This is TODAY on NBC

For the first time in my life, I saw what 6 am looked like. And it was scary. So I hit the alarm and went back to dreamland. Nine minutes later, for the first time in my life, I saw what 6:09am looked like. And it was even more scary. But, I knew that I couldn't go back to dreamland this time. How could I though, I was too excited. I had to get up, get going, and make my way down to Colonial Williamsburg.

Any seasoned tourist, would know that this is extremely too early to walk through the streets of history. This morning, however, was a little different for this sleepy old town.

Colonial Williamsburg had a small piece of the Big Apple there and this little small town girl had to get all up in it!

The TODAY Show was in Colonial Williamsburg this morning, and I wanted a front row seat! Al Roker and Matt Lauer (wipe drool from mouth) were so close, that I could smell the studliness in the air! Papa Bird and I arrived at CW around 7:15am and immediately jumped right in the madness!


"Hurry Up Papa Bird! I'm losing prime real estate as we speak!"


I'm in there somewhere...



There I am! Not without my coffee of course!


A picture of Duke of Gloucester Street with one too many Obama supporters and Obama signs. Even small children and dogs had to turn around and get out of there!




Papa Bird definitely had to get out of there!


Obama supporters....'Nuf Said.




2008 Christmas Card Picture





The Capital.

Papa Bird and I had had enough and decided to leave Duke of Gloucester Street. The Capital is where Matt was on air for most of the morning. This area had the better view of the action and more camera love. I held my little sign proudly, but it was soon overcrowded with political signs. My marketing strategy then shifted from holding up my "Hi Mom" sign, to blocking as many Obama signs as I could with my sign. Mature, I know. I haven't seen the taped show yet, but I'd like to think I was a little successful.

Crowded.

Shout Out for Roanoke. WSLS!

After Papa Bird and I were dramatized by the obnoxiousness of the Obama supporters, we decided to call it a morning. As we started to head to the car, my nose caught a strong scent of studliness and I followed my female instincts. What my nose detected was this...


Well HELLO Matty Poo
Matt and the production crew were taping in a "secret" location. Only a few others must have my ability to pick up on the studliness scent, because there were only a small group of us in this "secret" location. This, was by far, one of the highlights of the morning. In between interviews, Matt would turn, wave, and carry on small conversation with our group. Matt entertained our questions for several minutes and was very personable with each person. In doing so, he earned
major "meeting celebrities in real life" points!




It was really neat to see all of the behind-the-scenes action!






All in all, Papa Bird and I had a memorable morning! The whole, up before sunrise thing, was just a small price to pay for making a memory!


p.s. Papa Bird got a dose of the "THIS is why" attitude this morning.
You know...THIS is why we get up at 6 am to see the TODAY show live
THIS is why the girls get up at 5 am on Black Friday
THIS is why the girls get up at 5 am on December 26th
The payoffs are unmeasurable! .... DUH Papa Birdie!

We Kill Three Birds with One Stone

On a random Wednesday evening, late in the summer, this bird's nest decided to do something that comes second nature to us.

We Kill three birds with one stone!

First Bird to be killed...

Taking Bird Dog to get some exercise-

Bird dog was so excited to go...she could hardly wait...

....wait to run in her very own back yard.

Well, it's not all her's, but she sure thinks it is.

Second bird to be killed -

Having Mama Bird and Papa Bird get some exercise.

Third bird to be killed.....

Scoring MAJOR Golf Balls!

*************************************************************************************

Now, the trick of finding so many golf balls is easy; just watch Papa Bird play golf.

Wherever Papa Bird's ball goes, remember that spot.

Go to that spot each time and you will be sure to find.....

Hole 5 gets 'um everytime!

(please notice that this ball is no where near manicured grass)

Look hard now, because the golf balls likes to hide...

Sometimes you will have to get a little wet....

Aw, It's a Pro V I --- that's for you Uncle Bird!

Sometimes you hit it big and find a two-for-one!

On any given day, you can have some competition.

This lady surely has no idea who she is dealing with.

Please step aside lady, we ARE professionals at this.

This is no place for a little lady like yourself; you could really get hurt!

You better go home.

On a good day, after lots of practice of course, you'll start with this....

And end with this!

And I Proudly Stand Up!

7 years.

I can not believe it has been 7 years today.

I still vividly remember where I was when I first heard the news over the radio.

I still vividly remember running to the closest television and watching in shock as the second plane hit the second tower. Shock.

I still vividly remember the unanswered questions that immediately circled around this American tradegy.

I still vividly remember how Americans immediately started to show even MORE pride, loyalty, and devotion to our Nation than ever before.

I still vividly remember how the colors of red, white and blue, lyrics to a patriotic song, and the word American, took on a whole new meaning.

(the above was written is all seriousness; the below...not so much)

I still vividly remember the day it happened.

I still vividly remember sitting in the church pew, beside my mother, with sister bird on the other side of her.

I still vividly remember the choir director, leading the congregation to turn in their programs to the patroitic song, "God Bless The U.S.A." , and the sound of the piano as it began to play the notes.

I still vividly remember the look that sister bird immediately shot to me and I equally shot right back at her. The look of fear, quickly followed by the look of what to do...oh, what to do, covered our face like icing on a cake.

I still vividly remember half heartedly singing the words of the song, for I knew what was coming.

I still vividly remember, gingerly approaching the last chorus (the one where Lee Boy really brings it home), with the fear of what would happen next.

I still vividly remember sister bird and I mentally working together to try to contain our mother like we were trying to contain the top of a Jack-in-the-Box that was ready to explode at any second.

I still vividly remember the breeze that sister bird and I both felt from our mother springing to her feet like Old Faithful, as the chorus (remember, the one that brings it home) belted from our mothers mouth "And I proudly stand up". Our mother had slipped right passed our mental grip that we had on her....and it was too late. There she was, standing in all of her glory, just like another little Lady we know.




I still vividly remember looking over at sister bird, as both our bodies sunk into the church pew, mouthing the words, "you get her, NO, you get her" and back and forth we went.

I still vividly remember slowing looking up from having my head hung in embarassment and wishing that the last 10 seconds had been a dream. But it wasn't. There she was. There was our mother, singing her heart away, standing all by herself in the middle of the whole congregation. Did sister bird and I save our mother and join proudly in standing with her you ask.... ummm,uh, NOOO! Of course not! That proud little American was on her own.

I still vividly remember filing out of the church pews and into the ailse, to exit the church. The looks, the pointing, the whispers...."there she is...that's her" Oh the embarassment.

I still vividly remember the embarassment to this day. But is it embarassment? or is it guilt? pride? I'm not sure.

But I do know one thing.

That's my momma and she loves OUR country.

So this one is for you momma. I hope you sing along and stand at all the appropiate times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RssIN3ustUw&feature=related

I am proud to be an American and proud to be my mother's daughter.

Cast of Characters

I thought I would take this time to introduce the cast of characters involved in this delicate story of "Tee Time with The Storcks." With each coming story, you will need a visual to see what brings me my inspiration to come to the blog world and post my thoughts, feelings, memories and dreams.

First off we have Papa Bird

Papa Bird likes to dance in the street, listen to his music at excessive decimals, do sit ups for ice cream sandwiches and watch The Discovery Channel until he has since every episode of Myth Busters for the 613 time.

Papa Bird dislikes touching anything without hand sanitizer nearby, all drivers over the age of 61 and when his milk goes bad in the refrigerator.

Here are some pictures that best describe Papa Bird:

The next character in our bird nest is Mama Bird:

Mama Bird enjoys a clean house, laughing at Papa Bird, a good glass of wine and Saturdays.

Mama Bird doesn't enjoy a dirty house, lecturing Papa Bird, a bad glass of wine and Mondays.


And since all is fair in love and war, here are some pictures that best describe Mama Bird:










And last but not least, the glue that holds this nest together is Bird Dog

Bird Dog enjoys chewing on all things that she is not supposed to, humping our house guests, sun bathing, popcorn, and sleeping the night away in between Mama Bird and Papa Bird.

Bird Dog does not enjoy being alone, getting a bath, and our next door neighbor...more to come on this topic.

Some pictures that best describe Bird Dog:







So here are main characters in this blog story. There, I'm sure, will be many special guests, extras and add ins, but in the mean time....stay tuned to what story will happen next....

It's all in a name...

Whew! I'm glad that part is over.
What part you ask? Well the part of naming my new blog of course!

With me being a middle child and having the astrological sign of a Taurus, perfectionism, as well as being competitive, run through my blood. So many names for this blog ran through my head....The Storck Nest, My Bird Nest, Hole 6, Mama Bird, Confessions of a wife who lost her husband to The Discovery Channel and so on and so forth. So you can see why I'm tired right?

Although I have been married almost a year, I have NOT adjusted to my new last name yet. My maiden name was English and I must have taken that for granted in another life, because I meet, fell in love with, and married a (drum roll please) Storck. Sounds pretty easy right? But because of that one little letter, the third little letter in the alphabet, I will forever be spelling my new last name.

I spell it 10,ooo times a day when I give my e-mail address over the phone, when I call the Doctor's office, when I call the bank, when I order pizza from Dominoes, when I call Verizon, and when I ... well you get the picture. And don't even get me started when I call to order Chinese food from Mr. Liu's. It's a nightmare trying to give Mr. Liu the correct spelling of my last name. I just give up and tell him "Sue".

So, imagine my surprise when I go to pick a blog name and 'The Storck Nest' is taken. Taken?! What!? I retyped it as quickly as I could, thinking to myself, the blogger name appover guy surely must have misread my last name and thought I spelled it with out the precious "C". I wanted him to grant the approval of such a clever play on my new last name. And I wanted it NOW!
But there it was...again..."blog name already exists". This is ludicrous I thought! Who are the other Storck people, (with a "C"), and why, WHY, did they take my blog name? I did what any other new blogger would do. I immediately went to the other Storck's blog page. I took one look at their blog and I had to immediately look away. They, the other Storck's, have only posted 6 blogs within the last 2 years. They took my beloved blog name and now they don't use it?

What's a girl to do? Report them to the blog police? Throw a middle child temper tantrum? Cry?

Oh no, I will not do any of these things. Nor will I get mad. I hardly ever get mad, but I always GET EVEN! (Did I mention I was the middle child)

So it is ON other Storck Nest blog....oh it is on.


p.s. Do NOT, I repeat, Do NOT go to the other Storck blog and give those undeserving bloggers your traffic!