Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Season Greetings from Hillary - an airport run-in...


I travel a LOT for my job. Sometimes I am flying several days a month. You know you are flying a lot when you start to recognize flight attendants, or you have a favorite eatery in every airport. Or you have a favorite Airport - Charlotte! Mrs Fields and rocking chairs : )

So I was headed to DC last week for a story. It was a few days before Christmas and everyone was in a cheery mood. ("Cheery" is not a word to usually describe the NYC airports, but during the month of December, people actually learn how to smile for a few days : ) As I waited to board my plane, I heard people call out "Hi there! Happy Holidays!" and then that famous chuckle. Yup, I knew I recognized that laugh from numerous SNL skits. Hillary Clinton.

She was calling out "Merry Christmas" and tapping away busily on her cell phone. I jumped up from my seat and called out "Secretary Clinton! May I get a quick picture with you?" She looked at me and answered "Walk with me." And so I did. I walked behind her and her 3 secret service men down the hallway of our terminal. She kept tapping away on her phone and I kept walking behind her. Eventually she stopped near an airport Christmas tree and looked up at me "will this do?" she said.

"Sure!" I answered. I pulled out my cell phone and snapped away. We took 2 - as the first one turned out dark. She patiently let me turn her around so we could avoid the glare of a window. Once I approved of the 2nd photo - I called out "looks great - thank you! Merry Christmas" and she smiled, replied "all right - Merry Christmas!" and walked away.

...that's my encounter and pic with arguably the most powerful woman in the United States.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Interviewing Madonna...

Just those words make me nervous! Yesterday was one of those "pinch me - am I really here?" days. About 2pm, my Boss told me I needed to drop what I was doing and take a car down to Tribeca. I was to watch - in a private screening room at Harvey Weinstein's studios - the new movie "W.E.". Then I was to go interview Madonna a few hours later. As I was being told this - I glanced at the clock (230pm) and was told that my interview with Madonna must be before 6pm. I headed to my work closet, pulled on a red dress, gathered up my things and jumped in my car.
I got to Weinstein's offices about 3pm. They immediately ushered me into a private screening room and started the movie. Not sure what to expect, I was fixated for 2 hours by a movie directed by Madonna. She also co-wrote the script.

In February - I will reveal the interview and all Madonna had to say! : )

As I walked out of the door of the Waldorf Astoria and hailed a cab with my producer Ali...we giggled and pinched ourselves. This was a fun day in New York City. : )

- W.E. is a two-tiered romantic drama focusing on the affair between King Edward VIII and American divorcée Wallis Simpson and a contemporary romance between a married woman and a Russian security guard. It is Rated R and will be out in Theatres in February, 2012.