Back in the WAGA again!

Well, it's been a while. Apologies for my absence, but I've been having some health issues taken care of and I'm all better now. Tip top shape. Ready to resume my blogging responsibilities.

So, first things first. I'm working again. Returned to work at the local Fox affiliate on Wednesday. As jobs tend to do, it has been sucking up an enormous amount of time! 35 hours this week. I'm freelancing there, so the work is irregular and the schedule is unpredictable. Not ideal circumstances, but I am thankful for the work.

Times sure have changed at the old tv station. They've gone digital, of course, but it's surprising how much this affects day-to-day activity. "Searching" for video no longer entails running around like a mad woman trying to find a tape, but instead simply conducting a query on a computer. Welcome to the 90s!

Of course, all this new technology means that I can't simply breeze in and resume my duties. I have to be retrained, so that's what I've been doing this week.

Other than that, during my convalescence, I have been making the most of my blockbuster membership (this is why I don't have netflix) and blazing through some excellent television shows- mostly Six Feet Under, Weeds, Mad Men and Big Love.

Big Love has been interesting. Paul and I agreed that we would not want additional spouses, but I think Paul may have been lying. Even in the show though, it seems like Barb is his "real" wife and the other two are like children that they have adopted that he also has sex with, which um... is surprisingly undisturbing. Although Barb has the most power of the women, it still seems like it would be easier to either be Margene or Nicki. Barb had a normal marriage with Bill, until whatever made her decide to be a polygamist happened (haven't gotten that far) and now she shares him. It would be easier to have never had a monogamous marriage than to have had one and then lost it.

Also, as discussed in the show, there are interesting implications for multiple marriage legislation, if gay marriage were to become legal. Who would ever have thought that traditional Mormons and liberal homosexuals would strange allies on an issue? Unlikely pairing (I almost said "bedfellows." Haha.). Also, it's hard to believe that there wouldn't be more affairs between the wives, especially in marriages with more than 10 wives. I mean, they barely get to spend the night with their husband, they share bedrooms, they are "married." Seems like it would work kind of like in prison, where there are no men, but plenty of women from which to choose.

Not sure how I feel about polygamy. It's not for me, that's for sure, but I suppose I don't mind if other people do it. Only, if it ever becomes legal, I would certainly hope that the law wouldn't mandate that men could marry multiple women, but that a woman could only marry one man. That would probably send everyone into a tizzy.

Mad Men

We've been watching the first season of AMC's Mad Men on DVD this week. The show is completely absorbing, not in the compounding mystery way of a show like Lost or in the action-packed cliffhanger way of a show like 24, but in that it creates such an atmosphere that it's hard to return back to modern times. It's no secret that I'm slightly obsessed with all things mid-century modern, and this show delivers that in a big way. The set design is unbelievable. That alone would keep me watching this show, not to mention the fabulous clothes. I mean, seriously, the simple glamour of the late 50's and early 60s is perfectly represented. It makes me want to live in that time period, although, the female characters on the show... well, let's just say that they are largely oppressed.

All the men are essentially lying cheats and all the women are victims. Well, not ALL, but an independent woman is the exception here, certainly not the rule. I remarked the my husband, "I certainly hope that all men aren't really like that." And he asked me how I perceived those men and I told him and he seemed to think that I was missing a lot of the depth of character that he relates with. I guess because there is such a hard line separating the gender roles in this show, it's difficult for me to develop empathy for the male characters.

Interestingly, one of the main characters is played by Vincent Kartheiser (far left). It took me a while (and google) to place him, but he was last seen as Conner, Angel's son on Angel. I pretty much hated him on that show, but he's really matured, both as an actor and physically, and he's a great fit for this particular role. Not so much for Conner.

The show also offers interesting insight into the origins of modern advertising strategy and the smoking hot Christina Hendricks as secretary, Joan.

Sewer Monster

Don't watch if you're eating. Or don't like to be repulsed.



You may be asking, "What the hell is that?!" and the answer, unfortunately, is that no one seems to know. The video was apparently taken by an independent contractor working in the sewers of Raleigh, NC. The city of Raleigh has confirmed that it is legit, and suggests "slime mold" or "worms" as a possible explanation. Right. Can we get some scientist with a microscope down there, please?

Elektra Decked

We just bought our first real grown-up piece of art. We have some pieces that we've inherited or otherwise aquired, but Paul really liked this piece by artist Lance Carlson. It's called "Elekta Decked." Paul immediately got the title, because of his familiarity with comic books, but it was lost on me. Apparently, the comic book character, Elektra, inspired by, but not to be confused with the Greek mythology character, Electra, was (in one version of the truth of the comic world) killed by a playing card.

It's hanging in the dining room, where is looks awsome. Paul and I always disagree over how to hang art. He always wants to hang it too high (ahem) but he won out on this piece because of a flaw in the paint on the wall left by a previous larger piece.

You can't really tell in the picture, but it's made from pieces of wire mesh. It's a sort of postmodern pop art, I guess, if I, with my limited knowledge of art theory, had to classify it, but it really compliments the classic modern tulip chairs we use in the the dining room.

Man, I wish I was rich.

Eddie "Edit" Stevenson

It seems that a lot of people have died lately. A lot of celebrities. Michael Jackson and Billy Mays shocked me, but the grief that anyone can feel for a celebrity they'd never met pales in comparison to the grief that those of us that worked day in and out with Edward A. Stevenson, chief editor at WAGA, feel since his passing on Saturday.

The overall sentiment I am hearing from my peers is appreciation that Eddie took a chance on them, and I fall into this category as well. Eddie hired me as a freelancer while I was still in college and had barely crossed the threshold of a newsroom. I don't know how he did it, but Eddie seemed to be able to recognize the ambition and dedication in people that working as a news editor requires. There were so many of us- Randy, Garret, Jorge, Johnathan, Matt.... me, that Eddie took a chance on and although there were a few misses (none of the afore mentioned), overall, we were a group of hard, dedicated workers that gelled together as a team. I've had several jobs since leaving WAGA, but no group of co-workers has ever touched the familial relationship that we had there. We were like siblings and Eddie, our father.

There was no doubt that Eddie loved us. He not only supported us in our jobs as we learned the ropes of the news business, but he also counseled us on personal issues and regularly took us out for drinks and to play pool after work. Eddie, who had no children of his own, loved us and nurtured us and when it was time for us to leave the nest, he sent us on our way, just as sure that we would be successes in our future endeavors as he was when he hired us.

Eddie was my boss for six years and not only did I learn the technical aspects of news production from him, but I also learned skills that have been invaluable since I have pursued other interests- namely, I learned to be laid-back. Eddie was never frazzled. Never shaken. Never gave in to the panic that can so easily take over when you've got thirty seconds left on your deadline and fifteen seconds of video left to cover. Eddie was always calm, even when producers and reporters were over his shoulder, watching as he made the final few cuts on a piece, literally seconds before it hit the airwaves. I always admired him for that and I've strived to take those nerves of steel with me. I also learned from Eddie, that a positive attitude goes a long way. You may not be the best, but you have to approach every situation with a can-do attitude and you have to believe in yourself. But you must also temper that with knowing when you aren't going to meet your goals and making a contingency plan. Don't say that you are going to make slot if you aren't because other people are depending on you. You have to know your strengths and weaknesses. You have to be honest.

Eddie took a chance on me and I know that he was happy with how I turned out and I am forever indebted to him for seeing something in me that I didn't know that I had.

He will be missed and remembered and appreciated.

Rivoting video!

Hahahahahaha. Okay. This is clearly a case of a reporter being forced to do a story for which he has repeatedly told his producer that he has NO VIDEO.

Sarah's Birthday

A couple of weeks ago I went out with some friends for my good friend Sarah's birthday. It was an interesting evening full of new activities for me. First, we all met at thrive for drinks and then dinner.

I've been in the 101 Marietta Street building many times (that's where Radio One is located), but never really noticed the swank little restaurant adjacent to the lobby. It turns out that the food was delicious, although we were practically the only patrons. We started with the Thrive sweet crab & artichoke fondue, which was so good that I could have eaten it all myself and I think we were all embarrassed by how possessive we were being over the dip. It was great. For my entree, I had the Springer Mountain chicken breast, roasted red potatoes & rosemary port reduction, which was hands down, the best chicken dish I've ever had in my life. I mean, except for, you know, McNuggets. As far as I could tell, everyone was happy with their meal.

However, the restaurant wasn't chosen for it's food. It was chosen for it's proximity to The Glenn Hotel where those that planned on drinking had reserved several rooms. Due to my unfortunate unemployment, I could afford to neither get a room or drink, so I didn't actually stay there, but I did visit Sarah's room between dinner and a trip to the bar on the rooftop of The Glenn Hotel. From the lobby to the elevator to the room, no detail was overlooked in establishing the modern feel of the hotel. It's retro-modern style remided me of the famous Parker Hotel, where I've also never stayed. But aside from the fabulous modern decor, the real highlight of the hotel was the afore-mentioned rooftop bar. The building is just the right height... you are high enough to see all the city, but low enough to still be able to recognize the streets and see the people. Unfortunately, it was extemely crowded on that night, but it would have been quite enjoyable when it is a little less busy, perhaps on a week night.

But the real highlight of the evening was meeting Tohper Payne, the partner of Sarah's good friend Tommy. When I got home and googled Topher, I read that he was a "southern humorist." That's what I want to be! Like Hollis Gillespie or Lewis Grizzard. Or Jeff Foxworthy or Larry the Cable Guy! *sound of record screaching* Ok, maybe like Hollis Gillespie. In any case, Topher was every bit as charming and warm in person as he is in his column, which is hilarious. Of course, Topher's also an actor and recently wrote a book. OF COURSE.

This blog, admittedly, is mostly a marketing tool for my store, but reading Topher's work makes me a little ashamed of that, because he clearly puts so much thought into his posts. And not just thought, but heart. It makes me want to be a better writer.

I stole all the photographs used in this post from the respective web sites.