Friday, October 5, 2007

Mary Tyler Moore

I know, I know...what happened to September? Let's just say it was a blur. I adjusted to working this time of the year, not going to school, and balanced my three jobs. Then at the end of September, I got promoted to a full time job at the station as a production assistant in the mornings! I love the morning people, so I was elated, not to mention eager to get a bigger paycheck. I have just completed my second week as a full-timer, and I just accepted a new job.

I know, I know...what??? How does that happen?

It happened because our morning producer got an offer from his hometown station and decided he wanted to go back. He has been working here for not even as long as I have, and he's already moving on! Well, about the same time he decided to leave, we got two new production assistants on part-time. One came in for the mornings to get the experience of a 4:30 am - 1:00 pm work day, and as we were waiting on the floor to do the noon news show, the anchors asked the new guy what he wanted to do as far as a career path.

"I want to do engineering for television," he said. And believe me, we need more of those. One of the anchors then turned to me and said, "What about you, Lisa?"

"What about me?"

"What do you want to do eventually?" he asked. I said I thought I might like to produce.

"Well, don't you know we have a morning producer position open now?" he said. "You should apply for it." I told him I didn't think I had the training or experience needed.

"Oh, we train people all the time," said the other anchor. "You could do it."

"You should talk to the news director," said the first anchor. "In fact, I'll make a note to say something to her myself."

And that's how it all started. Word gets around in a small, small station, and before I knew it, my old buddy the evening weather guy was leaving notes for the morning crew: "Lisa should take that producing job."

Well, I did talk to the news director, and she was interested in looking into this possibility. So I have spent the last few days shadowing a couple of the producers to find out more about the job and what it entails. And today, I went to the news director to talk, and our conversation ended with her giving me the job. I guess it's not official yet; I still have to sign the contract and work out details with the production manager, but I start training Sunday night.

I have to sign a contract. Is this a real job or what?

I called my mom and told her, and we both stuttered excitedly on the phone, speaking mostly in incomplete sentences that trailed off to "...wow." I then hung up, put my paycheck in the bank, and started to drive home.

As I crossed the bridge over the Wabash, I started to cry.

I'm so stunned. I can't believe it's true. After I walked out of the office, I thought, "Did that just happen?" But it did. And I'm going to be a producer.

I haven't told Ryan yet, and I can't wait to! He's going to call soon, and then I'm going shopping!

I don't know if you've ever seen the Mary Tyler Moore show, but it's about a girl who's out of college, single, and living alone for the first time. She gets a job as associate producer at a local news station in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I bought the first season of this show on DVD, and I love it. It's very relatable to my life. Well, while I was on the phone with my mom, she said, "You're gonna have to watch another episode of Mary Tyler Moore!" And I said, "I know, that show IS pretty much my life!" Especially now. I know it's corny, but I just love that theme song..."You're gonna make it after all."

Everything's looking up. I've been decorating my apartment, and I finally have it to the point where I want it....it looks really good! My next goal is to budget for a pet. Today our "Pet of the Week" on the noon show was a pair of sweet, mellow cats, and playing with them made me really want a cat. I want a dog, too, but cats are a lot easier to take care of, as well as easier to find. If I got a dog, I would want a specific breed, and if I want a cat, I just want a sweet personality. We'll see. Oh! I also finally have internet in my apartment. I feel like I've officially moved in!

More later, and more often!
Lis ;)

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