It's Been So Long

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?

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?

Back at School

So I'm back at school.

We have two days of R.A training. As I said before I don't know what they are going to teach me that I don't already know.

After an afternoon of doing different reflection activities, we went out to dinner. We went to Towson Diner, which is apparently a staple for LoCo students, but I'd never been there. Go figure. My mother says I'm a contrarian and always say what I'm not going to do. She's right. But I never follow people. I didn't get to where I am by following other people, rather than leading my own path. I ended up having a cheese burger deluxe, which equalled a burger, fries, and cole slaw. It was all good.

Later we had to stop by a gathering of all the RA's with some booty doo karoke. Ummm pass.

So I went back to the dorm and I helped a friend move back in to the dorm. We made like three trips from her car to her dorm room. My homie had a lot of stuff. So we decided to take a ride in search of dessert. Instead of searching for a place we decided on one of her favorite spots Bill Bateman.

I interrupt this blog to announce I like this song, which was playing on the car ride to Bateman's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6_Pwu9DFBM

Natasha Bedingfield's "Love Like This"

I concede, I'm probably late, but I don't listen to the radio. I'm too busy doing other stuff.

Back to the blog...

So she treated me to dessert at Bill Bateman's. Yeah it's the wing lace but it also has good wings. I don't remember what we shared but it involved a chocolate chip cookie baked in a skillet topped with ice cream, and fudge. Delish.

What wasn't delish. The stares I got from jump. As soon as I walked into the place stares and glares. Damn, can't be seen with a white woman? The hostess looked like she wanted to say something. Then there was a black couple sitting a table away, after staring for a minute they got over. Then enter a younger black couple and the woman at the table did not stop eyeing me. I was like damn, see something you like.

Yeah, I was a little bothered by it.

I love black love.

I finally got around to watching "Will You Marry Me" on Essence.com

It was coo my fave couple Davon and Nerisse, yes, I agreed with J's sugestion. My second favorite Demetrius and Chrissy. But I def liked Davon's proposal the best.

I'm all for black love but people need to get over their perceptions of what's legit or not.

First, I wasn't on a date. Second, if I were to date outside my race I don't think I should be looked at as a science experiment. Nor should I be shot "that look", which equals the look of scorn.

People irkin me already making me count down til I jet for San Antonio.

What's even better is that once I get back I have a day off. We're celebrating MLK Day on the 21st. It actually sucks because although I don't have class, I just realized I don't have class anyways. Monday's is one of the days for the internship and I'll probably have to go in, cause the news doesn't give the day off. There goes sleeping in!

Holla.

Almost the Day From Hell

Listening: Chrisette Michele, "Your Joy"
Doing: Blogging, Flipping Channels, Wondering Why I Woke Up After Only 5 Hours of Sleep

Thinking: About Going Home, My Momma, My Family, My Friends, Shooting and Editing Later Today, My Campaign, My Career, Lack of a Love Life

Yesterday was almost the day from hell.

I had to be at work at 7am and woke up at 6:56. Work is about a five minute walk.

All I had time to do was throw on some clothes, and wash my face.

I made it to work by 7:10.

My day went well until about 12:00 when it seems I forgot to do part of my job for the morning. I ended up staying until about 12:30. Why? Because I'm responsible and respect the contributions I make to what we do.

Then I went to the ATM. Then I picked up my computer from the shop. I spent $75 on something I could have apparently done myself. The good news is, its working for the most part. Prayers offered up, fingers crossed.

Then I grabbed lunch a cheese steak sub, and an iced tea. When it says iced and tea, I think sweetened, and I hate when restaurants think otherwise.

I came home checked e-mail, and downloaded a few songs.

I showered, and got dressed. I was looking quite dapper. Ivory jacket, blue and white checkered shirt, yellow tie, khakis, and brown (chocolate colored) slip ons.

Then I went back to work and ran the audio board for the first time. I wasn't HORRIBLE but I wasn't EXCELLENT.

After that I was supposed to anchor the 5 minute taped cut-in which plays around 10:00pm, and the 1 min taped cut-in which plays the next morning. Generally whoever anchors it, produces it as well. That was not the case this time, I wasn't assigned to and I didn't. Whoever produced didn't have my scripts done. So I had to do them myself. As I finished, someone came in to rush me. I flipped out and brought a little too much Baltimore to Illinois. I said a whole lot of m fer's so I was told. I was so heated I didn't remember. I mean how dare people in the control room rush me because someone else didn't do their job. Dang it take freaking responsibility, and don't put it off on anyone else. Yes, it's Friday. Yes people want to go home, but don't you dare put it all on me.

Then as I sat on set, someone got upset because there was one story in the script for the 1 minute show. They asked was I supposed to do it? I said no, why because I knew for a fact that I wasn't. That sent me off again. One co-worker later said she could see on the monitor how p o'ed I was. She told people in the control room because obviously they were oblivious to it. They still didn't get the point.

In the meeting I defended myself because I hate being accused of not doing my job or being unprofessional.

Might I add this crap I had to do with is usually avoided when the News Director is in. Let her take a personal day, and then people show their behinds. Ticked me the heck off.

Then I had to make two points. THIS IS WHERE I LOST COOL POINTS. I was a little chocked up as I lectured and ranted in a post-show meeting with my fellow interns on 1) talking to people in a way which is demeaning, degrading, condescending or disrespectful and 2) not taking responsibility and being accountable, people don't communicate then stuff goes wrong, and they are unwilling to accept blame, they only want to take credit when something goes right.

That irks me beyond belief.

I ended up walking back to our apartment complex and talking with the two black female interns. Then we decided we'd watch "The Boys of Baraka" together. Then people's pre-gaming began. They insisted we come over to one of the intern's houses though none of us drink. We sat on the coach bored, and thinking why did we come? It's tricky, you get accused of being anti-social but truth be told you're not socializing. AGAIN, I ASK WHO DRINKS BEER. Yuck. The "sister" interns agree. Who blasts the same song for an hour saying its power hour and we take shots of NASTY BEER every minute? WHAT?! You're feeling a bit uncomfortable, everyone else is drinking, talking crap, and doing dumb stuff. Then you think I could be this bored, but in the comforts of my own apartment.

What Friday taught me, I don't like running the gamut of emotions from fiery to cracking voice. Luckily in spite of my being expressive, I didn't loose cool points with the "sisters", that's all that matters LoL. One of them told me I should earn an Academy Award haha. In hindsight I was a bit dramatic.

Just Sitting Here

Sitting in the library, chilling out before I head in to the station.

Reflecting on something I read, "Keep your expectations about people so low that you'll always be surprised and never disappointed."

I am realizing that I am a bit of an asshole at times. Yesterday one of my co-workers asked why I never hang out with them. We just don't mesh. Their idea of a good time and my idea of a good time are two completely different things. And yes I have given it a chance, and umm it failed. While I know the value of being out of my comfort zone and doing new things. There needs to be a limit. I still need time to be true to me. I am a firm believer in taking "me time." That involves everyday after 7:30 and before I begin my next day.

My response to the inquiry elaborated on my position, "Please don't take this the wrong way. This might sound bad, but after spending eight hours with you guys, I don't want to see you. I don't want to see ya'll, I need a break."

Atleast I was honest.

The good thing is I get along with my roommates for the most part. Though I had a dream I had a physical confrontation with one of them two nights ago. I'm really hoping that wasn't a reflection of my subconscious mind. HaHa.

Anyways, we're almost done another week. Sadly, I must work Saturday. I'm a photog for the next three weekends. I loved my news director until she did that...

Stay well.

P.S.
For those who know the best friend Eps. He's struggling but persevering. For the next six weeks or so he'll be in Texas completing archaeological field school, my next post will be about the craziness my boy has encountered. Due to spotty cell phone service its all about text messaging, and letter writing. Letter writing is a lost art.