New Job at KODE

And so my adventures in TV continue.



I have accepted a reporting position at KODE/KSNF-TV in Joplin, Missouri; here's their facebook page for more info; just search for "KODE/KSN"

And you can visit their website here for the latest clips and information about their TV station just go to






I am very excited to make the move. It will be difficult to leave Kentucky as it is hard to move away from "home" anywhere. Though I was born and raised in North Carolina and will always be a Carolina girl, Kentucky has been my home for the past several years - as I went to college at Asbury (now University) and then took my first television broadcasting position at WYMT-TV in Hazard.





I interned at LEX-18 and WKYT-27 both in Kentucky and have many many friends in the bluegrass.



For this I am SO thankful.
But all that said, the move to Joplin, Missouri will be a good one - one which I continue to prepare for daily, and look forward to the transition.

All my love to my Kentucky family and to my new Missouri home, I tell you, "see you soon!"




I will continue to publish my adventures in reporting and the television business here on my blog "The Life and Times of Morgan Kathleen Schutters."

Thanks for following me!

God's blessings to all.

Morgan

Why do you work?

Great conversations tonight with friends. Intriguing, challenging... my friends make me think.

I was talking with Adrian T. about work ... why do we work?

Some might say they work to make money. Some say they work because that is what they love to do. They are passionate about their job, so it doesn't matter that they make barely enough money to get by ... because they love their job.

But he brought a new perspective to me about jobs tonight - he said that he works to make money so that he can spend his life doing the things he enjoys. What a unique perspective! And such a valid point. For some reason, I had never thought of that before - I just assumed everyone was like me and wanted a job they loved ... and that was their life. But imagine that - some people don't care about their job as long as they make enough money at it to do what they enjoy!

I love good discussions with others because it challenges me to think through other people's perspectives instead of always assuming everyone thinks the way I think - (which they certainly do not!)

Image

Just met with my image consultant, Sherry today.

She loved my blonde hair - needs some lowlights.

Bright colors - no whites under black - no capped sleeves.

Helped me with my makeup - what I had was what she wanted, she just enhanced.

Now I'm looking for some colored blazers to wear on air.

So exciting! I love her.

Accomplished a lot. She says I have a lot of potential and have made a lot of progress.

Hooray!

Hump Day

First of all, why is Wednesday called "hump day?" I understand that it's the middle of the week ... but it just is an odd title.

Yesterday I slept from the minute I got home from work until the 4pm and then packed, packed and packed.

Moving is a nightmare!

But I will be thankful for the opportunity to have a bigger apartment that better suits my needs.

This too shall pass.

:)

Choices ...

My daddy passed this on to me, and it really touched my heart. -Morgan

The Choice
by Max Lucado

IT'S QUIET. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race.

The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary , I'm free to choose. And so I choose.
I choose love . . .

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.
I choose joy . . .

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical . . . the tool of the lazy thinker.

I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I choose peace . . .

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
I choose patience . . .

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so.

Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
I choose kindness . . .

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.
I choose goodness . . .

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.
I choose faithfulness . . .

Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word.

My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.
I choose gentleness . . .

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.

If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.
I choose self-control . . .

I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.

I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace.

And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

30 Seconds.

Today one of our stories was about a man who died ... a police chief and well known in the community ...

I wrote the story, and the TRT or total run time of the piece was 30 seconds. Yes, 30 seconds.

Made me stop and think about what life is worth. 30 seconds?

A whole life amounts to what? 30 seconds ... covering how old you were when you died, your name, your parents, and where the funeral and visitation will be ... 30 seconds total.

Is that what I want my life to add up to? 30 seconds or less?

No.

I guess to make it worth more than that ... you have to leave a legacy in the hearts and minds of the friends and family you have here on earth.
That is how my life will amount to more than 30 seconds.

Opportunity Awaits You

There is a boring white piece of old printer paper with these words typed on it ... posted on the door of the newsroom tacked to the bulletin board:

"Opportunities are won and lost based on performance and attitude."

I don't think many people take the time to notice that quote, or think about what it really means. But it is such a profound statement to sink your teeth into!

I believe if everyone in the world kept in mind that their actions and outlook on life directly impact the direction they go, and the things they are able to do, then the world would surely be a different place!

My goal today is to try to keep this in mind; closer to heart than I already do.

Positivity definitely helps! :)

Beginning of July!

Summer is here of course, and I'm getting so excited for my 2 weeks paid vacation from WYMT-TV to finally arrive!

Monday I have off :) hooray! And it is also my 9 month anniversary at YMT. Wow how time has flown by.

Adrian T. is in Louisville golfing and I'm left with no plans, and not sure what to do! I love that feeling sometimes. You feel like you have a clean slate, you can relax and just fly by the seat of your pants. Wonderful!

I want to see Angie B. so can't wait to hear from her for Fourth of July Extravaganza planning. I miss her so much now that she's moved and settled in to KYT in Lexington. :) Glad she is loving it though!

This morning I ran a story in the 6 am Healthwatch segment about Alzheimer's and youthful exercise ... I have always wondered if I would be a good candidate for getting that horrible disease someday, since I don't have the best memory in the first place ... but according to this new study, girls who exercise a lot when they are a teen have way less likely of a chance of ever having the disease!

Good news for me!

Well, I'm off to head home now from work ... I need to sleep and then get ready for my long weekend. Much needed and so exciting!

M

Life, Loves, Pursuits

I feel like I learn something new literally every day; and that feeling is definitely more than true -- i learn so much daily. Which is a humbling feeling and a wonderful feeling too!

I learn new things about people, relationships, work of course, and other sorts of things ...

I love learning!

Today I'm learning about the new iPhone4 ... stay tuned. I'll share my experiences with pre-ordering at Radio Shack today!

I'm just a little excited.

Women's Hairstyles ... Random, I know!

So I've been thinking ... what is so important about a woman's hair?

Why is it that we feel so inadequate if our hair cut is not the way we want it ... or it isn't fixed the way we expect it to be?

Everyone has different standards and likes/dislikes.

I think it's just all about keeping that sort of thing in perspective: It's fine to care about what you look like and want to present yourself in the best way you can to the community.

BUT

At the end of the day, what matters most?

Always keep that in mind.

Drained

Have you ever noticed how much certain things drain you of energy? For instance, I put so much into my work and it can be so stressful at times, that by the end of my work week I am completely and utterly drained.

So where do you get your energy?

Some people sleep their weekends away and feel rested from that. I've tried it and actually sleeping my whole weekend away, laying around the house and such just leaves me feeling more out of it!

Some folks go crazy busy and plan their whole weekends full of activities. This leaves them feeling like they've accomplished a lot, and in that there is a feeling of worth that gives some people energy to start their new week.

I tend to lean more towards this. However, going going going all the time leaves your body physically taxed which in turn can mess up your psyche. This works well for me often though, because then I'm positive, and adventures that keep me busy tend to give me lots of energy!

This weekend, I have spent a lot of time working, at work and at my apartment, just getting caught up in hopes that next week will then get started off on the right foot. However, I am such an extroverted person, that my lack of interaction with people has left me feeling "blah" LOL! Since I work night shift, I don't see people as much as I'm accustomed to, so on the weekend I enjoy the company of friends and family the most!.

Thankfully my brother is visiting and we've had a great weekend together! We saw the new movie A-Team last night after eating Mexican ... and it was wonderful! After dinner we all just sat in my Camry and "people watched." Most entertaining and hilarious! I think I burned about 9 million calories I laughed so hard. Adrian T. And Alex S. tend to make me do that. Very worthwhile movie though. I think one of my "quiet" weekends is considered "busy" for most people! :) Funny how perspective works.

P.S. Kentucky's allergies are the pits! I am so "clogged up" with my nasal passages swollen and hurting, my throat is sore and I feel so groggy from congestion. I think I made a good decision to take it easy this weekend.

On to Monday!

Encouragement

Ever wondered why it is so much easier for people to discourage you ... rather than encourage? That has always blown me away!

It seems much more difficult for some to smile than to frown! But why? We have so much to be thankful for.

As one of my dear friends Chas G. kept saying to me this morning ... there is always someone who has it much worse off than we do. And that is true!

When I think I have it bad ... or when I think I'm suffering or sad, look around ... there is someone else who needs me to encourage them more!

So my goal for today ... this week ... this month ... this year ... is to just encourage others and to be sympathetic, have mercy and show compassion.

You never ever know what someone could be going through ... unsaid.

What is New

Isn't it funny how fast "new" becomes old?

I've noticed new people, new clothes, new hair styles/cuts, new friends, new pets, new toys/stuff, everything new I can think of gets old ... fast.

However, there are definitely ways that I've personally found to counteract this natural tendency! For instance at my job here at WYMT-TV ... I've found that I challenge myself each day to do at least one specific thing better or faster, more thorough or more positively than the day before.

I know I'm a cheese ball but I have an alarm in my phone that goes off every single day 30 minutes before I go into work that says "be exceptional."

It's just a constant reminder NOT to be ordinary. Ordinary is so ... boring.

Puppy Times

I have a new little baby girl ... my mini dachshund puppy, Vegas!
She keeps me busy, and happy. They say statistics show dogs promote positivity ... I believe it.

She has SO much energy, and that keeps me running which is good for me: being on the overnight shift at WYMT, I need a little buddy like Vegas!
Hopefully soon I will be able to have a "normal schedule" again, but you never know, so I'm just enjoying the opportunities and benefits that come along with working 11pm-7am and counting my blessings, not worrying about my sleep schedule or being awake when the rest of the world is dreaming.

I am thankful for my boyfriend Adrian T. he has been such an encouragement to me through this time!

I'm headed to NC this weekend ... taking Vegas of course, it's Adrian's daddy's surprise birthday bash! He has no clue that we are all meeting up at the Yurt resort getaways on Bear Lake for a weekend of boating, fishing, great food cooked by Darlene T. and friends, laughter and fun.

Many people have never heard of a "Yurt" but it's a "tent" ... well, pictures are worth a thousand words: check it out, most luxurious. And not cheap either! They call it luxury camping, that is what I call camping! http://www.sundogvacationrentals.com/yurts.html

I am so looking forward to seeing everyone. I miss NC a lot, even though I'm enjoying Kentucky life.

It will be great to see Vegas out in the wild, and catch up with Adrian's sis Tiffany, one of my dear friends.

Election coverage for the May Primary is Tuesday ... so resting and relaxing this weekend are a must!

I am missing one of my dear friend's weddings this weekend though, so that is sad :( Sorry Jen T. I will be there with you in spirit! Just can't do everything. And family comes first. All my college buds will be at the wedding though, and I would love to see them and catch up. However one of my best friends Carolyn T. is getting married in June, so we'll all get to be together then, before she moves to Bolivia!

Alrighty, well I'm only one more newscast away from my weekend, and this commercial break is now over ... so its time to wrap up business in the newsroom soon and head to NC!

Constantly moving

Hi world!
Isn't it fun how life changes? Just when you think you're in a routine, someone else leaves, or something else becomes a different 'thing' ...

It's so exciting when life is never dull, but do you ever just crave the control that comes with routine?

I love meeting new people, having new experiences, adventures and being different!

But I miss the same old, same old: what I'm used to sometimes too.

I love the news industry for just this reason: always changes, opportunities to improve, better yourself and learn new things!

My Lesson for Today, Monday 4-12-10

My lesson of the day is to trust.
And to be patient.

Everything in my life is happening for a reason, even though I might not understand it now, I will TRUST.

I will trust.

Patience never has been my "forte'" but I will be a master of it, soon!

Thankfully I have people in my life who genuinely care about me, want what is best for me, and who can encourage me in my struggle to learn how to truly be patient and trusting.

I will press on towards the goal, with endurance! To run the race which God has for me!

I will not be discouraged, but instead, persevere. And all with a positive attitude. This is what I am called to do. And this is what I will do.

Amen, let it be. Let it be.

A Place Called Keeneland. It's a Kentucky Thing.

Photo description ... Sean E., Adrian T. and Lisa M. all in front of the race track ... you can vaguely see Ponies racing behind us! What a beautiful opening weekend. And record numbers of people too! That was the angle of my story for WYMT-TV.

My adventures at Keeneland ... the Lexington Horse Park ... Kentucky ... Began on opening weekend.

I reported for WYMT-TV, shot a package on Eastern Kentuckians enjoying the horse racing season ... and celebrated Spring with friends ... one a fellow reporter from WYMT, Sean E.

It was a wonderful time, lots of laughter and ponies.

Social events where you get to meet new faces, and appreciate familiar ones, all while dressed up and in beautiful weather ... fun, fun, fun!

I would say Keeneland is one of those things that is just "Kentucky" ... when I think of Kentucky, I think of Keeneland and so does everyone who lives here!

The horse racing industry ... anything to do with Equine is just so Bluegrass.
I have learned just how to appreciate the state I currently call my home, and enjoy the wonderful activities it has to offer.

It was a tremendous Easter weekend with the family, friends, and Adrian T. my amazing special man.

Overnight in the Newsroom

Day one of overnight shift at WYMT-TV. I think I might like it? It's definitely different that is for sure. There is no one there really... just a few of us. But it's amazing how much you can get accomplished during the day if you don't mind sleeping a little less.

My apartment is clean, I've uploaded some pictures from the Olympics I wanted to upload and share with friends, I have been hydrating drinking tea and water all day to try to get healthy again from my congestion sickness I have, I made lunch in my kitchen (me in the kitchen? Unheard of!) I have caught up with some old friends, done a bunch of laundry and put tons away that had piled up, worked on errands and projects I have been wanting to work on for ever but never have time to tackle. So productive!

So, besides being an empty lonely newsroom while you work and a sleep schedule that is opposite from the rest of the world, I like that shift I've decided.

However, could I get used to that? Hmmmmm, well I can do anything I set my mind to, so yes. But do I want to? No, not really. If was asked to though, I'd consider.

Back to work tonight at midnight working on the a.m. shows. Then the weekend and getting to see Adrian T. can't wait!

Peak to Peak Whistler

Photo Description: Middle of one of the Peaks, Whistler. Julie B., Clinton H. and I.

Went on the Gondola, one with an open glass bottom floor, from one peak to the other for this reason its called the "peak to peak" ...

Absolutely gorgeous, breathtaking, awe inspiring.

Went to the market and ate a dinner of chips, Guacamole, Salsa, raisins, Dasani, and carrot sticks. LISH AND TRISH! (Delicious and Nutritious).

A WONDERFUL day in Whistler, by far my favorite so far.

Spent with beautiful friends.

So much Audio So Little Time

Photo Description: Our Audio team... everyone in the audio mixing room, except for Devon! :( She was out running an errand. :) We were photographed for a magazine article in Canada, so after the photographer took our pic, since we had everyone there (ahhhh Devon!) I just had us all stay and took an extra photo... with MY camera. Good times!

Team Audio includes: Don S. Norm H. Devon T. (not pictured sadly!) Clinton H. Morgan S. (Me! Obviously.) Marta H. Borja S. Allan W. Malcolm J. Ken F. and Tim D.

We spend WAY too much time together. But we love it.

This audio team is brillant. That's all I have to say.

Ok ... so everyone's been saying we're more than halfway through our time at the Olympics .... and that makes me sad!

Laundry Money.

Doing laundry today... for the first time since February 1st! Gads! That's 22 days. I know, gross.

I Love A New Tube of Mascara...

Always meeting someone new at the Olympics ...
Most everyone I've met so far, are amazing people~!

Photo Description: Went to the "Amsterdam Pub" in Whistler Village after work and got my first order of "Poutine" I've ever had ... Cheese Curds on French Fries... Smothered with Gravy ... Thinking about it now makes me nauseous but at the time, it tasted fairly good. Such a Canadian thing. They just love it here in the Maple Leaf State. :)

One of the guys I work with, Rob B. is a big time videographer and snowboarder... His blog is: http://creativemindcontrol.blogspot.com/ and He is pursuing the most amazing opportunities literally all over the world! He told me about a new one yesterday but it's on the DL, so I can't explain here.

The Sliding Center events here at the Olympics have been going well -- everyone is so enthusiastic, especially when a Canadian slides. Skeleton is the most nerve-racking of them all because the slider lays on his stomach, his face just inches from the ice... a wreck means certain injury or death.

I love my roommate Vera, from Spain. Between her and her friends from Spain, as well as the two audio friends i've made on our team from Spain, Marta H. and Borja S. I have brushed up on my Spanish so much! I talk to them in Spanish as much as I can! It is such a learning opportunity!

Off to another day now at the Whistler Sliding Center here at the Olympics in Canada. Bobsled practice is the plan for today I believe. I want to hop in a Bobsled and slide down SO badly!

Whistler Skeleton... The Canadians won!

I bet you can guess how excited the feel around the village was... since the Canadian guy won the Skeleton WHOA~!

"Cheque, Please."

Dear World,

Just read this statement in an article I was browsing on a news site ... "...a rising star of evangelical Christianity...." What is wrong with that?

Come on!

Not *celebrit-ize* Christianity, please. I am pretty sure celebrity status actually goes against one of the things the bible teaches most-humility.

Ok, Thanks.

-Morgan

What is wrong with your Shoe?

I think that the Broadband or "bandwidth" or something ... whatever you call it, here at the Fairmont is overloaded ... because George Clooney is staying here! (****eeeeek! Gads!****) have not seen him yet, but he's staying at the same resort I am, how neat is that!

Anyway, my internet is so slow, I have no idea why!

Well, I think now i'll call the operator and ask for "george" :) Grins, surely its not that easy to get connected to the Clooney's room! But he's a Kentucky Native, so that's a story for WYMT! I should go LIVE!

:)

Memorial for a 20-10 Olympic Fatal Luge Accident Victim... Nodar Kumaritashvili

The memorial at the luge track for luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was a very emotional experience for me...

The luger lost control of his sled Friday

Went over a track wall and struck a steel pole near the finish line at Whistler Sliding Centre…

Sadly … the luge track at Whistler … the fastest in the world … is now being described as deadly …

Some Olympic spectators I’ve talked to say they’re heartbroken that the games had to start this way…

there’s lots of mixed emotions … the tragedy of the death of this athlete… on the day of the opening ceremonies no less… its a stark contrast to the excitement this night normally holds.

Officials say Athletes are coming to terms with the loss of a fellow competitor and *friend* …

Training on the track was postponed today and an Investigation is currently underway …

Some are saying the 21 year old was inexperienced … on the curve interestingly enough termed “Thunderbird” …

But the luger is not the only one who’s crashed on this track in the last several days

Many athletes are struggling on the course.

As whistler reels tonight … the show still must go on …

Reporting in Whistler, Canada I’m Morgan Schutters WYMT Mountain News.

Notes: not the first time Olympic games have started off with luge crashes …. Apparently one in 1964 ... I have not had time to research.
over 150km/hr
3% of luge runs on this track result in crashes
… Some favorites … like the germans and italians are even having trouble…

Opening Cermonies and Preps for Bobsled Competition Time!

Bobsled Broadcast Media Team AUDIO~! Clinton H. and I in the lobby of the Fairmont Whistler Chateau Resort...

We have had so many long days lately and still not a day off since I've been here ... but hey, who cares! I love this! Having the time of my life and it feels so refreshing to sleep like a rock at night because you've worked your hands to the bone, and legs up the Mountains of Whistler all night!

Listening to Shane & Shane "Yearn For You" right now and thinking of how long I've been wrestling with God for control of my life... I feel so "on edge" with my relationship with him ... I know he'll wait on me, but I don't know what its going to take for me to fully commit back to spending time with Him...

Completely a retrospective look at my life the past 5 or so months.... when you're up in the beauty of his creation hanging mics and working hard in Whistler, Canada you have a lot of time to think about Philosophical things such as that...

I'm definitely playing with fire in my life lately ... just waiting for something to go wrong because I truly am not depending on His work in my life, but simply and only my own works... that can only last so long ....

Lord, help me to come up with new goals for my life and your guidance in my life. Amen.

The Day of Love ... In Whistler, Canada at the Olympics no less!

Valentines Day could only be better if I was with Prince Charming! But I can't be with Mr. Right, so I'll settle for a gorgeous day in Whistler, Canada, the mountains surrounding me ...

The sun kissing my cheeks...

The roses to greet me in the gardens outside the resort, and the Olympics to watch!

Life can not possibly get any better than this.

Five Days in Whistler... Incredible Excitement on the First Day of Olympic Luge Competitions!

Whistler Day Five: First Day of the Men's Luge Competitions...

Photo Description: Audio Crew co-workers as we set up a ladder. They call us "Smurfs" because of our Blue clothing... lol.

The men's start was moved down to women's start because of the fatal accident yesterday... women's moved down to Junior start ... that is sad for the athletes...

Today we worked from 6am until 10pm.

Exhausted!

Was live next to the finish for both rounds of men's luge runs tonight. Got colder and rained, snowed and slushed all day. Sort of miserable... but hey, I'm at the Olympics! Love this place! Love these people!

Made friends with the Surgeons, doctors and other medical personnel at the last curve 16 who worked the fatal luge crash yesterday -- there is a memorial down there and the entire barricade has been rebuilt and padded so that hopefully no future incidents will happen...

Goodnight.

Witness of Fatal Olympic Accident

Emotional day. The headlines say it all.

http://www.wkyt.com/wymtnews/headlines/84282667.html

There are a lot of mixed emotions.

The tragedy and the death of this athlete on the day of the opening ceremonies no less is a stark contrast to the excitement this night normally holds.

Officials are saying the athletes are coming to terms with the loss of this fellow competitor and friend and that the training on the track was postponed today, but the luger is not the only one who's crashed on this track in the last several days.

several other athletes who are struggling on this course, the fastest in the world.

Live from Whistler, I'm Morgan Schutters WYMT Mountain News.

Up on the Mountain .... Whistler, Canada, Day Four

Photo: Description: We put several mics in the trees also and the guys were joking that squirrels and birds would probably think those mics with the fuzzy covers were new friends or something ... lol. We have to entertain ourselves all day somehow! Silly conversations crack me up!

So much snow fell today! Huge snowflakes, the size of gumballs!

Last night I went out with my new friends Marta , Vera D., Borja S., (all from Spain!) and Clinton H. (from Vancouver!) Such a wonderful time with wonderful people. They are all just great!

We took lots of funny photos.

I have found that my packing was sadly lacking for this trip ... I brought so many 'work' clothes -- but no clothes just for bopping around Whistler :( So I wear work clothes all the time ... not fashionable.

But, at the same time, I am here to work. So anything else I get to do is an amazing bonus!

Cold, wet, hard work today: Although I am so thankful, because the weather, really, is very good! It is surprisingly warm (not bitter cold) even though it is snowing and the snow melts making me look like a drowned rat. Thankfully i'm not trying to impress anyone with my fashionable appearance, so it doesnt' matter!

Met Jason W., Director for the entire Broadcast from NBC via Ken: He is a great guy! And so easy to talk with! I look forward to getting to know him better. He invited me to come to the NBC trailer during their broadcast and see what's going on; meet everyone.

I have been taking leftovers from our catered meals so that I don't have to pay for much food while i'm here... So our fridge smells like shrimp and other miscellaneous tidbits! lol.

I have not spoken to my family since I've been here... :( sad. I miss them! But its so hard to communicate because they aren't messaging me on facebook!

Worked out last night with Clinton: We did Ab Ripper, I ran and then we swam as well as doing pyramid pushups. That was a lot of exercise in addition to the walking and trekking up Whistler mountain all day every day for audio work, patching cables and running microphones.

I need to shoot a package tonight for fun: Lee will let me use the camera but he's at the Delta hotel which i'm not sure where its located ... I'll ask Natalie.

Talked to Devon T. a lot today; more than usual. We talked all about her and her girlfriend, and she explained to me their relationship and her background with theater etc. It is good to get to know her better. She is a nice Canadian friend.

I wonder how things are going at WYMT?!

Tomorrow we have to report for work at 6am! WOW! Earliest day yet!

The other morning, when I updated my iphone the night before, it reset so that it was switched back to Kentucky time from Whistler time... Well no big deal EXCEPT for the fact that my alarm was set for 7am... well that is 4am Whistler time.... so I literally woke up to my alarm at 4am Whistler time and started getting ready before I realized that hotel wakeup call had never rang ... which was odd... and the clock on my nightstand said 4am... so I called the front desk and asked what time it was? The answer was 4am.... so I went back to bed! Story of my life. LOL.

Talked to Ken all about God yesterday ... He asked me if I was a born again Christian, I said yes, and that led to a long philosophical conversation while we were setting up mics and running cable through the venue. His beliefs are very different from me in some ways, other ways similar. It was enlightening to hear his perspective and informative. I love to be challenged by someone intellectual.

Good conversation is always welcome!

Lots to do tonight ... including a shower, tiding up the room and uploading photos to the web from Canada!

I got to walk on the bobsled/luge/skeleton track today (at the start line) and look down the track ... so steep! WOW!
Here's hoping Devon will let me do my laundry at her house Monday!

Day Three ... the adventure continues.

Photo: Description: Me and one of my new friends Borja of "B-man" as we call him because its easier to pronounce... from Spain ... there are so many people working on the Olympics from every country you could imagine! I love meeting all of the foreigners ... oh wait, I'm the foreigner! My new Canadian friends think its hilarious that I don't know how to say "eh" correctly and that I call the snow hats "Toboggans" instead of "Toukes"

Another hard days work today ... but it's so gratifying!

I enjoy spending time with new people I've met and learning about how they got to be involved with such an event ... of great proportions! What I do working for the Olympics has a worldwide effect!

That hit me today.

What an opportunity.

Pinch me, am I really here? This is incredible.

I thank God every day for this blessing!

I could get used to this... day three. Oh me!

Photo Description: Clinton H. and I at the Venue working ... he's one of the guys on our "award winning" audio team! One of the men on our team, I found out today, did all the audio work for "Barney" on television -- which I watched growing up wow! Small world and so interesting to learn the history of people's work experience! You'd never know!

"Team" means something new to me every moment I work to make this television broadcast of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics a reality.

Talk about a resume' builder. I'm blown away. I can't imagine explaining this experience in a future job interview: the life-lessons I'm gaining are innumerable!

Olympic Opening Ceremonies coming so soon!

Day two ... Cold Fresh Whistler Air

Photo description: Where I work everyday. Placing mics around the Sliding Venue; the Bobsled, Luge and Skeleton track... so that you can not only see the Olympics on your television screen ... but also hear the events. You're welcome. :)

Back at work, 8:30 am on the bus headed to the mountain. Delicious catered meal as always. Healthy of course...
AND everything is compost-able here - even the silverware. It's incredible how GREEN the Olympics truly is. Good for them!

Tried to upload some pics to facebook last night and the internet went "lame" on me!

So I'll try again ...

Made several new friends here: Canadians Rob and Clinton as well as Devin... Rob works with the camera operators but Clinton and Devin work with me in audio. Great people!

And I've learned so much! I worked with Ken today ... He is also from Kentucky. He calls me Blondie. Imagine that. Hahahaha lol.

Another long day ahead. Too tired for Hot Tub at the resort tonight. But did go to Old Spaghetti Factory tonight for a $25.00 dinner that I was too full to eat most of. Ridiculous. Won't make that mistake again.

Have to be at work earlier than normal tomorrow ... we have to get everything done tomorrow. It's our last day of set-up.

I still don't have a room mate. And I am still ok with that! It's so quiet around here ... restful, relaxing and calm. Just what you need after a hard days work. To get back to the resort tonight from the venue, we took a "short cut" Rob showed us and walked all the way back instead of riding the tram ... it was worth it because it was a beautiful walk ... but it was completely an adventure because we went halfway down a ski slope before Rob said, Oh wait, we're headed to the wrong place -- that is Not the Whistler Chateau! So back up the snow bank and on to the other road ... !

First Day of work... Canadians are the coolest.

One of the other audio girls... Devon T. at the track with me after a long days work. She's from Vancouver, and says "Eh" all the time! LOL!!!

Alright ... and the truth comes out. I want to move to Canada! It's amazing! Everyone here is SO nice ... and they all truly do say, "eh" a LOT.

It's adorable.

The mountains here in Whistler are gorgeous. Waking up to the sun rising through the snow drifts on top of the rocky landscape of these ski slopes is incredible! Nothing else quite like it.

I got back from work just in time to watch the last 4 minutes of the Superbowl .. and the Colt lost! WOW! WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT! The New Orleans Saints defeat the Indianapolis Colts to win Super Bowl XLIV 31-17 ... Never thought I'd say that. Conroy D. will be so excited.

Met lots of new friends today on the slopes. The audio I am doing is so fun - my co-workers are incredible.

Now hopefully to go to the hot tub with one of my new friends to relax before I'm back headed to work at 8:30 am.

A tremendous night's sleep last night. The resort beds are so comfortable. AND I still do not have a room mate. As I've said before though ... that's ok with me!

Whistler for the Olympics

Photo Description: Some of us on the Audio team with the mountains of Whistler being beautiful behind us.

I'm here. All settled into the Whistler Chateau Resort. And let me tell you its gorgeous!

Here's a link to the hotel: http://www.fairmont.com/Whistler?cm_mmc=icppc-_-ADC%20-%20Fairmont%20Bab%20Al%20Bahr%20-%20UAE%20-%20Generic-Abu%20Dhabi%20Wedding-_-google-_-chateau+whistler

I'm supposed to have a room mate - but i don't yet ... which is completely fine with me! It's so nice and quiet ... and I have my stuff spread out everywhere. Neatly of course.

I was able to see Vancouver this morning ... It was gorgeous ... but nothing compared to Whistler -- Where I am now. The mountains, Ski resorts, everything is just breathtaking.

I am getting up at 6:45 am in the morning to head to the bobsled, luge and skeleton courses ... called the "sliding" venue, where I'll be working for the next month.

We bought groceries and miscellaneous food items after a dinner of focaccia bread sandwiches at the local market. So i intend to eat breakfast here at the hotel in my room each morning.

I am sitting here in my Whistler Chateau Resort robe, headed down to the hot tub for some relaxation now.

Who ever knew the life of luxury could be this good... I feel like a princess. I needed some extra hangers for my closet, so I called the front desk: The phone was answered immediately by a happy voice saying, "hello miss schutters, how are you this evening and what can i get for you?"

Wow! Talk about service with a smile? Literally 3 minutes later, another smiling faced girl was standing at my door with every kind of hanger I could dream of, for me to have.

I could get used to this. Are you sure this is only for a month? And what did I do to deserve this?

Wow, how God blesses me!

Made It to Vancouver

Photo Description: a sign that welcomed me coming into Vancouver, near the IBC. And yes, I did edit it. The colors were not naturally that vibrant...

I'm laying in bed of a bunk right now ... its 12:34 pm the time i'm used to it being ...

But here its really a lot earlier I guess.

I got to talk to Adrian on the web cam tonight - thank God for skype. It was such a blessing to see a friendly, smiling face that I know!

Vancouver is a young city. I like it.

Now to bed. I'm exhausted. Will explain my day today in detail ... tomorrow.

night world.

Here we go...

I have various items packed in bags scattered around my apartment ... why?

I'm headed to the 20-10 Vancouver Olympics!

I will be working for OBSV (Olympic Broadcasting Services Vancouver) doing broadcast media ... audio ... aside from that I'll have to give you more details later when I actually know what all the job entails.

Friday night I'm meeting up with one of my friends from Asbury College who's also working there ... Will and I won't have cell phone service up in Canada because on AT&T its a little overpriced -- not worth it. So we'll use Skype to meet up.

It's a strange feeling first of all traveling to another country alone and second of all knowing I don't have a cell phone to use ...!

I will leave in the morning to head home and then leave from the airport early Friday morning to fly to Chicago then Seattle and finally Vancouver!

Everyone at work at WYMT has been so supportive and excited for me to go ... I know its a hard time for this to happen ... February is ratings in the news industry ... but yet they all know this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I'll have ... something I'll probably never get a chance to do again.

I'm hoping to accomplish a lot while I'm away ... for a month!

Then come back to Kentucky and to work at WYMT refreshed and rejuvenated!

As for now ... its time for bed ... tomorrow starts the beginning of a great adventure!

Daytona 500 ... 2010

It's Daytona 500 time! . . . and I can't go (sad).

I'll be at the Vancouver Olympics ... But you can go!

I just put the tickets on E-bay. 4 great seats.

Type the item # 190368087374 into the Ebay search window and it will take you right to them.

Spread the word! Tell your friends.

Its late and I can't sleep... too much running through my head to be tired.

Can't sleep. I'm too excited for the weekend. And, I drank a coke. Before bed. Stupid! What was I thinking. That was so dumb.

I know caffeine affects me!

Oh well. Too late now! I'm headed home tomorrow and I could not possibly be more excited. Its going to rock.

I would love to produce the four pm newscast tomorrow, but I don't know if I can pull that off... I am supposed to produce the 6pm newscast. We will see. I'll ask Ashley if we can switch back.

I was looking on facebook at some old photos Jill tagged me in; wow. Old as in back in the day when I was in Kindergarten at the private Christian school I went to before I was homeschooled. So long ago! And yet I remember the giant plastic hippo on the playground we'd play on and the swingset ... field day and group pictures once a year. Our whole school fit into a giant photo!

And I see my friend Emily and her husband in Cali ... they are the cutest godly couple. Trendy, beautiful and full of the Lord's light. That is what I aspire to be. A real world example of how Jesus would be if he walked in physical human shoes.

I can tell I'm over tired. I'm rambling about the most random things. Its good to get it all out though every once in a while. Because really, no one reads this blog. I mean, who am I kidding? i'm just one girl, living her life, writing about it on the giant space called the internet.

Whistler Olympic ski venue faces foreclosure

Ok so my dad and I were just talking about this ... its really interesting. Go figure! Right before I leave for Vancouver ...

http://olympics.thestar.com/2010/article/753617--whistler-olympic-ski-venue-faces-foreclosure

Whistler Olympic ski venue faces foreclosure
Intrawest assets, including the Games' skiing venue, could be auctioned off next month
January 21, 2010

TONY WONG
PETTI FONG
Creditors holding $1.4 billion (U.S.) in debt on Intrawest ULC have begun foreclosure proceedings on some of the company's assets, including the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort, and say they plan to auction them off on Feb. 19.

The resort operator's financial woes have put Vancouver Olympic organizers in a quandary, since the sale of the company would be an unwelcome disruption to the games, which open Feb. 12.

Vancouver-based Intrawest recently missed a $524 million debt payment, prompting lenders, including investment bank Lehman Bros. and hedge-fund sponsor Davidson Kempner Capital Management, to put a notice in the Wall Street Journal and other U.S. newspapers seeking buyers for assets, including Whistler, Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Stratton in Vermont and Squaw Valley in California.

"Each qualified bidder must be a financial institution or other entity that has the wherewithal to purchase the membership interests in immediately available funds," the notice states.

Dan Doyle, executive vice-president of venue construction for the games organizing committee known as Vanoc, said legal advisers have concluded that the Games will continue as scheduled, despite the auction date. "We have a business plan to take care of any eventuality," Doyle said at a news conference Wednesday.

Asked about the possibility that an auction could affect competition, Doyle said auctions don't "happen overnight.

``There is a small chance. It's minuscule. Smaller than small," he said. "I don't think it's a problem at all."

Vanoc chairman Rusty Goepel said the Olympics will give Whistler unparalleled exposure and doesn't understand why the creditors are rushing to auction.

"You want to go around the world to find all the potential buyers if you're a creditor. You want to give them all your due diligence and information to make potentially the highest bid," he said. "If I'm a vulture fund and I own some of the outstanding debt, I'm trying to increase the value of Whistler, not decrease it."

Publicly traded hedge fund Fortress Investment Group purchased Intrawest in 2006 for $2.8 billion in a highly leveraged buyout.

Intrawest owns a variety of other mountain resorts in the U.S. and Canada, including the popular Blue Mountain resort in Ontario.

Whistler Mountain will host the alpine skiing events, while the sister mountain, Blackcomb, is the site of the sliding centre. Both are part of the Intrawest resort.

Lehman's own bankruptcy in 2008 has complicated the process, since restructuring firm Alvarez & Marsal is trying to find cash to settle the $1 trillion in creditor claims owed by the investment bank.

Meanwhile, Intrawest said in a statement Wednesday that the company is, at least for now, under the control of Fortress.

"Fortress Investment Group continues to own and control Intrawest and all of its properties," read the statement released by Intrawest spokesman Ian Galbraith. "Serious discussions with Intrawest's lenders are ongoing regarding refinancing, and the company continues to operate business as usual at all of its resort properties. Intrawest is looking forward to the success of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games."

Contrary to some media reports, the company's assets ``have most certainly not been seized by the banks. We continue to operate and it's business as usual,'' Galbraith told the Star

Still, the possible sale of the company, an iconic Canadian brand with a global reach, couldn't come at a worse time.

Olympic organizers are hoping to showcase their athletes and the beauty of British Columbia. Instead, it looks like the games may well be seen as a symbol of the global credit crunch.

Fortress and Alvarez & Marsal did not return calls requesting comment Wednesday. A spokesperson for Davidson Kempner declined to comment.

AB Ripper X Day 1

7:34

just got home from work at WYMT and headed to the DVD player ... Ok, so I feel great! Jeff burned me a copy of the DVD and I am excited! ...

I just finished AB Ripper X 339 for the first time ever ... LOVED IT! Going to tell everyone i know how good it is... my core feels tight. Now headed to the gym for a couple miles on the treadmill and a couple on the track. We'll see how I feel tomorrow.

But my friend Michael said to me today on twitter… “you're excited now but you're going want to cry and shoot yourself late. P90x= punishment worse than death,”

Oh gosh.

But I'm ready... bring it on.

I think Angie would love this. And mom. And Adrian. We'll see what we can do.

Broccoli Alfredo ... a multiple. step. process.

Ok, it's 8:28pm ... and I head to my kitchen with trepidation ... not knowing if my attempt and making Alfredo with Broccoli will turn out successful ...

Last week's attempt to make Basmatti rice in my hot water boiling pot di not end well. It ended with two large tupperware containers full of brown rice, partly mush, partly still crunchy ... that is still in my refrigerator ... untouched.

But i will persevere.

I will fight the good fight.

I will run the race, not giving up. And so all this is said ... and i'm still sitting on my couch, not moving towards the kitchen.

But now i will go!

8:49 pm .... alright, a few more minutes to wait ... and the noodles should be a ... success???!?! could it be? I guess its too early to get excited, but i'm getting excited....

Tweeted a minute ago, "Noodle status: boiling! Still looking good... Results still positive..." I set the timer, so i'm just keeping the ol' fingers crossed.

I think probably one of my biggest downfalls in cooking ... from my observations of myself .... is that i'm not the most patient person in the world... which is not exactly a strongpoint when it comes to cooking...

it takes a lot of patience to be a good cook! Speaking of ... i'm going to head back to the kitchen to watch, and wait ... for the noodles to cook/be done cooking .... ugh the suspense!?

8:54pm 3 minutes and 22 seconds remaining on the timer for the good noodles ...

hmmmmmm. I'm not even really hungry anymore. That pizza i ate earlier must have filled me up more than i thought. That's demotivating when you're cooking. I think i'd be a better cook if i was always hungry when i worked in the kitchen. Then i'd be super energized to make something tasty.... because i was so starved!

8:56pm Just stirred the noodles ... they're getting softer .... hurry up noodles, hurry!

8:57pm ... how do you know when the noodles are finished? the timer clearly is wrong in this case. So many variables in cooking that are out of my control! Maybe that is why i'm not "cookingly" inclined as well ... because i just wait at the mercy of that stovetop and those little shell-shaped noodles ... i heard once that if you throw the noodles against the wall and they stick, they're ready to eat? Does that work for Shells?

9pm ... i just determined tasting the noodles is a more trustworthy approach to checking the shells' 'doneness' than throwing them against the ceiling ... walls, floors and ceilings are too unsanitary for my tastes ... I just ran cold water over the shell and then ate it that way ... but i felt like it was still crunchy-ish ... oh gosh, this is where i get nervous. Do i keep boiling the poor little dears and risk burning or overcooking them? Or do I stop now and just hope they continue to soften? I vote stop now ...

We'll see! The verdict for my shell shaped noodles is definitely still out...

9:03 pm ... alright success! The shell i just tasted was ... perfectly soft and tender! SCORE one for me! Noodles =0. me-1.

Ok ... next step. Cooking has too many steps!

Alfredo sauce. well, that's easy. i bought a jar of it! *grin* I know thats cheating, but baby steps is the goal. I'll tackle that another day.

So, i dump the sauce on. The whole jar? Sure, why not? The more sauce the better in my opinion!

But lastly, the broccoli ... ahhh. I guess i'll steam it. I did this once with Jeff... But he was really good at it, I just watched. Now, i don't remember. I think you just put the broccoli's in the pot with a little water and olive oil, some spices, and then let it soften? Here goes ...

9:44 pm Ok, two phone calls... one from my little brother Alex, the other from Jeff, lots of laughter and several text messages later ... My Alfredo Broccoli or Broccoli Alfredo whichever you prefer ... is done! And delicious!

I just tryed it all together -- the broccoli is not too cooked - its still tough enough that i didn't cook all the vitamins and nutrients out of the vegetables, but soft enough that you can easily bite through. The noodles and veggies are thoroughly covered with sauce, delicious sauce, the noodles are super soft and delish...

This has been an extremely successful evening! IN the kitchen! Unheard of up to this point ... but now no longer ... I feel so much more comfortable in the kitchen just after this one night on my own, trying this "recipe" :)

All i need is confidence in the kitchen, which have a handle on now ... hooray.

mission accomplished.

I'm going to start blogging. daily.

No ifs ands and/or buts about it! I'm going to work at the Vancouver Olympics ... ummm what better time than now to start blogging!

And i'll get started blogging BEFORE I go ... to get in the habit of course!

Too many funny ... amazing ... crazy things happen in my life NOT to blog. I want it all written down so that someday, when i write my own book, I'll have everything documented.

I still think when i make my life into a sitcom someday, i'll be glad i wrote everything down.

I've been meaning to get started again blogging or journaling or something since I stopped last and it took a night by myself resting to get me back into it again!

The movie Julie&Julia inspired me too -- how Julie blogs every night about her cooking disasters ... i have plenty of those!

And i'm not blogging to become famous like some people have in the past ... no, i am blogging for ME. no one else, but myself and my thoughts.

Now, if people are entertained by reading what i have to say, then rock on! Read away!

But, if not, then don't bore yourself with MY ramblings ... make adventures of your own!

So right now my iTunes is open playing "3" by Britney Spears ... ok, i know she isn't a greatly moral person or anything, and i don't look up to her as a role model, thats for sure. BUT i do like her music! Its catchy ... and it makes me want to dance! and OH how i love to dance ....

Ok, so life is all about people, love, relationship, balance ... doing your best and working hard doing what you love with the people you love. Your relationship with God is most important first ... to me at least. Some would argue with me that HE is NOT most important, but i'm not here to argue! He's MOST important to me, and if he's not to you, that is your choice.

But today i found out some more interesting news ... Dad's job might be in jeopardy? oh gosh. I am really scared! But everytime i start to be scared, i just talk to God. I say, Daddy, (because i call God daddy), what do you have planned? Why is this happening? And i hardly ever hear back "why" but i always know to be at peace ... that it will all work out. And i KNOW that it will. I know. I trust. I have faith.

So even when the world seems like its falling apart ... like in the movie "The Book of Eli" that i saw this weekend with Adrian ... God is still there. And he has a plan. He has a reason for things, even when it doesn't make sense to me. And i am so comforted by that knowledge. The knowledge that God is good all the time. All the time my God is good.

He won't give up on me. and I won't give up on him.