Stuff, stuff and more stuff

Stuff, stuff and more stuff

 

Perhaps you've seen the promo on 9News by now:  Matt Renoux and myself surrounded by cases and cases of STUFF.  Those aren't props people!  Those cases have already been shipped to Vancouver for our coverage of the Olympics.  Scary part: that's not the last of it.

 

I don't know what was in those cases and quite frankly I'm afraid to ask for fear I'll be taught how to use whatever is inside... old dog, new tricks, not on this trip please.  I've already learned how to shoot and edit and that's scary enough.  Oh and all that STUFF (camera, laptop, tripod, battery charger, etc) wasn't even with the STUFF that was already shipped.  No, I'm responsible for hauling it to DIA and making sure it arrives safe in another country... they trust me too much.

 

Actually I lied about not know what was in ALL the cases.  Renoux (we are already on a last name basis) and I split a case.  So our Sorrels, heavy jackets, and sweaters are all touching each other.  Good thing we aren't afraid of cooties. 

 

I'm really glad we sent all our sub-zero wear too: it's been too warm for snow to stay on Cypress Mountain where the snowboarding and freestyle events take place.  Its just 20 minutes outside of Vancouver.  Probably should have sent up my spring wardrobe (I don't have one, it just sounds fancy).

 

But back to the STUFF.  So we've already shipped a you-know-what-load of it to Vancouver and there's more equipment to take.  Then there's the issue of packing personal belongings for a 25 day stint away from home.  I've tried to block this thought from my mind because it's a little overwhelming and here's why:

 

On top of working 16-18 hour days, I'm going to attempt to fit in training for my full Ironman which is right around the corner on May 1st.  So I need work clothes and workOUT clothes. 

 

Herein lies my problem:  I think I own, in general, more workout related clothing than nice clothes for work.  I love them.  I have more layers than an onion and those layers can take up a lot of room in a suitcase.  I'm afraid by the time I pack my workout clothes (which will be packed first), there won't be any room for nice STUFF. 

 

It wouldn't be the first time this has been an issue.  This idiosyncrasy of mine drives my husband mad... which is why he has his own bag for packing - there is no sharing (unless he has room for some of my STUFF).

 

Time will tell how the personal packing goes.  Matt and I take off on February 6th and start going live in the evening newscasts sometime the following week before the games begin.

 

And if you see me in workout STUFF, you'll know why.

 

Vancouver here I come!

One of the questions in our yearly personal reviews at 9News is: "What would you like your next assignment to be?" For the last 5 years, I've answered that with one response: "Covering the next Olympics." When I was filling out my 2009 review a few weeks ago, I had to find a different answer.

It has been my dream to be assigned to the Olympics since I started at 9News and it has finally come to fruition! I’m thrilled beyond belief, but not for reasons you may think.

When I tell people I’m going to Vancouver for the 2010 Olympics, they think it’s a cushy, glamorous job where I get to hang out with Lindsey Vonn and Shaun White for a couple weeks. It’s not really like that. In fact, we are gone for 25 days (without our families), we don’t have time to attend many events and we’ll be lucky to sleep more than 3-4 hours a night. Sounds fun huh? Oh it will be!

In my profession, these are the events we live for: the action is everywhere and everybody wants to know more about it. We have countless Colorado athletes involved, most of whom we’ve already interviewed and I can’t wait to report on not only their success, but also the success of Team USA as a whole.

The Olympics are unlike any other sporting event. The games bring together the worlds’ most talented athletes on a stage that can cause us to toss aside political and religious views. Instead, our hearts feel the sweat and tears every athlete puts forth as each one represent his or her country and shows unparalleled pride in the process.

Pride in country.

Those words have been the underlying theme every time I’ve asked one of our Colorado athletes what it means to be an Olympian. As proud as they are to represent our great country, I will be just as proud to report on their accomplishments.

My dream assignment does come with one negative: leaving my family. I will miss my husband and two kids like crazy. My son turns 10 on February 13th and the guilt of not being home for that milestone bums me out more than him. I have never missed a school party; my kids and their classmates have come to expect my chocolate chip cookies, but those will be absent on Valentine’s Day. My 7 year old daughter likes the fact she will be the “Mom” while I’m gone, but other times I find her in tears because she doesn’t want to be the only girl at home.

Thankfully my mother-in-law is coming in from Florida for two weeks to help my husband and my family will be helping out as well. My guess is that my son will have a bigger and better birthday with me gone!

So, while there is guilt, I feel good about leaving my comfort zone and crossing north of the border for the first time on February 6th. I will keep you up to date from now until my return on March 2nd as to what we are working on, who we’ve talked to and any other fun stories we come across while we are there.

In the meantime, still lots of work to do before we go so I’d best get back to it ‘eh?