Happy Birthday Hudson!

I hope you have a birthday that is three times the fun!

Happy Birthday Princess Sara

Happy 5th Birthday Sara! Next year, it's on to kindergarten with a Hello Kitty backpack!

10 Years in the Making

While the Chinese this year are celebrating the Year of the Ox, we here at Nickelodeon are celebrating the Year of the Sponge--SpongeBob SquarePants, that is. We're trying our best to create new marketing campaigns and innovative products for the 10th anniversary year of everyone's favorite yellow sponge (in order to increase sales and of course our bonuses).

But, I think that his kid here may have topped all our ideas with his very own production! Check it out--it features some of our current product and in-store signage at Walmart:

Upfront With My Friends

Today was Nickelodeon's annual Upfront where we present our upcoming new series and promotions to our key advertisers (you know, people that give us lots of money to keep the network on air like Kellogg's, Kraft, P&G, McDonald's, Mattel). The presentation is given by our key executives and usually includes some of our celebrity talent as well (to keep the advertising big wigs feeling good about themselves . . .).

This year, Keke Palmer was on hand to present her newest show True Jackson, VP; Nick Cannon was on hand to discuss his newest show for TEENick called The Halo Awards to honor teens in their community; and the big surprise of the day was having Dev Patel arrive to introduce his role in The Last Airbender, our blockbuster movie planned for next summer. Even being a seasoned employee at Nickelodeon (I believe I can say seasoned now; I've been here a year) and meeting these folks regularly, I felt a little leap in my stomach when Dev walked onto the stage. The audience gasped; even we Nick employees didn't know he would be appearing. He was very charming and talked about how excited he is to be walking away from his newly found stardom on Slumdog Millionaire to now be a part of The Last Airbender filming. We're really hoping that his recent addition to the cast will help to make the film extraordinary at the box office (ergo our bonuses) . . .

The Upfront then closed with a jam session with Colbie Caillat and Wyclef Jean . . . my little perks at work are great!

The One With The Italian Food

After spending a week with the London staff, they arrived this week in the NYC office to attend our Retail meetings this week. We all went out tonight as a group for a delicious four-course Italian meal at Barbuto, in the Meatpacking District.

We had just finished the antipasti when Tate Donovan walked in and sat at the table next to us with his wife and infant son. Those of us born before 1980 immediately recognized him. I had to offer a bit more background for the other half of the group.

Nancy, my team member, was quite shocked that his wife was not more attractive. In fact, she thought he should dump her for me . . . apparently, she thought I would look good standing next to him. And, that would take a lot because he still looks really good . . .

I Globe Trot, Therefore I Am

Many following my little Big Apple blog may be afraid that I have fallen in the Hudson River or been caught under the subway tracks with no new posts for nearly three weeks now. . . much has happened recently and I am glad I finally have a spare moment to share it all.

My globe trotting excitement began Thursday, February 19 when my mother phoned me to tell me she had checked herself into the hospital due to some inexplicable abdominable pain. The doctors had found she had gall stones and would likely need to have her gall bladder removed; but, she assured me was "just fine". That's typical; my mom tends to down-play everything whenever it comes to her own needs.

The following day she called again to tell me that not only was she definitely going to have surgery to remove her gall bladder, but that while doing a prognostic cat-scan, the doctor had also discovered a tumor on her right kidney and that it would have to be removed as well. I burst into tears, knowing that she was no longer "just fine". I immediately booked a flight and arrived in the Springs Sunday afternoon.

I spent the next week getting all of Mom's needs ready, including cleaning the house, paying the bills, buying groceries and supplies, and caring for her while she was in the hospital. The surgery was successful and her doctors anticipate that she will recover fully, continuing a good quality of life with one kidney. The tumor was entirely contained within the kidney and she won't need any chemotherapy! Whew; thank goodness that gall bladder started acting up so that we could find the cancer early!

I left Jeremy to care for Mom during her first week of post-op and I returned to NYC on the 28th, allowing myself just 12 short hours to re-pack my bags in order to leave for London the next morning. I arrived in London Sunday night for a weeklong agenda of business meetings.

My meetings were going well and it was fantastic to finally meet the London staff, with whom I work so closely. But, late Tuesday night after our dinner, I stumbled into my hotel room and managed to hit my head (really hard, I might add . . .). After I managed to get over the shock and pick myself up from the floor, I looked in the bathroom mirror to see blood trickling down my forehead. Being five hours behind London, the office staff in NYC was still available. When I called, Katy (who recently transferred from our London office) became my own personal EMT, telling me how to reach the closest hospital and instructing me on how to get the healthcare I needed.

After a non-stop action-packed evening fit for a sitcom sketch that really must be told over a menu of carbohydrates and hand-drawn diagrams, I managed to walk away from the emergency room without stitches and a massive headache at 1am in the pouring rain.

I barely finished out the rest of my meetings, suffering from a major case of jet lag complicated with a drowse inducing head injury! I nearly cried at the thought of sleeping in my own bed when I finally boarded the plane Thursday night. Did I enjoy my first trip to London? I wouldn't go there . . . let's just say I am looking forward to my next trip.