Journal Entry for March 24, 2016

I had to wake up twice this morning in order to get myself going for the day.  I didn't get to sleep until 2AM and I felt it today.

One of the highlights of my day was playing with Blake and taking his pictures.  Soon, he's going to have some front teeth on the upper part of his mouth.  I felt little holes where some teeth might be some day.  Some of his teething may explain why he felt so miserable this morning.  That could also explain some of the coughing he was experiencing today.

See some of the last gummy smiles he'll ever have.

I truly love that smile.  It shows me the optimism a little boy has and the hope for a brighter future.  It's these smiles and the laughs that he shows us that makes being a parent all the more worth while.

I picked up Ben from preschool today.  He got from the back seat all the way up to the steering wheel in the Rogue.  I had to get out of the car and pick Ben up from the driver's side back to his car seat.  I gave him hugs and kisses before I had to put him back in.  I gave him his doggy back, but I couldn't give him the two teddy bears that Blake usually plays with.

I'm not happy here at work today.  Work has been a little frustrating for me for the early part of my day.  I had trouble bringing in video that was e-mailed to me.  It was video from a McDonald's camera where suspects went to and from the restroom.  The story was where the suspects robbed a McDonald's in South Fulton County.

I need more coffee to get me through the evening.  I'm really, really tired tonight.  After my cup of coffee, I got going for my second wind.

Tonight, we're airing the 11PM News on CBS46 at about 12:08AM.  It's a full show mind you.  It's a full 35 minutes as always at 11PM.

My right knee and leg both hurt tonight.  I'm not sure why they do.  I don't think I slept in an unusual position last night.  I suspect that Blake stepped on me a lot and crawled all over me today.  I shouldn't be mad about that.  He is at least getting around on the floor of our home.

It's (early) FRIDAY!!!!!  I'm going to leave for home soon.  I have one more stop for the night:  It's a trip brought on by the Easter Bunny.

Writing Samples for March 23, 2016

GEORGIA IS SET TO PUT A KILLER TO DEATH NEXT MONTH.

KENNETH FULTS IS SET TO GO BY LETHAL INJECTION ON APRIL 12TH.

A JURY CONVICTED FULTS IN THE 1996 MURDER OF HIS NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR CATHY BOUNDS IN SPALDING COUNTY.

THAT SAME JURY LATER DECIDED HE SHOULD DIE FOR HIS CRIME.

FULTS IS SET TO BECOME THE FOURTH MAN TO DIE BY EXECUTION SO FAR THIS YEAR.

NEXT WEEK, JOSHUA BISHOP IS SET TO BE EXECUTED FOR THE 1994 MURDER OF A MILLEDGEVILLE MAN.

CHECK OUT THIS AMAZING PHOTO.

HE MAY LOOK LIKE AN ORDINARY MAN, BUT IF YOU KNOW WHO WENT TO BALL STATE UNIVERSITY AS THE T-SHIRT SAYS, YOU'LL KNOW THAT HE WAS A FORMER FAMOUS TALK SHOW HOST.

IT IS NONE OTHER THAN DAVID LETTERMAN.

THE 30 YEAR T-V VETERAN IS SPORTING THE BALDING BEARD LOOK IN THIS RECENT PICTURE.

IT HAS BEEN SHARED ALL OVER FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

THE 68-YEAR-OLD SAYS HE DOES NOT MISS WORKING IN T-V AS MUCH AS HE THOUGHT HE WOULD.

HE STEPPED DOWN FROM HIS C-B-S SHOW LAST MAY.





NEW AT 11.

CHAOS AND CONFUSION AT THE AIRPORT.

WE TAKE YOU INSIDE THE TERMINAL WHERE PEOPLE WERE RUNNING FOR SAFETY.

ALL THIS BECAUSE SOMEONE SAID 'THERE WAS AN ACTIVE SHOOTER' INSIDE HARTSFIELD-JACKSON.

WE DIG DEEP INTO WHAT MOTIVATED SUCH SPEECH AND IF ANYONE WILL FACE ANY CHARGES.




OVER THE WEEKEND, SOMEONE LEARNED THE HARD WAY ABOUT THE DANGERS OF THE EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCE OF TANNERITE.

A WALTON COUNTY MAN SHOT THROUGH SOME TANNERITE WITH A RIFLE, SENDING SHRAPNEL HIS WAY.

THE SHRAPNEL WENT THROUGH ONE OF HIS LEGS, TAKING IT OUT COMPLETELY BELOW THE KNEE.

WALTON COUNTY OFFICIALS TELL PEOPLE TO BE AS CAREFUL AS POSSIBLE WHEN BEING AROUND TANNERITE OR EVEN CHOOSE SAFER HOBBIES.

THEY SAY THAT THE CHEAP THRILL OF A LOUD BOOM IS NOT WORTH THE RISK.

EIGHT PEOPLE ARE ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO THE STABBING DEATH OF AN AUGUSTA AREA TEEN.

IT ALL STARTED WITH A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD SOUTH OF AUGUSTA.

THEN IT ESCALATED WHEN 30 TO 50 PEOPLE WANTED TO WATCH THE FIGHT ONLY FOR SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE TO BEGIN FIGHTING EACH OTHER.

SOMEONE REPORTEDLY VIDEOTAPED THE INCIDENT INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BREAK IT UP.

18-YEAR-OLD DEMAJHAY BELL WAS INSIDE THE HOUSE WHERE THE FIGHT TOOK PLACE.

HE WAS STABBED IN THE NECK WHEN HE CAME OUT AND DIED AT A HOSPITAL TWO DAYS LATER.

THE RICHMOND COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DECIDED TO TAKE DRASTIC STEPS FOR WHAT IS BEING CALLED A SENSELESS MURDER.

(Richard Roundtree/Richmond County Sheriff)

“That’s why we’re taking an aggressive stance and charging everyone with murder.  With everything they do, (teens think) it has to be elevated so the world will take note.”

21-YEAR-OLD DEMETRIUS HARRIS JUNIOR IS ACCUSED OF STABBING BELL WHILE SEVEN OTHERS ARE BEING CHARGED WITH MURDER AND AGGREVATED ASSAULT.

AUTHORITIES HAVE WARRANTS OUT FOR TWO ADDITIONAL SUSPECTS.

Journal Entry for March 23, 2016

Today has been a good day so far.  I had a short turnaround for sleep as I failed to turn in until 1:45AM.  I was summoned to be up by 7:30 so that I could be ready to be with both Ben and Blake.  During the time I am in bed, Blake will sometimes need a diaper in the early morning hours.  There are times that I have to hold baby Blake as Kelly gets a baby diaper ready for him.  I have to make sure I'm not asleep when I hold Blake.  I don't want him to get away as he is more mobile than ever.

We all got ready to go to Swift Cantrell Park in Kennesaw by 10AM this morning.  It just so happened that we saw some of the parents of Ben's preschool classmates out there.  Ben was focused on play.  I was focused on watching and monitoring Ben at play.  I made sure he was safe and sound while Kelly hung out with the other moms out there.  We all had a marvelous time.  As always, there is a time to go home and poor Ben didn't like it.  I didn't want to have to pick Ben up, but I did.  I did it for the good of the family so we could all go home.

Before we went home, Kelly and I had to go make a pit stop.  I got tempted to getting each of us a 'fizzy.'  She got a Coke and I got a Coke Zero.  We were thirsty.  It might not be the best way to quench a thirst, but we wanted it anyway.  Boy did those drinks taste good and hit the spot.

Ben, oh Ben.  He played a lot when he got home.  He finished off his blue dum dum sucker.  He didn't have much of the munchies soon after.  I tried to get Ben to eat after Kelly made a great lunch for all of us.  Ben had a chance to eat some yummy grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans.  I ate all those things while Ben said no.

See below:  Ben sucking his thumb as I attempt to get selfies of him watching "Special Agent Oso."  That is one of his favorite cartoons on Disney Junior.  I wish I had luck finding a Special Agent Oso bear at a store somewhere.  I need three special steps in order to locate one.

On my way to work, I listened to "The Kimmer, WMLB-AM/CBS NEWS, and "The Dave Ramsey Show".  I did so all while driving down on I-75, and I didn't sing to anything in my car.

I got some of my writing chops back tonight.  I wrote several sample scripts from some of the things I read online tonight.  I'll do so again tomorrow.

I had a positive day editing some videos and editing a TOP 5 by Fred kalil and David Ries.  I love to do those once a week.  The hardest thing is to balance editing that while editing the news videos of the day in the afternoon.  Check out my TOP 5 edit on this blog and on Youtube.

I'll be back for more fun again tomorrow.  Peace.

May 25, 2015 writing samples (I previously wrote these in my notebook)

COLUMN ONE
I have to stop and take a step back from myself.  I have to think of one of the most overused phrases of all time.  "The [FILL IN THE BLANK] experience.  When I worked for CNN.com, I have heard the phrase "The Video Experience" when it came to giving viewers a way to watch our newly over-produced pieces.  Right away, I wanted to vomit.  I wanted to vomit then and I want to vomit now after hearing that phrase over and over again.

Why does EVERYTHING have to be an experience?  Today we have the viewer experience, the fan experience, the movie-going experience, and the buying experience.  Everything is going to be an experience before too long.  Why don't we call things what they are like watching TV, going to a game, going out for a meal.  Oops, I forgot one more phrase, "The Dining Experience."

I want to touch on the fan experience for a second.  I'm a simpleton as far as going to a game goes.  I like the part where I like to take pictures and videos with my smartphone.  I love posting them to social media sites as soon as I can.

This is the last time I'm hoping to use that word "experience."  My ideal experience at a game is where the weather is good, my home team is winning, and the hot dogs are warm and fresh (and the beer and soda is cold).

I'm sure the wi-fi hot spots are all getting faster and better.  I'm not a big fan of paying for a $6 slice of pizza or a $10 cheeseburger.  I'm not a big fan of fighting traffic to and from the game either.

I'm going to miss Turner Field for the central location it provided Metro Atlanta.  SunTrust Park will take Turner Field's place for the Atlanta Braves after the 2016 season.  Get ready:  It's gonna be a fun and bumpy ride.  Oh, and I leave you with this:  SunTrust Park fans, traffic will suck beginning in 2017 (if not sooner).  You've been warned.

COLUMN TWO
I remember Sandy Alderson as an executive for the Oakland A's and the San Diego Padres.  I just read about his days as Bud Selig's right hand man when he was a MLB executive.  Heck, he could have been the commissioner today.

I'm surprised that the New York Mets are competing with the Washington Nationals for supremacy in the NL East.  Good for him and good for them.  I'm a Braves fan and I wish they were more competitive this season.

Sandy Alderson built the Oakland A's late 80's pennant winning teams (including the 1989 World Series Champions) with great drafting of Canseco and McGwire.  He also had the money to add pieces around them.  The A's were fun to watch in the early 9-'s when I really started watching and following baseball.  They never made it back to another world series since 1990 (when the Cincinnati Reds swept them).

Fast forward to the middle of the last decade.  Alderson was CEO of the San Diego Padres from 2005-2009.  To me, he didn't do it for me as a Padres fan.  Sure, he got Chris Young, Adrian Gonzalez, and a slew of players from the Texas Rangers.  Beyond that, he didn't make my team better.

He even let Manager Bruce Bochy walk, to the San Francisco Giants. for NOTHING.  No compensation taken.  BUPKUS.  He let the best and most successful manager my team ever had go to a division rival.  Three world championships later, that will give me nightmares for years.

So I guess you could say Sandy Alderson revitalized Bay Area Baseball, for the WRONG TEAM.  It was not my team (past or present).

I got Blake to calm down last year with my catchy tune

Zach Irwin Edit - March 23, 2016 - Top 5 signs you don't make opening da...

Journal Entry for March 22, 2016

Today was a good day so far today.  I woke up just before 8AM and had a productive morning.  I got Ben up from his sleep and gave him a sippy cup of milk.  I even made Ben a yummy breakfast chock full of yummies.  I got him some waffles, sausage, and strawberries.  He loves sausage, and that was pretty much all he ate.

I also caught up on three TV shows that I had recorded on my DirecTV DVR.  I finished up FOX's "Second Chance", A&E's "Born this way", and a rerun of "NYPD Blue" on the Audience Network.  I think I did good watching some TV and taking care of Blake solo for a while.

My family and I had fun at the preschool Easter party today.  Ben demolished a blue cupcake and he made a cute little bunny.  Before that, he took the head off one of the paper bunnies I cut out on Sunday.

My goal was to be more social with the other parents at the party.  I don't think I did too well there.  I could always say that I was preoccupied with holding Blake and tending to Ben when he was doing the arts and crafts.

When Ben was hunting down some Easter eggs, I was holding Blake every step of the way.  I took pictures all the while while holding Blake in my arms.  I had to let Blake down even for just a bit.  He's such a beautiful heavy little baby.  He can wear me out after a while.  I should enjoy all the times I get to hold him.  Before you know it, he'll be too heavy for me to hold and I won't get to hold him anymore.  That would make this daddy sad.

I had to leave the guys behind in order to get to work today.  I missed them and I know that my hard work will pay off for them.

Today was a most challenging day at work.  The big story of the day was he twin attacks in Brussels, Belgium.  I was focused on the work and editing that needed to be done on it, and I tried to remember the victims of this vicious attack this afternoon.

I got a few stories written in my blog as part of my writing samples.  I'll post them in the blog really soon.  I still have a few more to go before I call it quits for the night.

I had a fun day with my family and I hope to find a way to duplicate that tomorrow.  Most of the day will be spent in and around the house.  I can't wait to hear Ben say "outside, outside."  I think I'll hear him say "Turn the light off, turn the fan off" as well.  That's my Ben.

Time for me to go for the night.  I'll be back for more again on Wednesday.

Writing Samples for March 22, 2016

DRIVERS WILL NEED A GO AROUND TO GET THROUGH COBB COUNTY TONIGHT.

G-DOT OFFICIALS ARE CLOSING THE SOUTHBOUND ONRAMP OF I-75 AT DELK ROAD.

THAT'S BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION WILL CONTINUE ON THE ELEVATED EXPRESS LANES ALONG SIDE THE FREEWAY.

WORK WILL BE DONE OVER DELK ROAD TO CONTINUE WORK ON THE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR TOLL LANES PROJECT.

DRIVERS WILL NEED TO TAKE 75 NORTH TO SOUTH MARIETTA PARKWAY AND THEN GO SOUTH FROM THERE.

THEY CAN ALSO TAKE COBB PARKWAY DOWN TO EITHER WINDY HILL ROAD OR I-285 TO THEN GO SOUTH ON 75.

CONSTRUCTION WILL STOP IN TIME FOR THE A-M RUSH HOUR COMMUTE.

   

THERE HAS BEEN A SHOOTING IN SOUTH FULTON COUNTY TONIGHT.

IT HAPPENED AT A MCDONALD'S ON OLD NATIONAL HIGHWAY IN RIVERDALE.

FULTON COUNTY POLICE SAY THREE BLACK MEN WALKED IN AND SHOT A WORKER IN AN ATTEMPTED ROBBERY.

THE VICTIM WAS MOVED TO GRADY HOSPITAL WHERE HE IS IN STABLE CONDITION. 

AN OFFICER RESPONDING TO THE SCENE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AT BETHSAIDA ROAD AND OLD NATIONAL HIGHWAY.

THAT OFFICER IS GETTING TREATMENT AT GRADY WITH MINOR INJURIES.

A FEDERAL JUDGE WILL ALLOW U-S MARSHALS TO MOVE AMMON BUNDY AND FOUR OTHER MEN FROM OREGON TO NEVADA FOR AN APRIL HEARING.

THEY HAVE BEEN IN A PORTLAND JAIL SINCE JANUARY FOR TAKING PART IN A STANDOFF WITH GOVERNMENT AGENTS AT A STATE WILDLIFE REFUGE.

THEY WILL FACE A NEVADA JUDGE FOR THEIR PART IN AN ARMED STANDOFF AGAINST GOVERNMENT AGENTS AT THE BUNDY FAMILY RANCH TWO YEARS AGO.

ATTORNEYS FOR THE MEN SAY THIS IS BAD BECAUSE IT COULD JEOPARDIZE THEIR RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL IF THEY ARE TRIED IN OREGON AND NEVADA AT THE SAME TIME.

THEIR HEARING IN NEVADA IS SET FOR EITHER APRIL 14TH OR 15TH WITH A RETURN TRIP TO OREGON ON APRIL 23RD.

Zach Irwin sports update demo March 21/22, 2016

Writing Samples FROM October 18, 2015

COBB COUNTY'S REPUTATION FOR BEING MOSTLY WHITE EXTENDS TO THEIR POLITICAL LEADERS.

AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF OFFICIALS IN LOCAL, COUNTY, AND STATE GOVERNMENT FROM THE COUNTY ARE WHITE.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENT IN DIVERSIFYING POSITIONS FROM CITY HALL ALL THE WAY TO THE STATE CAPITOL.

15 NON-WHITE OFFICIALS HOLD POSTS IN GOVERNMENT, UP FROM JUST FOUR IN 2000.

COBB'S DEMOGRAPHICS ARE DIVERSIFYING, AND THERE ARE MORE SIGN OF CHANGE IN THE FUTURE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE.


(Kerwin Swint/Kennesaw State University Political Science Professor)
"You see a lot more minorities in the Southern half of the county.   Minority groups are moving into the suburbs."

MARIETTA CITY SCHOOLS AND COBB COUNTY SCHOOLS HAVE A MAJORITY-MINORITY ENROLLMENT.

TODAY, LESS THAN HALF OF THOSE DISTRICTS STUDENTS ARE WHITE.




A "VOICE" CONTESTANT ADDS A LITTLE FLAVOR TO SATURDAY'S TASTE OF ACWORTH FESTIVAL.

ZACH SEABAUGH PERFORMED TO THE DELIGHT OF EVERYBODY SAMPLING FOODS FROM SOME OF THE CITY'S RESTAURANTS.

THE KENNESAW MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR SANG FOR SOME OF MUSIC'S ELI AND TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ON THE SHOW THIS WEEK.

HE ADMITS TO GETTING A LITTLE NERVOUS PERFORMING ON A SMALL STAGE.


(ZACH SEBAUGH/"VOICE" CONTESTANT)
"Being able to see people freaks me out more than being under the stage lights and stuff, but just having the crowd's reaction back at home is awesome."

SEABAUGH WAS ONE OF MANY LOCAL ARTISTS ON STAGE.

HE WILL CONTINUE PERFORMING ON THE N-B-C TALENT SHOT NEXT WEEK.



GRATEFUL DEAD BASSIST PHIL LESH SAYS HE HAS BLADDER CANCER.

THE 75-YEAR-OLD ANNOUNCED HIS ILLNESS ON FACEBOOK ON FRIDAY.

HE GOT DIAGNOSED EARLIER THIS MONTH AND IS NOW GOING THROUGH EARLY TESTS AT THE MAYO CLINIC IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA.