Weird times in the news industry

Pundits galore explore the crisis in the news industry daily, posturing and pontificating on the problems and what might be done to fix them. These things I know:


It's a sad, sad day for a community when a newspaper that has been family owned and firmly staked in its readership area moves into the corporate world. No matter anyone's personal feelings about what caused the downfall, it's heartbreaking.

Circulation continues to fall at many papers.

Of the few newspapers that posted circulation increases in the past six months, at least two of them are conservative -- ultra conservative -- as in the Deseret News and the Wall Street Journal.

People across the country will tell you they "don't read" newspapers yet they listen to the radio and read Web sites such as Yahoo and Google News. Where in the heck do they think all that news comes from? Does it materialize out of thin air? Absolutely not. Most of it begins in the notebook of a newspaper journalist, who's still devoted to the craftsmanship of turning information into news stories.

Digital world?

So I have a giant Rolodex with a collection of numbers I've been accumulating since I started working for The News Journal in December 1991. It's massive. I thought I would put all the numbers into a digital database, which is how I keep most numbers now, and lose the Rolodex. What was I thinking? I've been at it for over an hour and clearly it's going to take several hours. It seemed like a good idea.

Today, we sang a hymn in church that I've been singing all my life. But suddenly it hit me starkly as we were sitting there that this might be the time we've been singing about. "Now when the ungodly are fearing and tremble, we'll watch for the hour when the Savior will come." I've noticed in recent months that I'm not as worried or fearful about the current state of affairs nationally or globally as other people I know. I just have a certain sense of peace and calmness. Indeed, perhaps that is because I've always believed the Savior would return and looked forward to that day. I may not be entirely ready yet ...

Blatant destruction

Normally I would say I'm pretty much a pacifist. I avoid confrontation when possible. I swerve to avoid deer, squirrels, turtles and even butterflies. I don't kill snakes. But put me anywhere in the vicinity of ants in my kitchen and I become Dinah the huntress, cheerfully, gleefully even sweeping countless ants into the sink and washing them down the drain, smooshing them with my thumb and pretty much wiping them out anyway I can. It doesn't even phase me a bit. Why is that?

I'd really like to know where these ants come from and where they go. Sometimes they disappear for a while, sort of like they've taken a little ant vacation. Maybe they go to Disney World, or the Caribbean or the bagel place around the corner. I'm just happy when they're gone. But they always show up again, like annoying relatives, turning up here looking for food and shelter. How can something this tiny be so annoying!

Speaking of murderous rage, I'm thinking of taking an anger management class at the driving school I want to take Rosie to. I think it would make a fun column for the newspaper. Though Steve said it may scare some of the folks I interview if they understand how really angry I get about some things. I'll have to play it cool!

We really worked today. We scrubbed the pool liner, which took nearly two hours. We cleaned out the old sheds and moved some things around and threw a bunch of stuff away. Then we made a marathon trip to Home Depot. Tonight we headed over to the mall and Sam's Club. The pineapples at Sam's were gorgeous. We bought two. It's messy fruit week. We've been eating mango almost every day. I bought my third Christmas present of the year so far!

What a day

Rough day to day. I think my sense of humor could be missing in action. Absolutely kaput.
And there's nothing like having a public official tell a group of elected officials not to pay any attention to questions from that pesky reporter Dinah - "we've got everything under control and calmed down."

Perhaps my growing lack of patience is the reason I feel sort of fed up with hypocritical and critical people in my life.

Beautiful, beautiful weather. I took a long walk tonight. And you just can't beat Florida at this time of year. I love it. Citrus blossoms hang heavy in the air and warm breezes ruffle the palms. It's paradise. Even in a mediocre suburban neighborhood.

Now I'm headed into the kitchen to make Jamaican jerk chicken and mango chutney.

News...

It's been a great week so far. I've received some very good news regarding a journalism award, which must remain secret until ater this summer. But its' very cool.

I'm trying to get back on the diet, but they had incredibly amazing brownies in our Accent department today, made by former food editor Cathy Klasne. I had two! Then came home and Rosie talked me into making wiener schnitzel with chicken. Definitely not healthy!

Sigh...

The weekend definitely wasn't long enough. I know Steve thinks I'm a slug. After staying up late to prepare a power point on Friday, then giving a speech on Saturday and driving back from Daytona, I was exhausted. Then we spent some time with William which was totally fun, but doesn't lend itself to housecleaning. Today was nearly five hours of church and then I drove Rosie to New Smyrna for another church meeting and another 3.5 hours disappeared....
William loves to swing. I was swinging him sort of mildly and he was bucking against the seat - he clearly wanted to go higher or faster, so I pushed him higher and he just loves it. He chortles. That baby swing for the swing set was a great investment. Funny how long that swingset has lasted. We had it in Orlando, moved it here to Mom's house when we went to St. Augustine, came back. Bought replacement parts a couple of times and now we'll be buying parts again to go with this swing.
Someday I hope to figure out how to deal with critical people. Every once in a while you find someone who is just so critical of others -- all the time. It's hard to know how to handle that. My current way -- tensing up my neck and shoulders -- just makes me sick for a couple of days. There has to be a better way. Why can't everyone just love each other and be happy? It would make the world go along so much more smoothly.

Happy Easter

Aaron and Jen came over tonight to color Easter eggs. We had such a good time. I cooked a Southern dinner because I found beautiful okra at Winn Dixie. So then I decided to fix fried green tomatoes and fried pork chops and catfish as well. AJ talked me into gravy so we really, really ate traditional Southern. But we don't do it often.
Rosie and Jen finished decorating and baking the sugar cookies. They turned out beautiful. They also finished up the eggs. Aaron taught me how to make jalapeno poppers then. However, my idea of leaving them in the bowl of water didn't turn out so great. The oil in the water burned Aaron's hands really badly. Somehow I managed to get jalapeno on my forehead and in my throat. My throat hurts and feels like it wants to close up, but I'm told it will go away! But I worried about Aaron when he left.
I just finished up the deviled eggs and shoved them in the fridge. Now I'm going to finish my lesson for church tomorrow.

Jammin!

42 jars total! I should make one more batch. We'll see how much time I get tonight.

This is my favorite time of year hands down. As I drive around looking at the bright green tree tops, I think they've put on their new clothes and raised their faces to the heavens in salutation and gratitude for making it another year.