Dreams come true, a look back at 2012

Today marks the end of 2012, and marks the first full year that I have lived in Atlanta and didn’t work for CNN. It was a journey that I couldn’t have gotten through without my friends, family, and some of my former CNN colleagues. I started 2012 freelancing as an editor for The Weather Channel. I started my first full shift over there on January 17th, the day after my birthday. In the beginning of the year, work was scarce. I would have 0 or 1 shift to work on any given week. Sometimes if I was lucky, I would have at least three shifts in any given week. One thing I was surprised about was that I didn't lose my touch on editing when it came to using Final Cut Pro. Even though I didn't touch a non-linear editing machine for two months, I was able to edit VOs, SOTs, and packages for The Weather Channel after using it for more than a year at CNN. Along the way, looked for other jobs and continued my quest for full-time employment. I applied for and interviewed for an editing position at WSB-TV and for an Associate Producer position for Fox Sports South/SportSouth. I felt that the interviews went pretty well and I got a tour of both facilities along the way. I felt like I had hope for either one of those positions. Unfortunately, both of those positions were put on hold. I never got an answer on whether or not I would have been offered one of those positions. All I could do was press on and find a new place to work again. I also applied for a full-time position for one of the six video producer jobs at The Weather Channel. I did not waste time and I got to work on my application for it in January. After a month of waiting in February, I did not hear anything. Half of March went by, nothing again. I waited, waited, and waited some more to see if I was going to get an interview. Unfortunately, all six positions got filled and I didn’t even get an interview. At the time that was discouraging news to me. I didn't know what to think. All I could do was keep working hard at The Weather Channel and hope that someone would see how good I was. Looking back, I might not have been the right fit for that position in the long run. I think my lack of producer experience hurt me in applying for the position. I was still a freelancer at The Weather Channel going into late March. I moved from an edit bay to the newsroom where I edited and produced some videos and averaged at least three shifts a week. Most of the time, I provided some editing support for shows. Occasionally, I would tap in to iWitness from weather.com and produce and edit videos from that user generated website. I wrote my own scripts and offered those segments for air on any show that wanted them. I edited Packages, VOs, SOTs, SOT/VOs, stillstrings, all the usual things I used to edit for CNN. In July, I interviewed for the temporary video editor position here at WGCL and got it. I was a temp for a month before I earned full-time status here. I thank my former CNN colleague Katharine Dorsett for e-mailing me the link to apply for the temp position to get me where I’m at today. Before I accepted my temporary position here at WGCL, I interviewed for the AP position for HLN’s Weekend Express. I interviewed on the same day the Colorado movie theatre shooting happened. I interviewed with Executive Producer Valerie Butler and it felt very comfortable. I felt like we were having a conversation the whole time I was interviewing for a job. Needless to say, I lost out on the position to an internal candidate, but I am happy with where I am here at WGCL. Had I got an offer to work for HLN, it would have marked the first time in my life that I successfully returned to a place that I left behind or moved away from. My regrets are few, but here they are. I regret that I didn’t get a chance to show enough people at CNN that I have changed. I didn’t get a chance to show people that I could become a better, more creative editor. I didn’t get a chance to show the right people that I improved my communication with co-workers and that I was able to work with them better than I did in 2010. I felt that I had left CNN without finishing the job that I started. The dream of full-time employment is realized with CBS Atlanta News/WGCL-TV. I hope to continue on the good things I have done here at the station and for the work that I did for The Weather Channel. Happy new year to all of you and I will be back for more media fun in 2013.

Dreaming of Orlando

As I was sleeping this morning, I was listening to WSB-TV's Bulldog's Gameday. It sounded like the show was previewing the Capital One Bowl matchup versus Nebraska on New Year's Day. In my dream, I was in an Orlando hotel room getting ready to go to the Capital One Bowl and watch Georgia play at night. I ran into a few surfer dues along the way. An old style radio alarm clock woke me up and helped get me ready for the big game. In reality: I'm not going to Orlando on New Year's Day. I'll be here in Atlanta working and trying to catch a glimpse of the Capital One Bowl on ABC.

12.27.2012 Zachary J. Irwin sports update demo B

Zachary J. Irwin 12.27.2012 sports update demo A.

Dreaming of the future

Here are some things I would like to see in 2013: 1. A Falcons Super Bowl win 2. An NHL season (a partial one) 3. A Hawks game at Philips Arena 4. A San Diego Padres playoff/pennant drive 5. A career surge by me 6. A trip to Las Vegas for the weekend 7. Harmony between Gandalf and Gadget 8. The Los Angeles Clippers making a deep NBA playoff run 9. "The Hangover 3" 10. My family in Oklahoma

A TV classic, Sale of the Century finale, part 2

Dreaming of Las Vegas again

I had a dream where I was leaving an undetermined casino where I was going to another casino. I was transitioning from hotel to hotel, gambling to eating, and a casino to a buffet table. I had my mind on some red meat. In reality, I haven't been to Vegas in five years. I had prime rib for dinner last night at Longhorn Steakhouse in Kennesaw, Georgia. It was big, thick, and delicious. I capped it off with some mashed potatoes and some chocolate cake for dessert.

Zachary J. Irwin 12.23.2012 Sports Update Demo A

Zachary J. Irwin 12.17.2012 Sports Update Demo A

Zachary J. Irwin 12.13.2012 Sports Update Demo C

Zachary J. Irwin 12.13.2012 Sports Update Demo B

Zachary J. Irwin 12.13.2012 sports update demo A

My first package I edited for WGCL-TV in Atlanta

CBS Atlanta 46

Dreaming of returning to ASU's Hayden Library

It has been a long time since I posted anything on my blog. No freeway or media dreams to report on since the last post. In my dream, my friend Steve and I were head to work at our accounting jobs inside ASU's own Hayden Library. Inside the library, we were talking about all things entertainment and gossip related. In reality, I woke up and I am still in Acworth, Georgia. Steve is an accounting manager, and I am a video editor for WGCL-TV/CBS Atlanta.

I love this headline: Dave Hart Addresses Tennessee Football Future

Zachary J. Irwin 11.18.2012 Sports Update Demo B

Zachary J. Irwin 11.18.2012 Sports Update Demo A

Zachary J. Irwin 11.13.2012 sports update demo b

Zachary J. Irwin 11.13.2011 sports update demo a

Gotta share a Collective Soul classic

Zachary J. Irwin 11.9.2012 Sports Update Demo

Zachary J. Irwin 11.8.2012 Sports Update Demo A

Bad dream about running out of gas and Twitter

I had a dream where I was escorting Radio Talk Show Host and CBS Sports Announcer Tim Brando from Atlanta to Auburn, Alabama for a football game. Later in the dream, I picked up a pair of Auburn fans into my Nissan Rogue. I was traveling Southbound on I-75 on my way into Downtown Atlanta and toward the intended destination of Auburn. Something went wrong when my car suddenly stopped along side the freeway near the Moores Mill Road exit. I saw an orange light come on and I didn't know what that light meant. I thought that something was wrong with the engine or something underneath my car. After a lot of investigative work done by my passengers and Tim Brando, they determined that my car was out of gas. Later in the dream, I agreed to walk down the freeway for two miles one way to buy a one gallon cart and a gallon of gas. I don't remember the part where I would walk back to my car to fill it up again. Later in the dream, we were all transported to the house of one of my bosses at WGCL-TV. The house was located on a dirt road. My boss instructed me to call for help for me and my passengers. Instead of using my smartphone to call for help, I was using it to check out my twitter feeds. I was addicted to Twitter and was not interested in doing what I needed to do to get my car up and running again. Near the end of my dream, my boss came into a room I was in and he caught me checking out Twitter. He said he can't have that anymore. Suddenly, I was on my way out of a job. I begged and pleaded for one last chance to keep my job and never use Twitter again. After my pleas for keeping my job, I woke up. In reality, I have scaled my use of Twitter in the last two weeks. I have to go to the gas station and re-fill my Rogue today. I have to go to work as a video editor at WGCL-TV later this afternoon. Finally, I have two more chores to complete before I leave the house.

Wheel Dreams

There may be a day where I appear as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune. I've grown up watching the show since I was a kid. Until that day comes, I see other people's dreams of being on the show coming true. Still, it never fails that i get choked up when someone wins the BIG prize. See below.

Zachary J. Irwin 11/5/2012 Sports Update Demo A

Dreaming of San Diego Again

This morning, I had a dream where I was a single guy working and living in San Diego again. In this dream, I was working the Assignment Desk at KNSD-TV/NBC 7 in San Diego. I was alongside a former colleague of mine from CNN and I was doing research on my computer and in my local newspaper. At the end of my dream shift, I was walking home to my condo a few blocks away from work. Heck, I was even contemplating going over to Petco Park and walking up to get a ticket for a game with my San Diego Padres. It felt awesome that I could live, work, and play, all in the same place near downtown San Diego. I was loving life. In the dream, I was excited about living in San Diego again. In reality, I woke up this morning and I am still living in my home in Acworth, Georgia. Luckily, I am living with my beautiful wife Kelly and our two cats. I'm happy living here in the Atlanta Area and doing better here at work at WGCL-TV and living life in general. There is still so much more to see here in Georgia that I haven't been to yet. Also in reality, I haven't lived in the San Diego Area since 1987. I don't have any more plans on living there in my life again. I will go back to visit there again in the next several years. This next time, I'm taking my wife there for an extended visit.

Bad Dream of getting a ticket

I was dreaming that I was in Louisiana on a road trip with my friend Gary Long. In the dream, I was driving at night. I was getting followed by a police officer inside the RV I was driving in. In the dream, I tried to slow down, but my right foot could not get to the brakes in time, so I got pinched. I got pulled over, and the next thing I know, night dissolved into daylight. In the daylight part of my dream, I saw an abandoned California style freeway sign in the median while I was driving on a New Orleans freeway. It was so weird. In reality, I have not driven through Louisiana in more than a decade. I have not been to California in more than 4 years. Finally, I have not seen my friend Gary since my wedding on April 2, 2011. I hope to rectify the last two out of the three sometime soon. Going back to California for a visit, now that's my dream. What's yours?

My 300th Post!!!!! My posting of Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons going 7-0

CBS Atlanta 46

work dreams

I keep dreaming that I returned to work for CNN again.  Please help me!!!

Gotta share a Paul Davis classic just because

Zachary J. Irwin 10.28.2012 sports update demo B

Zach Irwin sports update 10.28.2012 a

Zachary J. Irwin 10.22.2012 sports update demo a

Zachary J. Irwin 10.22.2012 Sports Update Demo B

Zachary J. Irwin 10.11.12 Sports Update Demo E

Zachary J. Irwin 10.11.12 sports update demo D

Zachary J. Irwin 10.11.12 Sports Update Demo C

Zachary J. Irwin 10.11.12 Sports Update Demo B

Zachary J. Irwin 10.11.12 Sports Update Demo A

On Monday Night, I had a dream that I saw former "Card Sharks" host Jim Perry out at a picnic.  Why I had this dream I have no idea. 

This is one way I want to remember Jim Perry.



Here's another way I want to remember Jim Perry.



And another.



Keep in mind, he is still alive as far as I know.

In reality:  I dream of Jim Perry making one final triumphant return to host one more game of "Card Sharks."  Here's hoping that dream comes through for me.

Zachary J. Irwin Writing Samples for Late Monday, October 8, 2012

ASU/COLORADO PREVIEW

ASU GETS READY FOR CU AFTER BYE WEEK

                The Arizona State Sun Devils get to work as they get set to take on the University of Colorado on Thursday Night.  ASU is coming off its bye week as is Colorado.  Sun Devil Quarterback Taylor Kelly comes into the game with the Pac-12’s best passing efficiency rating at 166.3.  The Sun Devils come into this matchup 4-1, 2-0 in conference play, good enough for first place in the PAC-12 South division.  Colorado is 1-4, 1-1 in the conference.  Kickoff is set for 6 PM in Boulder and you can catch the game on ESPN.

GEORGIA TECH/AL GROH

GEORGIA TECH FIRES DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, DID NOT 'GROH' IN YEAR 3

                Georgia Tech fired Defensive Coordinator Al Groh on Monday.  Georgia Tech’s defense has allowed more than 500 yards and 40 points per game in each of the last three games, prompting the school and Head Coach Paul Johnson to replace the 45-year football coaching veteran in his third season at Tech.  Secondary Coach Charles Kelly will take over the Defensive Coordinator position for the remainder of the season.  The transition comes at a good time for the Yellow Jackets.  Georgia Tech has the week off and will get back on the field in less than two weeks when it hosts Boston College on October 20^th.

OREGON STATE/SEAN MANNION

BEAVERS LOSE STAR QUARTERBACK FOR A WHILE

                Number Ten Oregon State will be without Quarterback Sean Mannion for an indefinite amount of time.  Mannion suffered a left knee injury in the Beavers’ 19-6 victory over Washington State on Saturday.  Oregon State is 4-0 and 3-0 in the Pac-12 North, tied with Number Two Oregon for first place in the division.  Oregon State will battle BYU on the road in a non-conference game on Saturday and will seek its first 5-0 start in 73 years.  OSU is ranked in the top 10 of the AP Poll for the first time since the start of the 2001 season.

CARDINALS/RYAN WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS OUT FOR THE SEASON AGAIN

                The Arizona Cardinals got a few extra days of rest this weekend and will get ready to battle the Buffalo Bills at the University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday.   The Cardinals will have to start a new winning streak without Running Back Ryan Williams.  He is expected to miss the remainder of the season with an injured left shoulder.  Williams suffered the injury in the 4^th quarter of Thursday Night’s 17-3 loss to the St. Louis Rams.  Williams suffers a season ending injury for the second year in a row.  The Cardinals are tied with the San Francisco 49ers for first place in the N-F-C West with a 4-1 record.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL/TEXANS VS. JETS

TEXANS HOLD ON TO BEAT JETS

                The Houston Texans remain perfect in 2012.  Arian Foster ran for 152 yards and a Touchdown as the Texans beat the New York Jets on Monday Night Football 23-17.   Joe McKnight returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to cut the Texans lead to 20-14.  It was another tough game for Mark Sanchez as he passed for 230 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions on only 14 of 31 completions.  The Texans remain one of only two unbeaten teams in the NFL alongside the 5-0 Atlanta Falcons.  The Jets fall to 2-3, 1-2 at home at MetLife Stadium.

INDIANS/TERRY FRANCONA

INDIANS HIRE WORLD CHAMPION MANAGER

                The Cleveland Indians hired Terry Francona to be their new manager.  Francona comes from ESPN after serving as a baseball analyst and commentator for the 2012 season.  Before that. he spent the previous eight seasons Managing the Boston Red Sox, winning world championships in 2004 and 2007.  Francona takes over in the dugout for Interim Manager Sandy Alomar Sr. after the team fired Manny Acta with six games remaining in the season.  The Cleveland Indians have not made it to the playoffs since the 2007 season and have lost at least 90 games in three of the past four seasons.

GAME 2 NLDS/NATIONALS VS. CARDINALS

CARDINALS DELIVER CAPITAL PUNISHMENT TO NATIONALS

                The St. Louis Cardinals slammed four home runs, two of them by Carlos Beltran, as the Cardinals trounced the Washington Nationals 12-4 in game two of the National League Division Series.  With the win the Cardinals even the best of five series at one win a piece.  The series shifts to Washington for games three, four, and if necessary, game five.  Chris Carpenter goes on the mound for the Cardinals against Edwin Jackson for the Nationals in game three in DC.  First pitch is set for Wednesday Afternoon at 1:07 PM ET (10:07 AM PT).

GAME 2 ALDS/YANKESS VS. ORIOLES

ORIOLES TIE SERIES WITH YANKEES

                Chris Davis’s two-run single in the bottom of the third gives the Baltimore Orioles a lead that they would never give up.  Rookie Wei-Yin Chen pitched six-and-a-third innings of eight-hit ball while allowing only 2 runs as the Baltimore Orioles beat the New York Yankees 3-2.  The Orioles tie the American League Division Series with the Yankees at one win a piece as the remainder of this series shifts to Yankee Stadium starting on Wednesday.  The Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda on the mound against Baltimore’s Miguel Gonzalez.  First pitch is set for 7:37 PM ET/4:37 PM PT.

GAME 3 NLDS/GIANTS VS. REDS

REDS LOOKING FOR THE SWEEP IN CINCY

                The Cincinnati Reds look for a three game sweep and an appearance into the National League Championship series for the first time since 1995.  The San Francisco Giants look to avoid a sweep and extend their postseason run.   First pitch is at 5:37 PM ET and 2: 37 PM PT in Cincinnati.

GAME 3 ALDS/TIGERS VS. ATHLETICS

TIGERS SEEK TO SWEEP A'S OUT OF POSTSEASON

                A’s look to extend their season while the Tigers look for the sweep and a second straight berth into the American League Championship Series.  First pitch is scheduled for 9:07 PM ET and 6:07 PM PT in Oakland.

Even I could not have dreamed of Georgia Tech firing Al Groh

Paul Johnson and Georgia Tech had no choice.  They had to fire Al Groh, and they did so this afternoon.

It had become clear to me after the Yellow Jackets had given up more than 500 yards a game and more than 40 points per game in their current three game losing streak, something had to happen.

It wasn't just Georgia Tech losing three straight games.  It was the way Georgia Tech had lost those last three games. 

Let's start with the Miami game at home on September 22nd.  Tech had a 36-19 lead midway through the 4th quarter, and then it all fell apart.  Miami came back to tie the game at 36 to end regulation play and then Tech gave up the winning TD run to the Hurricanes.  Surely there would be a redemption game at home against Middle Tennessee State the following weekend.

The next week, on September 29th, Georgia Tech hosted Middle Tennessee State and the Yellow Jackets did not bounce back against this team from the Sun Belt Conference.  Tech lost 49-28 in more humiliating fashion.  No offense to my friend Bob Parker's alma mater in Middle Tennessee State.  MTSU was simply the better team that day.

Fast forward, and look back, to two days ago.  Georgia Tech had another shot at redemption, albeit against a superior #15 Clemson team on the road.  I don't know if there were any inspirational speeches or didn't get a chance to witness any hard work and preparation on the practice field leading up to the game. 

Whatever it was, it didn't work.

Clemson rolled up 601 yards of offense and 47 points (45 on offense) in a 47-31 beating of Georgia Tech.

In the last three games, Georgia Tech gave up 609 yards to Miami, only 510 yards to Middle Tennessee State, and 601 yards to Clemson.  Clearly those totals don't endear you to a fan base or a coaching staff.

In an afternoon news conference on Monday, Head Coach Paul Johnson says the remaining six games on the schedule will serve as an audition for the remaining defensive coaches on staff.  Let's hope the rest of this season and 2013 will not serve as an audition for Head Coach Paul Johnson himself.

-30-

Dreaming of college and board games

In the last couple of days, I have had dreams of going to college and looking for a dorm to reside in in Seattle and playing Settlers of Catan.

In my college dream, I was a college freshman getting out of an economics lecture class while trying to ask my professor how can I get to live in one of the residence halls.  My professor had no answers that I wanted to hear.  He told me to get my financial aid together in order to secure my place in the dorms.  In my dream, I really wanted to live in the dorms.

In my Settlers of Catan dream, I was doing al lot of mathematical calculations in my head and building roads with the white blocks to nowhere.  I wasn't even building any settlements and I was not getting any resources while playing the game.

In reality, I played Settlers of Catan for only the 2nd time in my life and I predictably lost.  In my 4.5 years of school at Arizona State University, I stayed in the dorms only ONCE due to an automotive emergency that prevented me from driving home one night.  I don't know if I would want to live in a dorm now because I live in a house that my wife and I own. 

Zachary J. Irwin writing samples for October 6, 2012

UGA/SOUTH CAROLINA

SOUTH CAROLINA DESTROYS GEORGIA

                The sixth-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks routed the fifth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs 35-7.  The Gamecocks dominated the Bulldogs in the battle of top-10 teams in S-E-C play.

                Georgia Quarterback Aaron Murray threw for only 109 yards on 11 of 30 passing with no touchdowns and an interception.  South Carolina held the Georgia’s freshman duo of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall to a combined 76 yards on the ground.

                South Carolina Quarterback Connor Shaw fared much better with 162 yards passing on six of ten attempts and two touchdowns.  Shaw ran for 78 yards and a touchdown as well.

                South Carolina improves to 6-0, 4-0 in S-E-C play while the Bulldogs suffer their first loss of the season (5-1, 3-1 in the SEC).  South Carolina has a huge one game lead in the S-E-C East and a leg up in competition to play in the S-E-C Championship game in Atlanta on December 2^nd.

                Georgia will have a bye next week before they take on Kentucky (1-5, 0-3 SEC) in Lexington while South Carolina has to rest up quickly and take on fourth-ranked L-S-U (4-1, 1-1 S-E-C) in Baton Rouge next week.

GEORGIA TECH/CLEMSON

CLEMSON BEATS TECH BY AIR AND LAND

                15^th-ranked Clemson had a monster day on offense while Georgia Tech’s defense was just plain offensive.  The Tigers rolled up 601 yards as they beat the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 47-31.

                Accounting for nearly 75 percent of the Tiger offense, Quarterback Tajh Boyd passed for  397 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 63 yards and a touchdown.  Boyd’s two touchdown passes on the day helped him set a new school record for 51career touchdown passes, breaking Charlie Whitehurst’s old mark of 49.

Georgia Tech (2-4, 1-3 ACC) has lost three in a row and needs four more wins just to become bowl eligible.

Clemson (5-1, 2-1 ACC) has won their last two games and it will have next week off before facing Virginia Tech at home on October 20^th.  Georgia Tech will also have next week off before it hosts Boston College at Bobby Dodd Stadium on October 20^th.

Zachary J. Irwin 10.1.2012 sports update demo 1

Dreaming of new TV shows (and contemplating new dreams for me)

Early Sunday morning, I had a dream where I was watching a brand new show on CNN starring Nick Valencia.  I had two working titles in my dream:  "Mexico Beat" and "Eye on Mexico."  In reality, I think those shows would be perfect for him.  He has done great work writing and reporting on what has been going on inside Mexico.

This morning, I had a dream where I was watching TV in Tulsa and at the same time I was watching a scale model of a freeway system materialize like a chemistry experiment, and it scared me.  Thankfully, I woke up.

Finally, I dream of having a beautiful career.  I realized that when Chipper Jones plays his final game as an Atlanta Brave, he will be remembered as a great baseball player.  Everybody has showered him with gifts and tributes this past weekend.  I even edited some video of him boarding a Delta charter flight with a big red "10" on the side of the plane.

In my dream of having a beautiful career, I hope that I will have done great things so that I can enjoy a tribute a tenth of what Chipper has enjoyed.  Then again, I'm just a video editor right now.  In the role of a video editor, I will do the work that is assigned to me and I will learn all the tricks and effects that AVID has to offer.

One more dream that I have is this:  I would love to travel on a charter flight for work.  I almost typed charger flight.  The San Diego Chargers are my favorite NFL team and my Chargers won yesterday.

Dreams of Vegas and babies

I had three distinct dreams this past week.

One dream that I had was I had a baby girl named Michelle.  I held her in my arms and everything.  I held her like I held a baby many, many times before.

Another dream that I had was that I was in Las Vegas.  In the dream I had a lucky wrapper of Mr. Goodbar while I was playing slots.  In the dream, I was winning money to the tune of $50.  After I pocketed my winnings, I was looking for a buffet where I could eat some prime rib and roast beef.

Last Night, I had a dream where I was in a real-life version of "Over the Edge."  I was in a prison-like atmosphere in 'New Granada' where I saw some of the movie's characters come to life.  I dreamed that I saw 'Carl Willet' and 'Richie White' in a hospital-prison-like atmosphere where the escape route led me to the front of a grocery store.

In reality, I have seen 'Over The Edge' many times on TV and YouTube.  I don't have any children.  Finally, I haven't been to Las Vegas in five years, and I hope to go back there again one day.

Dreaming of world peace

OK that would be a stretch.  Right now, I'm looking to settle for some kitty peace.  Over the past couple of nights, Gadget and Gandolf have been chasing each other more playfully.  Earlier tonight, I saw some of the fur fly in my house.  Gadget deserves better than this.  Gandolf is scaring me by scaring Gadget.

Gandolf is a sweet little cat, and he is everything I could hope for in being a lap cat.  I will do right by Gandolf in playing with him more, chasing him with a laser pointer, and making him leap for a feathery toy.

Here's one thing that I hope that the cats will love, a new kitty tree house.  I'm hoping that a kitty mansion will bring the two brother cats closer together.  Hopefully that will be the thing that stops them from 'fighting.'

I'm hoping for some 'treehouse diplomacy' in the coming days.

Gandolf is licking himself, but not his wounds.  Gandolf is the sweet little aggressor in the family.  He will now get to do some running and I'll sing to him too.  I'm going to sing to him the "Must Love Cats" theme song to him.

I want to play some guitar here at home, but that would scare Gadget.  I won't do anything intentional to make Gadget run and hide.  The only thing that I would do to make Gadget run (unintentional of course) is run the vacuum cleaner to sweep the floor.

Here's hoping that Gadget and Gandolf can all get along.  Here's to kitty cat peace.

I never dreamed of Alabama blowing out Michigan

Dreaming of working for CNN again

OK so the headline is misleading in my life.  In reality, I'm perfectly happy to be working for WGCL-TV and occasionally over at The Weather Channel here in Atlanta.

Let me share my dream with you all.  I had a dream that I was working with some of my former colleagues from CNN, including one of my bosses who hired me in feeds at CNN.

In my dream, the new CNN building was somewhere in Midtown Atlanta around Peachtree Street and 14th Street.  The newsroom and its computers were on the ground floor looking outside at Peachtree Street.  The Newsroom computers looked so new and the people that I was set to work with were so familiar to me.

In reality, I have worked for some of those people in my dream over at The Weather Channel.  I hope to get to see some of those people once again either at work or in social settings.

Zachary J. Irwin sports update 9.1.2012

Zachary J. Irwin 8.27.2012 Sports Update Demo LITE

Zachary J. Irwin 8.27.2012 Sports Update Demo LONG

Dreams come true

Wow!  what a journey it has been for my family and me for the past nine months.  From the time I left CNN to the time I arrived at WGCL-TV here in Atlanta, I've learned a lot along the way.

I've learned never to take my job for granted again.  I've learned more about networking and meeting people in 2012 than I did for the past decade.  I am more appreciative of what I have now than ever before. 

With the help of my wife Kelly Sanders Irwin, my family, and my friends, I overcame the fears and anxieties of not having a job to go to for the first two months of my transition.  Every time I had a chance to work a shift or a string of shifts at The Weather Channel, I was always grateful for each opportunity.

Thank you everybody for reaching out to me via phone, e-mail, and facebook within hours and days of my departure and eventual transition from CNN.  You all showed great care and class towards me during one of the most difficult times in my life.  I will never forget you and all that you all have done for me from that moment.  Even just the kind words that you said to me carried me through the early stages in Mid-November.

A special thank you and shout-out goes out to the people and members of Life Lessons in Atlanta for many things, especially welcoming me into the group.  I also thank Louis Gruver for showing me the way to Life Lessons.  I took a few things away from some of the guest speakers at Life Lessons.  I made my resume look a little better and met new people and networked much better from the times I attended Atlanta Press Club events.  I won't take networking for granted anymore.

A special thank you to Alex Sembra, Eric Ferrell, Bob Parker,  Michael Scharff, and Jim Proeller for getting me into the Weather Channel as a Freelancer and for continuing to give me work for 2012 up to this moment.

One more final shoutout to Katharine Dorsett Bennett and Phil Cantor for helping me get in at WGCL-TV, where I am now.  The opportunity to work there as a temp and later as a full-time staff member came faster than I ever dreamed it would.  I won't let CBS Atlanta down.

The best parts about my transition were:  I got to spend more quality time with my wife, I got to enjoy all the big holidays with my wife and her family in 2011, and we didn't have to pack up and move away from Atlanta to get to my current full-time job.

I will treasure my 11+ years with CNN and all of its sister networks and for the friendships that will last a lifetime.  I will treasure 2012 as a time that I got to work with great and talented people at The Weather Channel and for the new friends that I have made along the way.  I never dreamed that I would get to work for two major networks here in Atlanta and work with so many talented people along the way, people I would argue that are more talented than I am. 

I love news, sports, television, media, and social media too much to do anything else in my career right now. 

I'm excited about this next chapter in my long 13+ year career in television, and I'm looking forward to a long stay at CBS Atlanta News.

Life is good and it is getting better.

Had a dream about some wings and an old friend

A few weeks ago, I had a dream where I saw one of my friends from way back in my Arizona State University days.  He was a good friend of mine in my Walter Cronkite School of Journalism classes and from my days as a fund raiser for the ASU Sundial Fund.  We talked, hung out, and had a few good laughs.

Later in the night, I had a different dream where I saw a lot of fried chicken wings with some golden-brown honey mustard sauce dripping down on them.  They looked so good I could almost taste them.  I was getting hungry for them.

In reality, I just found my friend Keith Bogart on Facebook and we've linked up as friends on the social networking site.  I would root for the Philadephia Eagles with him as long as they get rid of Michael Vick.  Second, I almost got chicken wings in my two appearances over at Taco Mac in Kennesaw, Georgia.  On Thursday, I got chips, tortillas, and queso.  On Friday, I got a grilled chicken burrito with queso and french fries. 

I'm going to score me some wings again one day.  I might go for the wings with honey mustard on them and some sweet barbecue sauce on them too.

A dream for the future of newspapers

This is one of those dreams that I didn't have when I was sleeping.  My dream for the future of newspapers is that they never go away. 

In recent years, I've seen a few troubling developments of their demise.  The Rocky Mountain News ceased publication in 2010.  It was sad for me because it was the only paper I bought in Denver when I was in my layover at Denver International Airport eight years ago.  The Seattle Post-Intelligencer ceased print publication that same year and exists now only as a website.  The Tucson Citizen also saw its demise that year in print and now lives on only as a website.

Luckily, those three cities were two newspaper towns and can still have one daily newspaper serve those communities and metro areas.  What about other cities that are one-paper towns?  What do they do if their cities' newspapers are in trouble in their print operations?  Cities like New Orleans, Birmingham, and Portland, Oregon are facing such questions that I never imagined just a decade ago.

 The New Orleans Times-Picayune is going to a 3-day a week publishing schedule this fall.  The paper is also going to publish a special Monday edition for New Orleans Saints coverage this season.  The Birmingham News is also moving to a 3-day a week publishing time frame.   In Portland, Oregon, The Oregonian is facing a future of not publishing a paper every single day. 

These three newspapers are all owned by Advance Publications, and they are the most notable papers that are moving towards a more web-based, digital content model.  The company owns many other newspapers including The Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Newark Star-Ledger. 

I admit I am part of the problem.  As of this writing, I do not have a print subscription to any newspaper.  I buy my newspapers only on Sundays for the coupons (and the news content), at the airport for having something to read, and at a city that I am visiting on vacation or business.

I too have embraced digital delivery of my news content on many levels.  I slowly adapted from just being a print reader to being able to get the news more electronically.  Here's my digital diet and it varies day by day.  I go online to some of my favorite news websites, turn on my smartphone and go to some of my favorite apps, or just simply watch TV or listen to the radio for my news and information.

Print publications have to take their products to the streets and market them to young people.  They are the future and they have gotten more tech-savvy in recent years.  Newspaper companies need to sell young people on the value of being able to hold a piece of paper in their hand and not worry about damaging the product if something gets spilled on it.  Newspapers need to add value inside their products by having a reader special for some discounts on restaurants or tickets to sporting events.

Print companies have to work with other electronic media and new media companies to partner on content and costs of production.

The latest example I have found of new partnerships is between my hometown paper, a TV station, and a sports Network.  The East Valley Tribune has entered into a partnership with KNXV-TV for news coverage and is already partnered with Fox Sports Arizona for additional sports coverage.  Partnerships like these will help preserve the newspapers in all of the major cities across the United States and keep people employed in their respective fields.

On a personal note, I grew up with the East Valley Tribune.  It morphed from the Mesa Tribune (along with the Tempe Daily News and Chandler Arizonan) to become the East Valley Tribune in 1999.  In 2009, the newspaper stopped being a paid daily publication and became a free three-day a week newspaper in Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, and Queen Creek, Arizona.

I hope I'm wrong on this prediction:  The increasing costs of print publication and the irreversable downward revenues will eventually leave many cities without their daily print edition of the newspaper.

Here's my solution:  Newspapers need to partner up with one major television station, one major radio station, a regional cable channel, and a new start-up internet website/news outlet to keep their papers relevant in their cities.  Costs will go down, subscriptions and day of newspaper sales will stabilize, and newspapers will continue to exist in the form that we know them in.

My dream for the newspapers:  They stay around forever.

Dreaming of Mafia Wars

Late last night or early this morning, I had a dream where I was playing Mafia Wars.  In the dream, all I had to do was hold the "attack" button, and my 'enemy' would be defeated much faster and my 'jobs' would be completed much, much faster.  That step would eliminate my need for constantly clicking on the mouse.

In reality:  I played some more Mafia Wars this morning.  I haven't played in more than two days, so I was due for some gaming.  I have advanced to level 2094 and I'm about a month away from completing construction of my '5-star restaurant' in Las Vegas.  I've already completed my '5-star bank vault'. 

In the game, I'm a 'trillionaire.'  In real life, I guess I'm a thousand-aire. 

Here's hoping for more social gaming in the future and that I will be the best gamer I can be.

Dreaming of Newspapers

Late this morning, I had a dream where I was coming home for work late last night.  In this dream, I saw a big SUV filled with a bunch of local newspapers in the back.  Two of them that I remember was the "Cherokee Tribune" and the fictional RED ANGEL in red letters.

I met this man and I asked him if I could buy one of his newspapers, and he said yes.  Not only that, he gave me a big hug for wanting to buy one of his papers.  In the dream, the newspaper would have been enough.  The hug really wasn't necessary.

I was so happy to get my Cherokee Tribune and I was going to start reading it.  When I got ready to read the paper, I woke up.

In reality, I may still have a neighbor that delivers newspapers on the side.  I read at least four print editions of the following newspapers:  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Marietta Daily Journal, the Cherokee Tribune, and the Cartersville Daily-Tribune News. 

I love newspapers and I hope they never go away in their print version.

Heat to stay for a while

I edited and posted this for The Weather Channel and Weather.com.

New TV and Media dreams over the weekend

On Saturday, I had a dream where I met up with a former potential employer at an apartment complex.  In the dream, I had a good chat with him about something.  I don't think it was work related or anything.

In reality:  I had a chance to work for an internet start-up video site within the past year.  I turned it down because I didn't feel it was the right opportunity for me at the time.  I hope it is the right opportunity for someone else or some other people in need.

On Sunday, I had a dream where I was trying to work for NBC and CBS at the same time.  I was trying to convince my bosses that this was a good idea for me to do this.  I found myself inside the newsrooms in Atlanta. 

In reality:  I don't think I could ever juggle both network jobs like that again.  Although, I'm trying to balance all the different freelance opportunities that are becoming available to me again.  I am supposed to start my freelance association with CBS Atlanta on Thursday.  On Friday, I have an interview scheduled with HLN for the Weekend Express Associate Producer position. 

Never dreamed of Nash being a Laker

In my past experiences of having dreams at night, I dreamed that my Phoenix Suns were triumphant in winning their first NBA title.  Alas, it was not to be.  It wasn't to be when I grew up in Chandler and Mesa, Arizona.  It was not to be when I moved here to Atlanta.

It was not to be when Charles Barkley rode into Phoenix with the high hopes of riding down Central Avenue with the Larry O'Brien Trophy in hand.  It was not to be when Steve Nash made his triumphant return to Phoenix after 5 season with the Dallas Mavericks.

It is not to be now or anytime soon I'm sad to say.

Read it here Folks.

Steve Nash is doing what anybody should be doing at the late stages of his career:  Go for one more shot at the NBA title.  I can understand that the Lakers gave him the best chance of doing that and be with his family as much as possible at the same time.  The Suns didn't have to agree to trade him to the Lakers and honor his request, but the Suns did right by Steve Nash as much as they could.

I'm going to wear my Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash jersey as long as possible.  It's my way to pay tribute to one of the greatest Phoenix Suns of all time.  His #13 should be hanging up high on the rafters of US Airways Center once his playing days are over.

I had the honor to see Steve Nash play in a Phoenix Suns uniform once in Phoenix, Five times here in Atlanta, once in Los Angeles, once in Orlando, and once in Oklahoma City.

My new dream is for the Suns to be as competitive as possible for the next few years.

I'll miss you in Phoenix Steve.  You're one of the best.

I never dreamed that Suns fans would ever turn on Steve Nash this way

Been dreaming of Vegas again

Earlier this week, I had a dream late in my sleep where I was in line for a breakfast buffet at one of the hotels in Las Vegas.  As part of the breakfast menu in my dream, I was in line for some grilled fish and baked potatoes among the goodies being offered at this unnamed hotel.

Still in the dream, before you know it, I was scrambling for some other breakfast like eggs, has browns, and some beef.  and just like that, I woke up.

In reality:  I may have to push my Vegas trip ideas back even more.  I will learn to find good buffets in my town or wherever I travel with my wife.

As a matter of fact, I'm daydreaming of some Sal Grosso endless meat in Atlanta, Georgia right now.  I can taste the cuts of beef, chicken, and fish right now.  In due time, my wife and I will enjoy our culinary surprises there again.

Zachary J. Irwin 6.26.2012 sports update demo

Dreaming of a promotion

Sometime within the last week, I had a good dream that I was moved up to full-time status over at The Weather Channel.

In reality:  I'm still a freelancer at The Weather Channel.  On the bright side, I have been working 40+ hours a week for a few weeks now.

I look forward to my trip to Oklahoma really soon.

Zachary J. Irwin 6.25.2012 Sports Update Demo A

Zachary J. Irwin 6.18.2012 sports update demo

Zachary J. Irwin 6.12.2012 sports update demo a

Love in the Wild

I edited this for air on The Weather Channel.

Zach Irwin 5.31.2012 sports update demo 1

I have been having weird dreams lately

First, I've been dreaming that I have been trying to get back to work at McDonald's.  I've encountered two of my former CNN colleagues working there.  One of them was an editor and the other was one of my former bosses.  In the dream, I was in the grill area and I was thinking about working there and trying to find another job, balancing two or more jobs at the same time.

Next, I was dreaming that I was with my father somewhere.  In the dream, it seemed like I was at some sort of vacation setting at night.  In the dream, I was wondering how he got there again.  It was like he came back from the dead and I had to come up with an explanation why things were no longer there and why I was living my life the way I was.

Also, I had a dream where I was moving to Los Angeles to get a job.  In the dream, I was staying at an unknown fancy hotel waiting to get settled there.   I never learned what the job was in the dream.  I stayed 'stuck' at the hotel just waiting to wake up in reality.

Back to reality now, I am wondering if 'I can go home again.'  I don't see myself returning to my hometown of Mesa, Arizona to live.  I may see myself returning to CNN/Turner Broadcasting for full-time employment.  In my past, I never permanently returned to places that I have left.  I have visited places like San Marcos, CA, Mesa, AZ, Arizona State University, and the CNN Center in Downtown Atlanta.  I have only returned to those places as a visitor.

I really want to stay with The Weather Channel, but I don't see anything opening up that I can realistically do that is being posted.  I have to re-apply for some jobs with Turner Broadcasting so that I can support my family and regain some PTO that I sorely miss.

In recent times, I have eaten at McDonald's for some breakfast and some lunch.  Having some coupons handy for BoGo or buy something get something else free hasn't hurt me either.