The Difference Between Bloggers & Newspaper Journalists or What I Learned at the Mississippi Press Association Convention
June 30th, 2008 at 12:19 pm by Dee O'Neil Andrews
We're back home from the Mississippi Press Association's summer convention and had a blast! We went over to Biloxi to the lovely Beau Rivage early Thursday morning and got home yesterday (Sunday) afternoon about 2:30 p.m. We met and visited with a lot of our newspaper friends, ate lots of really good food and even experienced some wild weather adventures. (I'll tell you about those tomorrow or Wednesday, so tune back in!)
Friday night at the President's dinner, Tom stepped down as this past year's President of the Mississippi Press Association. He enjoyed a great year as president and went on several trips that were really good - one to Norfolk, Virginia to the National Newspaper Association's convention and one to a governmental conference for press members in Washington, D. C. - but is glad to be stepping down, as well. It's been a real hectic year with him being gone a lot, and I don't like to be by myself so much, so I'll be happy to have him home more.
He's still got several responsibilities for the MPA Board this coming year, so will still be really active and gone on short trips to Jackson on a regular basis, but will be home a lot more for the most part.
However, we've got a big trip (for me, anyway) coming up this week - Friday, July 4, to be exact. Tom has to go out to Dallas (Grand Prairie) to pick up two of his three grandkids, 15 year old Julian and 12 year old Veronica, to bring them down for a week. (He'll be picking up his other granddaughter, Hayley, 11, in Jackson on the way home.) He worked it out last week with his daughter, Kristine, to come back out the next weekend to bring them home if they pay for his trip (they had planned to come down to get the kids, but something came up).
Kristine agreed, so Tom worked it out, too, for me to come along AND not only is he going to take me on over to Abilene Saturday morning to see my mom, I'm going to stay and visit with her all next week with Kristine coming to get me and take me back to Grand Prairie (a 2 1/2 hour drive) Saturday morning, July 12.
I called my mom to ask her if it was all right for me to come back out so soon (I just flew out there the first of May, if you remember). She was very surprised by my request, but what's a mother to do, you know?! She couldn't exactly say she had big plans for this weekend and next week. And although it's hot out there in west Texas in the middle of July, as Tom said (when I was protesting going out there with him because I thought it would be too much, having just been gone this past week), Mom and I don't tend to spend much time outdoors, anyway, when I'm there. We just sort of hang out!
Besides, it's gotten to be a tradition for me to go out there in the middle of July, somehow. I was looking back through old blog posts the other day and found where I had been out to Abilene in July of 2005 - "Confessions From the Edge of the Sun" - (then immediately back again the end of August during Katrina for two weeks - see D(estruction)-Day +2 - On the Road, P.S. One More Thing & Joy! Joy! Joy! for starters), July of 2006 - "More Confessions From the Edge of the Sun" - then not again until July of 2007 - "Greetings From Abilene, Texas - I Think" - exactly one year ago!
Now, heading into July 2008, I'm heading out to Abilene, Texas once again for my 4th year in a row during that delightful month. Lord willing.
Well - that's the news from here in Picayune, Mississippi this late June Monday. Besides, I've got to "run to town" to catch up on a bunch of errands, which is always interesting in this small town.
But before I go, let me leave you with what I learned at the Mississippi Press Association's convention. I post this cartoon every summer for y'all, but just love it and never get tired of seeing it again because it so represents the difference between my life as a blogger and my former life as a journalist and Community Editor for the Picayune Item. Hope you aren't too bored by seeing it again:
Cheers & Blessings to you all today! Leave me a comment, y'all, to let me know what's going on with you this week and what you are going to be doing for the 4th of July! Dee
Going to see your mom again … that’s great! I’m sure Tom is glad to have the responsibility of being “The Press Prez” off his shoulders. I think if I were ever really important I would then enjoy not being so important!
We just returned from Galveston where we celebrated our 38th Wedding Anniversary. So, this week we are home and for the 4th we will be working on our bathroom remodel.
Hope you enjoy your trip to Abilene and be safe!
Did you see me wave as I drove by on I-10? Glad you get to see your Mother again. That title of “President” can be stressful. On all of our church incorporation papers I’m listed as the “President” and it makes me nervous.
Our July 4th - Hanging out at our Deacon of Youth’s home playing volleyball.
Glad you’re getting to spend more time with your Mom. I know I don’t need to tell you, but this time is precious. Have a good week.
We are splitting our time between the new house with the pool and the house on the lake with the fireworks. Then I might just be lazy on Saturday….
Have a great trip! And thanks for your prayers.
Great cartoon Dee.. I swiped it for my place
Happy 4th!!