news anchor by summerfield

news anchor

many years ago, i wanted to be a broadcaster or a tv show host or a writer. my oratorical and debating successes in high school and in college made the dream almost achievable. i had wanted to take journalism or mass communication in college but both courses were four-year courses and my parents were too poor to even let me take a short course at secretarial school. lucky for me, my brother worked at the registrar's office of our local college so my tuition at secretarial school was cut in half and my grades earned me some cash to go towards the other half. then i had to work and at the same time i qualified for various scholarships to continue my studies until i got my degree in business administration.

when i was made to take something called an aptitude test by the dean during college, the results showed that i would make an excellent lawyer, or teacher, or a journalist, in that order. so, i went to law school which i enjoyed tremendously but before i entered my articling year, love beckoned me to europe.

when i came to canada, my dream of becoming a writer was fueled by a thousand-dollar prize essay that i wrote for a contest at school when i attempted to switch careers by enrolling in hospitality management. my passion for writing was nurtured by the late arnie achtman, erstwhile actor, professor and radio host, who loved the tales from home that i wrote in class. arnie also had a radio program where he read the carefully-selected stories we wrote in class. sadly, he had cancer and another co-writer and i took on the radio hosting duties from arnie after he died. for seven or so years, virginia and i hosted "life rattle" until the station closed down. that was how close i came to my first dream.

here i've emulated the publicity poses of barbara walters, connie chung and diane sawyer. they're not my favourite tv anchor though. my favourite? murphy brown, of course!

-o0o-

for the five plus two theme "when i grow up".

also, this is another attempt at my get pushed challenge this week from @brianarmoured to take a chiaroscuro portrait. i think i got it much better this time around. i used my 50mm lens; cropped and increased the d-lighting in camera. it was a bitch to get the eyes in focus but this was the best i could do at the moment.

a big thank you goes to maggiemae @maggiemae for the powder tip. i saw i have a small container of johnson's baby powder so i dabbed a bit on my cheeks. i really don't have the inclination to wear any foundation make up or powder and instead of spending $50 or more for such thing, i'd rather spend the money on a nice dinner. :-)

thank you for your kind visits and comments; know that they are genuinely appreciated.
@brianarmoured - my final attempt at your challenge. thank you.
May 17th, 2014  
Really lovely! I like the lighting and the black background.
May 17th, 2014  
Wonderful! With your beautiful dark eyes and sweet smile, this is one of the best! I'm still reading and smiling............
May 17th, 2014  
What a fabulous portrait. I do believe you have achieved your news anchor position.
May 17th, 2014  
I think you would have been a great news anchor! The portrait is wonderful!
May 17th, 2014  
Fabulous portrait! You could be Karren Davila for ABS-CBN News Channel.
May 17th, 2014  
Very beautiful indeed. Lovely portrait
May 17th, 2014  
Beautiful story ! Quel beau parcours !
Very Nice portrait on both angles !
May 17th, 2014  
I am sure you would have made a great one Vikki. Nice selfie
May 17th, 2014  
Super story and great selfie, baby powder on cheeks, Mm Mm! your writing is really enjoyable thank you for sharing :O)
May 17th, 2014  
A gorgeous portrait of you Vicki!! I wanted to be that, too...and a performer on SNL or Mad TV, and...
May 17th, 2014  
beautiful dark tones in this portrait... you'd have made a fabulous writer... law school, huh? remind me not to argue with you ;p
May 17th, 2014  
very professional looking, always enjoy your commentaries
May 18th, 2014  
@salza - you see the background as black? it's supposed to be dark blue. do you see the sign at the back? it's quite disconcerting because here in my laptop the background is blue and my head is quite far from the background. in my monitor at the office and my tablet, the outline of my head merged with the "black" background. yaiks! but thank you, sally.
May 18th, 2014  
@maggiemae - hahaha! i find it funny when people say i have a sweet smile. but thank you, maggiemae. and of course for the powder tip!

@denisedaly - in a way, yes, i think i did. thank you, denise.

@678tabby - aw, you're so sweet, june. thank you.

@altadc - or karen davila could be me, no? thank you, alta.

@k1w1 - thank you, christine.

@cocobella - tu est très gentille, corinne. merci bien.

@bkbinthecity - merci, brian.

May 18th, 2014  
@barneyone - thank you, rita. you're so kind.

@amandal - i suppose when you're young you can do anything. us older folks we just have backaches and all other aches. :-) you still have time, kiddo. thank you.

@northy - i don't like arguing. if i argue with anyone, i just agree with them, case closed! thank you, m.

@kali66 - thank you, kali. much appreciated.
May 18th, 2014  
I'm not so young. I'm nearly 40!!
May 18th, 2014  
@amandal - you're a baby still.
May 18th, 2014  
Vicki! You look very much the journalist there! Great job. It is so hard to use a DSLR to take a selfie. We had to take this aptitude test in HS. I was in Science class when I took it, and it was not my homeroom, so I thought it was just about science careers. Not sure. Probably was, because if I took a general one, I am sure I'd get "teacher" as what I should do. I think it might have been one for the military...to let kids know which job in the military would be best for them. Anyway, I got some result that I would be best with "mechanical repair." haha I guess I am good at that too.
May 18th, 2014  
Vicki you are a reporter and I come to your posts eager to see your views on the world. So many times you make me think, and smile and laugh. You share so much with your audience.
May 18th, 2014  
@espyetta - so can repair cars??? thank you, MB. much appreciated.

@pandorasecho - awww, dixie, you are so sweet. thank you for such sweet words and the very generous fav.
May 18th, 2014  
@summerfield I was pretty good with my old junker I used to have to drive as a college and early 20s kids. I could gap the spark plugs, change tires, add brake fluid to the master cyclinder (I had a leak), and things like that. So I was okay. haha
May 18th, 2014  
Love has derailed many a dream, some of mine included but maybe they weren't meant to be- who knows? Funny thing though, some things that I wanted to do when I was in college and didn't, many years later I ended up doing! But those are long stories and I won't write them here. I'll save them for when we get together! As to this shot- very Murphy Brown, and well done!
May 18th, 2014  
@espyetta - well, you're way better than me, i can only change oil and change tires. i don't know how to pump in air in a flat tire, though.

@olivetreeann - thank you, ann. someone told me i really look like a diva news reporter in this photo. hahaha!
May 19th, 2014  
Wow, you really look like you belong in broadcasting here! Very interesting story, I always enjoy reading them
May 19th, 2014  
@summerfield Nicely done. I think your other shot meets the challenge better. More rich dark shadows. Nice portrait of you.
May 19th, 2014  
Well hello Ms. Anchorwoman!!! Well done my friend this is fabulous. Oh by the way I too like Murphy Brown. LOL and you too. FAV
May 23rd, 2014  
@ithinkithunk - thank you, kristen.

@brianarmoured - thank you, brian.

@cathrinemitch - hahaha! thank you, my good friend. seems to me the only thing we disagree on is my 'two blocks'!
May 23rd, 2014  
This is a stunning portrait, you my girl are beautiful!
May 23rd, 2014  
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