WHIRLWIND WEEK

*Note - I'm about a week late in getting this posted. Imagine you are reading this about a week ago.

In my twenty-some years on Earth, I don’t think there’s been a week so newsworthy than the last.

From pop culture to politics, meteorology to the monarchy, it seems as though all walks of life competed for the top news story of the week. Suffice to say, it was hard to keep up!

Lucky for us at Zapwater and in the PR industry, news is our business. We need to know what’s going on, where it’s happening and who it impacts.

What began as a week bearing sad news of deadly tornadoes Monday (thoughts going out to affected families) ended on a phenomenally high-note Sunday evening when President Obama informed the world that U.S. Navy Seals captured and killed Osama Bin Laden (thank you, troops).

In the event you didn’t have electric power, were asleep or lived beneath a rock, here’s the weekly recap…Top 10 style:

Mission Accomplished: Osama Bin Laden. After 10 years: We got him. ‘Nuff said. Thank you to Presidents Bush and Obama, the entire U.S. military and their families.

A Fairytale Royal Wedding. Friday, April 29, Price William of Wales married his longtime girlfriend, Kate Middleton, in a breathtaking ceremony at Westminster Abbey. This was more or less the Superbowl for all womankind.

Terrifying Tornadoes. Sure, it might have snowed two weeks ago in Chicago. But I have no bone to pick with Mother Nature after seeing the devastation she caused to southern states from Missouri to Virginia via tornadoes (you can support relief efforts no matter where you are by donating the Red Cross’ Disaster Relief).

Obama is, in fact, an American. Crazytalk ignited a media firestorm that questioned President Barack Obama’s U.S. citizenship. Surprise, surprise…claims were proven false when Mr. President revealed his birth certificate.

Keep it going, Chrysler. For the first time since 2006, Chrysler posted its first quarterly profits. Thank God.

Rest in Peace, Michael Gary Scott. After seven seasons, Steve Carell’s final episode of “The Office” aired Thursday, April 28. The television series will continue – but Dunder Mufflin is still accepting resumes for Manager of its Scranton branch.

Anchor Alterations. Katie Couric of CBS’s “Evening News” announced last week that she will not renew her contract this summer. Meredith Vieira, who took over Katie’s seat on NBC’s “The Today Show” back in 2006 also announced that she will not renew her contract on the network’s morning show. Ann Curry will take Vieira’s spot on “Today.”

Mommy Mariah. Years after professing her desire to join the society of motherhood, Mariah Carey and husband Nick Cannon welcomed twins on Saturday, April 30. I saved two weekends’ worth of babysitting money in ’95 for the “Fantasy” album. She and I go back.

Gastastrophe. And so it continues. Gas prices hit their all-time high last week, surpassing the $4 a gallon mark in many states. Bad news for families planning summer getaways for the months ahead.

For all of us at Zapwater, we’d like to congratulate David Zapata and his wife Katie on a special number 1: Taking Annarose Gracie Zapata home after welcoming her to the world last Saturday.

Caroline Brooks Senior Publicist