New Years in Abilene

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!

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

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

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

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

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...

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!

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

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?!?!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

"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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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.