"This, is CNN"

Yesterday was COOL!

Doreen and I took a tour through CNN studios in Atlanta, GA.

One of the changes happening at LifeTalk is that we will be one day soon be creating Christian TV programming.

My boss claimed that CNN uses exclusively fluorescent lights to lite their sets. So, with his permission, Doreen and I took a 'paid' trip down to Atlanta to specifically tour the CNN studios to 'check out' how they light their sets so we can light ours when we get it set up.

So we took the girls over to my in-laws and jumped in the car and headed the 3 hours down to Atlanta.

(We had to take a quick trip to the pediatrician before we left though. Natalie's had diarrhea for 2 days and slept 12 hours overnight, woke up, climbed in bed with Doreen and slept another 45 min and then woke up and ate, but while eating - was about to fall asleep again. That worried us, so, to be safe rather than sorry took her in and Dr Bean [yes, that's his name] did a thorough check, only heard a rumbly tummy, told us what to keep an eye out for and sent us on our way. Glad she's "fine." She'll probably be over this very soon.)

We got there, got our tickets and then the first thing we do is ride the 8 story escalator to the top. It's actually the tallest escalator in North America. For the next 50 min we saw the various studios and news desks where they create the various news programs. Most of the news comes from Atlanta, the other 'shows' come from around the country/world.

They have a HUGE building with 4,000 employees worldwide and 2,500 in the building. In fact downstairs they have their own 'food court' just like a mall. (Including Taco Bell, Subway, Arbys and many other Fast Food Joints.) Pretty impressive.

They also had a division called CNN Interactive - which is the web. Right near their location is a huge screen with CNN on it, and just below it was a number counting the web pages hit for the year. Can you guess what the total was for the first 4 days in 2005? 84 million. Already, 84 million!!! Wow!

It was a cool tour. I saw the lighting, and was disappointed that is wasn't as advertised by my boss, so now I'm gonna have to tell him the bad news - then figure out how to get our set lit properly, with little 'wisdom' in that area! Ouch!

On the way home we were looking to stop at an Olive Garden for supper, but couldn't find one - so we hit a Spaghetti Warehouse. They typically have the 'trolly' somewhere in the middle of the dining area - and I NEVER get to sit in it. Oh well - someday! Cool location and ambiance, not as impressed with the food. It was palatable though. The piece of 12 layer chocolate cake with a scoop of ice-cream we split was great though, although, it's like our waitress said it's so good, it's "Death by Chocolate Cake." Well - if that's the way I have to go - so be it! :)(Saw an Olive Garden 9 miles up the Interstate after we had already eaten though. Doh!!!)

Got home, grabbed the girls and put them to bed, watched The Rebel Billionaire and Amazing Race 6 and a few minutes of OSU absolutely CRUSHING OU in the final BSC Bowl Game of the year. Then Crashed!

Stay tuned for more news, on the SS Pester Blog! :)