While I wish we could be there every day, we won't be back down in Boise probably until they seat a jury in the Duncan sentencing. It's just too far, too expensive and we don't have the staff to do it. We will absolutely cover every advance in the process - and, will be back down there when the "trial" actually starts. In the meantime, though, I want to steer you to some great coverage. Betsy Russell is covering the case for the Spokesman-Review. She's based in Boise and is also acting as the media liason for the proceedings. She's blogging about what happens in court - and, it's fascinating. Here's the link, if you're interested.
All my life, I've wanted people to tell me I look like someone famous. It's never really happened. Instead, I've found random people that I think I look like - and, they aren't always the most flattering comparisons.
That's infamous former student Villi Fualaau. I look like him. It's not good.
That's WSU basketball player Derek Lowe. I look like him, without the athleticism.
The only other person I've ever been compared to is someone I really, really like.
I'm such a fan of Tina Fey, a friend of mine likes to call me Liz Lemon, her character's name on "30 Rock." Well, this week, I completed the transformation.
I got glasses. I'm slowly becoming Tina Fey. I guess that's good. I guess it's better than Villi Fuallau.
I've been on TV in Spokane for the last five and a half years. While I'm not on very often anymore, there was a time that I was on every day, Monday through Friday. Still, I've never been under the illusion that people will recognize me and know who I am. If they do, they're often brutally honest (see earlier blog) But, in recent months, I've started to get recognized for my work on... radio.
About a year ago, our friends Dave, Ken and Molly at ZZU asked me to join an esteemed group. Now, every Thursday morning at 8:30, I join Molly, Kalae Chock, Leslie Lowe and Phaedra Hansen on the "Panel of Women." As Dave, Ken and Molly like to say, we're real women, talking about real issues... really. It is absolutely the most fun I have at work every day. I actually get to laugh, be honest and show my personality (yes, a personality! Shocking!). It's a big change from the serious, child-killer, polygamy stories I usually do. Unfortunately for my husband, I often share stories about him that are not so flattering. I've been shocked in recent months to realize a LOT more people recognize me from radio than anything I've done on TV. On New Year's Eve, a woman at a convenience store recognized my voice before she ever looked up at me. I'm not bragging, I hope it doesn't sound like that. It's just very strange to be recognized purely from the way I sound.
This recognition has both pros and cons. First, I've had people call in with TV news story ideas because they heard me on the radio. But, it has its downside, too. My husband is being recognized for things he'd rather not be known for. A guy at the gym approached him and said "I hear you cry at movies all the time." Mr. TV Sports Guy LOVED that(truth be told, though, he DOES cry at a lot of movies). And, a lot of my freakish tendencies have become public because of things I've said on the radio. Everyone now knows I have freakishly-short T-Rex arms. And, most notably, Kalae Chock let it spill that I have a freakish obsession with Abe Lincoln. That has become the subject of a lot of conversations I've had over the last few months. AND, people are now bringing me their Abe Lincoln mementos. One guy brought me a head of Abe Lincoln he found outside a dumpster in Spokane. It is now a permanent fixture in my office. Check it out:
In short, I'm not complaining. I actually LOVE doing these brief radio gigs, as it's something totally different than what I do every day. So, keep listening - or start this week, if you haven't heard it before. I'll be on vacation this week so I won't be there, but I'm sure they'll find a way to make fun of me in my absence. But, if you listen, do me one favor: go easy on my husband! He has enough to deal with, trying to live up to Abe Lincoln.
I came across a very sad piece of news last night and wanted to share it with all of you. This week, a musical icon passed away at his home in my hometown of Milwaukee. You probably don't know Bob Kames by name, but I'm sure you know the song for which he's responsible.
Okay, so that video is not the best example of how it's really done, but you can't negate the power of the Chicken Dance. I haven't been to a Wisconsin wedding without hearing that classic polka and flapping my arms along with it. I've never been entirely sure why I love it so much, but I realize now it's because its creator is also from Milwaukee. He's enough of an icon there that the story of his death was on the front page last night of the recent-Pulitzer Prize award-winning Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
I love the Chicken Dance so much, it became a bone of contention during my wedding plans. My husband (who is, apparently, a commumnist) HATES the Chicken Dance. He prefers the less-charismatic Electric Slide, which I LOATHE. For every bit of excitement and enthusiasm I have for the Chicken Dance, he has an ounce or two more for the Electric Slide. He runs out to the front of the crowd to help "lead" the dance at every wedding we've ever been to. So, as we planned the playlist for our wedding, we had a tough decision to make: which cheesy group dance should we allow? That decision was a tough one and, ultimately, was the first compromise of our wedding, made just hours after we said our vows. We did both. I Chicken Danced my heart out and he proudly led the crowd on the Electric Slide. I didn't take the floor for that. I was too tired from the Chicken Dance.
So, rest in peace Mr. Kames. I hope you find a chorus of accordians waiting for you in heaven. You can rest easy, knowing I'll carry on your tradition on your behalf.
If you're glued to the coverage of the polygamist raid in Texas (like I am), you may be frustrated about the SLOOOOWWW leak of information relating to the case. Eldorado is miles and miles away from the closest TV market - and, this ranch is private property. A lot of media outlets are covering this right now, but the best I've seen is the Eldorado Success. It's the local paper there and they've been following this case very closely since the beginning. They've posted the most up to the minute information and new pictures of what's going on there.
As I've confessed on this blog before, I'm kind of a word nerd. I love reading and grammar and books. Diagramming sentences is one of my favorite activities (though, I really can't find much need for it anymore). I love crossword puzzles. And, more than almost anything in my life, I love Scrabble. In recent months, I've found the online alternative that kept me awake many late nights. Now, my new favorite obsession is coming under fire!
I'm a longtime Scrabble player, dating back to playing at my grandmother's dinner table in Great Falls. Now, my grandma will try to lie to you and tell you she did not cheat. Trust me, she did. I have very vivid memories of those days, down to the smell of oranges and coffee that often filled my grandmother's kitchen. I remember that old brown box that held the Scrabble game - and, the sound of the tiles as we reached into the plastic bag to collect them. After the age of 10, though, I don't remember playing Scrabble at all! Instead, it was the phone and the mall and probably boys that occupied my time. It wasn't until college that I rekindled my love for the game. My college roommate's dad ALWAYS wanted to play "Scrabbies" as he called it. I think we fired up the board a couple times to keep him quiet.
When I got married, I thought life was going to be all about board games! I mean, now I have a partner living in my house! Turns out Derek HATES board games and never wanted to play. When I goaded him to play Scrabble, he resisted for a long time. He knows I'm a word nerd and I think he was scared to play! When he finally agreed... he walloped me the first six games or so! Now, we play every couple months - and, we're pretty competitive.
But, what am I supposed to do when he's not there? I can't very well play Scrabble by myself! Then, I discovered Scrabulous and my life changed forever. Scrabulous offers interactive games where you can play either against the computer or against people from all over the world. The first night, I played for about 5 hours straight! No wonder my eyes are starting to fail!!! I don't feel pathetic saying that, either. According to the NY Times, 70,000 people play Scrabulous every day!
Now, though, Scrabulous is in jeopardy! Hasbro, the company that makes Scrabble, is reportedly trying to shut it down (copyright issues, etc.) They may have good reason to do so. Sales of the board game are declining and Hasbro is blaming Scrabulous for that. I say Scrabulous can only help Scrabble sales in the long run. A whole new generation of young people is now being exposed to the game. They'll eventually get tired of only playing online (or, like me, they'll start to go blind!) and they'll turn to the traditional old game. They'll miss the sound of the tiles. They'll miss the thrill of actually seeing your competitors face fall when you use a "Z" on a triple letter score. They'll miss that memory of their grandmother and they'll need a Scrabble board to bring it back.
Please, Scrabulous, stay strong! Me and my 70,000 fellow word nerds need you!
I realize the subject of this blog may be turning a few heads today, but this really IS a plea to WSU basketball coach Tony Bennett. If you're not Tony, you don't really need to read this anymore. Tony, this one is just for you...
Tony, I sure have enjoyed watching you build the WSU basketball program over the last couple years. I enjoy your coaching style, your humble persona and the fact that you're a family man. And, I'm somewhat ashamed to admit, like most women in the Inland Northwest, I sure think you're easy on the eyes. But, with the seniors you have graduating and leaving the program this year, I think you've done all that you can at WSU - and, I have a new job offer for you.
On behalf the Marquette University students, alumni and friends, I would like to formally offer you the job as head basketball coach at Marquette. You see, I just found out our coach is going to Indiana and we could really use someone. Think of it this way, you want to get back to your home state of Wisconsin. There, you and your dad are already legends! You'll be close to your family and friends, you'll be in your home state and you can coach at a school where basketball is king! We don't have a pesky football team to share money and attention with. At Marquette, it's ALL about basketball. Besides, you have a built-in team there, ready to get back to the tournament. Most of our starters are returning next year and they already play your brand of basketball. They're scrappy, they're good defenders and they have heart. They're just missing one thing: you.
So, c'mon Tony... give Steve Cottingham a call and tell him you're interested. And, tell your Cougar faithful I'm so sorry! But, they've had you long enough and it's time to send you home.
