Monday, October 24, 2005

Just like a teenager in for a quickie



I am safe and unharmed. But the main reason was I was indoors most of the time at the Emergency Operations Center. It was basically the hub of information about the storm and where all local, county, state, and federal support services were located. But I did get a few picks of the storm and will post when I get the role finally finished off.

So the distruction? Very minimal in the area. I had power and no damage to my duplex, which was lucky. A few living in other parts has no power even right now. Nothing as bad as what I hear from Naples and Marco Island. Haven't been down there yet, but I assume I will be this weekend and in the coming weeks.

I worked a 12 hour shift, then had a 5 hour break, then worked another 6. But I have tomorrow off, so it will be nice to sleep in. I am anxious for my next one, which won't be for another six months if that.

Nothing else new. I will post over the weekend. Laters.

-MarQ

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Me, Baby V and Ridin the storm out

Hi all,

It has been an interesting week for once, as I got to meet a local celebrity here. Vonzell Solomon, a contestant from last season's American Idol is a local and did a concert for charity with other Idols from last season including Anwar and Nadia. When we first got to the venue, we were hoping to get an early interview with Baby V (Vonzell's nickname), but she wasn't in makeup yet and was going to do a sound check. But I was introduced, and I thought I was getting a simple handshake but to my surprise, she hugged me. Amy, the reporter I was with, covered her during his three month stint on the show. So basically everyone involved in the event knew her.

Sorry to say I didn't get a pic with Baby V, because they ran late in the press conference. But I did get some great shots of the concert, which I will post later on. I got shots of Anwar and Nadia as well. (It would have been Jessica Serra and Nikko Smith as well, but they never showed.) I did give Nadia and Anwar a story to tell after the show, as when they were watching Vonzell in the front row, I was zipping past them bent over to get shots from the other side of the stage and almost biffed it in front of them. But I caught myself.

If you haven't been watching the news, we are now bracing for Wilma down here. The first hurricane I have ever covered. People are basically lined up for gas at all the stations, which are running out of it fast. I was asked by my news director if I wanted to evacuate or work during the storm. I figure I basically have no place to go and don't want to stand there doing nothing, so I will be one of many photogs bring you the pictures of Wilma hittting Florida.

I am not scared at all, although I am hoping my camera can handle all the rain. I am on a 12 hour shift on Saturday, so it'll be busy for a while. I will make sure to take pics to post later on as well. During the worst of it, I am going to be holding up at the station with plenty of food and water.

I will post after the storm passes if the internet here is still up. I will be very careful and hopefully go through this initiation without a hitch. Let's just hope that Wilma doesn't bam bam too much and leave us with pebbles.

Laters,

MarQ

Friday, October 14, 2005

She may not lok like much, but she has it where it counts...

That was a famous line from which movie? The winner gets a cookie. Can't afford a lifetime's worth of gas like the Amazing Race last week.

I got my van. It has over 100,000 miles and need a paint job pretty bad, but she runs well and the tranie is relatively new. It's a Dodge so the engine is good for at least 5,000 so it was worth the purchase price of $900. She is quite possibly a gas hog, but I can put my money in the tank rather than a loan that I have to worry about.

So money will be tight the next month, as I still have to pay rent next check and eat and pay back my roommate for his generosity of loaning me the money to get my car registered. But if I make it through, I can be assured next month I will finally be ahead.

I am going to keep you in suspense about my social life because I need money and time to get it started. But be assured that something is going to happen soon.

Laters.

-MarQ

Friday, October 07, 2005

The top 20 reasons its good to be 30

I am sorry I haven't been posting as of late, but there has been nothing happening besides work and getting settled into my duplex. But I do have something to post now that is directly tied to this blog.

There was a show on Bravo called "Why It's Good to Be..." and the other night, it was being in your 30. So, let me reflect on the list....

#20 Have a kick a$$ party

I am in the planning stages atm, trying to get some friends to visit me that weekend. I figure I can have a whole weekend to party with my new friends at work plus head to Miami to go clubbing. I am getting drunk as much as possible over that weekend too.

#19 MILF's

Doesn't really apply since I am not one.

#18 Figured out hair

Two words: barber shop. I have figured out my look in my later 20's, although since I am in Florida now, I maybe a little more dressy going out.

#17 Could be the next Massah

J.C. did it in his early 30's. So did Buddah. I think the spirituality portion of life is figure out by now--shoveling through all the bull in your twenties. But I think someone on the show say it best..."You are old enough to think you know everything, but too young to figure out you know nothing."

#16 Nostalgia

Remember parashute pants? Pogo balls? Rick Ashley? I have been asking this since my mid 20's. We harbor on things we remember and its is fun to look back and think "what were they thinking?" or "Maybe I can find one on eBay."

#15 Ready to get married--seriously

I am still trying to get a handle on dating, but good news maybe happening on that front (stay tuned) . The parents want me to marry at 33, but you never know.

#14 Substitute familes

Basically good friends raising kids. My friends don't have kids. So we go to...

#13 Okay about lying about your age

This is kinda funny, as when I moved to Indiana and here, everyone thought initially I was in my mid 20's. Until I waxed nostoligic. Dead giveaway.

#12 You're not in a major crisis

I was in one earlier this year, but I think that things are starting to be set strait. I know where I am going and my life is finally starting to be in order. My confidence is up from what it was, but this was mild considering my teen years. I was miserable during high school. At least now I can feel secure about me.

#11 Being a homeowner

Not ready to settle down yet, so a home is towrads my later 30's.

#10 Odds are in your favor (You probably aren't suffering physical, sexual, or mental problems)

I am sane, but then again its a relative term. I am somewhat health and my mind is not messed up so much I have to be in a mental institution. But then again, "I might be a little bit loco baby but a little bit crazy's alright."

#9 You can hold your liquor

I didn't do trial and error on this one. I just knew when to stop. Good thing about not being much of one.

#8 Parenthood

Although I foresee it happening later in my 30's, I am not ready for kids yet. Still having fun and not that stable yet.

#7 Science is your friend (early signs of againg and plastic surgery)

Personally, this isn't a good thing. I never complain about my looks and aging just happens. This maybe more of a deal to the opposite sex, but its not much of a problem for me.

#6 First divorce out of the way

Odds are in my favor that since I was never married that my marriage will last longer because I am older than 25.

#5 Able to run for president and senator

Always in the back of my head to run for public office. I would miss the deadline for pres by a few days in the very very unlikely chance I was to run in 2012.

#4 Pressure is off

I never had one, but when I turn 30 I will make up a list of things to do before I turn 35. It usually before 30, but I have only a few months to work with if I did a list. But, I got a lot out of the way, and there is no pressure to do something before a certain time now. Break a few promises to yourself is sometimes a good thing. Sometimes.

#3 Younger men older women

Again, doesn't pertain to me

#2 You can buy crap

My credit is getting better, and as my duplex starts to become more of a home, things start accumulating. I finally have furnature and working on a brand new computer. I am at the point of trying to get what I need to progress in my life. Not a lot of useless crap.

#1 30 is the new 20

As I discussed earlier in my blog. We look younger, act younger, and don't have to worry about having to settle down right away. We can still party and have a good time. We can still not have all the answers. Life is still freedom.

I will try to blog more often. Will let you know about my new car when I buy it. Laters.