When I was a little girl, I remember telling my mom one Christmas that I would never stop putting toys on my Christmas and birthday list. I remember saying I would never want to do things like a grown up because grown ups didn't have any fun. (I also remember in the same conversation telling her I would never move out of her house -- which I admit, at some times she probably thought I wouldn't -- but I think we're both glad I've literally moved beyond that vow.)
Well, I am pleased to report that while the forms have changed and I'm now a grown woman -- I'm still asking for and playing with toys -- but, indeed I was wrong about the fun part. Thanks to new 'toys' adults have lots of fun! And, sometimes, the things we come up with to amuse ourselves with those toys aren't much different than they were when we were juveniles -- in fact, we just get more clever and witty as we go!
Now, as a member of the media, I sometimes feel I work with a bunch of over-grown kids (in a good way of course) and maybe that's why our latest scheme for self entertainment so far has pleasingly proven to bring just as much delight as a bunch of tweens on a scavenger hunt.
Yesterday, Laura Wibbenmeyer, Stephanie Byars, Rochelle Steffen, and our dear friend Sarah Spence took a little shopping trip to Pastime Antiques on Broadway in Cape Girardeau.
Recently, Laura and I watched Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and we were inspired by the concept. That, even though you may be far away from your best friends, there are things that keep you connected -- things that symbolize the bonds between you -- things that say it all when there are no words.
So, since I'm moving to London - and there's no telling where we'll all eventually end up. We decided to go find some 'traveling pants' of our own. In the movie, the girls take turns sending the pants to each other no mater where they may be -- including a letter about what happened during the time the pants were with that sister.
Instead of pants, we decided to go to a local antique store and search for something special.
So, we went to Pastimes, and considered many different options...A plastic Native American baby, several big sequined hats, gaudy jewelry, brightly colored scarves, a piggy bank labeled: beer money, a book titled: An idiots guide to Healthy Relationships -- a wide variety of items made the short list. But, that was before -- before, we spotted Zulu.
Zulu resembles a voodoo doll. She (he, it?) is a black, cloth, figure with ratty straw-like hair. But what makes she (he, it?) so interesting - happens to be the array of pendants, pins, and patches on the front of -- her (him, it?). We selected a pin that said: Good News Club (appropriately) to be the first new addition to the back of Zulu, conveniently left completely blank for us to complete.
No telling what journey brought Zulu to Pastimes. If only, the little doll could tell us of her adventures. Well, little does she know she's in for many more. Right now, Zulu is with Wibbs, on their way to an adventure in Chicago.
Stay tuned for more on Zulu's adventure -- newest companion of the Good News Club. Our constant connection through travels in the Heartland and beyond.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
4 Days and 13 Hours Until....
.....The first Spring Training game. In my last post, I forgot to mention my deeply rooted passion for the St. Louis Cardinals. This is going to be tough being away from my beloved baseball -- this, in a year when St. Louis will get the all-star game. (I hope to God the biggest eyesore in the world -- a.k.a the huge crater near the park -- has been taken care of by then.) However, I can't complain too much -- I've been spoiled. I saw every home World Series game in 2006 (including sitting through the famous rain out), and enjoyed the playoffs in 2004, and 2005 -- as well as the perks that go along with being a baseball worshiping news reporter covering the game. I was there for Opening Day at New Busch, and I went along to interview Wainwright post 06 win. (An event, Chad Fryman and our former weekend anchor, Ryan Tate describe as an Anchorman-esque "I love lamp." episode.)
It's a well known fact, I can just about recite Bull Durham from beginning to end -- Annie Savoy pretty much sums it up for me: "I believe in the church of baseball. I've tried all the major religions and most of the minor ones. ....... I've tried them all, I really have. And, the only church that feeds the soul, day in, day out, is the church of baseball."
Bull Durham and The Natural are my favorites -- Although dad and I fight it out over top three best baseball movies among those two, Major League, and of course Field of Dreams. The Sandlot, The Rookie, and 61* are also notable.
Normally, this time of year, I'm pouring over the schedule - coming up with strategies regarding when I can go to games - figuring out how to get tickets to see The Cardinals play against the Cubs - hitting up my friends in Chicago (Love ya Gretch) to try and be in town to see the Cards and Cubs play at Wrigley - And, thinking of new reasons why I hate the Astros. I'm faithful when it comes to my Cardinals - I don't care how much they suck, or do not suck, I love them just the same. Ever since Willie McGee, and Lee Smith, and Ozzie, and others my grandpa loved were still in uniform. If the Cards played on the west coast, grandpa would go to bed with the radio on so he could still listen to the game. Grandma always said he could sleep through a hurricane, but he never failed to wake up if Jack Buck called a homerun.
Instead of obsessing over early baseball headlines, over the past couple of weeks, I've had to focus on other things - like selling my car (please buy it) and dumming my life down to three suitcases so that I can pick up selected pieces of my 'world' and move it to Europe.
So, while I am in England, I ask for your help at home. I need you all to keep me updated - Did Tony smile? How many homeruns does Albert have? How's my boy Ankiel?
This is all very important information. A simple request really. Todd Richards has promised to do his best, and dad, and Aunt Laura I know I can count on you.
That being said -- I have one more request. If you all would subscribe to follow this blog that would be lovely -- in return I will try to be as entertaining as possible.
one more thing -- Thanks to everyone who came out to our last minute little send off party last night -- I had a fantastic time!
It's a well known fact, I can just about recite Bull Durham from beginning to end -- Annie Savoy pretty much sums it up for me: "I believe in the church of baseball. I've tried all the major religions and most of the minor ones. ....... I've tried them all, I really have. And, the only church that feeds the soul, day in, day out, is the church of baseball."
Bull Durham and The Natural are my favorites -- Although dad and I fight it out over top three best baseball movies among those two, Major League, and of course Field of Dreams. The Sandlot, The Rookie, and 61* are also notable.
Normally, this time of year, I'm pouring over the schedule - coming up with strategies regarding when I can go to games - figuring out how to get tickets to see The Cardinals play against the Cubs - hitting up my friends in Chicago (Love ya Gretch) to try and be in town to see the Cards and Cubs play at Wrigley - And, thinking of new reasons why I hate the Astros. I'm faithful when it comes to my Cardinals - I don't care how much they suck, or do not suck, I love them just the same. Ever since Willie McGee, and Lee Smith, and Ozzie, and others my grandpa loved were still in uniform. If the Cards played on the west coast, grandpa would go to bed with the radio on so he could still listen to the game. Grandma always said he could sleep through a hurricane, but he never failed to wake up if Jack Buck called a homerun.
Instead of obsessing over early baseball headlines, over the past couple of weeks, I've had to focus on other things - like selling my car (please buy it) and dumming my life down to three suitcases so that I can pick up selected pieces of my 'world' and move it to Europe.
So, while I am in England, I ask for your help at home. I need you all to keep me updated - Did Tony smile? How many homeruns does Albert have? How's my boy Ankiel?
This is all very important information. A simple request really. Todd Richards has promised to do his best, and dad, and Aunt Laura I know I can count on you.
That being said -- I have one more request. If you all would subscribe to follow this blog that would be lovely -- in return I will try to be as entertaining as possible.
one more thing -- Thanks to everyone who came out to our last minute little send off party last night -- I had a fantastic time!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Live Local Late Breaking for the Last Time
And so it begins...
Tonight I walked out of the newsroom for the last time as a reporter. In less than two weeks I begin my journey as a journalist and nanny in London, England. I like to think of it as Mary Poppins meets Bridget Jones.
If you know me well and you're familiar with those characters you'd probabaly agree that's a pretty good description. Practically perfect, and poised for disaster. It's organized chaos at it's best really.
Why London? That's a questions I've been asked many times since I decided to follow my heart, take a chance, and move across the pond.
Gertrude Stein once said: "America is my country, and Paris is my hometown."
Well, that quote is true for me if you take out Paris and insert London. I had dreams about that city even before I went there at sixteen. The only way I can describe the pull of that city for me would be to say it's as if I lived there in a past life. To me London was pure bliss, even with my incredibly vivid imagination and high expectations, the pictures in my head did not do it justice. However, London's just a start at this point. I told my mom: "Maybe next year I'll want to live in Brazil." She said: "Okay, can we focus on London again?! They speak English there -- I'm more comfortable with that"
Now, let me say this decision did not come without an incredible amount of soul searching. In fact, Cape Girardeau and KFVS are so much a part of my soul, even on my last day it in no way feels like I was "Live Local and Late Breaking" for the last time.
It probably won't until I am in London....learning about rugby and cricket instead of baseball, searching for Harry Potter landmarks (There as no Harry Potter the last time I was in town), and telling my aunt about my visits to Harrods (that's gonna kill her).
Oh I will miss the Heartland so much -- I'll miss my momma and daddy -- I'll miss grandma and my aunts and uncles -- I'll miss my amazing wonder dog Potter (yes, after Harry) and I will miss all the viewers and contacts I've made that entertained me right down to the last stop at the gas station tonight. (Rochelle, you know what I'm talking about.) I'll miss Splenda, I'll miss Barnes and Noble (no worries though, the tea I am addicted to is sold all over England), I'll miss the gym terribly, and occasionally I'll glance at my watch about 8 p.m. London time and think about how I'm missing the 2 o'clock news meeting.
But I could not be more sure or more excited about my next adventure. The way I see it, I only fail if I don't try. Meanwhile, on hollybrantley.com I'll do my best to entertain you with my antics, flubs, traumas, and observations about the world.
I still have several days until I fly out though -- no telling what I can get myself into between now and then.
But, I have faith. I pray a lot and I truly believe in that. As Rochelle - my photographer extraordinaire - witnessed tonight - I was scratching off lottery tickets and I won a dollar.
I looked up and told God: "One dollar is nice, but this chick could really use more than a dollar."
I scratched off the next line - and won another dollar.
The way I see it -- I doubled my money -- that's enough of a sign for me. If that's the way it works, I'll keep praying and it looks like the odds are in my favor.
Tonight I walked out of the newsroom for the last time as a reporter. In less than two weeks I begin my journey as a journalist and nanny in London, England. I like to think of it as Mary Poppins meets Bridget Jones.
If you know me well and you're familiar with those characters you'd probabaly agree that's a pretty good description. Practically perfect, and poised for disaster. It's organized chaos at it's best really.
Why London? That's a questions I've been asked many times since I decided to follow my heart, take a chance, and move across the pond.
Gertrude Stein once said: "America is my country, and Paris is my hometown."
Well, that quote is true for me if you take out Paris and insert London. I had dreams about that city even before I went there at sixteen. The only way I can describe the pull of that city for me would be to say it's as if I lived there in a past life. To me London was pure bliss, even with my incredibly vivid imagination and high expectations, the pictures in my head did not do it justice. However, London's just a start at this point. I told my mom: "Maybe next year I'll want to live in Brazil." She said: "Okay, can we focus on London again?! They speak English there -- I'm more comfortable with that"
Now, let me say this decision did not come without an incredible amount of soul searching. In fact, Cape Girardeau and KFVS are so much a part of my soul, even on my last day it in no way feels like I was "Live Local and Late Breaking" for the last time.
It probably won't until I am in London....learning about rugby and cricket instead of baseball, searching for Harry Potter landmarks (There as no Harry Potter the last time I was in town), and telling my aunt about my visits to Harrods (that's gonna kill her).
Oh I will miss the Heartland so much -- I'll miss my momma and daddy -- I'll miss grandma and my aunts and uncles -- I'll miss my amazing wonder dog Potter (yes, after Harry) and I will miss all the viewers and contacts I've made that entertained me right down to the last stop at the gas station tonight. (Rochelle, you know what I'm talking about.) I'll miss Splenda, I'll miss Barnes and Noble (no worries though, the tea I am addicted to is sold all over England), I'll miss the gym terribly, and occasionally I'll glance at my watch about 8 p.m. London time and think about how I'm missing the 2 o'clock news meeting.
But I could not be more sure or more excited about my next adventure. The way I see it, I only fail if I don't try. Meanwhile, on hollybrantley.com I'll do my best to entertain you with my antics, flubs, traumas, and observations about the world.
I still have several days until I fly out though -- no telling what I can get myself into between now and then.
But, I have faith. I pray a lot and I truly believe in that. As Rochelle - my photographer extraordinaire - witnessed tonight - I was scratching off lottery tickets and I won a dollar.
I looked up and told God: "One dollar is nice, but this chick could really use more than a dollar."
I scratched off the next line - and won another dollar.
The way I see it -- I doubled my money -- that's enough of a sign for me. If that's the way it works, I'll keep praying and it looks like the odds are in my favor.
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