Blog Suspended For Now

With the way things are going with the economy and jobs within the company that owns us, I'm temporarily suspending posting on the blog unless something big happens.

It's just a tense time and I'd rather not rock the boat either way..

Just To See Them Cry

Our morning anchor, Abby, made two people cry in two consecutive days. One a fourth grade boy and the second, a grown adult.

Made them both cry. I'll expand more tonight when I have down time. I'm in the middle of moving and the Direct TV guy just showed up.

The Nights Are Getting Colder

It's getting chillier in N.E. Ohio. The scanners have been unusually quiet. I have a feeling that we're going to go bonkers this week, possibly tonight because there are flurries possible for tonight. I'll probably have to chase each and every one of them.

Then comes the vacant house fires. The homeless will break into a vacant home set a fire to keep warm while they sleep and as usual the fire gets out of control. And I'll have to chase those down.

It's a never ending cycle.

Running of the Brides

Take about 400 brides to be, heavily discounted bridal gowns and a Filene's Basement and what do you get?



Look for the two women to face plant around the 1:55 mark... Loads of fun to be had. Although, I saw more tattoos than a tattoo artist, yesterday.

Almost getting run over by frothing at the mouth brides was an experience in itself.

Can't wait to do it next year...

The Height Of Entertainment

Is watching your wife try to play Guitar Hero II while under the effects of a quarter Ambien.

I don't think I've laughed harder in my life.

Happy .40 Cal Birthday To Me

I hit the big one today. 40. Yes, I've turned the corner into middle age. I expect my AARP application in the mail any day now.

Anyways, this morning at work, I was sent to do a live shot at the house where a fire took place three and a half years ago. The fire killed nine people, eight children and one adult. The fire was ruled arson and the killer had not been caught until yesterday.

Well, the house is not in a particularly safe area of Cleveland so, the producers asked me if I felt comfortable going there for the shot. I explained that I'd been there by myself before and felt okay with it. I wasn't really alone, as I had my reporter Bill with me.

Boy, was I wrong this time though.

We arrived at the house and I went about setting up the shot. I established the signal, ran the cables, set the lights and then got my camera. As I was plugging my camera up to the cables, I hear Bill calling my name fairly urgently.

I walk back to the truck, where Bill is on the phone. I see a figure on a bike turn the corner and ride away. Bill looks at me and says, "He had a gun."

"What?"

"He had a gun. He rode up about twenty feet away and was shaking his hand. I looked down and he had a gun in his hand. He was waving it around at me," Bill told me.

I barely saw the guy but yes he did have a gun and he definitely put an urgency to my movements. I called the desk while Bill was telling 911 what he saw.

We scrapped the live shot.

And all I got was an upset stomach for my birthday.

At least we weren't shot or robbed. I'm thankful for that.

Bloody Week

It's been a bloody week and how appropriate for my first week back from vacation. This Wednesday a man was robbed and shot in the parking lot of his apartment complex. He was shot in the arm and hit in the brachial artery. He jumped over a fence leaving a lot of his life on the wood. He bled out running up the street and passed on someone's front stoop, leaving handprints on their door.

Thursday morning, a fatal one car accident where the driver was ejected and died at the scene. I arrived in time enough for me to see them covering up the driver's body. Lucky me. It wasn't pleasant and I could have lived my life without seeing what I saw.

This Friday morning started out quite peaceful. I did a live shot at Cleveland's Benedictine H.S. where I had to shoot the monks having daily mass. Right after mass was over, my phone vibrated and I was told to head to a multiple car accident with a fatal.

One of the monks must have heard me talking to the desk because he came over to me and said, "You must see a lot of bad things." I told him about where I was going and what I'd seen in the two days prior. He put his hand on my shoulder and said a prayer and blessed me. Then he smiled and walked away saying, "Go with God."

I almost cried on the spot.

It's Over...

My vacation, that is. I'm on my weekend then the daily grind starts all over again Monday. Am I looking forward to it? In a strange way, yes. I miss the interaction with co-workers (some, I should say), the spot news coverage and seeing what lies at the scene when I get there.

It'll be good to get back.

Oh Joy...

The remnants of hurricane Ike came through my area last night and let me tell you, I feel for those poor people in the Southeastern part of Texas.

Because of the winds from Ike, I now have no power, running water (from a well), no sanitation capabilities (no power to run the water to refill the toilet), no refrigeration capabilities (hope the freezer holds for another day) and no way to cook food.

So, I'm at a motel with my wife, kids and the dog.

Great way to start the second week of vacation..

Vacation

I'm on two weeks vacation and I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying at home and redding up this cesspool of a home. Lots of toys and accumulated crap is going to be tossed.

It's going to be a fun vacation for sure.

/sarcasm