Centre Daily Times photos by Michelle Bixby
What another hectic night! I had two assignments this evening (not including this morning's). At 6:30 p.m. I had to cover a Martin Luther King Banquet and ice hockey at 7:15. I arrived at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel for the banquet expecting to go in take photos of the performers and entertainment and leave for ice hockey. Little did I know what inconveniences awaited me. I approached the elegant double doors in the President's Hall where the festivities were underway. Fully equipped with my bulky Tamrac camera bag dressed in jeans and a sweater, I was approached by an usher who gave me a ticket and asked "will you be eating the chicken or the roast beef this evening?"
Apparently there was a beautifully set table fully dressed with decadent deserts, fresh garden salad and steaming bread rolls awaiting members of the media. Unfortunately, knowing I had to leave in 20 minutes, I kindly declined the offer of gourmet food ( I was weeping on the inside, TRUST ME) and opened the double doors .
I entered the banquet hall depressed and under dressed only to find out that the entertainment and awards ceremony weren't starting until diner was over, which means my only option was to either interrupt dinner and take photos of guests stuffing their faces (unpleasant for both parties involved) or call the copy desk for direction. I opted for calling the copy desk and was told to just leave for hockey because the banquet wasn't as important.
Hockey was an ok experience. Yes it was a bit chilly, but at least I didn't get hit in the face with a puck! Optimism is my middle name.
Centre Daily Times/Michelle Bixby
