The Bethenny Show

A week ago today I was on the Bethenny show, and honestly, I don't think I've stopped smiling since. It was one of the Top 10 coolest experiences of my life.

For those who didn't catch the show, you've asked why I was on. I will blog about it soon, I promise, but I thought this post would be funnier to start with. You see, I'm not exactly a tech whiz, so to get images of the show, I watched it on our DVR and snapped pics with my iPad. And well, not all of the photos were flattering.

So here I give you the Bethenny show rejects for your viewing (and laughing) pleasure. And along with it, I will summarize why I was on the show. Enjoy!

"Welcome to the show everybody!" 

"Who here would like to have....?"

 Crazy blonde lady in the audience: "Ooh, ooh, I would!"

Bethenny: "Has anyone ever told you you look like "Crazy Eyes" from Orange is the New Black?"

"Um, sometimes."

 "Okay, getting back to your dream, Jeannie, I hear Leo likes girls with more sass. 
 Can you bring it?"

  

"Bethenny, it's clearly already been 'broughten'"

"Um, okay. But Jeannie, what face would your husband make if he knew you were having these dreams about Leo?"

"Probably this one!"

"Ooh, not good. So how do these dreams make you feel?"

"Oh right, how can I forget. 

But do you think Leo could, um, measure up?"

 "Yes!"

"Okay fine Jeannie, you've argued your case, so you can keep having naughty dreams about Leonardo DiCaprio."

 "Oh yeah....I'm actually having one right now...."

Never Forget: September 11th Anniversary

It's my first September 11th anniversary as a New Yorker, and I'm not going to lie, I shed quite a few tears today. This day has certainly always been emotional whether it was seeing the terror unfold from the news station I was working at in Cheyenne, Wyoming, or for the next decade covering the anniversaries as a reporter and news writer in Colorado, Florida, Indiana and Illinois.

But while I watched the reading of the victims' names today, I had this humbling thought. I realized the people at the podium are my neighbors. They're the people sitting next to me on the subway. They're the ones I pass on the street or perhaps the ones I get frustrated with because they seem to be in my way. Throughout the city, I'm next to thousands of people who's lives were forever changed during one beautiful, sunny day in New York City.

As I awoke this morning, I thought about all those people who just like me, got up on September 11th and had a cup of coffee. They got on the subway and headed into work. Or they drove to the airport, hoping to not miss their flights. It was just another Tuesday. They had no idea they would never see their husbands or wives again. Their sisters. Their brothers. Their parents. Their unborn children.

Today I did two things in honor of this anniversary. I thanked a police officer for her service. She smiled and thanked me back. And at dinner, I told Mike that if anything were to ever happen to me, I wanted him to know it's been one awesome decade.

To all the brave men and women that day who ran into the buildings without a moment's hesitation, thank you. To all the families of the 2,977 victims, we're with you, now and forever.

God Bless America.

New York City culture

As a white Christian girl growing up in Cheyenne, Wyoming (population 50,000) let's just say I wasn't exposed to a ton of culture. In my elementary school we had exactly one black student, and in some crazy irony, his name was George Bush. 

I didn't meet a Jewish person until I was about 10. She was a Holocaust survivor and I remember my mom instructing me not to ask about it, so I didn't. It wasn't until I was a 22-year-old reporter that I was given a story on Rosh Hashanah, and when the assignment editor told me my story, I'm pretty sure I said "bless you," because I thought she had sneezed. I didn't know what the heck she was talking about. 

Fast forward to my 35-year old self living in New York City, and let's just say, I'm still learning new things. The first time I saw a Hasidic Jewish family (ever) was about 9 months ago, and I'm pretty sure Mike had to tell me to stop staring. I was so intrigued because it's just something I had never before seen. (Now a horse-shaped potty-training seat, that I have seen. And used.)

Despite my work-in-progress of trying to learn about new cultures and religions, I'm still a hot mess when it comes to writing or reporting on 1) Anything Pope-related and 2) Anything Jewish-holiday related. So during my 12 years working in the news business, I cringe whenever I'm given a story on either of these. As many of you know, I work as a news writer for a station in NYC and this week when I was assigned a story on Rosh Hashanah, I literally had to Google "Judaism 101." Is that normal? (And a couple of weeks ago, I edited video of the Pope. But apparently the wrong Pope. Who knew? Don't they all kind of look alike?)

For the Catholic stories I do, it's not only trying to figure out who is who, but have you ever heard all the unique terms Catholics use? It's like a whole other dictionary! I have to chuckle every time I write about canonization or beautification, because this is what they could also mean:

Canonization- The act of getting shot out of a cannon at a circus

Abstinence- Giving up Chipolte for a week

Adultery- Hitting Chipolte on Tuesday after work, but hiding the evidence from the hubs

Anointing- The chubby kid next to me on the subway. Oh wait, that was annoying... 

Beautification- The 1 1/2 hours it takes for me to do my hair and make-up. Used only for special occasions.

Blasphemy- When someone criticizes any of the Real Housewives shows. Or The Bachelor.

Impediments to Marriage- Having only one TV. Or a Queen bed. Or only one bathroom. (During our city living, Mike and I have had a lot of impediments.)

Shalom everybody! (I actually have no idea what that means, so hopefully I didn't just curse you out.)

Bethenny Frankel Show!

Well dang, that was sure fun. I'm sitting here in bed tonight, likely unable to fall asleep, because I just had the best. day. ever.

I don't want to give away too many details just yet, but let me just say that I was at a taping of the Bethenny show today which was in and of itself awesome, but are you sitting down?

I was also ON THE SHOW.

And...

I got a HUG from Bethenny herself! And she COMPLIMENTED my eyes!!

Best. Day. Ever.

The show premieres next Monday, so I won't give away the specifics, but stay tuned!