Jammed Packed

We just got back from an absolutely fabulous (and absolutely exhausting)

  Spring Break vacation.

We started out driving to Vegas to stay one last time in my

parent's home. They are selling it and it closes later this week.

(They've been splitting their time with their home here in Idaho).

 Then it was off to sunny California-- perfect weather

for the beach and for everything else.

Except driving that is.

Don't even get me started.

 Sunday evening Byron flew home

and we (along with my one of my closest girlfriends, Anita

who met up with us from Arizona) drove down the coast

to have dinner with a buddy of mine from my single days-

Scott McGregor and his wife, Annique.

 Let's see, the next day, we just  had to have In and Out--

I believe that's required if you are in So. Cal.

At least that's what my kids say.

 Monday night we hooked up with one of my favorite

photographers I worked with at KPNX in Phoenix

and at KCBS in L.A.-- Rob Macey and his family.

 We went to a place called Boomer's in Irvine-

rode rides, (as you can see, Kean likes the ride part)

 played games... (that's Rob in the red)

and hit the Go Carts several times.

 Kean was a little obsessed and quite serious about

driving the Go Carts.

Tuesday morning, bright and early, we headed to Legoland.

 We met up with this crew-- Les Rose and his family.

Les and I worked together at KCBS.  He now shoots

many of those wonderful Steve Hartman (On the Road)

 stories for the CBS Evening News.

Les's boys, Robert and Christopher have spent five summer

camps (and are now counselors) at Legoland.

We couldn't have asked for better tour guides.

They knew everything and even some of the top designers

at the park.

Once again, we were quite spoiled.

Kean was in heaven-- at least while he was on the rides.

 And the girls had a grand time hamming it up.

 I loved how the park had "down time" built in - time for 

the kids to build.

 The park is definitely geared toward the younger set--

I think this was Kean's best day of vacation.

 And who wouldn't have a blast with these two as your escorts.

Check out Kean on probably his favorite ride-- while Les and I watched.

I'm happy to say we all loved Legoland.

And this is only part of our Spring Break.

I'll post the rest later.  

I apologize for the length but really,

this is for me to try and remember all

the sweet moments.
I'd say these kids have earned this break!

Our Final Leg

After Disneyland, we headed up to LA to see some of my old buddies from my TV days.

At the top of my list, this guy-- Les Rose.

Pretty much everyone who meets him, adores him (including me). 

 We worked together at KCBS in LA.

He's now working for the Network. 

The girls wanted to see "Hollywood" and luckily Les saved them from severe disappointment.

He took us on a behind the scenes tour of TV City.

You'll find this interesting.  This is one of the halls that holds the "stuff" for the

soap operas:  The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless.

The long rollers on the left hold flooring and

the bins on the right hold items labeled "Ridges office", "Brooke's bedroom" etc. 

 You can't believe the stuff.

Those are drapes of every shade, color and fabric hanging up there.

 We lucked out and ran into one of Les's friends... this guy who is the head cameraman for both of the

soap operas.  He's been with them since they went on the air years and years ago.

 He showed the girls around, told them a few stories and uncovered his studio cameras and let us

look in them to see how they work.

 Behind the dorky tourists (us) is what is called a "hot set".  You can't see the messed up pillows on the couch

or the tipped over garbage can.  They put the police tape up at the end of the shooting the day before

so when they go back to shoot later that afternoon, nothing has been moved and they can

start up right where they left off.

Pretty cool stuff.

We also saw a few soap stars but since we've never watched the shows, we

had no idea who they were.

Les then took us onto another famous set.

Yep, you guessed it, the Price is Right.

 It is a closed set (meaning we weren't supposed to be there)

but we figured we could whip out our drivers licenses and tell

security we were Bob Barker's grandchildren and get away with it.

After all the cloak and dagger sneaking around, we stopped by the CBS News bureau so I could see some

old friends then went over to the Grove for lunch

where we hooked up with a few more friends.

But alas, the girls' Hollywood experience wasn't over yet.

Right outside our restaurant, the TV show Extra was shooting intros with Mario Lopez and a few guests. 

 That was almost as cool for the girls as a visit to the American Girl Doll store.

Greer is pointing to her doll, Nikki.

Thanks to Les for a grand day.

The girls got some great glimpses behind the scenes

but I'll tell you what's ironic: 

they've never seen a soap opera

and they've never seen the Price is Right.

Maybe someday.

A Stroll Down Memory Lane

I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels like times are changing way to fast. I guess I'm just getting old! It's been a smidge over a decade since I traded in my power suits and microphone for the glamorous life as the mother of four little chickens (as we like to call them). My last job was at CBS in L.A. And as if it's not bad enough that many of my dear, dear friends have moved on and left the place-- now the TV station has left the place. CBS at Columbia Square has been a fixture on Sunset Boulevard, well, since forever. And now they've abandoned the old girl and moved to a new location. A friend sent me this link -- a homage to the famous building. It's kind of long, but will give you a look at the guts of a TV station. In case you are interested, a picture of the area outside my old office is at 1:03 into the clip.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2ovDBpsTyc&feature=player_embedded

I loved my days at KCBS. Michael Tuck and Anne Martin were our main anchors. In my investigative/special projects unit-- we had Joel Grover (now at KNBC), Kyra Phillips, Drew Griffin and Thelma Guittierez who are all at CNN as our core on-air talent. Plus we had the best, and I mean the very best photojournalists, producers and researchers on the planet. They've all gone on to do great things with their lives. I guess no one stays still, do they?