Oh, yeah… I also won’t miss Jeremy Hobbs and his annoying mass e-mails.  Same goes for “money777″ from Russell County. STOP IT! 

Here are the two lists I promised.  Let’s start with the good.

Top 10 things I’ll miss about television news

1. My co-workers  (I’ve had some of the best!)
2. Daily law enforcement contact (Dad was an Alabama State Trooper for 34 years, so it’s in my blood)
3. Daily political contact (I love politics, and it was nice being next to it without bias)
4. Beating the other television stations and the local paper on lots of stories (Especially breaking news)
5. Getting out of the office every day for hours at a time
6. Being the first to know the details of a story
7. Telling stories
8. Free access to many events (Including behind the scenes)
9. Being recognized in public (Also see things I won’t miss, #9)
10. WSFA using my stories (Mom won’t get to watch me anymore)

Top 10 things I WON’T miss about television news

1. Coming up with story ideas
2. Wearing makeup!
3. Daily deadlines
4. Working holidays / lack of vacation time
5. Severe weather coverage (Never getting out in that mess again! No one pays you enough to put yourself in danger)
6. News egos (You are not part of the story. You can be replaced by the next person in line. Don’t be full of yourself)
7. On-air mistakes (No one sees me stumble again, and someone constantly pulling up wrong graphics, names, etc.)
8. Crazy schedules  (No more working three nights/two days a week)
9. Being recognized in public (I can finally shop/eat out in peace)
10. Broken equipment in the bureau (Last minute trips to Columbus to get stuff on-air)

This last list is not meant to point fingers, but just things that have kept me on my toes numerous times.  I could have come up with more (and did), but these are the best from my perspective.

News is a fun business, but from what I’ve experienced, being a reporter is best left to young, single people with no family holding them down. However, there’s nothing like being able to meet new people and telling their stories.  That’s where the thrill is.

I think in the next few days I’m going to come up with a couple of lists.  We Americans love them, as there is a list for everything out there.  Mine will consist of likes and dislikes after 16 years of radio/TV broadcasting.  What I’ll miss, what I won’t…

I’m going to bed now.

Wow.  I am very shocked and saddened to see Heath Ledger died.  Admittedly, I was never a fan of his.  I cringed when they named him as The Joker in The Dark Knight.  But I was having a change of heart when I saw the trailer and the performance he teased us with.

It will be tough for many to see the Batman movie as that may very well be his final on-screen role.  It will be chilling to watch.

God bless his family and loved ones.

Things are pretty much final now. I’ve been offered a job, I’ve agreed to the job and the current job has agreed to let me out of the last five months of my contract. What in the blazes have I been keeping secret all these months?

I can finally talk.

More than four months ago, I had a conversation one evening while filming a football game. I was asked if I’d be interested in applying for a job at Auburn University. Since the job is in the only office I really want to work in, that answer was easy.

I had been thinking for a while about a change, especially since Alyssa was born. My schedule for the last four years has been three nights/two days a week. It’s been horrible, and I haven’t been able to spend much time with my family. Not to mention being called out to work in bad weather, or if a major crime/disaster happens.

I also have only two weeks of vacation a year, which isn’t that bad. However, I don’t get holidays off. If I do want a holiday, I have to take a vacation day. I’m not complaining, but that’s just how news works.

What was laid before me was an opportunity to triple my vacation time, work no holidays and become a state employee. Considering Alabama has one heck of a retirement and benefit system, that appealed to me.

The thing with government is progress takes time. I was in the U.S. Air Force for four years, so I know how slow it can be. This really wasn’t any different. But, as a person who struggles with patience, God showed me good things do come to those who put their faith in Him.

Yesterday morning, AU finally called and offered me a multimedia specialist job in the Office of Communications and Marketing. I knew I would say yes since I felt at peace with it, and the monetary portion of it was much better than I anticipated. All around, I couldn’t say no.

These last two days have been emotional since I’ve been a broadcaster for more than 16 years. It really has bothered me since my bosses are great people, and they’ve done a lot for me. However, like my news director put it last night, I’d rather be the one cooking out on Labor Day than be the one doing a story on the one cooking out on Labor Day.

So, as of February 8, 2008, I hang up my microphone. Three days later, I start a more stable career in media and public relations. It’s a steady schedule every day, and the chance of being called in for something is almost zero. I’m thankful for this opportunity, and I’m very thankful to my station for realizing family comes before business.

That’s the only reason I’m making the move.