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But it was Starbucks coffee!
By adriana_acosta in To venus and back
May 25, 2011

A few weeks ago I woke up in a panic. Oh my, I am late for production day! I looked out the window and notice it was daytime and then I looked at my clock and it said it was 7:30. Frantically, I grabbed my phone to send out an email and say I would be running late, but then I saw that American Idol was on television. So I settled right back into my couch and went back to sleep.

Every time I tell this story, people either laugh at me or ask me how I manage to manage my time, my writing and responsibilities with the newspaper without having another incident like this one.

Easy, I say. All you have to do is have a really good planner book and a pen to write things down.

Last week I had a very exciting reporting week. Hectic indeed, three assignments for the daily, plus I had to work on layout for our newspaper.

Some people might call it a little bit crazy, I call it fun. Sure, the hours are long and I have spent more time in my office than I ever will in my apartment, but I am not complaining.

My first assignment last week was for a luncheon happening at the Bay City chamber of commerce and Ed Halpin, the chief operating officer for South Texas Project was the guest speaker.

When I am writing an article for the daily, I always get a bit nervous. Being a weekly reporter, I always have the luxury of taking my time (per say) when I write my articles. I have an opportunity to research a little bit more and ask more questions – after an event has happened.

But when I have to write an article for the daily, I feel like I am off on a mission. I think you have to, be prepared to do the job, in such a short amount of time. So off I go with my laptop, reporter notebook and my pen.

I am prepared, for whatever the assignment.

In between the first and second assignment, I worked on putting together the Thursday paper.

The second assignment I had was another STP article, but this had to do with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. That day I had to hurry back to Bay City because I had spent the day in Victoria at meetings. After the long drive there and then back, I knew I would need something to keep me up and running. Starbucks was the place, getting my usual, a Venti Pike. And I was sure going to need it because I was going to have just close to two hours to work on the article and had been awake since 4 a.m. to record my 8 a.m. segment at Happy Radio at 6 a.m. Yes, this has happened, but I assure you I am live 99 percent of the time.

Once I arrived at the meeting and made myself comfortable, a man came up to me and told me no liquids were allowed. But we had a luncheon here a few weeks ago, I thought. I am sure they can make an exception for a local reporter I thought to myself. But alas, I bid farewell to my coffee. The horror! Starbucks coffee! Later I found out he had saved the coffee and gave it back to me at the end of the meeting. This made me very happy.

The last assignment I had for the daily last week was to cover the Nikki Araguz court case in Wharton. It is always interesting to sit and listen to both sides of the case. I remember the first court hearing last year, there was so much media involved. So much that I had get in the middle of all the broadcast reporters and their cameras to get a good photo.

This time, although time consuming, it was rather calm.

So no matter how crazy a week is going, you always have to remember to take a breather and relax. How do you relax after a long day at work? Email me: aacosta@vicad.com