The 15 hour day

Long day. But so much fun! I was in a building during the inauguration where all the Today show and nightly news people were. My only responsibility was David Gregory. He is smart as a whip and has a wicked sense of humor, so that part is always a pleasure. Even more than that however was that the main makeup and hair people for the Today show came down from New York and I enjoyed talking with them so much. I’ve known them for years, either when they come for some event like the inauguration or when I go up there for something (the last thing was election night). We usually get the quickest glimpse of each other with all the running around between shows, guests and anchors. This time however, there was less running and we were all in one place with nowhere else to go and with hours to talk.

It’s always fun to discover that other makeup artists have the same background as I do. The key makeup artist for the Today show followed the same route as I did from majoring in art in college to working with photographers as an assistant when she got out to seeing a need for makeup in the film industry and then ending up in television.This is the fourth or fifth artist that I’ve met with the same story.

Brian’s person is a man a bit older than I am. No,he’s straight (unusual, I admit). His background was in film doing the really fun kind of makeup, character, blood and monster stuff. I only got to do a little of that when I was doing film. Anyway, I finally got the chance to talk with him for quite some time too and found him easy and pleasant to spend the day with.

Along with the makeup artists there were the wonderful guests and of course the anchors. I’ve known most of them for so many years now that a few of them recognize me and are huggy and playful when they see me. I love getting those hello-cheek-kisses from Matt! Al gives his warm "hey-kiddo" hug. Familial, comfortable, easy and fun even for as many hours as we were there. Today (not the show), I’m spent. Pajama day!