I LOVE this week, the 4th of July is coming up!

 The bubble gum pink Schwinn… I’ll get to that.

But first:

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 It’s 7pm

From the newscast tonight– this clip on the Arizona Chopper crash.  I flew in a helicopter around the Washington area for two years, reporting on breaking news and traffic.  It was an incredible experience, but at times, a frightening one.  We had to make an emergency landing and I watched a traffic plane crash at an airport in Prince George County.  I was the first person on the scene, and the pilot ended up dying… it was beyond tragic, and the image of it all, I will never forget. 

Arizona also had two news helicopters crash in recent years with equally deadly results, so this story tonight struck a nerve.  My thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by this awful accident.

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It’s 5:28pm 

I’m anchoring the 5pm, but we are in commercial break, so I’m checking news wires, checking on all of you (great post DMac!!) and making sure I’m not missing ANYTHING!  Remember, you can watch the newscast live at http://www.myfoxphilly.com/, click on the tab that says– Watch the 5pm Live!  Ok, back to the show….

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It’s 12:18pm

A bunch of you have emailed me to ask where I am originally from, after reading my “Coming to America” post. 

Here is my (abbreviated) life story:  My great grandparents were Americans who went to Canada to take advantage of the offer of “cheap land.”  Since then, each generation has crossed back and forth over the Canadian/American border. 

My parents both lived in the U.S, dad went to graduate school in Minnepolis, worked in Cleveland, and Los Angeles.  Mom spent part of her childhood growing up in California, and then she and my dad lived and worked in L.A. when they were first married, but once she was pregnant, returned to Victoria, B.C. to have help from family when she gave birth to my older sister, Kimberly.  Kimberly lives in D.C, my brother Ryan lives in NYC (works for a sports team, but don’t worry, that hasn’t swayed my Philly sports loyalty) and Kelly, my youngest sister, lives in Florida. 

So, we are all living and working in this awesome country.  Mom and Dad have a lot of trips to make to visit us all every year, but they love it, and do it as much as they can. 

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9am

Since I came to the United States back in 1990, the 4th has always had a special place on the calendar for me. 

It’s the kind of holiday that we all associate nostalgic memories with, and as someone who arrived in this country some 18 years ago, I have always gotten chills on this historic day.  I remember all too well, the feeling I got at a 4th of July concert in Phoenix (I lived in AZ when I first moved to the US) the year I first arrived.  The crowd was quiet, we were all watching the American flag blow in the desert breeze while the sounds of Neil Diamond singing ”America” united us all.

Give it a listen yourself…. 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/v/T3S7mlRYL-8&hl=en”>[/youtube]

I just listened to the song again, chills, memories, this country is one I am terribly proud to have a place in. 

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Many of you will have BBQ’s, attend community events, spend time with friends and family this 4th.  Check out http://www.myfoxphilly.com/ to get a full list of what is happening, where.  And of course, cross your fingers we get a good, clear night for the 4th of July fireworks show at the Art Museum.

I am working the 4th anchoring both the 5 and 10pm, but I’ll be heading down to Avalon after the newscast.  Hope to see some of you there!  In fact, I can safely say a lot of FOX 29 viewers go to the Princeton (hello again to everyone that introduced themselves to me when I was there last night)  It was really great to get a chance to talk to all of you, although it was hard to do with the loud music and big crowd, but it was still wonderful to meet all of you.

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Now to the bubble gum pink Schwinn….

This was my favorite weekend purchase– a crazy, vintage-like bike complete with a wicker basket on the front.  I had to  re-learn how to ride a bike that has pedal brakes and not fancy hand controls, but once I got it down, I didn’t get off the bike for the rest of the weekend.  I noticed so many others doing the same, of all ages, all shapes and sizes, and I was reminded once again how awesome it is when we all go back to the basics and “play” like we did when we were kids. Why is it that we grow up, and forget how to play?

Maybe you have time off this week.  If you do, give it a try, run like you did when you were a kid, hop on that dusty bike in the garage, or go run through the sprinkler in the backyard, and think of me riding my bubble gum Schwinn while you’re doing it.  We can all play together

Tell me about your weekend!  Send pics!  Let’s chat!  KL