Category — Life

JenChicago, NBC5 Street Team

It’s a tough job.

I had to buy new shoes and duds… get ALL dressed up… talk to fantastic people… taste numerous Celebrity Chef prepared food… and THEN dance the night away! Sheesh!

(Can you hear my little violin playing over all the fun that was had at the ball?)

Celebrity Chef Ball presented by Meals on Wheels Chicago from Jen Knoedl on Vimeo.

Videography: Michelle Molina

I was on the news in Chicago on Wednesday… and, well… it was pretty cool.

And THEN there have been total strangers that have recognized me from the news as I am out and about (both with and without my camera)… and that also, did not suck.

In fact, it kinda rocked. Positive reinforcement is totally underrated. Works on me like a charm.

So, both NBC5 and ABC7 interviewed me that day. ABC7 didn’t repost the story on their website (rude) but I believe I have access to it on a friend’s Tivo… or I could just make them crazy asking for a copy.

The good news is that here is the link to the NBC5 story!

Watch out, Chicago.

I’m Ron Burgundy?

I don’t think I could have planned out a better Sunday afternoon that what I experienced yesterday! (That’s right, I’m getting this post up like The Flash!) I could tell you all about it, but some things… you just gotta see for yourself!

Summa… Summa… Summertime!

Boating on Lake Michigan from Jen Knoedl on Vimeo.

(The music: I keep flip-flopping on this issue and today, after speaking with my buddy, Chad, of Burnett Jones, I have decided that I just don’t have the time to find some random music to go with my videos. I can see why this is such a hot issue because the law and common sense don’t seem to jive… at least not to me. So anyway, I’m sorry, Momma.

Good music is such a huge part of my life that it stinks to not be able to use it to entertain. When I have time, I may check out CreativeCommons again, but it is incredibly time consuming for a one-woman show… ya know? Besides, when Big Willie (Will Smith) comes knocking on my door… that will be a GOOD problem, right?)

Before I was an actual resident of Chicago, SOBcon 2008 was going on in downtown Chicago and through Jason Alba, I met Liz Strauss, who worked incredibly hard to put this event together! I met so many amazing people at SOBcon (cute name, huh?) it was really such a blessing.

As I have been chatting with some folks about my website and my story. I frequently tell them this story of my first videoblog and first videoblog contest. Utterz was awarding a brand new Nokia N95 phone to the winner! This is my entry.

And, yes… I love my new phone!

The rules were: Under one minute and had to promote your blog (note that they are not judging the blog itself, just the promotion).

This helped to confirm and solidify my dream.

So, Kiddos… get some cookies and milk and listen to a little story about a fun and silly little girl.

I am sitting on the deck at my building and feel slightly guilty that I do not have a new video up yet. The day isn’t over yet, BUT I am preparing to watch the fireworks display over Grant Park and editing video footage is becoming less and less probable, after the show. (Yes, I’m filming it!)

So, it’s hard work, those videos. Being a one-woman show ain’t easy. Being the creative AND the camera-person AND the interviewer AND the editor AND the legal music finder… I’m worn out.

Geez. Listen to me… Pobrecita, Jen. (Poor thing, Jen)

I’m talking AS IF I am not living in a phenomenal city, in the summer, meeting wonderful people AND only exhausted because my personal passion drives me to stay up all night reading and editing. Um… last time I checked… that’s what you call… a “good problem”.

Perhaps I will still edit tonight… I just kinda hyped myself up.  BUT if not, no bigs. I will forgive myself for being human, but I will still challenge myself to work… knowing that, more often than not, I am only as tired as I allow myself to be. (Buck up, Kiddo… It’s GO time.)

So, happy Wednesday evening.  We’ll see what happens.

P.S. I thought this quote to be extremely apropos to this post.

“To dream anything that you want to dream. That’s the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do. That is the strength of the human will. To trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed.” ~Bernard Edmonds

Word up, Bernie.