Where did October go??

You mean to tell me today is December 20th? 2006 is almost here??? Geez! I remember 1986 pretty dog gone well... Dang I'm getting old.

Let me just say, it was FREAKIN' cold atop Red Mountain this morning. The sun had been up for two hours when I got there and it was still 23 blasted degrees! I've made my Dad fill all our propane tanks and gas cans...so that when the freak ice storm hits, we'll be covered! ;) I can almost assure you...Alabama will see either a lot of snow or ice between now and March 15th. I'm almost willing to put money on it...it's been way too cold way too early.

Well, I'm going to be a little busy between now and probably the middle of January. Of course, work takes up most of my time these days...mostly due to the fact I normally just want to go directly home afterwards because I'm tired...or people I might hang out with from work are just getting to their lunch hour. Oh the trials of having "bankers hours." However, I'm thinking of taking a couple weekend road trips this coming year. None of my friends are going to be nearby anymore...and I've got all the time in the world to goof off and do what I've wanted to do for a long time. Get in the car with a suitcase and not know exactly where I'm going to end up.

Things at work are going just peachy right now. I got a raise (a nice one) after only six months in this current job. I am, however, finding myself a little more bored than usual. I almost think I'm better suited to work outside instead of inside... However, on cold mornings like this was, I'm pretty glad I have a nice, sometimes warm, office to work in.

Now that I got the raise, the question is will I move closer to work? Until I get my first paycheck with the raise attached, I would have to decline. I'd much rather go out and buy a house, but I still don't know if I want to stay right where I'm at right now...which is the other big reason I'm not prepared to waste my time and money on moving a few miles... What I really want to do is fool with commercial production or documentaries...and I'm not seeing too many jobs for those out there at the moment. I'm beginning to think I'd like to just wash my hands of this station and company all together. The station itself I'm still uncomfortable around... It's sad...because I like some of my co-workers there...and my co-workers at other stations I'm fairly fond of... But I've just never felt that good feeling about where I'm at...so some changes may be coming in the next year.

What do I have planned to resolve next year?? Here's a list of what I have planned out (don't laugh...too hard ;)):

1.) Get out and travel a little more (without a hurricane in the vicinity)
2.) Lose 10 lbs. (doubtful)
3.) Get a girlfriend (I dunno...I've been out of the dating scene a while...a long while...we'll see)
4.) Go to at least ONE movie (if there are any good ones this time...last year was kind of a let down...)
5.) Eat more pie
6.) Find world peace
7.) Eat more pie

Blah...

I need some excitement... I don't think I'll go as far as fly somewhere...but I'd get a kick out of it if I did. This is all probably due to the fact that I was FRAZZLED by Friday of last week and, for the first time in a while, was LOOKING FORWARD to Friday ending. I feel better now...and am ready to get back to it.

I had some "suits" to deal with last week. My first time dealing with people from Richmond on my own turf, but I think it went pretty dog-gone well. They got to see me do a lot of different things, and helping out other websites that I don't normally do (in this case...it was breaking news). I'm glad they're gone...I couldn't deal with more "ideas" on how to make that site better. I have plenty of ideas...getting them implemented is a whole different story. There will probably be a few considerable changes to the site this week... I've gotten a few things done and still waiting on approval for a few others.

I'm finding myself getting more competitive about this job...and the fact that I'm trying to stay ahead of sister-stations! I've noticed ever since I began posting a video forecast on my site, other stations have followed suit (yeah, thanks...no I don't mind...it was my idea and all...I know you're copying...I was scanning every website for a few weeks before getting THAT little video forecast going). It doesn't matter...the sales management can't get enough of me right now...which means I can get them to sell the site more...thus getting me a raise soon. If I said I was leaving, I think a few of them might cry! I'm pleased that I've made a few friends along the way now...

I started eating at a favorite old restaurant a few weeks ago. I was dismayed when things went bad there...but they're very much on the up and up... My friends and I are rather pleased by this...because it was always our favorite place to eat and get hammered. I haven't gotten "hammered" in a while...maybe that's what I need?? ;)

I'm going to decorate the outside of the house at the end of next week (after Thanksgiving). I haven't done it in a while...look out, I'll have to post some pics of "Nix Airport!" Lets see how many fuses I can blow this year (my record is about 12...but who's counting??). ;)

I can't get those damned orange/chocolate chip cookies from Ireland out of my mind!! I think I need to go pick-up a few bags!

You're kidding me, right?

I have got to get on my soap box now...this is just unreal to me...

I'm sitting at work today and decide to check on what the competiting stations' websites are looking like in my market. I go to check out what my old station is up to and see new weather graphics...

"Not bad," I say to myself. Though later I notice they've changed the station logo... Ok, this logo sucks...but whatever. My old boss at that station had made a rather nice logo a few years ago to use when the current owners bought...but they didn't want to use it. My suggestion is this would have been the time to use his stuff!

Anyway, I call my Dad and tell him to watch at 6 to see what they've done. He decides to record the whole thing for me (how entertaining this was).

I get home and he and my Mother tell me "You've got to see this!" He rewinds and low and behold...new animation, music and lower thirds...right out of the early 80's!!!

They are TERRIBLE!!!!! The music SUCKS!!!! Whose decision was this?!?!?! The station's up the road will most definitley be laughing more at them when they see this... You can only use the color YELLOW so much in broadcasting, but not ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME!!

I heard better news music in the 90's! I know I left that station with more than one news-music package that sounded much better then that garbage! The opens for weather and sports are EXCEPTIONALLY bad...the happy "out in a forest at sunrise in front of a lake" music doesn't do well with sports, nor does it do well with weather!

I think I could have plucked out a few nice chords on a casio keyboard and came up with better music! My earlier work with photoshop looked much nicer then this crap!

Why am I concerned?? Even though I was surrounded by idiots in certain departments I did try to leave a nice legacy...small things that would try and make them look a little more professional. Some things didn't do so well, but others did... I demanded a standard look to everything...even a standard sound in regards to music!!! Everything matched as well as it could (considering the circumstances). I really hope the new man in charge and my old boss weren't that crazy about these graphics and music. I'd expeced more from these folks... If this is what they're going to try and sell, you won't see me back at home any time soon!!!!!

Ok, off the soap box, I have big things planned for my current station's web site...stuff that will most likely give me almost complete job security... I can see the hits going up even more between now and January...stay tuned, more at 6! ;)

Near Death Experience

For those of you who know about the root canal and my recent tooth pain...this isn't about that.

So I get to leave a few minutes early today from work thanks to working late due to elections. Whilst minding my own business on the drive home (on a certain state highway that needs work) I wander through a one-mile area infamously known as Dead Man's Curve (yes, it's curvy the whole mile...many people have been killed in this one-mile stretch of road).

I'm on the last curve of that section when, as I'm beginning to bear to the left, a jeep comes around as if it's about to hit me head on! I hit the side of the road as fast as I can and see this jeep come within inches of hitting me as it goes by my driver-side window!! This idiot may have even missed the fact he almost hit me...because as I look back quickly to try and get the tag number, he's IN THAT LANE! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE!?!? I almost needed to pull off the side of the road to catch my breath and slow down the blood pressure...

I've driven this route almost a year to the freakin' day I started on a regular basis and this makes the first time something like this has happened! I'm willing to bet seriously that it was one of those stupid high school students who can't drive to save their lives! I either need to drive a different route (unlikely) or move (unlikely again) or find another job! I might move if I could afford it...

Rable rable rable!!

I'm not as big of a sports nut like many of my friends, but I'm quite happy with my dear old alma mater and the football team therein after this weekend. They did rather well...which impressed me. The last few years made me think they had about given up...or that just being on the team was a bigger high than actually winning. Well, I think that's a load of crap! As competitive as I am, I could care less about being on the team if it was me...rather, I'd prefer running someone over for the pure hell of it!! ;) Just the cold-hearted side of me...which peaks out every so often!

So it's going to be a long, freakin' week for me. Got to go to the dentist...twice! Bah! I hate the dentist!! Also got a new newscast for another station to do...and our newsroom doesn't have enough editors yet... I think the new people are hired...they just can't start until later for some reason. Therefore, I'll be editing my a$$ off for a few days along with my normal work.

And speaking of my normal work, I find out Friday around 4pm that our station is going to begin running a contest...of which there needs to be a page on our website devoted to it...complete with advertising... HA! So the national sales manager and the HR coordinator have to cool me down because it looks to them like I'm about to kill someone's grandmother!!!! Nobody there has seen me get "irritated" as of yet...until Friday! My boss, who takes care of all advertising stuff, will be in meetings in VA and FL for several days...and may not be able to do anything with it.

Has this left me in a bind?? Maybe. Will I make people miserable? If you know me, that's a stupid question!!! ;) Will this ever happen again? I don't think it will...I DO believe they now know not to screw with me...or next time... muahahahahahahahahaha!!! :P

I don't want to hear about it!

I take two days off and this freakin' hurricane seems like it's turning?!?! Egads!

I WILL NOT be going anywhere this time! I'm still recouping, and I want to be home on my freggin' birthday! If I do end up working, it will be in the 'ham and not out in the elements!

Dwelling on things...

So there's another hurricane in the gulf? Shut up!

I'm beginning to realize the world is smaller than I previously thought. Guess it's from all the traveling I've done lately.

Things at my former employer seemed to have stopped spiraling...at least for now. We'll see how the new GM works out for them. Can't be any worse than the former...but you never know. I'm sure it will prove to be quite a chore running a non-affiliated tv station owned by an educational institution that seems to have no clue on many things... It would be nice to see my area have a firm hold in the tv world again as it did some ten years ago. I've become a critical person, but I know how to play my cards kind of well...and I know good and well I'll wait and see before I go saying it will happen.

So speaking of being critical, I'm beginning to think I'm too critical for my own good. I can't seem to be satisfied with a whole lot these days. I know how I want things done, but can never get it accomplished. The website thing is going better...and I'm beginning to think it's about time (no pun intended) to blow my temper for the first (and probably only) time at work. I think I might gain a little ground...and may lose some. I won't get stepped on again, that'll be for sure. Some people like to smile at you and talk rather badly behind your back. I don't forget those things very easily (I'm still being vindictive over stuff that happened in 1989 and 1990...I can remember stuff for a long time!). I really think I need to tell some people what I really think!

I bought a new game over the weekend. It's not exactly new...it's really about five years old. None the less, I bought it. It is cool as hell! I love war games that are set up like the "civilization" games. Not enough maps to play, though. Otherwise, cool game! I needed something new to focus my at-home time on other then thinking about work.

Take that spam!

I figured out how to stop the blog spam. There's a setting that'll pop up a word verification thingy...so if you post a comment...you'll see it.

Nothing New...

Most boring week ever! Or that's how I saw last week at least. I have noticed a new form of spam for blogs, though...and I hope the moron sees this message and gets the hint! :(

I'm really feeling like I need a vacation still... I've got a few vacation days left...just wish I had the money.

In Memory of Hurricane Katrina Victims...

Working on Labor Day

It's nice to have holidays off by default now...I don't have to worry about being off on key holidays and making sure I have money to spare...I can be off AND I get paid! As long as I get to take them on the actual DAY of the FREAKIN' holiday. ;) I can safely say I will be off Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years!

So now I'm debating on where to go on vacation for next year (already...geez). I had nothing better to think about while at work today. Suggestions?? ;)

Staying away from the TV

Not exactly sure how much I've cleaned today...but I know it's a lot! You know if I've gone as far as to get the steam cleaner out, I'm determined! ;) I think mentally I'm getting things back together. Wish I could go for a drive, but with gas prices what they are at the moment...I'm not going anywhere.

I might actually be working from home the next few days...if I can get things situated Monday, I'll be working at home on at least Tuesday and Thursday. Won't be getting Labor Day off this year...but my birthday is 20 days away...I'll take Labor Day off with my birthday and just make one big holiday out of it.

Chistmas is just under four months away...lots to think about and plan... I think I'll decorated the house this year...not nearly as big as years past (won't be Nix Airport again any time soon ;)) but I'll get some lights on the bushes at least...maybe hang some up in the living room again like I used to do... I'm sure the kids have been disappointed that I haven't decorated much in the past years...suppose I'll surprised them this year.

Back Home

I'm back at home and glad of it...even if I don't have power (thanfully, we have a generator...no AC though). I went back to work today and tried to sort things out. I think this tragedy will rob my mind and sanity all together for a few more days. All I was dealing with regarded Hurricane Katrina. I think tomorrow I'm going to go out of my way to find something uplifting, if not just plain funny, to post to lift everyone's spirits.

I've only been down a few times in my life...and this is turning into one of them. I've got to stay away from the tv...don't want to see any more of it. I've been to N.O. and know what's gone...know about how many people there were very poor...and know the people are suffering an unimaginable tragedy.

This is 9/11 all over again...without the terrorism.

That said, I worked two 18 hour shifts...and the other two were well over 10-12 hour shifts...if that tells you how my weekend (weekend lost I should say) and early week went. I drove home after one of those 18 hour shifts, with 30 minutes of sleep, and having worked about 4 hours afterwards...and waiting in line for gas for over an hour... Did I mention that 30 minutes I slept was on the floor at the station?? Geez! I'm not doing jack squat this weekend...and will take my Labor Day next weekend! I think I'll go see a movie!

Chilling...

You don't see this everyday...

"Emmis Television asks all WVUE employees to please contact us and let us know you are okay. Call collect 1-415-435-8810 or e-mail kmontour@emmis.com We want to get you help and let your friends and co-workers know you are safe. Please call or email and give us a contact phone number or an e-mail address if you have one."

And...if you thought that wasn't enough...

"Hearst Argyle Television asks WDSU-TV 6 employees to please contact Hearst-Argyle TV. Call collect 1-212-887-6820 / 1-212-887-6810, or e-mail LLange@hearst.com. Please let us know if you are ok, if you have a phone number or access to e-mail and where you can be contacted."

It's very tragic when you have to appeal to the public in order to find your employees. I hope the main female anchor at WWL in New Orleans found her family safe. It was just plain coincidence I was watching their live streaming coverage when she was informed of something, i'm affraid, horrific had happened to a loved one.

Phone Service Isn't Well

Well, everyone and their brother is calling into this state (obviously). I can't call out because all the lines are tied up.

Not going to be the same

Words can't describe the disaster in Louisiana and southern Mississippi. New Orleans will never be what it was... Approx. four levees broke, including one very near the French Quarter.

All of New Orleans is being evacuated at this moment...including the shelters. There's even martial law in effect for two parishes. One person even lost all hope...jumping to his end in the superdome...God knows why he did it in front of all those people...

Anyway, I'm stuck in Jackson until Thursday at least...and will probably camp-out at the station tonight.

Sad day...

Jackson Curfew

Well, it seems I'm stuck at the station now until the curfew is lifted at (hopefully) 8pm. The storm should be passed by at that point...so I'd be willing to brave the elements and head to my hotel and go RIGHT TO BED!

Power outages are rampant in the state as well as damage. This whole situation will probably prove very sad as the days progress. I fear we'll see more than 100 perished in this catastrophe.

Many TV crews can't seem to get to towns like Biloxi, Gulfport and suburbs of New Orleans...we'll see in the next two or so days...

Losing its punch?

Katrina is now a Cat. 4. Maybe it will keep going down...it hasn't officially made landfall just yet...but not far from it.

After just over two hours of sleep...I'm not going to be such a happy camper a little later. However, I do have a hotel room, and if I can get away from here later on...I'll head back to get more sleep. At least I got a full dinner tonight just before turning in.

Good Grief!

This is a NASTY looking storm! From Category 3 to 5 overnight! It broke the record for having the lowest pressure (by milibars...not barometric) at about 902mb. That's pretty freakin' bad!! Here in Jackson, we should see at least Category 3 winds when it finally gets here Monday night. This is going to be ugly...tornado warnings already being posted in south Alabama and south Mississippi.

Waiting On Katrina

I'm back at the station in Jackson MS this morning...after a little bit of sleep at a hotel I had for only one night. Thankfully, someone at the station in Jackson got us all rooms at some hotel...updates later...

Change Of Plan

Looks like the hurricane forecast changed quite a bit from yesterday. I'm now headed to Jackson MS to run things. Thankfully, I'll have help coming in. Should have stuff linked on my site eventually this weekend...

Another Freakin' Hurricane

I can't wait for NOVEMBER 30th! That's the end of hurricane season! At least I'm headed to the same station as last month...so that part is nice...plus I know where everything is.

By the way...I haven't bought jack squat! I did, however, go ahead and reserve a rental car and reserved a hotel room (this time with internet!) so this might be more like a vacation (I hope).

Sigh...

I feel somewhat unaccomplished after today. I was pretty useless. Election day went awfully smooth considering. I got to play field producer while I was at city hall. Interesting... A main anchor from our immediate competition (the male one) came over to introduce himself to me down there. I was impressed...he was nice. I'd heard some bad things about him before...but he offered me and my colleague food...so now I like him! ;) Saw some old colleagues last night, too. It was nice to see some of them. Others I could have done without.

Looks like I get another beach trip at the expense of MG (DAMNIT!!!!!). I might get to do something other than work on this one...since the tropical system that's moving toward FL may not be a hurricane when it gets to PC...if it even comes that way. Forecasts say it might be a cat. one storm... Maybe some restaurants will be open and my hotel won't be evacuated this time! Need to reserve a rental car Friday...I'll do that before I leave work.

After a few days of feeling bad...I'm much better today. Not sure what the problem was...maybe it's the weather. I need a vacation, but I'm saving up to be off around Christmas so I can goof around with my nephews and nieces...most of which will probably be at my house the majority of the time anyway.

You know what pandas eat...bamboo!

Check out the link: http://semisimple.com/?p=mixednuts/pandamovie.php

Warning, you'll probably need quicktime.

I remember this commercial from a while back...I only saw it once before, and almost passed out from laughing. It made for some good re-enactments with my friends.

Yes, I'm entertained by simple things...just throw me a shiny ball!

Sittin' at the dock of the bay...

So that's the song currently stuck in my head...shut up!

Today was interesting...finally proved a theory I had ragarding the huge amount of hits from last week. I seem to be right so far...we'll figure it out for sure by weeks end.

Get to sit in on the sales meeting tomorrow. This should be fun...see how much work they're planning on throwing in my lap. I'm working on so many unique things for that station right now...it should all prove to be of great value to the website in general. Might end up becoming a yearly thing for the station to promote. I'm ready for my raise now!

Well, after about three days with no rain, it came a flood today. All it did was thunder whilst upon red mountain this afternoon... We needed some rain...I was able to ride most of the way home with my windows down...something that normally doesn't happen.

Off to get something to eat then onward to bed. Peace out!

Damn you, damn the broccoli and damn the Wright Brothers!

So it's been a few days, get over it! ;)

It was an exciting week at work. The website I run got nearly 60,000 hits on Friday alone! The record for an entire month was 86,000, so it's safe to say I've beaten that! Woo hoo! Can't wait for the call tomorrow with the head-honcho's. I'll make sure to mention it if nobody else does (in my own creative way). It started on Wednesday when I got over 12,000 hits in one day (still an accomplishment...usually never goes much over 2.000, and that's on a really good day). However, Friday was a big surprise...seeing over 16,000 hits before 8am. The story that got all the hits is a tragic one...and I don't plan to capitalize on it...though I think I know exactly what direction to move that website in order to keep getting a lot of hits.

Well, the weekend is nearly over. I threw out my back somehow. I've been in a great deal of pain most of the day due to it...but I can't figure out what I might have done.

Gave my best friend his send-off last night. We all got together Friday and Saturday just to shoot the bull. I thought he was going to freak out when I paid for his dinner Saturday night. Funny...none of us have moved off anywhere...all went to the same university...and usually goofed around as we did in high school... Ahh...the times are changing.

Had lunch with some old colleagues Friday afternoon. That was fun...just proved that most TV people can find a way to almost get kicked out of a restaurant! Good thing was the whole place was loud...so we didn't seem to be a problem. HA! I'll try harder next time! Peace!

Annoyed

The day started much better off then when it ended. I hate days like these (can I be any more vague on why i'm like this??). I'm listening to Rainy Night in Georgia (Brook Benton version) and drinking...sigh! lol BTW...i'm in a better mood now. Keeping my mind off work. I need something else to keep me from thinking about work (other than drinking...hicup).

I like pie... ;)

Though Monday started out in a bad way at work (something I thankfully didn't have to deal with). All I'll say about it is this: at 9am, the phones were ringing off the hook in the newsroom while we were in the morning news meeting...that's all you're getting...because I'm pleading the 5th on the rest! ;) It's moments like those that make me happy I'm no longer on the desk!

Finished up the website today...meaning I got the rest of the graphics up. Everything matches now (woo hoo) and managed to get all the graphics' file sizes a little smaller...so that the site might open faster. Some of this isn't my fault...some of the ads are way bigger than any of the graphics I had built...so I'll be attempting to address that over the next few days.

Had a conference with my two main bosses today...they like how the site looks and the direction I'm moving it...I thought I was going to tear up! ;) I was humbled. After days of not hearing anything from the ND, he calls me to tell me good job...

I've been in an unusually good mood today...maybe I should go to work with a lack of sleep more often! I got a good 5 1/2 hours last night...I just couldn't force myself to sleep. Got a bottle of something I should have taken a sip out of...bet it would have laid me out!

So I've been listening to this song lately...I can't get it out of my head no matter how many times I listen to it. Lots of hyserical laughing in the background (Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz for those of you wondering)...strange little song...cool though...

Tuesday will be a longer day...got the premiere party to attend after work down the road. Hopefully I remember my suit!

Quiet Sunday

It's been a nice, quiet Sunday. I've done just about nothing all day. I finished reformatting my nieces' computer and attempted the same with my newphews. His computer is rather old (doesn't have one GB of hard drive space!). I think it was in vain...because I can't get anything to work now that I've deleted the hard drive. Anyway, he can share with both his sisters...theirs turned out just fine.

I've been cleaning a little in my room...it was getting a little too dusty...and it looked like there had been a party in there (thanks to the kids yesterday who were in there most all day). After that, I sat down to "clean out" my computer and my work laptop...because things were beginning to drag a little. Also got some stuff working so I can communicate with my friend who is moving to China for ten months! Had to make sure we could talk online in person and be able to instant message without the "government" being able to read along [free tibet!] ;)

Went out to eat with old colleagues last night...it was nice to see them (or at least the few that showed up). These occasions always seem to be more of a family reunion...some of us try to embarass the others as much as possible. Lots of conspiracy theory to boot, too. Lord knows what the future holds for that old station... It certainly can't get any worse. Well...time to watch some TV...adult swim is but an hour away! ;) Peace!

Here we go...

Now, after popular demand (not really...more like, I have nothing better to do), here's the debut of my blog. Some of it will be personal, but most of it will be professional (I apologize in advance!).

So, today was another mostly slow day at work. Yesterday morning went pretty well...boring as usual, but I wasn't too busy...so I decided to call an old friend and shoot the breeze with Vondale. We had too much fun when we worked together. Most of us had way more fun then we should have...

So, today I have to build my first ad for the website. Interesting process for which things are approved on a corporate level. I need to behave more "corporate" and demand I get a freakin' production order before I build squat! Nice rest of the day, though... Cut some grass this evening with the new riding mower. I'm content at the moment! ;)