Last week, Southeast Texas was inundated with fires, which broke out in homes and businesses all throughout the area. I saw a car literally drive through a restaurant. Before that, I had only been witness to the aftermath of a car driving through and down the aisle of a convenience store.
Okay, I thought to myself, maybe things will settle down once the normal work week comes back this week. And I was right, for the most part things this week were quiet and rather mundane.
But what's fun about mundane?
Then yesterday, Thursday, rolls around. My day starts with routine feature assignment...Dana Melancon at the old Port Arthur studio, posing with the Channel 4 Mardi Gras float for a Mardi Gras feature.
That was pretty early in the morning. I get back to the newsroom right after, and my editor, Roger, tells me...we need something for the front page.
I didn't get done shooting untill nine o'clock that night.
First, I went to Lamar State College-Port Arthur, where registration was going on. Then, I drive out to Major Drive in Beaumont where Myrtle Smith turned 100 year old. Then, back to Mid-County where I encounter a wreck, which included four cars and one that ended up in a ditch trying to get the license plate of the truck that wreaked the havoc and tried to flee.
After that, off to the Chamber of Commerce for a group shot of the Chamber staff...then to Valero to get a few shots of the Port Arthur Chamber incoming president, Morris Carter.
But wait...I almost get a second to breathe, when on my way back to the office, I'm telephoned by Bob West, telling me that we are a go to cover the Memorial High School football banquet, where injured Buffalo Bill tight end Kevin Everett (a Port Arthur Jefferson graduate) and other Memorial grads (Jamaal Charles, James Johnson and Danny Gorrer) were set to appear.
The big deal about that, of course, being how Everett went down during a game on the national stage and game level, only to endure one of the most miraculous recoveries in sports history. He's kept out of the public eye since injury, even in New York, where he plays professionally. So, it wouldn't be hard for him to come through town unnoticed if he tried hard enough.
Grrrrrrrrrr.
Out the door I go, with Mary Meaux shortly on my tail. Port Arthur Police (more specifically, my brother-in-law patrol officer) was on the scene, interviewing witnesses. I'm trying to get a clear, decent shot. Mary's trying to figure out what happened. Then, off several officers go into the dark and a minute later, the call over the radio comes..."one suspect in custody."
I nabbed my shot, got back to the paper, finished all my day's work, gathered my gear and next day's assignments from the book, and was on my way out the door...
...and I realize I still had to hand in my time sheet and mileage forms.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Till next time...
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