Everyone needs a little change.

Today marks the two month anniversary of my new job in Toledo. It's also a special day for me because of what I did this morning.

When I left Lansing at the end of June, I was also leaving behind the job title of photographer. I truly believed I would never pick up a news camera again. I'm happy to say I was wrong.

I was filling in today for a girl at our station who doesn't have an exact job title. She just kinda does whatever needs to be done. That I was even asked to fill in for her is a big deal. It shows a level a trust by my boss that I hadn't expected for at least a few more months. On top of that, no other PA has even been asked to take over her duties.

One of the duties I did today was shoot the live weather shots outside our station. Not really a big deal but it made me feel good. After explaining to several people that "yes I have done this before," I was left alone. The weather hits were simple but I'm told I did them much better than the person who usually does them (i.e. they were in focus, the right color, and bright enough-- tough I know.)

Either I've lost significant muscle in my arms, or the cameras at my new station are much heavier. I choose to believe they're heavier because otherwise I'm a super wimp who can barely lift a thirty pound camera to my shoulder.

I also got to edit a little, which is also something that the girl I filled in for can't do. Not that I had much success. The system they use is bad.... really bad. And slow and stupid, and even if an editor position at my station opened up I doubt I'd take it because their system is worse then editing tape-to-tape.

The one thing I kinda liked that I had never done before was producing. Ok, actually I only produced the cut-ins, (meaning I dumped previous scripts into a rundown and attached video,) the radio scripts (arg, what a pain in the ass those were,) and the newsticker (hope I didn't have any spelling errors.) It was scary/exciting.

I played it cool, but in my head I was like "Oh my god, you're actually going to trust me with writing something for the anchors to read...live?" I did good (again meaning no one noticed a difference,) even if it was difficult to do my job when I have absolutely no power. As a lowly PA I don't have computer access to a lot of the things I needed, printers for one.

It was a learning experience and I kinda enjoyed it. I'm still at bit baffled as to why I was entrusted with such "important" duties, but I don't mind if they have me fill in more often.
On a final note. Once people discovered that I had once been a photog (I've mentioned it a hundred times) they were quick to point out that there are several positions open. On one hand it would make great financial sense for me to jump back into my camera-toting ways.

But standing outside the station at five o'clock this morning in downtown Toledo I saw several bums walk by and was taunted by drivers on the road..... yeah, so not gonna roam around the city alone everyday with a piece of equipment worth more than my car.

So PA Sassy I will remain. Who knows, maybe this is the start of a path towards Producing....'k most likely not, but still I can dream.