Rise and shine

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

Our trip has become a merged version of "Lost In Translation" and "Groundhog Day."

We talked about it as we walked to work in the 2a.m. (local time) darkness today in a spitting rain.

We were all feeling pretty fortunate to be here last night, when the boss sent out an email inviting several of us to the swimming event. The ride over to swimming in the mini-van should probably be a television show of its own. Picture this: me, Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry, Al Roker -- all in one vehicle en route to the venue, and then at the venue. It was a blast, and it was truly an honor to be there for another piece of Olympic history, as Michael Phelps became the most highly-decorated athlete of all time.

I later went shopping with Al Roker -- which could easilly be the pilot for a 13-week sitcom.

We are working on several stories that I hope you will find interesting. We're starting the writing, and pushing through to airtime.

I just had a cup of newsroom coffee that brought back memories of the firehouse. I don't trust coffee I can't chew. Onward.