Impossible is Impossible

Some need to learn to "Do what's right"

2011-11-24T12:12:00.001-05:00

@USAirways should be ashamed of it’s “refund policy”

US Airways just posted a $95 million third quarter profit yet refuses to offer a $4,200 refund to my friend Lynn McKain (US-11MCKAIN-L86L06 - T1W) despite proof from her oncologist that her now incurable breast cancer has returned. As a consumer I find the airlines behavior insensitive, & disrespectful. So much for customers first and their alleged vow “The safety and satisfaction of our customers is a top priority for our airline.”

"5 From 30"

2011-07-08T20:26:00.004-04:00

A few months ago I was talking to my friend D and he asked how old I was at that moment. At the time I was 24, months away from today, the day when I turn 25. He said oh you're "5 from 30." Instantly I felt old and I panicked. I think inside myself I thought will I hit my target {whatever it is}, are things going as planned, am I on the right time track?

The target, the plan, the time track, where exactly I'm headed I was unsure of, and it's not much clearer today. For the last ten months I've been employed by the top television news division in the United States, and arguably in the world. For anyone in my chosen career field it is the ultimate position to be in. I regularly talk with network producers, correspondents, and executives reporting some of the most important stories of today. Many days I'm fortunate enough to assist in the news gathering for pretty important broadcasts. I have had a front row seat to history.

In about a months time I'm giving it up though. I'm walking away from my job in order to get a master's degree I'm still figuring out how to afford. In my heart against all logic, defying rhyme and reason, I felt the risk was one worth taking. Just last weekend I stood in my New York city apartment and thought to myself, what in the hell have I done? Have I sabotaged my career, ruined potential professional relationships? Have I ended a great ending by hard stopping a great beginning?

Then today I read this , which reinforced so many things I've read recently words of wisdom from Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to veteran journalist Belva Davis. Patrick's book "A Reason to Believe" reminded me I needed but one reason to believe. Davis' book "Never In My Wildest Dreams" summed up the past 10 months, except I did dream it. Three years ago on a trip to NYC I walked over to the building where I now work, looked up and said I'm going to work there one day, and it came to pass. 10 months ago I moved to NYC with an air mattress, a duffel bag, and a back pack and I've survived.

So I will continue to believe as one anchorwoman told me on one of my first days, "I will be great."

I will get back to this place, or I will get to a place that is all the better or right for me.

Besides I'm just "5 from 30" with hopefully a lot more time to go.

What Happens Next?

2011-03-26T16:44:00.005-04:00

I was watching the end of the women's basketball game when my high school friend Brittany beasted it. I was looking up her school Notre Dame and came across a site which celebrates African-Americans who attended the school.

I then came across the commencement speech by Katie Washington who last spring was celebrated for being the first African-American valedictorian in her school's history.

Part of her speech resonated with me as I continue to confront the realities of being a grown up.

She asked in part, "What happens after the applause stops? The spotlight fades, the crowd clears, and there are moments of complete silence. While applause is accompanied by feelings of safety and security, this silence can bring vulnerability and uneasiness."

I must now wonder not just what happens but what I will do. Throughout my life and career my accomplishments have often been celebrated and I've labored on, but sometimes there are let downs as you climb and climb and climb. Out of the silence hopefully will be born a plan, and more dreams. Yes, hopefully I will continue to dream.

So I've Decided

2011-03-20T15:05:00.002-04:00

So it seems that I have decided to start listening to my own advice.
You see for some reason people like asking me for advice. In all actuality I think it's a lot easier to accept common sense if you think it's someone else's wisdom.
I have a few mentees who will call, text, and e-mail me for career advice. Friends who will use me to talk out relationship drama. Friends who will make me proofread their stuff (and though I'm a journalist I feel like an average writer). Friends who will ask me how to plot, plan, and succeed at achieving their goals.

Still part of me feels lost.

I don't know if it's because I'm coming up on 25, or because I'm discovering that as chill as I am I'm a fairly impatient person.

So I've decided since I seem to give awesome advice to others, not tooting my own horn, they keep coming back. Maybe I need to take my own advice.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

2011-03-05T03:56:00.002-05:00

Before You Say No

2011-01-30T15:22:00.002-05:00

On Friday as I was headed to work even though it was my day off I was stopped by a woman.

"Can you help me cross the street?" she asked confusing me.

I was all ready to say no to this woman if she was asking for money or even a little bit of my time.Neither of which I jave to just give away. But then I was stopped dead in my tracks by a confusing request. What? You want me to help you across the street I thought to myself.

As I walked over to the woman and say no path was cleared from the sidewalk to the street. I told her we'd have to walk through the mess. She said fine just as long as she could hold onto me. As she held onto my arm she explained to me that she just didn't want to fall as she had done the day before.

Once safely on the other side of the street, the woman thanked me. She also told me, "God's going to bless you."

I walked away hoping that what the woman had said would turn out to be true.

You know there are times when people speak God's blessings upon you as a default expression of sorts, which makes it less real, less genuine and therefore less apt to happen.

So as I walked away I thought to myself well C. Nel think again before you say no, it might inhibit your blessings.

As I climb I lift

2011-01-04T21:33:00.003-05:00

{My BBM wallpaper a pic I snapped at a hotel in Boston a few years back. The sculpture so intrigued me.}

A few days ago while I was home in Baltimore visiting a few friends I mentioned my mentees (I have 3.5), and one of my friends joked that I mentor any and everyone. That is not true lol and she was trying to be funny. But I do believe in giving back. Maybe it's because I see the above picture (my cellphone wallpaper) as a metaphor for how my success will be achieved. I believed that my giving will be rewarded.

As I climb I lift, and as I lift I climb.

I really do believe this.

Few Words

2010-10-09T13:32:00.000-04:00

Sometimes all it takes are a few words to resonate with you. I originally typed this on the way home from work last night. I'm currently reading "Shooting Stars" by LeBron James and Buzz Bissinger. I'm reading it because while I know zilch about sports, what drives and motivates successful high school, college, and professional athletes does interest me. I like to know what propels people toward their goals, what helps convince them that they are the absolute best. One of my favorite parts of interviewing is hearing a little nuggett, just a few words, that really by themselves tell a story.
Page 91
"It is discipline, not desire, that determines your destiny."
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Rejection Letters

2010-08-16T17:50:00.000-04:00

I'm cleaning up before I tackle packing for my move to "The Big City" which means I'm spending countless hours by my lonesome, going through year's worth of belongings. As I prepared to pack my mother told me she didn't know how much longer we'd be in this house. She doesn't want to be burdened with carrying with her wherever she goes my inconsequential belongings. I should have told her I don't want to be burdened with the annoyance of trashing things and setting them out.

One of those things I've held on to which I can now do without: rejection letters for jobs or programs I'd applied to since graduating from college. Who in their infinite wisdom would turn me down? I guess they couldn't see my star is on the rise.

So, no longer will I hold on to those who said no and instead focus on those saying "yes."

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Cleaning

2010-08-14T14:29:00.001-04:00

Whenever I clean I get sidetracked by papers I've jotted down notes on, newspaper articles I've clipped, and old magazines.

"There are people in the world who will love you and people in the world who will hurt you, and there are people in the world who will do both."
Robyn Rihanna Fenty in the January 2010 issue of "GQ" Magazine
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Thought Of The Day

2010-08-08T12:58:00.001-04:00

"Write it on your heart that each day is the best day of the year." -Emerson
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Thought of the Day

2010-08-05T16:34:00.001-04:00

Ye shall know them not only by the peaks they have attained, but also by the valleys out of which they have come.
-Paraphrase from Bible Verse
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Preparing for the Next Step

2010-07-11T22:10:00.002-04:00

Lately I've been meditating on the fact that before there's a new beginning, there's an ending. I have less than two weeks left at my job and I'm excited that after two years, I'm moving on. When you first start a career in television news, you're often told to start small. Those who would mentor you then advice that in order to get your career where it ultimately should be that every two years you should move on to a bigger market. Well, I started not so small and I guess that's part of the reason I was a freelancer and not a full-time employee for so long. Anyway, I'm going from Market #27 to Market #1 so I guess I'm heeding the advice that I've been given.

The bad news is that I'm still very nervous about moving to NYC. It's all a bit overwhelming closing up shop, planning a move, finding an affordable apartment, financing everything and just thinking about getting set up in "the big city."

The good news is that I may have found a roommate. So let's all pray that this works out and it makes things a lot easier for me.

More to come, stay tuned.

5:43 p.m.

2010-07-08T17:43:00.001-04:00

Every July 8th @ 5:43pm I have a vain moment because it's the exact moment I was born & in my head today Jay-Z's "Every Day A Star Is Born"

Operation Summer Reading: BITNB

2010-07-07T00:51:00.001-04:00

This morning I finished Helena Andrews' book "Bitch Is The New Black," as has been said and as has been written it's a delightful and charming book about a young woman growing up, living life, and coming into her own. While Andrews has said in past interviews that she doesn't want her work being labeled as a black version of "Sex and the City" she succeeds in convincing me that her story is about more than sex in the city. Yes, there are stories about her flings and rememberances of those encounters that she wished could have been more, but the totality of her work is quite substantive.

Her memoir is it's own unique story about coming of age in a time when her generation, my generation has been told it can go through experiencing the turmoil which sometimes accompanies living life, finding and then losing love, and trying to sustain relationships, and still in the end have hope that we will find contentment. I might have to steal a page from her playbook which she says worked, "Mentally fast-forwarding through all the boring stuff in order to one day get to the good parts helped some." I mean I have to cope right. We've been told once and again such contradictory things as you can have it all, and no you really cannot have it all, because you want what you want all at once. Andrews reminds me that growing into adulthood will be about more than my "full-time job" and my "part-time life." Yes, please tell me there's more to moving further away from 21 and closer to the rest of my life than that.

The book I only learned was a collection of essays once I started reading it, but in the end it was story which explored the complicated and complex life it talked about in such a refreshing way. And yes while reading a memoir sometimes makes one feel like a voyeur, Helena (I can call her that now) invites us into her world willingly and makes us feel as though we can be right at home being her friend.

And, if you're still wondering what a young black man can get from a book that will be the beach read for a gazillion little Ms.'s this summer true stories, good stories break through those seen and unseen barriers. We can all learn life lessons from stories which talk about successes, failures, getting up and falling down, and ultimately enjoying who the hell we are.

She get it from her momma

2010-07-04T23:18:00.002-04:00

So I'm a little more than a month away from having to pick up my life and move from Baltimore to NYC and I can admit I'm a little stressed. I still haven't found an apartment or a roommate, paying to move into an apartment is going to more than likely make me broke, it'll be my first time living on my own, and I'm leaving all that is familiar and in my mind normal.

My mom always says pray on it, and I know she gets this from the infinite wisdom that was her momma and my grandmother. Yes, I've also heard it from other sources that God will not put on me more than I can bear. But sometimes I want a response that is more sympathetic or empathetic and that does acknowledges my feelings as real.

But I'm going to breathe because though I couldn't find the song on YouTube I found the lyrics and these words "If you pray don't worry But If you're gonna worry, don't pray" do mean something to me.

So since she get it from her momma, I should take it from my momma not to worry so much.

I Love .... Teedra Moses

2010-07-01T00:44:00.001-04:00

Okay Chris Brown

2010-06-30T11:03:00.002-04:00

So as I was late to find out on Sunday singer Chris Brown reemerged onto the pop culture scene with a performance at the BET Awards. Brown as you may remember pleaded guilty in June 2009 to assaulting his then girlfriend a fellow singer Rihanna during a fight back in February 2009. Now after the incident many believed Brown's career would go down in flames. He lost endorsements and was highly criticized by many of his fellow entertainers.

During his performance honoring the Michael Jackson one year after his death, Brown shed tears {if you check out the video above it's about 4:49 in} and many immediately asked why he was crying. Was Brown crying for M.J., crying for Rihanna, or crying for himself.

The next day "The View's" Elizabeth Hasselbeck said she believed he was crying in part because of what the song "Man in the Mirror" means at this point in Brown's life. After having his life turned upside down because of his actions and admitted mistakes that song definitely has to resonate with Brown. Beyond hoping that he is sincerely remorseful and having learned something from his ordeal there isn't much more for me to say.

Someone asked me yesterday why the media was quick to condemn Brown. I said it was because that was the public's response shock and dismay that he would beat a woman. Many feared he would lead to Rihanna's downfall, so they wanted his career to suffer instead.

Far be it from me to say who does and doesn't deserve second chances. But if this young man really wants to prove that he is a changed man then it will be because of his future deeds that we'll really no. Tears that some confuse for crocodile tears may not be enough to judge him on.

A Bit of Perspective

2010-06-25T21:05:00.002-04:00

So I got my first speeding ticket today.
No I wasn't pulled over by an officer, instead I got a picture from one of those "speed monitoring systems" aka "speed cameras" bka as "speed traps."
But I took this once in my lifetime experience to be a sign to just slow down and take it easy.
These last few months have been a whirlwind of emotions and events.
I went from desperately feeling like I needed to begin a new chapter, to being offered a job in New York City, to the current apartment hunt, and the anxiety about the big move.
So I'm taking it slow, easing off the accelerator and enjoying the moments on what will hopefully continue to be a smooth ride.

Thought of the Day

2010-06-02T21:22:00.002-04:00

I'm listening to this "soon" to be released Fantasia song "The Worst Part Is Over" and it has an incredible line, "See, I've been to a place called hell on Earth and that part is over." It's all about getting through and getting over.

Check out why I have been infrequent on blogger

2010-06-01T18:08:00.001-04:00

My latest bthesite.com blog: D.C. 'renaissance man' hopes to make a distinct impression on 'Design Star' http://tinyurl.com/2cjd4kz

A Lesson From Friendship

2010-05-29T22:44:00.001-04:00

I'm so excited my that friend Kallie who I affectionately call my "T.V. Wife" is auditioning to win the chance to host her own show on Oprah's new network OWN-TV. Kallie and I went to college together and we hosted shows on the campus television and radio station's. She was my first female co-anchor and that's why I call her my "T.V. Wife."

A few weeks back we had dinner (and she took me to a hookah bar) to celebrate my new job in New York. As always we had a great conversation on topics that ranged from our careers, education, media, dating, and society at large. Thankfully as I grow older, I grow wiser, and know the value of humility. I discovered that I owed my friend an apology because I can now admit that at times I mistreated her because I viewed her as my competitor. We're fine now. We're great friends who seek not to compete with one another but to inspire one another, and support one another. I think we're each other's biggest cheerleaders. Kallie affectionately calls me her "P.R."

So if you have the time check out Kallie's idea for her own talk show and vote for my dear friend Kallie. http://tinyurl.com/264a8yp

I'm so grateful that my friendship with her taught me that often someone else's success can taste just as sweet as your very own.

-C. Nel

Quote of the Day

2010-05-26T12:12:00.001-04:00

"Growing up is hard and becoming an adult is difficult."
-Helena Andrews

Sunday's should be your & the lord's day

2010-04-25T10:22:00.003-04:00

Earlier this week I was talking to a few friends about how you find balance. How do you do the things you have to do, the things you like to do, and yet possibly find even more time for those things you want to do. In many ways it seems you can't do it all, but I know there are people who are supremely organized, scheduled, and have a handle on multitasking.

One friend who runs her own business, and is a wife and mother suggested Sunday's should be about you. Yes, maybe it's right Sunday's should be your and the lord's day. Take time to be count the blessings, be thankful for the blessings, and then to have some you time.

I work later today and already promised another friend I'd come to her daughter's piano recital. So while it doesn't seem like today will be about me and the Lord (yes I'll still pray) I'll yearn for the days when I can get my praise on and then chill and chill hard.

Thought Of The Day

2010-02-23T22:02:00.001-05:00

Via Twitter &: @iheartquotes "In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test.In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson" ~Tom Bodett /via @lamya_oni

"Why Do You Round Everything Up?"

2010-02-20T22:39:00.002-05:00

Listening: "Debarge Interlude" (Live From Stanford, CA), Teedra Moses, Live From The Jungle Vol. 2

I used to think about immature things
you know like do you love me, do you want me, are you gonna
call me like you said you would, is this really your real phone number
But you know I'm a man now baby a grown man and I came a long way
and experience taught me one thing... taught me to hold on to my love

-From El DeBarge, "I Call Your Name"

It's been a year and a half since I graduated from college and began my career in television news. For so long I was just happy just to be a working journalist. For the first six months I was a broadcast apprentice pretty much learning everything there was to learn about various jobs in the newsroom: assignment editor, web producer, news writer, and field producer. When my apprenticeship ended I was flattered that I was asked to stay on as a news writer and then fill-in as a web producer when two of my colleagues were out on maternity leave at the same time.

Lately, I've begun feeling like I've hit a brick wall, that I've stopped growing, and stopped having fun. That led me to have a conversation with our weekend morning anchor this morning. One of the first things she asked me was how old I was? 23 One of the next questions she asked was the longest I'd been away from home? Three months. She rounded my age up to 24 and equated my internship in Illinois to summer camp. She went on to challenge me to evaluate what I really want to do, know where I want to be, and develop a plan of action to get there.

When I asked her "why do you round everything up?" She said because you have to think about the future. She's right, I can't go back in time and unring any bells, or undo anything I've done. I can plan, be aggressive, and move forward. So my mines fine tuned and fixed on the future.

I Used To Call Myself

2010-01-28T20:17:00.000-05:00

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!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Inside the Newsroom

2010-01-25T18:51:00.000-05:00

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.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Leaving The Nest

2010-01-19T11:31:00.000-05:00

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.

Checking In

2010-01-18T23:18:00.002-05:00

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

Random Thought Of The Day

2010-01-16T02:45:00.001-05:00

"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 :-).

I Don't Know Why I'm Up

2010-01-10T09:22:00.002-05:00

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 :-).

In This Edition Of Ever Had To

2010-01-07T13:27:00.001-05:00

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.

A Whirlwind Day

2010-01-06T23:23:00.002-05:00

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.

Thought of the Day: A Reason To Love Soul Music

2010-01-01T21:22:00.001-05:00

What soul is in my opinion is singing about your vulnerabilities and your celebrations.-Robin Thicke
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Taking Stock

2009-12-31T22:56:00.002-05:00

I don't really remember what I set out to do differently in 2009 than in 2008 or any year prior. What I do know is that I need for 2010 to blow me completely out the water. What did set in for me was this year, is that time really only moves forward. I'm getting older and thus it's about time I make some grown man moves. So hopefully I can make some big things happen for myself in 2010.

We really are the only one's completely responsible for our own happiness, and therefore it's so important to take responsibility for how we live. I see this now more than ever being back home with my family, working and having bosses, seeing friendships grow and go away.

Last night my best friend from college and I went out to a sushi bar. A large part of our evening was spent talking about life changes. For C. Nic he's preparing to finish graduate school, join Americorps, and end his relationship with his girlfriend who'll head off on an assignment to the Peace Corps. We talked about how their friendship will remain but they both feel they owe it to each other to live their lies, without worrying about maintaining a relationship, thousands of miles apart. C. Nic and I are two days apart, but I respect him so much for always knowing what he wants, deciding what's best for him, and going for it, but only after much thought and reflection.

C. Nic is the type that always makes me think deeply about where I am in life. Since he's studying higher education administration, he's always like a counselor, he often quizzes me on how my professional aspirations are dictating or have dictated how I lived. He reminds me that what we do can be a job, a career, or a vocation. Experts would tell you that one finds their true vocation only once they've realized what they've been called to do. I am always made to remember that the Rev. Peter J. Gomes says, " A vocation is where your great joy meets the world's great need."

So in 2010 I've looking forward to finding out more about what the world needs from me, and what I need from the world, and hopefully giving of myself but also getting something.

P.S.
I plan to return to blogging regularly like I did before I graduated college and lost my mind.

Food For Thought

2009-12-16T21:09:00.001-05:00

Author Helena Andrews tweeted a little earlier,"Adulthood comes in jigsaw pieces. Once the painstaking work of fitting them all together is done, the pic doesn't look nearly as cool."

Oh how true, Helena, oh how true though the assembling of the puzzle is sometimes the intellectual, emotional, and physical catalyst for us to work a little harder to have that pic reflect the life we believe we should have.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Life Is All About Change

2009-12-10T15:39:00.002-05:00

Life is all about change.

I have been considering quitting my job in television because I feel like I've hit a brick wall, that I've stopped growing, and that I'm unappreciated. I know, I know. We all often work jobs where we aren't told thank you, it's the nature of working. Still, I feel I'm too young to wake up everyday hating my job and loating heading in. So I've floated the idea of my leaving next month.

Then today my grandfather passed away. I keep replaying the scene in my head time and time again. My mom yelled for me to come because we couldn't wake him up. I put my head to his chest and I swear I heard a heart beat. Now because the medics said he regained his pulse in the ambulance. I didn't think to put him on the ground and start CPR. Now he's gone. My granddad was to me the epitome of what it means to be a strong black male. He left home at 16 refusing to work on the "white man's farm." He says he had a conversation with the mule and said it's me or you, and as he told the story, the mule nicely told him, he couldn't go anywhere.

Here's an interview I did with my granddad. It makes me smile to this day.

Today it's not about me, it's about my granddad Henry. And so now before I make any life's changing I'll think what would Henry want me to do?

"Life is precious"

2009-11-26T22:09:00.002-05:00

Maybe it's appropriate that I spent part of my Thanksgiving taking my mother to see the film "Precious." Seeing a film which forces you to look at some of life's hardships up close will make almost anyone grateful for the many blessings we sometimes take for granted. My mother who spent time working in area schools commented that the classroom environment as depicted in the film was so realistic. Each of the girls had a story and though we focused on "Precious" the good thing is a good film makes you curious about the stories you didn't see.

On this Thanksgiving as the above trailer says I was reminded that "Life is hard, life is short, life is painful, life is rich, life is precious," but life is also worth giving thanks for.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T20:52:00.002-05:00

I've learned that because I have stopped expecting perfection I can be just be grateful.
Thankful for my faith, my health, my family, my friends, and my sanity :-).
Happy Thanksgiving.

A Simple Thank You

2009-11-20T11:40:00.002-05:00

Aside from my job I'm a consultant on just about anything I'm proficient at media, and diversity mostly LoL.

But I got a thank you note via e-mail which read:

"You are rocking my world! Thank you so much for all the great stuff up on
FB. Keep it up!!!"

It was short and sweet. A thanks for doing your job, totally unnecessary but still appreciated.

Just like letters some days I wonder where did thank you notes go?

It's Friday

2009-11-06T11:01:00.002-05:00

I haven't been excited for Friday in quite sometime because I usually spend the entire day trying to sleep in order to head to work around midnight. But today was different. After five days of working 1am-9am, I am tired. I've been filling in as the associate producer for the weekday morning show all this week. Today I also got to booth the cut-ins so if I fill in again I can do them on my own.

But for the rest of the day I'm going to chill, maybe read and blog for BTheSite, and then I'll sleep so I can go to work at midnight.

Money On The Mind

2009-11-01T15:39:00.002-05:00

Am I the only one who starts my week by thinking about money?

Normally I spend time thinking about how much money I'll make in the week ahead. Also, there's how much money I spent in the week that was. And, normally I find myself promising to start keeping a spending diary.

Well I'm finally starting on this November 1, 2009.

I've read time and time again on personal finance blogs that keeping track of your money will tell you lots about yourself, and also in the end help you find ways to spend, save, and invest responsibly.

So wish me luck keeping better track of my money.

This Day

2009-10-30T18:33:00.002-04:00

I woke up at 6 a.m. this morning to drive in to the station by 7 in order to hold down the web center for a few hours, since one of my colleagues suffered a death in the family.

At one point one of the anchors walked back to the web center, saw me, and asked, "You running the mother ship by yourself?"
I replied yes.
He said, "Hot damn."
I laughed to myself.

After leaving work I picked up a backfin crab cake platter with fries and mac and cheese for myself and my mother, since she'd been craving it. Then i went and picked up cupcakes from Charm City Cupcakes for my family.

I'm chilling for the next few hours, then will try to will myself to have a nap so I'm not dragging when I drive back to work at 12:30 to work on the Saturday morning show.

That's all for now.

Everybody Needs Someone Whose Good For Their Ego

2009-10-04T19:52:00.003-04:00

This weekend was full of work and more work.

On Friday, I went in at 9 p.m. and worked overnight until about 9 a.m. Saturday morning. This was followed by sleeping most of my Saturday away, because when you work overnights you spend most of the time before going to work, trying to go to sleep.

Perhaps the highlight of my weekend, because I worked today as well, was a pow wow with one of the reporters at the station where I work.

As I commiserated about my being what I call the station "step child" she laughed but then offered words of encouragement.

You know her talking to me about her own path to where she is now, her path to being happy and content, was food for thought.

She also reminded me of all the things I'm capable of, and all the things I have yet to accomplish.

You see sometimes we really do need to remember our own potential.

Sometimes we need to hear it from friends, besides everybody needs someone whose good for their ego.

Talented Kids

2009-10-04T19:06:00.000-04:00

A Thought

2009-09-07T14:07:00.000-04:00

I'm sitting here preparing to go to work reading and listening to music. This line from Scott Poulson-Bryant's "Hung" made me think, "And what is manhood if not a complete and embarrassing grasp of your own insecurities in the face of others?" Could someone have gotten me this memo before I was say 23?
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

So I Think I Love My Wife

2009-09-02T13:19:00.002-04:00

Yes, you read that right.

I think I love my wife, no not my life, though there's days when that's grand too.

Somewhere out there is thinking he's married, when the heck and who the heck was he dating.

I'm not dating anyone, and haven't been for a minute, but I have a work wife.

I know, I know for some the idea of the work spouse is a little strange, but if you read the Wikipedia page, you'll learn a bit more.

Some of my friends see the innocence and a basic upgrade on a platonic friendship.

Still others see it as a dangerous trend where people are destined to catch feelings, and someone's going to get hurt.

Lucky for me, me and my wife have an understanding. We're just friends who are free to see other people.

But when we're at work we're down for each other. And when we're apart we don't call each other to whisper sweet nothings. We Blackberry message each other to make sure the other's okay.

Thought of The Day

2009-08-30T13:05:00.000-04:00

"I know what it is to be in need & I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any & every situation..."
-MATTHEW CHERRY from Twitter

Thought Of The Day

2009-08-22T20:11:00.000-04:00

My friend Joi tweeted, "Life is always more enjoyable when you're comfortable in your own skin."
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Once Upon A Time

2009-08-20T18:48:00.002-04:00

Once upon a time ...

I was the man with the master plan.

I knew what I wanted to be doing and when.

Now there are days when someone's ask where I want to be personally and professionally and I don't quite know the answer.

When I graduated college I said I wanted to become a T.V. news producer.

There are days when that's still the case, and there are days when I feel as though I should be aiming to do something else.

As much as I tell others to reminder to stay flexible, I don't quite I think what staying flexible means for me personally.

But I guess patience is a virtue and it's part of my reality at this particular moment.

Quote of the Day

2009-08-18T20:31:00.000-04:00

You're an ambitious man and an ambitious man is never happy with what he has.
-From "Mad Men"*

I'm watching my first episode ever, let's see if it becomes a favorite.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

I Am Finally Back In Bmore

2009-08-12T19:25:00.007-04:00

I am finally back in Bmore after ten days away.

I left on Sunday, August 2 to go down to Tampa for NABJ 2009.

It was a great experience as I wrote here before. A time to fulfill my board duties, attend workshops and trainings, and to reunite with friends and my journalism family. It's like going to a well to be replenished after giving all you've got day after day.

I got to end my term as Student Representative by recognizing NABJ's Student Journalist of the Year at a ceremony hosted by Tamron Hall.

I got to pass the torch to NABJ's new student rep.

Finally my trip was capped off with a visit to Disney to celebrate my girl Aprill O.'s birthday.

So now I'm happy but don't quite know if I'm ready to go back to work tomorrow.

:-)

Ending A Season

2009-08-09T23:36:00.002-04:00

So the saying goes, "To every thing there is a season."

Several hours ago a season ended for me when I handed over my seat as the NABJ Student Representative after a two year term. For me it was bittersweet I was sad to leave but proud of what I had accomplished remaining true to my pledges to a) be a servant leader and to b) be an unapologetic advocate for members.

The end of my term came with a week-long stay in Tampa.

Last Sunday I got here and was able to greet the students who participated in our Student Projects program where they reported on the organization's happening's.

On Monday my friends and I ran errands and then went out to eat at Ocean Prime here in Tampa. I had the house salad and salt and vinegar fries.

Tuesday was all about the last day long board meeting and then we took in a Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox game where we sat in a box and had a lot of fun.

On Wednesday we had lunch with the NY Times Publisher Arthur Sulzberger kicked off the convention with our Opening Ceremony.

On Thursday I helped moderate a candidates forum for my replacements, then led a workshop on whether or not to do grad school.

On Friday I presented an award to NABJ's Student Journalist of the Year (the coolest part about that was shaking the hand of Valerie Jarrett, one of President Obama's advisers, and Lisa Jackson, the Environmental Protection Administration administrator, and also being introduced by Tamron Hall whose gorgeous) then moderated two workshops one on the importance of reinventing yourself as a journalist while in college, and then one on how to make a career plan and deal with unexpected challenges. We also learned the results of NABJ's election and I was most happy knowing that several of my friends are returning to the NABJ board.

Saturday was all about a finance seminar moderated by Stacey Tisdale formerly of CNN, then a screening of "Good Hair" Chris Rock's new documentary film about what makes good or bad hair, and then there was NABJ's Salute to Excellence Awards ceremony which honored Journalist of the Year NPR's Michele Norris, Lifetime Achievement Award winner The Washington Post/ESPN's Michael Wilbon, Emerging Journalist Essence's Cynthia Gordy, and dozens of journalists for award winning work.

Today I attended the annual Gospel Brunch and then my final board meeting as a member where I passed the baton to Georgia Dawkins.

Now I'm chilling and deciding my next steps because a new season shall arrive soon.

It's Just Another Saturday

2009-07-25T20:50:00.001-04:00

As I write this, it's about 8:40 p.m. on Saturday, July 25.

I'm at work but have a bit of down time.

I'm watching CNN's Black In America 2 with my co-workers gabbing as a soundtrack.

I didn't watch on Wednesday because I was at an Association of Black Media Workers event, and Thursday I worked night side.

Like a lot of people I think CNN's Black In America illuminated many of the ills without providing proper context. I applaud their second effort CNN's Black In America 2 which was more solution oriented. The network wanted to show the reality of the problems, while celebrating those trying to make things better.

Working in T.V. news I know you'll never be able to do every story 100 % justice, but you have to give it your best shot, and I think CNN has.

Unfortunately for many in my generation, particularly those who are African-Americans we take pride in seeing our stories, but we also need another form of context.

Whenever I see stories about the plight of black America, I think of how it relates to the rest of America.

I see a story about families struggling to save their marriages, and while African-Americans in some cases have a love-hate relationship with marriage, so too do other races.

No we're not post-racial but for a new generation of Americans we are cogniscent of the difference in our races, but very much aware of how our story relates to that of others.

We need to see our stories but how we stack up to others side by side.

Ours is a parallel journey as much as it is a divergent one.

You Know I Don't Wear A Watch

2009-07-19T13:20:00.003-04:00

Do you know I don't wear a watch?

But I don't need one because all I need to know is which days I work.

Normally on Sunday's I'd start to think how shall I transition to the new week?

I'm not off til Wednesday so the weeks are running together.

Last week was pretty chill I worked on Monday.

I was off Tuesday and Wednesday, and on Wednesday. On Tuesday I made a trip to D.C. for CNN's Black In America 2 screening. You can read a good recap here . I also did Happy Hour with a friend at The Melting Pot (we had the Wisconsin Trio Cheese Fondue, with the Washington Apple Martini) and we had a post screening meal at MatchboxDC (apple pear salad, and the Matchbox meat pizza with pepperoni / spicy italian sausage / crispy bacon / zesty tomato sauce / mozzarella). On Wednesday I had lunch with my best friend from college whose in grad school out in Colorado, but was home on the east coast. We had lunch at Pei Wei then visited the alma mater LoCo soon to be LU lol. Yes it's going from college status to university lol. I'll still call it LoCo.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday it was back at the station.

Sadly one of my co-workers is leaving and moving to L.A. and last night was our last night working together. She just graduated from college and is moving to L.A. to hopefully start a budding television writing career. I'm so happy for her. Thankfully we have one last goodbye. The two of us are having lunch on Wednesday.

Ok so now back to watching "Knocked Up".

Who Wears The Robe

2009-07-13T01:42:00.003-04:00

First: An apologizing I've been cheating on this blog not with Facebook lol but with Twitter, in any event I've been unfaithful lol and I've got to do better.

Lisenting To: "I've Got A Testimony" from Going Up Yonder: The Best of Gospel Choirs cd

Kind of watching "The Brothers" on HBO

As I write this it's about 1:47 a.m. on the morning of July 13.

In just a few hours I aim to get up to begin watching the confirmation hearings of the Honorable Sonia Sotomayor of the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals who was several weeks ago nominated by President Barack Obama to be the first Hispanic to serve on the nation's highest court.

For me it'll be a very fascinating day. Jeffrey Toobin CNN's senior legal correspondent said it's the nerd Superbowl. Yes I am a nerd but, at the same time these confirmation hearings will have a special significance to me.

Years ago while in elementary school I studied the life of Thurgood Marshall who was the first African-American to sit on the nation's highest court. I once aspired to follow in the footsteps to follow in the footsteps of that pioneering Baltimore native.

I knew even then the significance of a Supreme Court justice's and being one of nine of the people who got to interpret the laws of the nation. No, Supreme Court justices don't get to craft the laws or enfroce them, but to interpret them thus offering an importance balance making sure that neither the executive or legislative branch oversteps their bounds.

My respect for the balancing act that they must perform has not ceased.

But after eight years of aspiring to one day land on the federal bench, my mind changed. At age 18 I said instead of joining the judicial branch, I'd become a member of the fourth estate and report on our government and our world.

As someone who has watched the court with a fascination and curiousity I know it does matter who gets to wear the robe. Whether the average person realizes or not the decisions reached by the "nine wise souls" does matter in the lives of average Americans.

As people our lives are spent working to attain that which we desire, but we can't ever have those privileges, without certain rights. No we all don't get to have all we want, but what we should all be given is the opportunity to do what we must to have what we want.

So will she, or won't she get to wear the robe?

That is the question.

Headed Home

2009-06-28T04:03:00.000-04:00

I had a great time at Lux Lounge in the nation's capitol celebrating the draft of my high school homie DaJuan Summers.

It's great to be able to celebrate a great athlete whose a great person.

Headed up 95 to Bmore jamming to MJ whose artistry I'm growing to appreciate more and more.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Hopefully The Plans Work It

2009-06-27T18:09:00.002-04:00

It's Saturday and I finally have a day off.

I almost got called in, thank God those plans fell through.

I'm trying to find a way down to D.C., not convinced my hoopty will make it down I-95.

A friend of mine was drafted to the NBA and is having a series of celebration parties.

I really want to go down and support him, but brother needs a ride LoL.

So hopefully my other boy from high school, gets off and we can make it down.

If not I'll find another way to connect with dude and show him I'm proud of him.

Another week has passed and I'm reminded that time moves forward not backwards.

I was up on the phone with a friend of mine down in Dallas, who said the death of Michael Jackson has reminded her why she wants to be in radio.

Sometimes it takes that reminder whatever it is to remind you of where you need to set your sights.

I'm on the hunt for my next endeavor where I'll be able to grow.

A co-worker reminded me recently I'm not in school anymore, I'm in the professional world, and therefore have to deal with the new realities I'm faced with everyday.

At 22, a year out of college, and almost a year in television news, I'm wondering if it's for me.

There are days when I feel as if I should be doing something more service oriented, something which day in and day out, I can see as making a difference.

So maybe it's time for Plan B, as I've seen to have given Plan A a good long run.

I must hope that whatever plan I end up on A, B, or C it works out.

I Almost Forgot

2009-06-24T21:41:00.002-04:00

I almost forgot that my birthday was coming up.

Yes in a couple of weeks I'll be 23 years old. In fact it's still very young, my grandfather when he reminded me he was married and had two children at the same age.

Thank goodness I'm neither married or a father.

Given that I almost forgot it was my birthday, it goes without saying I don't have any plans.

How should I celebrate 23?

Anyone have any ideas, suggestions?

It's Been A Minute

2009-06-20T12:55:00.001-04:00

Wow.

It's been over three weeks since I last updated the blog.

In short, work life has been keeping me busy.

For the past four months I have been freelancing at the T.V. station here in Baltimore, which means I do just about everything.

I write for different news shows, fill-in as a web producer (which has been my main gig for several weeks now), and from time to time I fill-in as an assignment editor.

In between that I blog for a local newspaper.

Other than that I try to do some mentoring, volunteer with the journalism org got to help protect the interests of black journalists, and hang out with friends.

Also made a quick trip to D.C. and Philly which were great.

I have to remember I can update from my phone via e-mail, which makes more regular updates easier to do.

I Looked & I Told Myself

2009-05-28T00:43:00.000-04:00

I looked at the time over forty minutes ago and I said to myself I'd be sleep by 1am. As I type this into the BB its 12:36.

This goal conflicts with the other goal to spend 30 minutes either reading or writing before turning in.

Like so many other days I've simply run out of time.

Hopefully I won't run out of time to do what really matters become contented, contented with where I sit comfortably, where I stand in times of discomfort, where I lay my head at the end of the day.

I have to however give myself some credit for establishing some me time I watched three DVDs I purchased as a way of chilling out, proper compensation for always being on the grind.

Goonite all!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Checking In

2009-05-25T22:44:00.002-04:00

Hello all, I know it's it's been a minute.

I don't know why after nearly four years of blogging my posts have become so sporadic.

But anyway I decided it was about time for me to check in.

Life these last few weeks has mostly revolved around work and my volunteer duties.

I think I've talked about it before but my apprenticeship ended in February after seven months, when it should have been six (I got an extra work due to the time I took off for volunteer board service).

My supervisors asked me to stay on as a freelancer and work as a fill-in web producer while two of my colleagues were on maternity leave.

Well one of my colleagues delivered a week and a half ago and the other is set to go in for a c-section tomorrow. Also we have a gay couple at work who adopted a baby boy last week. Talk about a baby factory.

It's great though that I'll be filling in for the ladies while they're out. I'll get more hours and have an opportunity to make money to save up to maybe get an apartment, have money for the journo conference later this summer, and possibly pursue graduate school.

Lately the idea of going to law school has been floating around in my head. Before I got the journalism bug I always said I wanted to be a lawyer. Growing up I idolized Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, in part because like me he's from Baltimore.

I jokingly still tell people that I'm still deciding what I'll be what I grow up. Truthfully, I'm grown up, but I'm also still deciding which path to take.

I Really Should Be

2009-05-14T22:09:00.003-04:00

Watching Grey's Anatomy right now, it's in a word, intense.

I really should be sleep right now.

For the second day in a row I'm working 1am-9am on the morning show at the station.

The good thing is I'm off Saturday or I should be.

So in theory I'll close my eyes for 45 minutes when Grey's goes of, get up at 12:00 leave by 12:30 and get to work at 1am.

I'll do my part of the show and then breathe. Hopefully I'll hang some tomorrow night and not think about work which this week has consumed my life a bit :-/.

I used to be a man with a list, a list of priorities. I'm pretty sure there's some other things I really should be doing, but for some reason I'm forgetting them.

"Wassup World?"

2009-05-07T21:39:00.002-04:00

"Wassup world?"

Who says that often? I'm pretty sure it's Sway Calloway from MTV though I'm not 100 %. I can't even remember the last time I watched MTV for more than two minutes.

This week has gone by sort of fast.

Last Saturday I had my five year high school reunion. As I told you guys before I cannot believe it's been five years since I graduated from high school. It was a lot of fun seeing people I went to high school with. I'd say of our class of about 140, atleast 40 showed up.

A surprising number of us students are living at home, some have jobs, and others have decided to go back to school. Talking to people pursuing med school, law school, public health school, made me realize I want to go back to school.

Sunday I worked noon to 5 p.m., then got asked to work 1 a.m. the next day.

Monday I worked 1 a.m. to 9 a.m., then went to visit a former co-worker, then came home and napped.

Tuesday I was off so I chilled hard.

Wednesday I went to work. I got irked by my co-workers. Then I went to a screening of the new "Star Trek" movie, which redeemed an otherwise horrid day. Oh and might I say the movie was great, and yes I was a trekkie growing up.

Today I spent time with my two lil cousins, then I went to work which some days I love it and some days I hate it. Then I ran errands gassed up the car, ran to the bank, returned a few calls.

Some days it feels like my life is so uneventful. Then there are days when there's not enough time in the day.

I know now I have to enter each day and say "Wassup World".

My Adventures With Cooking

2009-05-02T16:39:00.005-04:00

When I first graduated college and moved back home one of the first things my mother told me was that I needed to learn to cook.

I think maybe she's just a little bit right. I mean eventually I will live on my own and have to cook for myself.

Every now and again as it is now I feel like trying to cook something.

A few weeks ago I tried a pretty sophisticated recipe for one of my favorite dishes chicken salad, yes, chicken salad. I'm not a fan of chicken but I love chicken salad. My mother finds it odd too. And no I haven't relinquished the black card LoL every now and again I will eat me a piece or two of fried chicken.

Oh and here's my version slapped in between two pieces of potato bread:

But since a lot of my friends are foodies I've been experimenting with new foods, things I wouldn't ordinarily eat because it has ingredients I'm not entirely familiar with in them.

Then last night I tried my hand at baking.

I made this:
The recipe is here.

So keep in mind that I may be updating you all with tales of my food adventures every now and again.

High School Again

2009-05-01T17:38:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow I have my 5th Year High School Reunion. It's so weird to think it's been five years since I graduated. Lord, some days my mind can't think back that far. Other days it feels like it was just yesterday. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. Excited to see some characters I haven't seen in years. I saw one of my friend at work the other day when he was interviewed for our morning show, he's a pro football prospect. Then on the other hand I'm slightly nervous because I don't quite no why. I think I've done okay for myself. I'm a journalist which a lot of people may have figured from some of my high school activities, working on the campus paper, interning at a local TV station. And with this economy we're all in transition and still trying figure out exactly what we want to be when we grow up. So hopefully that goes well. Maybe I'll have something to report on Sunday :-). I'll have to sober up quick and report in to work LoL.

That's My H.S. Graduation (oh to be that size again ha)

Who Should You Love More?

2009-05-01T11:17:00.003-04:00

I've been up since like 3 a.m. and I still don't know why.

Anywho weirdness this morning as I sat listening to Kindred The Family Soul: a husband-wife neo-soul singing duo. My ITunes went from their song "In This Life Together" to an interlude "Husband My Daddy" which includes mom Aja and the couple's daughter both claiming dad Fatin as their own. When one is a husband or wife and also a father or mother there is a natural tug of war between the two loyalties. Though that of course doesn't mean that one can't do both with love, compassion, and a generosity of spirit.

As I reflected on what I know of Kindred: The Family Soul, I knew that family was the center of their world.

Then I flipped through yesterday's USA Today and spent a moment reading about the writer, Ayelet Waldman. Waldman got into a bit of trouble because she once wrote that she loved her husband more than she loved her children. In a way I understand what she meant. She obviously doesn't feel she'd been a mother without her husband, nor could she be a good mother without the love and support of her husband. Some people feel that being validated as a man or woman, husband and wife equips them to be a better parent.

With all of this I do believe in separate loves. I think your love for your husband or wife is one love, and the love for your children is another.

Then she said, "There's a saying that the most important thing a man can do for his children is to love their mother."

That was definite food for thought for me, even though I don't want children.

At a time in which many marriages seem to be disipating thus eroding stability without households it is important for men and women to understand the natural correlation between duties as a husband or wife, lover and friend, and how that in many cases that aides one's ability to be a parent whose fully engaged and fully present for their children.

It's Been Forever

2009-04-25T13:01:00.003-04:00

Hello blogland.

It's been a while since I checked in with those of you who still read this LoL.

As I write this I'm watching "Good Times" the episode where J.J. paints a black Jesus.

This week was a bit busy as I returned from a trip to Tampa, adjusted to work, and juggled the 50 million tasks I had no business volunteering to do.

I should be getting ready for work at the T.V. station. After tonight hopefully I'll possibly get to enjoy the 80 plus degree weekend. I already saw The Soloist earlier this week. So I'm thinking I'll maybe see "Obsessed" which I call the black "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle". Tomorrow my friend Aprill and I may visit Belvedere Square the buppie market where all the foodies go ha. That's us below looking rather fly.

Hopefully I'll remember to update you all more often.

You Get Looks In 2009?

2009-04-09T22:50:00.003-04:00

So earlier tonight I went out to dinner with a friend from college.

We were supposed to catch up last Thursday but we both forgot.

She's a senior at LoCo, so we went to a restaurant near campus called Tambers.

The two of us get the strangest looks when we go out.

She's white, I'm black, and even in 2009 I guess that's not ok.

I've only noticed the looks once when we went out.

She said that we got quite a few today.

Of course to she and I it doesn't matter though I said, "Hey what do they know we could plan on making a little Barack Obama."

The two of us got a laugh out of that.

But yeah it kind of surprise me to find the weird looks in a city like Bmore.

Habits 1

2009-03-31T22:02:00.000-04:00

I have this little habit.
I buy magazines based on the cover.
Wait, wait it doesn’t end there.
Generally after reading the cover article or looking at the pictures, skimming for other little sidebars which interest me I put them up somewhere.
Then months later when I’m bored I pull them back out and flip through looking for things which peek my interest.
Prime Example: November 2008 issue of “Esquire” the one with Halle Berry on the cover in her undies covered up by a black blazer and sky blue tie ala, the famous 2000 cover of the mag featuring former President Bill Clinton.
The article which got my attention is titled, “The Suggestion: Red Wine with Breakfast”. It’s interesting cause I know many a person who would like to begin their day with an adult beverage. I’ve never heard or seen it advocated.
I submit the premise is interesting as the author says, “One glass gives you the perfect amount of buzz, and it doesn’t make you groggy. It drives a wedge between your cottony, postsleep morning and the rest of your day.”
Hmm.
Honestly never thought of it, but makes me want to give it a try.
I could actually probably stomach my own breakfast with a glass of wine.

Whew

2009-03-26T16:45:00.002-04:00

Whew.

I'm not quite sure why I'm saying whew.

I've been off since Monday.

My station's managing editor called today and asked what I was doing?

She said she didn't want me to get used to being off.

Haha.

I haven't been doing anything exciting helping friends by proofreading documents and such, doing a little cleaning, and watching reruns on T.V.

Hopefully the weekend things will pick up. I'm supposed to go to a fashion show tomorrow. Should be interesting as I'm supposed to sit with someone I used to crush on. She called me last weekend to make sure I brought my ticket.

Why am I doing that to myself?

Who Has To Work On A Saturday?

2009-03-21T12:29:00.003-04:00

Who has to work on a Saturday? Me that's who.

Oh and not to mention I have to work tomorrow as well.

My weekend work schedule prevented me from going up to NY to attend the daylong conference, my friend Aprill's putting on.

But since I'm stuck here in Bmore because of the JOB (which even though I call it part part-time) I'm lucky to have I better get ready for it.

I'm about to shower, get dressed, and head to the grocery store for lunch and dinner and a snack for in between.

And today's turning out to be a nice day too. How I wish I could enjoy it.

School Dayz

2009-03-15T16:53:00.004-04:00

I just finished eating leftovers from a late Saturday night dinner at PF Changs with my friend Aprill.

(For the foodies out there I had the Organic Agave Margarita, Crab Wontons, and Pepper Steak with Brown Rice)

As I dined on what was left of last night's meal, it made me think of a conversation with our waiter from last night Gary who told us waiting tables was his second job, which he worked so he could go to school.

I myself couldn't imagine having had to work two jobs and go to school at the same time.

I barely survived working part-time, interning, volunteering, and going to class.

Then I thought about it last year for a hot minute I was going to work and go to school, though it became cost prohibitive.

Recently, I have been thinking about going back to school. The only question is what for?

Speaking of school, one of my best friends from college is coming to visit Bmore on Wednesday. He wants me to go to campus with him, I'm thinking nah, cause I'll be there in two weeks for the black student association's fashion show. That'll give me my LoCo fix.

Wow

2009-03-12T21:31:00.002-04:00

I'm watching "Grey's Anatomy" for the first time in forever.

I kind of forgot how great a show it is.

This episode is both intense and engaging.

Blah Blah Blah

2009-03-01T23:22:00.002-05:00

I got a haircut today.
One of the co-workers noticed.
It's funny my mother so often says, "You look so much better with a haircut."
When I sat thinking about it, I thought maybe bringing in a new month with a new look might change my luck.
So here's simply to my luck changing :-).

Being Black in America

2009-02-25T21:22:00.002-05:00

I'm sitting here watching CNN's Black in America.

I remember being anxious to watch the documentary last summer and hearing various perspectives on just how good it was.

Some loved it and some hated it, but isn't that everything?

But I too think the docu offered a mix bag. There were some stories which resonated with me and some which I found questionable and wanted to do a little more digging on.

Having said that I think the one thing the documentary certainly does is it leads people of color to reflect on their experience as people of color.

It's always important to reflect, and to take stock.

No, not just as a person of color but certainly as a person with multiple facets of an identity.

Being Black in America for me has meant bucking so many trends, but being secure in the fact that my blackness makes me unique and uniquely suited to confront life's challenges.

I Need a Routine

2009-02-22T21:51:00.002-05:00

I'm entering week two of being a tad underemployed.

This is my first full week of freelancing and I'm scheduled to work just 20 hours this week.

Aside from making less money (which will kill me when it hits me), I also have less of my schedule set in advance. That could be a good thing, be it not for the fact that a) I'm a morning person and b) I thrive on routine.

So this week hopefully I can get into a routine of doing some of the following

1) Getting 8 hrs of sleep (which will commence once the Oscars end)

2) Eating breakfast (which I've been doing a good job of), lunch (which has wavered), and dinner.

3) Keeping up with the work blog.

4) Having a PMA at the T.V. job.

5) Writing a bit every day.

and

Bonus: Finding somewhere to mentor kids something I promise I'd do when my little cousin was killed last year.

Change Has Come ... To My Life

2009-02-19T12:35:00.002-05:00

Status: Chilling, eating a late breakfast of hash browns, eggs, and bacon. Listening to Adele's "Chasing Pavements"

So I've been out of school for nine months and it feels so weird.

I just don't know that I've yet formed a post-grad identity.

My professional life is still in transition as I've ended my broadcast apprenticeship and am now a freelancer at my station. In this economy I'm kind of afraid to see what the job market looks like.

Personally I'm living at home which does not work wonders for one's love life.

I've figured recently that if someone asks me about something about which I should be more certain, I'll just say I'm in an extended period of transition.

Until next time.

It's Almost Friday

2009-02-05T19:23:00.001-05:00

It's Thursday good news cause we're inching closer to Friday :-).

Today was an okay day at work.

I went in at my usual time even though I got called to work a 3 hour shift last night. So I ended up working from 8:30 p.m. til 11:30 p.m. last night. I left T.V. Hill at around 11: 45 p.m. That shift came after having dinner with two of my former residents which was quite fun, I must say.

Then I worked 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.

My boss also offered me an ultimatum. She told me that I could either commit to being a freelance writer or start looking for another job. So I may be getting the axe not necessarily this month but sometime soon. Basically, it's time to decide what I want, what I need to do and then reconcile that with what I'm willing to do to get to where I want to be.

What I was looking for, from her was some indication that there would be an opportunity for me to grow.

At this point that would give me the most satisfaction and the most to gain.

So we'll see as we evaluate and talk more in depth about things.

Insomniac

2009-01-22T07:24:00.000-05:00

I'm not an insomniac but I do have insomniatic tendencies. Sometimes I stay up for no reason at all. Right now I'm feeling it as I stand in line for flight 1 of 2 today.

Add to that I'm flying to the west coast and as you can imagine I'll be barely awake later.

I don't really do naps but I'll likely be snoring on this first flight. Sorry in advance to the person who sits next to me.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

The Parallels: "The First Lady" = "Ms. Independent"

2009-01-20T20:47:00.005-05:00

Whenever I see President Obama and the First Lady together I always think of Mrs. Obama as "the woman beside the man." The woman who stands comfortably beside her man.

I seriously resent the expression, "woman behind the man", not because for generations so many exemplary women haven't indeed propelled their men forward, but they've in many cases stood beside them fighting the same battles. I can't help but think of Coretta Scott King, Myrlie Evers-Williams, and Betty Shabazz. These women were themselves "working women", and civil rights leaders in their own right.

I think too of my grandparents who were married 32 years and together 46 (I should say they were married longer just to other people lol and couldn't get married until they could afford divorces). I think back to my grandparents as partners and having role sharing responsibilities. They each had their domain, and though their marriage was not without their challenges they raised 13 children together.

Reflecting on their relationship, reminds me of the need for young people especially my generation to have healthy relationships modelled for them. In my mind when we got a new First Couple, we got the ultimate role models. Successful in attaining high levels of education, successful in establishing their own successful careers, and successful in raising a beautiful family.

I think for a lot of men my age who aspire to have success with regards to numerous measures: education, career, financial independence, regard in the community, they'll understand that having "the woman beside the man" helps one to achieve all of that.

I think for many young men my age in a sense Michelle Obama serves as "the prototype". Beautiful, intelligent, gracious, compassionate, loyal, geniune, and giving, a devoted wife and mother whose accomplished in her own right. Every man needs a multitasker a woman who can do for him, do for her, and do for theirs.

Michelle Obama is the definite upgrade, she is "Ms. Independent", "She Got Her Own" and she might just be the original "Scholarship Chick".

Got all the goods to make a man aspire, shoot perspire, to make him work to reach his highest level.

Untapped potential does one no good.

So this may be my signal to look for my own Michelle, look for the "prototype".

The Implications

2009-01-20T19:46:00.002-05:00

As I sat watching coverage of the inauguration of President Barack Obama I switched between NBC and CNN and BET (shots out to those involved with their coverage including the lovely and talented journalist Rene Syler) and TV One (shots out to those involved with their coverage including the equally lovely and talented journalist April Ryan), it was through watching history unfold early this afternoon that it hit me the full magnitude and weight of this moment.

To on this day be living history, and be bearing witness to such a momentous ocassion whether near or far had to feel remarkable and quite different.

I've always been enthralled with the political process, and always loved watching the pageantry, the pomp and circumstance involving things in Washington such as an inauguration.

Do you know C-SPAN is one of my favorite stations?

Today, January 20, 2009, I however sense that in finally seeing this day arrive we moved beyond symbolism. We moved beyond simply acknowledging that a person of color could achieve the highest office in the land. We moved beyond telling people that hard work, dedication, strength of character, and pays off.

But still the hard work begins tomorrow, after the celebrations and after the celebrations and reflections and energy subsides. The implications of two wars, an economic crisis, and other challenges we'd have to confront will undoubtedly demand not just an active President and administration, but also active and engaged citizenry during whatever they can to help.

So it'll be interesting to watch in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Checking In

2009-01-17T08:36:00.000-05:00

Up early I don't quite know why. I don't have to go to work today. I do however work tomorrow and then I'm off for eight days, four of which will be spent in San Diego on my first trip to Cali.

Last week was an interesting week at work. The job at the T.V. station apparently has some sort of plans for me after my apprenticeship ends in mid-February. I'll apparently be a freelancer writer which means filling in when others can't, and it also means no benefits.

Anyway despite the fact that there are no full-time positions to offer me they do apparently trust me. I've been helping out with our inaugural coverage planning. I also took a company car to D.C. yesterday to pick up our credentials. Mind you a) I don't do the Beltway in my own town b) I've never driven to D.C. c) I don't drive around in D.C. and d) they had to give me one of the bigger SUVs to drive lawd. Good news I made it there in back.

Now today I'm debating going downtown to see the President-elect speak. It's literally going to be freezing today and I don't do the cold.

I've also seen him speak in person three times (one of which the First Lady in waiting was with him). I don't know by 12:30 I may change my mind and head down into the area. At this point I'm just opposed to taking public transit down there. So we'll see.

Then tonight I have to pack for a trip to D.C. to atleast get a peek at the inauguration. My congressman and Senator didn't give me a ticket. It'll just be good to be in D.C. and to mark the moment in history with friends.

Then I work tomorrow and then it's off to the D.C. burbs and a little bit later into the city.

I'm not sure if I'm taking the comp. If I do I'll update, if not an update will come on Wednesday or Thursday.

I Should Probably Be Asleep

2009-01-05T21:21:00.002-05:00

It's almost 9:30 p.m. and I should probably be asleep as I have to be at work at 4:00 a.m. tomorrow.

The meteorologists are thinking we may have some severe weather namely ice and freezing rain.

They called me in to do school closings.

You really know when you're at the bottom of the totem pole.

"Hey you, not so new kid, but still new kid, come in here bright and early to handle this. O.K.?"

No, I've done it once before and it wasn't bad at all.

Wish me a good night's sleep and lots of luck.

Goodnite!

This Kid's A Fantastic Reporter

2009-01-01T21:00:00.000-05:00

Change

2008-12-31T21:16:00.003-05:00

Change.

If there's one word I'd use to sum up the blur which was 2008, I'd use change. No, not just because of what unfolded in this country politically. While change has undoubtedly come to this country, it has also come in my life.

Change has impacted me because I'm unlike I was this time yesterday, this time six months ago, this time a year ago. In many ways I have gone from being a young, innocent, and naive person to being an older, slightly less innocent, and more aware person.

I don't know what 2009 holds. I just hope most of it is good. I didn't saw all, because we don't become who we are really meant to be without encountering some challenges along the way.

Adversity is painful while you're going through it, but poignant once your story unfolds.

May you all be safe and happy as you say goodbye to 2008 and hello to 2009.

Here's at least two words I hope I'll use to sum up my 2009 prosperous, and content.

Best,
C. Nel

Happy Monday

2008-12-29T21:16:00.002-05:00

Happy Monday all. I can say that now that Monday's nearly over. :-)

Today was an okay day. It wasn't a great day, but it wasn't a particularly bad day either.

I got up reluctantly around 7:45 this morning to shower and get dressed for work. Thankfully last week I started eating breakfast at work, which means I can drive straight there, that's unless I have to pick up lunch. Before then I would eat breakfast sporadically. Now every morning I have oatmeal and coffee or oatmeal and tea. I will likely start spicing it up soon. I've decided to get easy recipes that I can make so that I have no excuse to miss meals. (Suggestions are welcome especially for lunch and dinner. Do me a favor though, keep them simple.)

One of my New Me resolutions yes, I've decided not to connect my resolutions solely to New Years is to get myself in better shape. That includes finding ways to exercise, even if I can't make it to a gym. I also plan to learn to cook, some things. This is something my mother will love, as I use every excuse under the sun not to even try.

My day today involved work from 9am to 5pm. For the last couple of weeks I've been on the assignment desk. Assignment editors and managers help the producers and news managers decide what we'll cover for the day, we also assign crews, schedule interviews and shoots, keep abreast of updates and developments and stories, and make sure everything is cared for logistically. When I first got to my station I couldn't stand the assignment desk. I hated working with ungrateful producers and rude reporters. I've learned to handle it and it's growing on me, a bit. I've even been allowed to fill in shifts as an assignment editor on a couple of weekends.

Also at work I've written for every show except the morning and noon shows. I've written for our 4p.m., 5p.m., 6p.m., and 11p.m. newscasts. Also last week I produced a slideshow which was distributed to all the other network owned affiliate stations, that was hot.

After work I came home ate dinner, was on my 2nd conference call today, watched the Georgetown vs. UConn men's basketball game, and was texting one of my friends.

Before I head to bed at around 11 tonight I plan to do a little reading.

Hopefully the rest of the week is great. I'm off on Thursday and get my normal weekend this Saturday and Sunday off.

Hope your week is off to a great start.

P.S. Tech update: I got a new battery and charger for my comp. Now I have to suck it up and get my phone repaired (probably not likely) or get a new phone (costly and likely). Also my digital camera which I haven't used since late July still works. I found random pics of Times Square from my random day and a half in NYC.

When Things Fall Apart

2008-12-23T22:08:00.000-05:00

Sometime between my trip back to New Orleans and last Wednesday, my Blackberry trackball broke. I somehow disabled the ringer. I also managed to break the speakerphone.

Now the laptop stop working.

All my gizmos and gadgets are falling apart :-(.

Through the magic of e-mail, I'll try to continue blogging :-).

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

I've Got To Do Better

2008-12-21T23:29:00.002-05:00

I know, I know.

I've got to do better.

I must do better at everything including making time to blog.

I've noticed that since college I've been a bit frazzled and confused about things, particularly life.

Haha. I'm not even joking. Life in its entirety has managed to confound me.

I feel like seven months ago I knew so much more about what I wanted from in terms of life: be it career, a relationship, friendships, etc.

Admittedly, I've picked up a few bad habits which I need to put aside. I'll just say I waited until after finishing school to begin acting a bit stupid.

Back to the topic at hand.

I just need to set aside time for me to escape from family, friends, the job, just to do me. Just to seriously reflect and spend time with me.

I don't think I'll wait until the new year to turn the page, and begin anew. I don't think I have to wait that long. Waiting until the new year for me, seems too gimmicky. I'm a grown man who should be able to do what I need to do, so I will.

And I can promise I'll try to get back to updating this space more regularly.

Back in Baltimore

2008-12-08T20:58:00.002-05:00

So I'm back in Baltimore after a week in New Orleans.

Can I just say that I love New Orleans, it's such an amazing place!

The history.

The people.

The sense of community.

The resiliency.

New Orleans was a great conference city and an appropriate location for our diversity conference.

In my mind's eye New Orleans represented a place where one is able to see America's interesting history and its blended cultures up close and personal, a place with southern charm and slightly northern sensibilities (it reminds me in ways of Baltimore) , yet it's a place where America's problems have existed and therefore a place where we can see that must still have its moment of reckoning with New Orleans.

The Kids

2008-12-04T11:04:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday while here in NOLA I had the chance to along with a group of other conference organizers participate in a day long service project.

The project took us to a local charter school where we were able to visit different classrooms, assist classroom teachers, and interact with the kids.

I and three other conference attendees visited a 2nd grade class.

It was an interesting experience because I hadn't worked so closely with little kids in about a year. The experience of being at the school also reminded me of my own elementary school experience back in Baltimore. From the pledge of allegiance (which I embarrassingly forgot a word too: yeah I forgot all about indivisible), to learning how to map coordinates on a grid, to learning about animals it was all so great. Yes, the kids made me tired but there was an innocence to them, and their personalities were most definitely infectious.

Can I just say that already I miss the kids?

Ms. Jada, she was super friendly, and quite bright. The smallest thing walking around her 2nd grade class but so friendly.

Mason was a great kid. He was a handful but when talking to him I learned that he was very smart. His teacher said the same thing, but he's the type of kid that though he gives you a headache he'll also make you smile. Oh and his accent. Mason also along with one of my college aged friends, and myself won the round robin spelling bee that the teacher did before lunch.

Oh Mason made sure I took a picture of his haircut.

Mason in the blue shirt with Curry in the white shirt. Mason constantly corrected my pronunciation of Curry's name. I pronounced it Ka-rey, he said Cuh-rey with a thick New Orleanian accent.

Greetings from NOLA

2008-12-04T01:00:00.001-05:00

A picture from my walk along the Mississippi.

Hi all.

So as I write this I am currently in New Orleans, Louisiana for a student diversity leadership conference. I'm a faculty member for the third year in the row. It's as exciting this time as it was in each of the years prior. I was especially glad that on Tuesday we got a chance to do a half day service project here in NOLA. Our work at a local charter school gave me much to contemplate including my contributions to society.

Back to the conference this is my third year on the faculty. I'm looking forward to working with my co-facilitator to lead a group of 50-60 students through an intense 2.5 days of diversity work. My partner, a senior at Brown University in Providence, is extremely cool. I'm sure we'll work well together.

New Orleans of course is great. This city is so full of history. I was here a month and a half back and got to explore a bit then from Bourbon Street, to the French Quarter, to parts of the lower ninth ward (where I saw the houses Brad and Angelina are building with their Make It Right Foundation), the Garden District, and a local cemetery. This time I've had a little less time to travel but have enjoyed it very much. Sometimes it's all about the food (had chargrilled oysters at Acme Oyster House, a shrimp po boy at another restaurant, and beignets and hot chocolate from Cafe Du Monde; and then there's the fellowship (some members of the conference faculty I didn't imagine I'd connect with but I have are phenomenal folks).

Hopefully I'll get a chance to update you all again on my conference experience before my week here is over..

Talk to you soon.

-C. Nel

Not A Fan of Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T12:21:00.001-05:00

I don't know for some reason I'm just not a fan of Thanksgiving.

That may be why I didn't object when they told me I had to work today.

So I'm writing from the station where I'm helping out on the assignment desk answering phones and such and then writing for the 5pm and 6pm shows.

So back to the reason for this post.

Some people find it hard to beleive that I don't jump for joy when Thanksgiving and Christmas come around.

I can't remember ever being a holiday person.

O.K. maybe when my grandmother was still alive because I enjoyed her cooking and just being in the kitchen when they cooked.

But I'll put aside my slight disdain for the holiday in order to say I am thankful for life, for family (even though by tomorrow I'll be ready to escape them), for friends (especially the ones who remember to check in on you when normally you do all the checking), and for the promise of tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving.

The Obamas Speak Up

2008-11-16T19:32:00.017-05:00

I'm currently watching "60 Minutes".

It's coming on half an hour late due to football.

It'll be interesting to see what the Obamas the President-elect and First Lady in waiting have to say.

7:31: Neither Barack or Michelle knows if it's suck in yet though she says after his name flashed on the screen election night she says she turned and said," You are the 44th President of the United States of America, wow, what a country we live in."

7:34: Steve Kroft looks so gangster he knows he's the man.

7:36 Barack goes right to family Michelle "roaming about" in the A.M. and the "girls jumping in the bed."

7:37 "Surprisingly enough, I feel right now that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing."

7:38 Is Obama's disposition representative of a calm before the storm, given as he puts it our "challenges".

7:40: Obama shows what he wants to convey that he's in on things but not controlling things as far as bailout and Henry Paulson.

7:44 "Consensus" think that'll be one of Obama's keywords.

7:46 Obama says he'll move early on Guantanamo and on new American interrogation tactics to shure up the world's confidence in America. Also says we'll move back towards the search for Bin Laden.

7:47 "Soon" in response to when he'll name his cabinet and that they'll atleast be one Republican in his cabinet.

7:48 Of the advice for former President's the all see "there's a certainly loneliness to job."

7:49 The President-elect says he's reading Lincoln who he finds wise and he's reading the new book about FDR's First 100 Days. Makes me thinks about Time's interesting "The New New Deal" cover.

7:51 Obama points out that there are similarities to the past, but that recreating the 30's alone will be "missing the boat."

7:52 Obama doesn't know about making a lot of speeches, but says he'll work on communicating what he's doing as he done things. Wonder if that'll last with the Washington press corp going at him and his Press Secretary?

7:53 Obama says he wants to,"recreate a bond of trust between the Presidency and the public that [he] think has been lost."

7:58 Michelle's laugh is sooo funny, so short, but it's consistent so I know it's her real laugh.

7:59: Barack will never just go there with race he takes it and he spins it and makes it a "moment", a poignant and telling moment. He's always going to be inclusive. Election shows "Progress ...core deciency...generosity of American people."

8:01 Michelle on Malia's first day back "That's embarrassing." Wonders if someone tried to burn down the apartment?

8:02 LoL near the "Harold's Chicken Shack". O.K. So the President-elect had a hoopty so I feel better about mine.

8:03 Michelle paints at the presidency as a reunion, and homecoming.

8:06 Michelle might be a hybrid of Jacque O., Hillary, and Laura Bush as First Lady. It'll be interesting she strikes me as the type that doesn't like boredom.

8:07 Barack goes back to his girls and wanting them "to remain the great joys that they are."

8:08 Barack complains about not being able to take a walk and having to his barber having to come to an undisclosed location.

8:09 Steve asked what I wants to know what's Michelle going to do or going to want to do?

8:16 Michelle says the "dog" after the move is settled.

8:17 Barack on the "First Grandma" she can move in if she wants.

8:20 Barack started talking about something IDK about college football.

It's Been So Long

2008-11-15T00:41:00.000-05:00

Hello world.

I hope I hasn't been gone so long that I've been forgotten.

The work before the election and right after kept me hella busy.

I've also been trying to find my blog voice on that other blog.

Other than that I'm trying my best to find that ever illusive thing called contentment.

So yeah that's me right now.

Oh and these last few days I've been feeling under the weather.

Monday I started having a sore throat which got worst in worst.

By Thursday I'd developed a sore throat and a bad headache so I called in sick stayed home, ate soft foods, drank lots of tea, and also drank an apple cider vinegar, honey, and water concocoction.

Friday I went to work, but wasn't a hundred percent.

Thanks to Twitter I got another tip boiled water with ginger root and scallions. So I drank a big cup of it this morning. I'll drink more later, and probably again tomorrow.

I so need to be well like a lot of others I don't do well sick.

What a Week?

2008-11-07T21:28:00.003-05:00

Hi all.

So I haven't blogged since Election Day, probably because it was so busy. Between working at the T.V. station and blogging for B I've been busy.

As I noted in my previous entry after voting I went straight to work. From 9:15 to about 3:15 on Tuesday I manned the assignment desk with my boss, the station's managing editor, making sure we were set for the stories we were doing, making calls to the different local boards of election, and finding locations to send photographers to get video. It was a busy day. Then I wrote for the 4pm and 5pm shows. Then at around 7pm I headed downtown to the location where I was to field produce.

My assignment was to work with one of our reporters charged with covering the slots opponents. As you know every state has different ballot initiatives that citizens have to vote on. In MD voters had to decide whether to bring slots to MD. The reporter, two photographers/satellite truck operators, and I were stationed in downtown Baltimore, in a neighborhood called Fells Point. My job was to round up our reporter who was celebrating his birthday make sure he was in front of the camera for his live shots, let him know when VIPs had arrived so we could do interviews, talk to the station and find out the latest information, and keep our techs informed. It was a good experience.

The funniest thing though when everyone was reading the copies of ourelection plans they weren't 100 sure of my full name. Whose "C.N.?" they'd ask. As one of the junior staffers I was the only non-producer to actually serve as a field producer the others were our 4PM producer, our 5PM producer, and our two special project producers.

After all was said and done I worked from 9:15am Tuesday to 12:30am Wednesday.

Where was I when they called the race? I was sitting in our live truck watching the monitors to see what our station was doing. At 11:00pm I saw Katie Couric call the race. Unfortunately, I didn't see all of the President-elect's speech because we were headed back to the station as he spoke.

Now like everyone else I'm wondering what will happen next?

One Is The Magic #

2008-11-04T05:58:00.003-05:00

Listening: One Is The Magic # by Jill Scott

Hoping: There aren't long lines at the polls (just before 8am, so I can get to work on time).

Praying: Nothing goes wrong today especially on the live shot which I'm field producing. Cause ya know they'd make me a scapegoat.

Hello all.

It's Tuesday November 4, 2008. No matter how you slice it, we're on the verge of making history. For the first time in our nation's history either an African-American or a woman will serve in one of the nation's two highest elected positions that of President or Vice President.

Politics aside as a journalist this is one of those days where I am reminded that journalists provide the blueprint for what becomes history by reporting things as they happen. Today I'll be doing my part when I go to work.

I've been up since just after 4 a.m. I know crazy right? Well consider the fact that I fell asleep around 9 p.m. last night. It happens on a regular basis. My mother always says you're about to fall asleep and then I do.

Today is going to be a very long day though. I'm working a double at the T.V. station. I'll be working the assignment desk dayside helping my boss the managing editor manage the stories which we're covering from 9a.m. til about 3 p.m. At night from probably 4p.m. til we're off the air around 11:30 p.m. I'll be on location field producing for one of our reporters who is covering the outcome of the ballot initiative which could bring slots here to MD. It's a big story for the station because slots is one of those compelling issues which has been debated for over a decade. Now we'll see if they finally come to Baltimore.

Well I'm excited I've been voting since I was 17 (Baltimore held one of its elections in an off year so 17 year olds who would have been 18 by the time the election should have been held were allowed to vote). The summer before the election I also spent time registering people to vote. I believe voting is important because it's a right that many in this country for not so solid reasons were prevented from having.

Remember when you're in that voting booth that one is the magic #.

If you haven't already, GO VOTE!

OMGoodness

2008-10-26T21:25:00.002-04:00

This has been one of the most boring weekends ever in life.

I still don't have my car. I was supposed to get it Saturday afternoon and I didn't. Do you know I read the mechanic the riot act? He then promised it'd be done Monday when I got off work, and that he would handle my car himself. I told him that had better be a promise because I had a witness and after a day of working the assignment desk, rest assured I will not be in the mood for foolishness.

After that fiasco/ordeal I called my lunch date (not really a date), just a hang out partner and told her we couldn't do lunch. It was sad. She did reveal to me her latest or the juciest development of her life. LoL. Too bad I had no juice to give back to her.

Yesterday afternoon I chilled out and tried to think of blog ideas.

I then watched the movie "Pride" which is great and inspirational, about a black swim coach who creates an all-black championship swimming team. It was decent 2 1/2 stars.

I also caught up on the funny political vids this one and that one.

Today was a lazy day, nothing exciting, and I still haven't written my work blog.

I also need to read the last fifty pages of the Sidney Poitier's book.

Work in the a.m., I'm so excited, not!

That's all for now.

It's Been A While

2008-10-23T22:34:00.000-04:00

Hi all, it's been a long time since I was able to sit down and write here.

So much has happened.

A week ago Tuesday I was in a car accident. I wasn't hurt nor was the other person. My car was beat up pretty badly and my repairs have all but cleaned out my bank account. It's pretty sad but atleast I have my life. I still have to see how my insurance company is going to proceed given there was no police report, there were no tickets issued, and all police made us do was exchange information.

Last Wednesday I traveled to my high school alma mater and gave a presentation on diversity. During my forty-five minute block I talked about the qualities of good leadership, strategic skills based governing, and facilitation. While my presentation could have used some more planning and forethought, it wasn't a piss poor performance.

The last time I wrote I was also preparing to head to New Orleans for a series of meetings. Those meetings are over and I'm back here in Baltimore for an extended period where there will be no trips anywhere (isn't it sad?).

New Orleans was great. I was exhausted running between two meetings but elated I got a chance to see the city. I was able to visit Xavier University, a historic historically black university, I saw the ninth ward which was badly devastated by Hurricane Katrina, I also saw the French Quarter, and the world famous Bourbon Street (which really is where all the debauchery takes place.) I brought back pralines from Aunt Sally's for the folks at work, and beignet mix so my mom can make some for me, along with coffee from Cafe du Monde. Luckily when I go back in December I'll be working but also able to focus on a singular experience, enjoying my experience so much the experience of others is enhanced.

Also at work I've been working on our election coverage, writing for the shows, and today I began shadowing our 4pm producer. Next week will be great because I'll probably be allowed to go into the control room while the news is live. That'll be exciting.

Also a few local HBCU's are working on a magazine by each of the comm departments not only did they interview me, but I was photographed and apparently a pic of me may end up on the cover. Interesante?!

As the rest of my life, I'm just surviving. Take care and we'll talk soon.