the freedom act

the american veterans traveling tribute is in ennis, folks. here is photographic evidence:

fan mail?

sometimes i get e-mails complimenting my work, sometimes i get e-mails correcting my work, and on the best days, i get the questionable, creepy e-mails. here is one i got today from a fellow we will just call Creeper, for the sake of this blog post.


Corrie,

I saw your article on the Relay for Life in the paper. If you never want to be scared of cancer again. If you never want your family or friends to be scared of cancer again, let me know and I can show you how.

The Creeper Who Sent This
1-800-CREEPS-A-LOT


is this supposed to be sarcastic? is he trying to be helpful? threatening? is he senile? perverted? either way, it's like an 8 on the creepfest scale.

procrastination 101

as if anybody needs tips.

1. facebook.
the obvious, the master, the ultimate time-waster. it's like going into a mall, there is no sense of how quick time lapses. the zombie apocalypse could take place right outside the door, and you wouldn't have a clue, unless something posted a status about it, that is.

2. twitter.
another vehicle to getting nowhere fast, except way more educational than facebook and the perks of little to no emo status updates. however, clicking on links in tweets can lead to more time down the proverbial drain.

3. trip to the coke machine.

mind you, it doesn't take up that much time, but when used correctly, it can give at least five minutes, especially if you have to dig for change.

4. youtube music videos.

BEACH HOUSE

lately, i'm super obsessed with this song, and it helps to get me back in the writing mood. or groovy'ing mood, then i just feel like dancing, not typing.

when i do all four of these in this order, and then repeat 1 & 2 a couple more times, i am usually ready to write some more.

usually...

r is for relay

i participated in my first relay for life on friday.

i arrived right when the luminaria portion started, and needless to say the tears came shortly after.

then when that was finished, a little girl got on stage and sang a couple miley cyrus songs. i contemplated leaving early at that point. but, then she finished. whew.

it was neat to actually join in on something i had been interviewing people about for months. i had been pumping out relay team features like arizona pumps out crazy legislation.

so, now to answer some of my own questions that i asked people about their relay experiences:

my favorite part was convincing/begging/pleading the DJ to let liz and i karaoke "don't stop believin'" by journey. and that no, the thunderstorm heading our way was not a big deal, and no you should not pack up the equipment. ok, we will back off. you don't have to ask us twice. sheesh!

my advice to future relayers is to bring a few different forms of caffeine and to take part in all the activities; like the tug of war, the obstacle course, and karaoke, if they let you. and of course, walking.

and finally, i relay for the same reason most people said; so future generations won't have to, to find a cure.

proud mama

i've decided that my camera needs a car seat.

as a safety precaution, not some weird delusional thing.
i would totally go to target/wal-mart/babies 'r' us and purchase one, except it might get weird when i have to pick a gender color for it. or do i go with a neutral color like yellow or green?

however, what if bad looks get cast my way when i leave my camera in the car seat for just a few minutes. like if was running into the store real quick, and didn't really think it'd take that long. and if i got held up in the long lines and the clueless cashiers took forever. that wouldn't be my fault, right? and it wouldn't make me a potential CPS house-call would it?

besides, i'd be sure to leave the window cracked.

celebration for the motivation station

and this is the path i've chosen to put food on the table.

http://camerakiddo.smugmug.com/

let's do this.

grandma to the star

today i met with ennisite libbie pavelka, who is the grandma of the dreamboat (sarcasm) jake pavelka, who recently finished up on the bachelor and is now shaking his tailfeather on dancing with the stars.

and his 93-year-old grandma is just lovin' it. except, she was frightened when he appeared in just his underwear this past monday. she didn't realize it was movie night. or maybe she just has a fear of tom cruise.

either way, i don't blame her.

anyways, she had all the clippings from newspapers and magazines on her kitchen table.
very very very sweet lady.

she even explained to me that i can vote up to 10 times when i cast a vote on dancing with the stars. then said if i had a redial button, i could just push it nine times.

headcount at hogwarts

i did a story on the U.S. Census 2010 back in march. did they pick April 1st as "census day" knowing the jackasses of the world know it as April fool's day? i predict some major nonsensical answers and falsified forms to ensue: what?! a 116-year-old wizard lives there? and so do 100 house-elves? and a phoenix? this is sketchy, yet sounds so familiar..

calling like a collector

i feel like Dog the Bounty Hunter whenever i have to call sources over and over and leave messages over and over. or when i go to their work and all their co-workers tense up and get real iffy about where they are. what's the deal, bra! well, i don't have a sassy wife to help me though. checklist: curly mullet, leather gloves, and Beth. then i'll get a call back.

identity crisis.

hi, is carrie there?
what time do you want to do the interview courtney?
that'd be great, connie.
see you then glory!

what-a-circle-umstance

my assignment was to do a feature on the ennis art club.

i call up the woman in charge, her name will be Art Club Lady.

well, Art Club Lady's husband picked up and said she was not at home, but to try her at the golden circle senior's center.

what the hell is that?

so i look it up in the phone book, find the number, and give it a whirl.

line's busy.

oh well, i'll deal with it later.

i start to build a page instead.

ten minutes later, two beeps came across the scanner. that means fire department. or better yet, a bfd (big effing deal) in ennis.

"a vehicle ran into a building and hit a gas pipe, N 1700 Floyd St."

yours truly was dispatched to the scene.

sure enough, a honda van was crashed into the side of the building. i was almost positive it was going to be a toyota.

anyways.

the place is swarming with police and firemen, it's a slow day in ennis. but, i

walk up like i own the place. i tell myself this is a public street, i have the right to take photos. i won't be intimidated.

so that's what i do. i stroll up to the scene, camera blazing, then wave to a police officer. we meet in the middle and start chatting.

Mr. Cop: "van went over the curb, yatta yatta, turned off the gas line, yatta yatta, no one hurt, yatta yatta."

Corrie the Reporter: "what building is this anyways?"

Mr. Cop:"golden circle senior's center."

at the same time, i see a man and woman on the side of the road, talking frantically on their cell phones. they are the only lay people in sight.

Corrie the Reporter: "is that Art Club Lady?"

Mr. Cop: "yeah, it is, how did you know her name?"

10-4

lima oscar lima's (lol) (laugh out louds) that have come across the scanner:

"a woman called, said her ex-husband is on the front lawn and won't leave. she said she won the house in the divorce. he said that if that cops show up there is going to be a shoot-out."

"woman caller said a man is chasing her down the street with a machete."

"will you go by super one foods? mary ann is waiting outside by the water machine, somebody stole her meds."

fear and loathing in ennis, tx

the question i love to hate: "so what have you been doing since graduation?"

answers i would love to give: learning how to train my dragon, or even something like dedicating my life to cleaning the plastic vortex.

i am doing neither.

my usual answer: since january, i have been a staff writer/photographer/data entry human at the ennis daily news. sometimes i change out the toilet paper roll in the bathroom at the office, too.

just sometimes, though.

and it's been great. there have also been tons of awkward moments, extreme cases of irony, and small town hilarity, with cases of warm, fuzzy, heartwarming stuff as well.

sometimes i only end up telling one or two people (via email, mouth, twitter, or facebook) about what happened, but there is no one way to reach everyone.

until now.

ta-da!

welcome to www.thejournalistsituation.blogspot.com where you will be able to follow the fun and often, messy and complicated, adventures of Corrie the Reporter.

well hey, it's the least i can do for hunter s. thompson.