Happy Anniversary!

This was us... three years ago today. Sometimes I can't believe three years have already passed. Other days, it seems like we've been together forever.

The past three years have been filled with adventure, joy, conflict, and fun. We've managed to accomplish so much in this short time span... a move back home from across the country, great jobs, a new home. And we've done it all together.

When I see pictures of us from that September day three years ago, I see two people filled with optimism and excitement for the future. What will the next day bring? Will we achieve everything we desire? Can we make this work? The answer is yes, as long as we do it together.

I've racked my brain trying to figure out what sort of gift might adequately show him how much I love him, and how much I value all that we have weathered together. Nothing seems good enough. Nothing can convey the degree of my devotion to this man and this marriage. Fortunately, I found the perfect gift. One that happened to show up at just the perfect time.

Looks like our fourth year together may just be the best one yet.

Get this!

My station is sending me to New York next week for a taping of Celebrity Jeopardy. I'll get to meet a bunch of people, including Carson Kressley, Martin Short, Regis Philbin, Susan Lucci, Nancy Grace, Joely Fisher, and Paul Shaffer from the David Letterman Show.

I am sooo psyched! We get complete backstage access and I'll interview all the celebs for a special story that I'll put together (since we're an affiliate that airs Jeopardy they're hooking us up, big time).

Isn't that cool?

More questions!

Reminder: I've switched to Blogger Beta, which gives you a lot of cool customizing tools for your blog. However, one problem! Until they work out a few kinks, Beta users can't comment on regular blogs, and vice versa.

Here's how to comment: when you click to comment, you can just click "Other" for your identity, and type in your name and copy your blogger website URL into the website field. Or if you're feeling lazy, click anonymous and leave your name in the comment section. Apparently Blogger is fixing this problem soon (I hope).

Now, back to your burning questions! I know, I've taken way too long to finish this up. FYI... I'm saving your questions about the TV business for my next post. So for now...

Jill asked:
What are your favorite things? Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens? Or colors, foods, etc. Just silly little things. ;-)
Food: Pasta
Non alcoholic Drink: Diet Dr. Pepper
Alcohol: Asti Spumante
Clothing: Ann Taylor Loft or New York & Company
Bags: Coach
Car: Audi
Color: Red or green (I looove Christmas!)
TV show: Grey's Anatomy (I am so glad it's back on THIS WEEK!)
Pet: Dogs
Book: My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
Movie: Forrest Gump
Vacation: Caribbean Cruise (and we're going on another one in October!)
Hobby: Reading
Toe: My "index" toe is kinda cute!

Janet asked:
Any advice for newlyweds?
Hmm. My husband says I am completed unqualified to answer this question! :) My biggest advice is to always think like a team. For us, it's easy to see a discussion turn into a "who is right?" contest. We try really hard to give each other the benefit of the doubt and try to work things out without "winning" an argument.

I've always found it striking how respectful and kind people can be with their co-workers, friends, etc. Why, then, do so many people neglect those who the should care for the most? I think couples can get lazy and forget that they owe their greatest respect and kindness to their partners. If you can show respect for your coworker during a debate, you can certainly do the same for your spouse. Don't get lazy or take liberties with your spouse in that arena.

CPA Mom asked:
Name all the jobs you've ever had, which was your favorite and which was the worst.
From bad to best:
Kennel staff at vet hospital. Dog crap. Lots of it. Nuff said.
Sales at music store. Boring. Easy. But really boring.
Waiter at Outback SteakHouse. Holy crap that is exhausting work!
Victoria's Secret. Yay for free bras! But not exactly my life's ambition.
Intern at WBAL TV in Baltimore. No money. Poor. But I learned so much for my career.
Anchor/reporter in Nebraska. First TV job! Almost zero money! Nebraska! Nuff said.
Anchor/reporter in Harrisburg. My current job. Lots mo money, opportunities, & prestige. It's really great :)

Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Harford County, Maryland. I lived there all my life, until I moved halfway across the country for my first TV job in 2002. It's a great place to grow up. Most of my family still lives there today. Now, I live about 35 minutes away from my parents, in south central Pennsylvania. I'm just over the PA line, and I love it here.

Where did you go to college?
I graduated in 2001 from Towson University, in Baltimore, Maryland. I have a double degree in Political Science and Broadcast Journalism.

What is your favorite book? Favorite Movie?
see above!

Does Suri really exist and if she does, why do we care?
Please. Alien spawn. No doubt about it.
And of COURSE I care! Celebrity news is my life blood. Because I am pathetic and gossipy. Hey, at least I admit it!

TV has its benefits.

Sunday morning. Zero dark thirty. I was driving to work in the wee hours of the morning, to anchor my station's weekend morning newscast. There was no one on the highway at this hour, so I set the cruise control and zoomed up the road.

All of a sudden I saw lights on the side of the road, and I knew I was screwed. It had to be a cop. Sure enough, the vehicle pulled out behind me and tracked me for a minute... then the flashers flipped on. Shit!

I pulled over and waited for the state trooper to make his way to my window. He leaned in really close, trying to get a whiff of my breath. I'm sure he thought I was some girl on her way home from a hard night of partying.

"What's the rush?" he asked. "Where ya headed?"

"I'm actually on my way to work," I replied. I know what you'll ask me next.

"To work? At this time on a Sunday morning?"

"Yes, sir. I'm a news anchor at the CBS affiliate. Running a little late to work, actually, and I have to anchor the news this morning."

He looked at me a little closer, disbelieving. I can't blame him. I know I didn't look like anyone fit for television. No makeup, sweatshirt, and my polar bear pajama pants. Did I even brush my hair yet?

"My suit and makeup are in the backseat," I said. "I can give you my business card to prove it!"

He smiled and said the sweetest words I have ever heard. "Don't worry about it. Just be safe and get back on the road. I'll just give you a verbal warning... don't want you to be late for your newscast!"

SCORE!

"The Pennsylvania State Police are the best! I'll make sure I give you a shout-out on the air!" I replied.

And I did. I thanked him, and the rest of his colleagues on the air that morning. Right after we aired a report about speeders in a local neighborhood. Hey, it was a good segue!

See, TV does have its perks!

p.s. I promise to get back to some of your burning questions in my next post. I haven't forgotten them!

EDITED TO ADD: i switched to Blogger Beta, which gives you a lot of cool customizing tools for your blog. However, one problem! Until they work out a few kinks, Beta users can't comment on regular blogs, and vice versa. However, when you click to comment, you can just click "Other" for your identity, and type in your name and copy your blogger URL into the website field. Or if you're feeling lazy, click anonymous and leave your name in the comment section. Apparently Blogger is fixing this problem soon (I hope). But I HIGHLY RECOMMEND BLOGGER BETA! Click HERE to upgrade your blog!

um

I tried to write a serious post about 9/11, but I'm at work and all I have been doing is writing about and/or watching 9/11 coverage on television.

It was a terrible, horrible day. I pray that we never experience something like that ever again.

Really, that's all I have to say about that.

I was looking for something to cheer me up, and I found this:

What's Your Porn Star Name?

Enter your real name and it'll generate your porn star name. Mine is a real doozy... ready for it?

Madam Darkholer!!!

You know, I just love when my name can reference both my love of S&M as well as some butt action. KIDDING!

Also, please don't tell me I am going to hell for combining 9/11 commentary with sexual perversion. I just needed a way to cheer up, okay? :)

So what's your pornstar name?

Don't look so shocked!

Yep, you're in the right place! But I decided it was time for a little redesign. Enter Zoot and her fabulous HTML fabulousness.

I hope you all like the new digs... I was getting bored with my last design and wanted something fresh and pretty.

Now if only I could do that with my hair now and then! (I'm contractually bound to not make any "drastic" changes to my appearance for work). So I guess the mohawk is out?

The blog's gonna have to suffice.

Let me know if you like it! And don't be shy if you don't... there are a zillion other options I can try!

The boobage... you ask, I answer.

First of all, an apology for not really staying on top of blogging this week. I haven't had much of a chance to write or to read all of you! I deserve a spanking for this.

I've finished my first week of ass-kicking exercise bootcamp! (This, combined with a crazy week of work, has left me taking as many naps as possible). I am so.damn.sore! I had better lose a little weight and end up with an ass you could bounce a quarter off of... or I will be screaming "refund!" In the meantime, my husband is enjoying flicking quarters at my butt.

So, you were all so kind in asking me questions, and now I haven't answered them all! Let's get started with that. I'll take a few people at a time.

Let's start with my darling SillyHily, who asked the following:

Have you ever met any celebrities?
Hmm... nobody that's really fantastic. I mean, I have met and interviewed some athletes. I did a live report as the President drove by me, but didn't actually meet him. Oh, I remember! I interviewed Tom Wopat (from Dukes of Hazzard). He was in Baltimore starring in a musical. Not too impressive, is it? OH WAIT!! I did a satellite interview with sexy Ethan from Survivor. (Satellite interviews mean that he's at a different location, and he can hear me and we chat). Good lord he was so hot. I even asked him if I could have his baby (when we were just doing microphone checks... not on the air of course!) He just laughed. And probably cringed.

Do people know you have this blog (like your family, friends, and viewers)?
My sister knows I have this blog, and she reads once in a while. I'm not sure if I have mentioned it to any of my other family, although my mom knows I have one. I would probably die if my work ever found out about this blog. I do try to be open/honest/myself when I write here, which doesn't always match up with the image of credibility and classiness you have to project on-air. Wonder if I'd get dooced if they ever found out? Oh well, I will take my chances.

Were you voted most popular or anything like that in high school?
Ha! I was anything but. I mentioned before that I was pretty shy and quiet in school. I'm not sure why... but I always felt like I was being judged or evaluated by people. And believe it or not, I was never much of a party girl or anything, so people probably thought I wasn't much fun. I'm one of those girls who has never smoked a cigarette, never done drugs, etc. Thus... I reveal to you my SUPERSPECIAL HIGHSCHOOL SUPERLATIVE AWARD:

"Biggest Brown Noser"

Yep, those bastards I went to school with decided to give me an award for being nice, yet they twisted that into something I was ashamed of. Thank god I redeemed myself by winning the Best Drama and Best Choir Awards! (Voted on by my teachers, thankyouverymuch!)

Would you and your hubby ever try out for Amazing Race?
We like that show, and I have always said that we should try out for something like that! However, I wonder if we might kill each other. Much as hubby and I love each other, we can also be very stubborn and believe that our way is the right way. I can only imagine what might happen when the pressure is on and we have different ideas about what we need to do to win!

Have you ever "batted for both teams?" (Hey, just trying to think of something to make you blush like you did me.)
You are a very naughty girl, SillyHily! But I must admit the answer is yes. Sort of. Under the influence of some big time alcohol. One of my best friends and I actually kissed at a bar to raise money to cover our tab. And, um, it worked. Seems the boys like to watch two girls kissing. And before you ask, yes, it was of the French variety. Good job, Hil, you DID make me blush!


And finally, both Hil and LizzieP wanted to know:
Are your boobs real?
Wow, should I consider this a compliment? Yes, they are 100% real! No added silicone or preservatives! I actually don't think my boobs are very big, but I'm sort of small (only 5'2) and maybe they look bigger on my frame than they really are. Just your average 34C.

That took longer than I thought, so I'm gonna have to run! More questions next time!

There she is, Miss Blogger

First of all, thanks to all of you for your sweet comments on my "how we met" story. And thanks for inspiring me to actually write that, by asking me the question! Moving on to another topic that a few of you were interested in... the pageants.

It's funny... in my experience, pageants were nothing like you have seen on TV or in movies. Sure, there were some people there who you wouldn't be close friends with, but it's the same way in the real world. I've actually made some very close friends through competing, and I have never had a dress or shoe sabotaged by some bitchy contestant.

I started vying for the title of Miss Maryland when I was 18. My family doesn't have a lot of money and I knew that I couldn't afford the cost of college, even with my scholarship. Plus, knowing that I wanted to get into TV, I figured I needed a lot of experience talking in front of big groups of people. The Miss Maryland pageant seemed to fit the bill. The winner got at least $15,000 in scholarships, there was a talent competition (and I loved to sing), and if you won, you would spend the year travelling around the state doing speaking engagements.

I actually competed at the state level for four years before I won Miss Maryland at age 21. Now, I'm glad it happened then, because I had just graduated from college and I didn't have a job yet, so I was really able to focus on the title and have fun.

By far, the best experience of being Miss Maryland was going to Miss America. Awesome, awesome time. And again, no really bitchy women or shredded dresses! I worked so hard for Miss America... practicing my talent, working out, getting the clothes. I figured you might wanna see a picture or two from Miss America, so here they are:




That's me in the swimsuit competition at Miss A. I wish I could go back to being that thin again, but it just requires so much work. :) You also might notice in this pic that I am not very tall. I'm maybe 5'2" on a good day. That's definitely not the height of your typical pageant girl, but I guess I never really fit that mold anyway, which is how I like it.

This is my evening gown. I was going for simple and sexy. You weren't gonna find rhinestones all over MY dress! I loved this gown... it was comfortable and didn't wrinkle... and it was velvet. It's hanging in my closet right now, but I can't wear it, because it's so small.

Oh, and here's a pic of me doing my talent (singing) at Miss America. I remember being scared for this part. Talent always was the one area of competition that made me really nervous. I loved the interview and onstage questions, but talent was my worry-zone.

Miss America was an amazing experience... and I actually was named a finalist on national TV. That year, they called a top 20 (instead of a top 10) and I made it, short legs and all!

I also won a national award for my community service, which is something I probably haven't mentioned on here. I trained guide dogs for the blind. I grew up breeding and showing dogs, and when I reached my teens I decided to work with animals that could help people with disabilities. It's amazing... maybe I should write about that, sometime?

As much fun as the pageants were (and the fact that they paid my college tuition in full), I don't think I would compete anymore. They were fun, but I had the experience of a lifetime at Miss America and I don't think I could top that. Plus, I'd have to compete in a pageant for married women, and I think I'd feel silly. Not to mention, I think credibility is important to my job, and I don't know if wearing a crown and sash makes TV viewers take me seriously. :)

"This is Mrs. Pennsylvania, with your news tonight."

Haaaaa. Don't think that would work out too well!