beFrank: Diamonds and Firefighters and Zombies. . .Oh My!

My thanks to Suzie Suh for the title of this post. She and I worked together three days last week and in the world of news (at least in my part) we can call that a happy random occurrence.

It's not like other jobs (like law enforcement) where you might partner with one particular person for months or years. Working general assignment out of the main station, we show up for work each day and never know which reporter we might be partnered with for that day.

Three assignments with Suzie Suh is one thing, but it was also kind of odd that I managed to get three trips to Orange County in one week. That's not so much of a treat. My shift usually starts about 4:30pm and any drive towards the OC involves a special circle of hell we like to call rush hour traffic.

Still the opportunities to work with Ms. Suh and to see something as outrageously cool as a 13 carat diamond was worth the drive.

The diamond, seen here in the photograph is nearly actual size. Put your finger up to the screen to get a good sense of scale.

That was the first trip to the OC and without a fire or other major developing story, it was a little surprising that I got a second assignment way down in Yorba Linda.

BTW, You shouldn't get Yorba Linda confused with Loma Linda. They're two completely different cities and I'm thankful for GPS and Thomas Guide maps, because it's easy to get the two Lindas confused.

Anyway, a second day with Suzie Suh and the opportunity to meet a fireman who wins Iron Man type competitions and seriously sounded on paper like a real life super hero. . .

. . .but in real life was not the most imposing sports figure I've eve met, but was far more impressive for being one of the nicest persons I've interviewed in quite a while.

When I was introduced to Paramedic Steve Teal, I thought they were pulling my leg. I know runners and swimmers have less of a bulky build than other athletes, but I would never have suspected the paramedic standing in front of me had run (and won) the Badland competition that I had tough time just covering from the back of a pickup truck.

I kept thinking, don't get him angry, because I bet I wouldn't like him when he's angry.

It was a nice story. I had fun helping to put it together and again, it was a second assignment with Suzie Suh in one week.

So, after two days navigating rush hour traffic to locations outside of what I'd call my "normal" coverage area, my Friday assignment wasn't a big deal, just very VERY surprising. I was being sent out to once again wade through the commuters on the 5 Freeway to meet up with Suzie Suh for a story.

It could have been worse. All the OC stories were more feature-y and none involved death, destruction or mayhem.

On Friday, we were covering the retirement of a man who had worked for the City of Orange for 40 years. Not the big breaking lead news story, just a smaller story that had the added twist of happening just before Halloween. The friends and family who attended were asked to dress up. It was going to be a Zombie Retirement Party (possibly also known as a Monster Mash).

You know, so it wasn't an action and adrenaline filled set of assignments, but I enjoyed them and barely considered the hours of my life spent in traffic which I will never ever get back.

Okay, I'm just joking about it. It could have been worse. I make a decent wage even when I'm sitting in traffic, so I don't really need to complain. Heck, all things considered, I had fun.

Interesting people and Suzie Suh, just a cute week all around.