Hair the Size of Texas!

There are a few things about the news industry that one learns in the early years:

1.) Always carry gloves, quarters, and a snack with you since you never know when you may need one or all of those things.
2.) Having a "job on TV" isn't nearly as glamorous as you thought it would be...like when you're knee-deep in rain water on the side of the road doing a stand up while freezing rain hits your face at what feels like is 40 mph.
3.) The turn-over rate is constant and always feels too fast when you make friends in the newsroom.

As Angela Taylor moves on from our Big Country family, it's a wonderful career move for her and her family...but the KTAB newsroom will be minus one of its spunkiest members.

While I didn't work with Angela for most of her time at the station, the past several months have shown me a strong leader in the newsroom who stands up for what she believes in and is clearly passionate about her work.
I think passion and strong convictions are hard things to portray in any profession, but when you have blonde hair as big as Texas and are a woman, it's even harder to hold on to. I will miss Angela's straight to the point way of telling you something should be changed...and within the same breath, tell you "your dress is cuuute!" (And ya know she means it, both the piece of advice and the compliment.)

I wasn't able to see Angela pregnant with Turner but boy have I heard enough stories, shown lots of pictures and of course seen the end result-a beautiful baby girl who is literally the sweetest little thing to ever wear a bow and strappy sandals in our station. As a single female working in news, I've often discussed the topic of balancing a career and family with other fellow single ladies of news. Take one look at Angela and you can see it's tough work, but it's very do-able. Phew!

So with this, ON the record, Angela we will miss seeing your smiling face bounce through these halls and hope that you and your fam come back and visit real soon, ya hear?

XO,
Michelle

That's What I Like About Texas!

My favorite part of this job is that it's not 9-5 behind a desk.
I get sent out on glorious 75* days and get to meet wonderful people and have them tell me their stories.
However, reporters also get sent out in 15* severe weather and at times interview some not-so-wonderful people.
With the good comes the bad and I think I may have underestimated just how great of a state Texas is.

Sure it's big. It's the biggest one in the U.S. but when I decided to take a job in the Big Country, I had no idea was I was in for.
The first night I arrived, I was called by some of the most friendly, welcoming people at my station.
I was also much relieved to see a bright green Starbucks sign and Target logo, as those are staples to any 20 something lifestyle.

Beyond the familiar chains that glitter all over Abilene, I'm continuously amazed and surprised at the small towns I go to.

"Michelle, we need you to drive out to Robert Lee and get a story on the convict that escaped..."
Robert E Lee? Where/what is that?

"Take this camera and go to Brownwood, make contacts, go."
I now love Brownwood.

"Drive out to Katy and see what they're doing about the state playoffs"
Katy? Is she related to Robert Lee? Ohhhhh, I see. Hello Houston!

If it weren't for GPS and Google Maps, my News Director would have a missing reporter about every week.
Cisco, Sweetwater, Clyde, Merkel, Bangs, Santa Ana, Glen Rose, Grapevine, Anson, Albany...just to name a few.

Having gotten a chance to discover San Angelo yesterday, I realized there are great things to do and see in just about every town in Texas. From the great music, shopping, food, sports, and museums to be had in cities like Austin and Dallas; to the quite and humble friendliness of small towns like Robert Lee, I think I'm falling in love with the Lone Star State.

Yes, ladies and gents, this East coast gal has been bitten by the travel bug of Texas...and as we all know...EVERYTHING (including the bugs) are bigger in Texas.

That