Missing You; Part One

You ever realize that no matter what you do, where you move to in life, or how much better your life has become, you feel compelled to look at the past and say, 'Shit, I miss that'?

My move from Springfield to Las Vegas was huge for my career. Not only was it a great move for me if I decide to stay a photojournalist, but it was also a good move for my future television production career. 5 hours from L.A., lots of production here.

So why am I pining for the past? Because I'm a schmuck? Probably. But there has to be more too it than that.

My last station, WICS in Springfield was a odd station with an odd bunch of characters. They are really some of the best people I have ever worked with. I bring this up because I really don't feel like I am developing that kind of relationship with the people at KLAS. It's not because there is something wrong with them, it's just that I really don't see anyone. I don't work with a reporter, we seem to be going through producers like underpants, and - asides from Coop - I really haven't gotten to 'know' anyone there.

I also don't feel as 'necessary' here. I know that probably sounds stupid, but I think it's true. Monday - Wednesday, there are three of us on overnights. If I wasn't there, then who cares. They still have Brandon and at 3:30 Jorge. On the weekends I feel more like a freelancer than I do a staff photog. I go shoot news, drop of the tapes, and collect a check. Then of course they hardly air (or stick it somewhere behind the 12 Katrina/Rita stories) anything I shoot, but whatever as long as the checks keep coming!

Though Colleen May, our weekend anchor, always gives me props which I love. She did last night and I just want to hop atop her and smooch her for it (since while my ego isn't everything I do like to hear that I've done something right once in a while), but I've learned to restrain myself since the unfortunate incident with the tiger and the state trooper.

The thing at WICS was that I DID feel necessary. If I called in during the week they would have problems getting everything shot. If I called in on the weekend, well they were just screwed. I'm not trying to think to much of myself here, but when I took a weekend off I ALWAYS got yelled at when I returned and told to never do it again! Nothing makes a guy feel more needed than total chaos occurring because of his absence! Plus my lack of a social life made me some what of a news hero. While at home at night (I have always been a night owl, get home from work be up till 5AM most nights) I'd have my scanner on and if news broke, I'd go shoot it.

Nothing makes a news director glow more than having fresh, flashing light video of an overnight murder or serious accident. Plus I went, did maybe an hour of work, and got paid for four hours. I almost felt like I was scamming them! Of course Sinclair's crappy pay equaled it out so they were still scamming me...

I've drifted off topic, and this post has gone for too long. So in part two I will start to tell y'all, and show pictures of the people that I miss the most from there, and why. I miss everyone - even the other photogs (Chris, Steve, T-Bone, Christian, Curt, Matty and Adam; props my homies!), producers (Amy, Sandy and Shandel) and our lovable assignment editor Derek. But like all families, there are just others who make a bigger impact - or at least hit me harder.