I am behind in blog reading because my schedule has been overwhelming, but will catch up as soon as I can. I hope today is a good day for checking out my “reader.”
As you might have noticed from Renee’s review (thank you so much, Renee!), first posted on Monday, I was interviewed on AZTV7’s Morning Scramble Monday morning about Doll God. The interview itself turned out to be a painless experience–Sandy Moss and the crew were low key, warm, and put me right at ease. The interview was “live” across all of Arizona, and my husband watched me on the screen from another room.*
The night before we drove from Phoenix up to Cottonwood to spend the night. I had to be at the station at 8AM. Hubby has problems with altitudes, and Cottonwood is a lower elevation than Prescott, where AZTV7 is located. We stayed in a hotel room where the window had an exterior light shining into it–and a flimsy set of blinds covering it. With my sensitivity to light it was torture. Then it was also very warm in the room. The hotel turned out to have no staff working all night either. They get in at 9AM . . . . I did not sleep the entire night. All I did was lie there thinking, “Light, heat, and lack of sleep are my migraine triggers. What if I am struck with a complicated migraine in the middle of the interview?” I actually came up with scenarios of how to handle the situation, should it arise. They all ended with me running for a bucket.
Hubby and I got up and ready in time, so that was a plus. The downside was that the bags under my eyes were packed and ready to pay $75 each for being overweight.
We drove through the mountains and past the snow banks. That was a treat. And hubby didn’t get sick this time from driving through the high altitude.
Two other women were being interviewed on the same show: the founder of Rhonda’s STOP BULLYING Foundation for Girls and the Director of Resource Development for the Prescott Area Habitat for Humanity. Just before my segment, Sandy Moss made a plea for Ringling Bros/Barnum and Bailey Circus to retire their elephants NOW, not in three (long) years. If you don’t know about this news, read about it here. When my son was a teen, he and I used to picket the circus on behalf of the elephants, so this help for them has already taken a long long time. Why should they have to wait another three years? Another three years of abuse!
I was relieved to be interviewed before the other women, as I didn’t have time to watch them and critique how much worse I would do than they were doing. But Sandy’s questions were not designed to make me look stupid (the responsibility for that rests with me), and she let me read a poem :). When we were done, she said she was surprised that my segment lasted nine minutes. She wasn’t as surprised as I was–it felt like about three minutes!
After that, hubby and I went out for omelettes and then headed to Prescott’s antique stores. There I discovered the “find” of my doll collecting! A Door of Hope bride doll!!!!! I never dreamed I would find such a thing. Door of Hope are highly collectible, very expensive dolls that were made by very poor ex-slave Chinese girls at Door of Hope mission in Shanghai from about 1900-1950.
Isn’t that beaded veil just gorgeous?! Look at the work that went into this costume.
And I got a good deal on the doll. So the day turned out pretty good, although it all happened on zero sleep.
By the way, that was the first time I was on TV since I was ten years old. My class performed an original play, and I played the role of Nurse #2, which doesn’t sound so great, but was actually one of the main roles.
That’s me in the nurse’s cap at the far end of the table, seated. Dr. Manner’s something or other was the name of the play. That was Dr. Manners, the boy standing near the clock. Boys were the doctors. Girls were the nurses. But at least nurses got to wear those cool caps!
* The new TV segment will be edited by my daughter and then I will post. If I have the guts.
Congratulations! I’m glad your TV experience did NOT involve running for a bucket! 🙂
BTW, I thought of you the other night. Did you know NPR is asking people for experience with haunted dolls?
https://www.facebook.com/NPR/posts/10153308185476756
Merril, No! One of the poems in my book is about a haunted doll (“YouTube Interview of the Life-Sized Toddler Doll”. And it’s based on a true story . . . . Thanks for this cool story.
And thanks re the bucket ;)!
Congratulations, Luanne! What an exciting experience. I’m glad you didn’t end up with a migraine, that would have been miserable. I’m with you, going first is always best. You look too cute in your nurse’s cap. 🙂
Jill, wouldn’t that have been the pits, though? I would have suddenly been incomprehensible, too, as my tongue and my mind both go with a CM.
Guess what? I didn’t wear a scarf! The scarf looks bad (I need new scarves) and so I wore a necklace. I was so worried about the race. Hubby said that with the yellow lights of the TV my red face and neck looked like I was tanned LOL!
Yay! No red, blotchy neck! 🙂
Well, I haven’t had the guts to watch it myself yet (to verify that info).
Isn’t every experience filled with ‘pre-dread’ (especially when hotel overnights are involved) then we get through them – some worse than others – then think, “that wasn’t so bad!” We humans are such a mix of our unique fragilities and resilience.
I’m glad neither you nor hubs suffered worse than you did, and your exquisite doll is a true find. I think the circumstances under which we add to beloved collections are almost as memorable as the collection itself 😋
Sammy, so well put! Yes, isn’t she a gorgeous doll?! Actually the Door of Hope dolls themselves usually look the same, but it’s the costumes that the girls made that make the difference. You are right. When I watch those TV shows with “pickers” and people with collections I am always so amazed to see how people remember how they acquired something 20 or 30 years ago!!
Congratulations, Luanne. I am glad that your TV experience went well and that you capped off the day in a fitting way. So excited for you and your success. xo
Thanks, Rudri. It was an experience, I will say that!!! Hope you are keeping up with your writing!! xo
Well done Luane. I think you would be abnormal if you didn’t have the jitters but then again I guess you are an old hand at being a TV star. Look forward to you posting after your daughter has edited. I look forward to exploring your more leisurely.
Irene, hah, that is hilarious. Yes, you’re right. I’m a pro. And I learned from the best, my crazy 5th grade teacher. Now there would be a blog post . . . . Hmm. So glad I found your blog through Sherri!
Me too.
I hope your daughter does post your TV interview – I am very proud of you for handling pressure under fire with no sleep and probably a nervous wreck!! Would love to see the program and congratulations on the good media coverage for your book!
Sheila, thanks! I will see if I can handle watching myself once my daughter gets the editing done. I had an absolute panic attack about 5 seconds in, so I had to stop watching it!! I absolutely can’t stand watching or listening to myself. I find myself to be creepy looking, acting, and sounding.
You must suspend your disbelief…I have something I will send to your email address.
Sheila, I got it. What true and amazing words. I need to tattoo them on my palm so I keep them on my mind at all times!! Thank you so much. You, my friend, are such a blessing.
As you are to me, L 🙂
uanne…I’m so glad you liked it – I truly believe it’s life-changing. Bless your heart, as Granny Selma would say.
Do post, you’ll give us all a vicarious experience! The only TV and Me post I can write would involve a passive viewing of House of Cards, my reason for being behind in reading. 🙂
LOL, that is so funny! It’s not so much the posting I’m opposed to, it’s the viewing of it by myself. I feel as if I ought to watch it before I go posting it, but I get all panicky at the thought of watching it!
Oh, I can’t wait to see your interview! I want very much to hear you read your own poetry. As we’ve discussed before, how the words are said can be so different from how they lie on a page. And I am relieved that all turned out well … for both you and your hubby 🙂
Marie, reading the poem was my favorite part of the interview. I like reading other people’s writing aloud, and I am starting to get more used to reading my poetry aloud. Oh, but I did end up having my complicated migraine. I just didn’t get it until Thursday night . . . .
Sorry about the migraine but I’m so glad it was later …
I need total dark to sleep and cool so I know how you felt trying to sleep like that…but you did it, yay 🙂 Sounds like an all-around successful day, albeit nerve-wracking and exhausting. Congratulations Luanne!!! And you found your doll too! Sometimes days just go like that don’t they? Can’t wait to see your production…you see, you were always meant to be a star 😉 :star: xoxo
Exactly–dark and cool. And why not? Otherwise, it seems hellish to sleep in light and heat. Star huge LOL. I did get sick Thursday night. A delayed reaction, I guess. Still feeling kind of wonky.
🙁 Hope that’s all done with now… xo
Sort of! heh
Eeeeeegh…
Pingback: Getting my Re-Books On | Shelved
I am so happy you are getting so much great publicity for your book. Go girl!
Thanks, Deborah. And thanks for posting the Whitman. Beautiful. Something about reading Whitman seems to adjust the imbalance of the world.
Exciting story! I look forward to seeing the interview!!
Hah. I am not looking forward to that particular event myself! I got my complicated migraine 3 days late, by the way.
Wonderful!!!!!!
Thanks, Elyse! A side note: I did end up getting sick Thursday night. There is no getting away from Mother Nature.
Mother nature is a bitch sometimes!
Well put!
This was one of the most major steps in your promoting your book, Luanne. I am so excited for your positive experience. The 9 minutes flew by and you did a wonderful job, I am sure. I think the doll is fascinating, too. You know how my Mom loves dolls? She had never run into a true doll from the country it was meant to represent. We once had a Mattel Chinese Barbie, but I am not even sure it was made in China! The age and details, preserved on your find are very incredible. All around, so happy for the great time and extra bonus of the Door of Hope bride doll. Your photo, as a nurse on t.v., you seem to have such dark hair under the cap. Wonderful post, Luanne.
Congrats Luanne, I hope you had a blast on your TV moments, hopefully it would translate to millions of dollars for you in sales! 🙂 🙂
Cheers.