Behind the Headlines

But not today.

By Stephanie Ariganello; stephaniea@monroenews.com

I should be in Lansing right now, but alas, am not. I had the whole day set aside to hang out with State Reps. Kate Ebli and Kathy Angerer.

First it was the weather - I had been driving home from Holland on Sunday and whew - it was the most treacherous I have seen it in awhile on 94; I’m still a little gunshy after all those accidents. After driving in to work at 6:30 on somewhat slick roads and hearing a plea from my mom not to go, I was a little apprehensive.

I called a few people in Lansing to see how the weather was there and left a round of messages. I was all wimpy this morning and told the photographer who was going to shoot the assignment that we wouldn’t go.

Then Kate Ebli called back and said it was slow, but passable. So, I said to Photographer Kim, let’s just go. It will be fine. I’ll drive. She then has to move her car and I drive over to pick her up. In the meantime, I keep getting conflicting reports. What - it’s snowing all crazy there, said one person. It’s fine, said another. The forecast is clear, said one. The clouds and snow are rolling in and not going anywhere, with a 90 percent chance of snow all day, said another.

As I’m picking Kim up at her now-moved car, my cell rings and it’s a representative from Kathy Angerer’s office. Since we would be arriving later than planned and because her plans changed - the people she was meeting with all morning/afternoon asked that press not be present - asked if we could reschedule.

Said Kim: Something is telling us to stay right here. I can agree with that. We’ll save our trip for another day. The story I wanted to do, by the way, is a day in the life of a legislator. I’ve heard often and loudly that people don’t know what it is legislators do all day, all week, all term. I thought we could shed some light on that. But for now, it will remain a mystery.