Week of Learning

Well, it has been a bit of an interesting week. Really it was more of a learning experience. Nothing overtly special happened, just a couple of interesting items in that checkbook of life kind of thing.

First was that I finally got to take a class on Final Cut Express. I've been wanting to do this for over a month now and I finally did it. When we bought the mighty I-Mac, one of the extras that we bought for it was something called Apple One-to-One. For $99, we can take an individual course with an expert from the Apple store about any program that we have on the computer. I had been looking at various Final Cut courses, all were considerably more than that. There is a website called Lynda.com that will give you a tutorial, but it is difficult to digest.

((Me in my Producing days//Courtesy: Jon Nelson))

Thankfully, I am already able to edit, I just needed to figure out how to do things with the program. The "Expert" spent about 15 minutes showing me what buttons I needed to use to do things...and I was off and running. He didn't have to say much else, I think I asked 3 or 4 more questions, but I got it and got it quickly. Now, I just need to start applying what I learned. No, right now I probably couldn't cut a story on deadline like I used to on AVID, but with some practice, I will.

That leads me up to the other interesting tidbit of the week. There is another job open at the ABC station here in town (Assignment Desk and Associate Producer/not perfect, but I'll do it). As soon as I saw it, I contacted the person I spoke to the last time I was there (the Asst. News Director) and applied. So you are asking yourself, "OK, why was that important, you probably are applying to all kinds of jobs". And you are right, I am. This was interesting because on Friday morning, I found out that my contact is leaving to take a job in West Palm Beach (not an option).

Thankfully, I am smarter than I look. Immediately I sent him a congratulatory e-mail. In the second paragraph, I just played a bit dumb and asked what I should do about the job and who should be my contact. He got back to me about an hour later and said that he no longer is hiring the position, but the News Director was and that I am on their radar for spot. (Yea!) I e-mailed the News Director and hopefully I will hear something from him next week (cross your fingers).

Those are the highlights of the week. Michelle had her Surgery follow up on Friday as well. It went really well. She is cleared to work from home next week and then go to the office the week after. Though I love her with every fiber of my being, I'm kind of happy that they are going to let her go back soon. I have kind of come to enjoy my time here while she is at work, I get more done that way. I still haven't finished the book and my deadline is closing fast. Sunday is probably going to have to be a workday where I get at least 2 chapters written.

Enjoy some Kiss. Thanks You Tube:

Saints Win equals Happy Family

**Copied from a story I wrote on my other website http://onlinesportsguys.com**

No, I'm not talking about the Chinese Dish "Happy Family", I am talking about mine. My Lovely Bride (heretofore referred to as :TLB), was incredibly anxious pretty much this whole week in anticipation of watching her beloved Saints play in the NFC Championship game.

((Chelle and me at July 4th celebration in Decatur, Ga. 2009))

Why would she be anxious? Well, for starters, she is Louisiana born and bred. She is from Lafayette...about an hour west of Baton Rouge and home of the Ragin' Cajun's. TLB is a "Huge" football fan, particularly if it involves either LSU or the Saints. Which by the way, I don't have any problem with, we all should have wives who love football...it was a pre-requisite for me.

Anyway, we decided earlier in the week that we would watch the game, starting out at Buffalo Wild Wings about a mile or so from the house. We'd watch the first half from there, eating wings...well boneless wings and having a couple of beers. Second half, we'd head home and watch from the comfort of our living room couch. Unfortunately here in Cincinnati, there wasn't a ton of interest in the game. The crowd at Wild Wings had some Saints fan, but the place basically had emptied out after the Indianapolis game ended. That did make it easier to sit down though.

TLB was well behaved at the restaurant, showing restraint and mildly cheering when her beloved Saints did something good and making fun of Brett Favre with me when they didn't. The first half didn't determine much, we paid our check and headed home.

Now, once we got home and the second half started...it was on. TLB was on everything. When the Saints scored...huge high pitched squeals of delight. When they couldn't recover the multiple Vikings fumbles...she shouted "JUST FALL ON IT!!!!!". It was quite a sight and all I could do to keep from laughing.

I actually did something pretty cool during the second half of the game. I had my laptop computer fired up and was on Twitter (follow me at osgphil). I am following a bunch of the National Sports Writers and other Sports Guys and it was really interesting reading there observations...actually in a lot of cases it was pretty damn funny, I highly recommend it. We really enjoyed hearing the commentary about Favre.

So, the yelling and screaming at the TV continued into overtime, though not before I got tackled myself when Favre threw his late game INT. It didn't end until the game did. When it did, that is when I realized just how significant the Saints win was. They are a team that an entire state identifies with. With all that they have been through, all they have suffered and as bad over the years as they have been, the people of Louisiana identify with them. They live with them, they die with them. Good, bad they are always behind them. It really hit me there at the end and made me realize all of this when I looked over at TLB and she was crying.

Check out this video made driving around after the Game on Bourbon Street: Thanks You Tube

Hey, Hey we're the Monkees!

I've been kind of dwelling on this topic for a little while and was thinking of a good time to unleash it.

Of course you are probably wondering what the hell I am talking about. Well, really it is pretty simple, though it may not make sense to everyone. I'm talking about a group of my friends in Atlanta, the guys that I worked closely with for 9 of my 10 years in Atlanta, I'm talking about the Sports Photographers.

((Pictured Back

Row L-R; Blaine, Kenny, Me and Eric. Front; Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith and Mike Thomas-the 5th Beatle))

The obvious question is "So what?". Yeah, I know, I just wanted to write about Eric Hager, Kenny Price and Blaine Kummet because I kind of miss those guys. Mind you, they didn't work at the same TV station that I did in Atlanta, but we were close. We didn't necessarily talk every day or every other day. Sometimes we didn't see each other for a couple of weeks at a time, but when we did, we were inseparable. We called ourselves "The Monkeys", which was also the source of a rather lengthy comedy routine. Once we broke into it, the whole room started laughing.

We covered every big event im

aginable. Georgia and Georgia Tech Football, the Falcons, the Braves, the Thrashers and the Hawks. We all had a great relationship with the teams and even some of the players started to get to know us and share in the laughter. Mostly because we were always laughing. Laughing and trying to make everyone else laugh. We were having fun because we were doing the job that every guy wants, covering all of the major sports.

((Pictured: The Falcons Video Crew, Eric, Kenny, Me and Mr. and Mrs. Bootsy Collins))

I think the most fun that we had was

every year in February. Late February was when Spring Training started and we all would head down to the Disney Sports Complex for a couple of days to cover the first few days. I would have to say it was my favorite trip out of all of them...and we went a lot of places during that time period.

((Pictured: Intrepid Sports Anchor Mark Harmon and I interviewing Jeff Francoeur//Courtesy: Eric Hager))

It was my favorite for the little things. The best was always "Family Night" which meant dinner at the Columbia restaurant in the Disney Celebration complex. We would go, reporters in tow and share laughs, a little sangria and some good Cuban food. Inevitably, some of the Braves players would come in, see us and get a laugh saying "You guys are all friends?, What's with that?" We would say hi, talk to them a bit and continue laughing.

My other favorite thing, mascot photos. The other guys wouldn't do it, but Eric and I always did. It was actually his idea, he had been doing it long before we met, but when we did, he found his partner in crime. We always at some point during the game would find the other teams mascot and get a photo. Those who have seen my gallery, know that I have a pretty good collection. Eric's collection dwarfs mine.

It's funny now to thing back and realize how much that we fed off of each other. Of course we weren't always there together, Eric always missed the Georgia/Georgia Tech game for vacation. Kenny didn't do much Georgia Football, his station kept him busy with the Falcons during football season. Blaine was always busy with High School stuff. Me, I tried to do them all and maybe that was my problem. During that stretch, I worked...pretty much all of the time, but it was the only way we could keep up with everyone else.

((Photo: Me with Albert and Alberta Gator//Courtesy: Eric Hager))

I'm not really sure what is prompting me to write this. Maybe because of where I am at the moment. I don't know.

I do know that even had I stayed in Atlanta, we weren't going to get to work together any more. The last few months before I left, I had been phased out of Sports. In fact after I left, the station phased out the Sports department, completely.

What I do know is that I am forever in those guys debt. They left me with memories of a lifetime. They left me knowing that I really did accomplish one of my biggest goals in life which was to run a Sports Department in Atlanta. I didn't get to do it for very long, but I did get to do it.

I left Atlanta, probably for good in September of 2009. The Monkees got back together, one last time the day before I left. Well, Kenny couldn't make it, but everyone else did including the Anchors from two of the other Sports Departments in town. I never really got a chance to tell Eric and Blaine...and even Kenny who wasn't there how much that meant to me. It really let me know that I did make an impression and that I would be remembered for doing some good things. The most important thing...is I left with some friends that I will always remember.

This is what I always think of when I think of these guys...of course...the Monkees Theme: the song fits. Thanks You Tube:

Here I sit!

So, I've spent say...oh...the past 21 years or so in a business where it is all about deadlines and deadline pressure. Yet, as I sit here writing this blog post, I fully realize that I need to be cranking out chapters for the book that I am a part of writing, yet I am really having a tough time getting motivated to do it. So here I sit.

((Me drinking a beer in Belize//Courtesy: Michelle)

For those of us who went to college, I have a theory. The theory is that you never lose the procrastinate until the time of the test mindset. Heck, even professionally despite working on deadline most of the time I did it. You can ask just about anyone who worked with me. When I needed to be fast, I was. Nobody could be more efficient. But...when I had time. I took it. All of it. And...here I sit.

I always wondered about this phenomenon, why not just me...but almost everyone that I know practices it. I mean really. I know "What" I need to do. I know "How Long" it takes me to do it. I even have a plan mapped out to get it done without having to cram it all in at the end.

And yet here I sit on the mighty I-Mac with Oliver the Cat behind me crashed out on the dog's bed putting off doing the work that I need to do.

The book, really is pretty simple. It's a project that my friend Jon got and is sharing with the rest of the Production Company. He gets the author title, we get to be non-titled authors in the acknowledgements (which is fine).

For those who don't know. Yes, I have and have had a production company...OSG Sports Media for over a year now. We don't have a lengthy list of production work that we have done, really we have the Onlinesportsguys.com website...and the book.

The book is even about a subject that I know well. "100 Things that every Georgia Football fan should know and see before they die". I covered Georgia Football for 10 years. I know the coaches, players, fans and administrators pretty well. But yet here I sit.

Heck, I have done some of the work. I've written 15 Chapters so far. Not bad. But...I have 19 more to go. Originally we started with 25 Chapters spread between 4 of us. One had to drop out and we each had to pick up his work. Me, I've got 34 to do.

They aren't hard. Really. Two pages on a word document. A lot of mine are things that I've either been to or know the history about. If I put my mind to it...700+ words in about 30-45 minutes. And yeah, I type pretty fast for a dude. But yet here I sit.

So you are probably asking ('cause I am)...Why if you have work to do on a rainy, cold Sunday...are you sitting here writing this instead? Good question. A question that I don't know if I can answer. Maybe it's the same reason when I was in school I never did my homework until Sunday night. Maybe because I like writing on my blog. Heck...maybe I'm just slowly watching my Twitter Feed (osgphil-look me up) for a story for the OSG Website (That is what I did Wednesday instead of writing for the book). Heck...I don't know. But yet here I sit.

Perhaps this bolt of wisdom from Mr. T will help me. Thanks You Tube!

And the Cycle of Life Continues

Okay, I'm back after a couple of days spent at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati eating really bad food and sleeping Monday night in a reclining chair (my back handled it pretty well). Michelle's surgery went extraordinarily well and we are back home where she is resting comfortably and way ahead of schedule in terms of what I would expect.

So, things move forward and even though they slowed for two days, it is time to get back to the order of things now. It's time for me to get back to skimming through the job ads. Time to write some more for the book. I have 15 of my 26 assigned chapters done, and like the other guys who are working on it, now have to pick up 8 more. But that will be this afternoon's work.

It's a beautiful, if a bit chilly day here in Cincinnati. The snow has finally begun to melt. As I sit here on the mighty I-Mac, Daisy the Wonder Dog is sunning herself on her doggie bed here in the office. Michelle is typing away on her phone in the bedroom with the cat sprawled out next to her and my mom is down in the den watching TV and doing crosswords, I feel kind of bad because there isn't much she can do besides offer moral support...and make coffee since I'm not particularly good at that.

No, things are moving back towards the middle, normal...or at least I hope so. As I told the Chief (my father) yesterday, one of the toughest things for me to deal with up here in Cinci is that I haven't been able to get into a fairly normal routine. Every couple of weeks it seems like something is going on that changes it. I know, especially after my last year or so in Atlanta, that you shouldn't stay too regimented in terms of your day or even your life anywhere, but for me it brings some comfort and consistency. It is a good part of the reason I haven't felt comfortable here yet. Until I find what I am looking for...at least professionally...I am not sure that I will ever get comfortable.

Sorry for the short post...I will update more frequently from here on in. In the meantime...enjoy today's video...it's for all of you in the Sports Biz...I will put this on Onlinesportsguys.com as well....I give you...Courtesy of the You Tube...THE LT SLIDE!!!

A Long and Lazy Sunday

Other than the fact that I really haven't posted anything for half of the week, I don't have a very good reason for posting anything today. As I sit here in the Global HQ in cold-ass, snowy Cincinnati with the Wonder Dog on the floor behind the office chair, I am sitting here wondering, "What if needed to say something about nothing in particular but you were struggling to find something to say?".

Confusing yes, but really, that is an exaggeration or at least a lame-ass attempt at humor. I do really have something to say...always.

((Chelle and I watching the Thrashers//Courtesy: Me))

True, today has been relatively normal...though cold. My parents arrived from North Carolina this morning and will be visiting for a couple of days. (They are napping right now) The reason they are here is that they came to help and support us over the next few days.

For those of you who don't know, Michelle is having some surgery done tomorrow (Monday). It's a preventative procedure and apparently one that at some point in time in their lives, all women have. Obviously, she is nervous as hell, we have to be at the hospital at 5am tomorrow for a scheduled 7:30am procedure that is expected to last 4 hours.

For me, I'm sort of nervous, but in a different way. I realize that is something that needs to be done...and quite honestly, I'm a little relieved that it is being done here in Cincinnati. Though Cinci isn't the "Big City" that Atlanta is, the hospitals and the medical treatment here seems to be about 15 years ahead of Atlanta.

The challenge will come on Tuesday. Michelle will be laid up for about 4 weeks from this. The first week or so, she won't be able to do much other than lay in bed and watch TV. My job will be to take care of her, though my mother will be hanging out for a few days to help. Quite honestly, I don't really know what to expect. I've never really had to deal with this type of thing before. I'm reasonably certain that the procedure and everything will be fine, I'm just not sure how to play Nurse-maid.

Anyway, I just wanted to get this out there, it has kind of been on my mind the past few days. I don't anticipate sleeping much tonight...or tomorrow. I will spend the night with Michelle at the hospital and I am very, very thankful that my folks are here and they will take care of Daisy the Wonder Dog and Oliver the recovering from his own surgery cat.

In the meantime, enjoy one of our classic music favorites: Thanks You Tube!

Life on the Other Side

Well, I am sitting here and watching a steady snowfall here in the Cincinnati area which I never thought that I would live and to be real honest, it's a bit on the depressing side. Really, I never thought I would be sitting here on the computer just kind of writing about it, yet that is exactly what I am doing.

In an early post I rattled on about not having

to cover it and feeling sympathy for many of my friends who are stuck doing just that. I also rattle on about how bizarrely people in my former business act when it comes to stuff like this.

((The front yard//Courtesy: Me))

Safe to say, I can only imagine what it is like right now. As it was stated in the most excellent TV News Blog by Doug Richards...Live Apartment Fire, "It's the only thing local news has left to offer". Unfortunately, it's true. Most of the relevant things in life that I want to know about can be found right here on the internet. However, the one thing the internet still can't provide is a live picture from your hometown.

That being said, I kind of miss the rush, though there was always dread and foreboding mixed in with that. Quite honestly I would prefer to be covering it because it would mean that I am not in my current predicament. It's very odd just kind of sitting in the office at my house watching it come down and cover the cars and the driveway and the yard and heck, even the house.

What is funny is watching both me and Michelle walk outside with cameras taking pictures of all of it. It's not like neither of us have ever seen snow before, though I've probably seen it a bit more than she has. Actually the one who likes this the most is probably the dog. For whatever reason, she would run around outside in the snow as long as she could (she's 12 and wouldn't last long).

((Michelle in front of her car//Courtesy: Me))

So anyway, to those of you who read this in a Southern location, remember that this too will pass. It's snow. For my friends in Georgia, yeah, I know, it's a chance for the TV Folks to predict the end of the world as we know it. Strangely, this has happened before and it will happen again. To my friends in "The Sunshine State". Yeah, I miss living down there. I miss the weather of my youth where we could wear shorts during Christmas week. We never had to deal with this. Maybe someday I'll get to come back...I just hope that if I do, it's timed out so I don't have to deal with a Snowy winter.

In the meantime, enjoy some more Snow Bloopers: Thanks You Tube

Re-finding Motivation

Is it safe to say that the holiday season is now officially over? Unfortunately, it now means...for some...going back to work and for others it means that it is time to get re-energized, re-motivated and re-invigorated and try to find some work.

The question that I have is how? Having never gone through the holidays in the position that I am currently in, I am trying to figure out the answer to that question. It wasn't hard to get motivated when I first got here nor was it hard to stay motivated for a good, long while after I got settled in.

((Me looking like I do when I am on the computer//Courtesy: Phil's I-Mac))

But now as I sit here with the Wonder Dog asleep next to my chair, I really don't know what to exactly do next. I spent a lot of time in the fall trying to get involved with some Networking groups, which was interesting and they did give me some background and perspective, but I am starting to wonder what else the groups here can offer me. There are not many (met 2) people from my line of work involved with the groups and they really didn't have much to offer in the way of help. I've already decided that I want to stay if not in my chosen field, at least something pretty closely related. I really think that even if I could manage to get some freelance work that I could over time make that work and I don't know how much the Networking group would help me there.

The other part of the problem is time. My time is somewhat consumed on the days that I work my part-time job. I generally work from 5:30am until 1 or 2 in the afternoon, which is great because I get some money out of it, but by the time I get home, eat some lunch and get organized, Michelle gets home and I don't get much else accomplished. Granted, I still have 3 or so days a week to get my searching done, but the Networking group that I mentioned in the above paragraph meets on Monday mornings and I am beginning to think though I am occasionally off on Monday, I can better spend my time here, on the computer looking for stuff as opposed to 3-plus hours with the group. On top of that, one of the projects I started before leaving Atlanta, co-authoring a book needs to be finished...soon so that is taking some time as well.

Is there a solution to the problem I stated before I started rambling? I don't know. There has to be some sort of middle ground and that really is what I am wrestling with. I am very much a creature of habit who likes to get into a bit of a routine in terms of what I do, when I do it and how I do it and since arriving in Cincinnati, I have been completely unable to do that. I am trying to figure out a way to at least cobble together some projects that I can make some money off of. Ultimately, I really just want to get back to doing what it is that I do best. I'm not very picky as to whom I work for or where I work for them, I just want to not have to do what I have been doing right now.

Enjoy a motivational speech...from Gene Hackman in the classic movie Hoosiers: Thanks You Tube