The Constant Crouch

Tall. Lanky. Long.  Ok, there’s no way around it, I’m bigger than you! Well, most likely.

It’s nothing new. I’ve been this way ever since I remember and I fricken love it. I even read an article this afternoon (that my grandma saved for me) explaining how beautiful tall women are. It practically made my day.

That’s when I decided I was going to blog about it. So, I went to search the internet for extreme examples of tall women, when I stumbled on a recent report by CBS. The title? What do tall women think about shorter men?

That’s when I got thinking about ALL the things we have to deal with during the day.

For instance at work; when I work with a shorter cameraman, we both struggle. It’s hard to shoot interviews when both my interview and I are nearly a foot taller. But there are good things too, we both see things at different angles and can point them out to each other.

I even remember worrying (before I graduated from SCSU) that I would be too tall to be in TV.

Here’s a big one! Clothes. For the life of me I cannot keep my shirt tucked in during the day. I was blessed with long everything, including a stomach. I swear I had to adjust my shirt at least 12 times today.

For the most part, life as a tall woman is really a blessing. But when you take a step back and realize just how much taller than I am compared to an average woman (5′ 4″) it’s amazing.

Oh and by the way, I’m 6′ 1″. No big whoop.

Redrum

Redrum

http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/75812/publisher_ID/29/

It’s not a word we use often and it even felt strange using it in my title {although it is backwards}  but it happens, and a lot. I’m talking about MURDER.

In news, you’d think you would have to cover them everyday, but in my first year I can say I’ve been lucky. I admit, I’ve written many stories covering shootings, stabbings and other destructive stories but this has been the second murder I’ve had to cover.

Following a case like this one can be hard. As a reporter, you just can’t go about the story the same way. Interviews are harder, questions more complex and the answers you’re looking for almost never come. Then again, I have to put myself in the investigators shoes, they are the ones solving the crime.

MURDER is a hard word to use because I think many of us can’t grasp the concept. We know it means someone killed another person. But the act is impossible to imagine.

However, the job must go on and tomorrow will likely bring another story to make up for foggy days like today.

So, cheers to experience and putting bad guys away.

What’s a little sacrifice?

Fact is, most of us Americans live in a material world. (Play Madonna song here). And for a lot of us, including myself, it’s a hard habit to break.

Tomorrow, I’m selling my car and boy is it going to be tough. What was harder, was making the final decision to give it up.

But again, fact is, sometimes you have to sacrifice a little for the things you love.

Earlier this week, I announced my switch to reporting and my move to Fargo. With that comes more work and less pay and for me, more happiness.

In the end, tomorrow will be hard. I don’t want to say goodbye to my little Hyundai. But I know the small sacrifice of a material thing will make it all worth it when my dreams come true.

 

Chasing Your Dreams

UTVS News

I remember when my friend, Anna Morris, took this picture of me. It was exactly one year ago. We were about to go to air with our annual awards show (which we took first place with) and I was posing before my headlining report about Minnesota’s dry winter.

I was nervous, but I knew my story was good and was excited because I would be graduating in just a week.

Then, I thought I had a grasp on the world. Now, not so much.

In this picture, I didn’t know what the next year had in store for me.

I would land my first job. Then lose my first job to the suffering economy. To only land back on my feet in a top 15 market in St. Paul. What a whirlwind.

This picture was taken 365 day ago.

Today, while the last six months have been powerful, exhilarating and highly educational, I’ve decided to turn my back on the producing world. I’m chasing my dreams of reporting.

In just a week and a half I’ll be starting at WDAY in Fargo, ND as a reporter.

It’s unbelievably hard to leave the cities, this market size, my friends and not to mention the paycheck. But somehow, I know this is what I’m meant to do.

Now, bring on the North Dakota wind, cold and new friends!

New…Everything.

Let’s jump back in time.

A month ago my life was dramatically different. Fresh out of school (7 months since graduation) I had landed my first job. LIfe couldn’t get much better. I was a reporter/anchor in my first gig in small town, Minnesota. I was promoted to the 10 p.m. anchor slot and besides working 10 hour days on a normal basis – life was just how it should be.

Until, it turned upside down. At least for a brief moment.

Today, I’m 2 hours south of my last job and years ahead of where I thought I would be. Instead of a reporter, I”m a producer. Instead of begging for change so I can eat dinner, I’m fending for myself – which I think I could get used to.

I’m on a steep learning curve, traveling about 400 mph. But somehow, I’m keeping up.

On one hand everything’s only gone up in my favor, on the other, I feel like I could’ve stayed back in time just a little bit longer. R.I.P. KSAX-TV.

Everyday’s a new day and some are better than others

Today, I had the chance to spend my day outside, on a boat and with quite the unique animal. Meet Newman!

So this is what it’s like…

Yep, I’m still at the office and it’s almost 10 p.m. Just over a twelve hour day and it’s only Monday. For me, that’s what my planner has looked like for the last few weeks and looking ahead, my summer doesn’t look too different. But, I’m happy about it! Why? Well, behind the hours, bags under my eyes and moments of frustration, I’m doing exactly what I set out to do.

Successfully landed my first job as a TV Broadcaster almost five months ago (it’s flying by!) have cruised into experience I’d never thought I’d find so quickly and just scored my first career promotion! It’s great to say that I, the NEW 10 p.m. anchor, have accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. With that said, there are hard times but I have to remember that there are so many people looking for jobs right now and I should be so so so thankful for the opportunities I’ve had in the last few months!

Thanks to all my friends, family and mentors who’ve gotten me to where I am today!

Growth

Each waking moment we’re alive, we’re growing. Whether physically, emotionally, or mentally, our minds are expanding and we’re taking in things a million miles a second. Sometimes, we don’t even realize it.

My realization came just a few hours ago, when I watched my old resume video. I’m not even sure I can call it old, since it’s only three months old. Yet, I feel as if I’ve grown leaps and bounds.

Just three months ago: shaky video, dull tone of voice and choppy sound bites. Today: still video, tone of voice sounds exciting and my sound bites almost paint a story of emotion. How did this happen in such a short amount of time?

Maybe, because I have to think of new stories EVERY single day, or possibly recent workshops I’ve been to? Whatever it is, I like it. Although, in another three months I’ll probably do the same thing. Look back and wonder “What the hell was I thinking?”.

Let’s meet back here…in three months and see just how much my story telling has changed!

 

 

Always Learning

Once you graduate college, you feel like you’ve accomplished a ton. Don’t get me wrong, you’ve put a lot under your belt and have gotten well on your way when you shake hands with the university president and turn that tassel to the other side but it’s really just the beginning.

I thought with almost 5 years of having my nose in the books and eyes behind a camera that I’d be a pro in no time. Reality came quick though and has let me know that it’s just not the case. Some days I have great days and some not so much but every day there is something I take away and say “hey, I didn’t know that before.”

Today, I covered a story most would raise a brow to. The Fergus Falls Missing Goat was FINALLY captured after a month long escapade around town. Sound funny? I thought so. I spent all day tracking people down, interviewing them and making silly mistakes which only made it harder to put, a rather easy story, together.

After continuously badgering myself about my stupid mistakes….I realized this wasn’t such a bad day after all. My story didn’t turn out too shabby and KSTP used it as their kicker (3 whole SOTS) which made my day. It also gave me a light bulb, telling me these stories are important to people because they care about small town happenings just like this one.

Tomorrow is Friday and a NEW day:) A new day to discover and learn another thing and to strive to get better. I love my job!

 

So, We’re Not All Perfect?

Week 3: This week was probably my most challenging week to date. Once you have to do a story everyday (sometimes more) creative juices seem to stop, or at least lately. It’s like hitting a wall when you’re going 90 miles an hour.

Monday started out great, I had a wonderful story which was eaten up by all other local markets in the area, including a nation one! MY GREAT STORY! (in case you want to check it out there’s the link) but the rest of the week didn’t quite follow suite. Whether it was rushing, panicking or plain mistakes, it just seemed like I couldn’t nail it the rest of the time. But, then I reminded myself that it really is just my 3rd week and I need to take a breather.

Everyone needs a little eye-opener and this one was mine. I just graduated, and landed my first job, I’m going to take things one step at a time! Starting….on Monday!