I’m sitting in my office waiting for John McCain to
announce his choice for his vice-presidential running
mate, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. I can’t speak
for everybody in the news media, but we on the Today
show were totally taken by surprise and everybody is
scrambling to find out as much about her as quickly as
they can. Certainly her name wasn’t on any short list
of choices.
One thing is for sure, the attention is off Barack Obama. Last night he makes this historic speech and in less than a news cycle the focus has switched to the other camp. It should make my trip to St. Paul that much more interesting. I’ll be curious to know what you all think.
As for your questions, I’m Olympic’ed out, but here’s one about my trip to the Azores:
AJ said: visited the Azores long ago...remember that the sand is black and that it's so windy that ropes are strung along the walking paths. Is this still the case?
Well I don’t know if all the beaches are black sand but there are ropes along the shoreline in Faial at the site of the Capelinhos volcano which erupted in 1957—the volcano erupted for almost a year, and when the lava hardened it actually connected the original volcano to the mainland. Many Azoreans were forced from their homes and emigrated to the U.S. thanks in part to the efforts of then senator John. F. Kennedy who helped to pass special legislation expediting the emigration. Many of those Azoreans had lung problems from the volcanic ash and ended up being patients of my Dad’s in East Providence.
I actually visited the site of the volcano while tracing my roots, and it felt like you were on another planet, There was something ‘other worldly’ about the whole place.
Visitors walking along the site of the Capenlinhos volcano
Meredith and her son Ben at the volcano
Feel free to post a question of your own for next time!
One thing is for sure, the attention is off Barack Obama. Last night he makes this historic speech and in less than a news cycle the focus has switched to the other camp. It should make my trip to St. Paul that much more interesting. I’ll be curious to know what you all think.
As for your questions, I’m Olympic’ed out, but here’s one about my trip to the Azores:
AJ said: visited the Azores long ago...remember that the sand is black and that it's so windy that ropes are strung along the walking paths. Is this still the case?
Well I don’t know if all the beaches are black sand but there are ropes along the shoreline in Faial at the site of the Capelinhos volcano which erupted in 1957—the volcano erupted for almost a year, and when the lava hardened it actually connected the original volcano to the mainland. Many Azoreans were forced from their homes and emigrated to the U.S. thanks in part to the efforts of then senator John. F. Kennedy who helped to pass special legislation expediting the emigration. Many of those Azoreans had lung problems from the volcanic ash and ended up being patients of my Dad’s in East Providence.
I actually visited the site of the volcano while tracing my roots, and it felt like you were on another planet, There was something ‘other worldly’ about the whole place.
Feel free to post a question of your own for next time!
Thanks for all your emails about the Olympics--we really had a great time but it is so good to be home.
This morning Michael Phelps was on the show and I asked him what his first meal was upon arriving in the United States; he said that he had gone out last night with his friends and ordered a big cheeseburger--that's all he wanted.
When I got back from China what I craved most was a really great salad. I was afraid to eat lettuce there because I've always heard that's what gets you sick.
Some of you wrote asking about jet lag. I experienced it in Beijing but surprisingly it's been an easy transition back in New York, partly because I'm going to sleep by 6:30 or 7 p.m. The only time it's actually gotten a little bad was this morning, probaby because I didnt get much sleep last night because my son Ben was flying in from Beijing (he had been an intern at NBC Sports), and I'm always nervous when my kids are travelling.
And now my family is all together, under one roof--at least until next Tuesday when I head to St. Paul for the Republican convention. But after that I plan to stay put for a while if i can help it.
Tomorrow I hope to get to some of your specific questions...M
This morning Michael Phelps was on the show and I asked him what his first meal was upon arriving in the United States; he said that he had gone out last night with his friends and ordered a big cheeseburger--that's all he wanted.
When I got back from China what I craved most was a really great salad. I was afraid to eat lettuce there because I've always heard that's what gets you sick.
Some of you wrote asking about jet lag. I experienced it in Beijing but surprisingly it's been an easy transition back in New York, partly because I'm going to sleep by 6:30 or 7 p.m. The only time it's actually gotten a little bad was this morning, probaby because I didnt get much sleep last night because my son Ben was flying in from Beijing (he had been an intern at NBC Sports), and I'm always nervous when my kids are travelling.
And now my family is all together, under one roof--at least until next Tuesday when I head to St. Paul for the Republican convention. But after that I plan to stay put for a while if i can help it.
Tomorrow I hope to get to some of your specific questions...M
It’s so good to be back from China. We had a great time in Beijing. As I said on the show this morning, it was so much fun to be a "virgin" again—this was my first Olympics and what an experience. From Michael Phelps draped in eight gold medals to Matt 'n Al sporting spandex, there were too many highlights to mention here.
It seemed only fitting on our first day back that we should start a series on "going home"—literally, tracing our "roots". I’m of Portuguese descent, and my relatives come from the Portuguese islands in the middle of the Atlantic known as the Azores.
Click here to watch the segment
I actually shot the piece in mid July, but it seems like so long ago given how busy it’s been what with the Olympics and all. It was so great to see the piece put together, and I found myself getting emotional all over again. After pretty much denying my roots as a child (like most kids, I was more concerned about "fitting in"), I now want to shout from the rooftops, "I am Azorean—and proud of it!" I do wish my Mom and Dad were alive because I know they would have loved the story. At least my mom’s sister, my Aunt Helen, got to be a part of it. And for my son Ben and nephew Francis, it was a trip they will never forget.
And I finally learned how to correctly pronounce "Vieira", but since I don’t know how to roll my ‘r’s, I’ll never say it quite right. (But then again, I’m not quite right, myself. )
"My People!" - clockwise from Meredith: my nephew Francis, our guide Sandra Dart, my producer Angela LaGreca, my makeup artist Eve Pearl, our guide Miguel Carvalho, my hairstylist Deirdre Stadtmauer, our driver Maria Duarte, camera man Howard Smith, sound man David Moodie, camera man Brian Prentke, sound man Chris Balmer, my son Ben.
Photo taken at the world famous Peter Café Sport in Faial
I do want to thank all the people who made this piece possible—beginning with my producer Angela LaGreca who did a great job wading through hours of material and putting it all together; our editor Mark Evans, our fantastic crews out of London: Brian Prentke, Howard Smith, David Moodie, and Chris Balmer; Miguel Carvalho of the Portuguese National Tourism board for his tireless efforts here and in Portugal; Sandra Dart of the Azorean Tourism Board for being our guide in the Azores; genealogist Maureen Taylor and ancestry.com; researcher Kameko Jones; Librarian Luis Sao Bento for his research in Horta; Jose Agostino Silveira – Cedros Council President; Jayme H. Simoes of the Portuguese Tourism Board; Jean Manes of the U.S. Consulate in the Azores; the Fall River Public Library for the photo of my grandfather’s parish; and everyone from Fall River to Faial who helped in my search.
Now we are off to the conventions—Matt leaves for Denver and the Democrats tomorrow afternoon, and I take off for St. Paul and the Republicans one week later.
I’ll try and answer some of your questions about China later in the week if I recover from this jet lag.
It seemed only fitting on our first day back that we should start a series on "going home"—literally, tracing our "roots". I’m of Portuguese descent, and my relatives come from the Portuguese islands in the middle of the Atlantic known as the Azores.
I actually shot the piece in mid July, but it seems like so long ago given how busy it’s been what with the Olympics and all. It was so great to see the piece put together, and I found myself getting emotional all over again. After pretty much denying my roots as a child (like most kids, I was more concerned about "fitting in"), I now want to shout from the rooftops, "I am Azorean—and proud of it!" I do wish my Mom and Dad were alive because I know they would have loved the story. At least my mom’s sister, my Aunt Helen, got to be a part of it. And for my son Ben and nephew Francis, it was a trip they will never forget.
And I finally learned how to correctly pronounce "Vieira", but since I don’t know how to roll my ‘r’s, I’ll never say it quite right. (But then again, I’m not quite right, myself. )
Photo taken at the world famous Peter Café Sport in Faial
I do want to thank all the people who made this piece possible—beginning with my producer Angela LaGreca who did a great job wading through hours of material and putting it all together; our editor Mark Evans, our fantastic crews out of London: Brian Prentke, Howard Smith, David Moodie, and Chris Balmer; Miguel Carvalho of the Portuguese National Tourism board for his tireless efforts here and in Portugal; Sandra Dart of the Azorean Tourism Board for being our guide in the Azores; genealogist Maureen Taylor and ancestry.com; researcher Kameko Jones; Librarian Luis Sao Bento for his research in Horta; Jose Agostino Silveira – Cedros Council President; Jayme H. Simoes of the Portuguese Tourism Board; Jean Manes of the U.S. Consulate in the Azores; the Fall River Public Library for the photo of my grandfather’s parish; and everyone from Fall River to Faial who helped in my search.
Now we are off to the conventions—Matt leaves for Denver and the Democrats tomorrow afternoon, and I take off for St. Paul and the Republicans one week later.
I’ll try and answer some of your questions about China later in the week if I recover from this jet lag.
It is 3 a.m. on Tuesday here in Beijing, meaning it is just afternoon on Monday in New York. I am lying in bed unable to sleep. This is the jetlag that comes with traveling to a place which is 12 hours ahead: your body finds itself in a state of confusion that seems to worsen by the day.
I have every intention of getting up in the morning to watch Michael Phelps go for his third gold medal, on his way to eight gold medals and a new Olympic record. But I fear I will oversleep. Things here are wonderful, albeit sleep-deprived.
I've had the chance to witness the games up close. I don't care how jaded you are, the first time the national anthem is played signifying an American gold medal, the tears and pride automatically flow.
But I also have watched the Chinese respond to every homegrown athlete. It broke my heart watching Du Lui crying after coming in fifth in the 10-meter air rifle event this past Saturday. She was expected to win China's first gold medal. Instead, she choked under all the pressure. I don't know how anyone could withstand all the attention.
I must go to sleep, but I promise to write more tomorrow.
I have every intention of getting up in the morning to watch Michael Phelps go for his third gold medal, on his way to eight gold medals and a new Olympic record. But I fear I will oversleep. Things here are wonderful, albeit sleep-deprived.
I've had the chance to witness the games up close. I don't care how jaded you are, the first time the national anthem is played signifying an American gold medal, the tears and pride automatically flow.
But I also have watched the Chinese respond to every homegrown athlete. It broke my heart watching Du Lui crying after coming in fifth in the 10-meter air rifle event this past Saturday. She was expected to win China's first gold medal. Instead, she choked under all the pressure. I don't know how anyone could withstand all the attention.
I must go to sleep, but I promise to write more tomorrow.
On Saturday I drove to the Adirondacks to pick up Lily from summer camp. After four weeks without my daughter, I was obviously anxious to see her.
The road leading from the parking lot to the main campus is extremely long. My clogs sunk into the mud with every step as my eyes darted forward like lasers, trying to catch a glimpse of Lil in the crowd of campers gathered in the distance.
I thought of the front page article in the New York Times a few Saturdays ago. It was about crazy parents and the way they overreact on camp visiting day. "Glad I'm not one of those hysterics," I told myself.
And then I saw her. I started to hobble forward....a strange suction sound coming from my feet as my mouth began to tremble and my arms reached forward (picture Frankenstein in a moment of weakness). I grabbed Lily in an embrace, tears pouring profusely. And then she returned the hug and held me even more tightly as she "gently" whispered in my ear, "Mom, when I let you go, you must stop crying." And then she gave me one last squeeze for good measure and added, "I love you."
We spent the rest of the day visiting with Lily's friends and their parents. and then it was time for our annual pilgrimage to the General Store in the nearby town. We never leave camp for the season without picking up something that says "Adirondacks", be it cedar-scented soap, maple syrup or hokey boxer shorts for Lily's brothers that usually reference deer, or bears, or moose (this year we bought a pair for Gabe that said 'Get the buck out" and one for Ben that said "America's Moose Wanted").
As we were wandering around the store, I suddenly spotted a stuffed animal yellow lab. It was mixed in with stuffed deer, and bears, and moose and other wild animals. That lab seemed so out of place. And then it hit me, and again the tears started to come.
My assistant Amanda and her husband Keith and their baby daughter Sophia were saying goodbye to their yellow lab...maybe at the exact same time.
Sushi had died at the groomer's...an unnecessary death.
Click here to watch the segment.
And he was being buried at Keith's family home upstate, next to Keith's dog growing up. I realized I hadn't yet told Lily, and when I shared the sad news, it was Lily who reached for me.
We spent the next half hour debating whether we should buy that stuffed lab for Sophia. Would it make her smile, or only make her miss Sushi more?
In the end we felt it would be better not to bring the toy home. Instead we bought the baby a pair of pj's with "America's Moose Wanted" written across the front.
I placed the stuffed lab back on the shelf, but not before giving it a little kiss goodbye.
And as Lily and I headed back to camp...it started to rain.
The road leading from the parking lot to the main campus is extremely long. My clogs sunk into the mud with every step as my eyes darted forward like lasers, trying to catch a glimpse of Lil in the crowd of campers gathered in the distance.
I thought of the front page article in the New York Times a few Saturdays ago. It was about crazy parents and the way they overreact on camp visiting day. "Glad I'm not one of those hysterics," I told myself.
And then I saw her. I started to hobble forward....a strange suction sound coming from my feet as my mouth began to tremble and my arms reached forward (picture Frankenstein in a moment of weakness). I grabbed Lily in an embrace, tears pouring profusely. And then she returned the hug and held me even more tightly as she "gently" whispered in my ear, "Mom, when I let you go, you must stop crying." And then she gave me one last squeeze for good measure and added, "I love you."
We spent the rest of the day visiting with Lily's friends and their parents. and then it was time for our annual pilgrimage to the General Store in the nearby town. We never leave camp for the season without picking up something that says "Adirondacks", be it cedar-scented soap, maple syrup or hokey boxer shorts for Lily's brothers that usually reference deer, or bears, or moose (this year we bought a pair for Gabe that said 'Get the buck out" and one for Ben that said "America's Moose Wanted").
As we were wandering around the store, I suddenly spotted a stuffed animal yellow lab. It was mixed in with stuffed deer, and bears, and moose and other wild animals. That lab seemed so out of place. And then it hit me, and again the tears started to come.
My assistant Amanda and her husband Keith and their baby daughter Sophia were saying goodbye to their yellow lab...maybe at the exact same time.
Sushi had died at the groomer's...an unnecessary death.
And he was being buried at Keith's family home upstate, next to Keith's dog growing up. I realized I hadn't yet told Lily, and when I shared the sad news, it was Lily who reached for me.
We spent the next half hour debating whether we should buy that stuffed lab for Sophia. Would it make her smile, or only make her miss Sushi more?
In the end we felt it would be better not to bring the toy home. Instead we bought the baby a pair of pj's with "America's Moose Wanted" written across the front.
I placed the stuffed lab back on the shelf, but not before giving it a little kiss goodbye.
And as Lily and I headed back to camp...it started to rain.
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