March 25-28th

Sunday – Travel Day

Green Bay, WI > Chicago

Got into to Chicago around noon.  

Took car service to hotel and got checked in.

Crazy low level clouds today…  can’t even see the top of this building.

I needed various items, so I walked a few blocks to the largest and nicest Walgreens of all-time.  It was 2 stories.  What the what?

After I was ‘settled’ I met up with my friend Mike and we went for a late lunch at Lou Manaliti’s.  

www.loumalnatis.com

Oooohhhh the salad was just as amazing as I remembered.

In an effort to be more health conscience, I had the thin crust pizza as opposed to the traditional Chicago style.  Please, for the love of God, never make that mistake!  It was terrible.

Once we got back to the hotel we met up with our friend Steve and watched hoops for a while.

I was a good girl and went to bed early.  Tomorrow is a long day for me.

Monday – Event Day

2013 PowerAde JamFest

New venue for the event this year – University of Chicago.  Quite possibly the best venue for this event to day.  Perfect size and aesthetically pleasing for TV.

This particular show is extremely challenging for me.  This year I have a new AP – which is a little nerve wracking.  Granted he is very good, but I have done this event with Alex for many years; however he was not able to join me this year.

However, Rich and I had numerous conversations and met yesterday to review everything and…. Drum roll please…  We NAILED it!

Thank goodness!

Tuesday –Set

After reveling in another success, it was time to move forward with the next challenge.  Today we had a partial set day at the United Center for the McDonald’s All American games.

Following the set day, it has been tradition for many years now for our crew to take on the event organizers in a hoops game.

I don’t play, but I am a supporter of our team!

Wednesday – Game Day

2012 McDonald’s All American Girl’s & Boy’s Games

Everything went great and I am pleased with another success with JamFest & McDonald’s – can’t wait until 2013!

March 21-24th

Wednesday – Travel Day

Philadelphia > Green Bay

Slept on both of my flights to Green Bay.  March just has me really run down.

Got to Green Bay a little after noon.  Got checked into the hotel, dropped my stuff and headed out.  I was looking for lunch and perhaps to meet up with my friend Dave’s nephew, Karl.  He lives here.

Used my handy dandy “TV Food Maps” ap and found Krolls.  

http://www.krollswest.com/ 

It’s across from Lambeau Field.

I had the prime rib sandwich.  It was a little fattier than I like, but all in all it was good.  The Mac & Cheese was totally average and not anything special.  Guess I had high hopes for the cheese since it’s Wisconsin and all.

Karl was still at work, so I then headed to a park to sit in the sun.  Yes, you read that correctly – sit in the sun!  It was 79 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.   I laid on a picnic table for an hour and just soaked it in….  as well as I could with long pants on.

I headed back to the hotel with intentions of watching DVDs from last year’s McDonald’s All-American games – need to review as I have that event coming up next week.  But instead I took a nap.

After I got up, I headed to Bar 330; which is my friend Dennis’ room.  (It’s always “Bar xx” depending on his room number)  There I hung out with Rich and Dave C.; eventually we went to dinner at the Titled Kilt; which is like an Irish Hooters.  

We had quite possibly the stupidest person I have ever met for a waitress.  No, this is not me being a catty jealous girl – this chick was dumb!  Even the guys were astounded at her ignorance.  

Dinner was good and we had lots of laughs thanks to our waitress.

Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel.  I chose to go to my room and not back to Bar 330.  I need to be a good girl and start this event off on the right foot!

Thursday – Set Day

The nice weather blew out over night.  Now it’s chilly, windy and nasty!

Our set day went well. 

In the evening, I chose to walk across the way to a small local spot.  The boys were headed out for a bar to eat and watch hoops - I didn’t feel like getting stuck out later than I wanted.

It was a nice little spot where I enjoyed a nice martini and tapas.

Friday – Double header

NCAA Hockey Midwest Regional (Green Bay)

One of the teams in this Regional is Ferris State which is super exciting for me.  Ferris State is located in Big Rapids, MI – where I am originally from.  I lived just a few miles from campus until I was 8 years old.

There was a problem with one of the logos and I had a giggle with the way the bulldog came in on the graphics.

Double header hockey is a long day since the games go almost 3 hours.  Ugh.

Saturday – Midwest Regional Championship

March 19-20th

Monday – Travel Day

Columbus > Philadelphia

When Drexel advanced on Sunday afternoon, I had a feeling.  And that feeling became reality this morning when I was told I needed to go back to Philly again.

Got in late.  Went to bed.  

Tuesday – Game Day

NIT Quarterfinal: UMass vs Drexel

I got to work with Megan again, so that was nice.

Nothing really to report.

Back to hotel after game.

March 17-18th

Saturday – Travel Day

Columbus > Philadelphia

After a couple much needed days at home, I found myself back on the road again.

Flight to Philly on my most hated airline to my most hated state.  What could be better?

Took a taxi to the hotel because I hope to make an earlier flight tomorrow and having a rental car will only hold me back.

First time hotel for me – The Four Seasons.  A little excited.  It was nice and the service was impeccable.  

Upon arrival, I dropped my stuff and went for a walk.  I was looking for a place for a late lunch/early dinner.  Needed to get to bed since I have a 3am crew call tomorrow.

I was quickly discouraged because it was St. Patty’s day and the bar patrons were spilling out into the streets.  Not at all what I was in the mood for.

I did find a nice wine shop so I got a bottle and headed back to the hotel.

I had a $22 burger at the hotel bar and it was good.  Just not $22 good.

Then up to the room for a couple glasses of wine and off to bed by 6p.

Sunday – Game Day

NIT 2^nd Rd: UNI vs Drexel

It’s never fun getting up for work at 1:30am.  But I decided to embrace the day and have a little secret in my back pocket.  It was a challenge to myself that I was eager to accept.

Took a cab to the arena.

Upon arrival, I met my AP, Megan, whom was someone new to me.  We quickly got acquainted and eagerly awaiting the other graphics operator.

The day quickly turned into an unbelievable saga.  I have seen a lot on the road in my years, but this was a first.

Out of respect to the other operator, I will not share names or details.  However, the morning resulted in me building all of the Viz graphics and Megan, the AP, building the Duet graphics.  The Duet Op originally hired, did show up eventually, but was not fit to work – so went back to the hotel.

The new Duet Operator ending up being a last minute local hire whom knew Duet, but had never worked an ESPN show before. Or for the most part, done basketball.

But God bless her, she showed up about 2 hours to air, listened to what Megan and I told her and we got that game on the air!  She ended up doing really good!

After the game, I raced to the airport with my co-worker Mark.  I was rushing to make an earlier flight, but since I was on US Air, I had no status to get on the earlier flight.

It took a lot of sweet talking, but I did it!  Again, I had that secret in my back pocket that I had been keeping there all day.  I used it when it mattered most – getting home in time for dinner with my best friend Patty.

It wasn’t until I was on the flight home that I texted Megan about our day and what an unbelievable day it had been, how it was great to meet her, etc, that I revealed my secret….  Today was my birthday.  We had both had an unreal experience with the other graphics op – we had been to hell and back to get the show on the air, but I had kept that challenge I had made to myself in the wee hours of this morning….  I wasn’t going to tell anyone it was my birthday until the day was over.

An honestly, during all the shit that the day had provided, I had said to myself numerous times, “I can’t believe this is happening…  especially today.  This is a horrible ‘gift!’ ”

But the silver lining..  I made it home in time for dinner at Cap City with Patty.  It’s our annual tradition, but it’s been forever since we have done it on our actual birthdays, so this made it extra special.

March 12-13th

Monday – Travel Day

Columbus > Atlanta > Knoxville

Five hours after getting home, I headed back to the airport.  It’s the joy of the season!

I was able to get a few loads of laundry done and caught up on the mail.

I was total cranky pants once I got back to the airport - Just so incredibly tired.

The plan was …  get on the plane, have an adult beverage and nap on the way to Atlanta.  

That was until the male flight attendant informed me there was no alcohol on the plane.  I replied with “Seriously?”

Everyone around me laughed.

Apparently that pissed him off, so he moved to the next row while saying “I can only serve what they give me!”

Mistake #1 was not having alcohol.

Mistake #2 was walking away from me.

Mistake #3 was not apologizing.

That’s ok.  My email to Delta Customer Service will result in free miles deposited into my account.

Later once in flight, beer magically appeared in his drink cart.  So I asked for a Miller Lite.  He handed me one, sans glass.  Oh, that is breaking all rules of first class.  Hell that breaks the rules of coach.  You at least get a plastic cup in coach!

As anticipated, the beer was not at all cold.  It never is on a plane, hence the reason I never order one.

I decided to move on and find serenity in the beautiful clouds outside my window.

Got to Atlanta and spent my layover in the SkyClub.

Ran into the truck engineers at the gate.  We all were seated together on the plane so we had a chance to catch up.

Landed a little after 11.  Got into my room at midnight.

Since I have a 1:30p call time tomorrow, I did something that happens maybe 3 times a year.  I turned off my cell phone!  I used my travel alarm clock, set it for 10:30.  AND I turned off the TV.  What?  Who is this?

Tuesday – Game Day

NIT – 1^st Round – Savannah St vs Tennessee

I actually slept almost 9 hours.  Of course, I woke up endless times, but I was able to fall back asleep.  Wow, that was amazing!  

Ordered room service….  Caught up on email …  made a blog post…  what a wonderful morning!

Got ready for work, then called my DDD Knoxville favorite “Pizza Palace” and placed a to go order of a pepperoni pizza and onion rings.

I ate 3 slices and 2 onion rings.  Total waste.  I didn’t have my SEC wing-men with me to eat my leftovers.  But so glad I did it.  Such an awesome place.  The same exact people are there working each and every time I visit.  True classic.

http://www.visitpizzapalace.com/ 

Raced to work.

Today was grand.  Worked with one of my all-time favorite APs – Alex.  Life cannot get better than this!

Well, there was one roadblock.  The Duet keyboard was in the shop, so I had to use the fake one.  It’s this terrible generic version called Deou! made by Graphics Outfitters…  

What sucks about it is that my hands and brain are trained to move in a specific pattern.  You move the keys around on me – I am lost!  And my day is littered with expletives!

It’s a lot like driving a European car because all of the keys I normally hit with my left hand are on the right side of the keyboard.  And the arrow keys, which are vital to me, are backwards.

Plus the keyboard is almost flat.  Whereas a Duet keyboard is several inches off the counter; very ergonomically unfriendly; but what my hands are accustomed to.

It’s just all bad.

I joked with Alex that since it had a credit card swiper, I would need his credit card to swipe each time he asked me to make a new graphic that would never make air.

Before I knew it, the day was over and time to get back to the hotel.

March 6-12th

Tuesday – Travel Day

Columbus > New Orleans

Woke up with a slight sore throat.  Ugh.

Flew thru Atlanta.  Was nice to be on big planes again with first class.  All my recent trips have been on 

small RJs and prop planes and on other airlines.

Although my seat was broken (wouldn’t stay in upright position) on the Atlanta to New Orleans flight and I made the mistake of telling the flight attendant.  Delayed the flight until it was fixed.  Awesome!

Traffic was rough, even at 4pm.  Took me longer that it should of to get to the hotel - between traffic and Linda (my GPS) giving me bad directions.  But made it around 5p.

Got checked in and settled.

Walked to a CVS to stock up on cold meds - the sore throat didn’t go away and neither did the sniffles.

Checked in with my friend Mike about dinner – but he was still working.  (Some of the crew had a tech set day today)

So I walked over to Shula’s and sat at the bar.  Wasn’t feeling that great, so I didn’t have the whole kit-n-kaboodle steak dinner.  Just had a French dip.

Went back to room, worked on email and such for a while and in bed by 9:30.  Big night in the Big Easy!

Wednesday – Set Day

SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament

(view from my room)

Just like every other year on any given tournament, we are behind before we even arrive at the truck.  But that’s part of the challenge that I love about tournaments.

I had spent the past couple weeks planning and preparing with the engineers and operations manager on how to make the Duet end of things go more efficiently.  We have 3 Duets, 1 Viz, 3 Duet operators, 1 Viz operator and 4 APs.  

I was very pleased with how it all came together, but there were still kinks to work out upon arrival.

Several of us went to lunch at Liuzza’s – it was interesting - Cajun-Italian cuisine with a wide range of menu items.

www.liuzzas.com 

In the evening, a few of us went to dinner in the French Quarter.  I don’t remember the name of the place, sorry.  But it was good.

We also ended up at Bally’s – or some casino – but I played $20 worth and called it a night.

Thursday – Game Day

SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament

I did two of the four games today.  Things went pretty well.  Still behind and kinks to work out, but all in all, a good first day.

Worked all day and then stayed for a while to prep for tomorrow.

Ate room service for dinner.

Friday – Game Day

SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament

I did two of the four games today.  Games went good.

I started to prep for the games tomorrow – when we switch networks and the graphics have to be revised for this network.  As mentioned before, I am not allowed to mention the network I work for…. But we were switching from a cable channel to a channel that everyone has… and is owned by the same company.

This did not go well.  It soon became one of the most stressful nights of my life.  The disk I was provided with was not complete and what it did contain, was mostly incorrect.  

I could not believe this was possible and therefore re-downloaded it easily 8 times.  Each time, it was the same.  But I kept doubting myself, there was no way it could be THIS bad!

I may have had a panic attack (or two) – only my amazing AP friend, Thomas knows for sure.  He was so supportive of me and thankfully, knows how things work in the ‘graphics world’ and confirmed, the disk really was THAT bad.

We sent out emails, pleading for help because we were coming back at 6am and desperately needed help in order to get on the air.

Saturday – Game Day

SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament

There are a couple of rock stars – Mark & Lindsay that made today possible.  They tag teamed the mess back in the office and sent update after update until I had enough templates to put together a show.

One of the most stressful 24 hours of my career - But thanks to some awesome people, I made it thru.

Before I knew it, the day was over.  Such a sense of relief!

I wanted nothing to do with anyone.  I went to my safe haven – Morton’s – for dinner.  Sat at the bar and had some of my soul cleansing comfort foods.  Mini Lettuce Wedges, amazing bread & butter and a burger.  If you have never had the burger at Morton’s, trust me, it is well worth the $18 price tag.  I may have topped it off with a couple of their signature Cosmos.

I also had a “brush with greatness” – Kentucky’s own Anthony Davis was also dining there with his ‘wranglers’.  

Sunday – Game Day

SEC Men’s Basketball Championship

So a few days ago, we all gave up on ever getting our cars out of valet and started taking cabs to work. We would literally wait 30 mins and still not have a car.  Or you would get back at night and have to sit on the street for 30 mins to get into the valet line.

Championship game went well and as expected.

Another season comes to a conclusion.  New challenges were presented, but I feel that I conquered most of them.  And ones that I didn’t, are noted for next year.  

At this Champ Week event, I had the best support I could ever ask for.  From the engineering staff.. to Operations.. to my dear AP, Thomas (whom took the brunt of my frustrations)… to the folks back in the office – we rocked it!  Thank you for a challenging, yet successful end to yet another college basketball season!