I'm trying to think of the last time I was this passionate about a project, and I can't think of anything that quite matches the intensity and duration of the passion I'm feeling right now.
There are many that come close. The start of my (work) blog. The Mahal project. Michael Lock. DNA. In college there was my capstone. The Greyhound bus mega-story I worked on with Michelle. Homecoming house decs 2005. That might be the closest match.
But I don't think I've ever felt this overwhelming combination of excitement, stress, enthusiasm, nervousness, love, frustration, hilarity, agony, fun and pure adrenaline before. It has me reeling.
Do you ever find yourself with so many thoughts that you don't have enough time to yourself to fully think all of them? My brain is full of unfinished reflections and dreams that I keep bookmarking to come back to. I cannot stop thinking about work.
The insane part is I don't really mind thinking about it constantly.
That's not to say I don't dread it at times. I come home emotionally and intellectually drained. I can't bear to think of surviving another day. But then the next day I laugh and I laugh harder and I realize how much I enjoy the people I work with (some of them) and how much progress we're making. I picture our goal attained and the buzz comes back. It's an utter roller coaster.
Soon the project, at least the development stage, will come to an end. I'll have new goals to attain, and I'll work with different people to attain them. I'll feel all the emotions listed above, but probably not at the same time. I'll look back on this stressful and wonderful period in my career and long for that adrenaline, that insistent buzz - stronger than caffeine - that keeps me bouncing.
But for now, I'll hold on tight and enjoy the ride the best I can.
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Friday, April 8, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
So long, night news shift
Last night I served my last official shift on the online producer schedule. Unfortunately it was a Saturday night, and who likes to work on a Saturday night? No one, that's who. But fortunately, it was indeed my last one.
Most people have no idea why I work weekends. I dread having to explain it because it's hard to describe. But I'll give it a try here in case you're wondering. A weekend night shift goes something like this:
Drag yourself kicking and screaming to work around 5 or 5:30. Check in with the dayside editor. Do whatever he needs you to do (post a story, change a photo, add a link) and catch up on e-mail. Reject comments that have been reported for abuse. That all takes about an hour.
Then start printing any sections that have gone to press already (Cue, Biz). Chat it up with a coworker or two while waiting for the slow, slow printer. Put on your headphones and zone out while you crank out your first section of the night. This involves moving the stories and photos over to our CMS, creating modules for photos, photo galleries, related links, videos, etc., cleaning up the stories for the web, adding appropriate kickers and headlines to each, placing on proper headline lists and reordering the headline lists appropriately.
Next up is dinner. Check e-mail and Google Reader while you munch. Then slug through the next section. By the time you've got that done, the local section is usually about ready to be produced. After that, the A section.
All the while, you're still keeping up with comment abuse reports, coordinating with the copy desk and editors and making sure the homepage is in tip top shape. When everything is produced, you consult with an editor to decide which stories will go up top. Then you rearrange the homepage, make it look nice and purty, do a few miscellaneous tasks to prepare the site for the next day, check your work and skedaddle out around 1 a.m. if all goes well (I've been there as late as 3:30 before though). You walk past paper deliverers picking up their stashes in the parking lot as you leave and that makes it feel even later.
So long, night news shift! It was nice knowing you. Here's to hoping I won't have to fill in for anyone anytime soon...
Most people have no idea why I work weekends. I dread having to explain it because it's hard to describe. But I'll give it a try here in case you're wondering. A weekend night shift goes something like this:
Drag yourself kicking and screaming to work around 5 or 5:30. Check in with the dayside editor. Do whatever he needs you to do (post a story, change a photo, add a link) and catch up on e-mail. Reject comments that have been reported for abuse. That all takes about an hour.
Then start printing any sections that have gone to press already (Cue, Biz). Chat it up with a coworker or two while waiting for the slow, slow printer. Put on your headphones and zone out while you crank out your first section of the night. This involves moving the stories and photos over to our CMS, creating modules for photos, photo galleries, related links, videos, etc., cleaning up the stories for the web, adding appropriate kickers and headlines to each, placing on proper headline lists and reordering the headline lists appropriately.
Next up is dinner. Check e-mail and Google Reader while you munch. Then slug through the next section. By the time you've got that done, the local section is usually about ready to be produced. After that, the A section.
All the while, you're still keeping up with comment abuse reports, coordinating with the copy desk and editors and making sure the homepage is in tip top shape. When everything is produced, you consult with an editor to decide which stories will go up top. Then you rearrange the homepage, make it look nice and purty, do a few miscellaneous tasks to prepare the site for the next day, check your work and skedaddle out around 1 a.m. if all goes well (I've been there as late as 3:30 before though). You walk past paper deliverers picking up their stashes in the parking lot as you leave and that makes it feel even later.
So long, night news shift! It was nice knowing you. Here's to hoping I won't have to fill in for anyone anytime soon...
Friday, October 30, 2009
Generation gap
Each evening at work, I overhear coworkers chatting with spouses and kids on the phone, planning dinner, asking about days and just checking in.
Each day at work, P and I e-mail, gchat or text about our dinner plans, days and other non-events.
Is my generation more private, more impervious to having cubicle-mates overhear private conversations? Or are we less direct, more apt to type than talk? Maybe we just embrace the convenience of not having to turn from our computers to communicate. Maybe we're just used to communicating this way.
Will workplaces become more silent as my generation ages? I find that my fellow young coworkers IM me questions and comments from 10 feet away instead of turning around and vocalizing them. Granted, sometimes these are comments not fit for everyone's ears, but usually they are things like, "Did you respond to so-and-so's email?"
I'm not sure whether to embrace this quiet, Internet-infused, generational divide. What does it say about us? How will it impact our future?
Each day at work, P and I e-mail, gchat or text about our dinner plans, days and other non-events.
Is my generation more private, more impervious to having cubicle-mates overhear private conversations? Or are we less direct, more apt to type than talk? Maybe we just embrace the convenience of not having to turn from our computers to communicate. Maybe we're just used to communicating this way.
Will workplaces become more silent as my generation ages? I find that my fellow young coworkers IM me questions and comments from 10 feet away instead of turning around and vocalizing them. Granted, sometimes these are comments not fit for everyone's ears, but usually they are things like, "Did you respond to so-and-so's email?"
I'm not sure whether to embrace this quiet, Internet-infused, generational divide. What does it say about us? How will it impact our future?
Thursday, July 30, 2009
The brink of new
In a week's time I've gone from hum drum to completely nostalgic for my place of employment.
Tomorrow will be the last day for 30-something colleagues who are choosing to accept a buyout offer. One has been working there for 42 years. 42 YEARS!
I've been there exactly a year and a half. It doesn't seem that long and yet it feels like ages. In recent weeks I feel I've grown even closer to my colleagues. This nostalgia as a chunk of us prepares to leave has made me fall in love all over again with my job, my desk, my coworkers and my industry. The romance is rekindled!
I've been wondering what it must be like for someone who has been there 4, 5, 17, 25 or 42 whopping years to come to their last day of this ingrained routine and to say goodbye to this family of sorts.
It's virtually unfathomable for me at this point, to imagine how that must feel. I'm totally nostalgic for them. And nostalgic for myself that I won't get to spend the next however-many years working with them.
Tomorrow will be one tick in the timeline of "the way things were."
I've entered this business at a strange time. I work with people who have been here since the days of typewriters, since the golden days of newspapers, since the days of a 90% smoked up newsroom, since the days when my job didn't exist. They reminisce about those days, and I suppose in time I will reminisce about the days before our paper shrunk (for the second time since I've been here), for the days before the buyout (the third one since I've been here) and who knows what else.
I can't kick the feeling that we're on the brink of a big turning point. A turning point in a good way. This huge decrease in our numbers will be a sad and difficult hit, but I think those of us who are left (assuming I am even left) will be invigorated with a new fervor to be efficient, beat our competition and pave the way for the future of top-notch journalism.
I have hope that this is the kick we need to get ourselves back up. Our product has never been a problem. It's just our revenue stream. But our product has to change to make way for a new revenue stream.
I need to stay focused. I do not work a 9 to 5 desk job and I can't let myself fall into that slump. If I want to stay here and I want my industry to survive, I have to be highly efficient, highly innovative and highly enterprising. That will be my new mantra.
I am so blessed to have my job. I am not yet sure how it fits into God's plan for my life, but I know it somehow must. The timing of everything, from my serendipitous finding of the job posting, to the fact that my editor replied to my e-mail query, to my ability to graduate early, to the timing of the economic recession and essential hiring freeze. I don't know if the fact that I'm in the city I am or the fact that I work at a newspaper are the key parts of this blessing, but either way I feel compelled to embrace every aspect of it and give it my all.
So tomorrow I will breathe it in and commit it all to memory. I will refocus and begin the next chapter.
Tomorrow will be the last day for 30-something colleagues who are choosing to accept a buyout offer. One has been working there for 42 years. 42 YEARS!
I've been there exactly a year and a half. It doesn't seem that long and yet it feels like ages. In recent weeks I feel I've grown even closer to my colleagues. This nostalgia as a chunk of us prepares to leave has made me fall in love all over again with my job, my desk, my coworkers and my industry. The romance is rekindled!
I've been wondering what it must be like for someone who has been there 4, 5, 17, 25 or 42 whopping years to come to their last day of this ingrained routine and to say goodbye to this family of sorts.
It's virtually unfathomable for me at this point, to imagine how that must feel. I'm totally nostalgic for them. And nostalgic for myself that I won't get to spend the next however-many years working with them.
Tomorrow will be one tick in the timeline of "the way things were."
I've entered this business at a strange time. I work with people who have been here since the days of typewriters, since the golden days of newspapers, since the days of a 90% smoked up newsroom, since the days when my job didn't exist. They reminisce about those days, and I suppose in time I will reminisce about the days before our paper shrunk (for the second time since I've been here), for the days before the buyout (the third one since I've been here) and who knows what else.
I can't kick the feeling that we're on the brink of a big turning point. A turning point in a good way. This huge decrease in our numbers will be a sad and difficult hit, but I think those of us who are left (assuming I am even left) will be invigorated with a new fervor to be efficient, beat our competition and pave the way for the future of top-notch journalism.
I have hope that this is the kick we need to get ourselves back up. Our product has never been a problem. It's just our revenue stream. But our product has to change to make way for a new revenue stream.
I need to stay focused. I do not work a 9 to 5 desk job and I can't let myself fall into that slump. If I want to stay here and I want my industry to survive, I have to be highly efficient, highly innovative and highly enterprising. That will be my new mantra.
I am so blessed to have my job. I am not yet sure how it fits into God's plan for my life, but I know it somehow must. The timing of everything, from my serendipitous finding of the job posting, to the fact that my editor replied to my e-mail query, to my ability to graduate early, to the timing of the economic recession and essential hiring freeze. I don't know if the fact that I'm in the city I am or the fact that I work at a newspaper are the key parts of this blessing, but either way I feel compelled to embrace every aspect of it and give it my all.
So tomorrow I will breathe it in and commit it all to memory. I will refocus and begin the next chapter.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Freakishness
How crazy is this... every week I look forward to the weekend, even though I usually don't have much planned. This weekend we're flying to Florida and I'm taking a week off work. I should be counting down the days, hoping the weekend will come as soon as possible.
But, no. I have so much work left to do this week that I literally wish today was Wednesday instead of Thursday.
What the heck is wrong with me?!
But, no. I have so much work left to do this week that I literally wish today was Wednesday instead of Thursday.
What the heck is wrong with me?!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
What I would do if I lost my job
My company is in the midst of bargaining with our union right now. They want something like the equivalent of 24 low seniority jobs.
The company is not doing well. Blame the economy. Blame the Internet. Blame Craigslist. I see light at the end of the tunnel, but it's a long, dark tunnel and everyone will suffer.
After my employee review last week I feel a little more confident than I would otherwise at this point. My boss told me he will do everything he can to keep me. I hope that will be enough.
But this dire, nervous situation is making me reflect on my young career and what I would do if I were to lose my job.
First off, I would get a job waitressing while I looked for a new job. Ever since age 4 I have dreamed of being a waitress, and the closest this dream has come to fruition was when I was a barista at Applause coffeehouse. I still harbor a secret longing for this career path and I don't think it's too late to pursue it temporarily.
I would keep my cooking blog going on a new domain. I would drum up advertising for it and market it hardcore to try to make some extra dough.
I would finally start up my greeting card business that has been in the back of my mind since high school. I would start selling on Etsy and local craft fairs.
All the while I would apply for marketing and advertising jobs. If, by any slim chance, there were any newspaper jobs out there, I would definitely apply for those too, but if I can't have a job at a newspaper I'm not sure I want a job in journalism at all. Weird and harsh, but my passion truly is for newspapers.
Although I really have no advertising experience, I think my skills would translate well to that field.
And if there was no hope for finding a job, I wouldn't mind going back to school. I have no idea what I'd study - more journalism? More Spanish? Law? Advertising? Graphic design?
At some point later in life, but probably not right now, I would love to be a teacher.
But as exciting as all those opportunities sound, I am happy at my job and I think I have a lot of growing to do there. I would hate to end my affair with newspapers so soon, especially when I have such hope for their future.
The company is not doing well. Blame the economy. Blame the Internet. Blame Craigslist. I see light at the end of the tunnel, but it's a long, dark tunnel and everyone will suffer.
After my employee review last week I feel a little more confident than I would otherwise at this point. My boss told me he will do everything he can to keep me. I hope that will be enough.
But this dire, nervous situation is making me reflect on my young career and what I would do if I were to lose my job.
First off, I would get a job waitressing while I looked for a new job. Ever since age 4 I have dreamed of being a waitress, and the closest this dream has come to fruition was when I was a barista at Applause coffeehouse. I still harbor a secret longing for this career path and I don't think it's too late to pursue it temporarily.
I would keep my cooking blog going on a new domain. I would drum up advertising for it and market it hardcore to try to make some extra dough.
I would finally start up my greeting card business that has been in the back of my mind since high school. I would start selling on Etsy and local craft fairs.
All the while I would apply for marketing and advertising jobs. If, by any slim chance, there were any newspaper jobs out there, I would definitely apply for those too, but if I can't have a job at a newspaper I'm not sure I want a job in journalism at all. Weird and harsh, but my passion truly is for newspapers.
Although I really have no advertising experience, I think my skills would translate well to that field.
And if there was no hope for finding a job, I wouldn't mind going back to school. I have no idea what I'd study - more journalism? More Spanish? Law? Advertising? Graphic design?
At some point later in life, but probably not right now, I would love to be a teacher.
But as exciting as all those opportunities sound, I am happy at my job and I think I have a lot of growing to do there. I would hate to end my affair with newspapers so soon, especially when I have such hope for their future.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Speed queen
Today at work the News Hub got into a random discussion (as usual) about speeding. I don't know how the topic came up (probably inspired by a Newswatch posting, as usual) but everyone went around revealing the fastest speed they'd attained while driving.
Most impressive was JK's 130 mph on a Harley. Yikes.
Funniest was G's response to everyone's 100+ mph responses. His fasted was closer to 85 mph.
Most surprising, apparently, was my 115 (okay, really 120) mph response.
G and the other Hubsters just could not believe that young, innocent Alison was such a daredevil.
Frankly, I can't believe I ever did that either, but there's your exhibit A of teenagers' lack of risk adversity development in their brains. I was fearless at age 16, speeding home from cast parties at 1 a.m. on a dark Naper/Plainfield Rd.
"What else don't we know about you?" they asked me. "Do you have hidden tattoos? Smoke cigars? Have secret piercings?"
It was entertaining telling them how I smuggled a Cuban in from Prague and smoked it on the front steps of Benet after graduation.
Apparently they will never look at me the same.
But doesn't everyone have stories like that?
I was far from a wild child, but I had my moments of rebellion. Now they're lovely gems of my youth. And I plan to continue collecting them.
If anyone's reading this, what wild gems have you collected over your lifetime?
Monday, October 27, 2008
I'm back
My 21st year is old news. I'm 22 now; I've been married for almost two months; I have a full-time job; I own a home in suburban Milwaukee.
Wow.
How's that for a change of lifestyle?
I sound old. I promise I'm really not though. I'm still just attempting to make my way through post-college life and find my place in this new arena of job/marriage/home. Sometimes I feel like my exterior projects someone much more mature than I actually am.
So this evolved blog is my place to document it all. More to come.
Wow.
How's that for a change of lifestyle?
I sound old. I promise I'm really not though. I'm still just attempting to make my way through post-college life and find my place in this new arena of job/marriage/home. Sometimes I feel like my exterior projects someone much more mature than I actually am.
So this evolved blog is my place to document it all. More to come.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Day 262: I can be a talker - no, THE talker
My oh my, 21st year where have you gone? Day 262?? When did 100 Day even happen? I missed my chance to make a list of 100 of something or bring in 100 pennies for show and tell (that was what I brought on 100 day in first grade. How do I remember that?)
My address has changed since my last blog entry. Now my zip code is 53211. That's Milwaukee. Wisconsin. I am living in what feels like the arctic. I know, that is coming from the Minnesota-born, Chicago-raised gal. This winter is brutal though. Lots of snow and lots of cold. Today I ditched my scarf because it felt warm out. It was 24 degrees.
Anyway, my new job at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is providing me with lots of incredible opportunities. By the end of my first week I had created and published an interactive graphic. Second week brought another. Third week yet another. I also got to sit at a table with Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee (on separate occasions) and videotape editorial board meetings with them. I went backstage of The Lion King and shot video. And tonight, the highlight of my work experience: I videotaped a Burghardt's Sporting Goods employee explain how to select a little league bat and glove. Thrilling, I know. But my most exciting journalistic endeavor is yet to come (if you can believe there is anything more exciting - or maybe magical is the better word - than shaking hands with Barack Obama ::snort::). If I can prove that I am a mover and a shaker and an entertaining and engaging writer, I will get my very own BLOG. Public blog, that is. On JSOnline.com. I know, swoon. (I'm not being sarcastic anymore. I am genuinely crazy about this idea).
So my dream of being a real blogger instead of a closet blogger could come true in the future. The blog will be somewhat similar to Talk of the Day, the blog I wrote for at STLtoday.com, but it will have more personality and it will be all mine (mwahaha). Each day I will write a short commentary on a hot-button news topic and hopefully elicit a lively discussion from readers. I have been brainstorming names for it all day yesterday and today and my favorite one so far is The Talker. Simple, but catchy and surprisingly descriptive. The inspiration came when my boss referred to the hot story of the day as a "talker." Other ideas worth mentioning include: The Daily Discourse, The Convo, Today's Talk, The Daily Buzz. LATER NOTE: after conferring with The Fiance, "The Talker" is out of the race, and "The Daily Buzz" is the front runner.
In the next week I will be writing sample entries, so I might as well post them here. Look for the first one on Day 263 of my 21st year.
P.S. I've been away from blogger so long that I am just now noticing that I can finally link things without typing out html! Thanks Blogger for being nice to Mac users :)
My address has changed since my last blog entry. Now my zip code is 53211. That's Milwaukee. Wisconsin. I am living in what feels like the arctic. I know, that is coming from the Minnesota-born, Chicago-raised gal. This winter is brutal though. Lots of snow and lots of cold. Today I ditched my scarf because it felt warm out. It was 24 degrees.
Anyway, my new job at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is providing me with lots of incredible opportunities. By the end of my first week I had created and published an interactive graphic. Second week brought another. Third week yet another. I also got to sit at a table with Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee (on separate occasions) and videotape editorial board meetings with them. I went backstage of The Lion King and shot video. And tonight, the highlight of my work experience: I videotaped a Burghardt's Sporting Goods employee explain how to select a little league bat and glove. Thrilling, I know. But my most exciting journalistic endeavor is yet to come (if you can believe there is anything more exciting - or maybe magical is the better word - than shaking hands with Barack Obama ::snort::). If I can prove that I am a mover and a shaker and an entertaining and engaging writer, I will get my very own BLOG. Public blog, that is. On JSOnline.com. I know, swoon. (I'm not being sarcastic anymore. I am genuinely crazy about this idea).
So my dream of being a real blogger instead of a closet blogger could come true in the future. The blog will be somewhat similar to Talk of the Day, the blog I wrote for at STLtoday.com, but it will have more personality and it will be all mine (mwahaha). Each day I will write a short commentary on a hot-button news topic and hopefully elicit a lively discussion from readers. I have been brainstorming names for it all day yesterday and today and my favorite one so far is The Talker. Simple, but catchy and surprisingly descriptive. The inspiration came when my boss referred to the hot story of the day as a "talker." Other ideas worth mentioning include: The Daily Discourse, The Convo, Today's Talk, The Daily Buzz. LATER NOTE: after conferring with The Fiance, "The Talker" is out of the race, and "The Daily Buzz" is the front runner.
In the next week I will be writing sample entries, so I might as well post them here. Look for the first one on Day 263 of my 21st year.
P.S. I've been away from blogger so long that I am just now noticing that I can finally link things without typing out html! Thanks Blogger for being nice to Mac users :)
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Day 121: Self-induced insanity
This summer while I worked my first full-time, 9 - 5:30 job (well, internship) I reminisced about how wonderful it was to be in school and have breaks between classes and time to go to the gym at 3 in the afternoon, and days when I could sleep in till 10. I thought about how easy the college life is compared to the sitting-at-a-desk-seven-hours-a-day life. I must have been delusional, or something. How did I not remember the fact that my college life is like a 24/7 working life... I never get a break. Well, that's not entirely true... I do take time to myself and time to relax, but usually not without some project or assignment hanging over my head. While working, I came home at 5:30 and could do whatever I wanted for the rest of the evening. Now I come home and squeeze in reading, interviews, assignments and job applications between meetings on campus and study groups. It's really quite insane, because I always can be doing MORE.
Now, I do love college. A lot. But when it comes down to it, this lifestyle isn't all it's cracked up to be. It has it's extremely wonderful aspects (living with four best friends, Thursday nights downtown with only one hour of class on Fridays, a dress code so minimal that I've gone to class wearing Peter's basketball shorts and the shirt I slept in, abundant opportunities to grow as a journalist, student, Christian, friend and human being) but it also wears you down. My mind is so overloaded at any given time. It's like having a constant flow of tasks from seven different sources: convergence capstone class, infographics staff class, two spanish classes, Dance Marathon, job search process and wedding planning. (On a personal note, Peter and I are engaged!) I know most students have far less on their plate, and I could too. But I can't really. It's just who I am. I suppose should probably stop complaining about it and just enjoy my last semester of self-induced insanity.
Now, I do love college. A lot. But when it comes down to it, this lifestyle isn't all it's cracked up to be. It has it's extremely wonderful aspects (living with four best friends, Thursday nights downtown with only one hour of class on Fridays, a dress code so minimal that I've gone to class wearing Peter's basketball shorts and the shirt I slept in, abundant opportunities to grow as a journalist, student, Christian, friend and human being) but it also wears you down. My mind is so overloaded at any given time. It's like having a constant flow of tasks from seven different sources: convergence capstone class, infographics staff class, two spanish classes, Dance Marathon, job search process and wedding planning. (On a personal note, Peter and I are engaged!) I know most students have far less on their plate, and I could too. But I can't really. It's just who I am. I suppose should probably stop complaining about it and just enjoy my last semester of self-induced insanity.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Day 50: I should drink coffee every day... maybe
There was free specialty coffee (from a brand new coffee maker) and donuts today at work. I was all set on not delving into the candy drawer today, but then of course I had to have a donut.
I also had a delicious Milky Way latte (yes, they have awesome drinks like that). Now, I usually try to stay away from caffeine (except in chocolate of course). It makes me feel different. In a bad way. I usually burn my tongue on hot coffee. Espresso makes me wide-eyed and jittery. It dehydrates me (I'm obsessed with drinking water). Overall, I just know it's a bad habit.
But today... well, today the caffeine had all of those effects, plus the bonus I never think I need but apparently do: energy. I was so totally on top of things. I didn't take my lunch break until 2:00, and although earlier in the morning I was itching to read Harry Potter (and the Deathly Hallows, of course) for that hour, while heading down to the Weatherbird Cafe for lunch all I wanted to do was go for a long run.
Imagine that! A craving for a run right when I can't go on one. But it was fine, I thought, because I still had HP and all the deaths and hallows (that's not a spoiler... I'm only on page 200) to look forward to during lunch. And of course right after work I will hit the dusty trail and run for a nice 30 minutes, I said to myself.
But of course now that I'm almost off work, I am only craving another donut and another dose of Harry Potter. Why can my cravings for runs not come at times when I actually can act on them? Today it's because of that demon called caffeine. It's positive effects have worn off and now I remember why I don't drink it in the first place.
I also had a delicious Milky Way latte (yes, they have awesome drinks like that). Now, I usually try to stay away from caffeine (except in chocolate of course). It makes me feel different. In a bad way. I usually burn my tongue on hot coffee. Espresso makes me wide-eyed and jittery. It dehydrates me (I'm obsessed with drinking water). Overall, I just know it's a bad habit.
But today... well, today the caffeine had all of those effects, plus the bonus I never think I need but apparently do: energy. I was so totally on top of things. I didn't take my lunch break until 2:00, and although earlier in the morning I was itching to read Harry Potter (and the Deathly Hallows, of course) for that hour, while heading down to the Weatherbird Cafe for lunch all I wanted to do was go for a long run.
Imagine that! A craving for a run right when I can't go on one. But it was fine, I thought, because I still had HP and all the deaths and hallows (that's not a spoiler... I'm only on page 200) to look forward to during lunch. And of course right after work I will hit the dusty trail and run for a nice 30 minutes, I said to myself.
But of course now that I'm almost off work, I am only craving another donut and another dose of Harry Potter. Why can my cravings for runs not come at times when I actually can act on them? Today it's because of that demon called caffeine. It's positive effects have worn off and now I remember why I don't drink it in the first place.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Day 42: Should a 12-year-old be tried as an adult?
For the past three weeks or so, I've been blogging in the Talk of the Day blog on STLtoday.com. It doesn't take a whole lot of creativity, but I always take the time to research hot news topics in order to stir up discussion. Sometimes it works really well and extremely heated debates boil up. Last week I asked the question, "Should a 12-year-old be tried as an adult?" and got a record 81 comments in the blog. I'm posting the blog entry below, followed by my favorite comment of the insane conversation that followed:
"Last week we discussed the heinous crimes committed by youngsters. Now it’s time to think about the repurcussions.
If the 12-year-old boy accused of fatally stabbing Alexus Purtty is tried as an adult, he will become the youngest suspect in the St. Louis area to stand trial as an adult for murder. The court will decide Sept. 17 if this will happen. They will take several things into account:
Kathryn Herman, assistant city juvenile court administrator, said the law requires a review of 10 factors, including viciousness of a crime, the suspect’s record and home life, and his or her age.
A 2003 Associated Press story challenges whether young teenagers should be tried as adults. It discusses a study on the cognitive abilities of kids to understand court proceedings:
Subjects were given intelligence tests and asked to respond to several hypothetical legal situations, such as whether to confess to a police officer. The results found that one-third of those 11 to 13 and one-fifth of those 14 or 15 could not understand the proceedings or help lawyers defend them. The study recommends that states reconsider the minimum age for juveniles to be tried as adults or to develop a system for evaluating young defendants’ competence.
How do you think courts should try and punish children in murder cases? Is a 12-year-old competent enough to stand trial as an adult?"
Below is the most controversial comment (it raised a flurry of responses in agreement and quite a few in utter disagreement). Looking beyond any perceived racism, I tend to agree with the commenter. It's insane how many people think it was society's/his parents'/the government's/the police's fault that he murdered this girl. My honest opinion is that the law follows the rule of CRIME and PUNISHMENT. If you commit a crime, you must be punished for it. It's really irrelevant whether you feel bad about it or not. And there's no reason this crime should be erased from his record at age 21. He murdered. He should be tried the same way as any other murderer. Here's the #1 most replied to comment:
That this black thug could so easily take the life of a young girl and have people like yourselves defending him goes a long way towards explaining how we got to this point in our country, and why there is no going back.
I guess the absurdities that are accepted in the black culture have finally just become acceptable to everyone else as well - meaning that you all probably think that this murderer is just a “baby,” and that he isn’t responsible for his horrific actions because he’s just a “disadvantaged youth,” and that this black girl’s life didn’t matter because, hey, “She jus’ a FEE-male.” Ironically, this poor girl, in her willingness to actually confront the black thug in the first place, when she suspected him of trespassing at her house, demonstrated self-respect, bravery, a belief in fairness, and concern for her family - qualities which are not only admirable, but which are in complete contradiction to traditional black female behavior. And how very sad, but typical, that her own mother, even in the wake of her death, refuses to exhibit any of these qualities, as evidenced by the fact that she had no trouble getting on TV, not shedding a tear, and blaming the PO-leece, the city, etc. - everyone, of course, but that black male who murdered her daughter.
But hey, it’s good to know that you all are so concerned for this murdering “baby.” Because, after all, once all of these “babies” have taken over our country, I’m sure they’ll reciprocate your decency, and sensitivity, and tolerance, and generosity.
Comment by Carrie K. — July 11, 2007 @ 11:59 pm
"Last week we discussed the heinous crimes committed by youngsters. Now it’s time to think about the repurcussions.
If the 12-year-old boy accused of fatally stabbing Alexus Purtty is tried as an adult, he will become the youngest suspect in the St. Louis area to stand trial as an adult for murder. The court will decide Sept. 17 if this will happen. They will take several things into account:
Kathryn Herman, assistant city juvenile court administrator, said the law requires a review of 10 factors, including viciousness of a crime, the suspect’s record and home life, and his or her age.
A 2003 Associated Press story challenges whether young teenagers should be tried as adults. It discusses a study on the cognitive abilities of kids to understand court proceedings:
Subjects were given intelligence tests and asked to respond to several hypothetical legal situations, such as whether to confess to a police officer. The results found that one-third of those 11 to 13 and one-fifth of those 14 or 15 could not understand the proceedings or help lawyers defend them. The study recommends that states reconsider the minimum age for juveniles to be tried as adults or to develop a system for evaluating young defendants’ competence.
How do you think courts should try and punish children in murder cases? Is a 12-year-old competent enough to stand trial as an adult?"
Below is the most controversial comment (it raised a flurry of responses in agreement and quite a few in utter disagreement). Looking beyond any perceived racism, I tend to agree with the commenter. It's insane how many people think it was society's/his parents'/the government's/the police's fault that he murdered this girl. My honest opinion is that the law follows the rule of CRIME and PUNISHMENT. If you commit a crime, you must be punished for it. It's really irrelevant whether you feel bad about it or not. And there's no reason this crime should be erased from his record at age 21. He murdered. He should be tried the same way as any other murderer. Here's the #1 most replied to comment:
That this black thug could so easily take the life of a young girl and have people like yourselves defending him goes a long way towards explaining how we got to this point in our country, and why there is no going back.
I guess the absurdities that are accepted in the black culture have finally just become acceptable to everyone else as well - meaning that you all probably think that this murderer is just a “baby,” and that he isn’t responsible for his horrific actions because he’s just a “disadvantaged youth,” and that this black girl’s life didn’t matter because, hey, “She jus’ a FEE-male.” Ironically, this poor girl, in her willingness to actually confront the black thug in the first place, when she suspected him of trespassing at her house, demonstrated self-respect, bravery, a belief in fairness, and concern for her family - qualities which are not only admirable, but which are in complete contradiction to traditional black female behavior. And how very sad, but typical, that her own mother, even in the wake of her death, refuses to exhibit any of these qualities, as evidenced by the fact that she had no trouble getting on TV, not shedding a tear, and blaming the PO-leece, the city, etc. - everyone, of course, but that black male who murdered her daughter.
But hey, it’s good to know that you all are so concerned for this murdering “baby.” Because, after all, once all of these “babies” have taken over our country, I’m sure they’ll reciprocate your decency, and sensitivity, and tolerance, and generosity.
Comment by Carrie K. — July 11, 2007 @ 11:59 pm
Friday, July 13, 2007
Day 39: Disaster cliches
The most valuable part of my internship this summer at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is working with some very experienced journalists. Harry Levins is my 65-year-old coworker and journalist extrarordinaire. He has been in the business for two of my lifetimes and I always enjoy getting little bits of wisdom from him. He's a word man.
Today's lesson: cliche natural disaster verbs in ledes
Hurricanes lash.
Fires sweep.
Floodwaters pour over.
Tornadoes touch down.
Earthquakes shake (and sometimes rattle).
Typhoons pound.
and my favorite... Buses plunge.
The solution? Lead with the number of deaths and amount of destruction. That's what people care about. We know what a hurricane does in general, so give us some specifics up front. Thanks, Harry!
Today's lesson: cliche natural disaster verbs in ledes
Hurricanes lash.
Fires sweep.
Floodwaters pour over.
Tornadoes touch down.
Earthquakes shake (and sometimes rattle).
Typhoons pound.
and my favorite... Buses plunge.
The solution? Lead with the number of deaths and amount of destruction. That's what people care about. We know what a hurricane does in general, so give us some specifics up front. Thanks, Harry!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Day 38: Fridge raider
I forgot to rant about this yesterday, so I'm doing you the pleasure of ranting about it now.
Someone stole my container of Dannon Light 'n Fit yogurt out of the fridge at work. I couldn't believe it when I went to retrieve my lunch. It was gone!
This isn't leftover pizza in the weekend kitchen of the ZTA house, people!
Needless to say, I was quite disappointed and only had half a lunch.
Someone stole my container of Dannon Light 'n Fit yogurt out of the fridge at work. I couldn't believe it when I went to retrieve my lunch. It was gone!
This isn't leftover pizza in the weekend kitchen of the ZTA house, people!
Needless to say, I was quite disappointed and only had half a lunch.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Day 18: Bloggedy blog
Today was such a bag of slack. I accomplished my immediate goals and absolutely nothing more at work. Well, actually, I accomplished quite a bit more, but nothing work-related. After the Pete sent me and some friends a fairly well-researched and interesting political ramble about how much he hates John Edwards, I convinced him to start a blog (read: I started a blog for him). So they day went by fairly quickly as we emailed back and forth details about the blog and I got it up and running. But my goodness, the blogger and google marriage sure likes to mess with you. I guess I somehow created a new gmail account with the username "BigPete_02@hotmail.com." Um... I don't know how you can have two @something.coms in one email address, but apparently that's what blogger did.
Either way, Peter has a talent for writing controversial and opinionated things. He will be a great blogger because he has the dedication, focus and, most of all, passion to let his opinions be known (at least about important things like religion and politics). He will kick my blog's ass, but that's okay.
Anyway, it's Friday (whoop whoop!) and I have basically nothing to do. I should go for a run. I want to. It might be too late and I might use that as an excuse not too. Then I would feel bad. I also should get my sociology homework out of the way (yes, online summer course... not difficult, just have to remember to do the work). It's too bad I have such a limited number of friends in this damn city.
Either way, Peter has a talent for writing controversial and opinionated things. He will be a great blogger because he has the dedication, focus and, most of all, passion to let his opinions be known (at least about important things like religion and politics). He will kick my blog's ass, but that's okay.
Anyway, it's Friday (whoop whoop!) and I have basically nothing to do. I should go for a run. I want to. It might be too late and I might use that as an excuse not too. Then I would feel bad. I also should get my sociology homework out of the way (yes, online summer course... not difficult, just have to remember to do the work). It's too bad I have such a limited number of friends in this damn city.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Day 9: "Days are getting shorter..."
I have spent exactly four weeks in the full-time working world now. I was so ready for it before I began. I was ready for meetings, lunch out with coworkers and intellectual conversation about "where journalism is heading." I was ready for cutting-edge technology, deadlines and breaking news. A few of those expectations were correct, but what I wasn't prepared for was how long the days are, how much time is spent sitting at a computer and how lost in menial tasks I become each day. Did I mention how long the days are? Wow, they seem like eternities.
Today was better though. It seemed slightly shorter than usual. It's already 4:30. I have one hour left. Maybe it was the nourishment of my chai latte (delicious) this morning or my fascination with research on the Hill Italian neighborhood this afternoon that kept me busy. Maybe my audio editing late morning gave me enough variety to keep my eyes off the clock. Maybe the absence of my boss and his daily, "So... what'rya working on?" drill made me more at ease. Or maybe, just maybe, I'm getting used to the working world.
Do I want to get used to this 9-5:30 computer-sitting routine? I mean, yeah, it will make the summer a lot easier. But do I want my life to be this? Heck no! Maybe I should have gone into physical therapy or teaching or basket-weaving. Or just something more interactive and creative. I guess this is supposed to be creative. Maybe I'm just in the wrong department. I bet that's it.
On a more fun note, tonight is my official fourth 21st birthday celebration. Yes, that means I've had three celebrations in the past week and I'm still going strong. First was on my birthday (last Tues., June 5) in Columbia with school friends. Second was on Saturday in Naperville with friends friends. Third was on Sunday in Naperville with family. And tonight is in St. Louis with coworkers. I have one more celebration with my mom in Las Vegas at the end of June. I really know how to keep the party going (for a whole month) apparently.
Today was better though. It seemed slightly shorter than usual. It's already 4:30. I have one hour left. Maybe it was the nourishment of my chai latte (delicious) this morning or my fascination with research on the Hill Italian neighborhood this afternoon that kept me busy. Maybe my audio editing late morning gave me enough variety to keep my eyes off the clock. Maybe the absence of my boss and his daily, "So... what'rya working on?" drill made me more at ease. Or maybe, just maybe, I'm getting used to the working world.
Do I want to get used to this 9-5:30 computer-sitting routine? I mean, yeah, it will make the summer a lot easier. But do I want my life to be this? Heck no! Maybe I should have gone into physical therapy or teaching or basket-weaving. Or just something more interactive and creative. I guess this is supposed to be creative. Maybe I'm just in the wrong department. I bet that's it.
On a more fun note, tonight is my official fourth 21st birthday celebration. Yes, that means I've had three celebrations in the past week and I'm still going strong. First was on my birthday (last Tues., June 5) in Columbia with school friends. Second was on Saturday in Naperville with friends friends. Third was on Sunday in Naperville with family. And tonight is in St. Louis with coworkers. I have one more celebration with my mom in Las Vegas at the end of June. I really know how to keep the party going (for a whole month) apparently.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)