Too Long of a Post

To Whom It May Concern:

My last week at American Family Radio was absolutely amazing. I was able to delve into print journalism as well as learn much more about the production side of things. I actually helped produce the AFA Report, a talk-show featuring Don Wildmon and his co-hosts. I got to see how much it took to produce a thirty second spot for one of AFR's sponsors. From the idea to the production takes a good solid day. It had different kinds of sounds on six or seven different tracks.

On my last day, the news room, my roommate, and Agape Press took me out to lunch. We had a lot of fun, and they blessed with a card, a memento, and more. I was thoroughly spoiled. Their thoughtfulness meant a lot, and I will miss them.

I got off to a late start the next day on my long drive home. I had to pass through Atlanta, GA. The irony of it all was striking because I drove through Atlanta a year ago after a five week trip and broke down there. I stayed with a precious couple for three days. After thinking of all this, you can imagine how striking the irony felt when only twenty miles from Atlanta, the self-same vehicle broke down again. I kid you not.

My fish, my pc, my violin, and I stayed in a gas station with the owner Avonte until a mechanic arrived to work on my car. Avonte and I had some good conversation during the hour and a half I waited. Pray for him.

The mechanic is a dear Christian man named Mr. Alton. He tried to fix my car for several hours. We visited two different parts shops, but they didn't have the basic part we needed. All this time I had been in touch with my family, letting them know what was going on, letting my boss know, and finding a back-up plan if my car could not be fixed that day. My family would have come after me, but we thought the car only had a minor electrical problem. It was after dark when Mr. Alton thought he had fixed it.

He followed me down the road, and I was still on the phone with my family telling them the good news when the light came on again. At this point, Mr. Alton judged that the problem was really big. We managed to get the car down the road to a Holiday Inn Express. Mr. Alton made sure I was all right before he left, bless him! I hung out in the lobby for a couple of hours, clutching my fish's plastic container as though it were a teddy bear, until my good friend Daniel and his dad picked me up on their way home from a sales trip. 

The drive to their house was most interesting because Atlanta sends work crews out to work on their roads in the middle of the night. We saw a handful of men working on a ditch and another man sweeping the road. This most important work delayed us and we were only able to get to their house after 1 a.m.

My mom came for me the next day. We had my car towed to a dodge dealership before scurrying home at last! Thank God they were able to fix it and we picked it up a couple days later. I am very grateful the car was fixed, for Mr. Alton, for Avonte and the hotel people, for my friends, and for the safe outcome. But this story is still not funny. I figure it will be more humorous in about two weeks.

Being at home has been great. I have had fun with my family, gotten great sleep, and eaten wonderful food. Saturday, my family visited Charleston, SC, to hang out and spend time with my older brother.

I have just a few more precious days at home before it's off to school again. Below are a few pictures from the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo that I promised to post.

Me and buffalo.

World famous white buffalo "Tucota"

Me and a zeedonk, a hybrid between a zebra and a donkey.

Despite the random person in the background, this is Rebecca's favorite picture. It is me feeding Tall Boy, the largest giraffe in captivity and my favorite animal at the zoo. I am laughing in the picture because Tall Boy wrapped about ten inches of his black tongue around my hand to scoop up the feed.

Update

I apologize the pictures aren't up. I'm having a bit of technical difficulty.  

My car broke down over the weekend. I completely sympathize with the Duchess's car problems. The engine kept overheating. But thanks to my employer, a co-worker, and the guys at Meineke Service Center, it's up and running. The radiator had to be replaced as well as a radiator hose. One of my two engine fans wasn't working either. As much as I hate car trouble, I am very grateful that it didn't break down next week when I'm halfway through my eight hour trip home . . . like last year.

Almost exactly one year ago, I was driving this same car home after being away for five weeks. But just outside of Atlanta, the engine light came on. I had a friend in another car, and we pulled over immediately. I kept trying to contact AAA but couldn't reach them. At the time I called them, my family was meeting with some friends who had relatives near Atlanta. So I stayed with them for two days while my car was being repaired. The Guills were so very sweet and precious, but I was so homesick that it was tough. But I got home safely.

There were several weeks when Brother Don didn't notice me. But I should have known he wouldn't forget. Yesterday he walked by me and hollered to my boss, "Who's been doing the noon news? It's pitiful, pitiful, pitiful. We're never getting any more interns from Patrick Henry!" That means he likes me. Then he gave me a hug. That also means he likes me. I like him too. Brother Don said he was going to fire me this morning. But fellow reporter Chad stuck up for me and asked Brother Don to give me one more week, so I get to finish out my internship. 

And the end is rapidly approaching. Next week I will leave AFR after eight stretching but excellent weeks. I will have to take down my sign, which says, "The News Room's Favorite (albeit only) Intern." Next year there will be another favorite intern.

'Roos and News

       Last Saturday Rebecca and I went to the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo. We had talked about going for several weeks. Only after we arranged to go did I find out that Rebecca doesn't like animals . . . at all. The irony was cruel. 

      But at that point, I was needing contact with critters, so I drug her off with me to the zoo, and I bought a big bag of feed. First, we rode on a bus through the buffalo park. Besides buffalo, we saw Watusi cattle, two Asian water buffalo, donkeys, and Clyde the Clydesdale. Also, we saw Tukota, one of the only white buffalo in the world. I fed the buffalo. Rebecca took pictures of me.

      Then we wandered around the little zoo and saw the lion, tiger, bear, coatimundi, porcupine, and monkeys. And roos - there were kangaroos too and wallabies. I stopped to feed the goats, miniature horses, llamas, eland, the giraffe, the tortoise, and the pigs. Rebecca took pictures.

      The pigs were Rebecca's favorite. At least, they were the animals she disliked least. She actually told me that she liked a tiny piglet from a distance.

      The giraffe was my favorite. I guess opposites attract, ay? His name is Tall Boy. Lest you think this name simplistic, let me point out that Tall Boy is the largest giraffe in captivity, a whopping 18 feet, 6 inches. But the zoo people want him to be the fattest giraffe in captivity too, so they think he needs to gain a couple hundred pounds. To further this goal, they built a wooden stand so people can stand about eye to eye with Tall Boy. He meanders over and wraps his ten inch tongue around her hand. Or if you're too slow, he steals you bag of feed and eats it, paper sack and all. Rebecca said she would just take pictures. I am proud to say that Rebecca actually took a picture with me next to Tall Boy.

      When I teased that girl about her zoo experience lackage, she tells me I'll have a well-documented trip. And with that I cannot argue, save that she has yet to send me the pictures. When I get them, I'll post them.

      It is typical of me that my longest blogpost in months is about animals.

      I loved getting to be outside and spend time with creatures and forget all the awful things going on in the world every day. It weighs me down. News takes a resilience, which I don't think I naturally possess. But my boss inspires me. He tells me, "It's all about faithfulness, not success" and "It's all about the Gospel." He's so right.  

      I'm still getting to do some newscasts this week. Yesterday and today I did the 12:55 and the 1:55 p.m. casts. In the language of TweedleDee and iNate, I owe a major "shout-out" to Mary, my mentor and co-anchor, who lets me take her shifts.

      Today I've really been trying to focus on my performance. My boss says I need a more conversational tone, but that's hard to develop. My accent is pretty neutral while I'm at work, and I don't talk a whole lot. I've been having a hard time balancing an air of professionalism with a natural, conversational tone. It's the difference between an actor who makes you feel like you're watching a performance and an actor who makes you feel like you're watching a life.

      I just want you guys to know that I enjoy reading your blogs and finding out what's going on in your lives. It's a blessing to me to hear from ya'll often, even though I only post sporadically myself.

                                                                      The Poose

Stop the Presses!

This week Mary has been training me to craft a newscast. And today I crafted three and voiced all of them. You can find them on the web at www.afr.net. Find the grid, and click on the 11:55, 12:55, and 1:55 casts. But they will only be on for twenty-four hours.

It wasn't difficult, but I was hardpressed to get them all done in time. My dear family is so proud of me. Of course, I did not do anything that they don't have the ability to do. It's pretty simple once you know how. But they think I'm famous. They're too cute. In fact, they're so cute that I am including the comments of my siblings for your amusement:

Nine-year-old Juliana says: "Dear Na-ta-lieeee,  "Great job!  We'll see you in _______ tonight!"

Six-year-old Alec the Monkey says:  "Great Monkey job!  You surprised me!"

I surprised him? Oh ye of little faith! I really enjoyed running the newscast and hope to do it some more. It's been fun, but I'm ready to take off after work and meet my family at my grandparents house. My heart is smiling.  

I couldn't leave my fish to starve, so Dillo is going with me. I brought him to work so I could leave from here. I buckled his container in my car. Everyone should drive with a fish in their car. My turns were so much smoother.

God bless each and every one of you. Happy Fourth of July. And from from Dillo and I -  So long and good night.

The Quirks of Work (and 'Coons)

Hello, Everybody!

My most notable error of the past couple of weeks was trying to thank Phyllis Schlafly by name at the end of an interview. I got to "Schla-" and just gave up. Next time, I'll say "Ma'am." 

I'm starting to learn to put together newscasts, which is much fun than trying to pronounce "Schlafly." Hopefully, I'll be able to voice one by the end of the week. Most stations do newscasts live. We don't do that. Ours are dead, that is to say, pre-recorded.

Work is interesting, but I've found I need a creative outlet. So I've decided to harass the racoon which skulks around my backyard. I knew there was a 'coon around because the previous tenants had left it food, but I had never seen until the other night. The 'coon came skulking out of the woods towards our back door. After it got about ten or fifteen yards from the edge of the woods, I creeped out the front door and sled around the corner of the house. I was going to burst from hiding and yell, "You no-good, lowdown, son of a one-eyed polecat! You filthy varmint! If you were in a Brian Jacques book, your name would be Scumlick!" But the critter must have been smarter than I gave him credit for, because when I got around the house and before I could holler, he was gone. I looked all over and couldn't find him. I haven't seen him for a night or two, but Scumlick will be back. And when he does, I'll make PETA cry. That's my creative outlet, chasing coons to make PETA cry.

This weekend, I'm going to meet up with my family at my grandparents' house for July 4th. I'm very excited. I hope each of you gets to have a wonderful holiday with family as well. I enjoy reading your blogs so much. It helps me connect with you. God bless.

The Poose