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June 2008
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December 2007 Archives2008 is just a few short hours away... and like most people, I have quite a few resolutions. Every year I vow to do one or two things, but this year I've gone a little bit overboard. ...I have several friends that have little nieces and nephews they love to show off. They show me photos and gush about their little relatives. I've always looked at the pictures, gave the usual "oh wow, he's so cute" and moved on. I never really understood why they were so excited. Until now. ...I've been accused by one WVEC producer of using my blog as a rundown of my on-the-job injuries. I can't say she's necessarily wrong -- if you need proof, take a look at some of earlier blog entries. But, today my clumsiness rose above and beyond the call of duty. ...Sitting on my couch Tuesday night, watching the first few minutes of 13News at 11 p.m., 13News Chief Meteorologist Jeff Lawson said it was going to be a cold and blustery day. Stupidly, I chose not to listen to him. ...I really should have known better. December 23rd, 2006 was one of the longest days of my life. Flying from Norfolk back to Redding, CA following my interview at WVEC, I got stranded at Dulles for more hours than I can count. I was one of many travel victims of the monster Denver snow storm that jammed the nation's air travel system. I eventually made it home, but it was nonetheless a pain. ...I love traditions and the Rohall family certainly has a lot of them. We have them for every holiday--- Valentine's Day, The Fourth of July, even Superbowl Sunday! This year I have to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so I'm missing out on the Rohall Christmas traditions (Christmas Eve Mass, Peter Rohall's gift opening rules, Santa's visit on Christmas Eve). But even without these traditions, I still found my own way to celebrate today... This year I had the pleasure of flying around the Christmas holiday (please note the sarcasm). In the past, I've seen the horror stories on the news where people are stuck in airports and end up sleeping on their suitcases and feeling completely miserable. Today I got to experience it first-hand. ...There are few things that I dislike more than snow. Oh, I'll gladly visit the snow for a few days to play around and snowboard, as far as living in it...forget it. And while in theory the idea of a white Christmas is appealing, I'll pass on the reality. ...Before tonight, my only experience with fruitcake was movies and TV shows. I've heard of people re-gifting the cakes, and horror stories about nasty, clumpy, desserts. But tonight, I got my first taste of the holiday cake... ...For me, one of the hardest parts of reporting is tempering my emotions. I'm naturally a very emotional person who is very quick to laugh or to cry. But as you all know, there are situations where laughing and crying are completely inappropriate. I had a tough time holding back my tears last Friday at a sentencing hearing. ...Bullets seem to fly every day in Hampton Roads... and when they land, they tear apart families, friends, and communities. The bullet may only hit one person, but the impact spreads outward... claiming dozens of other victims. ...As a general rule, and I mean her no disrespect, but, I never listen to Kathryn Barrett's stories. In fact, I'm so busy every day just getting my own stories together, I never really much listen to any other reporters. I'm not proud of that, of course, but it's the way it is. In recent days, though, I've come to learn, if there's one person I should've listened to it was Barrett, Hampton Roads' only medical editor. >> Continue reading: On The Mend, Finally For the next week, I'll be visiting my family and friends in California. ...Ask anyone in military public affairs who WVEC's military reporter is, they all know the answer -- Mike Gooding, not Andria Borba. ...Time and time again we hear from law enforcement, "If someone approaches you with a gun, do whatever they ask, nothing is worth your life." In fact, about a week ago Lindsey Roberts wrote a story that 13News titled "How to Fight Like a Girl," in response to the shooting outside Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News. On Monday night though, Sherin Edwards didn't follow any of this advice. ...This afternoon my photographer Beth Brown and I were both moved to tears by the pain eleven year old Tyler Mcquerrey expressed when remembering his little sister Madison. ...When you're 8,000 miles from home, like I am now in Sub-Saharan Africa, some things just seem a little otherworldly. Take the other morning for example... ...There are few things I find sadder than a senior citizen who is disengaged from the world, sitting quietly waiting for someone to visit them. The seniors I met today at Beth Sholom in Virginia Beach were anything but sedentary and sad. They were active, cheering and generally having a great time. ...I've always said that a being a journalist gives you a front row seat to some of the most interesting events and people of our time. Recently, I met a future fashion designer at, of all places, Mt Trashmore in Virginia Beach. How often do you get to meet a woman who has immersed herself in creating a clothing line during the course of doing a story on weight loss! Virginia Beach is home to many rising fashion superstars. Sherreth Stew... My name is Andria Borba, and I am an overpacker. There, I've admitted it. ...With Saturday's groundbreaking of "The Tide", Norfolk's light rail system, a new era of commuting was ushered into Hampton Roads. ...I've been in the news business in one form or another for 5+ years. In that time, truly taking time to eat a meal is something that has happened only on a handful of occasions. During my shifts, meals are usually gulped down using one hand, while the other is busy typing a script. ...these are the types of stories I live to tell. As amaya's mother packed her luggage I could feel the excitement bubbling inside her. " okay I'm coming home and amaya is going to be sight seeing in virginia sight seeking in china and she is going to be saying mommy what's that, "tyler said ...One of the most common questions I get when I'm at a speaking engagement or visiting a school or group is, "How do you decide what story to do for the news each day. Do THEY tell you what to do?" ( I always like that "they" because if there was a "they" I would hope "they" would do my research for me.) The question is always a hard one to answer because a variety of factors go into determining what topic to cover that day. Studies com... For viewers who may be wondering in recent days what's become of me and why I haven't been on the air, there is a reason I've been gone, and it is a good one. I have been reporting out of Africa. Djibouti, East Africa to be precise. Photographer Pierre Simmons and I are gathering stories for WVEC TV's annual "Holiday Salute" show (formerly "Navy Christmas"). ...It's that time of year again. The time when homes across the country glow from strands of lights, radio stations begin to play their holiday playlists, and of course, organizations have their holiday parties. Last weekend we had our WVEC holiday celebration. ...Do you remember being a kid and by the time Christmas Morning rolled around you were practically crawling out of your skin with anticipation? Well, that pretty much sums up me right now, because in 16 days I'll be flying home to see my family in California for the first time since July. ... |
