3:56 PM Thu, Feb 28, 2008 | Permalink
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Did you notice anything different about my live shot last night (Wednesday) from the Virginia Beach Jail? Well, if you were looking closely, you noticed I was shorter and sitting down.
13News producer Pearl Fyderek has accused me of using this blog to list my various injuries -- so in keeping with that tradition....
I'll spare you the gory (and painful) details, but I broke my big toe on Sunday. Not pleasant. The injury and lengthy ER visit kept me from working Sunday, and Monday and Tuesday are my days off -- so Wednesday was my first day back on the job.
Even hobbling around on crutches, I was bound and determined to do my job. (It certainly beats the pants off of sitting around watching daytime television) Everything was going well until 13News photographer Pierre Simmons and I arrived at the Virginia Beach jail for our interview with Lisa Bradley. I had to tackle stairs and it a looooong way to walk from the jail entrance to the interview room. There were a few tense moments (and one groan going up the stairs) -- but I managed.
The real challenge came later in the evening, as Pierre and I were trying to figure out how I'd do my live shot. Normally, reporters stand in front of the camera. I was able to stand up, but only using crutches -- two accessories I wasn't eager to show off on air. It was Pierre to the rescue. He came up with the ingenious idea of pulling a chair out of our microwave/satellite truck, sitting me and my busted toe in it and just lowering the camera.
Pierre's plan worked brilliantly. I was able to do my job without revealing my injury to everyone at home (really, that's what a blog is for) -- all without worrying about falling over and winding up in more excruciating pain.
As of Thursday afternoon, I've been seperated from the evil crutches by an orthopedic surgeon and am now wearing an oh-so-fashionable walking boot (They are all the rage right now at the Paris couture shows). So, tonight, you won't see the crutches (and hopefully never will).
I am, however, beginning to believe what Pearl likes to say, "Andria, we need to put you in a plastic bubble so you can't get hurt."
Well, at least it's not as bad as anchoring a whole news broadcast with a concusion, after a news van trunk door slams down on your head.
I knew when I saw you do that, that I was working with a true professional.