Talks of Toto & Falafel!

Wow it's been so long since I've updated my blog! I'll give updates on the last week and a half, starting with last Monday. It's easier for me to remember it this way!

Last Monday Night: I went out with my new friend Jen who I met at church. We had a great time! We met right outside my work and started googling Mexican food in the city. We finally decided on a place and headed that direction all the while talking about our lives! When we got to the the Mexican Restaurant we soon realized we picked an expensive place to eat at! But it was really neat! We ordered guacamole, which they made in front of us. My meal was over $20 and it was really tasty. It was a nice surprise treat to myself! lol Even the waiters were staring at us because we didn't know what to do with all the stuff they gave us and the prices were so expensive, but we had a good time. Afterwards, we went to Dylan's Candybar- it's the most famous candy store in all of New York. While we were there we saw Crumb's cupcakes, so we decided to actually visit the Crumb's store and have a cupcake. They are so delicious.

The rest of last week: The rest of las week was great! Here are the things that still stick out in my mind: The other intern and I went to Magnolia's, which is a bakery that sells cupcakes. Regular sized cupcakes whereas Crumbs sells oversized, stuffed with filling cupcakes. The cupcake at Magnolia's was good, but not as good as Crumbs. Magnolia's is famous because of the show Sex and the City, which is why I guess a lot of people like to go there. Me, personally, I never really watched the show. The other girl I intern with Lauren, started asking me questions about Kansas and the Wizard of Oz. I told her that there's a museum, but it's really not that big of a deal in Kansas. She could tell I was a little annoyed by the question and started asking more like does everyone name their dog Toto? I said I'd never met a dog named Toto. So now it's kind of a joke. Then today, Lauren and this other guy Tony were trying to tell me how to get somewhere on the subway and Lauren was like I can take you there and they kept elaborating on how to get there. I was like gee thanks guys, as if I'm not competent enough to do this myself. It's really fun now that we've all gotten to know each other we just joke around all the time! It's a lot of fun because everyone I work with except maybe the supervisor is really laid back.

Also last week Lauren and I were hanging out in the green room eating pastries, which we do quite frequently if we aren't busy and well even when we are, because we didn't have anything else to do and Rudy Giuliani was in there!! So I've kind of met even though we haven't been formally introduced- 2 former NYC mayors!

Friday- Jen and I walked the Brooklyn Bridge! It was a beautiful night and we went around sun set. I've heard it's a mile and a half, but it didn't take us that long to walk it and we stopped for pics a lot. It's kind of dangerous because there is a walking lane and a biking lane so you have to be careful for bikers. We almost saw a guy wreck! We got over the bridge and everyone goes to Grimaldi's- an Italian pizza place and there's always a line, but it's well worth it. We waited in line for about an hour, but the pizza was so good. We had pepperoni with mushrooms and it was a small with 6 large pieces! So good! Then we went and ate ice cream down by the Hudson and we could see New York at night it was so beautiful! While we were there, these models came up and were taking pictures that was kind of neat to see. We walked back in the dark, it was such a calm, beautiful night and took the subway back up to my dorm. I always get kind of worried when I get on the subway because I want to make sure I'm going to the right place. I've had so many experiences where I haven't, it's not horrible, but it was late at night and I just wanted to get back. The announcer says the trains going to Queens. I immediately blurt out OH NO ARE WE GOING TO QUEENS! so now this is a joke with Jen and I. They do that on all the trains-they announce the furtherest stop away, but they always make stops in between and I guess that night I wasn't thinking and didn't want to end up in Queens.

Saturday- I went to brunch with Jen and some of her friends. It was really good and we went to this really fun place- The Sun Burnt Cow! Fun name too! Then I went to the Clearwater Festival in upstate New York - out of the city with Tracy and Patrick. It's a music festival with a bunch of hippies and environmentalists. It was fun to see this part of New York because this is not the picture you get when your in the city! It was really neat the entry fee is used to help keep the Hudson clean and it's right along the river. It was so beautiful up there with the mountains and we got to see the sunset.

Sunday- I went to Grace again! And it was fabulous! Then afterwards I hung out with Jen and another one of her friends in Central Park. We got lunch before we went to the park I ordered Falafel in pita bread! It was so delicious! Falafel is like hush puppies but with chick peas, the stuff that's in humus! and then they put the fried chick peas in the pita bread along with lettuce, tomatoes and a sauce. It was delicious! It was so fun just hanging out in Central Park for like 3 hours on a beautiful day just talking with people! AHHH!!! :) Such a happy day!

This week has been great! I've got a story lined up for next week that I am super excited about! I am interviewing the director of Sing for Hope, which is an organization that has placed 60 pianos throughout Manhattan and all boroughs for people to play until July 5th as part of a city art project! Tomorrow- Friday- I am helping with an event that Fox is doing at the NY Mets game. It's called Fox Fan Night and some of the interns get to work the event- hand out stuff/take pics with the morning show hosts and other fun things!

New York still amazes me! Everyday I continue to have amazing experiences and meet awesome people and build new friendships! I couldn't have imagined such an awesome summer as this! The City has far exceeded my greatest expectations and I can't believe my 4th week is almost over, which means my time here is almost over! I would move here in a second if I could! I could easily talk forever how great this island is! I love it so much!

From BBQ to Van Gogh...

I had another fabulous weekend in Manhattan! Saturday I went to the Big Apple BBQ Block party with Tracy and Patrick. We waited in line and got some St. Louis style ribs. They were really good then we sat on the lawn in the park and ate. After ribs we went to the New York Public Library. It was really neat. Their were lots of florists and caterers that were preparing for a wedding so it was neat to see the decorations. Then we went and got a key to the city, which unlocks several different things in all 5 boroughs of New York, which aren't open to the general public unless you have this key. For example, there is a lamp post in Bryant Park that you can turn on and off.

After getting the key and doing the little ceremony we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which was really neat. My favorite part was seeing Van Gogh's work. My favorite is his starry night, that's not there, but it was really neat to see his other works too. I also saw some of Monet's paintings and works done by other artists. We went to the top of the building where they had these bamboo sticks that they used to build a fort. You can buy tickets and walk around in it, but they were sold out when we were there. The view from the top of the museum was so beautiful! It's right next to central park so part of the view is tops of trees. It was gorgeous! Then we had dinner at Spice, it's a Thai restaurant and it was really good. They give you good size portions. Below is a pic of the bamboo sticks on top of the met! You can actually walk around up there! Pretty sweet!

Today, Sunday, wasn't quite as eventful but still great! I went to church again, the same one I went to last week and it was awesome! This time I had 40 minutes to kill and last week I was 15 minutes late. Last week the train that was supposed to stop on 72nd (the street the church is on) didn't so I had to re-route my trip, but this week it stopped there. I hope last week was just a fluke. I didn't even have to ask for directions, instead someone asked me! I feel so New Yorkerish! Church was great I loved the sermon and met some more great people with connections to journalism and the midwest, but I go for more than this. It's just nice to meet people who can relate to you in someway especially in New York. Everyone is so sweet there and there's a strong sense of community! I also love the worship! It's a small church, the pastor is a church planter so they are just getting started, but it's so cool to see their faith and sense of family there!

On the way back from church the most incredible thing ever happened! This is why I love Manhattan so much! I got on the train, then I got off because I had to get out of the subway and go across the street to catch another train that goes uptown. After I got off, this girl asked me for directions, they needed the same train I did so I told them how to go. We were at the crosswalk waiting and I thought I saw this girl at Church. So I said, "Were you just at Grace?" and she said yes. And we just started talking. She's a teacher from South Carolina who is subletting an apartment in Chelsea for a month, it's the South part of Manhattan. Their are several neighborhoods in Manhattan depending on where you live. Anyways.. she's a couple years older than me and she said I just knew I had to find a church or I wouldn't make it. I said yeah I'm the same way. We exchanged numbers and we've already talked we're hanging out tomorrow night!!! There are movies Monday night in Bryant Park on the lawn so I think we are going to go do that! Totally random that we met again, I didn't even talk to her at church, she sat behind me, but I just remembered seeing her out of the corner of my eye! This just amazes me about New York I just keep meeting people and it's so random and fun to talk about life and discuss things! What an opportunity! This is why I love Manhattan so much!

Later in the afternoon I went to the grocery store. I probably go a couple times a week because in Kansas everyone drives to the grocery store, but in the city most people, including me, carry their groceries back home. So you buy less or at least I do. I got tired just carrying them around in the grocery store, that's why I got a basket because I knew I was going to have to walk with them a couple blocks and if I couldn't carry it around in the grocery store there was no point in trying to lug back to my dorm. Also I love honey nut cheerios, but they don't have the huge boxes. Everything is in smaller portions. You can even buy milk in the size smaller than a half gallon. I haven't looked to see how much there is in there, but I figure if you can't even drink 1/2 a gallon maybe you shouldn't be buying milk or they could give it to me! Maybe people don't eat as much or just don't have room. I really wanted to go out, but it started raining after I got back from the grocery store. So I did laundry and cleaned my room. We can receive text message alerts when our laundry is done. Maybe this is normal, I don't know I'm used to having it in my home, but I thought that was neat and I kind of laughed.

S'more of my life in the city!

This week has been so awesome! I can't believe that my second week in the city is almost over that means I only have 8 left! I've made some great memories again!

Fox is still amazing! It's more fun now that I've been there for over a week because you can really see everyone's personality and the dynamic of the place. It's really fun! Wednesday, Roger Ailes the CEO of Fox and senior Advisor to Rupert Murdoch spoke to the interns. He's obviously experienced so much success in his career, yet he is still just the same old guy. It was really neat to hear some of his stories from his career. He also gave a lot of career advice to all of us interns. He said you want to be the person who they call into the room when there's a problem. You want people to trust you and this is an opportunity for you to stand out. He said the news business is hard because it does require you to spend time away from your family and nothing is ever just given to you. He also said if you want to be an anchor it's better if you don't have a high pitched voice otherwise they will send you to work on your vocals. I think I'm ok on this. He also said higher degrees aren't a requirement. Which is making me rethink my future, but I know God will figure it all out just like he has every other time so I'm not going to worry about. I'll try my best and let God do the rest. I know I'm not here because of me.

I am working on the Cost of Freedom Shows and sometimes we help with Neil Cavuto's show. He also has a show on the Cost of Freedom segment that airs on the weekends. Yesterday, he bought us all lunch- take out chinese! I ordered fried rice and got to eat in one of those cute little chinese carriers, which I've never eaten out of before.

On the way back to my dorm it was raining and I walked back in my flip flops because it's uncomfortable to wear heels while walking through the city. Plus knowing me I'd fall over and probably break my leg. By the time I got home my flip flops were sopping wet. Next time I'm taking the subway when it rains. The other intern and I found this whole city underneath our building! You can buy everything from flowers to food underground and the subway runs under our building too.

Last night, my roommates and I went to this italian restaurant on the corner. It was delicious and the best part was we all had leftovers. None of us have really cooked. We only have a stove top and the burners are really small, so it seems like it would take forever to cook anything. I usually just eat sandwiches and chips or get something to eat. I had chicken fettucine alfredo. Then we went to Crumb's it's a chain, but they are only in bigger cities. There aren't any in Kansas unfortunately. They have cupcakes that are pretty good size and filled with a filling inside. They are delicious! I had the s'more and it was wonderful! It was a chocolate cupcake with marshmallow frosting and chocolate chips on the top and walnuts around the outside. The inside was filled with the marshmallow frosting too!

This week I also signed up to be one of the interns who works Fox Fan's night at a Mets game towards the end of the month. It's an event that Fox does and the interns help put together and then hand out stuff at the game! I'm really excited just to be more involved and meet other interns!

Tomorrow is Friday and we tape all of our shows that will air on Friday, so it should be a busy day! If not then me and Lauren, the other intern in the department will scour the green room for pop and cookies and soak up the sun outside! I'm excited to see what another weekend in the city holds!!

the people I've met...

Last Thursday I went to the Phantom of the Opera! It was amazing! I met my 8th grade teacher Mrs. Henry who brought students to the city on a tour and to D.C. It was great to see her too! It was my first Broadway Show and I really want to see the Lion King before I leave too. Up until the weekend it has just been work. Which is still great!

Saturday morning I came to Starbucks to do some work, which I really did not want to do, but it turns out it was a blessing in disguise. After I got off the phone these two older ladies that had sat down next to me asked me where I was from. I think they over heard my phone conversation and could tell I was not from New York. I told them Kansas. Then they asked what I was doing in New York and I told them I was interning with Fox News. One of them said I don't understand why you have to be so gosh darn conservative. I just laughed and then right after that she said you don't have to respond to that. We chatted some more, one told me that her daughter in law was from Holcomb, she could only remember it because of the book that had been written about the murders there, then we talked about basketball. They were from North Carolina, one of them said we stole your basketball coach. Then they let me get back to work. Before they left they wrote down their names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses for me. The said for when I become famous. I just laughed. One told me that her daughter lives in D.C. so if I was ever there I could call her daughter. They were too sweet. Then they told me I could come visit Asheville, NC and the Biltmore Estate, which funny enough I told them that I had already been there. It was so random, God was definitely there.

Saturday evening I went to Serendipity's with Tracy and her grandson. It was so good. We ate dinner and I ordered a frozen hot chocolate. It was huge as all of there desserts are and delicious.

Sunday morning I navigated the subway to get to Church 15 minutes late, but I was there and that's what counts. Alot of the trains that run during the week don't run on the weekends so I had to find alternate routes. I asked this one lady and it worked out that she was going to the same street I was, 72nd, so we went together and had a nice little chat. It always amazes me the people I meet and how sweet they are. New Yorkers really are friendly, but there are some who are just in a hurry to get where they are going, which is understandable.

Church was great! I get these daily bible verses online and the pastor that provides the commentary for them is the pastor of this church it's Grace NYC. It's really little, the pastor also plants churches, so it's just starting out, but they were like one small little family. Everyone was so friendly, again. I met a girl who is from Kansas City and we talked quite a bit. The sermon was very good. The pastor talked about enduring with hope, which I thought was really good. Just saying that kind of put's it in perspective. The worship was amazing! It was such a small church, but when the band played everything really came alive and you could just feel their love for Jesus! I had some obstacles getting there and I could probably find a church that's closer, but I will probably go back next week because I like it so well.

Tonight my roomie and I did laundry for the first time in our dorm and watched some movies. Can't believe the first week is already over. I am still amazed by the people, New York is such an incredible city with so many diverse people and with so many opportunities to engage with people! It's so fun, I'm loving every minute of it and I am so blessed to be here!

First day at Fox News

My first day was awesome! It's a mile from my dorm and took me a little less than 30 minutes with traffic to get there. It was hot and I was sweaty once I arrived. There was tons of security in the building and I had to show my photo id everywhere. There are four rows each with six elevators. You choose the row depending on the floor your going to. Then you punch in your floor number on this key pad and it gives you a letter and you go to that elevator and then it takes you to your floor. This was very confusing, but another intern and I finally arrived.

There's about a dozen interns. Everyone was really dressed up. The interns looked better than the employees. Some employees wore jeans, which really surprised me.

In the beginning we were escorted to a boardroom and then me and Lauren, we are partnered up on the weekend shows together, were called out first and we met our supervisor, Nick, who showed us all around Fox News.

He showed us the studios. I seen the O'Reilly Factor Studio, Glenn Beck's studio and several others. Lauren and I watched one of the newscasts live. There are several studios all over the building and one of them was even in another building. We saw the newsroom, the international desk and others. As we were touring the building our supervisor showed us the green room where we would escort guests. Our supervisor grabbed a pop and asked us if we would like one and we both said no thanks. A little later we came up on another green room, our supervisor grabbed another pop and said this is one of the perks of working here. There's always good treats, pop and coffee. He said we could help ourselves any time.

Everyone was really nice. The lady I sit next to asked me probably every hour if I had any questions. I have my own phone that's a serious business phone with several lines to connect to. I have a badge that I even have to use when I go to the bathroom because the bathrooms our outside the doors. To open any door you have to push a button. I also have my own email address. I have my own desk complete with a mini flat screen tv where I can watch Fox News or any other channel all day, while I'm working of course in real time without the delay.

There will be opportunities to do street reporting, which I am so excited about. That would be so neat to interview people out on the streets of New York and then for it to air!!!! I learned out to edit video using their software and their databases. I will also be doing graphics analyzing ratings and working on their website. Tomorrow morning we have a conference where we all pitch stories for the weekend shows and the interns get to do this too! I am so excited to be so involved and they told us that if there is anything we would like to do, to just ask. They really value us and our opinions! A lot of the people I have met there said they were interns there once too. I'm hoping I will say that some day too!

Today was really an amazing day everyone was so nice and everything just went so well. I spent most of the day looking for story ideas and reading the drudgereport and the ap wire! Not a bad day when you have to scour the internet for news!