think I ever posted my master's project. I still haven't figured out how to do it or what to do with it. Here's a link to my project on Columbia's website. It's at the bottom of the page, "Celibacy in the City."
I think you need Quicktime to hear it. It's 33 minutes long.

It needs work.

I really like the fact that I feel as if I can still learn from this project!

I'm beginning work on "part two" right now. If nothing else, it's serving as a creative outlet and an opportunity to learn a little more.

"I'm not dead!.... I Feel Better!"

Can you name the movie that quote comes from?

I'm so, so grateful for my family and friends and the power of prayer. Wow. It's been incredible how much love and support I've felt over the past few days. It's been hard to feel sad with so much love and positive vibes!

Today, I'm tired. Tired of feeling sad. Tired of over-thinking things. And I'm using this time to feel positive and live my life the way I like to. So I'm going to buy a pretty dress, maybe some shoes, and spend the evening with some friends.

I have no idea which way things will turn with my personal life. I guess I'm keeping that, well... kinda personal.
But, I will say this: I am so grateful for the love in my heart! It's such a wonderful feeling!

Sunday, March 04, 2007

A Small Miracle

I was so tired today. I had been working the overnight shift all weekend... 2am-3pm on Saturday... then 2am-9am today. Combine that with a touch of the blues and preparing a Sunday School lesson I thought I was in for a disaster.

But alas! Everything went well!

This was my second time teaching Sunday School. I wasn't sure how great it would be. So I had to depend on lots of prayer. And thank goodness! There was so much wonderful discussion!!! I had so many people come up to me after class saying that it was a really great lesson. I even had one guy tell me he was really looking forward to my teaching!
I'm so relieved!
Prayers work!

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Timing's My Thing

When I worked at KSL I was asked to produce a Book-A-Thon. I was still green enough in my career that I still had yet to learn that anything ending in "a-thon" is a pain in the butt to produce.

A woman (it's a blessing I can't remember her name) had a LONG list of guests and I produced a three-hour long show. We sat sweating in a cushy control room... one like I've never seen before or since. I sat in an armchair as I called the next move, and there was actually a huge set-up of food and drinks. Ms. No-Name stood by the table of treats and delicately popped pieces of fruit into her mouth.
The man in charge of the tv station came downstairs. I'd never seen him before. He was stopping by to pat the backs of those putting on a good show. Through a warbled stuffed mouth, the woman graciously thanked him. She pointed to the harried director and commented on his hard work. Then she gestured toward me and commented, "And her. Timing's her thing."

Timing's my thing?


Wow. I'd never been reduced to a "timer" at that point in my career. A "show-stacker", yes. A person who "writes the copy", yes. But never as a "timer." It's still interesting to me to see how people define the job of a live tv producer. Very misunderstood and, unfortunately, under-recognized for what we really do.

The irony?
Timing really turned out to be my thing!

I was once at my job in Portland and my supervisor asked me to "just sit in the control room for five minutes" to make sure President Bush would actually talk for the 30 minutes he promised. He only spoke for five, leaving me to fill the remaining 25.
Although this will likely mean nothing to you, I have been on shows that require me to land it on more than 8 "hard outs." I've been able to accordion an hour-long show to three minutes and make it appear as if it were meant to be that way. And I've even mistakenly added and subtracted groceries using 60s and 30s instead of dollars and hundreds.

Timing's my thing.

When you're producing a show, each story, weather hit, and commercial gets its own spot. It's a juggling act. Advertisers have paid for their 30 second spot to air at a certain time, so we have to make sure those get in. And when there's breaking news, a late story, a flubbed liveshot... the whole gameplan gets thrown out and you're left to improvise. And make it look natural. And keep it on time. And get your commercials in.

Mostly I've been lucky in these situations because I believe in prayer.

Typically a reporter will come to you with a good story and will ask for more time. In some cases, a lot more time (Anna Song). Sometimes I say 'yes.' Sometimes I say 'no.' It depends on what else is going on in the show and how good the story really is.

I've noticed that timing is also my thing in "real life." My mother has called me the "number nerd" in the family because I always remember important dates, appointments, and ages. I don't know what my deal is.

Plus, I have a considerable appreciation for time and planning. The truth is, I really, really hate for my time to be wasted. Maybe it comes from the short amount of time I had with my father. Maybe it comes from wasting so much time on failed relationships. Maybe I just want it all now. Who knows?

I was always one to get ahead of the game on things. Somehow I always timed it just right. In college, I would slowly stroll to class across campus, enjoying the soft fall breezes and peace of the southern Virginia fall. I always made it to class (sometimes late -- those strolls were worth it!) and I managed to graduate a year early with a double-major.
In grad school I was far from the smartest person in the lot. But I was the only one with perfect attendance.
And I have managed to weasel my way into good jobs based on the clever timing of my approach.

I believe this is why I hold so much angst when I feel as if my time has been wasted. As if I've been strung along for someone waiting to make a decision. It's been said that "not making a decision is making a decision."
I think I've become a little better about being patient. A little. But time is important to me. In some ways, I feel as if it's all I have, so how I spend it is absolutely vital. And people who waste my time typically get voted off the island.

So that brings me to where I am right now in my life. I'm being asked to give people "more time." Well... how much more time before you decide that I'm worth more than the time I've already invested? Seriously. How much more time do you need?

I realize that I've always been ahead of the game. It began as always being the youngest in my class. Does that mean I'm brilliant? Wow. Big honkin' "No." Just ask my professors! But it does mean that I've learned the craft of figuring things out ahead of time. And that typically means ahead of other people. And that typically means I end up waiting.

Does that mean I've been waiting in vain?

I don't feel like having anyone comment on this. It is purely a post to explore some thoughts and writing.
I think I'm going to use part of this for my next cover letter...

Taking Risks

Are risks as scary to you as they are to me? What is scary to you? Here's the beginning of a list for me:
*being vulnerable
*speaking my mind in a crowded room (i know this surprises you!)
*falling in love
*staying in a city where you have no friends
*admitting your weaknesses
*asking for help

My point? I believe I am a pretty good risk-taker. I am scared of a lot of things! But I think it's important to take a risk for things you know are right and for the things you truly desire. What about you? What scares you that you do anyway?