Yay Atlanta!

Truth be told, I haven't been to Atlanta since my father lived there for a brief two years in 1996. From what I remember, Buckhead wasn't that fun but I was also a kid back then, so hanging out with ballers and finding the coolest party really wasn't on my "list of things to do."  Right after the frenzy of inauguration, I hopped on a Delta flight to ATL.  Upon arrival I went straight to my hotel, the W Buckhead and never really left.  There was no reason to. This hotel is the newest property to open in the W/ Starwood empire and it was just as great as all the rest of the hotels. Actually, I take that back- this one was a little cooler because interior designer Thom Felicia put his magical design touch into all the rooms and common spaces (known as the "living rooms").

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The bed really was as comfortable as it looks! How cute are the monogrammed pillows?

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A close up view of the pillows.

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Working meal #1: tuna burger with a garlic aioli (no bun), fries (I just wanted a taste), earl grey tea with soy milk, and of course my blackberry. All of my meals came from the incredible kitchen of Jean-Georges' restaurant, Market. If I wasn't ordering room service, I would wander downstairs to have this incredible steamed shrimp salad, that to this day I can't stop thinking about.

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Working meal #2: A chocolate mousse with whipped cream and tea.

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One of my favorite shows to be on is Eric Bolling's ADD hour on "The Strategy Room" ( www.foxnews.com/strategyroom). Since I was in ATL, I obviously couldn't be there, but I could watch it, which was the next best thing!

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It's truly amazing to think about the reach of this show...

W Buckhead.

I had every intention of live blogging while in Atlanta, I really did. But there is only so much you can do in 36 hours when you are in back to back interviews and trying to orchestrate coverage of a party for the four magazines I write for.  Anyway, for all of you wondering where I was after inauguration, here is the full story...

Live from Times Square...

I have to get on a flight tomorrow morning to Atlanta- hence the reason why I am not in D.C. rocking  it out at some ball right now. Despite my totally insane shoot/travel schedule, I wanted a story to tell about my future kids, nieces, nephews, grand kids, etc.,  instead of the "Yep, I was busy so I watched Obama on CNN in my apt" situation. So one of my best friends Joy and I ran to Times Square to watch the president take the oath. Here are the pictures taken by the amazing Joy Sohn: hitha-in-times-square3

Watching the screen and listening to the president take the oath. Most of you are fully in the loop of my political views. Despite that, it was hard not to be excited about bearing witness to history.

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A Brazilian TV crew had the camera on me for about five minutes. This is me telling them I am a journalist and to please stop. "I always feel like, someone is watching me. Tell me is it just a dream?"

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My favorite picture from today. I love it.

On location haiku.

I've been a little lax on the blogging because I've been on location shooting a show for a major network. Since they had me sign a contract preventing me from blogging/twittering/facebooking (is that even a verb?) about where I am and what I am doing, I decided to write a haiku about my last week: Snow and blizzarding

Co-op people hate fur coats

Mountain town judges me

Schedule for the week.

It's been a crazy week/ weekend and there is lots to talk about- hopefully you all have been following my Twitter feed to get the full scope of how insane it has been and this week will not be any different: TODAY: Monday the 24th: Fox News The Live Desk with Martha MacCallum and Trace Gallagher (panel discussion on all things retail- I think people are going to go out and shop like the world is ending- I am sure others disagree with me) Hit time: 2:20 pm   Wednesday the 26th: Fox Business Cavuto (always a lively discussion on Black Friday and all things retail) Hit time: 6:30ish   Thursday the 27th (Thanksgiving): Fox News America's Newsroom Hit time: TBD

  Friday the 28th: Fox Business America's Nightly Scoreboard with David Asman Hit time: 7:00-8:00pm

Thanks to everyone for watching!!

It's marathon time.

And Joy, one of my closest friends is running it. Joy and I used to run in the park years ago-probably around the same time that vintage Halloween picture was taken.  Joy hated to run, but she was competing for her Golden Gloves and had to do it as part of her training. I would say things like, "If you catch up to me, you can beat me up" (Yeah... if you are wondering, she never got to lay a punch on moi!) to motivate her to get past mile 3.  Now, she's running 26.2 miles and I'm on my way to meet her at mile 20. I ran the NYC marathon six years ago- it changed my life in so many ways I can't even begin to list here.  My friend who once hated to run is about to have the same experience INCLUDING going over the 59th street bridge and having all of New York cheer as she hits 1st Ave.! I am SO proud of her!

Was grad school worth it?

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade my grad school experience in FOR THE WORLD, but I wonder if I would have ended up in the same place without it? My introspection was prompted by a young journalist wanting to apply and asking for my "sagacious" advice... damn that word makes me feel old...

Only in NYC.

[redacted] (11:19:40 AM): oh my god
[redacted](11:19:51 AM): there is a hipster guy outside my place
[redacted] (11:19:58 AM): smoking body
[redacted] (11:20:01 AM): with just pants on
[redacted](11:20:04 AM): screaming
[redacted] (11:20:15 AM): yelling at his girlfriend
 (11:20:19 AM): on something
Hitha(11:20:33 AM): what??
Hitha (11:20:34 AM): omg
Hitha (11:20:39 AM): what was he saying? was he freaking out?
[redacted] (11:20:57 AM): yeah
[redacted](11:21:03 AM): i was about to call the police
[redacted] (11:21:06 AM): but he is attractive

 

Yay.

I love this picture. This was taken a couple weekends ago when my best friend Nicole (in the middle) the world famous and uber talented fashion photographer Abbey Drucker and I went out and then to  EN Japanese Brasserie for a little late night din-din.  Nicole is one of my best friends from college and like family. Because she lives in LA, it's hard for me to see her often, but lately we've seen a lot of each other and I am so thankful for that. I love spending time with Drucker too- she is beyond awesome.

Dunning-Kruger effect.

 Have you all heard about the Dunning-Kruger effect? My ex-boyfriend and I were discussing this the other day. The definition (according to Wikipedia) is "the phenomenon wherein people who have little knowledge (or skill) tend to think they know more (or have more skill) than they do, while others who have much more knowledge tend to think that they know less."  It seems there are so many people, in the media especially who are just starting out that seem to be plagued by this. Meanwhile, the greatest, smartest, most prolific journalists in the world (and in NYC) are the first people to say how they want to/need to/constantly have to learn more. Strange how a little publicity can totally alter the perception of yourself if you let it. It's really so so sad.

Typical night.

Yeah... if you've been out with me in the last year or so you know I am never on time. It's a problem andI am trying to fix it. Last Friday was no different. I went to go meet my friend for dinner and I was 35 minutes late. Ugh. I can see where people would think it was a personal "f--- you" and totally disrespectful of their time, but I want everyone to know that's not my intention at all! Some people smoke, drink, do drugs, cheat on their significant others. I'm always late. And I swear I am trying to change!!  

Whoa the cab was windy.

I think TV in the back of cabs is kind of genius. BUT it makes me ill to watch TV and drive at the same time. I always turn it off.

We were going 75 MPH down 5th ave!!

$%#%^&*! American Airlines!!!

I usually love flying American Airlines but today I've had it. I won't go into the long story of why I hit a wall with them today, or how they kept me on the phone for 30 minutes talking nonsense, or how they totally mis- informed me about one of my tickets expiring, or how their annoying customer service doesn't have a direct line for complains. I will say I know understand why the airline industry is coming a part at the seams. Argh!!

It's been crazy.

OK, I took a short term hiatus from the blog because it's been really, really nuts lately. If you hit the magazine stand often you'll know what I mean. I've been staffed on some pretty major stories for a totally awesome magazine that I can't mention on this blog. BUT that doesn't mean you can't go to your favorite newsstand and search for my byline to figure out which magazine it is! C'mon! I know you want to spend hours of your day looking for my name everywhere! In addition to the all the writing, the Fox Biz segments and generally trying to get my self together, I've been going out. A LOT. I forgot how fun spring is in the city...