Monday, June 11, 2007

West Side Wildfires

ReisingerAvenueFire2



Ok, so they are not really wildfires. Or at least what most people would refer to as a wildfire.

I've coined another definition of the word "wildfire". I use it to describe the vast amount of unexplained fires we have overnight here in the always beautiful metropolis of Dayton.

It seems that during the hotter days you are guaranteed at least one a night, somtimes up to three. They always seem to be vacant houses, but you can never be to sure what you will find inside. Sometimes there will be a homeless man, other times there will be some stray cats, and sometimes a body. You never know.

ReisingerAvenueFire


Also what is always a mystery is what kind of fire it will be. Will it be a warehouse, a vacant house somewhere in a dirty neighborhood? Or will it be the random car that somehow parked itself next to the railroad tracks and spontaneously combusted?

On slower nights I drive by to look at these fires. It's part of the job. Sometimes it can provide something exciting to look at on a boring night. These fires are like Crackerjack boxes, you never know what you'll find inside.

After all, isn't the prize what we buy Crackerjacks for in the first place?

One Too Many Entries, One Final Result

So, I haven't been writing that much. Not to worry, just been a little busy with things around the apartment and such.

award2


After six years I finally get some recognition, albeit a second place one. The 2007 Ohio AP Broadcast Awards luncheon was yesterday, and today I was surprised to find an award on my desk. After several entries into the contest I'd all but given up on the idea of winning an award.

Winning an award doesn't make me feel better than anyone else. I can understand the other winners and why, it's just some icing on the cake. It's nice to hear "Good Job!" every once in awhile, and that's something that is sometimes forgotten in this business. I'm happy. Still thinking about my place in the world and where I want to go next, but I'm glad I've made it this far.

As one dear friend in the business once said, "You're only as good as your last story." If the story I won an award for was my last story I ever did on this earth, I would be happy.


It's good to see other people in the business agree.