Bits and Pieces
(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.
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 mira
culous 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.
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.
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





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Uh oh Trish! You caught me! I was the “stay-at-home mom vs. working-mom” lady who emailed you a while back. I’m always reading your blogs and never post
Sometimes i just don’t know what to say, can’t relate to the topic, or something of that nature. Often times, I just like to read too. Your blogs are always interesting and your kiddos are cuties. Both look just like you
I also read because i’m curious as to what you and Todd are up to when you’re not in front of the camera. May I ask…do you feel like the celebrity-type given the fact that you are showing up on people’s television sets on a daily basis?
Thanks for revealing a little something about yourself, Alicia! I’m glad to hear you enjoy reading these things.
I would say I most definitely do NOT feel like a “celebrity-type.” My life is incredibly normal, except for what I do at 5,6,7, and 11pm. When I’m out and about I am constantly surprised by how many people come up and say nice things about RTV6, but usually people don’t seem very “star-struck” once they see what a casual and informal type of person I am. Unlike the women in Hollywood or Washington, I don’t feel the pressure to look and act perfect at any given moment. (thank goodness!)
Thanks so much for writing.
I feel wrong for admitting this, but I actually watch Fox 59 news. Just a habit and used to their people/format.
I do like the Channel 6 website much better, so if I want online news I come here. I check out the blogs because I guess I am nosy.
You seem very cool and approachable. We run into a couple of news anchors at the park usually and they immediately put out the vibe they don’t want to be bothered - which is well within their right. Keep up the great blogs. 
Hey Trisha! At home with Baby O today as he recovers from the tonsils, adenoids and tubes ordeal. We’ve watched several dvds and finally gotten some food and liquid down him. (Who knew the food of choice would be oreos and yogurt?) He’s fallen into a fitful, uncomfortable sleep but won’t let me put him down. I’m left with only soap operas and surfing the net on the old crackberry to distract me. So here I am.
Your kids are adorable. I love the one of Clara with Curious George.
Angela - Thanks for fessing up! I am glad to hear you like our site and blogs. I will challenge you to this if you’re up for it: Give our station a try a few times this week and let me know what you think! See if you can put a finger on what appeals to you in a newscast - is it the stories, the pace, the personalities, the weather, the sports, or something else? I would love your honest feedback.
Andrea - I hope the little guy is doing okay! Actually a day with Oreos, soaps, and surfing the net doesn’t sound to terrible, although I guess I’d rather be out enjoying the sunshine.
Clara is a total ham. (her brother is too, I suppose). I think the best perk of having kids is having an endless source of comedy in the house.
Prime example: In a discussion about the Tooth Fairy, Ian asked Clara what she would buy with her money when her day arrives (years from now). Without hesitation, she answered:
A tattoo.
And not a fairy or butterfly. A RED DRAGON. On her arm.
Hope you’re smiling now. See you around!
Trish
Trisha,
I watch you and Todd daily and enjoy it very much. Started watching RTV6 when both of you came onboard. Welcome to Indy, I hope you love it as much as this native does. Love when you write about your children on you blog. I can feel the love you have for them. Being a mother of three grown daughters I can relate to this. You and Todd keep up the great job your doing.
Mary
Mary-
I am glad to hear you’re a loyal viewer! Thanks for choosing our station.
Yes - I LOVE living in Indy. It has absolutely everything my family and I want in our hometown - great professional opportunities, wonderful neighborhoods, tons of cultural things to do and see, a vibrant downtown, major sports teams, affordable housing, old and dear friends and new, welcoming people - PLUS it’s close to Chicago and Champaign where we have lots more friends and family. I really can’t ask for more.
I am glad to hear you like reading about the kids. I’m guessing people can tell that as much as I love my job, I also love being a mother, and I can’t resist writing about some of the adorable and absurd things that happen in my parenting life.
Thank you for the encouragement. I hope you will write again!
Trisha
Trisha,
I have to say that I am a loyal viewer of your show and I love to read your blog, mostly because you are REAL.
You have seem to be struggling with the same things in life that we all do which is that fine line between working and providing for our families and spending that very valuable and all too precious time with them. We are all trying to be the best parents, spouses, employees, etc. that we can and sometimes I wonder if I am forgetting to have fun along the way. Your blog reminds me to do that. We seem to be facing similar issues and it is comforting to see someone going through much of the same stuff.
I really enjoy your updates and love to watch you on the news.
I am glad that you are there as not only a role model for my daughter, but as a role model to all the other working moms out there. You have said that there are days that you struggle to get it all done and I do too, it makes me feel like I am not alone and realize that it is just one day and that hopefully things will be better tomorrow.
I hope that you have had a great couple of days off and I look forward to your next blog.
Thanks Again!
Tiffany
Tiffany-
Thanks for making my day. Really, the best hope I could have for this blog is that it makes a few people smile and helps a few working parents realize how many others are muddling through the same ups and downs they are.
You’re right about how important it is to have fun along the way. At one point during a really difficult time, someone told me there was a “shortage of fun” in my world. That hit pretty hard. Now, even when we’re crazy busy or working hard at staying within our budget, I do my best to give fun and relaxing moments the priority status they deserve. I’ve seen too many people and families fall apart when they get so bogged down by responsibility that they can’t stop to laugh together and appreciate the wonderful things around them.
I hope to get another entry written soon. Thank you so much for taking time to write - and for watching our station! (And hang in there - I’ll bet you’re doing great at the balancing act.)
Trisha