Sailing into the Sunset

Well, the internship program is officially over. *Sniff.* I'm actually quite sad. The kids came to us clueless about radio, but they've turned into savvy young journalists who can ace interviews and turn around their edits quickly (and remember to turn their mics off during the answer portion of phone interviews - good job, Bryce & Michelle!). In short... we're really proud.

We're also proud of the 12 sharp podcasts they produced this summer! From braving haunted stores and ice cream freezers to cuddling kittens, our intrepid reporters did it all.

Here are some highlights from the LAST DAY EVER of Weekday High 2009:

-- Nathan speeds through the final edits of Podcast #12 (aka Keano Kuddles Kittens), and searches for a quality version of "American Pie" (Don McLean's song, not the movie) to end the show;

-- Molly, Artur, Beno & Lizzie chat with Steve Scher LIVE on Weekday about the program and their pieces;

-- Nathan takes photos like a proud Papa;

-- Molly is put on the spot while live on air: "ARE YOU GOING INTO JOURNALISM, LITTLE GIRL???";

-- The trauma is over! Steve signs autographs, much to Artur & Lizzie's delight. Nathan takes more photos;

-- Irene & Artur work on the WeHigh "diplomas";

-- we listen to the past week's podcasts and nearly pee in our pants laughing at Artur and Molly's embarrassing moments;

-- WeHigh collaborates with Carolyn Adolph and PIJ;

-- Irene hands out diplomas - emphasis on the handshakes - to much "Pomp & Circumstance";

-- Nathan takes photos, before handing Irene her diploma. (He didn't fail her!);

-- the laptops and kits are cleaned, velcroed up and locked away;

-- WE SAIL AWAY! (No, really. We did. On an actual boat.) Molly's Dad, Jim, takes us sailing on their sweet family boat at Shilshole. It's a lovely day... the water gleams silver, and the varying greys of silhouetted mountains rest in the background. Molly tacks & jibs & bounces around the boat barefoot. Her Dad tells plenty of great stories... and steers us around Princess Cruise Lines and mammoth-sized sea lions. Thanks again, Andersons!

-- A few group photos, many many hugs... and it's time for Nathan and Beno to race to their Sounders game.

-- Michelle forgets her bag in the trunk of Irene's car, and Keano (in true Keano style) races it back to her. By jumping a fence. And leaping off a 15-foot structure. Nearly giving Irene a heart attack.

And so, Weekday High 2009 comes to an end. Bittersweet, but oh... oh, so sweet.

It has been wonderful, darlings. You have made us all proud.

And now, to quote Artur... "I'm going to go cry myself to sleep."

Caffeine + Bryce = inzane!

It’s our last Tuesday here at Weekday High and things are starting to slow down. Molly is still gone but has promised a sailing trip on Thursday!

-Keano made an awesome vox pop and took care of some other chores.

-Lizzie updated her PRX account and got yet another peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

-Artur took care of “the pledge spot stuff” and tried in vain to beat Nathan’s high score in hearts.

-Beno learned about star trek and wasted some time online.

-Bryce and I finished our last podcast ever for weekday high. Bryce drank a whole can of wired and then felt sick.

-Irene had a disastrous interaction with a pair of headphones.

-Nathan edited audio like a mad man.

This has been Michelle Dutro for Weekday High. Thanks for stopping by.

Just Another Manic Monday

It's finally here: the beginning of the end. Today was the start of our last week of Weekday High. It really doesn't seem possible, wasn't it just yesterday we were being interviewed for the internship? Apparently life comes at you fast, and when you're having fun it can send time into warp speed.

Where does that leave us now? Wrapping things up, of course! We're all getting our stuff together to complete our final podcasts. That's pretty much what everyone did today, just working like the professionals we are to perfect our work. However boring that sounds, it's the truth.

In other news:

• Artur and Molly finished their podcast on Friday, so they're officially done! Artur spent his time getting lost on buses in Kenmore and loading his interviews on PRX. Molly is gone for the next few days at Survival Camp (or so I'm told) and won't be back until Wednesday.
• Keano brought in 10 Wired Energy drinks from his school radio station. These drinks inspired Bryce and Michelle to choose a topic for their last podcast: ENERGY (which they will be hosting tomorrow).
• Beno and I hosted our podcast on Breaking Cultural Barriers which we both think turned out pretty well, despite our worries of clichés around every corner. Nathan edited it to perfection and posted it to http://www.kuow.org/weekdayhigh/2009_stories.php . Check it out and leave a comment on our Facebook page!
• Speaking of Facebook, we had over 130 fans by 5pm today!!! Whoo hoo!!!
• Irene was in Portland so when Artur called her in a panic to say he'd be late today, she laughed at him. Hope you enjoyed your vacation, Irene!
• We also managed not to break anything with our office soccer, despite the false alarms we had on Friday. I guess we're becoming more coordinated?

Yep! Thats all for now, folks. This has been Lizzie Kirschner, for Weekday High. Goodnight, and good luck.