REFLECTIONS
This is a serious predicament!
To clear the air right away, the Portage Reporter’s Notebook has been found, but I would like to take you through the many steps to be taken in getting that gold-filled Reporter’s Notebook back into the Reporter’s hands.
Like many Sundays, after church, I attempt to come up with a subject for my Reflections column of stuff. Judy is often a contributor in the Ideas Department.
It’s so easy this week. Right in front of me is my subject: NEWS – Professional Reporter’s Notebook.
This developing scenario could be very serious. It could almost be life threatening. No, not really. Yes, really.
Thanks to our Publisher Rick Bussler, we are properly supplied with an adequate arsenal of Reporter Notebooks. They measure 4 by 8 inches and will easily fit into a pants pocket or into a purse, or a “murse” (purse for men), which my wife Judy thinks I should have to store my tools required on a newspaper assignment.
The Reporter’s Notebooks are styled with a coil binding. No, I am not trying to sell you a Reporter’s Notebook. Just want to provide you with enough information to get ready for your next assignment. In fact, you can put notes on the assignment inside the Reporter’s Notebook.
Slow down! I have a tip for you.
Follow this tip
If you have a personal note, just page forward and write down the personal note. Please be sure to leave a note saying it is a business note, or a personal note, or turn the Reporter’s Notebook upside down, and you can start right side up and be on your way in note taking again.
These notebooks (Howard’s suggestions) are so handy that you can use them for many purposes. For example: 1) taking notes for any purpose; 2) as a door stop; 3) as a fly swatter; 4) turn it into a tent board; 5) toss it a safe distance away while using it as a pickup toy for a hunting dog; 6) as a rain cap; 7) as a fire starter; or 8) use it to start your own newspaper.
I just misplaced my Reporter’s Notebook the other day. Right away, I say, “Judy, where did you put my Reporter’s Notebook. Yes, I know it’s not fair to blame her for the disappearing notebook. She’s usually my best detective and has good luck in recovering the notebook.
I thought I had looked everywhere possible, in the house and in the car. No luck.
“Oh, maybe you left it at the last assignment.”
“No, that’s not possible because I’m sure I saw it at home since I arrived home.”
My bad
Guess what? I had placed it back into the cabinet where I keep Reporter’s Notebooks so safely that nobody can find a Reporter’s Notebook that is in such high demand.
On another occasion, I was searching for a missing notebook and found it, tucked into a shoe in my coat closet. The coat closet is a good place to look, because I often find the missing item placed neatly in the side pocket of my sport coat.
The worst thing that can happen to the Reporter’s Notebook is if it is never found. That should not happen. The first thing a good reporter should do is to write down name, address, phone numbers (cell and land line), and email on front cover. I usually do that, but when I am in a hurry (which is most of the time), I figure I will do it later. Guess what, later does not come.
The suggestion is well taken because it saved my carcass. It happened to me a few years ago. Becky Noble, then the executive director of the Blooming Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce, and I attended a state chamber meeting in the Twin Cities.
It was an excellent meeting, by the way. We then headed south toward Blooming Prairie. Most of the world problems were solved by us on the way home.
Where’s Swen?
Again, I was in a hurry and wanted to finish a couple of feature stories before I departed on vacation. I sat down at the computer, opened my right-hand desk drawer where I typically keep my best bud, who I call Swen (that’s news spelled backwards).
Swen must be in the left-hand drawer. Nope!
Maybe he slipped into the middle drawer. Nope again!
It was essential that I find Swen because he had some very important information to put into a congratulatory feature story on Cheri Krejci, Blooming Prairie Cancer Group treasurer. Cheri had just been informed she was to receive a major award in Owatonna for her work in fighting cancer.
The other information was for a long overdue story on Victor Mrotz and his creamery operation. It is quite coincidental that both stories were missing at the same time. The only good part of this brain changer for me was that both stories were in the same notebook.
The challenge now was to telephone the state chamber office and see if someone had turned in the missing notebook. It had been found, and one of the chamber assistants had the “golden” notebook at the front desk.
The term “golden” is used, making the lost Reporter’s Notebook high in value.
I picked up a proper reward for the finder and exchanged it for my friend Swen.
You would think I would learn, but it has happened more than once. I’ve had many people come running out of a building to catch me driving away without Swen.
Just slow down everyone? Slow down, Howard.