As an investigative reporter, I'm charged with uncovering exclusive stories for 13 News each day. I also live in and am assigned to cover Virginia Beach. I often start my day at the Virginia Beach Muncipal Center, going from various offices to check with sources, to visiting the courthouse to look at police documents.

Many times my day is a waiting game of waiting for the material I've uncovered to be confirmed and able to report on the air. I have to say I can't think of a better place to sit and wait then the courthouse in Virginia Beach. If you're a people watcher you will find the benches out front an amazing vantage point for real life entertainment.

You see everything from the excitement of a couple getting married or a teenager getting his license to the pain on someone's face who's sitting in a trial where a loved one is accused of a crime where they face serious consequences.

You'll see every walk of life going to contest a traffic ticket. I find it most amusing when there's a guy struggling to tuck his shirt in his pants, or a girl letting her hair down, both trying to impress the judge. If you stay long enough you'll watch that shirt tail pop back out -- or the woman pull off her shirt jacke and throw her hair back in a pony tail as they leave.

It truly is an interesting way to spend a few minutes of your day. So if you find yourself with some time to kill on a nice day, grab one of the benches out front. Be sure to come say hi to the reporter with his ear to a cellphone, his lap filled with police documents, and his eye on the woman walking into the courtroom trying to stuff a rubber chicken into their purse. (true story!)

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