Originally I wanted this blog to be about my job search ONLY. But there's so much going on, it has to become a little more personal. In the past, I've been too willing to give up the informacion. A lot of people know me by this name, so I'm gonna try to keep it as g-rated as possible, but still let you know about my life. B/c after all, it is called, "This young journalist's life." And that's not my only role at this point in my life.

So, first of all, I read something kinda interesting on some journalism forum, or job website (I can't remember) that suggested (oh wait, it was in a daily newsletter from a journalism site) that professors should give their students the assignment of starting a blog. And in doing this, the author thinks that it will hone the wanna-be journalist's writing skills. Now I don't know how that could help, b/c I'm sure not everyone, in their own personal life when talking to their friends or whomever, speaks in proper english at all times. And especially in the age of the Internet, with the LOL's, LMAO's and ROTFLMBO's, constantly writing in broken english is not, in my opinion, gonna help someone become a better writer. What do you think?

Two. I went to L.A. with my grandmommy to visit my dad, her son. It was interesting. Not the great time that I expected, but they were several surprises (OMG, I'm just now seeing the news today and they said this police officer that everyone was pulling for has passed away. And oh lawd it's 39 degrees outside). Anywho, I went to work w/my dad (he works at a tv news station (and yes that's how I got into this crazy business, but that's another post for another day). It's funny how I've always heard, when introduced to my dad's coworkers, how he's so good at what he does, and the news wouldn't be what it is without him and all that jazz. And I used to go to work with him all the time, but I didn't understand much of what was going on at the time. But seeing it now, knowing what is being done, and what needs to be done, he's pretty good.

Moving on, the reporter we were with was a good friend of his, and I met her at the NABJ convention in ATL this summer. She is the coolest person, and is very much about business. I was disappointed though, that I was supposed to visit her at the station and go out on another story with her, and when that didn't happen, she told me I missed my chance and wouldn't have another one. But I think I've learned a lot from her. It helps when people are real with you, especially in this business.

But among other surprises, my dad had been talking about buying a house for years, and surprise, surprise, surprise. Going to his new "place" from the airport, I'm looking around, and thinking, "I don't see any apartments." And then we pull up to a house. I love it, it's nice, I want it. Although Ebony isn't there yet, b/c there's no grass in the backyard. But I'm proud of him.

Third, this job search business is expensive as all get out. Buying the cheapest tapes at $0.94 a pop, I know I've bought at least 50 now, and the bubbly envelopes, and the professional folders to put my resume and cover letter in, annnnnd the resume paper is expensive. Plus, mailing the tapes, at the very least is $2.90/tape. I just spent $37 sending 2 tapes in the past 2 days, and hopefully I'll get a call or somethin. But I still haven't heard much, and don't know when or if I'll hear anything. It's frustrating. I have to keep telling myself that just b/c I work where I work, doesn't mean I'm automatically good enough for a job in a muuuuuuch smaller market.

Fourth, I cannot WAIT for my bf's business to take off. I'm not a morning person. These 9:o0 stories at my freelance job are killing me. And I know what you're thinking. You may get a morning shift. That would be totally different. First of all, it would be my only job. Second, I would be getting waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more money than what I'm getting now. Third, it would be an on-air job at a real tv station, not cable. But it's helping me a lot. Today I did a story on the National Transportation Tribute to Rosa Parks, and even though we didn't have a lot of video, I ended up pulling together a very good story. Nevermind it was somewhere in the 40's, possibly even 30's, and I did my stand up outside, and didn't have any gloves. I don't even know where my gloves are, we don't use them too often down here.

So, in conclusion, I think I'll be calling the AR news director tomorrow, since today is the last day of sweeps, I think. If not, I'll be calling Monday. Since, unfortunately, I'll be filling in for someone on Sunday afternoon/evening. I'm gonna have to check tomorrow to see if a certain someone is off tomorrow. Most of my coworkers (at least the people with my same job title) do NOT like working with this person. This person is just plain mean. Mean for no reason. We don't even think this person knows that they're mean. And it's not even an arrogant, "I'm better than you" mean. Just downright mean.

But oh well, wish me luck on this job search!