You just never know whose eyes are gazing

I received a call Tuesday night from one of my best friends who could not wait to tell me that both of our blogs were linked to Cleveland.com.

At first, I didn't quite understand what she was saying but after fumbling around to log on and taking a gander, I realized that our blog entries on MLK and Inauguration Day were both linked to the story 'What local bloggers are saying about the inauguration.'

It may sound silly, but I felt as if my writing was up to snuff and had been accepted --not sure by whom, but accepted none-the-less!

After much consternation and learning my way around the blog world, I started blogging mainly to fine tune my writing skills, which had dulled a bit.

I graduated with a degree in English and thoroughly enjoyed crafting interesting anecdotes.

Writing for a news show or news stories is quite different than blogging or creating a novel or any other work. You often have dry topics to try to make exciting....and you only have seconds to tell your entire story.

So without divulging too much personal information and trying to keep wraps on the emotions, I dove into the blogging world.

It's been a blast! I pay more attention to my work blog, Swing by and spray, and often slight my personal blog, Grand slam kinda day. But I am so very proud of each entry I compose for each blog, hoping one day this venture can be a much bigger part of my life or my career.

One thing I have learned about this blogging mania. You just never know whose eyes are gazing.

Back on March 22, 2008 I wrote an entry remembering the Cleveland Indians' boating tragedy on Little Lake Nellie. As many of you may know, my love for baseball and Cleveland Indians' baseball reigns high in my life. Every anniversary brings bitter sweet memories and reminds me how fragile life can be.

As I looked back at that day, the words easily transferred from my finger tips to the computer screen.

I hit 'publish post' and put that story to bed.

Five months later, I logged onto my work email. It was not a normal day. Rather quite an emotional day as Stephanie Tubbs Jones had passed. I received an email regarding my Little Lake Nellie post. As I read each word, each line, I could not believe my eyes, which began tearing up.

I am not going to reprint the note in its entirety. It was beautiful and so touching. I do not want to give the sense that I am exploiting the sender in any way. However, I was floored. I could not believe that my little blog, hardly read by anyone I knew at that time let alone strangers afar, had found its way before the eyes of the daughter of one of my subjects.

She said she came across my blog entry 'randomly.'

She thanked me for my compassion, shared how reading other folks' recollections on her father's story helped her get through as she grew up and then wished me well.

Without knowing it, the daughter of Cleveland Indians' pitcher Bob Ojeda changed MY life FOREVER by her thoughtful letter and kind words.

All because she 'stumbled' onto my little blog.

World-wide historical day

On days such as these, my convictions are confirmed: I chose the appropriate career.

I have been glued to Inauguration coverage since Sunday's brilliant HBO presentation at the Lincoln Memorial.

If the United States was orchestrated and run as smoothly as that "We are one" special, we'd have nothing to worry about right now.

I've mentioned in previous entries how I am not a huge fan of 'politics' --or I should say, the juvenile shenanigans associated with many of the tendencies and characters connected to politics.

However, today is a world-wide historical day which will have a lasting effect on all of us for years to come.

I could not begin watching 'Inauguration Day' coverage and the swearing in of Barack Obama, our 44th President, early enough.

When I was away from the television, I had the radio or computer close by so as not to miss a beat.

Working in a newsroom during colossal events, at least at Channel 3, usually goes off without a hitch.

When you have a big story, the smaller ancillary issues (that may be top of mind any other day) fall by the wayside, at least for the day.

I still continue to listen to the scanners, monitor the pulse of what's happening in Northeast Ohio, and carry on with all of my other tasks, but for the most part, everything already has been mapped out and just needs to be set into motion. It's also amazing how crime takes a holiday during these special events.

Our local reporters know in advance their assignments and angles. Guests slated to come down to the station to be on set are already confirmed. And much of the rest of our coverage comes courtesy NBC/MSNBC and via satellite feeds from the event itself, or from our local analysts, bloggers and reporters stationed in Washington D.C.

This tightly harmonized planning once again gives me the freedom to feed my political news addiction by tuning into wkyc or msnbc and absorb all of the up-to-the minute coverage on this unbelievable chapter in our country's history.

I look around the newsroom and am surrounded by fellow co-workers, some of whom have never worked an Inauguration Day or may have voted for the very first time.

The day-long adventure (inside and outside the newsroom) with the Inauguration of Barack Obama, our 44th President of the Free World, is an occasion not to be forgotten --EVER!

Inauguration day programming schedule

Due to Tuesday's Presidential Inauguration, programming has changed a bit on wkyc.

NBC begins their Inauguration day coverage at 10:30am (following a condensed version of the Today Show).

Channel 3 picks up coverage at the conclusion of NBC's programming, which should be between 4pm and 5pm.

Channel 3's extended local coverage takes you from Cleveland to Washington D.C. covering all of the sights and sounds of this history-making day. Romona Robinson, Eric Mansfield, and Carole Sullivan along with our entire team of reporters will bring you the most comprehensive coverage. We even have a number of bloggers at all of the events in Washington giving you first hand on-site reports.

Again, our local coverage begins at NBC's conclusion and goes until 630pm and then from 730pm until 8pm.

Tune into Channel 3 News at 11pm for a complete wrap up of all the days events locally and in Washington.

Stay with Channel 3 as well as wkyc.com the entire day for coverage unparalleled by any other local television station or website.