Likening my voice to the sound of a goose getting slowly run over by farm equipment was probably not the most delicate way to describe it on the radio this morning (MIX 107.5) but I swear that's how it sounds to me... especially when I first wake up.

That said, things are lookin' up. As the day went on and my voice warmed up various people (like Brenda Braxton, or the folks over at KINK) described it as "sultry". I think I sound like a large man, so I'll take sultry ANY day.

Here's a picture of me WEARING Kelly Stephens bronze medal for Team USA women's hockey.

I didn't want to put it on at first because I almost felt guilty. I mean, it's a medal and it's pretty special, etc. etc. And I've been to 2 Olympics prior to this and have never, ever worn an athlete's medal... but she was so cool and having such a blast watching my colleague Mimi Jung wear it that I finally decided I couldn't resist. Yup, there is that broad Joker grin (think Batman) that proves to you I'm having a good time.

So, I'm very fired up about this top secret story that I hope I get to cover. I can't tell you yet for fear that if I mention it.. something will happen and it will end up getting flushed. I will tell you that there is a Bode Miller connection. I've never met him so I don't know if he's a decent guy or not, but I have talked to one of his friends who seems very cool. I don't know how you feel about it, but I think you can tell a lot about a person by the company he/she keeps.

I'll keep you posted about the story... and no, it does not involve me asking Bode to teach me how to ski... although if I got to wear one of those little kid harnesses so I wouldn't rocket down the mountain to my certain death.. I'd totally do it just for kicks.

I got the BEST pictures of the fireworks you can see out of the window of my 14th floor dorm at the Mortara media village. Maybe tomorrow I'll post those.

In the meantime, here is a photo I titled "shorty".

Apparently, I'm so short (since when is 5'4" short, anyway?) that the phojos make me stand on that sandbag to raise me up couple of inches. Honestly, pretty much all of the other on-air gals around this joint wear fancy shoes with heels or stylish boots. That would give me a few inches, but I'm just lucky if I remember to put two socks on before slipping on my sneakers in the morning. Heels don't cut it for me given how much walking I'm doing. Looks like it's the sandbag for me.

Did you see me yesterday doing my live shot with my channel 8 hat? I have to wear all this makeup on TV so it started to look kind of gross. I washed it in the sink at the workspace and tried to dry it on one of the warm TVs (with our ops managers approval, of course.. I don't need to be the one who blows the master fuse in the workspace). It didn't work and I had to wear it wet on the air.

The world's fastest QRT ('cuz I'm pooped and need to go back to the dorm):

Dan Browne: HOW ARE YOU??!! ((He's the marathon and running superstar I covered in Greece.)) I still owe you that CD of my kind of music!!!! I still haven't forgotten. I'll drop you a proper email tomorrow!

Rick: Wow. Joe Donlon had time to go shopping in Salt Lake city for the Olympics? Must be nice. ((ohhhhh, that was a good dig, huh Donlon? I'm just teasing).

Miss Myrna!! I bet it's colder where you are than where I am. And you are too tiny, I'd totally whoop you in a gellato eating contest. Tell Scott I said hi!!

Mom and Dad: I love you both!! Now that the Olympics are on I bet you can both agree on what to watch on TV, haha!!

Send me an email: sstricklen@kgw.com