Testing the Test

For next semester, I have the job of running a daily current events quiz for the department.  Over the break, Brian and I have been playing with different ways of testing lots of different classes with the same quiz.  For now, just enter your name and something silly in the ID box. But if you can help us out with this, that'd be great!  Thanks!

Testing the Test » Quiz School

CoogTube

Beth has been posting a lot recently and I figure that it's about time that I write a post. She already covered Christmas and our recent follies so I won't talk about that other than to say that I loved spending time with Beth's family for Christmas. I certainly missed being with my family but if I couldn't be with them I can't think of any other family that I'd want to spend Christmas with. I love my in-laws and am so blessed to be a part of their family.

Anyway, life has been pretty exciting for me lately. I just recently worked my last day at the Comprehensive Clinic in the A/V room where I've worked for the last year and then some. It was a very good job but I can't help but feel a little relieved to finally be done. No worries though, I left because I now have a new job that is a lot closer to what I want to do after college. Starting this upcoming semester (well, a week ago actually) I will be the Sports Director for ElevenNEWS and CoogTube. On top of that I have been chosen to be one of the main Anchors for our all Sports show, CoogTube, every friday. I am really excited. I have already started doing lots of cool things and can't wait to get everything organized. I have some big plans and hopefully at least a few of them I'll see through.

One of the things that I have been asked to do is create a new opening title sequence. Our previous one is football based and winter semester is all about Basketball. So, I've started putting a few things together but don't have everything I need to finish it yet. So, while messing around with ideas I got a little distracted and made a couple of Promo's for the show.



and



So yeah, I'm a big nerd. But I'm really excited for this coming semester if you can't tell. I'm sure it's going to be awesome.

The end...

... of 2010.  I can't believe everything that has happened this year.  One spectacular writer summed up the year like this:

ANOTHER UNWRITTEN STORY

By: Joseph Walker

            So I’m sitting here at year’s end, looking at the blank computer screen in front of me and wishing it would magically fill with well-chosen words, when this old guy walks in behind me.

            At least, I THINK an old guy walked in behind me. Sometimes when I’m writing this column late at night, the line between concentration and sleep gets very, very thin. (I know – NOT a big surprise. You probably have the same problem when you’re reading it.  Am I right?)

            “Don’t do that!” the Old Guy exclaims.

            “Don’t do what?” I ask, more than a little startled.

            “That!” he says, pointing to the word “So” on the computer monitor – the only word I had written at that point.

            I assumed my elderly guest was computer illiterate and thought I was working some kind of magic on the screen (fat chance, huh?).  So I tried to explain it in basic terms: “It all started back in the 1400s with a man named Gutenberg – perhaps you knew him?”

            “There’s no need for condescension, young man,” the Old Guy said testily.  “I’ve been dealing with computers and word processors my whole life.”

            Yeah, right, I thought – as long as you count an abacus as a computer.

            “If you’re so savvy,” I said, “why were you trying to stop me from writing – unless, of course, you’ve read my stuff, in which case I completely understand . . .”

            “I couldn’t care less what you write,” he snapped.  “It’s that screen I’m worried about.”

            I looked carefully at my monitor.  “Is it going to explode or something?” I asked.

            “Heavens no,” he said.  “It’s just that it’s so beautiful I didn’t want you to ruin it.”

            “But it’s blank,” I said.

            “Yes, it is,” he replied.  “And isn’t that the most wonderful thing you’ve ever seen?”

            This was getting pretty strange – even for me.  So I asked him: “Who are you?”

            “You don’t recognize me?  Come on – take a good, close look.”

            I had to admit that there was something about him that seemed familiar, from the deep creases on his forehead to the mud caked on his slippers.  I just couldn’t place him.

            “Here, let me help you,” he said. “See these lines on my forehead? They’re worry wrinkles. I got this one from worrying about the earthquake in Haiti, this one from worrying about the Chilean miners and this one from worrying about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  These lines on my arms aren’t wrinkles – they’re scars.  I got this one in Iraq, this one in Afghanistan and this big, ugly one here working security at a Justin Bieber concert.”

            “And what about that bandage around your knee?” I wanted to know.

            “World Cup injury. Ugly incident involving a vuvuzela. I don’t want to talk about it.”

            It started to make sense: the Tiger Woods cap, the Lebron James Miami Heat jersey and those cute little “Tangled” slippers he was wearing.  I even recognized the thick mud on his slippers.  After all, it hasn’t been THAT long since Election Day.

            “You’re 2010, aren’t you?”

            “In the flesh,” he said.  “For now, anyway.”

            That explained his appearance.  But it didn’t explain his obsession with my monitor.

            “It’s just that empty screens remind me of the good old day: Jan. 1, 2010,” he explained. “My whole life was ahead of me. I was an unwritten story, a blank page, an empty computer screen – pick your favorite metaphor.  I was unknown and exciting and filled with potential.

            “But now my story is written.  It’s over. Done. Finis. And I’m outta here. Not that I mind or anything – it goes with the gig. But whenever I see a blank screen I get a little crazy because I don’t think people realize what a wonderful gift they receive every New Year’s Day. It’s another blank screen. Another empty page. Another unwritten story. Each January is a chance to begin again – only you get to try to do it better.”

            “But sooner or later we’ve got to start writing on that screen,” I reminded him. “And eventually, we’re all going to make some mistakes.”

            “Some more than others,” he said, glaring at me knowingly. Then his expression softened. “That’s OK as long as you learn from each mistake and take advantage of the opportunity for growth through change and improvement. Otherwise you’ll just keep writing the same old story year after year. And if you ask me, that’s a waste of good, clean paper.”

            He started to leave, but first he reached out and deleted the letter “S” on my monitor.

            “Or,” he added before hurrying away, “good, blank computer screens.”

###

\I hope your year was a GREAT as ours... Here's to another good one!

Firsts

We have had a lot of "firsts" during Christmas this year. The obvious one... Brian and I had our first Christmas together. And not just as a married couple. I mean, this time last year and I didn't even know he existed. But I'm so grateful for everything that's happened this past year that has led us together forever.

My sister came up from California with her family. It was so fun to have almost everyone of my siblings here this year.  It's so fun to have kids around at Christmas because they get oh-so excited about everything.

He's so cute!  I love having him here.  And BOY does he like being the center of attention!

Of course, we participated in our traditional Christmas Eve talent show. Brian and I put together a slideshow of the big events from the past year. Jon & Sami played silent night on the guitar. And then Mom whipped out that traditional chimes and we plunked out a couple of tunes.

We sure had a great Christmas!  I hope you all had a very MeRrY cHrIsTmAs!!!  We love you all and look forward to another great year!

Christmas Craze

Well, it was a good, hard push to the end. But we made it. Our first semester as a married couple. We both had full schedules and ended up having so much fun along the way.  I can't imagine now what I would have done without Brian.  He helps me so much with everything I'm doing (whether he volunteers himself or I do.)

We had a little gift exchange party at our house on the last day of finales.  I cooked lots of treats & Brian washed LOTS of dishes.. seriously.  I used every kitchen machine w own.  But it turned out great!  We think/hope everyone else had fun too.  Brian has been playing with this new camera for our news show along with some fun programs he's learned this semester.  Here are some clips from the evening.


I'm so grateful for such great friends!

P.S.  Brian also went out and got some shots of the Provo Tabernacle fire.  What a sad day for Utah history!

Let it SNOW!

Brian and I set up Christmas a few weeks ago.  It's amazing the feeling a few lights and a little tree can bring.  Oh and when I say little.... I really mean little.  I bought this "Charlie Brown" tree a few years ago and it is the perfect size for our little house.  I LOVE it!  I was able to scrounge up some pennies to buy a few more things to decorate with.  PLUS... I made these adorable stockings. I'm quite proud with how they turned out. I even hand-stitched our names on them!  MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

P.S. We got about a foot of snow at our house a couple of days ago. It was just the thing to get us in the holiday spirit!

Curtain Call

End of the semester means end of shows.  It's a very bitter-sweet thing for me.  I hate waking up early and EP-ing means 5:30 mornings for me.  But once I get to work, I can't get enough.  The adrenaline kicks in and I'm hooked.  It's especially fun towards the end of the semester when more people know what they're actually doing.  I'm submitting some of my work for "Gracies" which are national awards for female journalists. They'll be submitted in February.... wish me luck!

 

Anyways, I get to work with some amazing people.  I've learned so much more as a leader than I ever did as a student.  I think that's pretty funny.  Here are some pictures of the awesome crews I got to work with.  Look closely... these people are going to be famous someday.

CoogTube crew: Thank you for putting up with my directing. It was my first semester, but it was yours as well.  So it was GREAT learning together!

Tuesday: We BUSTED IT OUT! Who ever said you can't build a show with only 2 reporters? Well we sure showed them. Thank you for teaching me all the tricks of filling up 27 minutes of times.

Thursday: I probably learned the most from you.  You tried my patience, but you all worked so hard!  Thank you for teaching me how to understand people and handle stressful situations tactfully.

What I Do

I feel like Beth has contributed a lot more to this blog than I have and that just doesn't sit right with me. So, here I go, I'm going to contribute to this blog.

This semester was supposed to be easy and laid back but it turned into the busiest semester of my life. I'm just glad that for me it is more or less over. I only have on exam to take and almost all of my classes are over. But it wasn't really classes that kept me busy. I spent soooo much time in the newsroom helping people out and working on some of my own projects. It became a second home. Almost a first home, I think I spent more time in there than I did in my own home. But, it was all a very good experience. One of those experiences included being the Thursday Sports Anchor. It was a ton of fun and I learned a whole lot. Here's one of my shows that I did.



So, that is What I Do. And I hope to be doing it for a very long time. It is one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done.

Time to slow down....

In the craziness of school and work, finals and stress... I find myself forgetting about the Christmas season... and everything else that's really important for that matter. I rush from one thing to another, barely able to keep my head above water.  I have 3 more days of class and by Friday next week I will be DONE with my finals.  It's such a great feeling, but basically all I can think about right now.

Until I did my homework this morning.

I'm taking an LDS Marriage and Family class.  For the most part, I just read over the assigned articles, feel somewhat good about my life and then go on with things.  But for some reason, this morning was different.  We were assigned to read an article from President Hinckley called "Bring up a Child in the Way He Should Go."  Two paragraphs into the article and suddenly, nothing else mattered.

"We have critics both within and without.  Although they are vocal and have access to the media, they are relatively few in number. If we were entirely without criticism, we would be concerned. Our responsibility is not to please the world but, rather, do the will of the Lord, and from the beginning the divine will so often has been contrary to the ways of the world."

I'm so engrossed in worldly things and news that sometimes I can really feel myself get bogged down.  I get so insecure about myself.  I feel like I'm not doing anything worthwhile.  And I look at everyone else in my program and wish I was as dedicated or "well of" or PRETTY as them. 

But I know I am.  I know I do well at whatever it is that I do. I know who I am and I know that I'm loved.  But the world has different standards for me.  When I get so engulfed in the world around me and every-day life, I really lose my eternal perspective.  And that's something I'm definitely not willing to give up.

Not without a fight.  So bring it on.

This is my sister Andrea...

She is beautiful.  She is one of the most talented people I know.  And I love her so much.

This is Andrea's new little family.  Well... one person in the picture is new.  Adam and Andrea were married almost 6 years ago and they've had a really hard time trying to get this new bundle of joy here. But they finally did it!  Alexander Keith Daveline was born August 30th, 2010.  He is the happiest little boy you will ever meet.

When I think of "joy" this is the image that pops into my head :)

The day after Thanksgiving, Brian and I and my parents drove down to San Diego to play with Xander.... oh and to be there for his blessing.  It was so fun.  AND WARM! 

Is San Diego a reasonable market to start in? Because Brian and I decided we're moving here once we graduate.

Dad served his mission in San Diego.  We actually found one of the apartments he lived in... but now here's here with his eternal companion.... which we assume he likes much better than his mission companion.

 

He is going to be the cutest daddy some day :)

There are so many fun shops and restaurants here. It was nice to walk around and not have to wear coats... just enjoy the cool air!



I want one!!! :)


We didn't want to come back... especially to the cold, wet, horrible snowstorm here in Utah. But we did.  We ended up staying the night in a hotel in Cedar City because they storm was so bad.  It was an adventure... that's for sure.  But thanks Andrea for having such an adorable famliy and thanks for being so amazing!  I love you!

My brave warrior

We are so blessed to have a HOUSE to live in right off the bat. We knew that while taking care of a house meant more responsibility... but these past couple of weeks, we've had more responsibility than we've wanted...  MICE!!!

I hate them.... I don't hate many things, but I can honestly say I HATE these mice.  We first discovered them the weekend Brian's parents came to town. Ya... such a good impression for the in-laws, but I couldn't do anything about it.  I felt helpless.  They were in my walls, they were eating my oatmeal and my cooking brushes!  So Brian's parents helped us start the hunt.  First we cleaned out all the cupboards and re-washed all the dishes.

Then we went and bought traps. That was a big enough adventure.  Do we spend more money and get the contain and kill? Or do we buy the cheap little ones and have to see the dead mouse....  Well, we bought a little of everything.  Normally you set a trap with peanut butter or something else smelly, but we obvioulsy couldn't use that, so we used what they seemed to be eating.... oatmeal and honey.

Brian set the trap right by the hole they were coming out of and.....

TA-DA!!!  My brave husband caught one!!!

Now... this saga has not ended.  We've caught a total of 3 mice so far and have 2 more traps set up.  Just last night I saw mice droppings all over some of my drawers.  The worst part is that they are all in my kitchen.  We've had to re-sanitize everything at least twice now.... I sure hope they go away soon!