The Blogging Process

I am going to let you in on a little behind the scenes glance at the blogging process. I have this goal to blog at least three times a week. It's sort of a mandate by Rick Garner. He's the WUSA9.com guru. That's Rick pictured to the left. Rick as you know is 6 foot 10, carries a club, and is quite demanding. He feels strongly that we should blog at least three times a week. Some times I'm bankrupt when it comes to ideas.

So yesterday I'm on the set and I'm thinking I better find something to blog about. So why not Thanksgiving overseas! I have a pal named Shawn Kalantar. He's living in Japan now. He used to work here at 9 News Now. So we start Instant messaging. Yeah that's right, I'm I.M.ing and blogging at the same time. Talk about high tech. Actually Shawn was sending me the instant message while I'm on the air. So suddenly I blurt out on the air, "You can't cook a turkey in one of the ovens in Japan! According to our old floor director Shawn Kalantar you can't even fit a chicken breast in one of their ovens!" I think it's breaking news, basically fascinating information everyone should know! Not so! Andrea looks at me like I have three heads. In addition our brilliant producer Dan Guzman starts hammering me about Instant Messaging while I'm on the air. It was one instant message, Please cut me some slack!

By the way this is a picture of Shawn. He likes it in Japan. So what do folks eat in Japan on Thanksgiving. Sushi? No believe it or not Shawn says the favorite food there is Italian. Make sense of that one why don't you. I think Shawn was eating Italian yesterday.

I also have a couple of pals in England, but based on the overall excitement generated by the information I relayed from Shawn I decided perhaps I should just quit while I am ahead! I did send a missive to my buddy Jeff Stinson who I worked with at USA TODAY. He's based in Britain now. He's the bureau chief in London.

Jeff ever the journalist came through with some actual information. I heard from him this morning. There are 250,000 Americans living in Britain, he's one of them.

Hi Mike:

Here in London, there are many ways for ex-pat Americans to celebrate Thanksgiving. And despite the holiday's origins after the American Revolution, the Brits are accommodating of us ...

-- London's famed St. Paul's Cathedral had an 11 a.m. Thanksgiving service yesterday. My wife, Chris, attended and said it was wonderful.
-- Here at USA TODAY's international office near the British Museum, we had turkey sandwiches for lunch and explained the origins of the holiday to our Brit, Italian and German colleagues.
-- Chris and I joined another American couple last night for a Thanksgiving turkey dinner at a little restaurant in a boutique hotel in South Kensington. A few restaurants in popular areas where Yanks live -- such as Chelsea-Kensington and Hemstead -- will cater to the roughly 250,000 Americans living in London.
-- Turkeys are more scarce and rising in price this year as a result of recent bird-flu outbreaks at two turkey farms. This has some Brits fretting, as turkey is popular here at Christmas.
-- We plan a belated T-giving meal with another American couple on Saturday at our flat. If we cannot find fresh turkey breast at a nearby farmers' market in Pimlico, I will look for pheasant or quail. We'll have all the trimmings with it, too.
-- Unfortunately, we Yanks had to work yesterday. But thanks to the North American Sports Network, we can get our football. We also can see it at Yank hangouts like Bodeans, a Kansas City-style barbeque place in Soho. Rock Chalk, Jayhawk tomorrow.

Hope this helps. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Jeff

So there you have it. You now have some vital information. Of course you have also learned that you can take a Kansan anywhere in the world, but they will always remain a Jayhawk! I don't know about you, but I think all of this is pretty fascinating. Now you also know how the meanderings come to life in Mike's Meanderings. Once again Happy Thanksgiving to all whether you are here in the states or if you are enjoying the holiday overseas. I hope that you have lots to be thankful for, and that the rest of the year holds nothing but blessings.