I think this was 2003.  Cara Connelly is anchoring and I'm fronting my story from the newsroom about Marine training.  I think I had been at KYTV for about a month... I had just moved from Wilmington NC.

By the way, Cara now lives in Madison and is a PR wiz.  You may recognize her husband, Carlos Tucker.  He's the evening meteorologist at NBC 15!  Small world, people.  Small freaking world.  She was the weekend anchor at WIBW when I interned there in 2002.  She walked my tape into the newsroom in Missouri a year later.  And now I'm following her again in Wisconsin!  

Cara has been a big influence in my life.  I just can't believe how fast time flies!  Thanks, Cara!

Dan Rather gave a wonderful speech in Madison at the Monona Terrace for the Madison Community Foundation annual dinner. It was so interesting to hear some of his experiences, especially when he talked about who he's interviewed.

- He talked about being impressed with Bill Gates.
- He shared his thoughts about why he calls the US the only full-service super power.
- He mentioned that you don't have to have a lot to give a lot.
- He drove home the idea that America has a "willingness of heart" and I felt like he even choked up around 21:20 in his speech.
- He thinks Martin Luther King, Jr. changed his life.
- He joked about the two mistakes a man can make in a marriage.  (Around 27:00)

Here he is saying goodnight and reading a part of a poem: 

Here is the whole speech!  I had to move the phone around a little bit so it gets a little better once the phone is settled... it's really worth listening to again if you ask me.

My beautiful sister Hyun Jeong is two years YOUNGER today!  The reason?  She lost years in her age, thanks to the difference between Korean and American ages.

What?

Korean age basically gives you life as you are conceived.  Add the Lunar calendar in there and suddenly you're 2 years older than your American age.  Makes no sense to me.

All I know is that HJ is two years younger than what she was in Korea!  Yes!  Back to the Future!

My sister Hyun Jeong and her husband have been teaching me a lot, and it's been fun.  One edible lesson?  Steamed buns and black bean chili oil.  Whaaaaat.

First of all, I've eaten steamed buns, so that's really not like really earth shattering.

BUT. This chili oil?  It's life changing.  LIFE CHANGING!

For the record, I don't like beans.  But, this doesn't taste bean-y.  It just tastes like wonderful hot, spicy goodness.  I don't know who this dude is on the bottle, but I feel like giving him a hug.  Susan Siman now loves the oil, too!  We're both addicted!

I use it for dumplings and rice.  Just a little tablespoon on the side will do.  Also, it's a good vegan option.

ALSO, if you live near Madison, you really have to go shopping at some of the Asian markets.  My sister's fave is Asian Midway Foods because she loves the produce and the prices.  She says the prices are more similar to prices in China.  I had been shopping at another Asian market but was really blown away by the great deals we found there!

For example: NO offense to HYVEE (because I love that place), but 6 stalks of baby bok choy cost me at least $7 HyVee.  At the Asian market?  $1.50.  How about 79-cents for water chestnuts!  I just paid about $1.25 at World Market.  $2.50 for 5 lbs. of rice? Good lord, they're giving food away.

Anyway, check it out and take a lesson or two from Hyun Jeong!  She is really a good big sis!

I can't talk long now because I'm working and getting ready for my interviews with the 'Tammy' stars... but I just wanted to write quickly that I love the movie...

I know a lot of folks wanted to know more about the plot because the previews centered around one particular scene when Tammy robs a Topperjack's restaurant.  There were lots of surprises in the movie, and I cried during one of them -- which I wasn't expecting that.  So.  Yea.

Bottom line - the movie had great flow.  It moved well, I left with a happy feeling in my heart... and I know I'll go back and watch it at least 5 more times with my friends and family.  

Anyway, gotta run!  I'll explain more later!

Having a ball at the junket - meeting lots of neat people!  There are some really awesome "junket junkies" who really know the industry and take great pride in covering films.  Plus, they've got really interesting stories.  I'll introduce you to them later, too!  And wouldn't you know it?  We all had some sort of connection in the television industry... more about that later.

I am so thrilled to be headed to Los Angeles after a very crazy week in Wisconsin.  I can't believe it!

I am flying out this weekend to interview Ben Falcone, Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon, Gary Cole, Mark Duplass and Kathy Bates.

WHAT?!  I'm literally going to die.

But, my question to you... what would you ask them?  If you had the chance?  If i don't die first, I'd like to ask your questions for you... we'll probably use it for the news.

FULL DISCLOSURE:  I'm going as part of the media junket.  That means I am basically a guest of the studio.  Since I'm not a film critic... and since I'm actually in the movie for a snippet, I am going as part of the junket.  Cool?  Cool.  

If my mood stinks, it's because I just found out I have about $6000 worth of repairs to my basement, thanks to some poop water.

Apparently my old pipes couldn't handle a bunch of stuff, including a saturated ground, hair, dirt, some small roots and the pressures of four adults living under one roof.  Too much flushing, showering and general water usage have become the death of my basement.

My basement wasn't a lot to write home about, but this goes on the list of "things I never wanted to deal with" ... conveniently happening on my one year anniversary of working in Madison.  The people have been so great to me here and I love working here... but I have had a year of some crazy ass (bad) luck.  Excuse my French.

I can't tell if I'm ready for some great news or if I'm paying for something I did in a past life. BUT, I'd love to just call it even.

In the meantime... should I take this opportunity to get some woody-looking laminate flooring... or go with basement carpet?  What would you do?  Any ideas?

It's not a joke, Jim!

Thank goodness for Commerce Bank. Last week, my Netflix account was suspended because the company couldn't process my debit card.  I actually didn't think anything about it.  But then this week when I tried to use my card, I got declined.

Hmmm.... really? 

I would've noticed it sooner, but I don't use that account very much...other than for online bill pay.

I called Commerce Bank, and they froze my account due to suspicious purchases -- none of which actually went through, so another reason I didn't notice immediately.

APPARENTLY, some numskull tried to spend $423 at a GameStop in Atlanta.  Then that person also tried to make a purchase at a Circle K in Atlanta.

Like I said, many thanks to Commerce Bank for noticing.  I think it's a good sign that banks are getting wiser.  Maybe our money is more protected than once thought.  I am grateful for the freeze, though I wish Commerce would have notified me.

Still... what is the new norm out there?  Are people going Dave Ramsey-style and using cash only?  Do you buy your stuff on a credit card and pay at the end of the month?  I need ideas!  I don't need any more close calls.

If you're near the west side on Wednesday nights, one of the coolest new spots for the season is East Pass... where the food carts hang!  It's all part of Let's Eat Out and the food carts hop around from place-to-place throughout the week.  We choose East Pass because of its close proximity to the station.  We don't go every week, but it sure is a great dinner break spot and it looks like folks in the neighborhood love it.  

I love it because it makes people hang out in their neighborhoods.  The food is awesome, too!  In fact, this last time I went to SOHO and bought the Korean BBQ.

Note to Korean BBQ experts - it's not quite like bulgogi, but it comes with a cucumber kimchi variation and some cabbage kimchi.  And, there's even a restaurant.com certificate!

I have the cutest little nephew, Michael Day!  Baby Michael is the first son of Erika and Mike, and we really think he's a cutie.

Watch him wiggle!    

We traveled to St. Louis over the weekend to see Baby Michael get baptized.  Erika's cousin Emily is the Godmother and Jim is Michael's Godfather.  

We also love seeing Jim's grandpa Joe.  He is a WWII vet and actually fought at Normandy.  It's a real treat to see him and it's also special for Jim because people say the two look alike -- especially when Joe was Jim's age.  I think they're both pretty sharp looking dudes, don't you?

We had such a great weekend... one of my other big highlights was getting to hang out with my niece Parker.  She is such a doll, and we had so much fun watching Frozen and singing songs. After her dad scolded her for sneaking potato chips, I promised them both that I'd be the fun aunt ... you know, the one who sneaks her chips, hypes her up on sugar and all that stuff.  Isn't that the best?!  When I was a kid, my favorite aunt Carol would always let me take a couple of sips from her daiquiris... I'm not saying I'll do that... but I'm cool with chips and sugar.

My husband and I sure do miss BOTH of our families in Missouri, but we really, really love calling Wisconsin home.  We told them they need to move north!  At least for the cheese... and the beer... and the water parks... and the Badgers... and... well, everything but the Brewers.  Don't get me wrong, Jim and I root for the Brewers, but these people are Cardinals fans for life!

Great to see everyone.  It's always hard to make those plans, but we feel so recharged seeing our people.