This is another call for donations to the "Journiemajor needs an editing deck and software at home because she's tired of driving at least 40 minutes to edit her resume tape several times a month, only to change it the next month and something always ends up being messed up anyway so I'd have to change it once again" fund. Once again, right before I'm going out of town and wanting to pass out tapes, there's about 15 seconds in a 7 minutes of my tapes that have an audio issue. And I wouldn't be so bummed to redo it if I didn't have to keep transferring it from different tapes. I really want to edit it at work, which I could do, no one would have a problem with it. The problem is though, I'd have to transfer everything from Beta or VHS to DVC, edit it, and then transfer it back to VHS. And the transferring is only done in Master Control. Sooooooo, finding a good time to get in there when they're not doing something is hard. Plus, I'm really not looking forward to spending at least $2.90 to send out each tape, and right now I know I have at least 45 to send out. So any donation to the very worth-while cause would be greatly appreciated!

Ok so I'm trying to learn some new things to do on this blog. As you can see, my picture is up now. I've added a couple of links to some of my frequently visited websites and some funny blogs. But I just realized that the 2 posts I thought I posted on the 13th were actually just saved. So enjoy reading those 9 days later. And also, for those who may have seen the "all about me" post on the 2nd, I just also realized that it said "hoe size" instead of shoe size, so it has been corrected. I don't know if there's any such phrase, but trust I wouldn't even want to know.

Now, on to something else.

This business is all about working your way up and doing any and everything to get to the top. That also means that, depending on what you wanna do, but specifically in news, you have to move wherever you're offered a job. And right now, I'm stilllll waiting on the news director from one station, and no other offers are coming right now. There's a producer job in the city where my boyfriend is, but that is not what I wanna do. But I wanna be with him and start a family. It's easier for a man to make the decision to decide between a career and family, b/c he doesn't have to sit out for maternity leave. Although there is paternity leave now, but I doubt a lot of men in media are taking it, b/c this is a cutthroat business, and the more you're out, the sooner you're gone. But recently, 2 women that worked at my station left to be with their family. So what are we women pursuing a career in broadcasting to do? It would be nice to pull a $15 million a year contract like Katie Couric, but what sacrifices do we have to make along the way? And granted, my boyfriend is an aspiring music producer (anyone looking to start a label, looking for talent, looking for a company to sign with, let me know so he can get the ball rollin) and hopefully, soon I won't have to work. Which brings up another subject.

Over Thanksgiving, I was talking to my dad about my future, and told him that while I looooooove journalism(which I do), I never expected to marry rich. So I figured if I have to work, then I should do something I love, which is broadcasting. But since, the plan is for my bf, soon to be husband, supposedly, to be a successful producer and singer/rapper, I think it'd be safe to say, since he would be successful, that I wouldn't have to work. And that I could stay home and take care of the house, kids, etc. But, he's also asked me to be his publicist. Now I don't really mind this, but I'm not comfortable with it, I don't like the idea of working with a spouse.

But the issue is, no matter what industry you're in, if you don't have to work, if you have enough money to live on and buy necessities, and occasionally little luxuries, w/o going bankrupt, why work? I know the past couple of big lottery winners (over $300 million) have said they're going to continue working. Now I don't know if they said they'd work until they can't, or just whenever they wanna quit. And I understand, me myself, I'd probably work until I paid off all my debts, and the debts of family members, and whoever else, and then quit, or cut back on hours (not that I have that many right now anyway). So is it wrong for me to not want to work if I don't have to?

Also, if someone would like to donate to the "Journiemajor needs an editing deck and software at home because she's tired of driving at least 40 minutes to edit her resume tape several times a month, only to change it the next month and something always ends up being messed up anyway" fund, it would be greatly appreciated.

It took me 45 minutes to try and fix my reporter and anchor/reporter tapes today, and I still haven't dubbed them to VHS yet. I'm planning to do it on my break, although I should be leaving and going home to pack. But then again, I need the hours since I won't be here on Friday. So hopefully tonight won't be so draining.

Just another fun little ditty about me, that I borrowed from a friend who borrowed it from someone who probably also borrowed it from somoene.

I am not: yet rich

I hurt: when someone lies to me and refuses to understand how they've hurt me.

I love: being in the presence of the man I love.

I hate: people who drive slow in the fast lane, won't move over when someone's behind them and those who move over to another lane for no reason at all.

I hope: that I won't have to worry about much soon.

I hear: we might be getting snow

I regret: the summer of 95.

I cry: a alot more now than I used to.

I care: about all of my family and friends.

I always: try to be there for my family and friends and do my best at whatever I do.

I long to: be blessed enough to bless others

I feel alone: sometimes

I listen: gospel, r&b, hip hop, some rap.

I hide: my emotions sometimes.

I drive: a 2000 Mitsubishi Galant.

I sing: alllllll the time.

I dance: alll the time.

I write: a lot.

I breathe: to survive.

I play:Dynomite, What Word and Text Twist on Yahoo Games; or used to play clarinet, do play piano/organ.

I miss: the days when I didn't worry about anything.

I search: for the best me I can be.

I say: whatever comes to mind. I have a bad habit of doing the whole stream of consciousness thing.

I feel: like going on.

I succeed: when I put my heart and soul into something.

I fail: when I don't put my all into it.

I dream: really big.

I sleep: late.

I wonder: when I'm gonna get an on-air job.

I want: to help everyone I meet.

I worry: about being broke forever.

I have: bills due.

I give: a whoooooole lot of myself.

I fight: to get people to understand my point of view.

I wait: for the right job.

I am: a conqueror.

I think: therefore I am.

I can't: walk straight with my eyes closed.

I stay: up late too

I found this on a friend's blog and thought it would be fun!

*First*
First job: Telemarketer for MBNA.
First screen name: gapbaby (well aol was messing up so actually, gapbaby104)
First funeral: One of my great grandmother's, when I was about 4.
First pet: 2 dogs and a cat (don't remember their names, just remember I hated the cat)
First piercing: I had my ears pierced when I was a baby
First tattoo: Don't have one, don't particularly want one.
First credit card: MBNA Mizzou card
First kiss: On the lips? uhhh i think I was 8. First boy I kissed was in Kindergarten.
First enemy: Sarah Thornton, 1st grade. She didn't like me b/c I was prissy. I was prissy b/c I wore skirts and dresses all the time. But then the next year we were friends, 3rd grade enemies, 4th grade friends, and so on and so forth.

*Last*
Last car ride: Sunday night, from the airport.
Last kiss: If we're talking any kiss, I kissed my grandmommy goodbye when she was leaving my house. My bookie, was September 15th (gotta love long-distance love).
Last Movie Watched: ummmmmmerrruhhh oh The Perfect Man on the plane coming home from L.A.
Last beverage drank: Lipton's Citrus green tea
.Last food consumed: A tuna salad half-sandwich, still eating some chips, from Panera Bread (I looooove the company I work for)
Last time showered: This morning
Last CD played: Kirk Franklin and the Family (the very 1st one)

*Now*
Single or taken: Taken!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gender: Female
Birthday: Jan 8
Sign: Capricorn
Siblings: 1 younger half brother
Hair color: Dark brown
Eye color: dark brown
Shoe size: 8 1/2
Height: 5'5
Wearing: hot pink swear type shirt w/3/4" sleeves, blue jeans, blue and white tennis shoes
Drinking: not really drinking, but I have a cup of water on my desk
Thinking about: why I'm having to work on Sunday and when am I going to get a real job? And why people continue to print to a certain printer knowing it never works.

*Edited 12/22/05 b/c I just noticed that it said "hoe size" instead of "shoe size"

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!