Oink!

This week I've had to do a lot of coverage on the ubiquitous swine flu. I interviewed a doctor about trends and patterns in the spread of the virus.

This doctor is a chinese national and has a rather strong accent. I asked him why swine flu was such a concern. His response? "Well, the fru is the fru. All fru is bad."

Believe me, all my powers of self-control were in full use as I struggled not to laugh every time he called it the "fru."

Zeus!

I didn't know Armageddon was coming. I came to the office yesterday wearing a light dress and heels and it never even entered my red-head to carry in an umbrella.

When I got off work at 7pm, the deluge had already started. Fortunately I had a t-shirt with me which I put on over dress and peered out the neck opening. I ran through the pouring rain, trying desperately not to wipe out as I dashed through the puddles in my high heels.

I landed in my car, breathless and drenched.

The rain eased up a bit and I headed out to meet a friend for a previously planned dinner at Lupe's. I wasn't sure if I could get there, or if she would be able to make it, but figured I'd give it a shot.

I made it to restaurant, bedraggled and cold. We had dinner.
Then the power went out.

We all sat in the dark restaurant for about 15 minutes or so...we didn't have enough cash to pay our bill and couldn't leave until the credit card machines were back online.

Eventually, the power came back on, the rain stopped, we paid our bill and I made it home in one piece. Chilled, wet and slightly worse for wear, but with one more adventure under my belt.

Another Day in the Life...

Today I went to a luncheon at the Hotel ZaZa...quite the swanky joint. Certainly a nice place to have lunch, but nothing to stop the presses.

But the day gets better. All afternoon, pounding away at a computer in the desk next to mine, sits Marketplace Host Kai Ryssdal. OMG! This man has long been my secret radio crush. Sssshhh...he's sitting RIGHT BEHIND ME!

And to top it all off, this afternoon two photography students dropped by to take pictures of me in my work environment while I host the afternoon programming. They had a tripod, multiple cameras and bags of equipment and did a lengthy photo shoot of me while on and off the air.

Like I said...just another day...

Unsolved Mysteries

A few days ago I was going through my laundry and found a pair of women's underwear that didn't belong to me. I assumed somehow my roomie's laundry got mixed up with mine, so I gave them to her. She looked at them and said "these aren't mine."

Yeah so...we dunno.

30 and counting

Well it happened. I turned 30 without even meaning to. I didn't immediately notice any changes. But a dear friend did point something out to me that she felt I should take into consideration.

In roman numerals, 30 is XXX.

Ahem.

Best Quotes of the Week (Thus Far)

In an email from a girlfriend on the subject of going out for happy hour:

"Get ready to flirt for free drinks. Oh wait. You do that already."


In an instant message from a girlfriend on the subject of dating:

Me: "You know all it takes is 1"
Her: "Like baseball. Or sperm."

You Know You're Old When...

You get a food processor for your birthday. And that's actually what you asked for.

I celebrated my birthday with my family this weekend. Within the first ten minutes I was on the verge of tears. I quietly texted a friend, hoping for some affirmation or encouragement. The response I got back was "remember they wiped your ass when you were a baby."

Okay, that's not exactly the response I was looking for...but it did the trick. I laughed, moved on and enjoyed the rest of the day.

Things that only happen around Easter

I pulled a boiled egg out of my purse today. It was pink.

My mom gave me an Easter basket with odds and ends she thought I'd like, including pepper spray.

I got hit with not one, but TWO, confetti eggs on Sunday afternoon. I was picking confetti out of my hair for a while. When I got home and changed out of my dress, confetti fluttered out.

Reasons men should learn better communication skills

Exhibit A: Text message conversation between me and a guy friend

Him: "Are you available for coffee on Thursday?"

Me: "Yes. Are you asking me out via text? ;)"

Him: "I wouldn't dream of it"

Me: "Ouch"


Exhibit B: At a dinner, discussing the upcoming car ride home with a guy friend

Me: "Don't fill my wine glass too full. Otherwise I might get handsy on the trip home."

Him: "If I had known you might get handsy I wouldn't have agreed to ride together."

Me: "Ouch"

It IS a Good Friday

This morning I was talking on the phone with a little girl I've been taking to church and spending time with lately. I'm discipling her older sister and have also developed a special connection with the younger sister in the process.

On the phone she told me she had written a card for me and wanted to read it to me. I sat there and listened, with tears streaming down my face, as she read the sweetest little words about how I had changed her life forever and that because of me she now knows God and thinks of me as her special helper. She told me that she wants to be baptized soon. Her final words were "Thank you, Laurie, for helping me and showing me how to love God! I love you!"

Good, GOOD Friday.

If a tree falls in the forest...

A couple days ago, I was finishing up my air shift at work and preparing to leave the office. I walked out of the studio and headed into the newsroom and somehow...I really don't know how...I completely face-planted.

Yep. Totally wiped out, ate carpet, on my face on the ground. I was completely alone in the room and was able to jump up, dust myself off and laugh at the absurdity of the experience.

And I can now tell you that yes, if a Laurie falls in the newsroom and there is no one there to see it, it's still embarrassing.

My public has spoken

Thanks for all the comments, friends! I needed that little boost to help me decide where to take things on the QQ. I've decided to keep the blog going, but not be as concerned with blogging Monday-Friday. So you may only get two or three updates a week...but I'll try to make 'em good. :)

So in newsy news, I'm going to PARIS! My dear friend, Amy, and I decided to go on a fabulous girls' trip to Europe. The plan is to spend a week in Paris and then hop over to London for a few days.

I've never been to Paris...any recommendations from you Francophiles?

Parting is such sweet sorrow

I'm considering shutting down the QQ. It's practically dead these past several weeks anyway. It's gone through down cycles in the past, but it's really suffering in this tough economy. And I'm just not sure how many people still check in or keep up with my ramblings.

What say you, fair readers?