Some Things Never Change

Screen Shot 2021-08-24 at 4.44.27 AM.png

Years ago when I landed my first full-time TV news job at KTUL in Tulsa, I never knew I would share my workspace with tarantulas.

KTUL is located on the top of Lookout Mountain and often while driving up the hill to work, you would see tarantulas crossing the road right in front of you.

Up until that point, the only time I had seen a tarantula was at a pet store.

Those giant spiders didn’t always hang out outside the station, there were times they came inside the building.

While seeing a tarantula at first might be a bit jarring, to be honest, they are fairly chill when it comes to spiders.

I remember reaching in my gear locker and pulling out my camera to take it to the car. As I was walking to the car, I felt something walking on my arm, looked down and it was a tarantula.

By then I was used to seeing them around and did not freak out. I grabbed a stick and let the big spider crawl on that and then put him/her back in the woods outside the station.

If that would have happened my first week on the job, I can assure you, the station would have needed a new camera. I would have flung that baby yards as I tried to get the spider off my arm. In fact, I might have just tried to rip my arm off and send it flying with the camera.

Anyway, I see in this tweet by KTUL Reporter Daniela Ibarra that the tarantulas are still coming into the newsroom at the Sinclair station.

Screen Shot 2021-08-24 at 4.42.26 AM.png

I don’t think KTUL ever mentions these visitors when they are trying to recruit new employees.