to the East Side

That's right folks, I'm moving on up. After 7 months as a PA I have finally gotten a position as a Producer. Well, it's not official yet since I haven't signed a contract or anything, but I did get a laminated card with all the Producer keyboard commands on it and have set up a training schedule.

The whole thing happened rather quickly. I noticed the position posted on the website one morning at work and after the last cut-in strode into the News Director's office and told him I was interested. He sat me down with the Assistant New Director(formerly the Executive Producer) and she had me do some writing samples. I also wrote a critique of the 6pm newscast and shadowed the weekend producer.

Yesterday she told me she thought I'd make a good producer and we just had to balance my training with my PA duties until my current boss could find a replacement. Of all the people in the newsroom she was by far the best person to judge me for Producer ability. We had worked together before she became Asst. ND and she had seen me kick some ass a few times. A few times I even saved her ass by jumping in and helping edit the video for the show. So really she's seen me at my best.

I'm scared and not afraid to say it. Oh, it's not that I think I can't do the job, I know I can, but the learning process is hard. I don't like people being mad or yelling at me (although I won't cry if they do.. at least not in front of them.) For those who know me you know my fear is really about the unknown and making mistakes and not the challange.

But despite that I'm super excited. I have no idea what the pay is, but honestly I don't care.. too much. Right now I'm not even break 10K a year.. before taxes, so 40 hrs and benefits even with my current pay rate would be wonderful. I'm not broke, but let's just say I would have been by the time I got married. Needless to say JR and I are breathing a huge sigh of relief about that.

Not that I took the position just for the money (it's a HUGE factor though,) I also know that I was wasting away as a PA. So wish me luck folks, and any News peeps out there with advice, please share!

The Short List

Again I have to say sorry for being out of touch. I feel bad that I've basically dropped off the radar this month and have missed some things going on in my friend's lives.

As for my life... well I'm still breathing, so I guess things are fine. Actually it's been kinda busy for me the past few weeks. The last two weekends JR and I went to Bridal shows in Lansing. And both weekends we ran into some crappy weather, so I'm sorry I didn't make an effort to see anyone.

Post Bridal show I'm a little stressed. After my meltdown a few months back I kinda shoved all wedding planning aside for the sake of my sanity. But now it's only 8 months until the wedding and I need to start getting things locked down. Now- when I need internet more than ever, I still don't have it.

It's my own damn fault for losing my temper and canceling my service. In hindsight I probably should have stuck it out with Verizon. If I had known that my apartment complex has so few options for internet I may have kept my cool longer.

Anyway for those who care, here's a short list of what I've accomplished so far with wedding planning.

1) I have the Ceremony and Reception sites booked
2) I have my Photographer booked
3) We've picked out Tuxedos for the guys
4) I'm 99% sure of my wedding dress
5) I'm 75% sure on my Bridesmaid's dresses
6) I think I have a Videographer
7) And I may have an Officiant

and that's about it. So really, I need to stop typing and get my ass in gear ^_^*

Southern Fried Curry

First of all I'd like to thank everyone who wished me a Merry Christmas or a happy New Year.. Back atcha!

I suppose it's only fitting that it's a new year and after six months of living in Toledo I find myself back where I started- writing a blog at the public library. That's right folks I'm back to icky keyboards and even ickier kids running around peaking over my shoulder.

To say I'm pissed would be an understatement of massive proportions. But since I only have 45 minutes left on this computer I'll give you the short of it.

Eleven days ago I lost my internet connection. Ten days ago I was assured by several people in India that help was on it's way. Six days ago I sat home awake for over twelve hours and no help arrived. Four days ago I was profusely apologized to by more people in India and told I'd have my internet soon. Two days ago I got a call from a computer voice telling me my internet had been fixed. Today it still wasn't.

So today I called. I talked to Nathan, Amanda, Ian, Mrs. Grant, and another girl in India I couldn't understand, before finally talking to Laura. Laura was able to do what five others couldn't do in 50 minutes-cancel my Verizon service. I almost cried I was so happy to have it over with. But I'm still furious.

During my MANY conversations with tech support over in India (where I couldn't understand half of what they said,) and several frustrating attempts to get the automated operator to understand what I was saying, I accumulated a treasure trove of interesting blog personalities. But since I said I'd keep this short I'll only share my favorite.

During my second call to Verizon four days ago I talked to a DSL technician named Brian. Only, I seriously doubt that was his name. But "Brian" must have thought he was a super stud, because not only did he adopt a very non-Indian name; he finished off the act with a bad southern drawl.

Somehow his "I am apologizing ma'am" became the biggest insult to America I have every heard. It was bad enough to be speaking to someone half a world away, it was down right shitty for that person to act like they were going to pull one over on me and pretend to be American! I don't care how long he works on his accent- it'll never work until he gets the speech pattern right.

I didn't call him out on it though. And that's was the most annoying thing of all, I just couldn't bring myself to yell at a foreigner. The world hates Americans enough as it is, I'm sure as hell not going to add to the bad rap we have as a country.

Besides, what the hell did he care? It's not like I think an American would care more, but at least they'd understand by the way I said things that I was not a happy camper.

So if anyone has a cable/internet/dvr combo please tell me the company. I kinda have to go through a cable internet provider since apparently something's bad with my telephone line. Please excuse any future flakiness regarding the internet from me. I'll check in with everyone when I can.

God Bless the U.S.A.