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Feb 27, 2008 4:34 pm US/Mountain
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The Best Job In The World Belongs To ... Moody
Written by CBS4 Critic at Large Greg Moody
DENVER (CBS4) ―
Sure, I'll admit it. I've got the greatest job in journalism. Maybe in the entire world. Just the basic job description tells a lot of it:
Wanted -- Marginally educated human being to review movies, theater, books, music and general whatnot on a regular basis, with occasional forays into commentary, fitness, training, bicycling and other nonsense.
It has always given me a cheap thrill to say, "I've got to work tonight. I have to go see a movie (play, concert)." It's a phrase that doesn't always sit well with my family or my co-workers who are busy standing out in snow banks during blizzards or being chased down the street by dogs set on them by an angry interview subject.
"I've gotta work tonight. I have to go see a movie."
Over 30 years in the business, most people in the newsroom have gotten used to the notion of what I do and how I do it, so the basic job itself has lost some of its sheen. On the other hand, the add-on aspects of the job continue to raise eyebrows.
Specifically, the fitness, training and bicycling. The "other nonsense."
About three times a week, I drop by my producer's desk to announce: "I'll be down the street at Matrix for the next hour and a half in case you need me." (In case there is any earth shattering, breaking entertainment news, which, there occasionally is ...) He gives me that raised-eyebrow, freak-eye look, designed to make me feel guilty that mid-day, I'm trooping off to work out while he's stuck inside putting together the news of the day. Sadly, I don't feel particularly guilty, as I'm doing this not only for story content, but for Ride the Rockies coverage in June.
I know I SHOULD feel guilty. Sadly, I just don't.
I should feel even more guilty about the two-times-a-week midday bike rides. Put on the gear, ride to Wash Park, do 4-to-6 loops and return. Shower and reappear in the newsroom about 90 minutes or so after I left. For heaven's sake! I'm out riding a bike when I'm supposed to be working!
While looping Wash Park the other day, in fact, I ran into Ed Sardella, ace anchorman, as he power-walked around the park. He looked at me and said, "This is a heck of a way to spend my retirement!"
To which, I responded, "Hey, this is a heck of a way to spend a work day!"
And I meant it. He then gave me a look. Strangely enough, it was the same look I get from my producer, and we parted company.
Thing is -- it all gets done. I'm in early. I'm here until at least 7 at night, then, often, wander out to see a movie or a play or a show of some sort. Sometimes shooting stories, sometimes just gathering information (read that as: "drinking").
The workouts are necessary. They've gotta go somewhere. They're all part of the story. I'm just lucky enough to have a schedule that allows me to stick them in the middle of my day. Even if it's just an hour at lunch.
And, frankly, it saves me.
It puts me in a better mood (and I can have some real dark and doozies), it wakes me up, clears my mind, and, as my father used to say, "blows the stink off me."
It makes my heart just a little bit stronger each and every day.
Plus, in the end, it makes me realize that I do, in fact, have the very best job in the world.
(© MMVIII CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)