New Opportunities

Well it looks like I have a new adventure headed my way!

I usually get thrown onto one of the shows, Around the World, whenever they are recording live. Host Arthur von Wiesenberger has me do the travel news in the beginning and some commentary later on. [Arthur is also co-owner of the News-Press.] I even met Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits last week ("I'm Henry the 8th I am..."), who is very funny. Arthur's show has been around for 15 years and is award-winning. I mentioned to him during the break last Thursday that another host had told me I should get into travel writing. I'd never thought of that before! Arthur has always complimented me on my presence, personality, and radio voice; and since the show streams live and you can see us while we're talking, he says he's sure people appreciate seeing me as well. When I talked with him later, he said over 50,000 watch it online alone every week. I had no idea! Geez!!

Anyways, after the show, Arthur took my cell phone number and said he would love to get to gether with me over the weekend to discuss the travel writing/news business. You don't pass that kind of opportunity up. He knows people from all parts of the world in all areas of trade. Getting a good career and getting along in life is all about networking.

So I met up with Arthur at his Santa Barbara home in Hope Ranch last night. [First thing I see when I pull up: electric yellow Ferrari sitting in the garage.] I stayed for three hours and we discussed many various topics, including his passion for water. Did you know people are passionate about water? He's been doing an annual water tasting event for the past 20 years in West Virginia (of all places--they just want the tourism). The first time he did it, Michael's Waterside was the host. So I learned a few things about water!

But in our many discussions, he talked to me about the Travel Reporting business. He told me how he got into it, why it's somewhat corrupt, what it entails... etc. He also thinks that I would be wonderful for travel film! Long story short, he has basically given me an opportunity to go on a trip to Lake Arrowhead and do a little reporting. All accommodations and meals and spa treatments and anything else they want to show off are free of charge; you just pay for transportation. He says that he will guide me and give me advice, essentially be my Yoda. Since I am not a fool, I will accept his offer. And time/schedule willing, any other. (He had a trip to Iceland too, but that's a bit far for my taste.)

I still have to work out the details, but I am very excited about the connections I am making in Santa Barbara!

I've also been doing some more work for the Journal and the radio station. I'm working on my first column for the Journal. I did an interview with a Montecito singer-songwriter who sings children's songs (I'll send you the CD when I'm done, Gwen). I'm also doing little pieces for their dining guide. This involves me going to one of the restaurants that advertises with them and finding some sort of human interest story. I kind of have free reign over that. At the station, I recently recorded another press release for a winetasting event. The station manager said to me, "Now how do I put this so it doesn't affect you... You have to sound five years older and kind of sultry." And that I did. I heard this and another ad I did back to back and the voices are completely different. At the end of the summer, I'm going to get a CD with all of these to keep on file. So they've promoted me to recording any PSAs that come in as well.

Speaking of which, I need to go back to my copy work so I can record later!

Love to you all...