Reporting for Duty...

Kids: Reporting for Duty

Clark the new "Cub Scout" got to earn his "Bobcat Badge" - he had to prove he knew the Boy Scout pledge of honor (or whatever it's called) and the secret handshake and stuff, very cute.  He has officially reported for duty, but then again, um, so has his sister Scarlett.  I was hoping to post a video here (darn Qwest, it keeps timing out on the video upload so you'll just have to trust me on this one), we captured her proving that while she is not quite old enough to be a Girl Scout "Brownie", Scarlett has decided to just join along in all Cub Scout activities.  Just trust me, she's adorable.

For instance, there's his recent "Den Meeting" for his pack, to which poor dad (Gates) had to bring Scarlett along for the ride since I had a conflict that night and I hadn't realized there was a meeting.  They got home, and Scarlett was the first to run up to me to tell me all about what they learned that night at, "...her cub scout meeting..." where she then demonstrated for me how to check to see if your door is hot and there is a fire outside the bedroom, or whether the door is cold and you can make a run for it and exit from your bedroom.  Clark was like, "yup, that's what we learned!"  Cutie petuties.

We seem to be having a few too many trips to the local Yogurtland - we're now to the point that the kids are offering to pay for it out of their own allowance.  No wonder there's a line out the door every single time we stop by - it's incredible!

While Scarlett is dancing her toes off (into blisters which she screams about in the bathtub each night), Clark recently completed the "Ropes Course" at his elementary school and I was so honored to have the time to volunteer and spend time "spotting" him and his classmates.

                                     Mom: Reporting for Duty:

While I am pounding the pavement with the rest of the world looking for full time work, I am juggling freelance opportunities and I am having a blast joining the NBC affiliate in Colorado Springs as an MMJ (Multi-Media Journalist) reporting from time to time as they need me! My latest two liveshots were early Saturday morning stories - see links and pics below:

 
News First 5 Southern Colorado Health Fair at Tri Lakes (10/23/10):

*Liveshots Compilation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE48oR67lmc

*5pm newscast package:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m0PtE9FUvk

Western Museum of Mining and Industry "House of Haunted Mines" (10/16/10): 

*Liveshots Compilation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NZc_cWCaO4





Jessica interviewing 9Health Fair President (suburbs neighbor and friend) Jim Goddard at the Southern Colorado Health Fair on October 23, 2010 for KOAA-TV at Palmer Ridge High School in Monument which is in the Tri-Lakes region. 

  


Jessica during a liveshot from the News First 5 Southern Colorado Health Fair
for KOAA-TV on 10/23/10.

 

Highs... Lows... and Falling into Fall

***Highs***

A decade can fly by fast and indeed it did as Gates and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary on October 7th, 2010.  Then again, two decades can zip by ever-so-quickly, as we went on our first date in high school in October of 1990!  Twenty years later (and a few years off in between high school and adulthood), we couldn't be more proud of our family and our two precious kiddos who entertain us every single day.  Clark is busy with Cub Scouts - he earned his Bobcat Badge recently (hmm, whatever that means! video posted below) recently and he's growing up so fast.  Scarlett is very into dance and she loves the ballet and tap combo class she takes every week and loves to "pretend" to be a teacher! ((See video embedded at the bottom of this post!))  The kids are best of friends and we have to negotiate over dinner each night who gets to tell us about their day first.  It's more than I could have asked for - a dream come true to have such great kids.  Well, let me clarify that - Clark did get in trouble recently for chatting too much in class with his friend and got a "red" card - it was honestly the first time he's ever gotten in trouble (as far as we know) - then again the teachers probably only contact us when it's to the point of needing parent intervention.  He told us he just had trouble concentrating and from shy-toddler to outgoing kiddo, he's quite the chatterbox these days!

Clark continues to play soccer each Saturday with his cousin Gavin and while they seem to get creamed regularly (see his blog -http://littletonsoccer.blogspot.com/2010/10/setting-new-goals.html ) - we think it's because they won so many games in division "B" last year that they got moved up to the "A" flight and the kids are bigger and more talented.  We keep reminding them - especially "Coach Roe" who leads the clan - they're still in a league without a goalie so the point is to have fun and learn fundamentals.  Funny though, how competitive they can be at age 6 and 7!

As you may or may not know, I resigned from my job as Director of Marketing at a law firm due to an impending merger in early September and I've been working hard to fill my days with freelance media/marketing/PR/journalism assignments, and so far, so good.  Just looking for that one full time job to call home in the near future.  Here's a copy of my resume/portfolio - I'd be honored if you pass it on to someone who might be in a hiring capacity and think I might be a good fit - CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.  Considering I'm at least 35-years away from retirement, I am really looking for a long term match.  Right now, I'm having a blast working on freelance jobs through my web site http://www.tvappearances.com/ and returning to journalism and freelance reporting as an MMJ (Multi-Media-Journalist) at KOAA-TV (NBC in Colorado Springs) and I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity.  For a few clips (no laughing!) - CLICK on any of the links below:

10/1: Suspicious Death Live Shot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQvT_Wx1ZPM

10/3: Wounded Warrior Walker Arrives at Garden of the Gods: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS-8Orsg3OA
10/2: Black Forest Park Pronto Expansion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV2yoE58FnE
9/25: Kids on Bikes Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KroPSVWZuxM

 ***Lows***

It is with a heavy heart that we lost two wonderful people within two days of each other in early October.  Pam Willison was my good friend Tom Willison's mother who fought a courageous battle against cancer for four years, and once she was diagnosed in early October with a blood infection and given a half hour to live, she fought on for five more days with Tom by her bedside.  The memorial service was lovely and Pam will truly be missed by us all.

 

The very next day, one of the nicest people I have met in my journalism career, Gary Wolfe, passed away in Northern Colorado.  He was a calm, gentle man whose brother Roger and he worked as a team for many, many years covering a huge portion of our state.  My heart is with those at 9News who are dedicated to covering news 24/7 and barely have a moment to stop down and feel the sadness in their hearts.  My own condolences go out to the entire Wolfe family, including his retired brother Roger (another true professional, now retired), and his partner Adam Chodak who worked with Gary for the last few years.  Such a talented man that Gary Wolfe, and such a kind, gentle heart.  To read more about Gary's life and career, click HERE for the story posted on 9News.com.  You can also read Adam's tribute to Gary, "Saying Goodbye" HERE.

 

***Falling into Fall***

The kids had their Halloween costumes out super early this year - let's hope they don't grow too fast before we need to stuff their down feather coats underneath them and squeeze the costumes over top by the 31st.  Scarlett is going to be a Barbie Princess, while Clark is some character I cannot pronounce from Star Wars.

May the upcoming months be good to you and your family - we wish you well!

 

Need a goodnight storybook tale told by Scarlett Roe?  Here's her interpretation of Thomas the Train:

And here's Clark getting his Bobcat badge: