The Golden Girls

And the Emmy goes to.... not us. Drats!

Benita Zahn, myself and Charlotte Buchanon were nominated for a NY State Emmy for a health show we shot in Russia. The half hour special aired on WMHT PBS affiliate in the Capital Region in January 2008. Tonight was supposed to be vindication for all our hard work including drinking vodka, learning how to make tea in a Samovar and visiting the home of writer Leo Tolstoy. Ha. Kidding.

Though we had a fabulous time in Albany's sister city, Tula, Russia, the piece focused on health care, autism and foster care services.

The banquet dinner was held in Times Square at the Marriott Marquis, a beautiful grand ballroom packed with sports pros, retired baseball players, media personalities, politicians and even...Dr. Ruth Westheimer! This little lady, a cultural icon with a wicked German accent, announced the winner in our category - Science/Health Special Program. I should have brought a copy of my "Dr. Ruth's Encyclopedia of Sex" for an autograph!

Benita was prepped with a speech (in Russian) and Charlotte's hubby Charlie were waiting to take photos. And the winner is.... well, you know the story. The big boys beat us out with a piece on breast cancer. It was a long shot, we know. Still, we ran into old friends, made some new ones and drank enough white wine to stumble home deliriously happy regardless.

Oh yah, even Senator Chuck Shumer made a guest appearance awarding Katie Couric with her own lifetime achievement Emmy.

Earth Hour Participation

Don't forget to turn off your lights between 8:30-9:30pm tonight to be a part of a visual vote for climate action. The "Earth Hour" initiative expects 2,800 cities and millions of individuals to participate.

Hundreds of NY businesses aim to support the cause including McDonalds, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, the UN building, the Chrysler Tower and the Empire State Building.

Others around the world and country include the the Opera House in Sydney, Australia, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., Niagara Falls, Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, the Great Pyramids and Sphinx in Egypt, The London Eye Ferris Wheel and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Don't be alarmed but even airports including Toronto's Pearson International and Los Angeles International will dim lights in their terminals.

The biggest gesture will come from Las Vegas when the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign is switched off for an hour as well as the hundreds of lights on the Strip.

I hope the thieves of the world don't get any 'bright' ideas...

It's All About Timing

Buddy Dan, friends since our Mass Comm days at SUNY Plattsburgh, saved me from a most embarrassing meltdown at B&H the other day.

I needed video supplies for my business so I made my way to 34th/9th and happened to bump into Dan doing the same. When we got to the checkout... oops, no credit card, no money, no checks, no ATM, I was totally empty-handed.

Enter my knight in shining armor - graphic artist extraordinaire Dan Reardon.

He whips out a flush of credit cards and laughs. I'm ten shades of red. The cashier is confused. "Who's paying for this, you or him?" she asks.

I haven't seen this cute kid with the sparking ocean eyes in over 6 years and rather than impress him with my grown-up business acumen he's rescuing me from an airhead move. That pretty much put an end to any bragging rights I had for PilotGirl Productions.

The plus side is the experience afforded us a walk to the nearest bank with a quick catch-up on each others lives. I love serendipity.

Looking for Aerodynamic Answers

Might this be the new lean, green electric car of the future? I spy drove by this pint-size concept car close to the west side highway in NYC today. I snapped off a quick pict but sure wish I knew more about it.

Like...does it run on water, solar, fuel cell, lithium batteries or hydrogen? Might it navigate on artificial intelligence, sensors, cameras or GPS? How fast does it go, how comfortable can it be and who designed it? It sure looks like it even might levitate or hover like a space ship.

The International Auto Show is coming to NYC in April. Maybe the manufacturers of this car were taking her out for a test drive in preparation for showing her off on the 10th? I might need to return between the 10-1th to find out.

Mules on Morris Canal

It amounts to no more than an empty ditch now but in the early 1830s this was a thriving canal. Likely, just as important as the Erie Canal, the Morris Canal helped the iron ore and coal industry thrive in the hills of Northern New Jersey and throughout Pennsylvania.

A client from Montville hired PilotGirl on Tuesday giving me a quick synopsis of the canal that meanders through his property. I almost broke into "I've got a mule, and her name is Sal, Fif-teen miles on the Er-ie canal"...but, no need to scare away a client on the first day!

Business on the small waterway continued towing valuables for almost 100 years. Portions of it are preserved with remnants and artifacts. Towns around it maintain a wave of visitors because of it. After exploring dozens of small towns in New Jersey I made my way to the Big Apple with friends. More on a yummy wine tasting in Brooklyn later...

Catskill Cabaret

Benita Zahn, anchor extraordinaire of local NBC affiliate Channel 13, was on fire last night at the Park Playhouse Cabaret show in Woodstock, NY. She along with pianist Joan Roberts and teacher Ward Dales belted out American classics like Broadways divas. The show kicked off with the iconoclastic "We'll Always Be Bosom Buddies" segueing into Cabaret favorites.

Benita turned up the heat grabbing the wireless mic and hopping into the audience singing like Édith Piaf caught in Moulin Rouge. Audiences went home with a whole new perspective of news anchors. She may have even won over some more viewers at 6pm!

Spring Skiing at Windham

Spring skiing, you can't beat days like these. We get so few of them in NY it's crazy not to take advantage of one when friends offer to buy.

Julian, my Woodstock loving liberal (I argue he looks like a nicer Tim Robbins) met me at Windham Friday for some sun-soaking skiing. I journeyed on the back roads of Route 32, past pristine farm houses and barren brown vistas cutting the distance and time in half getting there.

Several trails were still open with plenty of groomed surfaces, man-made or otherwise. The steeper stuff, especially the double diamonds on the far right, were covered with thick ice and little exposure. It's dangerous going if your not careful.

Julian, unintentionally, impressed me with a wild tailspin crash, ripping backwards for several feet then planting himself on a steep grade in slow-motion. It was one of the most graceful landings I'd seen in a long time.

There's a magic that reveals itself in warm weather at high altitudes. The snow glistens and softens in the mid-morning and by noon your swapping your down for a light windbreaker and goggles for sunglasses. We ski until the mountain turns mushy and sticky and then retire for drinks inside.

Good times with good friends. Thanks Julian!

Fastest Girl in the World

AIG stands for arrogance, incompetence and greed and I'm still seething like a mad dog over these bonuses. But I've squandered far too time on indignation today. First the hearings, then the pundits, then the Obama rally, then blogs, op/eds and more teeth grinding. I feel an ulcer coming on and yours truly is without health insurance so I better cool my temperature.

It's back to work as usual but let me bring you up to speed with what went on over the weekend. Fun times in Lake Placid for sure. Got a call from a post house looking to hire PilotGirl to shoot the last Luge competition(s) on Friday and Saturday. Was I avail? Of course I was!

I grabbed my Goretex and tore up the Northway hoping for sunny bright skies the next day. The company put me up in a charming room plush with Adirondack furniture, a fireplace and free wifi. 5 hours later, just at the break of dawn, the crew and I wiped the sleep from our eyes and hurled our gear over our shoulders.

Friday marked my first time shooting a Norton U.S. National Luge Championship. This was a big deal because 24 year-old Erin Hamlin was racing. The Remsen, NY native shocked Germany and the rest of the world by becoming the first non-German to win a luge World Championship title on Feb. 6. Hamlin was crowned number one in the U.S. and sixth in the world that day. This past weekend races were nothing to get nervous about but, still, as they say, it's harder to stay on top than reach the top.

Of course she came in first during all 4 runs.

It's no surprise that Erin and all the girls (and guys) who compete in Luge are some of the most fearless and dedicated competitors around. Donning nothing but a skin tight jump suit, a helmet and a 50 pound sled and then hurling yourself down an icy slope is... well, crazy.

But, Luge takes on a whole new perspective looking through the eyes of Erin. Her calves and body frame are built to steer herself through hair pin curves and tight chutes at speeds of up to 85-90 miles an hour. She has the temperament to keep herself focused and concentrated on the finish line. In fact, all the girls waiting their turn had nerves of steel, sweating only when polishing up their blades.

Erin now carries the title of US World Champion to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and I sure hope I'll be called on again to document her next record.

What's in a contract?

Arrrgggghhh! It's not often I blow my top on my blog. I like to keep it simple and sweet, focused on travel and production but my emotions are getting the best of me today.

You know what I'm taking about - $165 million in tax payer money being paid out in bonuses pledged to executives of bailed-out insurer AIG. AIG Chairman Edward Liddy explains it's contractual and ensures quality employees.

What the hell is Liddy smoking?

Our declaration of freedoms were shredded to bits by the government after 9/11 and the war but a working contract at AIG is impenetrable? How is it that we can blow up an entire country, kill thousands and not stop corporate thieves in our own backyard? This is preposterous!

As for quality of employees, these arrogant, evil bastards tanked the company, how great can they be? Employees at McDonalds are fired routinely for not flipping burgers correctly and I get nervous when I'm 5 minutes late for an assignment.

Let this latest government insanity ignite the ire of millions using pitchfork protesting and the power of the pen. If you can't get to 70 Pine street in NYC where AIG headquarters is email your fury to: boardofdirectors@aig.com

Special Counsel and Secretary to the Board
American International Group, Inc.
70 Pine Street, 27th Floor
New York, NY 10270

Arrrgggghhh!

Rewriting Aviation History in Kentucky

Cities and time zones change so quickly when I'm working I almost forgot to mention the Kentucky Aviation Museum. This is a gem worth stopping in for on your way through the state.

There are dozens of planes, helicopters, engines, and memoriabilia on display. It's also free to the public and run by the old-timers who know more about flying than just about anyone.

This is a hand-built replica of Kentucky's claim to aviation fame — the 1908 Matthew Sellers quadraplane. It hangs from the ceiling wanting to be admired. It's called the Sellers Quadraplane and underneath it are the tools Sellers used to build it.

My guide gave me a quick bio: Mr. Sellers was born in the Appalachian foothills of eastern Kentucky in 1869. He made critical contributions to the development of aviation in the early 1900's but received little attention for many of his inventions. Unlike the PR-savvy Wright brothers at the time, Matthew was low-key with his mechanical genius.

This 'mechanical bird' is far more advanced than the one first flown by the Wright brothers, with retractable wheels and more stability.

Stop by and preserve history by making a donation to this fabulous non-for-profit, just opened in 1995 and still going strong with ever-changing exhibits.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Before sharing today's escapades with the USA Luge team let me first share a toast in honor of another Pennsylvania battlefield legacy. This is Gettysburg's oldest, most historic home, a living witness to the delivery of President Lincoln's famous speech known as “The Gettysburg Address.” It was also a comforting stop along the Underground Railroad for slaves attempting to runaway and find freedom.

It's the 1776 Dobbins House Tavern and one of our last meals enjoyed in Gettysburg. Lighted by hearth and candlelight we dined in the basement tavern - just our speed.

Our server was dressed in period costume and friendly as a Pilgrim. She took our order of sweet cheese, fruit, nuts and porridge and disappeared into the kitchen. I tried to imagine what it looks like before electricity - perhaps a dry sink with lugpoles, andirons, pot hooks, spits and kettles hanging off wood frames. Having a father with a love of antiques helps spur the imagination.

While the server prepped the appetizer we explored the rest of the house. Each room beguiled us with antiques and memorabilia from 200 years past. There were 7 fireplaces, six historic rooms and several authentic canopy beds-turned-tables to dine at. We came early enough to roam freely between rooms and hunt for more spirits. The one I found most intoxicating was a Rum Bellie Vengeance. A concoction of light and dark rum, exotic liqueurs & fruit juices. The potency limits 2 per customer.

Against our table was a stone wall with a free flowing spring trickling into a puddle. It was caught in a pool basin clean enough to drink from. There are actually three small underground springs in the basement tavern but we only heard this one gurgling.

Seeing is Believing at the Farnsworth House

A tour through the haunted Farnsworth Inn in Gettysburg the other day was full of surprises. Tours are only given on weekends but Master Storyteller Bob was kind enough to dress for the occasion and let us roam.

The Sun Room was our first stop. It's now a sitting room that overlooks the garden area but during the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 it served as a open air porch for Confederate sharpshooters. The soldiers used the brick wall for cover, ducking and dodging whizzing bullets that penetrated the wall.

Visitors today report seeing blood on the floor and the smell of death in this room. Try as I might I experienced neither.

Next up, the haunted bathroom, where the veils of time part so some can witness the bloody carnage left here on July 4, 1863. An old pull chain toilet, vintage sink and Elizabethan touches are all that's left.

To the attic we climb. The Garret room is where confederate soldiers had the best vantage point. All of Baltimore street to the south can be seen through a small frosted window. The only recorded civilian death occurred from this room when Mary Virginia "Jennie" Wade was accidentally shot while baking bread at her sister's home across the street.

It's said that visitors can hear the sounds of someone playing the Jew's harp and dragging trunks across the floor.

We spent considerable time here, listening to gruesome stories and taking photos of display cases filled with military artifacts, artillery and a spooky femur bone ring engraved with initials.

The tour continues. Through the McFarlane room where a rocking chair rocks back and forth no help from the living. Onto the Sara Black room where the sleeves of a white wedding dress dance in mid air. Stopping briefly inside the attached master bathroom that used to be a nursery where a spooky water faucet turns on and off by itself. To the cellar and catacombs dressed as a funeral parlor where 2 Civil War soldiers were dragged with bleeding bullet wounds from the second floor.

Upon leaving I was truly hoping for a sweep of cold spirits to ashen my face or a whisper in my ear to give me goosebumps or a fleeting image to materialize in my camera. But, none, absolutely none of this happened.

Maybe I was too eager, too focused, too deliberate in my search. I want to believe in ghosts and experience the unexplainable so, why, why, why do the ghosts retreat? What's their reticence? Tom and I joked that maybe we're scarier than them. That doesn't sound reassuring.

Gettysburg's Haunted Address

Coming home from Kentucky and things are getting mighty spooky here in Gettysburg, PA. We booked a room at one of the most haunted houses in America and then, no surprise, chickened out last minute.

This is the Farnsworth House, one of the most recognizable historical landmarks in the Gettysburg. Known as the Sweeney House during the war in 1863 it bears witness to some of the worst fighting.

Confederate sharpshooters occupied this building after overrunning the town and pushing the Union army into retreat. The attic with the small window at the top is where snipers returned fire on Union troops. Bullet holes still riddle the side of the building. Residents took to their cellars to escape the Rebels.

It's off-peak season and dead quiet now, eerily so, but the chaos and confusion of the battle still resonates in the spirits that linger inside. Overnight guests recount the supernatural exploits in the bedrooms, cellar, parlor and garden. Approximately 14 to 16 restless spirits roam the house, many with names and distinctive personalities. They disturb guests with creaking footsteps, sitting on their beds, whispering voices, misplacing personal items, jiggling doorknobs and the fleeting smell of flowers and cigars.

This morning we tour the structure in hopes of seeing apparitions but quite content if all we get is an animated guide with great stories.

It's a Bird, It's a Plane

...it's Superman! Metropolis, Illinois is the self-proclaimed "Hometown of Superman". Tom stopped to let me pop off this pict as well as hop atop of Superman's phone booth for a closer look inside The Daily Planet. Later we tossed back kryptonite-inspired drinks and cold gumbo shrimp at Willy Jaks. I inhaled both faster than a speeding bullet.

Question...Wasn't Superman born in Smallville?

Hospitality in the Heartland

Oh, shucks, filming is finished already in the bucolic little outskirts of Paducah, Kentucky. Before I leave let me plug Jack and Natalya's Creatures of Habit Costume Shop - a shop that movie makers turn to for elaborate costume drama.

Their one of a kind enterprise has dressed famous celebs in dozens of movies including In Country, Kalifornia, Pink Cadillac, A League of Their Own (Academy Award winner), Titanic (Academy Award winner), US Marshals and Pleasantville. It's a fabulous place to find the perfect costume for any party, holiday or historical reenactment.

When Tom and his crew are busy filming History Channel's MonsterQuest, Jack doubles as a production assistant and wardrobe specialist. A man of quiet demeanor but strong convictions, Jack is invaluable to the show. He's the kind of 'go-to-kind' of guy that Tom depends on for catching details that any busy producer often overlooks.

I've been most fortunate to score a small role in the production of one episode of Monsterquest that airs (fingers crossed) about 4 months from now. Having worked with dozens of crews it was refreshing to have one as tight knit and collaborative as Tom, Jack, Tony, Becky, Mont and Patsy. Nothing trumps their kindness to strangers, team spirit and love for rescue mutts, especially the 5 in the picture above!

My sincerest gratitude to all!

Hauntings in Peducah, Kentucky

Why do so many God-fearing Christians live in the south? Perhaps because everywhere you look you'll find a hotel, B&B or restaurant haunted by spirits. Spirits said to be soldiers shot dead during the Civil War unleash phenomenon that scare the wits out of the living.

I'd pray too if that happened to me!

I'm staying in Peducah, Kentucky with my new fearless friend Tom. Tom is wanting of everything spooky, macabre and mysterious. He produces a tv show that challenges the authenticity of monsters and strange sightings for the History Channel. It's no surprise the first restaurant he brought me to was in the Cohen building.

We didn't stay because it was so busy but I did read up on the ghost that roams the halls. Her name is Stella Cohen Peine and the poor soul lost her husband to a murder in the back alley. Employees claim that her ghost wanders the restaurant at odd hours, spilling salt and pepper shakers, flicking lights on and off and moving chairs around. Harmless stuff but just enough to make you believe and respect the afterlife.

Stella died in an upstairs parlor in 1980 and as soon as the building exchanged hands in 1996, weird stuff started happening. Workmen lost tools, equipment didn't work, and a spooky presence was felt. Double yikes!

Kentucky Storm Aftermath

A massive ice storm of indescribable proportions ripped through Kentucky in late January. It killed a number of people and caused millions of dollars of damage. 101 counties and 75 cities declared states of emergency.

"Driving from Louisville to Paducah was the worst," said my new tea-drinking buddy and History Channel DP, Tom.

Tom takes road trips to Paducah once a month and saw the worst of it on his last journey. Today, road crews and AT&T service trucks still line route 65. Trees are uprooted, tops are shaved off and none are without broken branches and missing limbs.

Cows look especially out of place grazing in around so much destruction.

"Every time a branch broke and hit our roof it was like a bomb detonating," describes Holiday Inn Hotel Assistant Cary.

Tom and I made it to our destination last night and it's a blessing that it's not like that now.

Currently, it's 66 degrees and climbing fast. I'm anxious to start our assignment in a few hours. First, Tom needs to show me the prosperous little town of Peducah lined with antique stores, haunted restaurants and a renovated riverfront. More on that tomorrow.

Blue Bloods in the Heart of Bluegrass

They say a man's home is his castle and here in Kentucky you can stay for the night in one for only $1,000.00. This is the Post Castle, a bed and breakfast that caught my attention on the way to Paducah yesterday. Today I did some research and came up with some fascinating information gleaned from WTVQ TV station.

It's called the Castle on Versailles Road and the story begins in the mid-60's when developer Rex Martin and his beloved wife toured Europe. Caroline Martin fell in love with the Medieval castles so her husband started building her one in the heart of the Bluegrass.

Construction abruptly stopped in the 70's when the fairly tale ended in divorce.

Despite a 'For Sale' sign on the gate, Mr. Martin wasn't serious about selling so the property sat empty until his death in 2003. Lexington native and Florida attorney Tom Post scooped up the property to finish what was started when he was a teenager growing up in Lexington.



During construction, in May 2004, the Castle was engulfed in flames and destroyed. It was a sight to see and the talk of town.

One more chapter in the mysterious Castle on the Hill was added when it was determined the fire was intentionally set. The fire did not stop Tom Post from fulfilling his dream to open a facility where guests can dine, entertain and spend the night in luxury. Mr. Post opens his castle at no cost to select local, non-profit groups wanting to host fund raising events on site.

Buckle Up in the Bible Belt

BP gas stations aren't suppose to terrorize you but in West Virginia you never known what you'll find. Might BP secretly stand for Bible Prayers? Maybe, because this kind of religious propaganda is common fare. Yikes! Buckle up blog readers, it's going to be a long drive to Kentucky!

Goodbye Great Barrier Reef, Hello History Channel

The bad news I was not selected to be one of the top 50 candidates for the Best Job in the World. The good news I'm on my way to Kentucky for the History Channel.

Okay, so the first one is far more exciting than the second but you should see the competition I was up against. My humble little video was no match for the slick production and drop dead good looks of the final 50. What took me 1 hour to create looks like it took these talented superstars all week to perfect.

Check them out yourself at the Great Barrier Reef Job and vote for your favorite wild card. I'm casting my vote for Anny from Canada!