What I'll miss about my job

As excited as I am about my new job, what I'll miss most about working for a newspaper is all the amazing stories I've gotten to tell over the past few years.

I'm reminded of this today as I wrap up some stories I'm writing about the Burrows family.

I first met Claudia, 46, her son, Christopher, 10, and Amy, 37, the family's close friend and live-in health aide, a few weeks back. At the time, I was writing about their efforts to raise money for a guide dog for Christopher, who is developmentally disabled (I'm thrilled to say, a month later, the family is within a few hundred dollars of their $14,000 goal!)

Back to the Burrows. All three of Claudia's children have Fragile X, and Christopher, 10, has demands that would frazzle the most fit, most attentive, most prepared parent.

Sadly, Claudia is dying of Lou Gehrig's disease. She was diagnosed three years ago. Can you imagine? A healthy woman who loved her job as a helicopter paramedic and nurse, a coping single mother, Claudia was delivered a death sentence before her 50th birthday.

It's been meeting people like Claudia over the past four years that has kept me grounded. Reminded of how blessed my own life is. And shown me that a bad day on my end, when maybe I'm grumbling about a flat tire, would be one of Claudia's best days if she could just physically change that tire herself.

I thought I'd share the story of Claudia with you and let you read some of her own words through her blog. She is an amazing person coping with a disease that would test anyone's faith. When you read about her struggles, you can't help but be humbled by her resolve.

Some things are too funny not to take note of ...

Ever come in to work with the same outfit on as someone else?

How about THREE of your co-workers? We couldn't resist a picture of this yesterday.

Check it out on my managing editor's blog.

Putting things in perspective

It's hard for me to believe that, within a matter of days, I'll be hanging up my press pass. But I feel more and more like it is a good decision for me (and Nick, also a journalist) not to put all our eggs in one basket, as the old saying goes, especially when I read stories with facts like these:

The big problem is newspapers, which account for half (82,800) of media jobs lost since 2000. One in four newspaper jobs have disappeared since newspaper employment peaked in 1990.

Newspapers, saddled with heavy costs of printing and distribution, last year accounted for 38% of U.S. media jobs, down from 50% in 1990.

It's depressing, but as one co-worker shared with me recently, "Sounds like you're getting out while the getting is good."

Ch- ch- changes ...

Most of you already checking this blog know by now, but I thought I'd put a message up to let any stranglers out there in on the news:

I'VE GOT A NEW JOB!!!!!!!

After much consideration (and bittersweet sentiments), I've decided to take a job with Ball State University. I'll start March 3 and will be working in the university's communications department, creating/managing all news content for the university's Web site and also overseeing its Web-based interdepartmental newsletter.

It's quite a jump from my current gig as a reporter, but it's in a related field where I'll get to flex some new skills (Web especially) and the pay, benefits and job perks made it an all but irresistible offer to turn down!

What this job means: A new computer ASAP (as soon as I get my BSU ID I'll be on the Mac Web site taking advantage of my education discounts!) + new/better camera equipment = MORE FREEDOM TO GROW AS A PHOTOGRAPHER!

This has been a long interview process for me - and it hasn't been an easy one - but I'm excited for what the future holds.

Add to that some fun trips Nick and I have planned for '08 (San Francisco! New England!), a TON of baby additions to my family (3 NEW NIECES AND NEPHEWS!) and a friend's wedding and this is going to be one heck of a year!

Stay tuned -- this blog is ready to get creative again!

Photos on a photo blog? What???

Somehow, in the past 10 days, my hubby has found a way to get Internet working on our computer again.

It's slow. There's no sound. But ... after weeks with no home Internet, having a connection again -- even one as rocky as this -- is GLORIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nick is covering city council tonight, so I thought I'd hop on Flickr (which I haven't done in a while) and troll some of my photo groups. Doing so, I've come across some photos I shot of my grandmother, Juanita, MONTHS ago - when she and I sat down to get crafty together one afternoon (I have to say my grandma, at 89, is wicked cool. We share such a close bond and have so much in common. Consider: She taught me to knit, she's down with celebs (I'll never forget when she asked about Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson after reading about them in a column of mine for the paper), she loves shoes, she loves to read - need I describe myself more? haha)

I love her so much, and in this coming year, I want to photograph more of her life (and that of my other living grandparent - my grandpa, Ken) because I know time with our loved ones can be cut short before we're ready for it to be. In keeping this goal, I hope to document a few memories that can be passed down to other loved ones in years to come.

Grandma tackling another quilt project. For the one-year wedding anniversaries of all us grandkids, she gives each of us quilts -- with EVERY STITCH hand-done. Over Christmas, she gave Nick and I ours, a beautiful cream-on-cream creation with an intricate pattern I just adore.

Detail shot of a few of thousands (!) of her hand stitches

I am in love with this photo. Because some day, when Grandma is no longer living, it'll be an image like this that will define her (both to me and to my own children someday). She's doing what she loves - and, for that reason - this is my favorite shot of her.

Turtle Pond rocks!

If you were at Nick and I's wedding, then chances are you know my affinity for Turtle Pond Photography. I still love to keep tabs on what Nate and Amanda are up to through their blog and I'm blessed that Amanda and I's friendship has been able to grow in recent months over a few trips to the coffee house.

Amanda had been saying for a while now they were working on getting a new Web site together and, lo and behold, it is up and running! You've got to check it out!

I love the look and feel of their new site's design, and it's amazing to see how much phenomenal work they've done just since we hired them in spring 2006 to shoot our wedding. They are so great and, as my good pal Joy noted, "worth ever penny" ;)

Oh, by the way, if you check out their selection of "Fave" wedding shots, you might spot a few of a familiar bride in there ;) Thanks Amanda!