I Think I’m Becoming a Better Person…

OK, before I get started you should know that not every facet of my life has become ethically “better” since I got into the news  business.

I am still dumping my trash in Dumpsters that are not mine. I look at names on arrest reports from my hometown to see if I know anyone. And, I will admit, I vainly recommend my own stories.

I have, however, gotten a little more heart.

If anyone would have asked me even three years ago how I felt about homeless people the response would have been completely negative.

“They are lazy alcoholics,” I would say. “I’m not giving them money because they will only buy booze. They have shelters that provide money and they are only wanting help from others.”

This is probably still true of some of the homeless seen holding signs around town, but not all of them.

Call me the Tin Man, because I finally have a heart. After countless stories on homelessness, which is a big issue in the town I report on, I see that they were once just like me but things happen. Life happens.

I met Richard today. He served in the Air Force just like his father and his father before him. He was once a proud man, but one bankrupt business, diagnosis of cancer and stolen car later and he is living in the woods.

He has faith in the Lord. While interviewing him, I was invited numerous times to an outdoor church service he called “beautiful.” He said one day the Lord will bless him with a way out of his current situation.

I believe him.

I met another man a while back who, before I walked up to him, I was sure would yell, curse and run me off when I approached him. John didn’t do any of that.

He did excuse his smell.

He told me all about the business he used to work for. How he once made a six-figure salary. But with economic times like they are he was laid off. Years of looking for a job without any luck landed him on the street holding a “God Bless You” sign.

He said he appreciates the food he is given, but what he really wanted was a job. He wanted to not have to depend on other people.

I now realize that not every homeless person chose to be there. Not every homeless person is looking to score a quick fix. I learned that they are people too.

Candidates, Murders and Septic Tanks?

Today I am dressed in my best. By best I mean I don’t look like my usual 8-year-old girl self.

My day, this fine day, will be spent traipsing around town interviewing candidates for the upcoming election. I love politics, I really do.

I like researching what I will be voting for and I love thinking, although some may disagree, that my vote counts. That’s why we live in this free nation.

However, I do not like hearing candidates dribble on and on about why they are the best. When people run for office I feel like the high-school version of them comes out to play.

They lie and say whatever we want to hear and they talk smack about the opponents. I just see juvenile when I look at them. Not exactly who I would choose to make decisions that will affect me in the future.

Tomorrow, was supposed to be a thrilling day. Three folks up for murder trials will be in court. Grant it, they are just appearing before the judge for a pre-trial, status hearing. But it means they are one step closer to trial.

Well, as it turns out, my editor doesn’t really care about that. He wants intense coverage on something else going on in town and it appears I am the only one to cover it.

Oh, joy. A septic tank seminar. Just what I’ve always wanted to do.

I’m not cynical, I just don’t see how septic tanks can be better than murder.

Can you?

Warriors and Washington D.C.

I spent nearly 17 hours with 101 World War II veterans in a whirlwind, one-day trip to Washington D.C. It was my first time at the Nation’s capital and it was the absolute best way to observe the memorials and the capital for the first time.

The men I had the pleasure of spending the day with are heroes.

They did their duty and they did it with pride and honor. Summing up my whole day would take far too long.

Besides, it wasn’t about me — So, if you will, let me share some of their stories with you (Click here to see more photos):

Paratrooper

Henry Long warned the pilot before the plane even took off Thursday morning that he had been a paratrooper and was itching to jump again.

The pilot smiled and saluted the 90-year-old World War II veteran as he boarded the eighth Emerald Coast Honor Flight at Pensacola- Gulf Coast Regional Airport.

“Its fun,” said Long, of Fort Walton Beach. “If they’d let me, I do it again in a minute. Maybe someone will ask for me.”

Long, who served in the Army, was among 100 veterans who were flown for a one-day visit to Washington, D.C., to see the National World War II Memorial.

He said he hadn’t been to the Washington since before the war. He had been planning for the trip since he heard the Emerald Coast Honor Flight a year ago.

To say he was excited would be an understatement.

“I was up all night,” Long said, laughing. “I was worried about getting up on time.”

When the long day ended back in Pensacola, the veterans were welcomed by hundreds of people.

Long was pushed in his wheelchair through the crowd, his camera around his neck and a smile on his face.

“Today was beautiful,” he said. “Very emotional. I remember my buddies that aren’t here anymore and I get emotional.

He acknowledged that talk of the old days and past friends made him weep, but said the trip was worth it.

“This is one of the greatest days of my life,” he said. “I can’t even pick my favorite (part). I just loved every second of it.”

Marine

Santa Rosa Beach resident Jon Fox said he had been to the capital before, but had never seen the memorial.

“They needed it,” Fox said. “A lot of people were affected by this war. My friend was killed then. It’s nice to be able to remember him in this way.”

The former Marine said he saw things in the war he would never want to relive, but the memory of his fallen brothers can’t be forgotten.

“It was tough back then,” he said. “Many times all I could think was ‘Oh, my Lord.’ ”

Radio Man

Andy Anderson caught his breath as he stared at the Iwo Jima memorial Thursday afternoon.

“It’s really — I can’t hardly speak,” the 87-year-old veteran said. “It’s really something.”

The former Army “radio man” predicted the memorial would be the toughest to take in, and he was right.

As he sat beside the memorial, he reflected that had it not been for the men who lost their lives during the battle, he wouldn’t be around today.

“They think we’re heroes, (but) those guys (who died) are the heroes,” he said. “The guys who paid the cost of their lives deserve all the credit.”

The Valparaiso resident wasn’t the only veteran to wipe away tears as he remembered the men who died.

Radar Observer

Niceville resident Norman Drake was equally moved as he took picture after picture of the Iwo Jima memorial.

“I spent my last few months of the war flying over Iwo Jima,” Drake said. “Those were bad times, bad place to be. We were just hoping to get out as soon as we could.”

The 88-year-old Air Force veteran said for two years he was a radar observer flying the P-61 Night Fliers. During the war, Drake sat on the same spot the famous Iwo Jima picture was taken at.

“We paid dearly to get to the top of that mountain,” he said.

As person after person shook his hand and called Drake a hero, he shook his head.

“We did what we had to do, that’s all there is to it,” Drake said.

To many of the veterans on Thursday’s Honor Flight, the trip to the World War II memorial was more than a monument. It was a reminder of life in the war and friends that went before them.

Tank Loader

“It brings back a lot of memories,” said 84-year-old Rodger Morgan of Santa Rosa Beach. “Some good, some bad — it brings them all back.”

Morgan was enlisted in the Navy during the war working as a tank loader.

As members of the eighth Emerald Coast Honor Flight circled through the memorial, Morgan looked at the Washington Monument and sighed.

“This is amazing,” he said. “I’ve never been here before and I’ll probably never be back.”

Army Man

Gaylord Hall’s biggest complaint about his arrival to Washington D.C.’s Reagan Airport is that his cane prevented him from shaking the dozens of hands reaching out to him.

“I knew there would be some kind of greeting, but I would have never expected that many people,” the 88-year-old said.

Hall and 100 other veterans were greeted by dozens paying tribute to World War II veterans as they arrived for the eighth Emerald Coast Honor Flight.

Every year since World War II, Hall said he has met with his fellow Army veterans at their past comrades cemetery to pay tribute to their sacrifice.

For the past three years, however, the former flight mechanic has been unable to meet. He hopes flying out to their memorial will make up for the lost visits.

“I’m going to look at some of the names of the guys on the wall,” Hall said. “The guys I knew early on and remember them – pay tribute to their lives.”

Hall served in China during the war and said times were tough, but it’s what was done in World War II

Serving was a way of life and, Hall added, it was an honor.

His guardian, Niceville resident Beth Tritschler, said Thursday’s Emerald Coast Honor Flight was her second. She said the experience was well worth taking the day off and paying to help make the day special for the veterans.

“This is the most wonderful thing I’ve ever had the privilege to participate in,” Tritschler said. “I can’t think of a better was to show our appreciation for their sacrifice.”

Tritschler said her son, Adam Tritschler, enlisted in the Navy and will be reporting in December.

Before he shipped out, they both thought taking a flight with the greatest generation would be an experience he could take with him.

“They are the most humble generation,” she said. “I want Adam to learn from them. I think when we honor them, to some degree. They are overwhelmed because they were just doing their jobs.

“It was their call and they did it.”

Tail Gunner

John Rushing was out of bed before 3:30 a.m. Thursday in anticipation of the days events.

The 87-year-old World War II veteran said he has been planning for the Emerald Coast Honor Flight for over a month and sleep didn’t seem as important as getting everything ready before he left for his flight.

The Honor Flight was scheduled to leave Pensacola Airport at 7 a.m. The first of the veterans rolled through the doors around 4:30 a.m.

Rushing said he has been to Washington D.C. in the past, but this will be his first look at the World War II memorial.

“When I see it, I’m giving it a salute,” Rushing said as he showed how to salute. “It took awhile, but I’m glad they made the memorial.”

The Fort Walton Beach man said he was a tail gunner in the Air Force on the B-24 aircraft. His job was to sit in the rear of the plane and control the gun.

When his guardian exclaimed how important his job was, Rushing merely smiled.

“I thought it was, but who knows,” he said. “I know this is exciting, but nothing will beat the war.”

Thursday’s flight marks the eighth Honor Flight to take Gulf Coast veterans to the nation’s capital. At the end of the day, according to coordinator Tom Rice, around 850 veterans will have been taken to see their memorial.

Anonymity No More

Online comments can hurt — We all know that.

The St. Petersburg Times, one of the greatest papers around in my opinion, addressed comments in a way that made me sit back and think.

The reporter took the time to learn about a man who commenters quickly dismissed cold heartedly. Read the story.

The article made my heart ache, but it made a point that I think is important for anyone hiding behind the anonymity of an online persona.

Once the submit button is hit, you are effecting a family that just lost their son, a girl who lost her father, a man who lost his best friend.

No matter where you are typing, those words can still hurt.

Anticipa-a-tion is Making Me Wait, is Keeping Me Wa-a-a-ting

You can sing the song a little more — I know you want to.

This week, I get to go to Washington D.C. for work. Suffice to say, I’m more than a little excited. I’m pumped!

I’ve never been to the state’s capital and I’ve never gotten to do the really cool thing at work.

Let’s take a moment to list the cool things Angel didn’t get to do:

Meet Sarah Palin

Meet Barack Obama

Interview the Miami heat

Meet Michelle Obama

Hear George W. Bush give a speech

Write about the King and Queen of Spain coming here

The list could go on and on, but I don’t want to bore you. I just want to make it clear that my not getting to do cool things has never been because cool things haven’t come here. I just never get to be the one that goes.

My co-worker went and interviewed Brett Michaels while I stayed behind to write a 15 inch story on an 81-year-old man who died.

So now, finally, I get to do the thing that other people would actually also like to do.

It’s not ground breaking — four other reporters have already gone — but I get to experience something new and exciting.

The trip starts hours before the sun even thinks about shining and is a one-day, round-trip flight from Pensacola to Washington D.C. that takes World War II veterans to see their memorial.

I know it’s going to be a very long and exhausting day, but to see the men who fought for our country getting to experience something so special … I can’t even come up with words (hopefully, that won’t be the case Thursday).

Because of this long day, however, it’s making the rest of this week a breeze.

Yesterday, I had one story not due until Sunday that I worked on and I skipped out of work 30 minutes early because of the anticipated overtime and was able to get some ballet slippers with my sister.

Today, I may just leave a little early again, cause I can.

WooHoo, Washington D.C. lookout — I’m coming at ya!

What’s Wrong With Me?

After working in the news business for over two years, not much can really make me cringe.

Yesterday a picture of a horse that was about to die made me merely click a little faster and then it was on to the next tragedy.

There was a slide show of the death row inmates that are sitting in three of the county jails on the main page of our website. (Click here to view)

This morning, however, as I was getting online and checking the site to make it active and moving something caught my eye.

It caught me off guard and made me cringe, honestly. I don’t know why I had this obviously disdainful reaction to it. Why look at photos set to be killed – how morbid?

Then again, here’s the men that have been convicted of brutally killing someone or several people.

Among them is a serial killer, a man who killed his wife and children with a machete and the rest are just as terrible.

So why did I have such a reaction? Why should I care about the people who committed the terrible acts I write about?

My concern is not so much that I care about people being displayed in a picture format that are set for death, it’s that in other circumstances I don’t have that kind of reaction.

Understand,  a lot of the time I listen to a woman crying on the phone about losing her daughter in a fatal car crash and tears can’t help but fall.

But just yesterday I wrote and article about a man who was struck by a train and it was just another story, just another day.

What’s wrong with me?

The Meanie Who Stole Fall

I love the fall.

Pumpkin displays, a few leaves changing (I live in Florida so not many trees change from their green color), smells of cinnamon and pumpkin wafting and knowing at any time I can stop by the store and eat a delicious caramel apple.

As you can see, fall is a favorite of mine so when I stepped outside this morning only to have to go back in for a heavier coat I knew it would be a good day.

I was assigned, yet again, to do a weather story. But this time I didn’t mind. While talking with the meteorologist I jotted down all my ideas on how to make the article fun and fall themed.

There was fall foods, which I was most excited about, pumpkins going on sale, Halloween costumes hitting the stores and fun fall activities.

Here’s the thing, though, my boss hated every idea. I will now be referring to her as the Meanie Who Stole Fall. Before I completed my sentences explaining why I wanted to do each of the ideas she was shaking her head and saying next.

When I finished, she told me just to ask if the cool weather seems sudden and if it’s changed anyone’s routine. How dull.

Fall is a magical time of year and, somehow, I will be writing an article that will bore anyone.

Bummer.

Trials of Transformers

Hello, Shia LeBeouf!

So today I am on a hunt for information about anything on Transformers 3.

The production company is here shooting some scenes for the upcoming Blockbuster hit (I say this because I love this franchise and Shia LeBeouf).

So far, this great adventure has had me on the phone all morning long. I’ve called three different production companies, spoken with an assistant location manager and a unit publicist.

Called the airport where they are supposedly filming and now I’m waiting on a call. Called the Air Force, which always makes me wait a ridiculous amount of time.

Called the tourist development council, they’re in a meeting.

I think it’s a conspiracy.

Two hours later

It is done. ( Click here to “Read all about it” )

I talked with every entity of the film — Production, the airport, the Air Force, the film studio.

It took what every journalist needs to learn: tenacity. Or if you want me to be blunt, not being afraid of annoying the heck out of people until they finally get on the film and tell you what you want to hear.

Learn it: Calling every 30 minutes is effective, even if it is annoying.

Now, if only Shia LeBeouf were here — that would really be the icing on the cake.

If a Porn Star Walked into Court, What Would She Look Like?

That question was answered for me Thursday.

Go ahead, take a guess. Since seeing a real-life porn star in court I’ve been asking around, “What would a porn star wear if she had a court appearance?”

I’ve heard animal print, fur and, my roomie’s guess, “Like that trashy lady in ‘A Cinderella Story’ and ‘Legally Blond,’ ” All good guesses, actually.

But my thoughts leaned more toward leather — and that is exactly what I saw.

Black leather paneled pants and tank top. Black hair and a leopard-print purse. Yowza!

Looking back, I should have known. My first thought should have been, “Hey look, it’s a porn star.” But my mind just doesn’t work like that.

I didn’t realize who was before the judge until long after she left.

Sometimes, if it’s crowded and I’m not able to get a good seat in court, the bailiff will ask if I want to sit in the “box,” which is where the attorney’s sit when a trials going on. During a trial, the box belongs to the jury.

This was one of those days and several people after the porn star later a woman sitting next to me leaned over to her co-worker and asked if he’d seen “the porn star.”

Well my reporter ears automatically perked up, thinking back to the woman I’d seen earlier with the crazy outfit. Of course, she was a porn star. Duh!

I was so angry. I should have gotten her picture, I should have written down her name, I should have chased her down and asked her … something.

While I may have missed the opportunity to interview the porn star I did get a question answered. Now I know what a porn star would wear to work.

One less question in this crazy world that I don’t know the answer to.

Reporters are Just Dogs Peeing on Fire Hydrants

I’ve never been very territorial.

In the news business, a lot of reporters would slit your throat for the perfect story.

During one of my first internships, that’s exactly how it was — if you didn’t volunteer before he finished telling us about the story you were stuck with the story on road repairs.

Typically, everyone in the newsroom handles their beat and everything is good.

Today, however, I got territorial. I was tasked with the insane beat of covering an entire county.

I may not catch every small detail, but I get the job done as best as I can.

I’ve been covering that county’s courts and crime for months. I track the story, keep up with the arrest reports and go to court when they’re up.

Recently, our content editor has made it a point to make every reporter come up with a weekly list of what they will be doing for the week. Apparently the pressure got to one of the reporters because he pilfered my courts stories, which were on my list.

Since I am “more flexible,” the editor decided to let him keep it and gave me the story on the 81-year-old city clerk who died a week earlier. Woo.

When I was asked for the arrest reports, I felt like my territory was being all taken over. I was not pleased.

I feel like a Terrier and the big, bad Rottweiler took over my fire hydrant.

That was my fire hydrant, dag nab it!