What The News Doesn't Show

Wanna know what Chattanooga's News Channel 10 doesn't show? .....ME. THATS WHAT THEY DONT SHOW!!!

This afternoon me and JP left church, headed for panera to grab a (yummy) bite, headed to northgate mall and then over to Best Buy for some quality time and Christmas shopping. As we were walking to our car from Best Buy, a news reporter was standing in between JP's car and the car next to his, and almost looked as if he was awaiting our arrival....

Cameraman: "Hello, do you guys have a few minutes?"
in seeing the news channel 10 badge, huge honkin video camera, microphone to boot, we realize this dude's legit. we want on tv, of course we have a minute!
JP: "Sure, whats up?"
Cameraman: "So, today is the shortest day of the year. That's all you need to know."
and here i am thinking, umm no, thats not all i need to know, if you're going to ask me a question, you're going to tell me what you'll be asking. but JP and I just say "oh really? we didn't know that" acting interested
Cameraman: plants camera in ready position on shoulder, mic straight to JP. After he asks JP to spell his name out (Jonathan Parrish, not JP... or else the man might have gotten one of JP's famous 'you're an idiot' stares), he says, "So, this being the shortest day of the year, what all are you cramming in today?"
whew, i'm off the hook. i don't like that question anyway.
JP: something to the effect of, "well, since i get up when it's dark and i'll go to bed when it's dark, sleep will be high on my list. and food, that'd be healthy too."
Cameraman: turns to me, lights. camera. action. ready. or. not. "And for you maam? And please spell your name for us."
Me: dang it, i already forgot the question "Wait, sorry, what did you ask again?" then, after he repeats it I say, in all my blonde glory, "Rest. And Fun! Aaaand, we're out shopping getting last minute things since Christmas is in a few days, and, just a good time i guess." blew it...just a good time??? what just happened to my list of things we'd already done today? and why didn't he just say, "So, what are your plans for today?" instead of confusing me with all that "shorest day of the year...cramming" junk?!

we get in the car and amist laughter, we realize: here we are in church clothes and we were practically just asked what we were doing today and neither of us said CHURCH. ugh, we are the worst witnesses ever. JP tried to allieviate it by saying that church isn't something we wanted to "cram" in. Then he put all the blame on me by saying that I actually had time to think about my answer and it was up to me to talk about God and church and how Jesus is the Reason for the Season, or that Sunday is the Sabbath so we're keeping it holy, etc etc. But no. Not even my "I'm just having a good time" made it. JP did, however, make it on TV tonight with about 3 other Best Buy parking lotters. Maybe I'm glad they didn't air me... then, for all Chattanooga would know is that Anna Cleland's just livin life "to have a good time, i guess." Which, don't get me wrong, I love a good time. sigh. close but no cigar.

Tomorrow, in case the news needs to know, I'll be celebrating the first little longer day with my dear friend Emily Geyer. And THAT, my friends, will be worth reporting about. :)