Media Tour (leg 3)
January 29, 2008
Detroit; cold weather and warm folks
Detroit was cold. Snow and fifteen degrees Fahrenheit this morning. However, Michigan’s midwestern hospitality couldn’t have been any warmer. Luckily, I have a girlfriend (fellow mother of three) living near Detroit who graciously collected and delivered me, cooked dinner, provided a warm,cozy bed for the night in addition to supportive and lovely conversation! Completely luxurious. Thank you, Patti!
The friendly manner of the Detroit Fox Morning News team made me feel right at home. My host, Deena, another mother of three, enthusiastically joined in with my message of creating a healthy lifestyle for our families. While still on the air, she happily began eating the fajita chicken salad I had made as an example for a quick and easy healthy alternative to fast food. After the show we chatted about the challenges of balancing motherhood, health and well being.
Re-sounding theme
One thing is for sure. As I am now officially half way through this tour, the re-sounding theme that continues to travel with me as I make my way across America is this… we ALL share similar problems, issues and challenges in our lives. YOU are not alone. It doesn’t seem to matter which city, person or lifestyle I make contact with, the challenges are the same. And the good news is that a healthy way of living is something everyone I have met is interested in creating.
Next stop Phoenix.
Media Tour (leg 2)
January 27, 2008
Warm people and breezes in Florida
South Florida is full of palm trees, moist breezes and Spanish speaking people. Arriving at the airport I wasn’t quite sure if I was still in America or had taken the wrong flight and landed somewhere further south.
My morning segment on NBC South Florida was fun and easy. Bob, the host made the atmosphere relaxed as I chatted away about healthy ideas to incorporate into every day family living. I think he really enjoyed the pistachio snack and the breathing technique. Honestly, I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t say, “I feel better already”, after focusing on their breath for a few moments.
A challenging drive
The next day I was off to Orlando for the Daily Buzz TV show. A driver was chauffeuring me three hours north to arrive mid afternoon so I could join my parents who had flown to Orlando to be with me. Things didn’t go exactly as planned. Which is sometimes, just what life dishes up…
I learned an extra big serving of the “patience” lesson on this car ride, but only after tears of frustration, several calls to my husband, travel coordinator and a good long meditation. My driver didn’t seem to know the way to Orlando, driving me almost three hours in the wrong direction! Silly me, for not paying any attention to the direction we were heading as all I had on my mind was returning phone calls, checking my emails and enjoying the palm trees. Then I saw the interstate sign that read Alligator Alley, Interstate 75. This major highway connects east and west Florida. I was suppose to be traveling north! Luckily, I spotted an innocently parked truck driver next to the toll booth. This truck driver seemed to appear before me just like a beautiful angel gliding down from the ethers to say calmly and confidently, “Hey, Beth don’t stress this one, just get this guy turned around and all will be good.” And that is exactly what happened. I reached into my tote, pulled out my yellow pad and a pen, carefully wrote down every instruction “my angel” told me, got back in the car and got the driver heading north. Eventually, I was in Orlando and had a wonderful dinner with my parents along with a fun TV experience with Kia on the national syndicated Daily Buzz.
Heading to Denver
I stopped over in Houston long enough to watch my son Sam play in a soccer match, kiss my husband and pick up my daughter Sarah to fly on to Denver for a Saturday morning segment on Denver’s ABC Weekend Live. It was snowing when we arrived and the air was crisp, fresh and clean. As Sarah and I sat down for a charming Italian dinner we could see the snowflakes gently falling outside the window. We shared delicious food but more importantly nourished our connection with special one-to-one time to be together. The whole evening was so beautiful it created a feeling as if someone was gently tickling my skin. Gorgeous.
Bright day
Arriving for the ABC Denver Morning Show with a frigid eight degree Fahrenheit outside temperature, we were instantly warmed right through by my lovely media assistant, Sandy and a welcoming studio. The host, Dayle Cedars was friendly and easy going, making the segment easy and effortless. It felt as though we were finished almost as quickly as we started. Dayle was on to another set and we were out the door. After a lovely sunshine filled morning of boutique shopping with Sarah and then a relaxing lunch with a twenty-year dear old Denver friend,Catherine and her daughter Lexi, we headed for the airport and home. A bright day along with the thought of being home for the next couple of days energized me knowing I am halfway through my tour.
Stay tuned. I leave for Detroit on Tuesday..
Media Tour or Spiritual Journey?
January 20, 2008
I have decided that my media tour is going to be my “spiritual journey” through the month of January. Consider this your personal invitation. Come along on the road and join me?
A new opportunity
How hard could it be I told myself when I excitedly accepted the offer? Speaking on morning television, Healthy Living with Beth Irvine in ten major cities across America during the month of January. I would get to talk about my favorite subject with the bonus of a pay check. How fun. Why not?
Virgin Voyage…
Connecticut
I just arrived back home for a few days from my virgin voyage to rest and tend to the family. My tour began this week on the east coast. A day of media training and then onto my first gig on CBS Better Connecticut. Which by the way, the host, Scot Haney couldn’t have been any nicer to me. He really made me feel “at home” on his set creating an atmosphere that soothed my first show jitters. We had fun making the chicken fajita salad used in my example of how fast food doesn’t have to be bad food. As well as him asking me what my favorite splurge was… my reply, vanilla ice cream with homemade hot fudge sauce. Decadent. THANK YOU SCOT.
Next stop Dallas. I eagerly boarded the plane for Texas but unfortunately my enthusiasm was stifled as were grounded on the tarmac for 1.5 hours while we waited for the wings to be de-iced. Finally taking off, I thought I’d use this valuable time “to relax”, which didn’t really work out too well as sitting in the middle seat I felt like a grilled cheese sandwich melted in between two big guy wedges of bread! Two days into the tour and I was feeling exhausted. Oops. Nine more cities to go.
Dallas
Saturday morning brought with it the benefits of a good night’s sleep, giving me new energy and enthusiasm. I love this city. It’s contemporary space-aged downtown architecture combined with generous hospitality and bright morning sunshine created a brilliant glow. I had a fantastic experience on Fox Good Day Saturday Dallas. My host, Lari Barger, a fellow mother was beautiful inside and out making me feel so welcome. The segment was lots of fun. Besides sharing ideas of how to make good choices with healthy “fast” foods we dived into learning a breathing technique from my book on the air. Many thanks Lari.
Practice what you preach
So now back home in Houston life feels good. When I am doing a live TV segment, I really do love the “talking about healthy living” part of this tour. The travel part is what I am “using” as great material for my practice what you preach mantra. Appreciate what you have in your life… a warm bed, family, good food. Be patient when there are delays. Be kind when people aren’t so kind to you. Look for the positive and the growth in every experience through out my day. Become quiet and still and meditate with any extra available time. Awareness of gratitude for every opportunity made available to me. And yes, I miss my children and husband a lot when I am gone- so instead of lingering with that homesick feeling-acknowledging it and bringing my awareness back to the present moment.
I leave on Tuesday for Florida…
