Impossible is Impossible

This blog is my way of reflecting upon life. Life is about living and learning. As I live and learn I’m going to reflect upon this life I lead. Hopefully I'll offer something insightful with my postings. If you learn nothing else from me, know this that “impossible is impossible”.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

I Used To Call Myself

There were days when I used to call myself a writer until someone actually started paying me to put down words.
I've been told I have a way with words but many a day I cannot see that.
If you can't tell I'm struggling to write an article by midnight it's 8:17.
Going put on Teedra Moses and get to it!
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Monday, January 25, 2010

Inside the Newsroom

I had a horrid day on T.V. Hill today.

This morning I filled in for the morning associate producer. This means I get up at midnight, get to work at 1am, write half the show, print scripts for the director, print and take scripts to the studio for the anchor, copy over scripts to our second hour, then write and booth the cut-ins which are those three minutes of local news you get near the half hour during The Today Show, Good Morning America, or The Early Show.

I twice mistimed the cut-ins meaning we cut off the anchor midstory once, and midsentence another time.

Our morning anchor was understandibly upset. He came into the control room after we were done.

"That's two down the drain," he said. "You've got to get faster."
"I know," I said.
Once before I'd taken a story out of prompter as he started reading.
"That's two in a row," he continued. "And it's not because of me."
"Oh no, it was on me," I said.

The director told me the quiver in the normally quiet anchor's voice meant I had avoided being cursed out or even worse being demeaned in front of the entire newsroom.

Then my colleague tweeted the following, "The thing about producing...you spend all day on one show. and one little thing, blows that whole day up! sigh."

I experienced it in my own little way today.

In a few hours I attempt to redeem myself.
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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Leaving The Nest

I read this in Farai's "Kiss the Sky", "Home was a country whose citizenship I'd renounced. I could visit, but I couldn't stay."

I'm 23 and I still live at home. The reality is I'm underemployed as a freelance T.V. writer and I can't afford to live on my own, but oh how I long for those days. My friends including an ex-girlfriend told me to be thankful I don't have the bills and responsibilities that come with caring for myself.

Yet, part of me wonders if I can do it on my own. Living in dorms for eight years of my life wasn't really doing it. I mean paying rent, utilities, buying food, cooking, entertaining, waking myself up, all that jazz. It's coming I know, so maybe I shouldn't rush it.

I think I just want somewhere I can visit, and have the luxury of staying not being forced to do so.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Checking In

Hello world.

Right now as with so many others around the world I'm living life one day at a time, going to work doing that, coming home and being glued to the T.V. watching the developments unfold in Haiti. I must admit I still don't know that much about Haiti, but I still know more than I did a week ago.

As a journalist I'm not doing anything in particular to advance this particular story, but at the day job at the T.V. station I'm helping balance everything else out by worrying about the days other news.

Still as I watch the coverage I am so grateful for those reporters whose storytelling is truly telling the story of the Haitian people. Earlier this evening I saw two extraordinary reports from a British journalist Bill Neely www.tinyurl.com/ydu7oy2 and www.tinyurl.com/ydpftz9 . Neely's storytelling is full-circle journalism laying out the details, letting the emotion be where appropriate, but telling a story which makes you think, and makes you feel. I aspire to one day be that caliber of journalist, that caliber of a writer, where my work can speak in such an effortless way.

And when not being consumed by the news I'm finally taking the time to read. These past few evenings I've been cracking open a book before going to sleep Farai Chideya's "Kiss the Sky". The soundtrack for my reading has been anything Teedra Moses. My three fav songs are the "Take Me Remix" from her second mixtape "Teedra Moses: Live From The Jungle Vol. 2, "Raindrops" from her third mixtape "Teedra Moses: Lionhearted", and "Be Your Girl" from her first mixtape "Teedra Moses: The Young Hustla". She is fiya.

That's all for now.

-C

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Random Thought Of The Day

"In wine there is wisdom, In beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria. "
 
I read this and thought what a perfect way to explain why I love red wine :-).

Sunday, January 10, 2010

I Don't Know Why I'm Up

I woke up at 8am today and couldn't believe that I had only slept eight hours after the day I had yesterday, which was in one word --long. It started at around 12:00 a.m. and didn't end well until about 11 p.m. when I fell asleep.

For the past few months I've been working the overnight shift Friday night into Saturday morning and I still haven't adjusted. Part of me resents that I've been asked to adjust to the schedule, even though my job declines to make me a full-time employee. They give me Friday's off which I don't spend sleeping, because I can't sleep, so I can work when everyone else is partying or sleeping Friday night into Saturday morning.

After the morning show I headed to the first T.V. station I ever worked at as an intern to reunite with my fellow high school interns. It was great seeing people I hadn't seen in years and hearing what everyone had been up to over the years.

We also had a seminar on office politics by a T.V. news veteran there, and the founder of our particular internship program also offered some words of wisdom. It was interesting to hear their take on how to navigate the working world, and to reflect on some of the experiences I've already had which were both good and bad.

After the seminar we offered words of advice to the present high school interns many of whom were truly impressive. It's great to see a whole new generation of kids who are still enthusiastic about journalism. Hopefully as our industry evolves there will be opportunities for those students to make a mark.

Later our first boss and a few of the fellas and I went out for a drink. It was great to touch bases and just chill in an informal setting and talk about careers, politics, relationships, socializing, and pop culture. We have a really impressive group of people who are doing major things.

Lastly I went back to work to fill out a time sheet, got to get that check, and to see my former work wife. She left me last month to take a job in another industry. I missed my boo, but I'm happy that she's now happy again. So it was great connecting with her again.

I should have gone out but I would have likely crashed or said something in a delirious state. The bestie Epsilonicus and I haven't seen each other in forever. He had an outing for his girlfriend's birthday, but I was just too tired to make it out. I'll find a way to make it up for them. At the time my bed was calling.

Now I'm up Tweeting my friend in Spain, charging my IPod, and eating leftover Chinese, oh the good life :-).

Thursday, January 07, 2010

In This Edition Of Ever Had To

Have you ever had to call out from work because you locked the keys in the car?
Oh woe is a frantic me. Lost my wallet and then locked my keys in the car trying to go back in the house to resume search for the wallet.
Imagine how they're talking about me at work today.
Okay I give up, good day.

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

A Whirlwind Day

Today was a bit of a whirlwind day, possibly because I have yet to put myself on any type of schedule. Six days into 2010 and it's true, I don't have a routine. On the days when I'm not due into work until 1 p.m. I try to get up at 11 a.m. after likely going to bed at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. I know, I know I should be doing better.

Today was slightly different I was up at 9 a.m., watched an episode of "The West Wing", and then got ready for my day. At noon I had an appointment to have my photo taken for the blog I write for a local paper. That little appointment made me about 30 minutes late for my writing shift on T.V. Hill but since we had breaking news (the mayor of Bmore announced her intention to resign) I stayed later so it balanced out.

When I got home I ate some Ritz and spent time working on a reaction/analysis blog of the top news story, so hopefully it'll get a little play tomorrow.

Now I'm beat going to start reading Farai Chideya's "Kiss the Sky", I was going to read Hill Harper's "The Conversation" but put it in the proverbial parking lot following mixed reviews. I'll let you guys know what I think.

Friday, January 01, 2010

Thought of the Day: A Reason To Love Soul Music

What soul is in my opinion is singing about your vulnerabilities and your celebrations.-Robin Thicke
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