The Silver Lining

Let's be real; being unemployed sucks. It's only taken me five days, or only three working days, to figure that out.

But here's something that doesn't suck. I am in awe about how many people have reached out to me since Thursdsay. Some of you have posted on Facebook, others through e-mail, and some have called  even if it ment searching for a phone number.

Friends old and new, from here at home and accross the country.

And You've sent messages of sorrow and support. Some of you have sent phone numbers for me to call about other work. Some of you have asked for resumes to deliver to the right people. I'm quite out of practice for resume writing, and one friend stepped up to do just that, making me seem a lot more exciting than I really am.

I've saved your notes.

And no matter what you have said, posted, or offered, you are all precious to me. I never expected to be in this position, and I could never imagine this reaction from you all. An example: the blog that was really just so my family and non-teevee friends to hear what I was doing, and was only knows to my friends on Facebook, has recieved more hits than I have Facebook friends.

I don't know how that math works, but I think it's cool.

So I'm looking. I've already sent resumes, made calls, am researching buying and/or renting and/or leasing gear, although I would rather be staff somewhere.

And I'm trying to not think about the bad and instead counting my blessing: we are far from panic mode; we are in good health; and as I've learned this week, I am rich with fantastic friends.

Thank you all, every one of you, and if you are sitting next to a non-facebook friend, please pass this along to them, too.

And please, keep sending those ideas, contacts and notes.

p.s. I'm not sure how I feel about this yet, but there is a move to have a little get-together here in El Lay... to have an adult beverage and complain/cry/laugh. Probably after Thanksgiving weekend. Stay tuned

Good bye, CNN

Bet you didn't see that coming.

And to be honest, neither did I.

But CNN and I have parted ways.

I didn't get to say "bye" to many people, and most of the people are facebook friends anyway, so I'll say "bye" here.

Bye! It was a gas working with you and getting to know you. Your professionalism and dedication taught me so much. Like soldiers in a fox hole, we suffered and complained and commiserated and coordinated and  achieved so much more than we could have alone.

Your trust in me brought out the best in me both professionally and personally. Your trust in me and my abilities taught me to trust myself. The more you allowed me to be part of the process, the more I felt I could contribute.

And that trust allowed me to grow professionally. I came to CNN expected to point a camera. I think that I am leaving as the well-rounded journalist that is in demand today: I have been allowed to shoot, edit, produce, and write and with the exception of learning how to spell, I like to think I have excelled.

You have taught me to keep trying: you would think that after almost 15 years I could not be surprised by my co-workers ability to pull rabbits out of hats. You would be wrong. Even right up to my last assignment, I marveled at what CNN's producers and reporters could come up with -- interviews and information that others could not.

I learned that you can rent anything, and that every restaurant has food to go. And never give an intern cash and tell him to by beverages for the group.

And most importantly, I have made friends. Not "work friends" for real friends. I will miss working with you, I will miss traveling with you, and I will miss the opportunities of sharing an adult beverage or two with you.

Keep in touch at Facebook or xtimxhart@aol.com.

And please, friends, if you hear of any work, let me know.