This is how I was asked to do an appearance on Orange County’s local morning news program–DayBreak OC.
The producer emailed me and asked if I could do a short, 3 to 5 minute, segment on “What to pack for a perfect day at the beach with your family.” 
After much panicking, I sent the email off that said, “sure would love to.” Which I mean sincerely, but I’m now terribly nervous.
“What is the worse thing that could happen?” asked Larry.
Oh, so very many things: mispronouncing a word I have no business using in the first place, flop sweat ala Broadcast News, forgetting my name, blank vacant staring (by me or host), appearing to be teenager because of the way I speak, mispronouncing a word (I am really afraid of doing this), someone standing up and saying, “Hey! You’ve never had a perfect day at the beach with your family!” exposing me as a fraud, smiling incessantly, misspelling a word, or accidentally cursing.
My best chance of survival and not coming off as a goof? Preparation!
I have been busily collecting beach supplies and tips from parents who are far more qualified than I to speak about the subject.
If you have any beachy ideas, please pass them on.
One thing I don’t yet have is a great read for the beach–anyone?
first of all, i had no idea we had a local newscast. i was doing just fine w/ ktla (especially cher calvin in the morning- rawr). but this shally zomorodi could persuade me to make the switch. secondly, a good beach read? anything by nietzsche, definitely; in particular, thus spake zarathustra or the gay science. very beach-y, those two.
Oh Suz! I am so proud of you! Um…beach read. Hum. Good one, I think watching the kids should come first.
The best tip I have for taking kids to the beach is a technique for leaving sand at the beach instead of hauling great gobs of it home on your feet, legs, bum, &c.. Baby powder works wonders for getting sand off. Leave a shaker of baby powder in the car. When you get back to the car after your fabulous family beach day, just shake some baby powder on your legs, feet, &c., then wipe the sand off with a towel. It’s amazing. The sand comes right of with no scratching.
Is it on the same channel with all of the old tv shows? I haven’t watched it. I know you ‘ve mentioned it before on your blog, but I had heard elsewhere it wasn’t very good. I will try to tune in…It’s fun to watch you take on new challenges.
I sure hope you don’t accidently curse. That would be bad, and flop sweat would be a disaster, too. Mispronouncing a word isn’t so bad, our President does it all the time!
If you accidently curse that would be so great!
Tip for the beach…don’t have any, sorry.
Honestly… when the kids are with you, skip the “beach read”. Two chapters into a good book and your kids will be sucked into a rip tide and pulled two lifeguard towers away.. Don’t ask me how I know this..
Skip the kids and bring the “beach read”. Isn’t that what a babysitter is for?? Much more enjoyable that way.
Okay, so no books. Yeah, that is unrealistic with kids.
Thanks for the tips.
Chris–are you volunteering to babysit?
Since I am new here, I don’t get what association you have with the Register. Is DayBreak OC owned by the Register? Do you have two columns at the Register? I am just confused. How did you start doing all this? I am a little jealous.
Hello New Here,
I write for the Mom Blog at ocregister.com and I also have a column on the Morning Read page called Alive in Wonderland.
Yes, DayBreak OC and ocregister.com are “media partners.”
I started my personal blog about 8 months ago and started blogging on ocregisters “citizen” blog (which I encourage you to do if you are interested in writing).
From that blog on the register’s site I was contacted by people at the register to write.
The Mom blog also takes “reader’s blogs” which is also a great opportunity to get yourself out there.
You can email me through my about page is you have any more questions.
Thanks,
Suz
Sure. I’ll take them surfing and I promise no one will drown.
Kids are easy, when you get to give them back…
You’re going to be fabulous! Have lots of fun…just like a day at the beach! Make us OC Moms proud!
Ha! Misspelling a word! Don’t have to worry about that I guess…
You are so freakin’ funny. I wish I could watch it. The good thing about mispronouncing a word is that a lot of people don’t feel certain about the pronunciation in the first place, so they’ll probably just thing they’ve been saying it wrong all along. Is it wrong that I sort of hope you accidentally curse?
Suz, you will do great. What’s not to like? What the heck is flop sweat?
Ok ok ok, I got it Suz!!! Mispronounce a SWEAR WORD!!!
I’m reallyreally excited to see how it turned out. Fabulous, I’m sure. 🙂