Time's Flying...

Here I am just hanging out in my normal spot in studio N....

A lot has happened in the last couple of weeks! I've been CLEARED in A2...meaning I can operate without supervision in the studio. My other jobs are coming along...they impact the show directly, therefore are taking me longer to clear.

I had my 30 day meeting with my supervisor Joe about a week ago. He's in charge of all the prod ops interns and says we're doing great and has heard nothing but good things about each of us. Speaking with him makes me really optimistic about my future in the business. He is full of good advice and encouragement.

One of the cool things I remember about my internship last summer at CBS was the immediacy of breaking news. Since I work for ESPN's 24/7 news network, if something happens...we're on top of it. Lately we've had some exciting stories you may have heard about--Steve McNair's death, the constant Favre watch (gag), Manny being Manny (aka, a tool bag), and my personal favorite Jeremy Mayfield--the meth-head.
Breaking news is fun and exciting...I love it! EXCEPT if it's during the late show.
If breaking news happens during the late show...and you're involved in it...I automatically hate you. We try to have the late show on tape and put to bed so we can all get out by 2am...BUT if breaking news happens...the A-Block has to be changed...changing the whooooole rest of the show.
You get the picture.
Oh the wonderful world of live TV and news...

In my last few weeks at ESPN I will be continuing to work towards clearing my other positions. I'll also have the opportunity to observe in Sportscenter and Content Edit, which I am really excited about! AND...the week after next...all the interns are going to ABC Studios in New York to meet with ESPN President George Bodenheimer. I'm excited to hear George's story--he started at the waaaaay bottom of the totum pole at the company...and look at him now! So cool.

As much fun as I am having at ESPN...the amazing people I have met...and as much as I am learning...I'll be glad to get home to SC to enjoy the rest of summer. I'm pretty sure the hottest day we've had up here so far has been 80 degrees (and there are no pools to be found in DT Hartford). Lame.

I'm also looking VERY MUCH forward to football season!!!! 47 days and counting...

Pleeeease come to Bosssston

Well my actual 4th of July was less than spectacular...but you'll be glad to know I did get to see some fireworks from Lake Compounce across the street through the window. ;)

I drove to Boston on Sunday morning...

Becca and I went to a Sox game, which was AWESOME! I've always wanted to go to Fenway...what a gorgeous park. And we got really lucky with the weather--the month of rain we've been having up here in New England subsided.

We're definitely hanging this one up in our living room this semester...

Becca was an amazing tour guide. We covered a lot of ground in two days...ate in Fanueil Hall, shopped on Newberry Street, and walked through the Boston Public Gardens, just to name a few things... A+ for my weekend adventure! :)

Happy Almost 4th!

Sorry, I've been really bad about keeping up with this thing! The last two weeks have FLOWN by...
I just had my 30-day review with my supervisor--we have a 30-day and a 60-day--kind of like a midterm and final. They grade us on training, performance, teamwork, initiative, reliability, and communication.
The only category I did not meet expectations on was performance--I got a "needs improvement"--which my supervisor Sal explained to me was not a bad thing. I've only been cleared to solo in one of my jobs (A2) of the three I've been training in. The other two take more time to accomplish, therefore I "need improvement" in my next 30 days for that to change. I will be assessed in Play-Out and One-Play soon!
On the more positive side, Sal said that overall I am doing very well, have a great attitude, and get along well with the crew. :)

As there is not TOO terribly much going on in the sports world at the moment (other than baseball)--there isn't much traffic in terms of athletes and celebrities coming through the studios. However, we had a special guest interview pop in the ESPNews studio last week.

Yep! Richard Petty stopped in! Awesome hat and all...

He definitely smiled and said "Hi, how are ya" to me...and as you can see in the photo above, he saw me taking pictures and gave me a smile! :)

As an A2, it's my job to put microphones on the guests that come in to the studio and make sure they have what they need. Cool, huh?

On the non-work side, we interns have been trying to have a life outside of ESPN...

We hang out in the apartment a lot after work (yes at 3:00 in the morning) and on the off chance we all actually have days off together. The picture below is of our apartment in the middle of Downtown Hartford. It's the one with the blue lights on top.

We've also made it out a time or two for some drinks. Here are some of the guys at City Steam--a bar which a lot of my co-workers have raved about. As you can see, there's no shortage of good beer at this place. AND they brew their own. ;) Yum. I want one now.

Hopefully we'll make it out again next weekend--my roommate Lauren turns 21 on Thursday! :)

You'll be glad to know I've made it back to the most FABULOUS city in the world twice already this summer. Lacey and I went into New York a few weeks ago, as I already wrote about.

Hobie and I hopped on a train Sunday morning to catch a matinee of Shrek the Musical on Broadway--SO GOOD! :) We had some time to kill before the show at 3, so we decided to get tickets to ANOTHER show at 7. Needless to say--I was in heaven. If you don't already know, I'm obsessed with Broadway.

We saw Rock of Ages, too--the all 80s rock musical. It was amaaaazing!!! I have the soundtrack in my car on repeat already.

I also exposed Hobie to Carnegie Deli and all of it's retardedly huge sandwich glory--he was in heaven there (as was I). I'm good on my reuben fix for a little while... ;) Jewish delis are the BEST.

Here are Hobie and I EXHAUSTED in Time Square before heading back to Hartford.

I love New York City...

I'm moving back there. Definitely. For sure. It's decided.

Now to find a job there. haha...

Anyway, that's about all I can think of to fill you in on. I hope everyone has a fantatsic Fourth of July weekend. Please enjoy some BBQ, ice cream, sun, and fireworks for me--as I will be in a dark studio working tomorrow.

Hopefully the sun will be out on Sunday when I head to Boston to see Becca and the Red Sox!!! :)