Brittany's Bytes

Thank You Big Country!!!

2011-09-27T20:20:00.000-07:00

To all of the friends I have made in the Big Country,

Wow. Usually blogging comes naturally to me but this one I admit is a struggle.
First and foremost, I want to thank you for the past three years. Reporting and anchoring for KRBC has been a dream come true. I came to Abilene right out of college expecting to come here and just gain experience in the television business. But, it didn't take very long for this place to turn into "home". The people I have met, the friends I have made, and the family I have gained make it difficult to leave.
However, as an aspiring journalist it is time to move on to the next great job opportunity. For me, that will be at a new TV station in Lexington, Kentucky.
There are so many people I owe big thank yous to for helping me learn, to grow, and even become a better person. I have enjoyed sharing your stories and bringing you the news every day at 5 o'clock. I have also enjoyed being a part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization in Abilene and coaching youth cheerleading while living in the Big Country. I will miss my "Little Sister" and my cheerleading teams dearly.
The three years I have worked at KRBC have flown by. I am lucky to have worked alongside such amazing people at the station. My co-workers have become family and it will definitely be hard to say goodbye. I also want to thank my boss for seeing potential in me and allowing me several platforms to take advantage of at KRBC.
While I will no longer be bringing you the news, I will not be a stranger to the Big Country. I am engaged to an Abilene man and his family resides here in the Big Country so I will be back often.
Again, I want to thank you for being a part of my life and allowing me to be a part of yours.

Sincerely,

Brittany

My Eating Habits During the Work Week are Weird

2011-08-23T18:05:00.001-07:00

So, I am totally one of those people that eats on the go; many times in the car. Today, I picked up Subway and had about 15-20 minutes to eat before my scheduled interview. Instead of sitting inside the restaurant (like a normal person) I pulled into a random parking lot off of a south Abilene street. It was just down the road from where I had to be, so it seemed like the perfect spot. What prompted me writing a blog about it is the reaction the neighbors gave me. Just across the street from where I was eating inside the car, some residents were returning home (probably to eat lunch). The way they looked at me, I got the impression they thought I was a creeper; peering into their homes. I really wasn't though. I was minding my own business, eating my Subway sub, and listening to music.
I have another confession. This is definitely not the first time I have seen this reaction, and it's obviously not my first eating in the car experience. I frequent several dining spots in town (including the car parked in Redbud Park). I am obsessed with time management. I've learned with my crazy schedule of reporting and anchoring; you've got to do what makes the most sense and can save the most time. As my producer, Mark Moseley loves to mock me "not much time for lunch, not much time to stop and breathe". Now don't get me wrong, this isn't a complaint blog. It's more of a laugh with me blog.

'The Voice' Auditions in Abilene=Huge Success!

2011-08-02T21:27:00.000-07:00

Judging any kind of competition is typically a tough job but when you have to judge 130 different singers based on their vocal skills...well let's just say it's a whole new toughness. I was thoroughly impressed with the amount of people confident enough to sing in front of a theater full of people.
As I was talking to some of the contestants tonight, it was funny how most of them were nervous to talk or do an interview on tv but yet allow them to sing their hearts out, no problem! I am the complete opposite. I never could have stood before a theater, let alone a room full of people and sing. I admire those that had the confidence to perform tonight.
Having to keep my back turned towards the singers until I had already given them a score was also really challenging. Now I know how Christina Aguilera felt having the urge to turn around the chair, but not being able to until a decision was made. Tough stuff.
I am really excited for viewers to get the opportunity to vote online and help send five people from Abilene to have their shot at being on the next season of 'The Voice!'

Wiener Dogs Galore

2011-07-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

Last nightI had the opportunity to judge the 2011 Rescue the Animals Dachshund races. It was my first wiener dog race. The turn out was amazing! I still can't get over how many dachshund's live here in Abilene!
Before the races, the dogs were judged on a variety of categories. The contestants cracked me up. I love how into it the owners get and I can't wait to be a dog owner again, myself (when I have the time). Here's some of the pictures I snapped from the event. Enjoy!

Troubled by Toddlers & Tiaras

2011-06-30T19:46:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I have to admit that several months ago I got sucked into TLC's Toddlers & Tiaras. It was an accident, really. I was never a pageant girl and I didn't know anyone that was when I was growing up. I think I initially was fascinated by the families that were so sucked into the crazy lifestyle of pageantry (at least it appears that way on TLC).
For the most part, I laughed off the stereotypical pageant mom's. The over-dosing of the girls with pixie stix before a pageant irritated me, but other than that I had the attitude, "to each his own".

However, after watching the last episode I was heart broken. There are a brother and sister pair, Braxton and Alaska. The mother and step-father were absolutely awful. They did not treat their kids equally. Both the boy and girl were put in pageants. The mother and father continuously complimented Braxton and always neglected and even put down Alaska. I felt awful for the little girl.

She was not only beautiful, but she seemed to be a great kid. Regardless, no child should be treated the way that they treated Alaska. To really understand the scope of just how bad these parents were, you'd have to watch the whole video. While Braxton typically wins the pageants they both enter, this grand finale he did not and his sister won. Of course, the parents ended up adoring her because she won. It was awful. I couldn't get over that having a title was what made a mom love (or at least show love) to her own daughter. I know you're probably thinking, why did you keep watching if you thought it was so awful. The best I can explain is that it's like a scary movie, you want to look away at certain parts but you also don't want to miss anything.

http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/toddlers-tiaras-season-4-videos/

The Love Bug is Biting

2011-06-13T20:19:00.000-07:00

So, if you keep up with my blog you know that I am happily engaged and wedding planning is in full-swing. But, my own wedding is not the only planning that is going on in my life. Two of my closest friends (both from college) are also engaged and getting married in 2012!!! I am so excited for them and us just to be able to experience all of this stuff together.
So, I am going to be a bride first, a maid of honor second, and a bridesmaid third but all before the end of 2012. : )

Here is Mary and her fiance, Andrew. Mary lives in Florida and is going to school to be an elementary education teacher. She is amazing with kids and will be a great Mom one day! Mary and I met in college by fate. She moved into the empty suite next door to me my junior year. We instantly clicked. We both cheered in college together for the Barry Buccaneers. We were pretty much inseperable from the time that we met. We coached cheerleading together, traveled together, and became part of each other's families. Honestly, Mary is like a sister to me. I am an only child but she definitely filled that role. Her family is like my family and visa versa. It's so nice to have a friend like that. Mary is spontaneous and free-spirited. She has always been a good friend and is always fun to be around. I was honored when she asked me to be her maid of honor. : ) Believe it or not, I have never met her fiance, Andrew! He is in the Army Florida National Guard. So she is having to plan on a wedding on her own while he is Iraq. As her maid of honor, I wished I lived closer to be more of a part of her planning. But, I know it will all work out and the wedding will be even more meaningful since they have had to have a long distance relationship for so long.

And here is Jamie and her fiance, Scott. They live in New York. Jamie is an event planner. She is amazing at what she does, but luckily in college she thought she wanted to get into broadcast radio and we had most of our classes together. Jamie, also known as "Roomie" because she was the first roommate I ever had. (I'm an only child so that is a big deal) ha. Jamie and I met before freshmen year of school in a program that the university offered to introduce all the newbies. We instantly became friends and even kept in touch in the weeks leading up to starting college. It was so comforting knowing someone before entering that chapter in my life. We have so many memories throughout the four years of college but even after. Jamie is such a caring and honest friend. She is also a ball of fun. Again, I have not met her fiance, Scott either. Unfortunately, that is what happens when you live far away from your college friends.

These two girls mean the world to me and it really does make me so happy to see them so happy too! I have to be honest though, one of the the reasons I am most excited for all of these weddings is for us to all be together and to meet these two Romeo's of my friends.

P.S. I wouldn't be surprised if I have to update this blog with two of my other closest friends getting engaged. (I'll refrain from details because I don't want to jinx it) But, I'm telling you, the love bug is biting. But at the same time, I also know we are "at that age" when it's all about the weddings. In a few years, we'll be planning the baby showers and all that fun stuff. Believe me though, I am in no rush. I think I'll enjoy the wedding festivities for now! Cheers to my fiance and my good friends and theirs!

Saying Farewell to a Dear Friend

2011-05-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

For many of us here at KRBC, we move to Abilene to jump start our career in journalism. My journey began 2.5 years ago and a week after I started, Maria Oliver (KRBC's former weekend anchor/weekday reporter; most recently assignments manager)started too.
We instantly became friends. We were probably each others first friends here, since the first week is just a lot of adjusting. It was so nice to have a close friend so quick after moving to a foreign place. Maria helped make that transition easier for me.

We have had so much fun together and made so many memories over the past 2.5 years. Today is her last day at KRBC and in Abilene. She is moving on to Alabama for the next adventure in her life. While, she will be dearly missed. I am really happy for my friend. I know that Maria and I will continue to be friends no matter where we live. Best of luck to you, Maria. : )

Is Nikki's Swirl Shoppe Taking Over?

2011-05-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

If you watch me on KRBC or follow my blog here, it's obvious that I have a sweet tooth (especially for frozen treats). The past two summer's in Abilene, I had a snow cone or two every week.

Several snow cone owners in town will even tell you, we became friends based on the amount of times that I went for a snow cone.
When snow cone stands started popping up this year, I was anxious to go (and I did...maybe two or three times). For me, that is very unusual. I haven't had the cravings like I used to in the past (could it be from the cavities I had filled?) or it is the new Nikki's Swirl Shoppe?
My boss had mentioned the possibility of people ditching the snow cone stands for the new self-service frozen yogurt bar. I didn't really think of that as a possibility.

I am not a regular at Nikki's, but I have been a handful of times since they opened in Abilene.
Nikki's frozen yogurt satisfies the sweet tooth and offers a fun atmosphere (which is obviously why it is so successful. Now, I'm curious to know how you would compare snow cones to frozen yogurt?! What's your guilty pleasure?

He proposed and I said Yes!

2011-05-11T20:58:00.000-07:00

The day I have been dreaming about since I was a little girl arrived on May 7th 2011.
We've been dating for one month shy of two years. I've known he was the one for a long time now, but was definitely surprised when he popped the question. While I'm going to keep much of the proposal a secret, I will share where it happened. We were in Fort Worth for the weekend (last weekend) and it happened inside the Fort Worth Gardens. Neither of us had been there before but it was gorgeous and the whole thing was perfect.

I am such a lucky girl. I came to Abilene in September 2008 to gain experience and jump start my career in tv news. Little did I know, that I'd find the love of my life on top of finding a job that I love. Now I know to some, this blog may be sappy but hey you can't blame a newly engaged girl, can you?

Loving the Voice

2011-05-04T19:23:00.001-07:00

So I've never been a fan of American Idol, America's Got Talent, or basically any other show that has the same audition format. However, the previews of "The Voice," sucked me in. Even in it's debut week, it didn't disappoint. I am thoroughly impressed with the amount of talent displayed on the show. I never knew there were this many talented singers just waiting for their big break.
I'll be honest, I have a terrible singing voice. That doesn't mean that I don't like to sing but let's just my friends have told me to zip it even during karaoke. So I guess because it is something I am really pour at, I like to live vicariously through those that have amazing voices.

Every time, I picked someone who I thought was my favorite, the next singer changes my mind. As for the judges, I love the variety. The producers did a really great job casting and bringing in musicians of all genres. I still haven't picked my favorite judge just yet. It's hard to compare. I guess the one comment I have to single one of the judges out is Ceelo! Is it just me or is he girl crazy?! He finds some flirtatious comment to say to the majority of the female contestants. His comments are pretty predictable too.
What are your thoughts of the show? Do tell.

Meet the Parents

2011-04-30T10:34:00.000-07:00

So since you get to see me every week day on KRBC First at Five and the News at six, I figured I'd introduce you to my lovely parents. My mother lives on the East Coast of Florida and my Dad lives on the West Coast of Florida (not bad places to visit the parents, is it)?

As an only child, I never had to share these two with anyone else (am I spoiled? Maybe just a little). No, but seriously these two are great. Although there are some things that they tell me they wished they did differently as I was growing up, I'm thankful for all that they did because I wouldn't be who I am today.

Both my Mom, Laurie and my Dad, Marc are my biggest fans, my biggest cheerleaders and I am very thankful for all of their love and support. I love my parents very much.

A Secret of Big Country Firefighters

2011-04-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

Firefighters in the Big Country are without a doubt heroes in our community. But, something that you might not know about them, many are camera shy. There are a select few, (public information officers) that talk on camera with us on a regular basis. Getting in front of the camera is not easy, so we do appreciate their willingness.

But here's what the other firefighters tell me happens if they agree to an on-camera interview:

Abilene firefighters have to buy icecream for everyone on their shift.

Hamby firefighters have to buy steak for the shift if they are at a house fire and snowcones at a grass fire.

So not only can it get intimidating to talk to the media, it can also get expensive.

A stranger bought the meals of two Airmen

2011-04-01T09:42:00.000-07:00

This is one of the many reasons why I love Abilene. I went to United today for lunch. Two airmen were ordering before me, and a woman immediately goes up to the two men and offers to buy them lunch. The guys thanked her for the offer but told her that it wasn't necessary. She insisted. They were very appreciative, but she also expressed her appreciation for their service to this country. It's just so neat to see complete strangers show their appreciation for those in the U.S. military that are fighting to keep us safe and to continue having the freedom that we are so lucky to have.

Justin Bieber in Sweetwater?

2011-03-11T16:18:00.000-08:00

Here's a cute story. Yesterday, I went to Sweetwater with Jessica Reyes to judge the Miss Snake Charmer Pageant (lots of fun, by the way). Driving through town, we passed by the movie theater, where instead of displaying Justin Bieber's movie "Never Say Never," the sign just said Justin Bieber at 7:30 Friday night. Jessica and I laughed about it in the car. But what made it even funnier is when we were sitting inside the local coffee shop, and the owner starts talking about how girls in Sweetwater were getting all excited and thought that Justin Bieber was really coming to town. Of course, the girls dreams were crushed within moments. But hopefully, they'll still be just as excited to see their Hollywood crush on the big screen. : )

P.S. Sorry Max, he's not going to be thirty minutes away from us!

Life Really is Too Short

2011-02-28T17:05:00.000-08:00

Today I received a heart-breaking phone call. I learned that a man that I met just last week had suddenly passed away. He's a man that many people in the Abilene community were blessed to know...John Beall. John was a well-known developer in the Abilene community. He built over 500 homes, including Mesquite Forrest in South Abilene, where he and his wife lived.
Mr. and Mrs. Beall were kind enough to invite me into their home and share a story with viewers about how they came to call that place home.
Within seconds of getting to know John, I learned he was an amazing person. He was so warm, kind, and selfless. He lived for his family and his friends.
I left his house knowing I'd made two new friends, Paula and John.
The next day at work, I returned from lunch to find yellow roses and a card from the Beall's...thanking me for doing the story. The only thank you that was needed was from me, allowing me into their home and sharing their story. But again, that just goes to show you the type of people the Beall's are.
Learning today about John's sudden death, I'm shocked and my deepest sympathies go out to wife, children, family, and friends during this tough time. Life really is too short. Abilene has lost a great man, and I feel so blessed to have met him. He made a lasting impression on my life.

Chik-Fil-A Lunch time Madness

2011-02-22T07:12:00.001-08:00

So I know that long lines at Chik-fil-a during the lunch hour are nothing new, but is it just me or are they getting worse? I get it that this fast food chain is a popular spot. I frequent there often, myself. While I used to be one to wait in that long drive-thru line, I have graduated to parking and going inside and taking my food to-go. This used to be an efficient way to get my delicious lunch in a timely manner. This was not the case for me yesterday.

Now first and foremost, don't get me wrong...the staff working at Chik-fil-A could not be any better. They are some of the nicest people and hard workers in Abilene (from what I have seen). But there isn't much else one can do when you you've got a line of people out-the-door and cars stretched out on Southwest Drive.

Now, I have been to one other Chik-fil-A in Abilene (inside the Mall) but on a lunch break, I'm not going to go to the Mall. Now the third location in Abilene, I have never been.

But if you're a chik-fil-a fan like me, I'm thinking Abilene could use another Chik-fil-A restaurant with a drive-thru. What are your thoughts? I think it would be a profitable business for whoever has the money upfront to start one. Much easier said then done, I know. ; )

Fun and Freezing at the Same Time

2011-02-02T08:28:00.001-08:00

So when it comes to covering severe weather, the experience as a reporter is bittersweet. While it may be terrifying to be one of the first to drive on the icy roadways, if it keeps one more person off the road to avoid an accident, it's a big reward.

Yesterday, my photographer, "Goose" and I were literally on the verge of frostbite after standing outside for two long, but when we had the opportunity to warm up in the live van...it was an adrenaline rush, I guess you could say. It can be fun getting creative with live shots to demonstrate to viewers just how serious the road conditions are. But perhaps what the most fun about wall-to-wall coverage, is the team bonding that goes that on. I know that may sound cheesy but it's true. On a daily basis, reporters, anchors, and producers don't have too much time to hang out together. But on these days, we're together from dusk until to dawn, and then some.
Everyone is tired and working hard to do the best that they can to bring you everything you need to know in severe weather,; from dropping temperatures, dangerous road conditions, and school and business closures.

Hope for Hailey's Safe Return

2011-01-18T19:53:00.000-08:00

From sunrise to sunset, people are searching for her. Some are family and friends (that know Hailey well) and others are complete strangers that just want to find the missing thirteen-year-old girl.
It's been amazing to see the outpouring of support not just from the Big Country area, but around the country. But in all of it's amazement, it's frustrating for most people knowing that they've searched acres upon acres for clues and still three weeks later, no sign.
So many of us cannot imagine what it's been like for the people that know Hailey. So many people are impacted by the disappearance of Hailey because she is just thirteen. She has so much to look forward to and the world is just beginning for her.
Prayer and hope are keeping family and searchers strong. Most people continue to hold onto the happy ending of this frightening scenario.
So many people that I have been speaking with over the past few weeks have shared how Hailey's disappearance has imacted their lives and how they hold onto their kids a little bit tighter because something like this could happen to anyone.
Many people are expanding their search efforts and their strategies to bring her back, and I know there may be search efforts that even the media is unaware of. If anybody knows of efforts that we may not, please let us know. As I am sure, you've noticed on our website and during our newscasts, we're trying to put Hailey's face and story out there as much as possible, hoping for the best outcome. Thanks for reading this blog. Please, feel free to share any thoughts or comments you might have about Hailey Dunn.

My Love for Sharky's

2011-01-06T07:21:00.000-08:00

Shortly after moving to Abilene (in September of '09) I was introduced to Sharky's burrito joint on Judge Ely Blvd by a former photographer named Allen. I was instantly hooked. The food is fresh and delicious, staff are nice as can be, and the place is clean.

I used to live on the South side of town, so going to Sharky's for a bite to eat was typically only on rare occasions (or whenever I had a story set on on the North side of town). Now, I live on the North side, not far from Sharky's which means I dine there a lot.

My boyfriend and I grabbed to-go order's the other night. Once we got home, we opened the box to find these clearly marked burritos..."His and Hers". I thought it was cute. Just the little things that local businesses do to make you smile.

Local Gym Discriminating or being Polite?

2010-12-22T14:48:00.001-08:00

These signs may or may not be familiar to you. They're posted all over an Abilene gym. To some, it might be a polite reminder and to others an act of discrimination. I have talked about it with several people and I have heard fair arguments for both sides.

I definitely don't consider myself a weakling in the gym, however I can admit that there are some weights that are too heavy for my own comfort. In those cases, I would hope that the person using a fitness machine before me would remove a weight that I may be unable to lift off.

On the other hand, people have suggested not posting a sex on these signs. Instead, could the gym employees plainly said, "Please re-rack weights after use."

To some, this may be a non-issue, however I think it's topics like this that are worth a discussion. How do you feel about the pink signs that decorate one of your local gyms?

Is it the Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

2010-12-13T13:46:00.000-08:00

So they call it the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year," over the winter holidays.

I agree with this statement for the most part because it's filled with quality family time, good food, and occasionally a day or two off from working (I do love my job, but everyone needs a day off right?). Plus, I am also a big fan of Christmas Lights, Christmas Movies, and Christmas Music.

While I am sure there are many that do feel the same as me, I have heard a lot of people saying it's the opposite. A lot of people seemed stressed out with gift-buying and complain about too much family time.

What are your thoughts on the holidays? Any unique traditions?

Calling all Reality TV addicts

2010-11-28T20:25:00.001-08:00

Okay, so I as much as I hate to admit it I watch hours of reality TV. Do I know that most of it is garbage and watch it anyways? Yes. Why? Who knows.
While, I have enjoyed the Real Housewives of most seasons (excluding D.C.) I never thought I would be one to watch Bridal Plasty. After watching previews for it, I almost convinced myself that I wouldn't watch it, but sure enough I did. The concept of the show in my opinion is absolutely ridiculous and so sad that these bride-to-be's are obsessed with altering their bodies. The fact that a show is making money off of these girls is also pretty sad. It also made me sad to see how beautiful these woman are, and yet it's not enough. As a woman, I know about insecurities but to want to basically change everything about yourself breaks my heart.
But fact of the matter is, the creators and producers of this new show likely have a new hit show before them. I still cannot figure out why so many people could get sucked into the whole thing.
There was one line on tonight's premier that really bothered me. The host says to the first bride that gets eliminated, "Your wedding will still go on but it just may not be perfect."
Are you kidding me? You don't have to be on reality TV, have plastic surgery, and have your wedding paid for, in order for it to be the perfect experience. Although, I am sure most couples would appreciate having the wedding paid for and honeymoon too. That's besides the point in my mind.
I'd love to hear from my fellow reality TV junkies. Anyone else feel as crazy as I do for watching all this? Which one is your guilty pleasure? Did I really just blog about reality TV? Yup, sure did.

Puppy Suffers Serious Injuries

2010-11-23T09:06:00.000-08:00

It breaks my heart any time I hear about an animal cruelty case, and seeing pictures only intensifies that emotion.
Today, KRBC news uncovered an on-going investigation that several rescue groups and authorities are trying to track down who is responsible for the serious injuries.
In case you missed the story, a dog was found roaming near Interstate 20 and FM 60. But, it's what authorities found that was so shocking. A cable was lodged inside the puppy's neck, so much that the dogs skin had grown over it in some areas. The President of Rescue the Animals, Paul Washburn says that the growth shows that the cable had been embedded for some time, showing that the dog was likely left uncared for while it physically grew. The dog was also emaciated at the time. Washburn believes that the cable needed to be surgically removed from the dogs neck, but is said to be recovering well.
Rescue the Animals is offering a $500 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.

That's a fortune?

2010-11-13T17:48:00.001-08:00

Hey All!

So who doesn't like Chinese food? I know, I just get in those moods when I just crave it. Today was one of those days. I ordered take out and as always, I get excited for dessert (the fortune cookie!!!) to find out what my "fortune" will be.

Over the years, I have had some amazing fortunes; ones that just put you in a great mood and make you think you'll have good luck! But, I have also had some pretty dull ones. However, tonight's fortune is in a league of its own. Here's what it reads: Foot: A device for finding furniture in the dark.

At first I thought I was looking at the back side of the paper; where it teaches you how to say a word or phrase in Chinese. But, it was definitely the front. In fact, the back might have been a better fortune because the word that it was attempting to teach me was "exciting". But Foot?
How is telling me how to find furniture in the dark predicting my future? While this is really no big deal at all, having a fortune like this I am just wondering if anyone else has had strange fortunes inside of their dessert after a Chinese meal. Or if anyone knows a hidden meaning by my fortune reading, please share.

P.S. Does anyone else think it would be a cool job to be the person that writes the fortune to put inside the cookie? I'd like to talk with the person that was in charge of predicting my future by telling me a Foot is a device for finding furniture in the dark. haha...

Gang Sign or Kids Being Kids?

2010-11-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen shoes hanging by their laces from electrical wires?

It's a story I looked into yesterday, but I know that there are plenty more opinions about this symbol. I wanted to give everyone the opportunity to let me know what they know or even what other rumors there are out there.

One thing that I still haven't received answers on, is who is responsible for taking the shoes down. AEP representatives tell me that on a case-by-case basis they have removed them at the request of customers, however they also told me it is not their responsibility.

I doubt that anyone has been fined for throwing shoes over an electrical wire, but do you think it is a form of litter?

In case you didn't catch the 6 pm yesterday on KRBC, here's a link to my video.

http://bigcountryhomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=309787

BeetleJuice Runs the KRBC Studio Cameras

2010-10-28T20:58:00.000-07:00

The KRBC crew is like one big, for the most part "happy" family. We spend a lot of time together, perhaps more time than with our biological ones.

Anyways, with Halloween right around the corner today was the station's designated day to dress up in costume. Most of us on-air people couldn't exactly get decked out in the Halloween spirit, but we lived vicariously through our co-workers.

KRBC production is made up of a great group of people. Tonight, as you can see in this picture, Beetlejuice was in charge of running our cameras during the newscasts. Tell me, looking at him doesn't make it difficult to focus on the news. Creative costume, isn't it? As you can see the two ladies pictured with Stephanie Harris and I were also dressed up for the occasion. As for Steph and I...we're letting our reputation with Wayne and Garth of Wayne's World live on.

Happy Halloween!

Goodbye Trick-or-Treating?

2010-10-25T21:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, it hasn't been too long since I was going door-to-door trick-or-treating, but boy over the years, the Halloween activity has changed. I know that Abilene and surrounding Big Country towns host trunk-or-treat events for kids to dress up and get candy. However, do many Big Country residents still go door knocking with their kiddos, collecting candy from their neighbors?

Last year, I had very few people ring my door bell which was kind of a bummer, since I love to see all the fun and unique costumes. I like to live vicariously through them, since I am too old to go trick-or-treating, myself.

I am curious to hear from parents about their philosophies on this holiday tradition. Are there really too many risks associated with the old-fashioned activity? Or are people just opting for trunk-or-treats and fall festivals because that's the thing to do now-a-days. I don't have children of my own yet, so I haven't quite formed my own opinion on it. But I can remember growing up, looking so forward to going to as many houses in the neighborhood as possible; filling up a pillow case with candy.

Is trick-or-treating a think of the past?

Jamba Juice in Abilene

2010-10-06T08:22:00.001-07:00

Hello Friends,

Okay, so I know I told you about P.F. Changs in Abilene (well in a bag in United Supermarkets), but now I found Jamba Juice in Abilene (in a bag at Walmart)!

I wasn't too crazy about the P.F. Changs dinners after all, but I am a fan of this Jamba Juice.

It makes 2 8 ounce cups, and it costs less than $3.00. If you've ever been a Jamba Juice store, you know that it costs more than that for just one shake. Not a bad deal to enjoy a great taste if you ask me.

Pick one up and let me know what you think. Also, if I am missing out on some other popular restaurant chains that come in a "bag" at a local grocery store, let me know. Thanks!

The Secret Inside the Lion's Den

2010-09-30T19:14:00.000-07:00

After getting a first glimpse at the five African lion cubs at the Abilene Zoo with their Mother...I couldn't help but wonder, where is their Dad?
If you've been to the Zoo before, you typically see the Lion and Lioness inside the exhibit together. Today during the media-preview of the cubs, I had the opportunity to ask, where is he?
Apparently, he is in some caging inside (where zoo patrons cannot see). He has never seen his lion cubs. I imagine he'd be territorial and could pose a danger to the cubs but, I couldn't help but feel a little bit bad for the fella.
The Lion cubs will be making their debut for the public this Saturday. When you go to check out the Lion exhibit, you'll get to see the mother and her five cubs, but you won't be seeing the father with his beautiful mane.
The cubs and Mom will be on display from 9 am until 4pm, which means, the Daddy Lion won't be able to roam free in his den until after Zoo operation hours. I was assured however, he is let out, alone in his exhibit at night.
It's understandable that zoo staff make these decisions based on what they know about these magnificent animals.
I coach PopWarner cheerleading in Nelson Park (which is right in front of the Abilene Zoo) nightly and every night at practice, I can hear the Lion Roaring and Panting. He sounds frustrated. I think I would be too if I had to be alone all the time.
Needless to say, I think the Abilene Zoo is extremely lucky to have five baby lion cubs in captivity.

Fluent in Mumble

2010-09-22T19:38:00.000-07:00

This isn't the first time I have noticed or anything, but after getting some cavities filled today I thought I'd bring up one of the many talents dentists have.

First and foremost, only here in Abilene do I actually semi-enjoy going to the dentist. I absolutely love my dentist and dental staff. In the previous states, I have lived in...I avoided the dentist at all costs. Here everyone makes the experience a lot less painful; full of distractions! : )

Anyways, most of us when we get fillings for cavities, we're awake (even if we get laughing gas) which means we have some interaction with the dentist and assistant.

No matter how numb your mouth may be or how many tools and cotton balls are inside it, when the dentist asks a question, you try to answer. Sometimes, the response is not a yes or no and uh-huh's and uh-uh's won't cut it. But no matter, what they could understand everything I was saying. I am talking phrases and full sentences that were coming out of my mouth, that even I barely could understand what I was saying. It's an impressive quality these dentists and assistants have.

The reason for me writing this blog is, we all know that dentist's are smart and have academically had a lot of schooling, but I think understanding "mumble" is another admirable quality.

Rescues and Runways

2010-09-19T20:08:00.000-07:00

So this past Saturday, I helped out with a local fashion show with a better purpose than just trying to sell clothes. Maurice's and Rescue the Animals teamed up to help find shelter dogs permanent homes.

We were outfitted in their latest fashion trends and then given a pooch to walk the runway. I was the last one to "model," and the cute little Schnauzer that was supposed to strut his stuff with me, was not in the mood. Of course, he had already walked the catwalk several times during the show (There was only a handful of dogs at the Mall of Abilene). So poor pup, had enough of the spotlight. I tried to pull him in my direction,

but plain and simple...he was not having it. So, I decided not to bug him and another volunteer for Rescue the Animals handed me another pooch. This type, I thought I'd play it safe and carry him in my arms instead of walk him on the leash.

He was comfortable as can be and I had fun walking with him down the runway. Obviously, I didn't quite have the model strut going on, but it was fun. My second dog was adopted moments after the show ended. The Great Dane in the show was also adopted, as well as another Great Dane that was still at the Rescue the Animals shelter.

Knowing about the adoptions made the whole day that much better. Fashion and cute puppies...not a bad way to spend a Saturday in Abilene!

Plastic Surgery Open House in Abilene

2010-09-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to an Open House for Plastic Surgery?

If it sounds like something that interests you, you might consider one going on this evening from 6 pm to 9 pm. It will be held inside the medical Mall Atrium which is located at 1665 Antilley Road.

The pamphlet I found inside an Abilene gym says to RSVP, but it doesn't have a date. For additional information you can call (325) 793-5128.

Image Sculptures, Plastic Surgery and Medical Day Spa is hosting the annual Open House.

Dr. Laura Bennett and Dr. Peter Grothaus will be there to meet with people and to ask questions.

There will be a raffle, give-aways, gift certificates, and to top it off food from Copper Creek Catering.

Make a Muscle Make a Difference

2010-09-08T21:18:00.000-07:00

This was my first year directly being involved with the MDA. It has been an eye-opening experience. This year was my first year to participate in the annual Lockup and I really enjoyed my time as a "jailbird". I felt so good raising money for something so important.
After hosting the 2010 MDA telethon with Stephanie Harris and Randy Turner, it made me realize just how much I have taken for granted.
I met the most inspiring people that day at the MCM Elegante. They helped me realize how vital money is to providing medical care for those with MD and other related diseases, the importance of a fun-filled week at camp, and above all putting money towards research to ultimately finding a cure for those that have MD or other neuro-muscular diseases.
The Big Country and the Concho Valley together helped to raise over $165,000 dollars for the MDA. It made me proud to live here to see so many generous people that opened up their hearts and wallets to make a difference in so many peoples lives.
The MDA Telethon was an amazing thing to be a part of. This year's theme was "Make a Muscle/Make a Difference". Thank you Big Country and Concho Valley for making a difference.

Oops...I forgot to put on my microphone

2010-08-25T16:11:00.000-07:00

Nearly every working day, I am in a rush. I am rushing to get all of my assigned stories done, while preparing for the 5 pm news as well. This week was no exception. I got back from a week of vacation and returned to all new cameras and editing equipment. I picked the wrong week to go away. But, of course I was rushing through my day and by the time I sat down to anchor First at Five...I forgot to do one of the most (probably the most) important thing...put on a microphone. Here's a short clip. You'll notice you can still understand what I am saying, but only because the microphone I should have been wearing was hanging over the back of my chair. Oops. Hey, I'm human...I make mistakes.

Ugh Mosquitoes!

2010-08-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

Something we can all relate to...pesky mosquitoes and mosquito bites! I went to sleep away camp in the woods in New Hampshire for years growing up and have had my fair share of camping experiences, so I know all about mosquitoes. I'm really not a fan of the insects, and I think it's safe to assume that most people aren't.
The weather changes from rainy to hot and muggy have definitely contributed to an increase in mosquitoes around the Big Country. One of the worst scenarios is when they get inside your house. While, I have been busy killing mosquitoes inside, it's where one mosquito got me tonight that is a nuisance. Of all places, the bottom of my foot was where the mosquito decided to bite me. Scratching any mosquito bite is annoying, but the bottom of my foot "takes the cake" for most frustrating mosquito bite.
I am sure many of you have had your own run-in's with mosquitoes, so share the worst place you've gotten bit by one before.
Also, does anyone have any good techniques for stopping the itch after the bite? Mosquito repellent works well to prevent the insects, but who wants to spray that inside the house and keep it on at all times?
I used to press my fingernail over the mosquito bites and make an "X" shape, because I was told that takes the itch away. In my experiences, that is not the case. Has anyone else heard of that?

Father & Son Buy Dinner for Dyess Couple

2010-07-22T15:48:00.001-07:00

I was eating dinner at the Beehive in Downtown Abilene Wednesday night and noticed something "suspicious-looking". A father and son were sitting nearby enjoying their dinner, when they started gossiping with the waitress. Being, the curious reported that I am...I was determined to find out what they were talking about. I later found out.
Sitting to my left, a Dyess airman and his significant other were dining. The waitress much later into the meal, told them that their meals and drinks were "taken care of". It immediately clicked...the Father sitting with his son bought them dinner. : ) What was even nicer was that, I heard the waitress say..."the person wants to remain anonymous but wants to thank you for serving this country and to let you know you're appreciated!" How classy! It immediately made me smile to see people doing such selfless and kind things for others. What I was also impressed by, was that the father did it with his sons knowledge, teaching him kindness. It was one of those moments that just make your day, and seeing the look of happiness and shock on the Dyess couples face was priceless.

Medieval Times: Dallas

2010-07-19T18:34:00.000-07:00

While we are only a couple of hours, I rarely spend much time in Dallas. However, I went to a college friend's baby shower there, and decided to make a weekend trip out of it. So, we went to Medieval Times.

This was the second time, I have been to a Medieval Times restaurant (first time when I was much younger). It was much different than I remembered...more adult-friendly, I'd say. There were still plenty of kids but I thought the atmosphere was more grown-up.

Even the exteriors of the building, makes it look like a cool place to be, and of course no one's complaining about the paper crowns. You get to play royalty for an evening. ; )

The staff (or wench's...as they refer to themselves) are really nice and the service was great.

While I didn't think the food was amazing, I did enjoy it. Any food (feast) you get to eat with your hands is fun. The meal was actually pretty filling (we ate like Kings and Queens).

And then of course, the entertainment value of the event. It's not every day that you get to see live theater that involves horses, or such skilled riders. The story line is both child and adult-friendly...making it a fun event for the whole family.

It's also fun to be silly and enthusiastic about cheering on your color. A good excuse to shout for fun.

What's neat is that there aren't too many Medieval Times around the country and yet, we've got one close by in Dallas, Texas. I am guessing many of you have already experienced it, but for those of you that haven't...it is something you should consider. Here's a link to their website if you want more information. http://www.medievaltimes.com/dallas

I'm Not Selling Anything

2010-07-14T15:51:00.000-07:00

One of the funny parts of my day, (as a reporter) is when people assume that I am trying to sell them something.
For many of our story assignments, we seek your opinions...which means going out and finding you. Sometimes that can be in grocery store parking lots, in neighborhoods, at the park, etc. Despite the memo "Not to talk to strangers," my job requires talking to strangers. While comedic, it is also one of the best parts of the job because I get to meet knew people every day.
However, almost every day when I approach someone, by introducing myself, they start to back away or turn their heads. If they know, I work for KRBC, they could be equally fearful of being on television.
For the most part, I know that my potential interview subjects are just not in the mood for a sales pitch. We usually laugh together about it, after they find out I just wanted to talk to them.
Most times, they agree to do an interview and sometimes I can't help but to assume that they do it because they feel bad about initially giving me the cold shoulder. Either way, I am not out to bother people in the community (certainly not selling anything), merely just wanting to listen to the likes, gripes, and concerns of residents within the community.
When this happens, I can't help but to feel bad for the "real"salespeople that get shut down, when they are just trying to make a living.

Do's and Don'ts When it Comes to Strangers

2010-07-09T08:39:00.000-07:00

Every day we run into strangers, new people that we haven't seen before. This is where some common courtesy questions come into play. Do we have the responsibility to tell people we've never met that they've got a piece of food stuck in their teeth or that they've got toilet paper stuck to the bottom of their shoe?

I'm more curious to hear what other people have to say about this subject and whether or not they act out what they believe is right.

Personally, I always feel obligated to tell people when I notice something such as those two things, because I would want someone to tell me. I think if I noticed it, I can do someone the favor of telling them, regardless of if I know them or not.

Now, I have been on the receiving end. I've had something stuck in my teeth before, had a bug in my hair, etc. and have been told about it by a complete stranger. While, it is initially embarressing, I'd rather be embaressed once about it...rather then get home and notice in the mirror (hours after lunch) that I had a piece of lettuce in my teeth, that many people likely saw throughout the course of the day. In some cases, the food or bug could already be gone by the time you look in the mirror, which means you'd never have to know if it was ever there, therefore no embaressing moment.

I just think things like that are part of our everyday life, and that it's no biggie to help a stranger out.

If you want to share your experience and how you handled it, feel free. I'd love to hear about them.

Bee Sting Free

2010-06-24T16:34:00.000-07:00

So occasionally, reporters do stories involving bees, which often requires getting up close and personal with a hive of bees. Otherwise, it is kind of difficult to put together a story about bees (for tv) if there aren't any bees.
Today, it was my turn. An Abilene family keeps having a bee problem outside their home, and it's gotten so bad that the bees even started getting inside. They contacted me in hopes of talking about their mistakes, trying to get rid of the bees (that so many people make-as would I) and how a bee keeper is the only way to take care of a bee infestation.
Of course, when the beekeeper and myself showed up the home in South Abilene, the bees were gone. The family says within 45 minutes, a swarm of thousands were buzzing outside their home (and then like that they were gone). I learned from the bee keeper today, that this is the business of bees. They travel from hive to hive and that they are very territorial, hence why they sting. The stinging only comes as a result when the insects feel that their Queen is threatened. Visting with an Abilene bee keeper, I learned a lot about the nature of bees. It's pretty fascinating...even the family with the infested home, thinks so.
As the bee keeper is about to leave the house to go on another bee call, he notices in the distance (across the street) the enormous hive. He pointed it out to us and said it was the same swarm at the Abilene residence. So over to the hive we went. I tried to keep my safe distance because as much as I am all for good video, I wasn't looking forward to getting stung.
Fortunately, the bee keeper, Melvin Williams was generous enough to get right up to the hive with my video camera to show you the bees hard at work. Then he returned my camera, and got to work. I can tell you this much, I do not envy the responsibilities of a bee keeper. Truthfully, I was in awe of how brave he was (and how unconcerned he was about getting stung). Within moments, he captured the majority of the hive, which included the Queen...packing it in his container to take back to his place of observation. The remaining thousands of bees went everywhere, even circled around my head and another nearby man. This man helped swat the bee from my head, which then attracted the bee to him, but fortunately we both got away from the scene sting-free. I guess you'd call that pretty lucky...getting that close to bees.

Role Reversal

2010-06-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

What many of you don't get to see is all of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, here at KRBC. For the most part, I don't even get to see it, which is why I decided to learn about it through a little assignment of mine. Morgan Bond and I decided to take on the production booth (as the Director and Audio Operator). KRBC's "real" Director is Ruth Cost (who is awesome) and Audio Operator is Pamela Langford (and she too is awesome). Those two gals decided to give the anchor desk a whirl.

The video you're about to see is silly and not meant to be taken seriously. However, after trying to understand all that Ruth and Pamela do, I can truthfully say I have a new appreciation for their jobs. As you will see in this video, we all did a little bit of acting (to reflect each others identities here at KRBC). The little bit of sass that you see is all in good fun and we really are like one, big, happy family.

Hope you enjoy our sillyness and can kind of get the idea of what it takes to put on a newscast. P.S. I think I'll be sticking to my job as well.

Icecream Truck Comes to KRBC/KTAB

2010-05-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

Is our boss cool or what? Every day at 2:30, the News Department meets to discuss the stories of the day and in the middle of the meeting, our boss starts telling us to go outside. And there was the ice cream truck! : ) Talk about a nice surprise.

We just completed Sweeps (rating-time), which means we've been working extremely hard to bring unique and investigative stories to our usual local coverage (not that we don't always work hard), but basically there's a little less time to breath during Sweeps months. Now, we're back to breathing and even eating ice cream!

Apparently, our boss must be proud of us, by treating us all ice cream. Thanks boss. Great surprise.

P.F. Changs in Abilene

2010-05-11T05:11:00.000-07:00

P.F. Changs is in Abilene. Okay, maybe not the restaurant...but you can still enjoy a variety of their cuisines here in the Key City. The other day I was grocery shopping at the United on South 14th and in the freezer section of pre-packaged means, the P.F. Changs label caught my eye. I can't recall how many different types of meals they offered, but there were at least a hand full. I bought the Shrimp Lo mein to try and it was delicious (definitely restaurant quality). So for those of you that drive to Fort Worth to go to P.F. Changs, you might be happy to know that you can still enjoy one of their meals and in the comfort of your own home! : ) I'm not sure if the other local supermarkets carry the P.F. Changs brand or not.

Remembering the life of an Abilene Police Officer

2010-04-29T18:40:00.000-07:00

Tragedy falls over Abilene today, as an honorable police officer was killed in the line of duty. Officer Rodney Holder was trying to stop a speeder, and was hit by another vehicle, while on his motorcycle.
Officer Holder protected the citizens of Abilene since 1982. Since 2005, he was a part of APD's traffic division, as a motorcycle cop.
Abilene police witness horrific tragedies within their line of work, but we cannot even imagine what it must have been like for Holder's fellow officers to witness one of their own.
Having worked with many Abilene police officers in my career, even other employees from the department, I feel so sorry for the pain they must be feeling. My heart sincerely goes out to the friends, family, and of course the department during this time of grieving.
After talking to several of Holder's fellow officers today, nobody had anything but positive things to say about him.
I'd love to hear from others in the community about the memories they've shared with Officer Rodney Holder.

Vampires in Abilene?

2010-04-26T16:51:00.001-07:00

I have to admit I am a little "behind the times" in the Vampire craze, both in the TV series and in the movies. I am talking about "Twilight," "New Moon," and "True Blood."

Unfortunately, I haven't read the Vampire books. I usually love to read things before seeing them on the big screen. But, I figured since I was so behind, I'd skip the books and watch the flicks. After watching, Twilight, I was instantly hooked. The story is so creative and I envy the author for being able to think it all up. Edward is an amazing character, and because of that it was difficult not to be intrigued by him (and to have a somewhat crush on a Vampire character).
There were some creepy parts to the film. Just to name one, when Edward watched her while she was sleeping...I don't know about anyone else, but I wouldn't like anyone watching me sleep.

For you Twilight lovers out there, I am sure you are just as anxious as me for the the third movie to come out. Are you for Bella getting bit by Edward and becoming a Vampire? I am mixed about it. Her family would be devastated, but it would be awful if Edward wasn't able to control his urge and resorted to biting her. I think it would make for a much happier ending if she chose her ending, rather than having it determined for her. And then of course, that brings up the argument of her only being a teenager in High School. And perhaps, the most frustrating part of all, that if they (Edward and Bella) chose to keep things the way that they are...she would one day die and he would go on living forever.

Now to the TV series, "True Blood." These shows were also very creative, but a lot more gruesome, vulgar, and explicit than the Twilight movies. Yet, they still kept my attention. What I love about True Blood is how easy it is to connect with the characters of the town, where everything takes place. It's full of characters that I feel are honest to how people would react if Vampires did exist. I think it is genius how the film writer invented fake blood to tide Vampires over from drinking (ultimately killing humans) for human blood and ultimately allowing the two species to coexist.

While these Vampire stories have proven to be successful, I am most curious what people of the Big Country think of them? Think it's a great way to use our imaginations or silly to think of coexisting with Vampires?

That's Not News!

2010-04-12T05:09:00.000-07:00

"That's not news," and "It must be a slow news day," two of my least favorite phrases that I've heard from time to time as a news reporter in Abilene.

The first phrase, "That's not news," makes me laugh because in most circumstances the person that says this is usually hiding something. On several occasions, we'll (as a News Department) get calls in from viewers that are either witnesses, customers, patients, etc. that see or hear something going on in the community. As a journalist, it is my responsibility to check up on it. Granted, in some instances it turns out to be nothing, but in others it can turn out to be a big something.
When we seek out information about something, it is not our goal to shine someone or something in a negative light. We never gain anything from that. It is our job, as Abilene's news to bring viewers information that reflects what is or isn't going on in the Abilene community.

The other one, "It must be a slow news day!" On the outside, it would appear that some newscasts are filled with more crime events, rather then other current events happening around town, whereas some days, there may be little crime reports and more political stories, etc. This is what I love about the News business. You never really know what you're going to get. On most work days, I dig and develop my own stories after talking to my sources here in Abilene, and try to create a story that shows and tells you about it. And then on other days, we have to react to whatever is going on (ie a fire, a riot, or a drug bust).
Back to the phrase,"It must be a slow news day," I have also heard this from people when they don't want a story to be done on whatever it is that is happening or happened. Especially, when people decline to do an interview about it or don't want to give up any information, in my eyes it makes them look guilty. Is there something that they are hiding? People, businesses, and yes (journalists included) make mistakes, but in my mind not owning up to them is the worst.

For the most part, people in Abilene have been more then willing to do interviews or give information, regardless of the circumstance (and I for one, am very appreciative of that). I have found that people tend to be more open and honest here, then other places I have visited. But, with all jobs...there are just some things you come across that bug ya. Don't get me wrong, everyone is entitled to their views and opinions and I respect that. My opinion on "That's not News," is that's not true. If the story is reflective of something happening in Abilene, "It's News." And "It must be a slow news day," well...there really is no such thing. Again, in most cases we really have no control of the stories that happen in Abilene, it is just our job to find them and bring you the facts.

Lucky Sunglasses

2010-03-18T17:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, so normally I buy a pair of $5-10 sunglasses from Target. However, living in Miami for four years and having a great need for sunglasses all the time...I invested in two pairs (over time) of designer sunglasses.
At first, I didn't see the point in spending that much money on sunglasses, but I realized the amount of times I was replacing the cheap ones was adding up. So, I gave in. I've got a pair of Versace sunglasses that cost about $200. That was a big expense for me, but after I splurged...I really wound up taking better care of them. There was no way I was just going to throw away two hundred bucks. So, needless to say nearly four years later the glasses are still in pretty decent condition.
Today, that almost changed. I was out shooting a story and for whatever reason, I took the sunglasses off my head and put them on the back of the news vehicle, while I was shooting video. I got in the car and started driving away and went to look for my sunglasses...nowhere to be found. While, I started preparing myself for the worst...that's they'd be run over...I had to go back and at least check.
Several blocks away, I back tracked and walked for awhile, near where I had parked. No glasses. I decided, I didn't have time to search all day for them, and that it might be better to just move on and try not to dwell on it. So, as I am taking off...in the middle of a busy intersection on the North side of town, I see my sunglasses.
I was shocked. I couldn't believe how lucky I was that, despite being in the middle of a busy intersection for at least several minutes, they were still in one piece. I was also lucky that by the time I pulled over to park and run into the intersection that no one drove by. That probably would've been even worse had I witness someone run over my shades. I was lucky. While they are just a pair of sunglasses, I sure was glad to have them back in one piece.

TV Personalities and Cheerleading

2010-03-05T10:22:00.000-08:00

It doesn't come as a surprise to me that many former cheerleaders would take interest in a field of Broadcast Communication, but it tends to be something many of us have in common.

While I am now a "retired" cheerleader, it still remains a passion of mine and unfortunately, I am reminded of my collegiate sport pass time any time I do something athletic. In my junior year of college at Barry University, I tore my ACL in my left knee. Not a pleasant memory of mine to say the least. However, even after having reconstructive knee surgery and going through intense rehabilitation, it still swells up. As many of you know from previous blogs, I am a diehard rollerblader. No matter how long I rollerblade for, the knee aches for days. I have just come to accept that, but it makes miss my pre-injury cheerleading days when I was entirely mobile. haha...Here's a few pictures of my favorite college cheerleading days.

And...my not so favorite cheerleading memories. This was the crazy contraptions that helped me get my knee back to normal mobility.

While my cheerleading days are over, I still help coach teams and am hoping to coach my own team in Abilene. Anybody know of any leagues needing coaches?

Killer Whale Kills

2010-02-26T06:56:00.000-08:00

So, chances are you've heard about the recent Killer Whale at Sea World that killed one of it's trainers. I have mixed feelings about this tragic accident, as I am sure many of you do too. Hearing the stories from various people that knew "Tillicon," the whale now at Sea World Florida, it seems strange that he was even allowed to perform in their shows. A former trainer, from Canada says Tillicon was only supposed to be used for breeding purposes and never to perform. That is a huge red flag right there. Also, "Tilli" is blamed for two additional deaths in the past.
While I do agree that whale trainers are taking a huge risk, and should be aware of the dangerous possibilities....it's an all together sad situation. Fact of the matter is, a whale is a wild animal and unlike some domestic animals, there is no telling how they will behave.
It's amazing to watch the shows that the trainers orchestrate with the Whales and Dolphins at SeaWorld. I'll admit that I do enjoy watching them and am always amazed at how responsive they are to their trainers.
However, it comes to a point when you have to decide, when is enough? It seems trainers will continue risking their life for their passion for performing with the animals. Of course, there would be no letting "Tilli" back into the wild, as he is a captive whale, now but don't you think maybe he's had enough performing? Sounds to me, like he should just be taken care of there and maybe not in the spotlight.
While I clearly feel awful about the innocent life that was lost in a Whale tank, I also don't think you can just hate "Tilli," the whale. But, in addition, I do not think that trainers should continue pushing the whales buttons (for lack of better way to say it). Another huge topic for discussion is that you run the risk of traumatizing people in the audience, little kids even if a tragedy like this happens. They come to watch a show and all of a sudden they witness a death in the whale tank. That is certainly not what they came to see.

Surviving Without A Cellphone

2010-02-16T07:23:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how far technology has come that we often forget what it was like without some of our "now" every day necessities. Such as a cellphone, email, facebook, even a car.

Recently, our boss put some of the KRBC team up to the challenge of giving up one piece of technology for a week. If you didn't catch my story, here's a link. I had to give up my cellphone!

No cellphone for a week, is it possible? Initially, I didn't think so. However, keeping so busy with my daily assignments at work, the time went by pretty quickly. Once I got home, I was exhausted so there was no need for phone calls.

The few things that I quickly missed were having my alarm clock set on my cellphone. That might sound sad, because yes I have an alarm clock just never use it. I guess I always assume that the clock won't go off and I'll be late. My cellphone has never failed me, so it's my crutch for waking up in the mornings.

Then there came the winter weather days, which made me paranoid that if I were to get into an accident, I wouldn't be able to call someone immediately for help.

While life did exist without cellphones, I like better with them.

It was a unique challenge though. I am happy to say that I passed the test of living without it too. While, some people doubted me. My competitive nature kicked in and I relied on using a land line and a computer.

The other great thing about having a cellphone is that it holds all your phone numbers for you. Without my cellphone, I didn't know too many numbers by heart (except for Mom, Dad, and Grandparent's). It's kind of sad that I honestly don't even know most of my close friends phone numbers! Fortunately, for this experiment...I planned ahead, and wrote majority of my close friends and people that I thought I couldn't go a week without talking to. So I had that covered.

Some friends and family were probably more frustrated with my assignment, not being able to get a hold of me for a week.

Like I said in my story, plenty of good things came out of the social experiment. I became a better driver...not using my cellphone at all in the phone. It should be that way anyways, unless you use a blue tooth device. But, I am guilty of talking on the cellphone while driving (not through school zones, of course). Now, I don't feel the need to talk on my cell in between each interview of the day. The radio makes the time go by quicker.

Perhaps the most important thing, though that came out of this whole task was that I pay more attention to the people I love and care about! Even when I am not at work, I am glued to my cellphone! Whether it is texting someone or updating my facebook/twitter status. Which really can wait until after dinner or another time then when I should be enjoying quality time with someone. Now while I do have my cellphone back, I am still trying not to be permanently attached to it. And those that are close to me are noticing and liking the difference. : )

Also, a New Year's Resolution of mine was to deactivate email on my phone. I felt it was just consuming too much of me, so now I just frequently log onto the computer to get my email. I am still easily accessible that way, as I check it all the time. But, I figure if it's really important, someone would just call me. It's also nice to not have my phone buzzing and chirping every time I get an email.

Winter Wonderland in Abilene!

2010-02-11T13:38:00.000-08:00

A winter wonderland here in Abilene, and all throughout the Big Country. Are you loving it or hating it?

Since 7 am, the snowflakes starting falling and Chief Meteorologist, Randy Turner tells me that it isn't expected to stop until 7 pm tonight. That's a lot of snow. Here in Abilene, we have seen between 3 to 5 inches of snow, and so far we have heard that Albany has had the most snowfall...reporting 8 inches today!

With the Winter Olympics starting tomorrow here on KRBC...it's funny to hear that Vancouver is having to ship in artificial snow for the games, when it just keeps on coming...here in the Big Country. Clearly, we do not have quite enough for the skiing and snowmobiles in the Olympics, but lots of people have found fun things to do with the Snow.

I found road conditions to be a little slippery this morning, but as more and more drivers traveled them, they weren't so bad. However, it's a little scary how the temperatures are expected to drop overnight and all that pretty white snow is expected to turn to ice.

How are you preparing for this storm? Stocking up on supplies today and calling into work tomorrow?

The KRBC team will be at work in the wee hours of the morning, letting you know about road conditions and what you can expect around town, if you do have to venture out on the Abilene roads. Be sure to watch the KRBC newscast throughout the night and into the morning tomorrow! Be safe everyone!

Do Nightmares haunt you???

2010-02-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

So, from as far back as I can remember, I've never really had a good night's sleep. I'm not complaining or blaming anyone but myself for that. I think I just constantly have too much on my mind, all the time and I never allow my brain to have a rest...which could explain why I have had terrible nightmares for years.

I used to have this reoccurring nightmare when my parents were in the midst of a divorce, and after talking to some dream analyst, that could have played a roll. After the officially divorced, the nightmare did go away but several years later, I had the same exact one...always with the same ending. Waking up in the middle before something really bad happens.

I've always been fascinated by what goes on when you're asleep, such as dreaming and nightmares, which is why I found a story that centers around abnormal sleep disorders.

At first, I called some places in town that held sleep studies...but after talking to a local doctor that specializes in Sleep medicine, Dr. Amelia Yeh...she told me about an interesting yet scary sleep disorder, called Rem Behavior Disorder.

She started explaining that this type of disorder runs the risk of the person sleeping injury themselves and/or others. Then she mentioned she had a patient who had seen significant improvements since he started seeking treatment, but initially he almost killed his wife in his sleep.

I thought, wow...that is really interesting but more scary than anything. Fortunately, he was willing to share his story with me, hoping to help others (who might be suffering from Rem Behavior Disorder as well...without even knowing it) which Dr. Yeh says is common. One thing I thought was especially interesting was that many people notice other problems while sleeping and it isn't until talking with her that they realize that they have RBD (which can be very serious).

I want to say thank you to C.W. "Charlie" Chandler for his willingness to share something personal in his life. I hope that his story will raise awareness and get others that suffer similar things the help that they need.

Since I am so interested in dreams or nightmares, feel free to share some of yours! Also, if anyone has their dreams analyzed or knows what certain dreams mean...I'd love to hear about it. Here's a link to my story on Rem Behavior Disorder!

A Gloomy Day in Abilene

2010-02-04T19:35:00.000-08:00

A gloomy Thursday for the City of Abilene...for those of us that ventured outside, that was easy to see. However, for 1200 Abilenians, it was a "gloomy" day aside from the weather.
Three days without pay for all city personnel. While some employees may have seen something, like today's news coming for some time now, it's still not what anyone wanted to hear.
City Management says they hope to save $600,000 from the furlough days, only problem being that $600,000 can only be saved if ALL 1200 employees actually have those days off. City Manager, Larry Gilley implied today that some City positions might not be able to have those days off because the City of Abilene is focused on providing the Citizens of Abilene with the highest quality of service. As the City states in its mission statement,"We work together to build a community of the highest quality for present and future generations."

While, we say 1200 employees are affected by the City's financial situation, it's really much more than that. It's 1200 people plus all of their family members. It's hard to imagine just how many people will feel an impact from the pay cuts. It's unfortunate to know that for so long, we said Abilene was safe from the state of the nation's economy, but as City Councilman, Robert Briley said in my interview earlier today, it was basically just a matter of time until we felt the effects here in the Abilene community.

It's easy to speculate being an outsider, not a City employee but I also got to thinking how difficult it must be to be on the City Management end. I cannot imagine having to tell 1200 people that they'll have to take three days off this year and they won't be getting paid for it. It couldn't have been easy, and while it's been described as a "bump in the road by some," it does make you wonder if things can get worst.

When I read about other cities throughout the country, many have already had to fire City employees to put a dent in their communities debt. In that sense, it sounds like we are still pretty lucky here in Abilene. But, at the same time because it doesn't sound too likely that the City will save the hopeful $600,000 (because some employees will have to work) on those furlough days, the City could be facing some future problems.

City Management says that a reduction in force would only be a last resort for the City of Abilene, as they've expressed before. However, it wasn't too long ago that the City of Abilene issued a "hiring freeze," where some retiring positions were not filled by new personnel. Instead, other employees were forced to step in to fill the job requirements. And we can't forget the Abilene Police Department and Abilene Fire Department, who agreed to postpone their pay raises for six months.

What do you have to say about everything?

Behind the Scenes:Video Blog

2010-01-18T18:28:00.001-08:00

I finally tackled the video blog. It's been a long time coming...but I figured what better video blog from me...than a "behind the scenes" post. Of course, there is even a lot more that goes on behind the scenes than this video sequence...but I think you get the idea. Enjoy it. If you have any questions or anything more you'd like to see inside the wonderful world of KRBC News, let me know. I'd love to do another video blog.

P.S. I did the taping for this video blog during lunch hour, when the newsroom is actually a pretty quiet place. Had we shot this around 4 o'clock, you'd have gotten the true chaotic, adrenaline-pumping experience.

I just want to give a special, "THANK YOU," to our Chief Photographer, Andrew Carlson who shot this whole blog for me! : ) He's pretty awesome!

"Looking for some Late-Night fun"

2010-01-12T17:21:00.001-08:00

"Looking for some Late-Night fun," that's the status update that was posted to my grandmother's facebook account.

Yes, I am bringing you another grandmother story, (if you haven't already read Stephanie's blog post...then you have to take the time to do so...that tops the list).

But, I decided to blog about my recent facebook finding. Now, if you're a true facebooker, like myself you find the time to check people's status updates...you know, you want to know what your friends and and family members are up to. Well, I got quite the shock when I saw, "look for some late-night fun" was posted next to my grandmother's name on facebook, for all the Internet world to see.

First off, my grandmother (no matter how technologically savvy she is) does not post status updates...nonetheless would she ever type something along those lines for everyone to see. So, I gave her a call to ask her how facebook was treating her. And she was like, I haven't been on in weeks...and I said, well...your facebook status says you've been looking for a little late night fun these days. She was pretty shocked but laughed off the whole thing.

I decided to blog about it because it made me sad to know that someone must've gotten into her account, and just in general about these computer hackers and Internet virus' sent out all of the time. My Grandmother's case is obviously a very minor one compared to all of the hackers that get passwords to bank accounts and steal identities.

While most of my Grandmother's friends (via facebook) know that she would never post a comment like that, on a smaller scale...it still had to have caused some embarrassment. After all, she does have grand-kids, nieces, nephews that are a lot younger and might get the wrong idea. My grandmother of course took the whole thing lightly and laughed about it.

It really got me to thinking though, how scary of a place the Internet can be.

Burrr...it's cold in Abilene!

2010-01-07T07:02:00.000-08:00

Brrrr...it's cold in Abilene!
"Feels like 7 degrees," says meteorologist Chris Whited from the warm KRBC studio this morning. I was standing by outside at the intersection of Southwest and Clack, I'll tell you it felt colder than that, Chris.
Each time, we bring you live coverage in the early morning hours to warn you and help you prepare for your day...I'll run into people around town last that day that say, "I was watching you on TV and I felt so bad watching you stand there in the cold". I really do appreciate how caring viewers are. While, we do have to stand outside in the below freezing temperature for a few minutes at a time, we are happy that (thanks to technology) we can bring you the the latest road conditions and scenarios around town...in hopes of keeping you safe.
In between each LIVE shot, we are getting warm and toasty inside of our LIVE truck.
Days like today really make me wonder what it's like being a reporter in even colder states and crazier weather, such as hurricanes. I really admire those reporters (that sometimes even risk their lives) to keep their communities informed and safe.
While I spent most of the morning talking about road conditions around town, I still want to stress the importance of dressing warmly. Sometimes, when you first walk out of the house...it doesn't feel too bad. However, after being out in the cold, even walking in and out of store...it is brisk. I stocked up on warmers for my hands and feet last night at Walmart...and they worked like a charm. I highly recommend them. Also, I recommend packing blankets and other "keeping warm" items so that if you ever were to get into a car accident in this frigid weather...you'd be able to keep yourself warm until you get help. May seem like a little over-doing it...but the way I look at it is better safe than sorry.
Anyways, I hope everyone stays nice and warm over the next few days! Thanks for visiting my blog! : )

New Years in Abilene

2009-12-30T12:25:00.001-08:00

It's just a day away...New Years Eve. Now if you're like me you still haven't quite figured out your plans to bring in the New Year. I've heard of several people heading to the Metroplex for some final 2009 celebrating...However, I have found out that there are several fun options around town. Here are some ideas, just to name a few.

Let's start with the overnight packages at some of our Abilene hotels. The Hilton Garden Inn is having a PARTY! If you want the "getaway feel" but don't want to travel. Rest assured...you can get it at the Hilton. For $199.95 per couple, you can get a room, dinner for two, breakfast, admission to the party and dancing (with TNT Mobile DJ), four cocktails included, and the rest at happy hour prices all night long. The Hilton will also be bringing in a TV for everyone to watch the ball drop!
And if you're single and looking to mingle, don't let the couple pkg turn you off. After 9 o'clock, you can get into the party for $10, which does include your first beverage.

The MCM Elegante is also hosting a New Year's Eve "Stay with us" package. For $189 per couple, you get a two-room suite, an evening reception from 5:30 to 7, a buffet dinner for two (from 7-8:30), a dance (featuring Taylor Made) which begins at 8:30 and goes until midnight, party favors, a Champagne toast at midnight, and a full cooked to order breakfast on New Years day. *Let it be known that this NYE party is also themed...80's style!

And if you're not looking for a place to stay but just a place to party. You've got several choices.
For those of you wanting a fancier night out. The Warehouse Downtown is a martini bar, and on New Year's Eve night you can get in for $20 a person, which includes a champagne toast. And if you're wanting a "bigger city" night life experience, you can even get VIP tables and bottle service (price ranging depending on size of party) You can call the Warehouse at (325) 675-9644 for more information. That party begins at 8 and goes until midnight. This is a 21 and up party.

The Lucky Mule Saloon is having another party on the South side of town. You can get in for $10 at the door and expect a $500 balloon drop. The DJ will be playing the best in country and top 40/hiphop. They're even staying open an hour later (closing their bars at midnight but dancing at 1 am). This is an 18 and up party.

So for those of you wanting a night out on the town...hope the above ideas can help out! Hope everyone has a happy, healthy, and safe New Year!

I'm Randy Turner!

2009-12-18T14:29:00.000-08:00

What you might not know is that behind the scenes, I'm actually Randy Turner. And the Randy Turner you know, as KRBC's Chief Meteorologist and Main anchor is actually Brittany Pelletz. haha...just kidding, but I thought I'd let you know on a little "goodluck/just-for-fun-kinda thing we do" before every newscast! While our audio crew is checking our microphone levels and they ask for mine, I say something like, "this is Randy Turner, your chief meteorologist, etc" and Randy says, "I'm Brittany Pelletz and I have blonde hair, or something along those lines". No idea how the heck the tradition started, but it's just that...a tradition that has carried on and no newscast of Randy Turner and I goes without it.

Funny story, every day we record, "topicals," those are the previews you see during Judge Judy about what is coming up on First at Five...and one time, I said, "Join me, Randy Turner and Brittany Pelletz for those stories and more coming up today on First at Five." Luckily, it was recorded...but we all thought it was pretty silly. So, if by chance, you do catch that slip-up on air...there's your explanation.

As you can see, Randy Turner and I have a lot of fun working together.

Forget the Mall, There are Now Even Hagglers when you fly

2009-12-06T14:27:00.000-08:00

While haggler might not be the best word to refer to people trying to sell you stuff...it's the first thing that comes to mind.
We all have likely experienced the Hagglers at the kiosks in the mall that try to lure you in, while you're on a shopping trip. I'll admit that often times they've got pretty cool stuff to sell...however, I don't like to be harressed to buy something. On the days when I am not a shopping mission, I'll come over on my own. But shouting at me is certainly not going to get a sale from me. While I complain about Hagglers, it's not like I expect them to disappear. It's something I know I'll have to deal with when I shop. However, what prompted me to write this blog is that haglers are even at the airport! I'm not sure if they have them on all airlines, but on AirTran they do. There have always been the stations, where if you sign up for a credit card...you earn frequent flyer miles. However, now the sales persons are hagglers! They chased some passengers down even and went above and beyond any shouting at the mall. The worse part about the airport hagglers is that when you walk down the concourse to find a restaurant you pass several haggler stands. After being cooped up in an airplane, it's not exactly what you want to deal with. Now don't get me wrong, I know that it's a job and people get paid to do it...and I respect that...but seeing how pushy they were to travelers and how frustrated people got over the sales pitch...I thought it was blogworthy. The frustrating thing about the airport is that there is really no escape. See, when you go to the mall...it's a choice. You know hagglers are going to be there. At the airport...there is no place to run and you can bet when you walk back down the concourse...you can bet you get a double whammy! You get haggled again. Any thoughts on pushy salespeople? Have you experienced the same thing at the airport?

Oh to be in High School again

2009-11-18T14:36:00.000-08:00

Oh to be in High School again. I'm not saying that I wish I could go back in time and be in High School but taking part in Career Day in Cooper High definitely brought back some memories. (pic to right-Senior Year prom with some of my closest High School friends) : )

First, I will say that I was impressed with many of the students and the unique questions that they had. Some showed genuine interest in the news business : ) and then others were just students that wanted their papers signed for a class assignment. It happens. What was fun was that I got to be on the other side of the questioning. Instead of me conducting the interviews...the students interviewed me.

From talking to students it sounds like many of them know exactly what they want to do once they graduate and then it was neat seeing some students at different booths (including KRBC's) decide that the job that was just explained to them might be something that they're didn't know before, but now are interested in.

There were also a couple of good laughs at Career Day...One student asked if my teeth were real and if I wore my jacket to match the color of my eyes. Clearly had nothing to do with my booth and a job in Broadcast news, but I told the students that they could ask away.

It's amazing how fast life passes us by...and being on the outside looking in (for Career Day) helped me realize how you really should not rush life...but merely go with the flow and enjoy the ride. I probably wished my way out of High School a little bit, wanting so badly to go and experience college. However, I wouldn't change the past even if I could. (below-HS graduation)

Anyways, I think Career Days are really beneficial and eye-opening for students. I am glad that I could take part in it too.

Interviewee Saves Reporter from Bee Sting

2009-11-12T10:30:00.000-08:00

Most everyone I interview is a nice and caring person...but I thought I'd just share an experience with a recent interviewee. We're doing a serious story about suicides. I ask my question and my interviewee, Kirk Hancock, who is the Executive Director of the Mental Health Association in Abilene. He is responding to my question when all of a sudden I have a bee on my neck. I didn't even know and could have possibly been stung...had he not warned me. So while I thanked Mr. Hancock then, I want to thank him again now. This is an example of how you just never know what can happen during an interview.

A Wild Story to Tell

2009-11-05T17:37:00.001-08:00

Big Country Cougars...Talk about a wild story to tell. When I first set out to find "Cougars," I didn't really know where the story was headed. But, sure enough I ran into two women, who wanted to talk about their lovelives, and just how much younger the men they were involved with are. Both women say that "age is nothing but a number." I'm sure you've got opinions of your own and I encourage you to leave your thoughts. Do you agree that "age is nothing but a number?"

We're not Bitter But...

2009-10-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

We're not bitter but...Stephanie and I think we should have won a prize for a pretty creative-believable costume!

Before this picture misleads you...it's from last Halloween. Stephanie Harris and I dressed up like Wayne and Garth from Wayne's World! (to work). Stephanie was still on mornings at that time, so she was already done for the day. Me, on the other hand, I was on the clock, and my News Director looked at me, laughed...and said something along the lines as, "you better hope there's no breaking news, Brittany". Luckily, I already had most of my work done before I dressed in the grunge look.

I know Megan Dobbs recently blogged about the pressures to wear "sexy" costumes, but I think you'll probably agree that "sexy" wasn't what we were going for. It was a lot of fun dressy up as the guys from Wayne's World and unexpected for most people who see Stephanie and I dressed business-like most of the time.

Unfortunately, with Halloween falling on a Saturday this year...we didn't get to dress up to work! : ( I am excited to be home tomorrow for all of the trick-or-treaters though! Have a safe, but FUN Halloween, everybody! : )

Oops! Guilty as Charged!

2009-10-21T16:37:00.000-07:00

Guilty...guilty as charged. So tonight on the 5 o'clock news...I made a mistake. We were talking about the annual Reading Rodeo event that goes on at Bowie Elementary School (which is an awesome event...getting to read to the kiddos) and of course, I had to go and mess it up on tv and say, Rod-eo (as in Rodeo Drive in California). I must have had shopping on the brain or something. No really...I don't know why the slip-up.

Of course, here in Texas it would be rodeo. I guess I'm becoming a Texan slower than I hoped...and I'm clearly not quite there yet. I'll have it be known that I've never actually been to a rodeo so that is on my to-do list. I've only seen them on television or heard about them through friends. I'm not trying to make excuses but maybe after I go to a rodeo, I won't mess up saying the word again. ; ) So to my fellow Texans, please forgive me for my mess-up!

Here's a picture from today's Reading Rodeo (I swear I said it right in my head this time).

This was a group of kindergartners that I read to. Such a great class. We had lots of fun reading Halloween stories and then they shared all of their costumes with me! Such fun!

Missing Mints at Abuelos

2009-10-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

If you dine at Abuelos, one of the things you probably look forward to after a meal there are the mints (I know I do). So, I went there for dinner tonight with my co-anchor, Randy Turner after the 6 o'clock news and when the bill came, there were no mints. When the waitress came back to get the booklet, I asked her if they no longer gave out their mints and she quickly responded, "No, we still have them. They're now kept upfront because the waiters/waitresses were eating them all".
This immediately sent Randy and I cracking up. Apparently the mints have such an appeal that Abuelos servers can't control themselves. If I worked there, I might have the same problem too. They are addicting.
So sure enough, when we went to walk out. We asked the hostess for some mints. She gave us a handful and said we could have as many as we liked. I wanted to know if there were a lot of customers that asked for the mints when they don't show up in the bill...the hostess says most people forget that they even offered mints. But for those of you that don't forget (like me) you can get all the mints your heart desires on your way out! ; )

To Get the Flu Shot or Not to Get the Flu shot?!?!

2009-10-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

To get the flu shot or not to get the flu shot...that seems to be the question for many Abilenians. I think we can all agree that not a day goes by where the flu, or swine flu is NOT mentioned.
So many are racing to get their flu shots, others are boycotting it, and others are debating. I think the most that I've heard of are people that have already gotten or plan to get the regular seasonal flu vaccine, feeling better safe than sorry.
I've also ran into others that say they've gotten sick (very sick) from getting a flu shot in the past and that they're not interested in doing it again. Some feel that the whole vaccine is pointless; that is not accurate.
Then of course, the Swine Flu scare. Ever since the H1N1 virus made headlines, many health clinics and doctors offices say they've seen an increase in patients even wanting the seasonal flu shot (despite the fact that it doesn't protect you from H1N1).
Now to the fear of needles...I am curious to know how many people cringe when they see a syringe. If you have any advice for those afraid of needles, leave it for them on my blog. Also, I'd love to know if there are any or many people that simply were able to get over their flu shot fears this season because of all the attention on the flu and the H1N1 virus.

My Next Chapter

2009-10-02T06:55:00.000-07:00

For the past month, I have been filling in for KRBC's morning show, Abilene Today while Stephanie Harris transitions into her new role as main anchor here.
It's been quite the adjustment, waking up well before the sun for the past month. I've filled in for Stephanie a hand full of times in the past, but doing it every day for a month if tough stuff.
For the most part, I have been waking up between 2-2:30 every morning to get ready and hopefully be into work by 3-3:30. When I say those numbers to people, many say, "what the heck do you do up there at the TV station at the hour, when the news doesn't even start until 6?"
I probably thought the same thing before, but it didn't take long to realize just how much work goes into the morning show. As the morning anchor, you are also the shows producer, (responsible for putting all of the content, editing, and director's cues into the show). Plus, it's KRBC's longest newscast (an hour long as opposed to the normal half hour shows we have). That's a long show, or as Stephanie often refers to it, as a "beast of a show". Granted the second half hour is essentially a repeat for those that might've missed the first half, but there are still plenty of differences.
The only thing I really struggled with filling in for the past month was the initial getting out of bed part when the alarm clock went off. After you're up...you're up. I get a little sleepy in between Abilene Today and Abilene Midday...and then following both shows, I am beat.
The morning show is a fun show to anchor though. I had a blast doing it. The morning crew we have is amazing. They make it fun to be up at crazy hours and frankly, they are a bunch of goofballs. I am going to miss working with them without a doubt.
But, I am excited for the mystery anchor to debut on Monday. I think she brings great talent to KRBC and a new kind of energy to wake up and start your day to.
Now to Abilene Midday. Abilene Midday, I like to call my baby. It's how I got my start anchoring, and while it's only been my job since April 20th to anchor it, I have learned so much.
It was a great experience producing and anchoring a brand new show for KRBC, since it had been at least 20 years since KRBC even had an afternoon newscast. So, I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to kind of set the tone for a new show. Abilene Midday is a fun and hip show with it's facebook feedback segments. Viewers seem to really like it, and it is unique to be the only newscast in the Big Country that lets viewers share their opinions live on TV. I think as time goes by more and more people will catch onto the new style newscast and hopefully will become a fan of the show.
The mystery morning anchor will also be taking over as midday anchor.
Now as for me, my anchoring days are not over. I am just moving to a different spot. I will now be co-anchoring with Randy Turner come Monday. I am looking forward to having the opportunity to work with him. I will also be getting back in the reporting game; reporting for the six o'clock news. I feel pretty lucky to be able to get the chance to both anchor and report in just a days time. Don't get me wrong, it's going to be a lot of work but it's also going to be great experience.
So here's to my next chapter here at KRBC.

Time Flies When You're Havin' Fun

2009-09-23T06:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday marked my 1 year Anniversary here at KRBC. And I guess I'd have to say, "Time Flies When You're Havin' Fun!" Because boy has time just flown right by and yes, it's been a lot of fun. It literally feels like it was just a few weeks ago that I was planning my big trek across country from Miami. At the same time my life feels so settled here in Abilene and I do feel at home. I didn't just start feeling that way though, when I went back to Florida for a visit a few months ago, I felt like a visitor/tourist. And just a year ago, that was what I considered home. Being a TV news reporter is definitely an adventurous job. Over the summer of 2008, I applied to about 100 TV stations all over the country...not knowing where I'd end up...nor did I really have a preference because I was always told you have to go wherever you could get your foot in the door. So when it came down to decision-making time, I obviously chose Abilene because it sounded like the best fit for me and sure enough, I think it was. Looking back, at Fargo, North Dakota and Lincoln, Nebraska as options...the decision to come here to the Big Country was a pie of cake.

A Silly Switch

2009-09-18T06:02:00.000-07:00

So, if you're like me...you get really excited when Friday rolls around. I am all about the TGIF. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy with my work week, as I love my job. However, I do love my weekend time. So after the morning show, Abilene Today was finished this morning...I thought it would be fun if Meteorologist, Nance Burgin and I did a little switcharoo. Just for fun, of course. Nance was at the news desk, anchoring the news...and I gave the green wall a shot, attempting to forecast the weather. While I clearly embarrassed myself with my lack of understanding where to stand and point, it definitely was amusing. I don't think I'll be forecasting KRBC weather any time soon...but, I will tell you that this won't be the last time that I give it a go...hoping to at least conquer the directions at the green wall. And yes, I did make mistakes even in my ad-libbing...guess I was concentrating just a little bit too hard. Enjoy.

Here's the completed Silly Webcast.

Sad about Snowcone Season Coming to an End

2009-09-09T06:55:00.000-07:00

I'm not afraid to admit it; I'm like a little kid when it comes to snow cones; might even be unhealthily addicted to them. While I have always been a fan of the refreshing treats, living here in West Texas has definitely increased my sweet tooth for them. With the hot temperatures all summer long, it was such a nice way to cool down. Also, the snow cone stands that I've visited here in Abilene all have such friendly people working there. I was also intrigued at just how many different flavors that each stand has. I set out a goal to try all the flavors by the summer's end but quickly realized that was not possible, as each snow cone stand has their own set of original flavors.
I will say that I am up there for the list of people who have had the most snow cone's throughout the summer, though. It seemed like no day was complete without one. And as small as it might appear to be, a snow cone was often the highlight of my summer days. Whether it was from a long day of work, after rollerblading, or basically just a craving, it put a smile on my face. And how could I forget about my snow cone live shot opportunity...And although, ice cream is a nice cold treat too, I'll argue that snow cones are better.
You get to satisfy your sweet craving and you don't get too full. And I'd say they're a little bit healthier, even though there's lots of sugar in them.
So with summer coming to an end, I know that means the same for snow cone season in the Big Country, I guess I'll have to find another guilty pleasure.

Movement on Midday

2009-09-03T11:38:00.001-07:00

So for all of our Abilene Midday viewers, you've probably noticed that after each commercial break, we move to a different spot in our studio. It's something that may look pretty simple but actually requires some work...but it's fun work.

I am partial to Abilene Midday because it's how I got my start anchoring and because I had a clean slate to work with (since KRBC hasn't had an afternoon newscast for so many years).
Since I am the producer of Abilene Midday, I am responsible for the content and the style of the show, which is why I started switching it up since our debut on April 20th.

For Abilene Midday, we have one camera operator, Richard (who is absolutely awesome). Don't get me wrong, Mario (our old camera op...was fabulous as well)...but, now Richard is left with the responsibility of moving one camera between the main anchor desk, the plasma wall, and the sports/Abilene Today set. On top of moving the camera around for me, he also is responsible for running both Nance or Chris's (depending on who's forecasting that day) camera. Richard also seperates my scripts for each block of news...making it especially easy to move to each set location.

Not to mention, that each commercial break is around 1 minute and 30 seconds. Switching shots also includes moving cords and even moving furniture (like with our high top chairs). It definitely keeps things interesting because it's a race to actually be in front of the camera in time to be on air.

And here's a little behind the scenes preview, I always have two pairs of shoes on set with me. A pair of flip flops, which are essential when running around the newsroom. And a pair of heels for the shots that my feet appear on camera. Not really sure if other anchors do the same thing but it's something I've just gotten used to doing.

Another inside detail, when standing over at the Sports/Abilene Today set...some of us stand on a platform because we're too short for the desk.

Picking the Pom Pon's Back Up

2009-08-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

Picking the Pom Pon's Back up...well not actually. But, close enough for me. Having been a cheerleader since the 3rd grade until my senior year of college, and coaching since 12th grade through college, this past year without any of it has felt like something has been missing.
Shortly after moving to Abilene, I knew that I wanted to get involved coaching some cheerleading team, but realized that I needed to first worry about getting adjusted to a new job, a new lifestyle, and an entirely new place before being able to devote time to a cheerleading squad. But, now that my one year anniversary in Abilene is approaching, I found the perfect fit.
I just started coaching Pop Warner cheerleading in Abilene.

However, since my schedule working in the wonderful world of news can be sometimes unpredictable, I knew that I didn't want to ever leave a team of mine stranded. So instead, I spoke with the Cheerleading Organizer and we decided I'd be the cheerleader choreographer...where I wouldn't just work with one group of girls but instead the entire league. That way, each team would still have their own individual coach but I'd be able to help everyone out by offering some new material and an overall different cheerleading experience.
I started helping out the "Jets", the littlest girls in the bunch (the youngest being 4). There are only about 9 of them, but they are too cute. You can't help but smile when you hear their high pitch voices. Their attention span doesn't last too young and I can already see that the coaches struggle with teaching them new cheers, jumps, and stunts in an hours worth of time. I've worked with girls as young them before, so it was nothing I wasn't prepared for.

I taught them a few cheers, an organized way to jump together, and a stunt to a cheer. Then at the end of practice, we played a game that happens to be a great positive reinforcement mechanism. It's a silly game that resembles Simon Says, that kids everywhere just seem to love. Since the game was such a hit with the girls...we told them that if they wanted to play it every day at practice, they'd first have to pay attention to all of the things that we learn and review in practice.

So far so good. It's always a rewarding experience seeing how much fun they have learning new things and how hard they work to remember them. It really makes me miss when I was on the sidelines...especially being that young. Because when you get to High School and College cheerleading, the sport of cheerleading takes on a whole new meaning; with it's competitiveness and level of difficulty; ultimately adding another element of danger. Hence, why I tore my ACL my Junior year in college while stunting, winding me up in the operating room for surgery and preventing me from cheering my Senior year of college.

Since I can no longer be on the sidelines or on the competition mat, it makes me really happy to see so many other girls enjoy it just like I did. So, I look forward to continuing to coach the Jets as well as the other cheer squads in the league.

High Heels Hurt

2009-07-27T15:18:00.001-07:00

High Heels Hurt!

Society often leads many women to believe that when a female dresses up, heels are a "must". But, when guys are in a suit and tie, most people don't expect them to wear heels (although, I've heard some male dress shoes aren't always comfortable either).

I happen to have a shoe fetish, don't get me wrong...but, I've officially decided when I'm at work, out and about and on my feet all day, I bring a pair of flats or flip flops. I've learned the hard way that toting around a camera and tripod in stilettos isn't fun. Some of my coworkers make it look effortless doing the same things I do in heels, but my feet are so much happier with me at the end of each day if I wear flip flops instead. I'll admit sometimes I look silly with a full suit and flip flops...but really who's looking at your feet anyways?

Forget about, "beauty is pain"...I'm all about being comfortable!

Being a Big Sister

2009-07-20T07:20:00.001-07:00

Being an only child definitely had and still has it's pros and cons. When I was little and my parents were still together, I had "only child syndrome" where I was spoiled and somewhat bratty...and not wanting to share my toys, along with wanting to be my parents, "one and only".

Luckily, it was just a phase and I realized playing Monopoly and playing Barbies was not as fun solo.

Of course, it wasn't until my parents divorced that I thought it would be cool to have a little brother or a little sister...so by then it was basically too late. Growing up, I didn't have close friends that were only children like me, so I lived vicariously through them. Whether it was the older brother who bullied them around or the big sister that dressed them up like a live-Barbie doll. I was jealous as much as my friends complained and said they were jealous of me. It's funny how we always seem to want what we can't have.

Now that Abilene is home and I am settled into my career, I decided to join Big Brothers/Big Sister's in Abilene. In addition, to getting the sister I never had...it's been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I'd always considered helping out a girl in a program but was traveling and moving around quite a bit, which I thought wouldn't be fair to a potential little sis.

So, it's been about six months that I've spent time with my little sister. We've done lots of unique things together and it's amazing how much a 10-year-old and I have in common. She is so much fun to be around. It's very rewarding to know that I have such an impact on her and can really serve as her role model. For anyone that has thought about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister...I highly encourage you to sign up. There's nothing to lose and only something to gain.

Rabid Reporting

2009-07-14T06:56:00.001-07:00

So when I signed up to be a reporter...I knew risk-taking would be involved. I've seen plenty of YouTube videos and heard stories of reporter's getting into different types of trouble.

And I guess you could say I got into some trouble of my own yesterday. Here, I am out on assignment, trying to put together a story about a bobcat found in an Abilene neighborhood that had rabies. Animal Services picked up the wild cat after resident's found it in their very own backyard...after testing it, sure enough the bobcat had rabies.

So a rabid bobcat in Abilene...clearly instills some fear in pet owner's and resident's. Many dogs are kept outside on a leash through the day and even night, quite possibly being exposed to the rabid bobcat just there.

So, here I am in this neighborhood, where the bobcat just was...knocking door to door...hoping to talk to some resident's about how they feel knowing about a bobcat with rabies in their backyard. The first house that I go to...I have to go through a gate to get to their front door. I think as a natural reaction, I look for a Beware of Dog sign...didn't see one. So, as I am opening the gate to the front yard of this person's house, I notice that in the front door there is an opening (homemade doggy door) but didn't really understand how it would open through the material of the door. So, I knock on the door and not even a few moments later, two dogs about the size of me come charging out and barking very loudly.

The next few moments were kind of a blur to me...The two dogs came at me. I backed away and guarded my face. And a few minutes into the "escape"...I felt something sharp in the back of my thigh. I don't think it really hurt as much as I was scared out of my mind. It felt like it took the owner forever to come out and get a hold of the dogs. He called the dogs off and I felt the dog's tooth ease away from my leg. My heart was going a mile a minute.

But being the dedicated reporter I am, I decided to stay in the front yard behind the fence to talk to the owner about my story. Sure enough, he wasn't into being on TV so I walked (racing heart beat and all) away to the next door. On my walk, my leg started to hurt a little bit...so I checked and sure enough such an open pinhole-sized marking in the back of my thigh.

Now don't get me wrong, anyone that knows me knows that I am not a hypochondriac...but when I saw I had an open cut and that I was doing a story on rabies, I wasn't messing around...nonetheless didn't quite feel like taking any chances.

So, I called Animal Services to ask what to do...and they routinely have to take any dog that bites a human into custody to be quarantined and tested for rabies. I felt awful because I didn't tell the owner that his dog bit me because truthfully, I didn't know until I had already left his home. I was too afraid to knock back on his door because I knew the dogs were not leashed. So, I felt like I was being deceptive by carrying on a conversation with the dog owner, after having his dog's tooth in the back of my leg (basically playing it off as if nothing had happened) then leaving and shortly after, having Animal Services come to pick his dog up and take him away.

I had to go back to the neighborhood after being checked out by Animal Services...to finish out the story. I saw the Animal Services truck there and the owner did not look happy at all.

So I was a big newsroom joke, (KRBC's Rabid Reporter) out on a story about rabies and then myself having a rabies scare.

The worst part of the whole experience was just the racing heart and anticipating the worst from the two dogs that were likely just protecting their owner and their home...However, it all brings me to the importance of pet owner's having a: Beware of Dog sign. I think that should be a law. Had I seen a sign like that...it definitely would have made me think twice about entering the yard. The scenario might not have been any different at all but I think it's the owner's duty to be responsible for their pets.

In the end, I don't think I'll be going through any more fences just to get to a front door. And I've got to say despite having a traumatizing set-back in the day, I still took it like a champ...putting together my story for the 6 o'clock news. Rabies or not...that shows dedication in my book!

Pet Peeves

2009-07-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

Pet Peeves...everyone has them...and many people like to complain about them.

So in an effort to let people vent about things that bug them...I thought I'd share some of my personal pet peeves.

Now don't get me wrong, there are much worse things in life then the things that I'm about to list but sometimes it just feels good to get it all out.

I started writing this blog on a raining day, and with the bad weather...I was taken away from my blogging time...so what prompted me to even begin writing this blog was my soggy, wet pant legs. No matter how many times I plan ahead, it never fails...the bottom of my pants get soaked from the rain and puddles. I learned my lesson at the beginning of this business to always come prepared...and yes, I do own a pair of rain boots now...but I always second guess the weather and think I won't need to take them with me, since I anticipate coming right back. But it never fails, I'll roll my pant legs up to try to prevent them from getting wet but they never seem to stay up! And then of course, they get soaked. Now wet pant legs are one thing but the wost is that it takes forever for them to dry and then you're stuck the rest of the day with wet pant legs which ultimately keeps you cold...and you just feel soggy.

In addition to wet pant legs, the smell of wet dog! Now, don't get me wrong, I am totally an animal lover and can't wait until I have a dog of my own (once I have more time and space to devote to one). On this same rainy day I referred to above, I did a story out at the Abilene Animal Shelter. Whether the dogs were wet or had all just been given a bath, they didn't give off the best aroma. Now I know they're dogs and they can't help it...but the worst part of it all was when I left, I smelled like a wet dog. I was driving back to the station and it was all I could smell so I knew that that meant it was me! And comical to some, my co-workers in the newsroom continued asking what the heck that smell was and if there was a wet dog in the building. No wet dog in the building just me! I laugh about it now but I can remember that afternoon wanting noting more than to get out of work to change and take a shower. I had enough of wet pants and wet dog.

Now these are really minor pet peeves of mine. Surely, I have more...But, for the most part I try not to let little things bug me. My grandmother always told me, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" and that everything in life is small...and I totally think this is great advice but again, as I stated in the beginning, sometimes venting is the best thing to do to help you get over things.

Please feel free to share some of your pet peeves with me and how you handle them. Instead of getting mad about something, vent to me by posting to my blog!

Goodbye Ice House

2009-06-18T07:04:00.000-07:00

So, I know that I am not alone on feeling sad that there will be no more Ice House. I can remember just moving here last September...and finding out in October about an outdoor ice skating rink. I couldn't believe in West Texas that they'd have such a thing. I was ecstatic to check it out. And luckily, I ended up getting to do the LIVE shot on the opening night of the Ice House this past season. I did the LIVE shot in ice skates on the ice (almost fell on LIVE television; but luckily didn't quite make a fool of myself). After the LIVE shot you can bet that I hung around for awhile after and skated with friends.

I loved that you could get away with just jeans and a light jacket, and how for most of the time it was warm while you were skating on ice. I have been ice skating indoors and outdoors, but any time outdoors, it was in the Northeast and it was very cold. I thought it was so neat for a community like Abilene to be able to have something like the Ice House available.

I went several times after that LIVE shot with friends, and co-workers. I have included some pictures of the KRBC and KTAB crew on ice skates.

Next winter definitely won't be the same without the Ice House. It's unfortunate that Habitat for Humanity and the Dyess We Care team weren't able to raise much money for projects...both groups work extremely hard to help others in the community.

While, I know that the electricity bill alone was ridiculous to put on the Ice House (somewhere near $15,000)...I have to wonder, that maybe if the Ice House rink was not open for so many months, that it could cut the costs and even get more skaters to visit in a shorter amount of time. With the Ice House being open from October all the way through February...that's a long time to keep the place up and running. Maybe if the Ice House were to only be open for a month, more people would come...knowing that the opportunity to ice skate was limited to a certain amount of time...and they could maybe raise money and cover the costs of the rink. Of course, this is me living in a "perfect world" mentality...

Nevertheless, I am glad that I was able to lace up some ice skates a few times at the Ice House and to have that unique outdoor ice skating experience in a West Texas City.

Parting Ways

2009-06-09T08:32:00.001-07:00

Some people name their cars and others use it as a storage place. I admit, I've done both. Up until a week ago, I had a little, cute, convertible...that got me all the way to Abilene from Miami. While it was the perfect car to tote around in to the beach, I don't think it was meant to drive across country. But, nevertheless Cabiria (as she was sometimes known) made it all the way and for the most part in one piece to my new home, here in Abilene. But, as I got into Tyler, TX...my AC did die...and luckily, it wasn't too hot, so it was survivable. The AC was put on the to-do list when I saved up some money to pay for it. But, then it seemed like it was one thing after another for good 'ole, Cabiria. The torkenconverter needed to be replaced, among some other parts. $$$$$$

Then of course the weather started to heat up, and not only did I not have AC but my convertible roof top was out-of-commission. Apparently, because of humidity (likely from FL wear-n-tear) made it shrink up, causing the back, glass window to fall out of the car. It didn't shatter or anything but clearly their was a wide-open hole in my roof...

And then came the rain...of course, we'd go months without any rain drops and then when I had a hole in my roof...it decided to pour. Luckily, my BFF, Timothy (who you know as Tim Johnston) temporarily donated an old tarp for me to cover up my car every time it rained. Now while the tarp was relatively effective, if it was raining...I couldn't really drive the car, or if I did...it would get wet because I couldn't keep the tarp on a drive.

Then the worst of the worst happened. My seat somehow popped out of the bolts...and it got to the point that the seat would not stay locked in any position, but instead slide back and forth. I had to hold onto the steering wheel to keep myself secure. Talk about dangerous.

So...I knew it was time to say goodbye. I started car shopping all over town. I'm sure many of you can relate how stressful that is. What I had the hardest time dealing with was the trade-in value car dealers were willing, or I should say not willing to give me. It was hard for me to hear numbers thrown out, that didn't even amount to half of what I paid for it...and just to think it could be worth so little.

Finally, I found the perfect replacement for me...a newer car, with low miles, mint condition, and at a reasonable price. Plus, they offered the most for Cabiria. Problem was, I didn't actually plan on selling my baby to the dealership that day...but that's what happened...which brings me to even write this blog.

Saying goodbye to a car is an emotional experience. Many of times, I took my car for granted. And while it failed me on many occasions, I was so sad to hand over the keys. It was like losing an old friend...driving off the lot in the shiny new ride and seeing my old convertible missing it's window. It's amazing how so many memories pop into your head, when looking at your car.

But now that I've gotten comfortable in my new set of wheels, I am excited for all the adventures I'll have with it. She/He hasn't been named just yet. Any suggestions? P.S. anybody else name their cars? Or have similar separation anxiety from a car?

When Bad Weather Strikes

2009-06-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

Talk about an adrenaline rush...covering severe weather. My day started out with two stories, one having to do with the recent school break-in's and another having to do with Cooper High School's Recycling team, that is being recognized by not only Keep Abilene Beautiful, but by Keep Texas beautiful as well. Then it got to be around 4 o'clock and the severe weather threat's started to come in. So, I quickly got my things finished and headed out to chase the storms. On my way out, heading into Clyde I ran into that 18-wheeler that had rolled over along I-20. The driver of the truck was very lucky. He walked away from the accident with no injuries. On my way back, things started to get bad in Abilene and I helped out by being just outside of the station, telling viewers about the weather conditions.

After all of the hard work and team effort put on by our sister stations, KRBC and KTAB and or course, after the weather had cleared up. KTAB's Priscilla Luong and I decided to have a little fun after being soaked from the rain. Here's a video of our puddle fun. This video really gives you a little glimpse of Priscilla and I's personality's. While we are both pretty "girlie" in nature, she by far takes the cake on this one. She might've even been fixing her hair right before this video take...and while I am also a girlie-girl, I am pretty competitive in nature...and you can see that even before we start the little race, I tried to get a head start. Hope you enjoy. Good times, Priscilla! ; )

I graduated!

2009-05-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

I am officially a Citizens Police Academy graduate! After 10 weeks of 3 hour classes, once a week the academy came to an end. While graduation's are usually a time for excitement, I am definitely disappointed that it's all over.
I've always respected police officers, but being part of the Citizens Police Academy (CPA) made me respect them even more. Each class involved a behind-the-scenes look at the duties and lifestyles of an Abilene Police Officer. Cops often have a negative reputation of being the bad guys, arresting people. And while, they do arrest people, it's all in effort to keep our communities safe.
Throughout the class, cops were referred to as, "Peace Officers," and I realized how perfect that suited their job description. They try to keep the peace by having a presence in the community and then make peace when conflicts do arise.
I can honestly say that I enjoyed every class. I can still recall 3 hour night classes in college (and no offense, Professors) but, sometimes it was hard to stay awake for all 3 of those hours. I would've been too afraid to fall asleep within CPA; afraid I'd miss something. : )
I thought I had a tough job (and still do) but man, those police officers really have huge responsibility.
While I mentioned, I liked all of the classes, by far my favorites were the investigation unit, the narcotics, and the k-9 training. I've been told that the SWAT training class was the best and unfortunately, I had to miss that class. It also happened to be our last, which was quite a bummer.
Luckily, my co-worker Tim Johnston (also in CPA) put together a story for the 10 o'clock news that allowed me to feel as if I were there for the SWAT training class.
Another great thing about the class were my classmates. There were about 25 other students, from all different aspects from within the community. We had some Dr.'s, Teachers, Council members, Restaurant Owners, City Employees, and so many others. Everyone was great. We all got along really well too. So not only am I appreciate of the Abilene Police Department for providing me with the opportunity to be a part of CPA, but also for introducing me to such great people within the community. : )

A tough Story to Tell

2009-05-14T10:39:00.001-07:00

"Death or Adoption," a story of mine aired last night during the 10pm news. If you didn't get a chance to watch it, check it out on Abilene Midday's Facebook page.

A tough story to tell is the best way to describe my experience putting it all together.

Euthanasia is something I knew about but like many didn't like to hear about. However, I realized how important it was to raise awareness, especially in our community of just how many animals are put to sleep on a daily basis.

After speaking with the Abilene Animal Shelter and hearing that dogs generally have less than a week to live, I was shocked.

It got me thinking about just how many people go to pet stores or to breeders when they want a pet. Up until I did this story, I was certain I'd go to a breeder to get the English Bull Dog, I'd always dreamt of having. Now, I plan on adopting from a shelter, when I am ready to have a pet just to make that difference (even if it's only a tiny difference) of saving that one animal's life.

I'd love to hear from anyone that has adopted from the shelter, or even plans to in the future!

Facebook Fans

2009-05-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

To those of you that already friend requested, "Abilene Midday"...we need you to add us one more time! Search for "Abilene Midday" but instead of becoming a "friend" you need to become a "fan".

Our original facebook account got deactivated and because we are a business, we need to have fans and not friends. Although you are our friends, we need you to also be our fan so that you can write to us and we can read your comments on air.

Abilene Midday is a unique newscast and I am so glad that the opportunity fell on my lap. We are the only interactive show in the Big Country. Our "facebook feedback" within the show allows you to leave us comments that we will read on air. It's a fun way to be part of the newscast.

We'd especially love for you to comment on each story that we air. You can even do so while watching the show. Also, by writing to us on facebook you can suggest things you'd like to see on KRBC or ask some questions that you might have for the news team.

Abilene Midday is on weekdays at 11:30. You can catch it on TV, but if you're not able to get to the TV you can always watch us LIVE online. Just look for: WATCH Abilene Midday LIVE. But, don't be fooled you can't just go online at any time to watch Abilene Midday...it's only LIVE. So make sure to tune in at 11:30. We'd love to have you as part of our show! : )

For those of you that are already watching and even facebooking with us, please leave some comments letting us know what you think.

Girl Power!

2009-04-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

I've always loved breaking the stereotypes that, "only a guy can do this," "only a guy can do that," and "guys can do it better".
Even from an early age, I loved competing with guys in sports and academics. In Elementary School, I can remember being the fastest runner and at beginner times tables (I say that loosely because now I am not a big fan of math).
My grandmother also played a large role in motivating me to seek equality in all that I do and to defend women's rights. She really put things in perspective for me growing up, that women weren't always allowed to do the things that they now are today.
Despite, the many accomplishments women have made over the years, women still continue to fall victim to sexism.
A recent story of mine highlighted three women from right here in the Big Country that are also, all about breaking stereotypes.
Rayetta Dorman works as head maintenance at the Abilene Zoo, Diana Hartmann helps construct and sell parts to race cars through her company Art Carr Performance Products, and Pamela Goodrich, works for O'Reilly's Auto Parts.
It was empowering meeting with all three of these women, hearing the obstacles they've had to overcome and their motivations to keep going.
If you didn't get the chance to see the story air, be sure to check it out online.
I'd love to know what you think about it, so I welcome your comments! : )

Abilene Midday Debut

2009-04-20T11:00:00.000-07:00

You've probably seen the promo's running on TV, "Big Changes coming to KRBC April 20th".
Hopefully, it got your mind racing and that now you've discovered those big changes. I am one of the big changes; anchoring our new and interactive show, Abilene Midday.
It's been a secret that I've been excited to spill for awhile. I am very excited to take on the challenges of a full-time, week-day anchor, as well as a full-time reporter.
I am even more excited about this show's format. It's an interactive newscast, and the only one in Abilene.
It's going to be a lot of fun interacting with you, the viewers. I look forward to hearing what you think of certain stories and other things you'd like to send to me and Chris Whited, who is Abilene Midday's meteorologist, as well as Abilene Today.
If you haven't already, add us as a friend on Facebook! You can write on our wall, make comments, and even post pictures.
For those of you that haven't quite jumped on the Facebook bandwagon, it's really simple. Go to http://www.facebook.com/ and create an account. Once you're on, just look up Abilene Midday!
I'd love to hear what you think of the new show. This is a first for me and I've got a lot to learn. But, I'm learning from the best (our other anchors here at KRBC : ))
It's going to be a fun journey, so come along with me (yes, I'm a cheeseball) and watch either on TV at 11:30 am every Monday through Friday, or for your convenience you can even catch it LIVE on the internet at http://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/. Look for the Abilene Midday LIVE button.

Home Sweet Home

2009-04-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

So, I recently took a vacation to Florida to visit with family and old friends. I'll admit that as soon as I landed in Miami, I couldn't get over just how gorgeous everything was; from the green grass, the flowers, and of course the turquoise waters.

Now don't get me wrong, I took advantage of beach days any chance I could, while I lived in Florida. But, somehow when you live there, you don't actually have as much time as you'd like to spend it on the beach or in the ocean. Since I have been away from that setting for so long, this trip really made me realize how lucky I was to live in such a tropical place.

Another thing I loved about my Florida get-away was how convenient the hours for nearly everything were. Shops and non-fast food restaurants are open in Miami until the wee hours of the morning.

Being in Florida was, without a doubt; a breath of fresh air, but I truthfully missed Abilene while I was gone. Texas may not be the most aesthetically pleasing state, with the dryness and lack of color around, but the people here are really incomparable. When people ask you how you are doing here; they genuinely care. Where as in Miami, many times you won't even get a "hello" or a "how-are-you" at all...or if you do, it's only because someone feels obligated. Of course, this isn't how everyone in Miami is...but the community here in Abilene is definitely much friendlier overall.

Just for the record, no one is paying or making me say these things. That's what I love about blogging...it allows each of us to share our thoughts without any outside editing. ; )

This Florida-Getaway was much needed after a busy week in March, but by the week's end, I was ready to come "home."

Reporter by Day...Cop at Night

2009-03-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

Citizen's Police Academy...what's that? That's what I said, until I was asked by MaryAnn Martin with AISD to be part of it.

Here in Abilene, they offer a unique 10 week course that shows you the "behind the scenes" stuff that our local police officers go through here in Abilene.

There are 26 of us in the class and we all come from entirely different work backgrounds. Media personnel are often chosen to be part of this academy because police feel that we could benefit from more insight into their careers, since we often work together.

We've only had two classes so far and I am very intrigued. Specifically by one of the female police officers who is one tough gal. You can tell she definitely holds her rank within the Abilene Police Department and is well-respected. When people think of police officers, they often think of men. So, I admire her and the tough job she has.

Last night's class was really interesting. We learned all about the Narcotics Division. I was amazed at just how many drug seizures go on right here in Abilene. They told us about some crazy run-in's with drug dealers and prostitutes.

We have lots of fun and exciting classes to look forward to within the Police Academy, such as shooting guns and learning about the K-9 unit.

It's also just interesting to interact with cops in the classroom setting instead of on the streets covering a story.

I think I am going to learn a lot about Abilene just by learning from the Abilene Police Department. It's also been a great tool to network with other members of the community, who are also students in the class.

Becoming a Texan

2009-03-22T07:24:00.001-07:00

It's been just about 7 months since I made my move to the Big Country. I think it was when I cashed in my Florida driver's license for a Texas one, that it finally hit me...I'm a Texan, at least an honorary one. Although, I wasn't born here and haven't been here all that long, I finally feel at home here.

I always deemed myself as a Florida girl (don't get me wrong, I still am a beach lover) but there's something about that Texas pride that just grows on you!

I've started adopting the national verb, "fixin' to." I haven't quite adopted the ya'll but I am sure it will come with time. I recently visited Florida and had people tell me I had already adopted a Texas Twang.

Plus being the City beat reporter for KRBC, I am constantly around members of the community just beaming with Abilene pride. Mayor Archibald; perhaps the proudest Abilenian of all is a great role model in the community, not only for his responsibilities as the mayor but for his incomparable dedication to the City of Abilene. He wouldn't return my phone call to a non-Abilene number. I was quickly informed that he felt if people move to Abilene and make it their home, they should have a local number. Shortly after I got the memo, I did get a local number and now can receive calls from the mayor. : ) Having a 325-area code puts me in the category of an Abilenian.

Now don't get me wrong, I've still got a lot to learn...such as learning to like beef. I am a seafood and chicken-kind-of-gal. I've also never been to a rodeo yet...Among many other things. I'd love to hear from some of my "fellow" Texans about other words unique to the state and even traditions. ; )

And while I can't make any guarantees that I'll be an Abilenian forever...I am happy to call Abilene my home! : )

The Real Housewives of Taylor County: Off Camera

2009-03-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

The Real Housewives of Taylor County: Off Camera

You may have seen the Housewives of Atlanta, New York, and Orange County, but have you seen them in Taylor County?

I hung out with some of the most stylish southern belles to see how they spend their time here in the Big Country.

Tonya Doby, Darla Cooper, and Donna Sewalt are three best friends that are all about spending quality girl time and a little bit of money here and there. What girl doesn't?

While the show on Bravo makes the Housewives out to be a backstabbing bunch that live vicariously through the drama they stir; the Housewives of Taylor County are some of the most friendly and fun woman around.

Instead of trying to outdo one another, these ladies are all about doing things for each other.

They enjoy hosting parties and even throwing each other surprise bashes.

Donna recently had a birthday, and sure enough Tonya and Darla were busy planning and plotting an extravagant event held at the Country Club. The girls usually share everything with each other, but this surprise party luckily didn't slip through the cracks and made for a fabulous fiesta for Donna.

The girls rarely go a day without speaking to each other. I was told that Monday's are usually their "spend time at home with husband's day". But, you can bet that these girls are gabbing on the phone planning their fun for the week ahead, even on a Monday.

Tuesdays are generally, "let's go to lunch days" where they dine out at some of the finest restaurants here in the Big Country. Copper Creek is a favorite of theirs, where they love to enjoy a glass of wine over their meals.

Wednesdays and Thursdays are somewhat interchangeable. These days are spent getting massages, manicures, and pedicures; all of which are just so much more fun doing together.

While these three may seem like the three musketeers; their social circle is much larger. They've got other girlfriends all over the Big Country.

As for their husbands, they're a bunch of buds too. They enjoy their guy-time just as much, on the golf course and grilling out by the pool.

The three Housewives I've highlight vacation together and even spend the holidays together.

It was a lot of fun hanging out with these glamorous gals. They were very kind to not only let me see how they spend their days and nights but you as well.

Drinking and Driving Course

2009-03-06T13:38:00.000-08:00

I recently did a story on drinking and driving over at ACU. The week before Spring Break, ACU's Peer Health organization puts on a week long event called, "Making Good Choices." One of their events was an obstacle course that included duck tape and cones...that looked rather simple to complete. However, students had to wear a pair of goggles that blurred their vision; confusing their depth perception.
Watching the students sway from side-to-side and trip over cones and veer far from the duck tape, I thought that they were just goofing around. So that's when I decided to give it a try. And almost immediately after putting the glasses on, I felt disoriented. I couldn't even stand before the starting line without being directed to it. Then when they said, "Go" and I raced in my heels, I not only was way off of the tape but I stepped on cone after cone.
In the end, the "police" (students) wrote me a ticket for 6 violations in 6 seconds. Violations are given out for not stepping on the duck tape and for stepping on cones. My ticket frustrated me because without the goggles, it looked so easy. So, I gave it a second try to prove to myself that I could master this course. I went for a different strategy this time, thinking slow and steady could win the race. It didn't work out that well for me, I wound up with more violations in more time.
I think the drunk driving course serves as a good reminder of how not only alcohol effects your decision making, but even something that looks so simple and harmless is really not. I think it had a pretty good effect on students at ACU and hopefully they'll remember that while they're on Spring Break and throughout the year.

Utmost Respect for Producers

2009-02-28T15:08:00.000-08:00

Last week, I got the opportunity to learn the ropes of producing and anchoring, shadowing West Texas Today anchor, Stephanie Harris.

Instead of coming into work at 9 am, like a normal day for me, I was coming in at 2:30 am. Now that's a time, I usually never read on the clock. However, in order for Stephanie to teach me how to produce, and still having her show ready by 6 am show time, that's what time we needed to come in.

There are so many little things that a producer needs to remember. And as for functioning at that time in the morning, it's certainly difficult. That's where 3 cups of coffee comes into play.

After finishing the show by 5 am. That's when Stephanie hits the makeup room.

I learned how to produce over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday, Stephanie also let me do the morning webcast and the Today Show cut-ins. That was my first real anchoring experience.

Then on Thursday, I co-anchored the morning show with Steph, which was a lot of fun. Except for the fact that I didn't get the memo that I didn't have to wear a suit jacket. So while, Stephanie was pretty in pink, I wound up looking like a Hillary Clinton. Getting ready for the show was especially fun because Stephanie had to teach me how to have the anchor hair, which requires some serious teasing.

Then on Friday...I was on my own. Stephanie decided not to come in even to supervise until 4:30 am. So, instead of the 2:30 am time I had been coming in all week, instead I got into work at 1 am. Which means that I got up, showered, and blow-dried my hair at midnight. Friends were wishing me good luck on my solo anchoring debut, as they were going to bed and I was going to work. I went into work so early to allow myself plenty of time to triple check everything and still have time to relax before sitting at the desk.

I feel good about my anchoring debut, but boy was I exhausted after a week of crazy hours. I respect the morning crew so much for their ability to function at that time in the morning.

Wylie Jr. High Career Day

2009-02-18T15:03:00.000-08:00

Today, I went to Wylie Jr. High's career day, where they invited all kinds of people within the working world of Abilene to come in and speak to students about what they do for a living.
Before the students even started showing up to class, KRBC's Chief Meteorologist, Randy Turner and I were sitting at the small desk chairs, reminiscing about our middle school days. When the bell rang, I had to snap out of my daydream and realize my middle schools days are long gone.
Speaking to all of the classes was a lot of fun. Although, many students did seem interested in my job, they did not ask too many questions. I guess I might have been a rare middle school student because I can remember having guest speakers and asking them a million questions...which could explain why I continue to ask people questions for a living! ; )
I think it's a great experience for students, even if they're far from entering the working world to hear from people about how they got to where they are today, after sitting in a classroom just like them years ago.
So, I just want to thank those that organized Career Day at Wylie Jr. High for inviting me to be part of it. It was a lot of fun and I really hope the students learned a thing or two from me!

Why don't Texans Rollerblade?

2009-02-09T20:13:00.000-08:00

I'm well aware that rollerblading was popular in most places during the 90's. I remember rollerblading with my parents when I was still in Elementary school. Back then my rollerblades were bright blue with hot pink laces. In Florida, we'd rollerblade to get ice cream. A few years later, my cotton-candy-looking rollerblades no longer fit and then rollerblades kind of went out of style.

I didn't think much of them until a guy in high school asked me to go again, saying that I could use his sister's pair. It ended up being so much fun rollerblading around our tiny town in Massachusetts. Then, I realized just how good of a workout rollerblading was and decided I needed a pair of my own. As I was heading to college in Miami, I knew investing in a pair of rollerblades wouldn't be a bad decision. So I bought a pair and rollerbladed all through my tiny High School town, Harvard Massachusetts. I got a little ahead of myself, skating uphill not realizing that I had to go back down. Clearly, going downhill creates even more speed, and yeah pretty much had an ugly wipe out shortly thereafter. I gave rollerblading a rest for awhile...until I left for college in Florida.

Luckily, with Florida being so flat there were really no hills to worry about. So, I picked up rollerblading once again and even encouraged friends to get a pair to come along. It was definitely fun rollerblading by the beach and being able to get a workout in before going for a swim in the ocean.

Now in Texas, you'll still find me rollerblading. While, I often rollerblade in my apartment complex, I have neighbors looking at me like I have eight heads. Once I meet them, they usually say to me, "you're that girl that rollerblades, aren't you?"

Which is why I have to ask why Texans don't rollerblade? It's a great way to make exercising fun and be able to enjoy the nice weather by being outside. I encourage those that gave up their rollerblading days in the 90's to pick it back up and give it a whirl again. A great place to go rollerblading in town is the track around ACU. ; )

Winter Weather Fun

2009-01-28T13:02:00.000-08:00

Although, I am a Florida girl at heart and absolutely hate being cold, reporting in winter weather can actually be fun.

The fun all started when I got an email Monday night, telling me to be waiting for a 5:30 am wake-up call and that I'd need to be LIVE shortly after that. I'm not usually "a-LIVE" at that time and I don't particularly enjoy standing out in below freezing temperatures. However, there's something about being the first to tell viewers something that gets the adrenaline pumping and makes it really fun. Although, I could see my breath and barely feel my nose; I felt like I was really doing something good for the community by warning people about the icy driving conditions before they left home. Monday's fun continued until the six o'clock news for me, where I continued to inform viewers of what was happening on the streets.

Tuesday's fun began even earlier, when there were no wake-up calls and that I was to be ready for LIVE shots at 5:30 am. Today was even colder too. I think it marked the longest time I have ever stayed outside in weather that was just barely thirteen degrees. Now don't be fooled, when you didn't see me in front of the camera, you can bet I was warm and cozy in the LIVE truck with a blanket and all.

We don't have to stand outside for hours at a time in freezing temperatures. But, there's a bright side to being cold on camera. It allows us to accurately tell viewers what is going on because we were experiencing it firsthand.

Another thing, I think most reporters would agree with me that being LIVE is one of the most fun things about the job. On winter weather days, as you probably saw for yourself, everyone had plenty of LIVE shots. By having so many LIVE shots in a row, it allows us reporters to be creative with what we show and tell you.

Nevertheless, I am glad that the sun is back and that the winter weather is gone. But, I'd definitely do it all over again!

4 o'clock Stress

2009-01-20T14:41:00.000-08:00

Everyone has their moments when they find themselves engulfed with "stress."

I have those moments on a regular basis; specifically around 4 o'clock most weekday afternoons.

Why 4 o'clock?
For a reporter, it's when you know there's barely enough time to get all the work you've done throughout the day complete for the 5 and 6 o'clock newscasts.

It's amazing how fast the morning goes by, and how convenient it is that most interviewees are tied up in the mornings; only having free time to meet in the afternoon cutting it close to deadline time.

My co-workers always know when I am stressed because instead of sitting at my desk typing up my stories, you'll find me standing up typing at my desk.

For some reason, standing up makes me feel like I am able to get everything done faster and more efficiently.

Standing up does help me get through the 4 o'clock stress but it also gives me a backache by days end.

Anybody else have strange ways of dealing with stress?

Austin-Over and Out

2009-01-13T16:59:00.000-08:00

Day two in Austin started bright and early, when we had to get our press credential passes at 7:30 am. The passes allow you, as the media to go on the floor with a camera (in the House) where the Legislative session takes place.

The "floor" was packed with State Representatives, sitting in their assigned seats with their family members, friends, or guests sitting alongside of them. The balcony was packed with fellow Texans showing their support for the state.

Afterwards, I mingled with other reporter-photographer teams from larger markets. They were impressed that KRBC was there and that our crew on the assignment was doing this for the very first time.

Because of all the technological problems we ran into, much of our day consisted of sitting in our hotel room, editing and sending multiple downloads to Abilene.

Picture this, we had three computers going. We'd be writing our scripts for the newscasts, for the web, and then we'd be blogging.

It was definitely different working outside of the newsroom. While, we only had one specific topic to cover, "the Legislative Session" it felt like more work than on a normal work day. For example, when I am busy working on my daily, "package" the longer stories (where you actually see me), and a couple of "vosots" (when you see video and sound from an interviewee) that all have absolutely nothing to do with each other, it felt like much less work then the we've done even as a team the past two days covering one topic.

The phone conversations you might have heard with me on the newscasts were quite interesting. While, I am sharing a hotel room with KTAB's Katherine Lane, who also had a "phoner" (as we call a phone conversation on air) for KTAB at about the same time. Instead of having us both talk from the same room and drive our photographer, Danielle (and probably each other crazy) I had my phone conversations in the car. It was neat though because I could see the Capitol building from the car as I was describing what I'd seen and done throughout the day.

While our trip is coming to an end, and our final story for the ten o'clock newscast has just about transferred, I definitely would do the experience all over again.

It was overall a great learning experience. It really taught me how to think on my feet. There was a lot of pressure to compare to all of the professionals that have been in the business for years that were all around me.

I think the work that I put in here, after just two days will definitely impact a higher-quality product from me as a journalist for KRBC to you as a viewer. Thanks for sharing in my journey to Austin.

An Inside Look to the Legislative Session

2009-01-12T16:14:00.000-08:00

Our trip to Austin started bright and early, when KTAB's Katherine Lane and photographer, Danielle Reeves and I headed for the state capital. The drive took about four hours. As soon as we arrived I met with State Representative Susan King, who informed me of some of the things on the top of her priority list.

The top things she mentioned were:
Education and how important our local schools are, as students are our future. She put emphasis on the importance of funding for Cisco Jr. College, as well as our three private universities.

Water and how she plans to put forth the plans with building a dam out at the Cedar Ridge Reservoir; bringing in an additional supply of water to the City of Abilene.

Wind Energy is something that Representative King also wants to keep growing in the Big Country area.

Oil and Gas Industry is on everyone's mind and it is also a priority for State Representative Susan King.

Representative King was so welcoming that she gave of us a tour of the Capitol building, including the "mysterious" lounge that legislatures can convene throughout the session. It was pretty tiny for 150 people but a much needed spot as no food or drink is allowed in the House.

After our tour, we rushed back to the hotel to get our stories done for the six and ten o'clock newscasts. It was stressful as the internet connection was pretty slow. However, we worked really hard and made a great team, putting together a high quality product. If you didn't get a chance to see it at 6, definitely check it out on the website.

The opening ceremony begins at noon tomorrow when the Representatives of the House will be sworn in. We will be there bright and early to see how the day pans out. We'll be bringing you the latest throughout the day.

This has definitely been a great learning experience and I hope to go on many other out-of-town assignments in the future.

As for the "Rest of the Story"

2009-01-03T16:59:00.000-08:00

Some people have asked if there are things that we leave out of the news.
We don't intentionally leave out information. However, we as journalists need to find the key points to every story to inform you, and we only have a minute and thirty seconds (at best) to do that.
This is one of the things that makes the job difficult. We'll go a whole day, sometimes longer getting information from various sources for a story and then we'll have to condense everything to that one minute slot in the newscast.
Fortunately, with the internet we are often times able to give you those additional details that we simply run out of time for during newscasts. But, just note we're not hiding any juicy details. After all, it's our job to keep you informed. ; )
Thank you for watching KRBC!

Working Holidays...isn't so bad!

2008-12-30T14:44:00.000-08:00

Working on Holiday's isn't so bad. But, that doesn't mean that in the next year, when I am not a "rookie" that I want to work holidays. ; ) I worked Christmas day, which really wasn't so bad. Usually I spend the Christmas holiday with family in Massachusetts. However, I knew with the job that I'd likely have to work, as the NEWS doesn't stop for Holidays.

It didn't feel like Christmas when I woke up to silence that morning. I did miss watching my little cousins tear open their presents, spending time with family, and eating delicious food but the story I covered on Christmas day really made me realize just how lucky I am.

I went to the Salvation Army, where they were having a Christmas feast for members of the community who also didn't have family around or any other place to go. I was really impressed with how many volunteers came out from the community to share their Christmas by helping others. After talking to the diners, they were also very happy with not only the food, but with the entertainment. The volunteers started singing Christmas carols and many people in the room joined in.

Overall, working Christmas wasn't so bad. The day started out slow as most everything was closed, which in turn made the news slow. To be truthful, I was happy that it was slower, because generally you hear about tragic stories on holidays.

Before I knew it, the day was over. My Dad and his wife were both in town for the weekend, which made it even better. Although, I wasn't with the family I am used to spending the holiday with, I wasn't alone. I had a very nice time with my Dad and Step-Mom.

My Mom even has plans to come out in the next few months to have a belated Christmas experience.