Chasing Dreams

I'm not who said it, but I am happy to pass this great quote along: "Don't follow your dreams... chase them!"

I'm putting on my best running shoes.

How about you?

What Should I Do Today?

Photo by Jim Vail Photos

     A friend posted this on her Facebook page. It's a quote that was spotted on a sign in Grayton Beach, FL. I'm not sure who first said, or wrote, it.. but it strikes to the heart of the question, "What should I do today?"

     This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it, or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. In its place is something you left behind. Let it be something good.

     Indeed.

Bloopers

     Oops.

     Kind of makes me glad that Facebook, Blogger, and all of the other social networking sites were not around when I was an anchor and reporter.

     I certainly made my share of boo-boos. I don't believe I was ever guilty of the one in this photo, but I did refer to President Clinton's presidency as President Clinton's "pregnancy"; I mispronounced "Merlot" (I don't drink it and had no idea at the time how to pronounce it); and got caught running a microphone cable up my skirt on live TV. And, as a good friend and former co-worker recently reminded me, I also had a devil of a time trying to say "Shalikashvili"...as in John Shalikashvili, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I might have suggested (on air) that perhaps the man was going to have to change his name, if I was going to be responsible for reading stories that contained his name. I might have.  

     My favorite blooper happened when I was on location at Lion Country Safari near West Palm Beach, FL taping a segment for a show I co-hosted, called PM Magazine. I was standing in front of a baby elephant. I felt a tickle at my backside. I thought it was my co-host, trying to get me to laugh while I was delivering my lines.

     It was not.

     About 5 seconds later, I felt an agressive lunge over my waistband and INSIDE my slacks! The baby elephant's trunk was slithering down my backside, in search of the wireless microphone receiver, which was tucked away out of everybody's sight... but his!

     Composure gone. Lines blown. Take 2.

     Ahhhh.... the blooper reel. Safely tucked away from the prying eyes of social networking!

     Then again... where DID I put that reel?

     Stay tuned.

     So, what do I do in my college classes? Sometimes, I take a math test.

     Sometimes, I get to do something more creative.. like put together a

video/audio slideshow on alligators for my media technology class.

     As someone who has worked with MOVING pictures since I was 19 years

old, shooting and working with still photography was a challenge. Working

within a 3:00 time constraint... even more so. (I only snapped 200

PICTURES! Really, Drexel?)  Working with a new, unfamiliar

editing system... ouch.

     I finished it, though. And, here it is. Take a look. It's titled "Gator Tale."

     Hope I get an A.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRJc4b4-exE&feature=youtu.be