The local CBS TV Station is located in Harlingen. I have tried to contact them for a tour but I could never seem to connect. The Red Hats managed to get a date and I was invited. I was so excited. I’ve always wanted to see the inside of a TV Station. When we arrived they first took us into the room where they make commercials.
They showed us how they make commercials by layering different ribbons of information. They started with the basic video and added telephone numbers and pictures and anything that keeps the attention of the audience. They are working with seconds of time on a graph, adding where to stop and start. It was very interesting.
Next they took us in a room where the main feed comes in from the network. All the local cameras either in the building or out in the community are fed into this room. All the timing and switching the feed between cameras to the online network, are done in this room.
Then we entered the last room. This was the studio where all the newscasts take place. As you looked around, you seen all the different sets that you see on tv, all in one room. This was March Madness Week. So no news at noon. The room was empty so were able to wander around and try out all the sets.
This is the monitor that they read from. It is sitting right by the camera in front of the staging area. We all gathered around the Lifestyles set.
The lighting was bright but so perfect. We were all so colorful in our red and purple.
Next we went to the weather screen. lol I was pretending to do the weather. As you see the back wall is green, but looking in the monitor, the blue background and Channel 4 logo has been applied. When they do the weather, they have to watch these monitors to be able to point at the map. Their is the one by the screen as well as in front of them near the camera. Quit interesting. 
We moved over to the News Center. You can see the monitor in the table. We took turns taking our group pictures 
Our guide was right next door at the Storm tracker Center. You see all the monitors in the back ground. This was really a fun trip. I talked to the guide to set up a tour for next fall. Today the station was empty, but generally they would have been busier at this time. We would have been able to see the news cast. So next fall I will set up a tour and well see what happens that day. I was so grateful for the Red Hats for inviting me and lending me a Red Hat to wear. 
Last Friday, we had our Farewell Potato Bake that is supplied by the owner. We had over 150 people sign up. We ordered huge Texas size potatoes from the Veggie Man. We supplied sour cream and butter, and everyone brought a condiment to share at their table. 
From the Super Bowl, we had left over Pulled Pork for a potato topper, and Nachos and Cheese. I prepared Veggies and dip for Happy Hour. Rich and his crew started cooking and preparing the potatoes in the morning and by 4pm Happy Hour began. 5 pm we Ate. After the potato, we served Ice Cream from the Activity Board. Finally I showed my Seasonal Video. I take all the pictures of the season and put them together and make a slide show to music. This year I had 157 pictures, a number of short videos that we took at some occasions, and added 4 songs, making it 20 minutes long. The evening was finished off with drawings. The prizes were restaurant cards that can be used for their trip home. Applebees, I-Hop, Burger King, etc. 6 cards totaling $100. Finally it has come time to say good bye. So many are pulling out and heading back north. The park is empting out. But……..The weather is bad up their. They are all giving up 80 degree weather for snow and 30s. They are also having an unusual winter. More snow is forecast. But away they go…………..
Since April was on the 1st, I pulled rank and said I would not be handling Easter this year. My contract is technically done the end of March. We needed a break. They had to figure out who was going to cook hams for Easter. They did succeed and around 60 people signed up. We went to Padre with several friends. It ended up being 9 of us. 
After dinner Theresa and Ron and us, went to the beach. It was beautiful down by the beach. The water was chilly, as it was only around 74, but it is warming up every day.
I went wading in the waves on the beach. It was a little cold, but you grew accustomed to it. Their were so many families enjoying the weather and the water.
.............''AND LET THE FUN BEGIN''................. 