On Assignment and a "Non-normal" Day

I will not be on the air Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, because I'll be on assignment. I'm working on a project that will air at a later date. I'd share details now, but I think it's better for me to wait and tell more, when I know more.

Someone wanted me to share what a typical day is like, being a morning news anchor. That's just the thing- there aren't any "normal" days in news. I read somewhere that news is a lifestyle and not a career. The longer I do this, the more I agree. It's definitely a non-normal career. There are some normal things- for example, the news always comes on at 5:00 a.m. (which means I have to be here at 4:00a.m.! I start my day at 3:00 a.m.) I always sit in the right seat on the anchor desk and I always wear my IFB (ear piece) in my right ear. I'm left-handed, yet I do all these things on the right side. Go figure. Anyway, one of the reasons I love my job so is because it's not normal. I do the same things, but it's always different- always a different story, in a different place, at a different time, with an added element. You can guarantee something that happens today will certainly not happen tomorrow, and it didn't happen yesterday. When I was a reporter, I never knew from day-to-day where I'd be going to cover stories. I'd come into the office, submit my story ideas, and then make phone calls and head out the door. Here's an idea of what my weekdays are like.

3:00a.m.- Alarm sounds (I have three- 3:00a.m., 3:10a.m., 3:15a.m.)
4:00a.m.- Arrive at work, read scripts, hair and makeup
5:00a.m.- News starts
8:00a.m.- Morning show postmortem
9:15a.m.- Morning Editorial Meeting
10:00a.m.- If I'm reporting I head out on my story, if not, I make phone calls, set up other stories, return phone calls and emails.
1:00p.m.- This is the time I am scheduled to leave. RARELY do I leave work at 1:00p.m., usually it's 2:00p.m. or later!
8:00p.m.- This is my true bedtime. RARELY do I go to bed at 8:00p.m. It's usually 9:00p.m. or later.

I tape a few TV shows, although I'm not watching anything regularly this summer. I usually watch 3-4 hours of news, mostly cable networks. I'll admit I'm a news junkie. Some might describe it as a dull life, but it's mine and I love it!