Mic slip...

My mic slipped down my shirt on my run to the set this evening. Click here to see the aftermath of my shenanigans.

NO MIC MIC!

In other news, my good friend and former co-worker Robert Bradfield made a stop in Gainesville today. He's a reporter at WPSD Local 6, covering stories in southern Illinois.

Robert and I went to UF together. He was a year ahead, but I got to work with him at our school's TV station, WUFT, as well as on several ABC News on Campus projects.

Robert and I anchoring, 2008

It's crazy how time flies SO. FLIPPIN. FAST. I guess the lesson is: you don't have to run through life. It's not a race. There's no fire you need to get to. It's okay to stop sometimes, take a look around, and smile at what you see. You may even catch a mic issue in the process. If you don't, no biggie- at least you'll have something silly to blog about.

Fill-in

I had to fill-in anchor tonight. A few awkward moments...

Katie Tschopp, my producer for the evening

Special Delivery

It's 1:00 AM. I just got home from work. Long day... ecstasy lab story in Ocala. Check it out here (disregard mic issues in the beginning).

12.22.11

Before work, my former intern Chris Gilmore and I drove to High Springs and delivered presents to Mrs. Williams. Her daughters were at their grandma's house so we were able to sneak in and hide everything. Mrs. Williams said she'd take pictures of the girls opening the gifts on Christmas morning. Can't wait to see them.

Mrs. Williams is a trip! She had me PEEING in my pants talking about my co-workers and I. She said we all need to have a drink before we go on air. In our defense, I explained the challenges of one-man-banding. She listened, making jokes along the way.

Mrs. Williams had something to say about every A-block story we did in the past month- the woman had our rundowns memorized!

People really do watch. The stories we bust our asses filming, writing, and editing are affecting people. Yeah, we're the bright-eyed, bushy-tailed reporters making no money in market 160, (the bottom of the barrel according to Nielsen market estimates) but we're still touching people.

Sometimes it takes stepping out from the daily grind and doing something for a stranger to realize the true worth of your work.

We left Mrs. William's house with a piece of rum cake and encouragement to take on the world.

Fixin our rum cake :)

Chris Gilmore and Mrs. Williams

Hello again...

I haven't blogged in a year.

Why did I stop? No idea... it kind of just happened. I guess I could blame my friend Quan. He gave me a fancy leather journal and it seemed like a crime leaving it blank.


Random thoughts, overheard quotes, secrets, to-do lists, cartoons... the journal is now well worn, and believe it or not my second also has no vacancy. But before I can start a third, blogging has been laid back on my heart.


Today I produced a story on "layaway angels," people who are stopping in retail stores and asking to pay off the layaways of complete strangers.

Click here to see the story.

After the show I wrapped presents my friends and I gathered for two girls in High Springs. I met them when I interviewed their mother last month. They live on the other side of the tracks in the city's "poor" neighborhood. Great people, but just struggling like so many of us.

Whether or not you have a big family or lots of friends, there's always someone to give a gift to...and most of the time, it's not something you can wrap.

8 priceless words...

It was my mom's birthday on January 18.  I sent her gift around 1:00 AM, (January 19). I know, Tardy Tammy, but it took a few hours to put together... Happy Birthday Mommy on YouTube.

I guess the good thing about being in an "overworked and underpaid" season of my life, (particularly during celebrations like my mother's birth) is: I have no choice but to search my heart for a gift without a price tag. 

Eight words I'll never forget, spoken by my mother on January 19, 2011: "this is the best gift I ever got." 

I guess ballin' on a budget aint so baddd... 

Bound by Haiti

Check out Jon and Roman's website, BOUND BY HAITI.