People That Matter

WOW - my last post was kind of. . .dark. Guess that's what I get for stumbling out of bed at four in the morning, pouring a day's worth of frustration into my keyboard and hitting 'send' without too much thought. It's not like I didn't mean every bloody word of my last dispatch; it's just that I'm not normally THAT angst-ridden. Look - here's a picture of me now looking fairly pleasant, despite the fact I'm seated in that most hated of vehicles: the TV News Live Truck.

As further proof I'm not a walking cauldron of self-loathing and misery, I've decided to share some special people with you - folks who bring warm rays of sunshine into my crusty photog heart. Let's start with my occasional partner-in-crime, Eric White. Young Eric has been in my station's employ for only a year or so, but he's quickly proven himself as a solid purveyor of lead story live shots. Whatsmore, Eric is one of the cheeriest people I know - a personality trait that sometimes clashes with my increasingly curmudgeon ways. This alone should win Eric some of your respect; if you think I bitch and moan on this blog, you should catch me in 3-D sometime. Eric will tell ya...

But if you want to talk about grumpy photogs, then you must address the master - my bestest buddy, Matt Jensen. Around El Ocho, we refer to this crusty rapscallion as "Bitter Hippie". But it's all an act. Even though he's infamous for making interns turn in their visitor badges at the mere thought of accompanying him outside the building, he's nothing more than an overgrown Ewok in a photog's vest. Over the years he's been there everytime I needed to vent my spleen or conjure up a fancy effect in the non-linear edit bays. He can't help it if he looks like Rupert from Survivor. He's all love! Just don't cross him on days ending in "Y".

Of course even these beloved co-workers pale in comparison to these two very special little girls. Meet my daughters, Hannah and Gabby. Together, these two remind their Daddy on a daily basis what an increasingly trivial matter television news really is. As obvious as that fact is, it's something I need to hear on a pretty regular basis. When I'm not squinting through a flickering viewfinder, you'll find me chasing these two around the cul-de-sac, insisting they pick up the playroom, brush their teeth and live up to their fullest potential. So far, they have.

But how could I possibly show you my children without introducing you to my lovely wife, Shelly. She's only five feet tall, but this little lady has propped me up for more than fifteen years. From the military days to the mullet years to the newlywed era to the family of four marathon we now find ourselves in, she's the main reason I'm not incarcerated today. Not only that, she's a tough-as-nails E.R. nurse who can pump a wino's stomach without batting a pretty eye. Best of all, she's totally unimpressed with all things television and even supports my late-night blogging habit. Here, she's giving me a get-lost grin that tells me, like Martha Stewart, she merely wants to focus on her salad. I love you, Shelly.

Well, there you have it - a peek inside my life far outside the newsroom. Just don't get too used to it. I promise to join you next time with yet another pithy epistle on the madness and magic of TV news. Hey, it's ALL I know...