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!

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.

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!

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 ... !

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!