The future is now, and it's petrifying

Click on this picture. If the Web site still exists when you see this post, go to http://www.rockymountainnews.com/ and look at the slideshow. This is the future of my industry. The Rocky Mountain News has been around for 150 years. It covered the Civil War. It covered Colorado gaining statehood. As of Friday, it will exist no more.

If you think you don't need newspapers, think again. All the blogs and cable TV stations in the world can't replace the paper that arrives on your doorstep each morning. (And if a newspaper doesn't arrive on your doorstep every day, please get a subscription. You might just help save someone's career, someone's calling, someone's lifeblood.)

There was a time when the thought of newspapers fading into oblivion would have never occurred to me. That time was not all that long ago. Now, the industry is in crisis. Each day brings worries about layoffs, about unpaid furloughs or word that another newspaper has declared bankruptcy. Or, in the case of The Rocky Mountain News, an announcement to employees on Thursday that the next day will be the final day.

I'm 15 years and three newspapers into my career, and I can't fathom working anywhere but in a newsroom.

I wish I didn't have to think of a life after newspapers.

Migraine misery

This is how I've felt the past few days, minus the flowing hair, sparkly purple top and gleaming blue eyes.
I remember when I was a kid and happily migraine free. I hated that I had to tiptoe around the house when my sister had a migraine. Then I started to get them and I understood.
I spent most of Thursday hidden away in my walk-in closet. It was too bright anywhere else in my apartment. On Friday, I still had what I call the dregs, not as bad as a migraine, but still a small, nagging pain. On Saturday, the throbbing pain had returned to the right side of my head. Pain in the right side of my head is always a bad sign. Pain like my head is in a vise. Pain that makes me vomit. Pain making me think I'm going to have an aneurysm at any moment. Pain that brings the sweats and then the chills. Pain that I fear is never going to leave me. It's now Sunday night and, thankfully, I'm back to the dregs. It's weird to be thankful that I just have a "regular" headache, but I am. Here's hoping I wake up tomorrow with a brain that's not bursting.

Monday evening: Still have a headache. Curses.
Tuesday evening. Still have a headache. Curses.

Reminiscing about the campaign trail

I guess since the election is over, it's about time I posted pictures from the time I spent on the campaign trail. Have I mentioned it was a great year to move back to Indiana? Hopefully it's not another 40 years before we matter again. Here we go, in no particular order:

Photo courtesy of Zbigniew Bzdak, a friend at The Chicago Tribune who had a knack for spotting me in the crowd and getting a shot. This was shot in Plainfield, the first time I saw Obama in person.



Photo courtesy of Zbigniew Bzdak. This one's from the Indiana State Fairgrounds.



Me with Chelsea Clinton in Indianapolis. I was struck by how much she resembles her mother.



Me with Joe Biden in Zanesville, Ohio. A pretty sizeable road trip to meet Biden. Well worth it.



Joe Biden in Zanesville, Ohio.



Me with Obama's "body man," Reggie Love, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Reggie helped me get a lot of things autographed, so thanks to him.



Obama at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.



Former Sen. Birch Bayh, Rep. Andre Carson and former Indiana first lady Judy O'Bannon at Obama rally at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.



Barack Obama on primary eve in Indianapolis.



Stevie Wonder warming up the crowd on primary eve in Indianapolis.



Me with Tim Russert after "Meet the Press" taping in Indianapolis. A little more than a month later, Russert died.
RIP Tim.



Barack Obama after his appearance on "Meet the Press" in Indianapolis.



Me with Bill Clinton in Carmel.



Bill Clinton in Carmel.



The day Barack Obama came to The Indianapolis Star.



Me with CNN's Jim Acosta at Obama rally in Anderson.



Person next to me trying, and not succeeding, to get a good picture of me with Obama in Anderson.



Barack Obama in Anderson.



John Mellencamp at Obama rally in Evansville. The dude is really short.



Me with CNN's Suzanne Malveaux at Obama rally in Evansville. She had just finished her live shot.



Barack Obama in Evansville.



Chelsea Clinton in Indianapolis.



Hillary Rodham Clinton in Indianapolis.



Barack Obama shaking my hand.



Former Indiana first lady Judy O'Bannon introducing Bill Clinton in Columbus.



Bill Clinton in Richmond.



Me with Hillary Rodham Clinton in Indianapolis.



Me with Sen. Evan Bayh at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.