When I got to Miami and began unpacking my suitcase, I got that dreaded note on top of my clothing indicating that some stranger who works for the Transportation Security Administration had riffled through my belongings and I got understandably frustrated. Although my privacy is simply an illusion as a reporter, I cling to that illusion.

The idea of some stranger going through my stuff is disconcerting, but then I realized, I appreciate the thought behind their actions. I'm not a terrorist therefore nothing in my bag would be used for those purposes, but I can't say with certainity that is the case for my fellow passengers. Like everyone else, I loathe having to take out my belt and walk barefoot through an x-ray machine before boarding a plane, there is a part of me that is glad I have to. There will still be terrorists like the Underwear Bomber who come up with new ways to cheat the system, but a good portion of them will hopefully be weeded out and that is a good enough percentage for me.

However, the point of this post is not to convince you all to like the invasion of privacy. It is actually to talk about what I did on the way back. I took that TSA notification slip and wrote a letter of my own on it. It was a note to the employees thanking them for the work they do. Many people fill jobs liek that of the TSA employees that no one appreciates. They never get a thanks for stopping a terrorist. They took a thankless job and do it for the greater good day-in and day-out.

There are plenty of people in our own community who have similarly thankless jobs. For example: the folks who read our utility meters or pick up our garbage. They bake in the hot summer sun or the freeze in the cold winter air to ensure your services.  They do the job no one else wants to do and take flack for it.

And I'm not asking you to do something I haven't done myself. I saw the meter reader earlier this month and thanked him. He was obviously hesitant when I approached him, but after I relayed my appreciation, he said, "Wow. People usually say the opposite." He walked away with a smile and, in my opinion, it is a good day anytime you can bring a smile to someone else's face. I wasn't in love with him when I got my latest utility bill, but I know he was just doing his job. He has a family to feed and a home to afford and has to pay the bills just like the rest of us.

I challenge you to find the people in your life who do a thankless job and just share your appreciation with them. Oh, and yes, I know I'm showing my optimistic spirit with this and I am totally okay with that. If you take the challenge, great. If you don't, I can't say I didn't try.

Hey y'all,

  I'm actually in Miami right now so there will be a gap in bloggage from my part.  Sorry!  However, if Tropical Storm Bonnie ends up amounting to anything, I may do some spot reporting just because I can.  We had some decent rain storms last night and are supposed to have rain all weekend, but as for right now, the sky has opened up and the sun is hiding behind a few clouds. Otherwise, it is a relatively nice day!

 The one thing I will add is that the canoe trip that was in today's paper was a blast!  I'd highly recommend signing up for one of the organized trips or venturing out on your own on the Tar River. It is an awesome resource we have in town and as long as we continue to get some rain every once in a while, the water level should be good for your own outdoor adventure.

Love, Brie (loving the land of palm trees and plastic sugery)!

Internet gaming cafes continue to gamble for headlines: A lobbying group sent a letter to Gov. Bev Purdue last week asking for her support in turning down a bill that will close the doors on countless sweepstakes cafes around the state by December.

The Entertainment Group of North Carolina said turning down the bill would bring in more than $500 million in possible revenue, which could have a significant impact on the state's budget deficit.

Even though the issue is in the hands of state lawmakers, many local officials are weighing the positives and negatives of the cafes, which allegedly utilize “loopholes” in state gambling laws. www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/gaming-fight-not-yet-over-21857

Family receives highest honor for loved one: The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is one of North Carolina's most distinguished honors and family received the award Monday for Allen Brown, who died in October.  Brown was selected for the honor by Gov. Bev Purdue for his services to the Nash County Board of Commissioners and Nash Community College Board of Trustees for many years.  www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/local-educator-receives-posthumous-state-honor-21859

Communities learn to watch out for each other: Residents at Tiffany Square Apartments are like many other neighborhoods, which are looking to the Rocky Mount Police Department for guidance in creating a community watch program. Last week's meeting taught residents important lessons from officers about local crime and what can be done to avoid being a victim. www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/community-watch-programs-rise-city-21858

More file for upcoming school board election: More names have filed to get their names on the ballot for the Nash-Rocky Mount school board election on Nov. 2. www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/more-nash-rocky-mount-school-board-filings-21856

Sorry about the lapse in posts for the last few days, covering the murder trial in Nashville put some everyday duties on the back burner and I am still catching up. Add to it the fact that I haven’t really worked out a routine for writing my blog and well, I’m sorry.

However the cause for the gap is actually the topic of my post for today. Like most television lovers today, I’m enamored with crime shows, but covering a trial just exemplifies how different reality is from Hollywood.

First off, most trials don’t have nail-biting testimony and edge of your seat confessions. That is, for the most part, a tool of a screenwriter’s imagination. Court tends to be relatively mundane.

Testimonies are mildly repetive as attorneys attempt to get what they need from the witness with all the details they need to make their case. There are occasional objections, but again, it isn’t like in Hollywood where attorneys are yelling “OBJECTION!” every few minutes.

The jury members are of all different sex, race, age and socio-economic background. They, for the most part, are not really thrilled to be there. They are visibly affected when shown gruesome photographs of the crime-scene and emotional when they have to pass down a judgment that effectively takes away a person’s life (whether actually with a death penalty case or figuratively through a long or indefinite prison sentence).

All that being said, I would highly recommend making time to see a major court trial at some point during your life. It gives you a whole new perspective on our justice system and the powers that be. Follow my advice though… turn off your cell phone and brush up on your manners before you enter a courtroom.