Gossip

I did some gossiping this weekend. And now I wonder if I should feel guilty. A 'Google' search on gossip provided some insight but it hasn't helped me in examining my moral compass. I'm not a mean-spirited person. I know this about myself. However, any fly on the wall this weekend may feel differently.

There were moments when I simply "wanted to know" something about someone. I'm not sure why. Why do I care who is sleeping with who(or is it whom)? What's the point of knowing mindless, banal information? I don't know. I just know I wanted to know it.

In other circumstances I was "gossiping" (if that's what you want to call it) to make sense of the world around me. A little over 5 years ago I was at the center of some relentless and juicy gossip within my circle of friends. I didn't know I was being talked about and when I found out...I was livid. I lashed out and said some hurtful (if not somewhat truthful) things to a few people. A friend sympathized with me but made no apologies for "talking" with others. She wrote in an email, "We share our feelings, our emotions, and our lives with one another because that is how we cope, that is how we understand and come to terms with events and issues that we have a hard time interpreting on our own. It's about support and love and trust." I was still angry...but her words have resonated with me ever since. But is she justifying gossip?

This post has a serious tone that I didn't intend to convey. My weekend was fun-filled and not at all dramatic. I was just wondering what everyone else thought of "gossip." Is it bad? Good? Neither? What does the word even mean?

Farewell Friend

An anchor team no more

It was Steve's last night tonight. I went through a similar goodbye when my former co-anchor Melissa left last year. It doesn't get any easier. We all work at a small-market television station. It's not like big city TV. We make lots of mistakes. We screw up a lot. We're even a little immature. But we also laugh a lot....and we're bonded in ways that most people don't get to experience.

More than any "TV person" I know, Steve is himself on camera. Some of us can convincingly "fake being natural" when we're on screen. Steve never had to. He's completely himself and it's always been a breath of fresh air. He's crazy. He's blunt. He's natural. He's likeable. He's Steve.

Steve, buddy....good luck in whatever you do. It's been a pleasure working with you. I, and everyone else in the newsroom, will miss those random outbursts from the edit bay. We'll miss the way you keep us grounded in what can sometimes be an alternate universe. Simply put, we'll miss you. Take care my friend.

My Own Private Montana

A few things:
I really, really like Ellen Degeneres. I think she's hilarious.
It should approach 60 degrees tomorrow in Bozeman. YES!!!
I've been having trouble sleeping lately.
Scooter Libby: Guilty....one of the few big news stories I have no interest in.
It's Steve's (our sports anchor) last day tomorrow. I dislike change.
I need more vacation time.
That's all.

There are some days when I'm head over heels in love with my job. Today was one of those days. I spent the day at a small Montana ski resort talking to an animated group of New Yorkers. They had won a contest where they got an entire Montana ski area all to themselves for a couple days...the first contest of its kind in the nation. It wasn't a real meaty, news-worthy story but it was one helluva good time. I got paid to snowboard and hang out with cool people. Here's the story for mom...and anyone else who's interested. (There's a "cheesy reporter" moment in here. Don't hold it against me).



I really want to be some sort of outdoor reporter. Maybe work for The Discovery Channel or National Geographic. I need to combine my love of the outdoors with my love of broadcasting. Hopefully someday.

High School Demons

Let's flash back to the mid-90's. I was in the middle of a 4-year stint at West High School. If I had to pick a word to describe my high school experience, I'd pick "fine." It was fine. It wasn't horrible. It wasn't stellar. It was fine.

I wasn't teased or bullied. I was also NOT popular. I existed...and even though that "existence" was generally "fine," I was very insecure. No self-esteem whatsoever. (You might be thinking, "oh shut up, it was high school...everyone was put through hell.") You're right. I'm not whining or even complaining. I'm simply providing a frame of reference. I was an insecure high school boy with little or no confidence.

For the most part, I'm over that. I got over it years ago. People who I looked at in high school with envy have looked at me the same way in recent years. But every once in a while, something will happen that makes me feel insecure and hurt...like the high schooler I once was.

The details aren't important. Suffice it to say recent events have left me feeling a little blue. Ten years I go I would have been sufficiently angry at the people (whether intentionally or not) who brought on my sour mood. These days I'm more angry at MYSELF for even caring. I try not to. But it happens. Which is why I ask, "does high school (and adolescence in general) haunt us forever?

The complexities of blogging

This is Sarah.

This is her blog.

She recently had a post in which she explained that management officials within her workplace had requested she "stop blogging." They found her blog and apparently didn't like what they saw.


You can visit her blog to find out why. From what I've read, she did nothing that would invite the wrath of management. Support her if you can.

I generally like my job and the place where I work. I've had disagreements with management but hey...who hasn't? My only predicament when wanting to blog about those disagreements....I'm fairly certain my contract expressly forbids me from such disclosures.

As for you Sarah...keep it up. You have a following in Utah as well as many places out of the Beehive State.

(Disclaimer: I have no permission to use Sarah's photo or even write about her. Sarah, if you mind, just let me know and I will gladly remove)

In Like a Lion...

I did a Google image search for "March" and found this. Not exactly sure what it means, but I like it.

I love the month of March. In my opinion, the year begins in March. Spring isn't too far away. Mild temperatures are first experienced in March. There's still enough snow to have fun for all the winter enthusiasts. My birthday is in March (along with several other friends and family members). Easter sometimes falls in March (although not this year) and I like Easter. St. Patrick's Day is in March. I also like St. Patrick's Day. I just like March. And when you factor in my sickness for the ENTIRE month of February this year, March is like a new beginning. I'm feeling good and I'm rarin' to go!

Sweeps is over in the TV business. This was quite possibly the worst sweeps period we've had at our station. The general mood this February was gloomy. Another reason I'm looking forward to March.

I got my Montana state tax refund in the mail tonight. Woohoo! Not much but when you consider how much I make...a little goes a long way. I can't wait for the federal refund...which should be much bigger.

Now, I shall settle in and watch the latest episode of "Lost" on abc.com. Goodnight.

Women Troubles

I'm having cramps.

Or at least that's what I'm comparing them to. One side effect of the antibiotics I'm taking is abdominal pain. Intense, painful cramping in my gut. It sucks. I imagined today that "this must feel what it's like to be a woman."

I thought I might get a little sympathy from my female co-workers when I said this. I was empathizing with them after all. Instead, I got this: (said in a mean, nasty voice).

"Now you know what it feels like. Now you know what I'm experiencing when I come in here once a month acting like a bitch."

My response: "What's your excuse every other time?"

I love you Beth. :)

Another rambler

At long last, I am starting to feel better. I've been sick since January 30. I would have called in sick on Friday but I had an interview scheduled. Only when I lapsed into an embarassing and violent coughing fit in front of that interview subject, did I think "okay...time to go to the doctor." I finished the interview, left work early (not that my dying voice would let me anchor anyway) and went to the doctor. I have some sort of infection. They put me on Z-pack or azithromycin...also known by it's complete, accurate chemical name:

2R,3S,4R,5R,8R,10R,11R,12S,13S,14R)-13- [(2,6-dideoxy-3-C-methyl-3-O-methyl -α-L-ribo-hexopyranosyl)oxy]-2-ethyl- 3,4,10-trihydroxy-3,5,6,8,10,12,14-heptamethyl -11-[[3,4,6-trideoxy-3-(dimethylamino) -β-D-xylo-hexopyranosyl]]oxy]-1-oxa- 6-azacyclopentadecan-15-one

Chemistry is ridiculous.

I'm watching the Oscars. Jennifer Hudson just won. Good for her...I guess. I haven't paid much attention this year. I did rent The Departed and Babel today. Haven't watched Babel yet. The Departed was really good. Talk about a movie where EVERYONE dies.

I'm doing some seriously random internet surfing tonight. I'm on my couch and on the wall above me is a map of the world. I've been picking out remote, unknown islands and looking them up on Wikipedia. The most interesting place so far: Campbell Island; a remote, sub-Antarctic island of New Zealand. Here's a picture:

Beautiful eh? Apparently there are feral cats and rabbits tearing the place up. They were introduced by stupid people along with rats. The rats were eradicated. As for people, it's uninhabited. There's a weather station there and the only human visitors are those on periodic research or conservation expeditions. I'm fascinated with far-off, remote places. I'd like to go there for no other reason than to say I've been there. There's something adventurous about walking where few others ever have. Someday.

"An Incovenient Truth" just won for Best Documentary. Duh. A shoe-in if I ever saw one.

It's still winter. There are more freezing nights and snowfall in Bozeman's future but for the first time today, I sensed Spring in the air. It was warm, sunny, and refreshing. I can't wait. I'm not going to waste a day this summer. Golfing, floating, hiking, playing in the park. I will make the most of what's potentially my last Montana summer.

Sick & Twisted

Warning: This post contains graphic, violent material. Reader discretion is advised.

So I had a nightmare last night...a nightmare probably inspired by the movie "The Devil's Rejects." I'm a fan of horror/slasher flicks and a co-worker recommended I see it. So I did. I'm not bothered by such movies and they don't really "scare" me. I can go to sleep just fine afterwards. But every once in a while, one of them sinks into my sub-conscious and causes me to have a nightmare.

The scenario was as follows: I, and a group of several other people were being held hostage by some nameless and faceless madman. People around us were killed and us survivors began to develop some sort of Stockholm Syndrome. We started to identify with this guy and befriend him. Sort of. Escape was still on our mind...on my mind. I guess he knew this or he just didn't trust me. I asked to go to the bathroom and he followed me in there. I was washing my face in the sink when he grabbed my hair, lifted my head up and cut my throat. Sick, I know. It was a dream so it didn't hurt. And apparently the wound was superficial because I played dead, waited for him to leave and saved the rest of the group by surprising him and ambushing him. That's all I remember. It was disturbing. Not scary, but definitely disturbing. The last dream I had that truly frightened me was a few years ago. That was inspired by "The Grudge." Didn't think much of the movie but it certainly worked its way into my psyche.

Another disturbing incident today: I was driving home from work tonight when I had to pull over for a fire truck racing down the road. A few moments later the truck pulled onto a side road and stopped...lights still flashing but siren off. There was nothing around so I wondered why the truck was stopped. I drove past, looked inside the windows and my mouth dropped. I clearly saw 3 firemen looking over a large piece of paper. The obvious assumption: it was a map and they were wondering where the hell to go from there. I could be wrong, but I don't think I was. Makes me feel very safe. :)

One last note: Just heard this little gem on Conan. "Britney Spears will reveal that she shaved her head to reduce aerodynamic drag as she plummets from fame."

Up and at 'em

It's about 6 a.m. and I'm wide awake. Not sure why. I've always been fascinated with being a morning person. There's something about it that seems so appealing. But I just can't shake my nocturnal habits. (My current work schedule doesn't help) I've tried though. It's a little easier in the summertime when daybreak comes early.

I just deleted a blog entry I wrote late last night. It was very long, rambling, and cryptic. When I started this blog I didn't realize how cathartic it would sometimes turn out to be. That was my goal in writing last night. My mind was swirling and I needed to empty it a little. I'm pretty conscious of what I should and shouldn't be writing about in the public arena. I was conscious of it last night. Still, I awoke this morning with a little hesitation and decided to err on the side of caution. Just know that it was work-related. I mentioned drama in a previous post and that's really what it was all about. But things are on the up and up and I should probably focus on that rather than complaining.

I'm heading into Yellowstone National Park this weekend for a story. Beth and I are working on a two part series about snowmobiling in the park. You'd have to have been hiding under a rock for the past 10 years not to hear about the Yellowstone snowmobiling controversy. We're being taken in on a snowcoach to Old Faithful to interview snowmobilers. I went in on a snowmobile for the first time 2 years ago and it changed my perspective a little bit. I was always anti-snowmobiling until I got on one for the first time. Now, I'm torn. Maybe this trip will clear things up a bit.

All right, I'm thinking about trying to go back to sleep. Otherwise I'll be very tired today. Good Thursday everyone.

Infested

I'm infested with germs. I have to be. There is no other explanation for the following:

I became ill (cold/flu-like symptoms) around the end of January. On this 19th day of February, I'm still ill. I thought I was getting better but...no dice. I seem to be re-living the first days of sickness. I'm getting annoyed. I just want to feel better.

In other news, the drama at work has started up again. We seem to go through some kind of drama every few months or so. Management vs. underlings. I'm sure it's a scenario repeated through millions of offices across the world. A part of life I guess.

I intended on writing more but as soon as I got home I downed some Tyelnol PM. (Thank you so much to Tyelnol for making a line of liquid medicinal products. For those of us who have trouble swallowing pills...it is a Godsend.) I'm feeling very sleepy as a result.

Good night.

MSNBC Debut

I've made my official debut on MSNBC.

My parents were scanning the msnbc.com homepage and noticed a headline about a Montana teen who survived an avalanche. Curious, he clicked on it and started to hear my voice. This is the same story I wrote about earlier in the week...the one where a 15-year-old boy was buried in an avalanche for 20 minutes and survived. The regional news director for our company sent the story to NBC Newschannel (a web based video server for NBC affiliates). It showed up on MSNBC today.

Here's the link. Lincoln's avalanche story I have no idea how long they'll keep the video posted so the link may not work after a while.

Happy Saturday.

Mind Vomiting

I have no interest in being a political reporter or war correspondent.

I was on a motorcycle kick nearly 4 years ago. On whim, I bought a Honda Nighthawk and drove it to Glacier National Park for the summer. In the fall, I sold it and never thought I'd want one again. Now I sort of do. I miss the feeling of riding one. Don't worry, mom. I obviously can't afford it.

I apologize for past rantings on how cold it is in Montana. I've tried to make it seem as though I'm suffering more than others in cold climates. On average, Bozeman isn't any colder than, say...Salt Lake. In fact I think we've been warmer. The arctic blasts we get are pretty severe but hey...they don't last long.

I miss southern Utah...Moab area specifically.

2007 is going by pretty fast so far.

Going to Wal-Mart late at night is an adventure. Restocking is in full force and it's a challenge to navigate through the aisles.

I'm going to Oklahoma City in April. Never thought I'd go there. It will be my first foray in to the midwest.

This post is boring. I'm sorry.

Alive

I have to share this picture with everyone.

This is a picture of Mark Hoffman and his son Kamron, both of Clyde Park, Montana. On Sunday afternoon, the two of them were snowmobiling with friends in the Crazy Mountains. They triggered an avalanche which 15-year-old Kamron got caught in. After the snow stopped moving, Mark and his friend began searching frantically for Kamron. They searched for 20 minutes. Anyone who knows anything about avalanches knows that being buried for 20 minutes will almost certainly kill you. Mark knew that too. He spotted his son's boot sticking out of the snow and quickly dug him out. Snow was lodged under Kamron's helmet filling his mouth and nose. Mark brushed it all away and watched astonished as Kamron started breathing again. The above picture was taken soon after Mark realized his son was still alive...pretty much against all odds.

I interviewed both of them today. I've covered a few stories now where people are killed in avalanches. I've interviewed many people who have lost loved ones...not only in avalanches but in all kinds of accidents or crimes. I'm well aware of how the news media focuses on death and tragedy. I'll admit that I've become numb to most of it. It's sad...but true. But I found out today just how wonderful and inspirational it can be to cover a story with a happy and miraculous ending. I had a great day. I was walking around with a smile on my face after talking to Mark and Kamron. This kid really did cheat death and it was amazing to see his parents grin from ear to ear knowing they still had their child.

Awesome, amazing story. I think the above picture captures it all.

Happy Valentine's Day

I have no strong feelings for or against this day. I am single...but that doesn't mean I walk around cursing a relationship-oriented holiday. On the flip side I never saw it as an overly special day when I wasn't single. (Not that I ever forgot it. I was always mindful of special occasions and holidays when I was with Erin).

My feelings on today: Eh...whatever.

On a somewhat related note, I'm wearing boxers with hearts on them. I have a pair of boxers for every holiday. I absent-mindedly put on a hawaiian pair this morning. Then I read hjustin's blog in which he mentioned Valentine's day boxers. So I changed.

And now, I too, feel a little weird about posting information about my underwear.

Even weirder that someone else's blog inspired me too.

Uh...gotta go.

Hey dummy

I had a really good weekend. On Saturday I went on up to Big Sky Ski Resort and a fun-filled day riding in the powder. I was also there to film the 3rd Annual Big Sky Dummy Jump. Every year the resort builds a huge ski jump for helpless, hapless dummies....dummies built by whomever wants to enter the competition. It was awesome. We aired highlights on the news tonight. Really good video!! Have a look.



It was awesome. Good to be there.

So, I'm being bothered by something that's really, really lame. I lost my debit card about two weeks ago and had to order a new one from the bank. I got it tonight in the mail and...well...I don't like it. Specifically, I don't like the design on the card. My old card had a nice picture of Lone Mountain at Big Sky Resort. A local picture from a local bank. I liked it. My new card has a dull, ugly picture of Crater Lake. I don't like it....at all. I know it's really petty and dumb, but I want my old card back.

I just got home, got on my computer, and saw on MSNBC.com the breaking news about a gunman on the rampage at Trolley Square. Scary stuff. I haven't lived in Salt Lake for a while but I got a pain in my gut when I read about it. Praying and thinking about everyone involved.

Anna Nicole Smith

Is it wrong that I feel no emotion whatsoever about Anna Nicole's death? I was a little stunned at first when I heard it but then I thought, "okay onto work now...I have a lot to do today." I just don't care.

On a related note, I was a little embarassed today to be a part of a company that made the "death of Anna Nicole" the Top Story in this evening's newscast. Lame. We just had a plane crash that killed three beloved medical personel, and we lead our show with the death of a former Playboy playmate. Lame. Not my decision...I promise.

What the hell?

It's only Thursday? Are you kidding me? This has been a long, slow, draining week.

Watched the latest episode of Lost this morning on abc.com. Ahhh....muy bueno. Good to have it back. Is it strange that I'd like to be stranded on an island with these folks?

My apartment's dirty. I'm still slightly sick. It's snowing outside. I want a dog.

Um....that's all.

Thoughts on TV news

There are 2 main television stations in Butte and Bozeman that put on nightly newscasts. Ours...and the competition over at CBS.

We're friendly with each other. We hang out. We joke. We complain about work. We get along.

We also compete. There's no getting around it. Each station likes to edge out the other. First on the scene, exclusive video and interviews, inside information, well-placed sources, and everything else that goes with being, or trying to be, the best.

We win some. They win some. We've got our fans. They have their fans. Sometimes we kick their ass. Other times they kick ours. In the past 24 hours, it definitely went back and forth.

A medical aircraft crashed near Bozeman last night. Big story. In those moments when it was breaking news, we kicked their ass. We were on scene first. We had the info first. We reported it first. Today, though, they kicked ours. Every media outlet in town was clamoring for footage of the crash scene in a remote area near the mountains. Who finally got it? Them. We tried but things didn't work out.

I was pissed and upset. But hey, it's a constant battle. We'll win some battles down the road and they will too. No big deal. I shouldn't get upset....but I know I will the next time they win.

P.S. I missed Lost tonight. Damn.

Video Vault

I am technologically illiterate. I like posting video to this blog but the only way I've been able to do it is to throw the footage on a DVD, pop it into my computer, film my screen with my digital camera, upload that data to my computer, and share the crappy footage with all of you. Inadequate at best. So, for the past few days I've been working on a better way. I finally found some software that will convert DVD's I burn at work into files I can upload to YouTube or MySpace. In honor of my achievement, I share 3 short news clips with you.

First, footage of that fire I wrote about in my previous post.


Second, a shout-out to my buddy Chris Erickson. He built his own ice climbing wall near Rockford, Illinois. I had just done a big story about ice climbing in Montana and I thought it would be a good idea to profile Chris's endeavor.


And finally, a little spat we had on the anchor desk the other night. Disclaimer: I am a big Harry Potter fan. If you aren't...you probably won't understand what we're talking about.



That's it for now. I'm exhausted...and still a little sick. I can't seem to shake it. It was 65 degrees in Bozeman today. I loved it. Bring on summer.