I was covering the Black Expo two weeks ago.  It was exciting, fun and educational.  I had so much material to put in my story but I was still looking for that “exclamation point” to make it memorable.  Then my photographer, Joe Lynch, comes over to me and says “Hey, remember Thelma from Good Times?”  I said “You bet I do!!!”  And he replied “Well she’s right over there.”  “Aw shucks” I thought.  “Thelma, Thelma, Thelma.”  (That’s actually from an episode)  Anyway, I uh, quickly (but calmly, of course) made my way over to meet her.  She was signing autographs from her new book.. looking as good as ever!!!  I told her we had met before, when I worked in Mississippi years ago (she says she remembers.  I CHOOSE to believe her!)  And then she autographed one of her new books, For Men Only, just for me.  Hah!!!  I tried to stay cool.  Honest!  But I just about lost my composure.   I mean.  This is THELMA. All my my buddies and I had a huge crush on her when the show was on in the 70’s.  It was like a flashback,  and I was getting personal attention from the star of the show.

But what was also really nice was that I was able to call my brother and let him talk to the one and only Ralph Carter.  He played Thelma’s little brother, Michael, on the show.  It was refreshing to know how approachable and down-to earth they were.  It seemed they were as happy to meet their fans as the fans were to meet them.  And, they were the perfect explanation point for my story - a true surprise for anyone who loved Good Times. 

Their older brother, J.J. used to say DYNOMITE!!!  This night truly was.

   I love hearing from parents who appreciate the stories about my kids I share in these blogs.  Here’s part of the secret to finding balance:  Get away once in a while! 

    Maybe you’re like me and can’t stand being away from your kids for too too long, but here’s my advice: when they are in capable hands at “Camp Grandma,” and you have a rock band inviting you to join them for a weekend tour in the mountains of Evergreen, Colorado - don’t feel guilty.  Just go. 

        We just got back home to Indy Monday from our little getaway.  Here’s Ian (my hubby) and Mike (Nadas singer/guitarist) with the tour bus named “Meat Loaf” - which allegedly used to belong to the rock band by that name.  The bus is really cool most of the time, except this time that someone forgot a box of Chinese food in there for a few days.  OOPS. We let the bus air out and an extra 6 people or so crashed in the cabin instead of the bus bunks. Kind of like summer camp, except the hot cocoa had quite a kick.

Ian had told me a lot about the cool, quaint saloon they’d be playing in. He mentioned how everyone at the Little Bear carves their names into the wood. 

(Here he is adding to the ambience.)

What he failed to mention was the other “collectibles” decorating the stage and ceiling. 

I guess lots of women must want to show their support for the musicians who play there.

Luckily I had a couple of very cool - and supportive - ladies to hang out with - fellow band wives and girlfriends.  (Jamie, left, and Allie, right)  It’s a strange little world we’re all connected to, and in many ways it really feels like family.

The room was unforgettable, the music sounded great, and I took lots of photos to show Mike and Jason’s biggest fans  (my own kids.)

I will spare you photos of everyone in the morning.  Not so appealing, trust me.

  We managed to find time to enjoy the serene scenery, and I’m proud to say I snuck away several times to stick my toes in this heavenly mountain stream.

  While our kids were o-d’ing on ice cream, splashing in the pool, playing with their cousins and watching the Cubs at Wrigley,  Ian and I were remembering what made us such great friends in the first place.

I’d call that a win-win.

May you all enjoy whatever adventures you manage to sneak in - however great or small!

Trish

PAIN and Parenting  

It’s only when you become a parent that you realize the pain and suffering you must have put your own parents through, physical and mental.   That’s a good thing, because if kids realized how much power they had to inflict pain on Mom and Dad, we’d all be in huge trouble.

     The other day our angelic (ahem) little Clara just about put Ian in the hospital.   Twice.

Incident #1 happened when he picked her up.  For whatever reason, her two-and-a-half-year-old legs kicked and flailed in the precise direction that tends to bring a grown man to his knees.  As I watched him go down, as a wife, all I could do was offer a sympathetic,  “OWWWWW,”  assuming it must feel something equivalent to the pain of childbirth. 

  Incident #2 happened later that evening, when once again, Ian tried to lift Clara up (guess he didn’t learn the first time). This time, instead of kicking, she thrashed to the side, throwing him of balance, and - are you ready for this - dislocating his shoulder.   I  have never seen and heard him in so much pain. It was pretty sickening to watch.

     What the heck are you supposed to do in this situation??  I didn’t think I could offer much medical help to Ian, and since he’s had this happen before, he decided to take a deep breath and force it back in. (Probably not what the docs would recommend, by the way)  While he talked himself into it, I comforted a bawling Clara and concerned Calvin in the next room, and tried to explain what happened.

Clara: “Is he bweeding??”

Me: “Nope, it’s just a bad owie.  You know how the arm popped out of your Peter Pan doll? That’s kind of what happened, but he’s trying to fix it.”

Calvin:  “Did his whole arm fall off?”

Me: “Not exactly.”

Clara: “Does he need a bandaid?”

Me: “I’m sure that would help.”

     Arter hearing the telltale yelp and ruckus from the next room, I went to make sure Ian was still conscious.  I sat him down, gave him some Aleve (”Yeah, thanks, I’m sure this will take care of it” he told me as he stared at these pathetically tiny pills) then paraded the kids in to check on him.  They each stuck a bandaid on the sore shoulder. 

He hasn’t taken them off yet.

CHUCK E CHEESE

    Speaking of pain, we went to a Chuck E Cheese party last weekend.

    Todd and I were invited to bring our kids to the house of horrors for a birthday party for our co-worker, Terri Cope’s daughter.     Terri (center), Todd, and his wife Valarie (left) did a pretty good job putting on the happy face for this photo. I think they were shell-shocked.

    For the record so I don’t sound like an ungrateful guest, Terri was MORTIFIED that this is what her little girl wanted, but she decided to fulfill the wish.  

   The place was PACKED.  I actually saw one man who looked like someone’s grandpa, in the fetal position in a booth, with his eyes closed.  I was tempted to join him.

Todd and Valarie’s daughter Kennedy grinned the whole time.

Calvin made some instant friends that let him join in a 4-player bowling game.  

To the kids, this was paradise. 

The adults realized that, while none of us took advantage this time, there is a darned good reason they serve beer at these places.

REAL MAGIC 

  Cal used his Chuck E Cheese tickets to buy a light up magic wand.  It really works.

“Make a wish!” he told me on the way home.

“I wish that…. I were the prettiest mom in this car!”  He waved the wand.  “Wow!!!! It worked!!”

When we got home we tried it some more.

“I wish that… I was married to a great cook.” Another wave. “Hey look!!! It worked again!” I yelled, pointing to Ian at work in the kitchen. This went on and on.

Later that night, I saw Calvin with his sister in the living room, waving that wand in front of her.

“Fly, fly Clara!!! Just put your arms out and try! It will work!” 

Hope you all have a great weekend.

The kids have gone to “Camp Grandma” and I’m off for a Nadas adventure on tour with my drummer boy hubby for a couple of days. I’ll try not to get in too much trouble, and bring back some stories next week!

Trisha

(7-21-08 update: a couple of new photos added at the bottom!)

Well, I haven’t bumped into Coach Dungy in quite a while, but I have been awfully busy.  There are all kinds of bits and pieces of stories I’ve wanted to share with you that certainly don’t fit into newscasts, so here goes nothing.

FISH FILLET FIXATION

   Someone PLEASE help Todd stop himself.  He is suddenly addicted to McD’s Fish sandwiches.  He knows he has a problem. Help him if you can - I’m sure his wife Valarie will thank you too.

TODD AND…. TRISHA CLARA

  My 2 and a half year old daughter is very interested in my work.  (Not so much the news part, I hate to admit, but the fact that I fix my hair and put on makeup and jewelry and fancy shoes every day.) One night before she went to bed I called to talk to her and she asked Todd and I to send a picture - so this is what she got.

     Clara is especially fascinated by the necklaces (”pretty beads!” I wear to work.  Sometimes she puts on her own beads and drags her plastic laptop out, announcing that she is going to work.  You go, girl.

   One night last week I came home wearing a silver necklace.  Clara told me, “Mommy, that’s beautiful!  I will wear it when I’m a grown up and I go to work with Todd.”   

  So now my daughter is after my job, and Todd’s going to have to commit to at least another 20-30 years in this role to make her dream come true.

THE PLAY’S THE THING

       As an admitted theatre geek, I am proud to say my little guy, Calvin, just finished his first play!!  Yes - he was the only boy at acting camp, much to his dismay. (”The girls were kissing me!” he confessed.  Ian’s still trying to convince him that some day he won’t complain about that.)

     By being the only man in the group, he landed two key roles in two little shows they did:  here he’s the prince rescuing Rapunzel from her tower.  I only have shaky home video (shaking because I was choking back laughter) of his other role - the Big Bad Wolf that tried to eat Little Red Riding Hood.  He delivered his lines loud and clear, making a terrifying villain AND a charming prince. 

  WORKING MOM MIRACLE

      By the way, the fact that I was there to see this Tony-worthy performance in person seems miraculous and I must thank my understanding supervisor and Todd for making it possible.  The “show” was held in the mid-afternoon, treacherously close to the 5pm news deadline, yet I got the okay to be there.  It means the world and then some to be able to have a job I love AND be able to be there for my kids at these kinds of important occasions.  I LOVE working with people who get how important that is.

BLACK EXPO EVENT

     Todd and I along with Erika Flye and Derrik Thomas had a chance to stop by a Media Reception held as part of the Black Expo Summer Celebration.  Being in a room full of so many talented journalists and media employees made me appreciate once again how awesome it is to work in such a diverse newsroom within such a diverse city.  It’s inspiring to be surrounded by trailblazers in this industry - kudos to the award recipients, keynote speaker Amos Brown,  and the organizers of a wonderful event! I was honored to be invited.

     LOOK MA, NO TRAINING WHEELS

   It’s official.  As of this weekend I no longer have a little boy I have a big kid.  My husband Ian gets the credit for getting him to conquer this milestone.

Kindergarten starts in less than a month. 

  I must remember to stock up on Kleenex.

MONKEY BUSINESS

George and Clara make quite a pair.

I love this kid’s sense of humor!

     I will add this one to my “sign collection” - ridiculous photos of friends and family members ( and sometimes myself) posing next to odd signs and statues.  I’ve been doing this since I was probably 13 and haven’t gotten sick of it yet.

  JURASSIC KIDS

      Cal and Clara and their lookalike cousin, Jackson, became a family of dinosaurs nesting at the Children’s Museum! 

    My parents brought the little guy down from Chicagoland for a weekend visit so they could beef up my cheering section when I sang the anthem at Saturday’s Indians game!  I’m so glad the rain held off just long enough for an inning of ball (exactly the limit of the 3 kids’ attention spans).   

   My Auntie Corky was also there taking tons of photos, so if she sends them my way I’ll paste them in here.  ( 7-21-08 update: HERE THEY ARE - she sent me no less than 98 photos. Wow.  You can thank me for sharing just these two - the scoreboard, and Clara’s popcorn grin!)

    Seeing all the kids together was really fun. And really exhausting.  Jackson’s feet never stop moving.

 WHO ARE YOU??

   Finally, I’d love to hear from some of you who read but don’t usually comment.  Who are you? where do you live and work? Why do you watch 6news or read our blogs?  Any burning questions?  Really, I’m curious!

Thanks for reading.

Trish

  I had to go back to Maryland a couple of weeks ago to settle some issues regarding my mother’s estate.  It was not necessarily a trip I was looking forward too but my mood quickly changed when I bumped into my favorite coach.  That’s right, Tony dungy!!! He was also traveling to Maryland so we flew on the same plane. 

  He was so unassuming, humble and friendly.  I meet a lot of people as a tv journalist, but I have to admit I was a little starstruck.  We talked about our respective trips, family and, of course, the Colts. All I’ll say is he’s feeling good about this year’s team. 

  After we spoke and posed for a picture (Look at my daughter.  It looks like she’s a fan too) I began to think about why he is so successful and is able to connect with his players.  He has a gentle but commanding way about him.  It’s not that you think he’ll yell. If I were on his team, the last thing I would want to do is disappoint coach Dungy.  That would be far worse than any shouting match.

  We have a great team in Indianapolis.  But I have to say it’s the coach who is truly first class!