shootingshooting

After dealing with my slight neck/back pain last night, I returned to work this morning. The ride, courtesy of my lovely girlfriend, got me to work slightly early. I prefer to always be early. I am certainly fortunate to have her around, and not just for the occasionally ride to work either. It wasn't a particularly busy day, so after returning to the station from picking up a recently serviced vehicle, I gathered my gear and headed toward the RBC Center. The Hurricanes, whose PR department is rather accommodating, were scheduled to meet with a group of children with diabetes. Contrary to the information I had gotten before leaving the station, the kids were not going to be skating with the players. Something about liability reasons, blah blah blah...

Anyway, that was entertaining and the organizers of the event were extremely nice. I interviewed a very young kid about the experience. He didn't even seem to be fresh out of first grade (that's a generous estimate), but he was able to tell me about how Cam Ward was his favorite player. As cheesy as it sounds, getting to see things like that usually makes my day. These kids, all seemingly avid fans of the Hurricanes, were allowed on the ice (on a strip of red carpet, of course) to warm up the nets with Tim Gleason and Justin Williams before the Hurricanes had a practice of their own. I also had to stay and do some locker room interviews after practice, which wasn't exactly a party. None of them seemed particularly happy, which is understandable after losing 3 straight and being outscored 10-2 in the last two games. While meandering about the empty RBC Center, I grabbed a shot of the water fountains. 

For some reason I liked the pattern, I just wish I'd taken more time to square the photo up more and avoid so much distortion. Oh well, it was a shot from the hip as I was trying to get out of there and on to my next assignment.

This next assignment brought me to Hillsborough. I was told the event, a town forum aimed at getting opinions from the public on the location/viability of a rail station in the town, began at 4, and to get there early so I could grab a quick bit of sound before it began and then get out of there. Well, the event began at 5:30, and despite having access to other officials who were early (the city planner, the task force organizer and regular train rider, and the task force chairman), I was told I needed to stay to get the public in the story. I spent an hour in the parking lot behind this old barn disguised as a small town convention center. There was a blacksmith nearby, and while the afternoon light offered some cool photo opportunities, I was less-than-inspired in lieu of being slightly annoyed. I waited like I was told and ended up having a discussion with two women who have lived in Hillsborough for the duration of their lives, 74 years said one of the women. Again, everyone was extremely nice. I'm not sure if they respect me or the fact that I work for a news station and carry around a big camera. Either way, I'll take it. 

As I mentioned above, the Hurricanes' PR department has my favor. Today at work I was told to check my mailbox because I had a Christmas present in it. My first reaction was "I have a mailbox?!" Despite having worked there for over 8 months, I was completely unaware of this. I decided to investigate and it was true, I had my own mailbox. In it was a package from the Carolina Hurricanes. It was a toiletry travel kit with the alternate jersey logo embroidered on it, complete with a letter thanking me for my coverage of the team. The timing couldn't have been more perfect, as I planned on buying one of these tomorrow for my trip to D.C. on Sunday.