LEIGH DIDDY'S DITTIES

the hills are alive

2010-09-27T21:10:00.003-06:00

I just might have to ditch work early on Oct. 29. Can it be true? YES! The Sound of Music cast is reuniting on Oprah!

I tell ya, somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good.

is this my life?

2010-09-02T23:36:00.005-06:00

Sept. 2 was one of those days I will never forget.

What a roller coaster.

The morning started out with an e-mail that made my heart stop. A note from Clover Autrey, the mother of a little boy named Chase, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis. You see, we worked with the Wish With Wings foundation back in December to grant Chase's dying wish to hear the secret of the final Fablehaven book before he died. Miraculously he rebounded (despite doctors telling him he had a day or so to live). In March, he was still doing relatively well, so we flew him to Utah to attend the launch party of the final Fablehaven book. We surprised him by bringing him on stage and making him an honorary Knight of the Dawn.

This morning, Clover e-mailed with sad news:

I don't have Brandon's email because Chase didn't let anyone have it, but can you please let him know that Chase passed away yesterday evening. Also let him know that coming out to see him and be part of the launch party was a thrill for him. His Knights of the Dawn costume is still hanging above his bed. He loved being the center of attention for that. Our family will always, always think highly of Brandon for that gift and his kindness.

And thank you as well, for all you did to make that happen. I can't express to you how much it meant.

My warmest regards,
Clover

Watching Chase's face when he received his Knights of the Dawn uniform and making him an official Knight is a memory I will never forget. The moment almost didn't happen, as Clover was worried he wouldn't be able to walk up to the stage. He was having a lot of trouble breathing. But then it was like he was never sick. As soon as Brandon invited him on stage, he practically jumped out of his seat and ran. I had to chase him. It was so inspiring.

Now to hear he has passed breaks my heart. When I think of all the things I’ve been able to be a part of at Deseret Book this has to be one of the most rewarding, most fulfilling experiences ever.

A few hours later, Sheri Dew's secretary called me and asked me to run over to the store right away with my camera. Sheri wanted me to take pictures of President Thomas S. Monson as he toured our store and looked at the display window honoring him and his lifetime of service.

How can you say no to an assignment like that?!?

As soon as he walked in, he came up, shook my hand and greeted me. I then followed him, his wife Francis, and Sheri and they all looked at the artifacts and timeline with photos of President Monson's life. I just kept snapping picture after picture.

Customers slowly started gathering at a safe distance, and just watched President Monson. Then, everyone broke out into song. "We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet." I stood behind him, with tears in my eye and sang with everyone in the store. Sheri sang right along with me at my side. It was amazing.

After the song, he turned to the crowd and started telling a story. While speaking, the television on the tribute wall started showing the video of when he was first sustained as an apostle years ago. He turned to watch. After a few minutes, he stopped watching and started telling stories again. I then went to turn the television down so people could hear what he was saying.

"Well now I can't hear it!" he said.

"I'm so sorry!" I replied, and ran around back to the television to put the sound back on. Instead of sneaking back near Sheri, I sat right down in case he wanted me to change the volume again. It was the perfect spot. as President Monson continued watching the video about his life. I didn't watch the movie. I just watched him. His eyes, smile. I snapped picture after picture. He originally started watching from the middle of the show, and went through to the end, and started watching from the beginning so he could see the whole thing. Then we finally caught up and were watching parts we had already seen. He then looked at me, "I've seen this already, haven't I." "Yes, you have President," I replied. He then motioned at me with his hand. I interpreted that as a sign to turn the volume down again. "Now what did you do that for?" he teased. "Do you want me to leave?" "I'd happily stay here all night with you, President," I responded. I promptly turned the volume back up, and he kept watching the stuff he had seen just 20 minutes before. A few minutes later he turned to me and said, "I really have seen this, haven't I?" "Yes you have."

He smiled, and gave me the cue to turn the volume down.

President Monson then told the story of meeting his wife. He testified about service. He wiggled his ears. He told a young boy that he'll go on a mission when he's 19. He asked another boy, who was 7 years old, "Do you know what will happen next year?" After a long pause, the boy finally answered with what seemed like a question, "My baptism?" "Good answer," President Monson said.

A young family from Germany just happened to be in the store and were able to meet the Prophet. I snapped pictures of their children telling President Monson about an act of service they did, and then giving him a s "warm fuzzy." I emailed the mother all of the photos I took so they could remember this great experience.

I've been thinking a lot lately how much of a privilege it is to be able to work promoting President Monson's upcoming biography. I would have never dreamed part of that would have included a day like today.

I've always said I love my job. But this? Nothing tops this. It was amazing.

I'm just glad I remembered to bring my camera!

I ended my night with more work, but it was fun work. I attended the table reading of the new movie, "Midway to Heaven." It was fun to see the behind the scenes of a movie. Oh and (this one's for you, Kelly) Kirby Heybourne gave me a big hug. I admitted my inner fan girl-ness and said how much I loved "Sons of Provo."

Have I said I love my job enough yet? Because I do.

DB or Disney?

2010-05-07T19:32:00.006-06:00

For a sec there today I thought I was at Disneyland. Only the DB warehouse had a mouse name Isaac, not Mickey.

Our events planner extraordinaire, Roberta, used to work for the House of Mouse wearing costumes like this at Disneyland. We brought her back to the good ol' days by putting her in the Isaac the Mouse suit. We're debating bringing the mouse back to help promote reading in our stores.

We had far too much fun with the costumes.

Here's my boss, Gail (she needs the glasses to help her read).

We even frolicked through the warehouse.

Good times.

m.i.a.

2010-04-14T23:02:00.004-06:00

As several dear friends have duly noted lately, yes I have been MIA from the blogging world. Let's be honest -- my life isn't blog-worthy. Honestly, all I do lately is work, work, work.

I love it, but it doesn't give me much blog fodder.

The past month and half has gone by in a whirlwind. In about one week, we launched the final book in the Fablehaven series, opened up our flagship store, survived conference weekend and the many, many book signings, and a flood at our new flagship store. We were able to nab a lot of great media coverage on all of our events, and it was a lot of fun.

In one word, it's been chaos. OK, organized chaos, and I've loved every minute of it.

The best part of it all was working with this little boy from Texas named Chase.

Chase has cystic fibrosis. Back in December he really wasn't doing well. A group called A Wish With Wings called us and asked us to help grant his wish of hearing how book 5 of the Fablehaven series ends.

We had the author, Brandon Mull, call him and he revealed all of the books secrets, in addition to sending him several Fablehaven goodies. Both the TV stations in Texas and Utah did stories (check out the Utah story here).

A week or so later, I told his mother that if Chase was well enough to travel in March, we'd love to fly him to Salt Lake to attend the launch party for book 5.

We didn't find out until about two weeks before the party whether he'd be able to attend or not. In the end, his mother said there was no stopping Chase from coming to the party. Mother and son traveled all the way from Plano, Texas to join the party.

I was in charge of helping him throughout the night. We arranged a reserved parking spot and the best seats in the house. Then, we surprised him and Brandon Mull brought him on stage and made him an honorary Knight of the Dawn. Check out the local news story here.

Chase is one tough kid. I'm just grateful he let me be part of his life for one small moment.

(Here are some other photos from the Fablehaven party)

2010-01-18T17:53:00.005-07:00

challenge issued at church earlier this month:
only offer prayers of gratitude.
challenge accepted.

I'm grateful for:
hot soup on a cold day * a warm, comfy bed * dependable friends
* the temple * handsome nephews * a gorgeous niece
* an amazing family * card nights * DVR * a job * a car * down pillows
* my BYU sweats * my testimony * monthly dinners with my sisterrrzzz
* hire's with the old bishopric * softball * music
* people who are talented enough to create said music
* cheesy pull aparts * Jim from the Office * modern medicine
* the power of prayer * chocolate pies from Albertson's
* fondue at the Rheinlander * books
* friends from work who become friends after work * hot chocolate
* puppy tahoe * the invention of the portable music player
* super mario brothers * snow * sunshine * waterfalls * trees
* getting REAL mail in the mailbox * receiving a long email from a friend
* my old job * my new job * words * telephones * hot showers

I'm going to keep adding to this list.
I'm sure my prayers will be very amusing this week.

happy halloween

2009-10-31T19:27:00.001-06:00

Sue Sylvester

"You know something Ohio? It’s not easy to break out of your comfort zone. People will tear you down, tell you you shouldn’t have bothered in the first place, but let me tell you something - there’s not much of a difference between a stadium full of cheering fans and an angry crowd screaming abuse at you. They’re both just making a lot of noise. How you take it is up to you. Convince yourself they’re cheering for you, you do that and someday - they will! And that’s how Sue Sees It."

in the footsteps of greatness

2009-09-27T22:52:00.003-06:00

I went to the BYU football game yesterday, and ran into a few BYU greats.

On the walk into the game, I literally almost ran right into BYU's President, Elder Cecil Samuelson. We did that awkward dance of, "Are you going left, or are you going right?" then he sheepishly said hello. I thought it was cute.

I'm sure Elder Samuelson had much better seats, and he probably got a free catered meal. I starved while watching the Cougs (they won by the way):

After the game we went over to the Brick Oven to buy some soup, and guess who was also in the takeout line? Oh yes, the great Lavell Edwards! I was too embarrassed to say anything to him. But I thought it was cool he was smart enough to call in his order, while we had to wait for them to cook ours.

The best moment of the day, however, came when seeing this man:

REALLY? Really... bare feet in the stands of Lavell Edwards Stadium? That's just wrong.

opportunity to serve

2009-09-02T11:03:00.003-06:00

(props to Shanna, as i'm totally copying her blog and posting it here, only with my name attached. we are working together to help our friend here at work)

i am not a fundraiser-er.

in fact, i loathe fundraisers. i hate asking people for money. i'm not a sales person and i definitely am not a fan of being asked to "donate" $20 for a tiny box of candy bars for the local elementary school.

however, i love serving.
i love helping people.
i love providing as much assistance as i can.

so yesterday, when i found out that a good friend and co-worker's family's home was completely destroyed in the wildfires in auburn, CA... all i could think was how could i help this family?

they came home from church on sunday and only had a few minutes to gather a couple things - a file of original birth certificates, a family picture from the wall and a diaper bag was all they managed to take with them. all of the rest of their belongings - clothes, dishes, appliances, photo albums, wedding keepsakes, blankets, music, furniture - everything.

e v e r y t h i n g is gone.
ashes.

so, while i do not like asking for money, or fundraising in an manner, i feel like they need help.
this is an opportunity to serve.
i have started a collection for this family and, if you feel so inclined, would gladly welcome any other contributions.

they need anything and everything - they have to rebuild their lives from scratch. luckily, they have the gospel in their lives and have maintained an eternal perspective of things, but i'm sure it's not easy. clothes, dishes, blankets, gift cards, cash, anything, i'm sure would be greatly appreciated.

we am sending a package to them on friday, september 11.

if you would like to help,
please contact me at
leigh.dethman@gmail.com
to arrange pick up and/or drop off.

but most of all, please keep this (and the other families affected)
in your prayers.

i think that will help the most.

carefree

2009-08-31T23:36:00.004-06:00

care·free (adjective): free from care: as
a : having no worries or troubles
b : irresponsible
c: getting a pedicure with the girls (hooray for red toenails!)
d: eating zucchini spice cake with cream cheese frosting
d: jumping into the pool with your clothes on

The birthday weekend is officially a wrap. Tonight was just what I needed: a carefree night with the girls. We started with pedicures, then grabbed some dinner at The Soup Kitchen, followed by some amazing zucchini spice cake at the Nook. Those girls sure know how to bake. We then meandered over to Bishop's house for FHE.

After dancing with Steph (She's a great coach -- 'step-touch, step-touch, now shake those hips') and chatting with practically the entire ward, we somehow ended up in the pool with our clothes on. So much fun.

Definitely a night I'll always remember.

raindrops on roses

2009-08-30T23:32:00.003-06:00

These are a few of my favorite things, and I was lucky enough to have them all on my birthday:

- waking up without an alarm clock
- fresh raspberries from lovely roomies for breakfast
- jokes in ward council
- night games at the nook
- Bishop Hale
- girl talk with Marf
- funny notes in sacrament
- hammocks
- lasagna
- mile-high mud pie
- cherries
- twinkle lights
- the grandma house
- emilia delmar
- girl talk
- new friends
- old friends
- bad blind date stories
- homemade ice cream
- the Batman kids serenading me
- phone calls
- text messages
- FB wall posts
- T-HO
- apple beer
- diet coke

Who could ask for anything more? Thanks to everyone for making 28 a great day.

introducing...

2009-08-11T16:58:00.004-06:00

Mr. and Mrs. Finlinson!

Had an amazing day at the Salt Lake Temple with this lovely couple.

The new Mrs. Finlinson looked beautiful, with beaded buttons and a knock-out smile. Joe was happy as can be, with his lady by his side.

It was nice sneaking away from work for a while to go to the sealing (and I love that I have a job where they are totally cool with that). I can't wait for the wedding dinner tonight.

K girls. Who is next?

alta is for lovers

2009-08-07T16:54:00.007-06:00

After surviving a busy work week (LDS booksellers convention) I'm rewarded with a return to a place that brought many a good memories -- the Alta.

I moved into the Alta during the summer of 2003 (right after I graduated). I stayed for about a year and a half. I begrudgingly moved after I grew tired of the long commute to Salt Lake City every day. Oh how it was hard to leave the Alta.

Favorite memories:
- Michael Jackson dance parties
- NCAA Football on the Playstation
- The spy
- Bishop Hawkes
- Dumpster diving at the bookstore
- Movie nights
- Spying on the parking lot make out sessions from our living room window
- Fro Yo
- Plastering "Alta is for Lovers" posters all over the complex (and then replacing the poster multiple times on the door of apartment 214 after they were offended and kept taking it down)
- Our refrigerator tribute to the Alta lovers:

Tomorrow night the BYU 77th ward is reuniting at Bishop Hawke's house. Luckily a girl in my current ward was also in the BYU 77th (not when I was in it) so I have a buddy to go down to Provo with. It should be a fun time!

who needs sleep?

2009-08-05T14:36:00.005-06:00

I've tried to blog several times today. I've started several sentences, only to push the backspace button. I've tried to write out one of the many witty stories I've encountered the past few days. But I just can't do it.

Everything I write is incoherent. I'm delusional, living off of three hours of sleep. I don't recommend it.

freedom?

2009-08-02T09:22:00.005-06:00

Like clockwork, I woke up at 8:45 this morning thinking I needed to get ready for church. Only this day I didn't have to. I don't have to go to morning leadership meetings anymore. I don't have to be at church until 1 p.m.

I didn't even set an alarm. I wanted to sleep as long as possible, unsure of what to do with all this new found free time on a Sabbath morning. In fact, I'm still trying to figure out what to do with all my free time every other day of the week as well.

Who would have thought this transition would be so rough?

addendum

2009-07-21T12:57:00.003-06:00

I had another first this weekend I forgot to mention.

- ate a cherry tomato (I was told it was like candy exploding in your mouth. I beg to differ).

what I did this weekend

2009-07-20T23:00:00.010-06:00

- braved Thai food for the first time (and survived)
- slept in a king size bed
- swam in the California ocean for the first time
- wandered on gold-spreckled sand
- spied on crabs in the tide pools
- earned a new nickname
- attempted several self-timer shots

- toured a random LDS chapel all in the name of love
- played several rounds of two truths and a lie and would you rather
- ate at In 'N Out
- stayed awake the whole entire 12-hour drive back to Utah
- watched a beautiful sunset.

- cemented my tan for the year
- watched (500) Days of Summer with, let's just say, some GREAT neighbors.
- didn't do a lick of work for three whole days (not even an email)
- had a blast with two great friends.

Cheers to San Diego. Here's to another trip soon!

rescue...

2009-07-13T11:36:00.003-06:00

How would you rescue an iPhone trapped in the A/C vent of a car (more specific -- trapped in the floor A/C vent, so when you sit in the front seat and the phone rings, your feet vibrate)?

You could be like us, and shove a hanger with tape up the vent and wiggle it around. Alas, that didn't work.

Or you could be like J's friend, and park on a really really steep hill, and then call the phone over and over again, so the vibration slowly makes the phone fall down back out of the vent (I just can't believe I didn't come up with that idea myself).

Or, you could be like us and drive to the BMW dealer and plead for the iPhone's rescue. Don't hate ... it worked!

My phone will be back in my hand tonight at FHE (Guess I better go).

And if any big wigs at BMW are reading this, you really should put some sort of cover over the vent to block mishaps like this from happening again.

BMWs, iPhone's and air conditioning

2009-07-13T09:18:00.004-06:00

So I think I have THE worst luck in the world.

I went to go visiting teaching tonight with J. She's driving her fancy BMW. My phone falls out of my lap and onto the floor. I'm reaching all around trying to find it, and am having no luck.

Finally, when we get to the house, I really start searching. I move the seat forward. Nothing. I move it back. Nothing. I lift up the floor mats, and you guessed it, still nothing.

J keeps calling my phone, and it sounds like its right underneath my hand. I can feel it vibrate. I can hear it's coo. But I CAN'T SEE IT!

As luck would have it, there are two tiny vents underneath J's seat. And me, being the lucky person I am, my phone decides to slip in there. It is now comfortably sitting in J's A/C vents. I have no idea how to get it out. I'm nervous its lost forever. And that was an expensive phone. I think the Lord is trying to tell me not to have an iPhone.

That's what I get for trying to do my visiting teaching.

Oy.

So e-mail me or call me at my office if you need me.

back to reality

2009-07-07T16:28:00.004-06:00

Coming back to work after 9 days of heaven on a Florida beach is pure hell.

So tired.

Let me explain. I return to Utah a new woman. Well, not a new woman, but a stress-free woman. My co-workers even noted how relaxed I seem. My escape to the land of alligators (didn't see any) and sharks (had a few experiences with those) cleared any and all stresses in my life.

Then I had to fly home.

I went the cheap route, and booked a flight on Expedia. Yes, the cheap route, for $440. Good thing room and board was free. Ya see, when you go the cheap route, you get stuck with multiple stops and layovers. In short, I arrived at the airport at 6 a.m. Eastern and arrived in Utah at 8 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (that's 11 p.m. Eastern, folks). Talk about a long day of travel.

Oh and to top it all off, they lost my bag. The airline bag service called me at 2 a.m. to tell me they were waiting outside my house to deliver it back. The good news is I fell right back asleep.

Now I'm playing catch up at work, and am having a hard time getting motivated again. I finally made it through all my e-mail. Now I have a week's worth of newspapers to comb through (I read the Trib, D'News and USA Today every day in newsprint, lots of other pubs online).

I need a vacation from my vacation.

Good thing I'm off to San Diego next week :)

UPDATE: falling arms

2009-06-17T09:28:00.000-06:00

Oh and I may or may not have a huge headache, stiff neck and lower back pain. Awesome.

beware: falling arms

2009-06-15T16:17:00.002-06:00

So I may or may not have had an unexpected run in with the parking garage barrier arm.

And I may or may not have the worst headache ever. Stupid parking garage.

reuinted

2009-06-11T23:27:00.002-06:00

Oh how I've missed you, bed.

A week away has taken it's toll on my back. Now the carpets are clean, the smell is gone, and my bed beckoned. After a night of laundering blankets and sheets, my bed is once again inhabitable.

Many thanks to Em for letting me sleep at the Grandma house.

working from home

2009-06-11T15:46:00.003-06:00

I think I'm attempting the impossible. I am working from home today. I did sneak into the office for a few hours this afternoon, but came back to the house to keep watch as several craftsmen of all kinds work on my mess of a house. The carpet guy I can deal with. He's quietly downstairs in the stank putting the basement back together again and cleaning up the mess. It's the tile guy upstairs that makes working from home impossible.

Don't get me wrong. I'm used to working in chaos. I've penned stories in a newsroom on election night, in a full basketball arena at deadline and called in a story in the middle of a chaotic fire. But trying to type in my living room while the tile guy blasts away? Impossible.

So instead I blog. My boss is going to love that.

grateful

2009-06-10T11:22:00.003-06:00

It's amazing how much a little note or personal e-mail can change someone's day. I've been an extremely lucky girl the past week or so. Despite some frustrating days at work and the stress of not sleeping in my bed for a week now, I've been lucky enough to be lifted up by several friends, both publicly and anonymously. First it was a plate of cookies with an anonymous note the night my basement flooded. Then came several sweet e-mails from girls in my ward telling me of their love and appreciation. These folks went out of their way to express their love, and I so appreciate it. It serves as a gentle reminder to me that we all need to forget ourselves in the service of others, for the loving service rendered to me has left me truly uplifted.

the scariest shower ever

2009-06-04T15:45:00.005-06:00

Would you step foot into this?

'cause I refuse!

Imagine my horror when my landlord said it should "be OK" to just shower in the nasty shower without a ceiling for the next week or so. It should "be OK" to look up and see the rotting wood. It should "be OK" if maybe some little surprise falls down from the insulation above while I'm washing my hair. It should "be OK" for it, right?

Our shower, (yes, we only have one shower at my house) has been falling apart since the day we moved in. Then after Tuesday night's floods (that should be another blog post later. For now, think rain water, wet carpets and fun) our landlord came over and finally believed us when we said the shower was bad. It's not normally a good thing when the ceiling starts caving in and tiles fall off. And its never a good sign when there is visible water damage on the walls surrounding the shower.

Come to find out our toilet upstairs has been leaking. Yes, EVERY DAY it has leaked since we moved in. The pipe was cracked. So every time we flushed the upstairs toilet, water crashed down to the bathroom below and pushed on those shower tiles with such force that they finally gave up. Poor tiles were tired.

Hopefully we'll have a new ceiling for the ghetto pink shower downstairs. And cross your fingers we have convinced the landlord to put in a shower upstairs. It should be a fun few weeks of repairs at the Hubbard house.

archeology dig

2009-04-27T14:19:00.005-06:00

This weekend I whipped out my old laptop and combed through my documents folder in search of some old music I thought I had lost. Sure, I found the music, but then I uncovered a treasure chest of awesomeness. We're talking e-journal entries a-la Doogie Howser from my freshman and sophomore years of college, letters to friends back home, and hilarious religion papers. I wish I could post some things I wrote on here, but really I'd be too embarrassed. One letter made me cringe. I found myself sounding like Peyton on One Tree Hill, with sentence after sentence crying about how people always leave. Next up all I need to do curl my hair and slap on a black leather jacket and I will really be the next Petyon.

Other unearthed treasures include my first resume (wow, if I read that now as an employer, I wouldn't hire me), notes from my first and only PR class (which I could use now!) and a detailed journal entry of going to a hockey game and seeing my ex with his new fiance. Awesome!

Hello, home

2009-03-21T15:31:00.002-06:00

HI MOM! I see by clicking on to Google maps street view that you're home. Or, at least you were home when the creepy Google folks took a picture of our house. I think Mike and Susie were over visiting as well.

Next time I get homesick, I'm just clicking on to Google maps and looking at the street view. Yes, it's a little creepy. But cool at the same time.

early riser

2009-03-20T22:16:00.003-06:00

I'm not known for rising with the sun. I'd rather put the blanket over my head and sleep for another hour.

My best friend and former roommate knows this, and was shocked to find me on Gmail chat this morning at 6:17 a.m. Yes, 6:17 a.m. Check out our conversation:

Arron knows how much it pains me to get up before 8 a.m. When I was a reporter, I could sleep in until 9 a.m. sometimes and roll into work by 10. Ah the good ol' days. Now I arrive every day by 8:30 a.m. And every Friday I have an 8 a.m. meeting, so I show up an hour early. I hate Fridays.

Especially Fridays like today, where I didn't get home from work until 9:10 p.m. Talk about a long day.

I'm SO sleeping in tomorrow. And not even setting an alarm! Boo yah.

conversations with a 2-year-old

2009-03-17T12:33:00.006-06:00

Today I had my first real conversation with the Gav on the phone:

Me: "Hi Gavin."

Gav: "Hi... hi... hi. Leigh. Hi. Leigh."

Me: "What are you doing buddy?"

Gav: "(incoherent mumble jumble)"

Me: "Oh really?"

Gav: "Where's Leigh .... 'tah."

Thanks, Betsy, for calling me on a day Gavin actually wanted to talk on the phone! Man that boy's a genius. He knows I live in Utah.

brunettes have more fun

2009-03-13T13:22:00.002-06:00

... that's what my friend M tells me.

word of advice #1

2009-03-09T22:48:00.005-06:00

Here's the first of what is bound to be many insightful tips from the life of a new publicist: Read your email over at least three times before sending it to a reporter.

Brilliant tip, yes, this I know.

Too bad I haven't learned to follow it yet.

Case in point: I sent a press release out to several Texas media outlets today about an author on tour there. It wasn't until I sent out the release to about five reporters that I finally noticed I listed the location as Forth Worth, Texas. Awesome.

karaoke dreams shot

2009-02-23T22:49:00.005-07:00

Oh Pat Benetar, where art thou? Apparently not on the playlist on the fancy karaoke machine Meg rented for her birthday party last weekend.

My favorite karaoke song, Love Is A Battlefield was not one of the hundreds of choices, leaving me to Sheryl Crow with Jon Waters and Jen Flanary, Barry Manilow's Mandy with Meg, and several other group numbers.

But my number? No where to be found.

I'm telling you, that crowd missed out.

a lot of love to give

2009-02-06T16:25:00.002-07:00

I have a big heart.

No, I'm not bragging about how compassionate I am. I really do have a really big heart.

Can you die from a big heart? No idea, but I do know my doctor is nervous. Apparently my aorta is enlarged. Normally I go in and get an echo cardiogram once every 2-3 years. I went in today for my routine test.

Everything else looks good. The old problems are still there, but haven't gotten worse. But for some reason my aorta is large. Now the doctor wants me to come back in six months for another test.

Oh joy.

job perks

2008-12-11T23:19:00.003-07:00

Today I met a Broadway star, and a television star.

Pretty good day, I must say.

And not only that, we all had a full on conversation. Grandpa Gilmore (Edward Herrmann) chatted about the fact that his on-air daughter would soon be starring on Broadway as Adelaid in the new revival of Guys and Dolls. And the amazingly talented Brian Stokes Mitchell joked that Deseret Book should distribute the DVD of Ragtime (I complained that I never got to see him on stage in that show).

Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell is in town as the featured artist in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concert. Ed Herrmann is the narrator. I was lucky enough to go to a VIP reception this afternoon with my colleagues, and had the chance to meet these fine fellows. We chatted, snapped a few photos, and Stokes (as the choir guys tell me he likes to be called) even signed a few things my friend Arron sent along to have autographed (he was flattered I had a Playbill from his concert at Carnegie Hall).

Tomorrow night (Friday) I'm going to the concert with a few friends, and then working the CD signing in our store after. Then on Saturday, Arron is flying all the way from Washington, D.C. to go to the concert with me. A few friends went and saw it tonight and said it was amazing. I'm looking forward to it.

Here's a clip of Brian Stokes Mitchell's concert with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir back in September:

that's ... different

2008-12-08T23:12:00.006-07:00

So my name is in the Deseret News today. No, not as a reporter, but as a "spokeswoman for Deseret Book." Yeah, that feels weird.

Update on the job: I love it. It's a total change of pace. It's amazing to see how stressed I was in the newspaper world. Now, not so much. I'm lucky enough to have some amazing people at work mentoring me and teaching me the ropes of the PR world. I've already made what I believe will be lifelong friends in just a few short weeks.

The Joseph Smith Papers (and the fact they are flying off the shelves) kept me busy all day today. A lot of my time lately is spent working on getting publicity for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They are such a great group to work with. I was fortunate enough to finally meet the director, Mack Wilberg, the other day and he was such a kind man. I'm so excited for the big concert this weekend with one of my favorite Broadway stars, Brian Stokes Mitchell.

Other than that, I'm just busy planning things for our spring books. Its sure nice not to have to worry about daily deadlines and instead focus on the big picture. Looking back, after more than two months on the new job, I definitely feel like I made the right decision.

roll out the holly ...

2008-11-24T23:14:00.003-07:00

... put up the tree before my spirit falls again.

That's right. I need a little Christmas. Right this very moment. So we started our decorations a little early.

I won't be home much the next few days, and there is nothing better than flying back from Thanksgiving, walking in the door and seeing the tree all lit up in the living room. I LOVE Christmas!

the life of Miss M

2008-11-23T23:35:00.004-07:00

I know I'm a little late, but there are still 25 precious minutes left in the talented Miss M's birthday. Miss M is a new, old friend. We've known of each other for years, but just barely really got to know each other. We're stupid for ignoring each other all these years, I know.

She's witty, kind, understanding and above all a great friend willing to help me out no matter the problem.

She even DVRs The Office for me and allows her roomies to use fancy dishware to make a bowl of green jello with office supplies trapped in it. Now how cool is that?

Happy birthday, Miss M. I love you!

NKOTB

2008-11-22T21:10:00.007-07:00

All my elementary school fantasies came true last weekend. Not only did I get to see the New Kids on the Block in concert, but ... wait for it ... I TOUCHED Joey McIntyre. You heard me right. Touched him. It's OK to be envious. I would be if one of you got to touch him.

NKOTB is back after a terribly-long absence.

And yes, like giddy school girls, Elissa and I brought out the puffy paint and made "I LOVE JOEY" T-shirts. P.S. They were glow-in-the-dark. You know you're jealous. Random strangers wanted to take their picture with us. Pretty sweet.

And no, just because they are grown men DOES NOT mean they cannot sound like teenage boys going through puberty.

They aren't really new kids anymore. The average age of this "boy" band is 38. But you know what? That didn't matter. They are still pretty hot. The audience went nuts during the Jordan Knight-unbuttoned-white-shirt-blowing-in-the-wind-machine-while-his-washboard-abs-glisten-with-the-stage-lights move. Apparently he did that in the olds days (Elissa was lucky enough to go to the concert when she was a kid. I was relegated to the Disney Channel concert on TV at the Irby's house).

Now, if only I could see Backstreet Boys and N'Sync live in concert, all my boy bands dreams would be fulfilled.

sharing the love

2008-11-21T14:27:00.008-07:00

Christmas is a month away, and if you're like me, you have no idea what to get the many people on your list.

My family knows they will be receiving a Deseret Book Christmas this year. They've all flipped through the catalog and made their picks.

So, in the spirit of giving, here are some gift ideas I'm considering for my friends and family. Feel free to steal the ideas, and use this coupon to get a nice discount.

My top pick: Reflections of Christ -- This project is close to my heart, as I have spent every day since I started at this new job looking at these beautiful images of the Savior. The book makes you feel like you are personally witnessing the Savior's most awe-inspiring moments. This is a great missionary tool and is non-denominational. Then, there is an amazing DVD that not only has a touching slide show of the images coupled with beautiful music, but a documentary DVD with the photographer, and my good friend, Mark Mabry, sharing his testimony of how this project has changed his life.

Top Christmas Book: The Miracle of the Wooden Shoes by Deborah Pace Rowley -- This is a marvelous book and tells the story of a 10-year old boy finding special gifts at Christmas time inside his wooden shoes, which is a German tradition. The website says: “For many nights, his wooden shoes are filled and needful gifts continue to appear, each with a scroll and scripture testifying of Jesus Christ. Then one morning, Walter and his family receive the best gift of all.” It's a great Christmas message for any family.

Must have for singles: A Single Voice by Kristen M. Oaks Believe me when I tell you this book is inspiring. Sister Oaks was single until her early 50s, and went through the struggles we all face. Her life is much different now, as she wed Elder Dallin H. Oaks. Even still, she understands the struggles. In the book Sister Oaks urges single members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to “rewrite the dream.” “If you sit and wait, you’re asking life to dominate you, when you have the opportunity to go out there and make your life wonderful,” Sister Oaks said. It’s a message that applies to all – single or married, young or old, male or female: the unexpected life is no less a life. Here's a link to an article I wrote about the book for LDS Living.

Great gift for missionaries: Let Him Ask of God by Lloyd D. Newell This book is a beautiful collection of inspired messages from the life and teachings of Joseph Smith with insightful commentary by my old BYU religion instructor -- the man behind Music and the Spoken Word.

The gift I should buy my dad: Mine Errand From the Lord by President Boyd K. Packer This book is an encyclopedia of gems from President Packer's lifetime of teachings. It's a great resource for anyone compiling a talk or lesson. Check out this video for more info:

Those are just a few of my favorites. I have a laundry list of books I want to read, but don't have time for.

Get out there and use this coupon fast. It expires on Nov. 30, and feel free to pass the coupon on to your friends. And Happy Gift Giving!

the ybh girls

2008-11-11T23:27:00.003-07:00

I write tonight mainly for three sets of eyes, none of which are my own. I write for the talented Miss M, the spider woman, and the bee.

These fine women of the yellow brick house are a breath of fresh air after a long day. Tonight, after a 10-hour day of work and another few hours doing relief society visits, I happened upon their lovely abode for a quick hello. I quickly found myself in awe of these amazing sisters who were scouring the scriptures and discussing every word of a recent general conference talk. I was overcome by the spirit, and knew I was in the right place. I ended up staying for a few hours, and engaged in a great spiritual discussion.

I'm so thankful to have friends who are great examples of faith and hope. I'm thankful that they kick me in the butt to be better. And I'm thankful that they know how to laugh and keep me grounded.

These three ladies are just a handful of amazing people the Lord has blessed me with.

concert time

2008-11-08T14:11:00.005-07:00

Last night I went to this beautiful man's concert last night with Meg at the Avalon Theater in Salt Lake. The venue was FREEZING, but his voice just makes you melt

He's the guy that sings the song "So Close" from the movie, Enchanted. And yes, that is him on the screen singing in the movie. Unfortunately he only sang a verse of the song during the encore (I'm guessing he doesn't want to pay the Disney folks so he can sing the full version of a song he didn't write). But the rest of the concert was amazing.

guess who's coming to dinner

2008-10-26T22:23:00.004-06:00

I ate dinner with Glenn Beck.

Sure, he was at the next table. But still! That's close enough for me. He was only five feet away. So cool.

On Saturday I was lucky enough to be invited to sit at the Deseret Book corporate table at a fundraising event in Provo. Glenn Beck was the featured guest. We had dinner, then he was presented an award. After a short musical presentation, he came back on the stage and gave a good, 45 minute-long or so speech.

He was a great entertainer, and he was inspiring. He told us to stand up for what we believe in. He reminded us that one person can make a difference.

"Know who you are, know what you got here, know what makes you so great, know what makes you so strong. It is your values," Beck told a crowd of a thousand gathered to hear him. "It is your commitment to do the hard thing, your commitment to God. In God we trust."

I've been meaning to pick up a copy of An Unlikely Mormon: The Conversion Story of Glenn Beck. I've seen clips, and I've only heard good things. It's amazing to see how someone could turn their life around so much and then become a powerful voice for change and someone who stands up for our values.

back to L.A.

2008-10-22T21:47:00.010-06:00

I enjoyed yet another mini vacation last weekend. Destination: L.A. with my friends Marianne, Kimber and Emily.

Highlight of the trip: the fantabulous musical, 9 to 5. It's a musical of the classic Dolly Parton/Lilly Tomlin/Jane Fonda movie. It's been playing in L.A. getting ready for it's big Broadway run next year.

This is probably one of the best shows I've ever seen. Yes, it could use some work, but I'm sure they will retool things before the Broadway run next spring. Megan Hilty was a mirror image and perfect duplicate of Dolly Parton. I still can't get over Stephanie J. Block's vocals. Man that girl can belt. She made Judy loveable. And how can you complain about Allison Janney? She was a hilarious Violet. I still can't get over the dream sequence. I don't want to give anything away. Just go see it.

Before the show, we stumbled into Hollywood somehow. Yah, we didn't plan it. But I'm so glad we did. I found Celine Dion's star on the walk of fame. We took pictures in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater and compared our shoe sizes to the stars. It was an unexpected bonus to the trip.

The next day we went to Disneyland.

I never thought it could be possible to have too much Disney goodness in one year. But alas, I think the impossible is possible. I went to Disneyland on Saturday. Kimber hooked us up with free passes for the day. Now don't get me wrong. I did love it. I've never seen the Halloween decorations. I've never seen the Haunted Mansion revamped into the Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion. Oh and there was a new ride at California Adventure: Toy Story Midway Mania. Best ride of the day, no joke. I loved it.

Here's what put the downer on Disney for me: long lines. I have managed to avoid busy Disney weekends every time I have gone. In April with the family at Disneyland it wasn't too bad. Then in May, the Disney World lines were a breeze. Somehow we managed to go on one of the busy weekends. In fact, I think the entire state of Utah decided to go to Disneyland that weekend. It was UEA weekend (formerly known as The Hunt) and Utah schools had the week off. Thus, all the BYU and U of U shirts I saw throughout the park.

I hate long lines. Even fast pass lines were long. The single rider line on Soaring Over California was long. All my tricks didn't really work.

Nevertheless, I still loved it. Disneyland really is the happiest place on earth.

Runner-up for best highlight of the trip: the doo on the dude sitting to the left in the rail car on Big Thunder Mountain.

Reflections of Christ

2008-10-11T11:58:00.004-06:00

Sorry I've been a terrible blogger. It's amazing seeing the lack of down time I have lately.

I've been spending the majority of my time working on the Reflections of Christ project. It's my job to get the press to help get the word out about this amazing photography exhibit. So far we've been getting great results. Check out this story that ran up in Idaho:

The exhibit was in Salt Lake last week, and I had two television stations and a few newspaper articles that reported on the exhibit.

And for all of you on Facebook, head over there and become a fan of the project.

top 10

2008-09-25T23:39:00.005-06:00

Top 10 reasons I like my new job:

1. the view (my desk is by a big window with a great view of Abravenel Hall. Too bad it will go away as soon as the church build's a condo tower)

2. working 9 to 5

3. not working on holidays

4. getting the whole week off between Christmas and New Year's (are we seeing a trend here?)

5. watching "The Office" in the conference room once a week during lunch

6. friendly co-workers who immediately welcomed me on the team (one even went to the temple with me after work)

7. positive reinforcement (the marketing director is constantly giving praise, and consistently plans lunches and things to incentivize the staff to work hard)

8. Diet Coke (the marketing director reminds me to bring a Diet Coke to some of the long, boring staff meetings)

9. free books

10. working for "the Dew."

soda pop wars

2008-09-18T17:00:00.000-06:00

Yeah remember that whole crazy "I'm giving up Diet Coke" post not too long ago. Yeah let's act like I never wrote it.

Really, what's the point of giving up Diet Coke? Yes I can see the point in giving up soda altogether, but I only said I'd giving up Diet Coke. Then I noticed my soda intake went up for other beverages, namely Sprite. In the end, Diet Coke has less sugar. So really I should dump Sprite and only drink Diet Coke.

Basically I'm trying to say I'm not giving up Diet Coke until I'm ready to give up soda altogether. And I'm not ready yet.

The end.

soccer stadium

2008-09-18T13:00:00.004-06:00

The D'News Farewell Tour kept rolling on Thursday, as I toured Real Salt Lake's new soccer stadium today.

This stadium was the bane of my existence for a few years running there, as I swear I wrote a story every day for about two years about the funding issues related to the stadium.

I didn't think I'd ever get the behind the scenes tour, since I'm leaving the paper before it opens. But luckily Mayor Peter Corroon had a scheduled tour today, so I tagged along.

The stadium is really nice. Mayor Corroon described it in one word: "Luxurious." It made me wish I could afford the fancy club seats. Folks rich enough to buy those seats get a private lounge, a private entrance, cushy seats in a special section, and they get to walk out onto the field every game through the player tunnel. Jealous.

I was snapping pictures of myself in random spots throughout the stadium, but this one is by far my favorite. The mayor popped in and made the picture.

To end the tour, we walked all the way up to the cat walk in the canopy pictured below. They tell us the governor was too chicken to do it, but we did it!

It was fun to see the finished product of a concept I've been writing about for years.

defection

2008-09-17T18:15:00.003-06:00

Some of you have been asking me how my superiors at the D'News have been taking my pending departure.

Here's from an all-staff e-mail from a boss:

"Friends of City Desk...Just to let you know that (Mr. Cool New Unnamed on Leigh's Blog Guy) has agreed to join us full time in the wake of Leigh Dethman’s defection to God’s Bookstore, where she will be undertaking the Devil’s mission of publicity."

Ah yes, I'm on a mission. The Devil's mission of publicity.

I'm sure going to miss the witty banter of reporters and editors.

In all reality, everyone has been really nice. It's been a hard week saying goodbye to sources, and I'm sure Friday will be rough saying goodbye to everyone else. At least I'll only be working a block away.

missile blunt palin

2008-09-17T17:59:00.004-06:00

Flash back to 1981 -- the year I was born. But instead of having the amazing mother named Gayle, let's imagine Sarah Palin is my mother.

Apparently she never would have named me Leigh. Instead, she'd pick Missile Blunt Palin.

Oh yeah, little Missle Blunt. No joke, she named her kids Track, Trig, Bristol, Willow and Piper. Yeah, not sure where those names came from. I feel the worst for her son, Trig. I hated Trig. Worst class ever. All those proofs. Ew.

So, do you ever wonder what your name would be if Sarah Palin was your mother? Click here.

headline of the day

2008-09-16T16:48:00.003-06:00

Courtesy of CNN.com

That's right. "Bush lands in Texas; Residents urged to leave."

I guess we know which way CNN leans.

The headline has since changed to, "Bush heads to Texas as Galvestonians urged to leave." Doesn't that just roll off the tongue. Galvestonians. Nice.

two weeks notice

2008-09-05T20:12:00.014-06:00

I quit my job today.

I can't believe I just wrote those words. I always imagined myself as a career woman at the Deseret News. I figured I'd work there for life, or at least until I got married and hopefully didn't have to work anymore.

But life changes, goals shift and I found myself feeling like I needed to try something new. The newspaper industry is a scary business right now, and I felt like I had to go out there and learn a new skill.

Luckily, another company decided to let me develop these new skills. I am now the newest publicist at Deseret Book. I got the job offer yesterday, and officially accepted the position today. I never imagined this life change, but I welcome it. It feels right.

I'm excited for for something new, yet hesitant to leave a company and co-workers who have become a second family to me. I've been at the Deseret News for five-and-a-half years now. They hired me as an intern two months before I graduated from BYU. I quickly signed on in a full-time role a few months later.

I was quickly thrown into some big stories, like this one below, when a local girl was murdered by her husband and the national media came in throngs. (Can you spot me?)

I've done a little bit of everything in my time at the News. I've experienced things most people will never get to do. I'll never forget the sight of those tired, weary people lined up outside the New Orleans airport seeking shelter from Hurricane Katrina. Or the people lined up with one injury after another in the baggage claim area (which was transformed into a triage area).

I'll never forget meeting Iraqi Marines in the middle of the Persian Gulf. Majad, who waved incessantly at me whenever saw each other. Or the other guy, who swore I spoke and read Arabic, and finally started writing in my notebook to get me to understand (sorry, still can't read Arabic). Oh and I can't forget the one who insisted I was Martina Hingis.

I'll never forget the thrill of watching an F-15 land on the USS Teddy Roosevelt while I stood on the deck, or the uncertainty of sitting in a plane actually landing on the aircraft carrier (and hoping the hook attached to the wire).

And who can say they stood next to the head of the famous toppled Saddam Hussein statue.

But really I'll never forget the many people, friends, sources and co-workers I have met in my time at the Deseret News. I hope I won't lose that going into this new adventure.

My official start date at Deseret Book is Sept. 22. I will relish my last two weeks at the Deseret News.

diet coke

2008-09-04T13:50:00.002-06:00

I've decided to give up Diet Coke. Call it a crazy "I'm 27 now and need a goal" type of move. I drink way too much of it, anyway. I don't need all that caffeine in my body. And I know I don't drink enough water.

Diet Coke and I have a long history. The story goes that "Coke" was one of my first words (that, along with "fries" and "shub-up, Bossy" were all early vocabulary staples as a young child). Blame my mother. I swear, we would go to the drive through every day to get a Diet Coke.

Sadly the rest of my family has moved onto Diet Pepsi. I have yet to understand this phenomenon. It doesn't taste better. It just makes me burp more. Betsy gave up the drink last year, and is off and on, so props to her. My goal is to not drink a drop of Diet cola of any kind all year. Rough, I know.

So farewell, Diet Coke. You truly are the nectar of the Gods.

birthday girl

2008-09-03T11:59:00.007-06:00

I am now recovering from the best birthday week ever. My 27th birthday will be hard to top.

It started Thursday night, two days before my birthday. My awesome friends/roommates threw a great party for me at our house. So many people came, and I was amazing at the kindness of my amazing friends.

Shout out to Kelly for the most creative birthday cake ever given to me.

In case you can't read it, it says "WRITE HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEIGH (IN ALL CAPS)." I recently mentioned to Kelly that she should check out one of my favorite blogs, Cake Wrecks. This blog makes fun of professional bakeries/grocery stores for bad cakes, grammar mistakes, etc. I love it. So to see this on my cake was awesome. I love when people get creative.

We ended the night rockin' out to Rock Band. Clint brought up his Wii, and several folks stayed over til midnight. I was SO tired at work the next day.

I spent my actual birthday in Lake Havasu with my friend, Arron. I'd post pics, but we didn't take any. Sad, I know. But really, when all you do is lay by the pool or chill on the boat, there really isn't an opportunity to take pics (and who wants to see a swimsuit shot, anyway).

UPDATE: The party and the Havasu trip was in addition to my awesome weekend in Vegas with Betsy and Louise last weekend. Oh and Betsy wrote a sweet to me on her blog for my birthday. Thanks, Boss.

Thanks to everyone for making my 27th birthday AMAZING!

sin city

2008-08-28T12:04:00.004-06:00

I'm still recovering from my weekend in Vegas with Betsy and Weez. All that driving knocked me out.

We spent a lot of time in the lazy river, floating around on a tube getting a tan. The rest was spent eating, showing Betsy the strip (she's never been there) and seeing Mamma Mia. So much fun!

I'm thinking this should become a new cousin tradition. Anyone else in?

I have an eventful few days coming up. Tonight my friends are throwing me a birthday party, and tomorrow night I'm headed to Lake Havasu to spend my birthday/Labor Day Weekend with Arron.

temple trip

2008-08-14T11:38:00.003-06:00

Isn't the Portland LDS temple beautiful? I remember going through the open house when it first opened in 1989. I was 7 years old and just a month or two away from my baptism. I remember putting on the little white booties, so we didn't get the pretty new carpets dirty. I remember how amazing the celestial room was, so white. So light. The image of the grand staircase seemed like a stairway to heaven.

My memories were accurate. The temple is just as beautiful as it was in my 7-year-old eyes.

I went through the temple Aug. 9 to receive my endowment. My family was there to support me, including my grandma, aunt, uncle and a few cousins from Washington. It was fitting to have them all there, since the whole point of this life is to live worthy enough to be with our families in heaven forever.

The temple trip was the highlight of an amazing, busy weekend with my family.

sisters

2008-08-14T11:23:00.002-06:00

Forgive my lack of blog postings lately. I have a lot to blog about, but unfortunately all the pictures are on other peoples' cameras and I'm waiting for them to send them (so send them already folks!)

So I'll make due with what I have -- an old picture of the Dethman sisters. I flew home last weekend to see Amy, who lives in Denmark and makes rare appearances here in the states.

It was a jam-packed weekend, with rehearsals, my first trip through the LDS temple to receive my endowment, and culminating with an amazing fireside on the Prophet Joseph Smith. I'll blog more about my temple trip later.

Amy and her husband, Andreas, put together a whole fireside honoring Joseph Smith. They wrote the narration, put together a multimedia presentation of pictures, and then selected songs to tie everything together. It was amazing. I had a hard time keeping my emotions in check as my brother, Mike, sang out the first line to one song: "The spirit of God like a fire is burning. The latter-day glory begins to come forth."

Amy conducted the choir, and the whole family (minus Andrew) participated. It was really neat. Then, I sang a trio of "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" with Betsy and Amy. It was fun to sing with all of them. Our voices seem to blend so well together. Must be that family gene. I remember the days when I would be annoyed that mom always made us sing together at church, but now I love it. It's so fun being all together up there.

fried

2008-08-06T16:10:00.003-06:00

Nope, not Kentucky. But fried. As in my battery.

My car decided to up and die on me Monday night. Thank heaven it happened after I left the creepy downtown Wal-Mart at night, and waited until I was parked safely next to a street light outside my friend, Elissa's house. My two heroes, Dan and Phatty, came to the rescue and gave me a jump. I drove around for a while and then went home to bed.

I was nervous to try again Tuesday morning, and for good reason. The thing wouldn't start. Everything was dead. Even my automatic door locks wouldn't move at the command of my little clicker. At this point, nobody was around to give me a jump. Luckily my friend Meg came over to help. We both had never jumped a car before, and she was pretty nervous. Good thing I didn't remember the whole "battery exploding while Betsy jumped a car once" story until after we successfully jumped the car. That likely would have freaked Meg out. She looked scared even without the story.

Long story short, I spent a few hours at Pep Boys reading Breaking Dawn while they tinkered with my car. Now, $100 bucks later, everything is back to normal.

Oh and I have no idea how the battery died. I didn't leave any lights on or anything. I guess the battery was just tuckered out.

the lovefest continues

2008-08-01T12:07:00.003-06:00

Yes, my devotion to all things High School Musical continues. On Wednesday I went a few of my girls to see "High School Musical: Live on Stage." I was a little hesitant, thinking nothing could match the amazingness of the Disney Channel movie, but I was proven wrong.

Yes, it was the same plot, and most of the same songs. But it was a different experience. The staging was amazing. It proved that you can have a nice set on a touring show. I was amazed that the boys in the "Getcha Head in the Game" number were able to dribble in rhythm with the band the whole time. The girl playing Gabriella had a great voice, and Troy was OK. He was a bit nasally and sometimes went into rock star voice mode. He's no Zac Efron, but really, who is?

After the show, we totally stage doored. Let me explain. Elissa's 13-year-old sister and 9-year-old cousin were at the show, and they are big HSM fans too. So I got to use their enthusiasm as my excuse to stand in the alley waiting for the actors to come out. The girls all got autographs, and the 9-year-old even got an autographed drum stick from the guy in the pit. Pretty sweet.

Please forgive the blurry cell phone pics. That red neon light says "STAGE DOOR." That crowd behind me and Elissa is surrounding the girl playing Gabriella Montez.

This guy is a new character in the stage show, Jack Scott. He's the voice of East High School, and ushered in every scene with a sweet radio voice announcer drawl. Elissa had a secret crush on him, so we made sure to get a picture.

Finally, here are pics of the girls with the actors playing Gabriella Montez and Troy Bolton.

Most of my friends went to East High, and I've always been insanely jealous. I'll have you know that my friend Jane said I am now an honorary graduate of East High School. You know you're jealous.

pioneer day

2008-07-25T15:40:00.007-06:00

For those of you non-Utahns, Pioneer Day rounds these parts is HUGE. Bigger than the 4th of July. You heard me right.

I celebrated my pioneer heritage by watching fireworks light the sky to the accompaniment of Faith Hill, Lynrd Skynrd, Sugarland, Dierks Bentley, and Metro Station. And no, there was no Neil Diamond or MOTAB.

TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT!

I trekked to the Salt Lake Bee's game last night night and sang as I walked and walked and walked and walked from my car to the stadium. After an awesome game, we got to go down to the outfield, put our blankets down on the grass and watch a sweet fireworks show.

The fireworks were amazing. The music, not so much. The music had no theme whatsoever. Definitely not patriotic or pioneer-esque.

Oh and meet Amy, my amazing first counselor in the relief society presidency.

a little night music

2008-07-23T17:15:00.003-06:00

I broke my summer goal. I vowed to not go to a concert. But then I really thought about it, and it was a dumb goal. I should have been more specific. More like, "I will not go to super-expensive Tim McGraw/Faith Hill or Celine Dion concerts this year in an effort to save cash." See, I'm totally accomplishing that goal.

As I said before, I caved in on my vow for John Mayer and Colbie Caillat. It was a gorgeous night for a concert at the outdoor USANA Amphitheater.

My awesome friend and roommate Heather came with me. We had quite an interesting night, shoved between angry Mormons and funny, extremely friendly drunks. One guy kept persisting to slow dance with Heather, but she ducked his advances.

Gotta love Colbie Caillat. Her music is amazing. Stage presence, not so much. But maybe she'll get better as her career continues to explode.

I swear, half our ward was at the concert. It was fun to see so many friends scattered about. Katie, one of my favorite girls of all time, was up in the lawn seating with a bunch of girls from the ward, including my amazing new secretary Jane.

I was a little nervous for John Mayer, mainly because I don't know his new stuff as well. But that didn't matter. He was amazing on stage. His voice was perfect (and sometimes you don't get that when you go to a concert. You're like, seriously, they edit you THAT much in the studio. Seriously?) Oh and you can't help but not sit in awe of his guitar riffs. The man can play.

I'm not going to lie. I'm glad I failed at my original goal.

new calling

2008-07-20T16:00:00.000-06:00

I'm so glad this day is finally here.

After 35 days of keeping my mouth shut, I can finally tell the world how blessed I feel that I was just sustained as the new relief society president of my ward. Words really can't describe the roller coaster I've been on since the bishop first called me in his office on June 15 to to ask me to serve.

I've been on such a spiritual journey the past few months, and know that this calling will help me progress even further. I'm so excited to serve the sisters of my ward, and feel so blessed to work with an amazing presidency who I know will do great things.

I really have no idea exactly what I'm getting into, so please share your advice if you have it.

campaigning

2008-07-16T18:22:00.001-06:00

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

extra extra

2008-07-12T19:44:00.001-06:00

Here's some news from the news front:

- I still have a job. I survived the layoffs, but sadly have to watch several of my co-workers go. In total, 34 positions were cut from the newspaper. I still can't fathom how the paper can adjust and go on without these amazing people, but we will come together.

- I watched Newsies last night. Best. Show. Ever.

Christian Bale can dance and talk in a funny accent any time for me.

locked

2008-07-01T17:55:00.000-06:00

Sorry, ya'll, but this here blog is private again. I know it's a hassle, but my privacy is more important to me.

Carry on.

i am me

2008-06-30T08:32:00.000-06:00

and nobody else in the ENTIRE UNITED STATES has my name.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are
1
or fewer people with my name in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

so not only am I a VIP in my family, apparently I'm a VIP in my county. Boo yeah.

white trash lunch

2008-06-27T18:56:00.000-06:00

Normally I spend my Friday lunch at a nice downtown eatery, or even at the Church Office Building cafeteria.

Oh no, not today. I had lunch in the projects (don't deny it, Tiff). OK it's not really the projects. More like "the other side of the tracks."

Highlights:
- crossing the railroad tracks
- the crazy neighbor wearing an over-sized T-shirt (and no pants), carrying a chihuahua and gardening.
- said crazy neighbor then bending over to do something, and showing her large behind (including crack) for all to see. (I'm not sure she was wearing undies)
- ducking for cover during a drive by. ... OK this really didn't happen, but how cool would that make my white trash lunch story.

The best highlight, however, was Wendy using a push lawnmower in Tiffany's neighbors yard. On her lunch break. In nice clothes. And flip flops.

Wendy will hereafter be known as Duchess Green Toe (thanks for the duchess tip, Tiff).

(word to the wise, don't mow the lawn -- especially with a push mower -- in flip flops and then return to work the rest of your afternoon).

a night at the theater

2008-06-26T18:02:00.000-06:00

After a year of anticipation, The Drowsy Chaperone finally came to town, and it did not disappoint. I've been in love with this show since I first saw it in L.A. before it moved to Broadway. How you could not love the tap dancing, a crazy theater fanatic narrator, and a song about a monkey. Seriously. Can't beat that.

I was a little worried that the cast wouldn't be up to par with the folks I saw on Broadway (especially considering Sutton Foster -- my ultimate favorite -- was the original Janet Van De Graaff). But, to my pleasant surprise, the touring cast was actually really good. Highlights included Jonathan Crombie as Man in Chair (the narrator, who just happened to star as Gilbert Blythe in Anne of Green Gables) and Georgia Engel as Mrs. Tottendale (yes, THE Georgia Engel of Mary Tyler Moore Show, Coach, and Everybody Loves Raymond fame).

Sadly, the house was not packed. But the empty seats spell good things for me -- half price rush tickets. Expect to see me back at the show this weekend.

awkward

2008-06-25T08:24:00.000-06:00

I always get these comments about how cool it must be being a reporter. Yes, I get to do a lot of cool things, and rub shoulders with some pretty important people.

But people don't ask about the bad stuff. The hate mail. The angry politicians that black list you and refuse to acknowledge your existence after you wrote an article that miffed them.

To top it all off, reporters can be in the middle of (and create) the most awkward situations.

Case in point: primary election night (last night). Two incumbents lost, and of course I had to write about it. My boss tells me to call the losers. First thought: what the heck do I say to them? Then without thinking too hard about it, I started dialing. Luckily the first loser shunned all phone calls. That made me feel a little better, thinking Loser No. 2 wouldn't answer when I called.

Yeah, things didn't work out that way. Loser No. 2 answers, and is mad. So I stumble through a sentence about the rough election night, and asked if he would share his thoughts and if he had anything to tell his constituents.

"What do you think," Loser No. 2 shouted. Then, after an abrupt "thank you," he quickly hung up on me.

That was fun. I immediately called my editor to ask if I could use that tantrum quote. Luckily for him, Loser No. 2 then called right back, to tell me I "misunderstood." He said he was upset, but he wanted to thank his constituents.

In the end, Loser No. 2 got a pretty decent quote in the paper, but it took two seriously awkward conversations to get there.

(interviewing the winner, however, is awesome, especially first-timers. One guy was so happy he barely knew what to say, other than a really PC comment about his opponent. The other had just found out she won right before I called, and she was just so excited. Definitely a change from interviewing Loser No. 2)

reality tv

2008-06-24T19:06:00.005-06:00

You'd think my life was really lame by my lack of blog posts lately. But it's not. I just haven't taken the time to write about the little things that make my life awesome.

So to make up for it, here's a glimpse of something seemingly boring that makes my life awesome: reality television.

First I spent two hours watching the Bachelorette with Kate (ah, a heartbreaking episode. She cut Graham, the one guy she is totally hot for, because he seriously is emotionally unavailable, but kept the guy I'm pulling for -- a fellow Northwesterner named Jason).

Then I stopped by my adorable friend Marianne's house for a visit, and we ended up watching Jon and Kate Plus 8 (this was my first experience with the show and LOVED it).

Then we ended my reality TV night watching Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods. It's really sad how hooked I am on this show. The actresses really aren't great. I can't see any of them commanding a Broadway stage. But I feel like I'm watching in on something I shouldn't have access to. I get to see casting directors rip on actresses. Awesome! I'm pulling for my Utah girl, Rhiannon, with Lauren and Autumn close behind (although Autumn totally disappointed me this week).

I swear I do stuff other than watch television.

the view

2008-06-20T17:43:00.000-06:00

I love the view from the 10th floor of my parking garage.

freedom

2008-06-20T08:43:00.002-06:00

After many complaints, I have freed the blog from its bondage of password-only access. Enjoy your RSS feeds and quick-clicking without typing a password (for now).

wildcats everywhere

2008-06-16T23:31:00.002-06:00

I'm not going to lie. I drove by East High several times and even turned around at one point to catch a glimpse of the crew filming High School Musical 3. It was magical. Betsy can vouch for me. I called her while I drove by and gave details of everything I saw. Pretty sweet.

Now, HSM fans, here are some major spoilers. At the end of the Wildcats' senior year, those crazy cats will graduate!

Crazy huh? Those amazing scriptwriters really threw me for a loop there. Graduation filming went on for a few days. The East High football stadium was full of parents and kids dressed in red and white caps and gowns. They even decorated the stands. Pretty sweet.

Then the scriptwriters went all crazy and, judging by the next picture, found a way for the Wildcats to win state AGAIN! That's back-to-back state champions. Go Wildcats.

Sadly, even with all my stalker techniques, I didn't see any stars of the film. I was really hoping to see Zac Efron. I know a guy who says he saw Ashley Tisdale the other day. So jealous.

happy day of the father

2008-06-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

My apologies, Dad. I was going to post yesterday about the amazingness of you, John Leonard Dethman, but was too busy with church and the TONY AWARDS that I didn't have time to post.

I love my dad because:

- he doesn't care what you think
- he taught me just about everything I know, from sports, to spiritual and life lessons.
- he gave me my sarcasm
- he's wise, and always seems to know the right answer
- he's always willing to bail me out of a tough situation
- he's only a phone call away
- he is the biggest loser :)

and

- he'll wear a button-down shirt underneath a wet suit.

I love you, daddy!

layoffs

2008-06-05T22:26:00.002-06:00

The boss announced layoffs today. Needless to say, I'm nervous, along with most of my co-workers. In total, 35 people must go. We won't find out who for another few weeks. Talk about fun.

To read the full story of the melee, click here.

summer lovin'

2008-06-03T23:01:00.005-06:00

Man I thought the summer would be lame after all my spring trips, but it's shaping up to be a good one.

My family just can't get enough of me, and will be in town throughout the summer. Mom is coming in June and July to do the flowers at different weddings. Then my sister, Amy, and her husband, Andreas, will road trip to Utah with my mom in August to visit. I haven't seen her in, like, three years I think. Way too long.

Then, August 22-24, Betsy is coming to town to hang out with me for the weekend and we are trekking down to Vegas for a fun girls' weekend.

Oh and I'm going home July 4 for the traditional family bash. It's rough, I know.

Now I'm just trying to find time to slip in a trip to visit my best friend for a weekend at her folks' home at Lake Havasu, Arizona. I'm thinking Labor Day weekend, to celebrate my birthday.

This summer's gonna be great.

UPDATE: Change of plans. My sister, Amy, and friends will not be traveling to Utah to visit me. Instead, they are going to cousin Jeff's wedding. In order to get a little sister bonding time, I'm flying home to see her. Good times.

road trip

2008-06-03T11:36:00.008-06:00

My friend, Meg, and I ventured south to land of the Cougars, and made what otherwise would have been a drab drive to Happy Valley a fun road trip.

And let me tell you, the gods welcomed our return:

We took pictures, and acted like tourists at different Provo hot spots. Here's the MTC (I made sure to wave at Jay and Stephanie Riding) and the Provo Temple.

The BYU smoke stack:

And perhaps the saddest picture of all, Deseret Towers:

The towers are gone! SAD. An icon of BYU is forever gone.

In a short two hours, we did most everything a Cougar could do. We even went to FHE, and joined Meg's sister, Katie, and her fiance, Tagg, for a mean game of four-square.

And can you believe it, we took a visit to our home states (Oregon and Texas).

Sadly, the night came to an end after Meg picked up her sister's wedding invitation envelopes.

We sure know how to make even the smallest trip fun.

on the road again

2008-06-02T08:25:00.000-06:00

I seem to have a goal of going out of town every weekend.

I kept the vacation train rolling along by going up to my friend's cabin in Wyoming for the weekend with some folks for the ward. It was gorgeous weather, clear skies but a little chilly. Perfect for a nice weekend.

I did a little reading (I'm now on the 6th book of the Chronicles of Narnia) ...

played a lot of cards (hearts, 31, speed, etc.) ...

sat around the campfire telling stories and avoiding craziness "would you rather" questions ...

and handled a chainsaw for the first time. Pretty cool. Raw power, in my hands. Amazingly enough, nobody got hurt.

So far I have no plans to leave the state for the weekend, but I'm open to offers to achieve my goal.

potus

2008-05-29T08:16:00.000-06:00

I got this close to the president:

I should've been even closer. But like a wise 80s band once said, blame it on the rain. President George W. Bush was supposed to get out of his fancy armored limosine and shake hands with those airmen you see in the picture above you. As luck would have it, big drops of rain started pouring from the sky, and Bush didn't want to get his hair wet. (OK I don't really know that, but several Air Force brass told me the president generally doesn't like to greet folks in the rain). So instead of coming within feet of moi, he bolted the other way and went directly up the stairs into Air Force One.

Yep, that's all the big man in charge gave me.

Rewind. So President Bush came to town on Wednesday to raise some money for Sen. McCain. In addition to a $10,000 per person luncheon, Bush hung out at Mitt Romney's Park City vacation home and invited others to join if they could afford it. And I definitely don't have the money to go to an event like that: $30,000 per person or $70,000 per couple.

The newspaper assigned me to hang out at the Utah Air National Guard base to welcome the commander in chief to the Beehive State. Wednesday was a beautiful, sunny day. It's funny how I had to spend hours going through secret service security checks just to see President Bush get off a plane and wave. But it was fun.

It's funny. The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the president step out of the plane was to criticize his wave. No, he didn't have the beauty queen "elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist, wrist" thing going on. I thought it looked like he wanted to give me a high five.

The president didn't stay long. He shook hands, gave an award to this 24-year-old guy who's logged a ton of volunteer hours and then headed out to take people's money for McCain.

After he left, I was able to interview Julie Beck, president of the General Relief Society. The White House invited her to be part of the greeting committee when President Bush got off the plane. She had a comical exchange with the president. When he shook her hand, he asked who she was. After she told him she served in the Relief Society, the president asked, "Who do you relieve?" (ba dum bum). "Just about everyone," she answered. After the president left, Sister Beck joined President Monson and President Uchtdorf for a personal tour of Air Force One.

A few hours later (and after writing another controversial story on a completely different topic) I rushed up to Park City for the Bush Bash Barbecue. About 130 folks hung out a park near Romney's home for the "bash." Organizers insisted it was a "celebration" that the president was in town, not a bash Bush fest (despite the name of the event). One organizer reminded me that bash means party. But I didn't buy it.

The following is from one of my stories in today's paper:

But the majority of the folks on the lawn at Park City Park were anti-Bush, with some of them carrying signs protesting his presidency.

One attendee even went so far to say she wished somebody would "knock (Bush) off already."

Carol Silverman said she had a fantasy that Bush was assassinated, then Vice President Dick Cheney died of a heart attack, then former House Speaker Dennis Hastert died, clearing the path for Colin Powell to become president.

"With all the crazy people with guns, I can't believe nobody got to him," said Silverman, who lives in Scarsdale, N.Y., but owns a condo in Park City. "It's just too bad he's still president.

I logged 12 hours of work on Wednesday, and then had to get up at the crack of dawn to be at the airport for the president's departure. It was a lot of sitting around and waiting, but it was cool to be that close to the president and Air Force One. It's amazing the preparation done for every detail of his trip.

Here's my favorite guy, who used a feather duster to wipe down the president's limo minutes before he arrived:

Here's some pics of the president's entourage. The first is Marine One, Bush's official helicopter. The other pic is of these ginormous choppers that carried his staff and the national press pool.

Here's his motorcade pulling up Thursday morning, just before Bush got on Air Force One.

And finally, here is me, cheesing it up in front of that mammoth of an airplane.

d.c.

2008-05-27T12:10:00.008-06:00

Alas, this is a week late, but I'm finally blogging about my trip to D.C.

One word: amazing. As a total patriotic history nerd, I relished every story and asked lots of questions. The only problem with going in mid-May is that Congressman Rob Bishop had a new intern, and he wasn't the greatest tour guide. He couldn't answer any of my questions really. But even still, I loved my tour of the U.S. Capitol.

The architecture is amazing, and it was fun to see the similarities with the Utah Capitol building. I took several snapshots (which you can find in the slide show). I was sad that when we were sitting in the House gallery, Nancy Pelosi wasn't there. She made someone else serve as speaker in her stead. Oh well, her loss for not getting to see me up in the gallery.

Friday night we visited most of the monuments. They were gorgeous. I love how you can stand at the Lincoln Memorial and look across the National Mall and see the World War II Veterans Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the U.S. Capitol all lit up in the night sky. I took my time at several monuments to reflect, and was brought to tears at the many veterans memorials, thinking about all the servicemen who have died. It made me think of the many families I have interviewed the day they found out their son was killed in action, and it made me grateful that these servicemen are willing to put their lives on the line for our freedom.

We had an amazing tour guide for the trip. Sarahanne seemed to know all the little details about every place she took us, and I grilled her if she didn't. While she was at work, Caprene and I went out on the town and visited places she recommended. I was a fan of the Spy Museum. I don't think it was worth $18, but when you don't pay to go into any other museums, you feel like it's OK to spend a bit for a sweet museum about spies.

Saturday we visited Arlington National Cemetery. I was in awe of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and reverence the servicemen there have while on duty. I was also lucky enough to watch the Changing of the Guard. The rose garden there was gorgeous, and the views of the city were amazing from Arlington House. I also enjoyed the eternal flame on JFK's grave.

That night, I went to my first Major League Baseball game. We drove up to Baltimore to see the Orioles take on the Nationals. Camden Yards was a gorgeous park, and the game was great (I was worried it would be a blowout, but luckily it was a close one). We had dinner, and munched on peanuts and cotton candy.

We picked a good time of year to visit. It wasn't too hot, and there weren't TOO many tourists. We did have to dodge packs of eighth graders though. They were everywhere. Our visit to the Aerospace Museum was, honestly, annoying because of all the loud kids. However, I insisted on going because I'm fascinated with airplanes.

I got a kick out of the White House. We just walked by real quick before meeting Sarahanne for lunch. A small group of protesters was outside pleading to free Palestine or something. Kind of funny. I think random tourists were jumping in and grabbing signs, and they even had a little girl yell into the mic and lead the cheers.

My favorite part of the trip, however, was just hanging out at the National Press Club. My friend, Sarahanne, works there and showed me around. They have quite the collection of historic front pages. I loved that, and would have paid money to see them. I was able to meet some reporters who work out there, and it made me imagine what it would be like to work out there and be a member of the club. They are in the middle of it all. The club is just a block or so from the White House, and minutes from the National Mall. Everything politically important happens there. I can't imagine working out there.

We ended our trip with a tour of the Washington Monument. The views from the top were amazing.

Now, I was supposed to fly out Monday night, but missed my flight. I don't get it. I was checking carrying on a bag, and tried to check it 45 minutes before the flight. Well I get to the counter, and the lady says, "Uh oh." Apparently I was there 43 minutes before the flight, and they don't let people check in any later than 45 minutes before the flight. What a croc! I was so angry.

In the end it all worked out. I had another fun night hanging out with Sarahanne (Caprene made her flight). We went to a softball game and watched TV. I even managed to write a story for the paper because I felt bad I missed my flight. I ended up flying standby the next day and made all my connections and made it back in time for County Council meeting.

I really want to go back again. There are several things I wanted to see that I didn't get to. I just don't think you can fit everything in in that amount of time. I've put Sarahanne on notice that I'm planning on returning. Luckily she's offered her place again if I ever come back.

tagged

2008-05-14T23:18:00.000-06:00

This is me. Yes, all you could ever know in a tiny little blog post. Enjoy.

20 years ago I...
1. was just a few months shy of baptism
2. lived in Portland and spent every day shooting hoops on the street
3. just started playing sports -- YMCA volleyball and basketball and Reynolds softball

10 Years ago I...
1. was driving around in my new, old Volkswagen GTI, Felipe (where have you taken us to, Felipe)
2. was about to finish my junior year of high school
3. was dead set on going to BYU (but unfortunately didn't get in a year later, so I went to UVSC instead)

5 Years ago I...
1. graduated from BYU.
2. started working for the Deseret News
3. was still living in Provo

3 Years ago I...
1. lived in Salt Lake in a cute house in Sugarhouse
2. went to the Middle East and embedded with the troops on an assignment for the paper.
3. started covering politics for the newspaper

1 year ago I...
1. was still living in the same house, in an awesome ward
2. traveled a lot (like other years) including an awesome trip to New York
3. sold my beloved Jeep Grand Cherokee and bought a Nissan Altima

So far this year I have...
1. gone to both Disney World and Disneyland in a two-week span
2. started a new state politics assignment at the paper
3. then stopped covering the state because of staffing shortages

Yesterday I...
1. painted all nights at my friend's townhouse
2. cheered for David Archuleta
3. spent the morning at the golf course, on assignment! Can't beat that.

Today I...
1. overslept.
2. ate a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerio's
3. plan on packing for my trip to D.C. tomorrow.

Tomorrow I will...
1. sleep in
2. take the day off
3. fly to Washington D.C.

In the next year, I plan on...
1. traveling
2. enjoying work
3. meeting my personal goals

confession

2008-05-14T12:33:00.004-06:00

I have changed my driving habits in an effort to catch a glimpse of Zac Efron and the rest of the High School Musical cast. Sadly, my efforts have not paid off yet. I did, however, see the casts' costumes in the football field parking lot this morning.

disney part deux

2008-05-14T11:06:00.005-06:00

Part two of my three-vacation extravaganza ended last weekend. Destination: Disney World, with my friends Clint and Kelly.

First off, I haven't been to Disney World since I was a kid and I didn't remember it much. So I really was in a whole new world (cue in cheesy Aladdin music). Disney World is HUGE. Now there are four theme parks and two water parks. We didn't make it to the water parks, but managed to cover every single theme park. Needless to say, my feet were pretty tired by the end of the trip.

As always, I loved Magic Kingdom (although I really think Disneyland is better). Next on my list was Animal Kingdom. I loved the decorations, and they had some sweet rides in addition to the wildlife safari. My favorite ride was Everest. You trek up the mountain, and even travel backward for a time, all while the Yeti chases you and rips up the tracks en route. Sadly, my friends didn't understand my YETI, YETI-YETI-YETI YETI cheer from the Backyardigans.

Each park has a huge display in it: the castle at Magic Kingdom; a huge Mickey sorcerer hat at Hollywood Studios; the giant golf ball at EPCOT; and the tree of life at Animal Kingdom. The tree was amazing. The carvings were so intricate. I added a few pics of the carvings on the slide show below (in addition to LOTS of other pictures from our whole trip).

We ended the trip by driving down to Cocoa Beach. Kelly and I LOVED laying in the sand and getting a tan. And you can't beat swimming in the warm water. I've forgotten how fun it is to swim in the ocean.

The highlight of the trip actually came on the flight home. Two words: PERM MULLET.

Here's a big shout-out to Clint for inviting us to come along. He got a free trip for two for a sales recognition event at Wells Fargo. Then we all split the costs to add a third person, and it was amazingly cheap considering we all had flights, park hoppers and stayed in a resort at Walt Disney World.

Just remember, ABRACA WOW, and you have the magic within you, Clint.

happy mother's day

2008-05-11T12:08:00.005-06:00

Bring the feathers back, Mom. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

elections with the stars

2008-05-10T14:01:00.006-06:00

I'm back, and slogging through a long day of work at the Utah Republican Convention at UVSC today. I arrived back in the Beehive State last night after an amazing trip to Florida this past week (I'll post more on that when I get some time).

I'm loving wandering around my old stomping grounds (UVSC) and seeing how much it's changed. The Hall of Flags is still the same. Lots of flags, and lots of chairs to sit and people watch.

The cafeteria is totally different. It's fancy. Nothing like when I was there (1999-2001). There are a ton of new buildings either completed or under construction. It's like a whole new school.

But perhaps the most exciting part of the day is the many "stars" I've encountered at today's convention. Carmen Rasmussen, of American Idol fame, sang the national anthem, and I met Bruce Hough, papa of Julianne and Derek of "Dancing With the Stars" fame. Love it. Gotta love Utah reality stars. Here is Hough giving his speech for national committeeman.

UPDATE: I can't believe I forgot the biggest star of the day. LAVELL. He only needs one name, but for those of you who don't know who he is, go check out a BYU football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The former Cougar coach is a life-long Republican, and he was here today supporting his daughter-in-law, Becky Edwards. She had a pretty good day, pushing incumbent Rep. Paul Neuenschwander, R-Bountiful, to a primary election in June.

Oh, and make sure to check out Joe Pyrah's blog at the Daily Herald, where he gave me a shout-out for naming Chris Cannon's election booth.

disneyworld

2008-05-04T20:55:00.003-06:00

I'll be absent from the blogging world for the week, but promise to return. Now it's off to spring vacation no. 2 -- Disneyworld with my roommate Kelly and buddy Clint. Make sure to thank your Wells Fargo teller for the trip.

we're all in this together ...

2008-05-04T00:05:00.006-06:00

Today I came as close as I'll likely ever get to Zac Efron.

Yes, Troy Bolton and I shared the front page of the Deseret News. We really are all in this together.

Zaqueisha (AKA Zac and his girlfriend, Vanessa) will be in Utah for the next little while filming High School Musical 3 down the street at East High. Maybe I should go into stalker mode to catch a glimpse of Zac. I was hoping he could do that nice hip move he did in Hairspray.

fore

2008-04-30T12:39:00.003-06:00

After months away from the greens, I finally hit up the golf course again on Monday. I was a bit nervous to go, since I haven't swung a club since my shoulder surgery.

I eased into it, and went to the driving range first. Then, after hitting a big bucket of balls, my friend Meg called and wanted to play a round. It was a gorgeous day, and who could turn down nine holes?

Now, I'm a novice. I judge my game whether I get one par in the whole day. And I did, the first hole! It was a nice start. I actually had a decent round for me.

But now I'm paying for all that new activity with lots of soreness in the shoulder. I guess it comes with the territory. I think the more I golf the better it will get.

disneyland

2008-04-26T19:36:00.004-06:00

I survived five days in Disneyland.

Normally I wouldn't say that. I love the place. To me, it really is the happiest place on earth. But the trick started off EXTREMELY rocky when I came down with a terrible stomach bug. I spent a miserable five hours at the airport Monday morning waiting for the family to fly in. I didn't want to be a party pooper, so I went along to Disneyland with them that night. I was careful and didn't go on any rides. I waited outside while they went on quite a few of them. But I couldn't keep away from the Matterhorn.

Bad move. The ride made me miserable. Betsy said I was green after. I was shivering and feverish. Oh joy. Mom and Dad took me back to the hotel, and the Batman fam stayed behind.

We ditched the chillins' on Wednesday night. Well, my parents took them, and me, Betsy and Andrew stayed behind and went on a few adult rides. We stayed at California Adventure and went on the crazy rides there. We loved California Screamin' and the Hollywood Tower of Terror.

Going to Disneyland with kids made going to the park a completely different experience for me. I normally just walk straight to rides, or shop around and such. But this time, we made sure to stop and visit every character. We met the Fairy Godmother, Donald Duck, Captain Hook, Goofy, Gepeto, Minne Mouse and Mickey Mouse just to name a few. I felt like a little kid. I loved watching Pluto try to sign the kids' autograph books. He put the book up on his nose and signed with his paw. Very cute.

Peter Pan was probably the weirdest encounter with a character. He made us chase him around the park. All of a sudden, he's like "Follow me," so the kids race off with him. Then I followed. He would be still for a few seconds, then take off again. Finally, after he signed all the kids books, I asked if he could sit still long enough for a picture. I can't believe he did it.

We had another interesting encounter with Goofy, but check out my sister's blog for details on that.

It was a great trip. I can't believe I'm going to Disneyworld in a little more than a week. Talk about a lot of Disney all at once. But I LOVE IT.

life aquatic

2008-04-17T13:47:00.005-06:00

Yes, it's happened again. My basement is under water. Well, now it's under towels, but you get the point.

(look for the water line on the carpet)

I was up late last night dealing with the mess of my basement. Kelly got home and noticed a big puddle in the laundry/furnace room. We frantically mopped it up and thought everything was over and done with. I went to bed and kept hearing water noises. Not sure how to describe said noises, but they were water noises nonetheless. So I roll out of bed and check on the laundry/furnace room. Yep, you guess it. It's covered with water.

Since it was well after midnight at this point, I decide my landlord won't be calling back soon so I should do something about the problem. I trekked out in the cold backyard, and found that the automatic sprinklers were still running. I then found the control box and shut them off. After mopping up the second mess, I went to bed. Luckily I woke up the next morning and there was no new water.

Our maintenance guy should be here soon to try and figure out how to fix everything.

UPDATE: I was right, those darn sprinklers were flooding the house. Apparently the pipe underneath the front porch was totally busted. Todd the Maintenance Man should be back later this week to fix it.

Luckily we still had those carpet fans on hand since our last aquatic adventure.

whoops

2008-04-15T00:00:00.003-06:00

NEWSFLASH: I'm an idiot.

So I thought I booked my flight to Disneyland months ago. Apparently not.

For some reason I had the feeling to get online and check my flight info for the trip next week. I thought I booked a flight that perfectly matched my family's flights, and we were to meet up in Ontario about the same time. As I started looking, I couldn't find any reservations. NONE.

Then I started to panic. I checked my mom's email, then Betsy's (change your passwords if this bothers you) but didn't find a thing about my flights there. I called both Southwest and Delta to see if they had my flight info. But they said I didn't have a flight booked. Awesome.

Luckily I found a pretty good deal online, so I'm still going to California next week.

Talk about a heart attack.

q & a

2008-04-09T16:12:00.002-06:00

Watch me bumble through my words asking a dumb question to new General Young Women's President Elaine S. Dalton. It's a little more than halfway through, and I'm the first question in the Q & A segment.

In other conference related news, I got to meet the new apostle, Elder D. Todd Christofferson. I wrote the story about his call and spent much of the day Saturday doing research on him. Just after a press conference Saturday afternoon, he came out and shook hands with everyone in the audience. I was lucky enough to meet him. The next day, I also met Sister Dalton and her first counselor, Sister Cook.

Meeting general authorities is one of the reasons I volunteer to cover conference for the paper. I don't know how I would ever get to meet these folks without working.

family feud

2008-04-06T15:32:00.006-06:00

We played a rousing game of Family Feud with the Warnings last night. Everyone is in town for general conference (including my parents) and it was fun to all get together at my new place for a family game night.

The kids teamed up to take on the parents. One question asked us to name five boats without motors.

We had all the basics. Canoe, kayak, row boat, paddle boat. Then we took a twist and put gravy boat. I thought Bryce was pretty smart on that one. We thought we were going to sweep the board.

Then we find out the number one answer is one we didn't even think of: sailboat. Yeah we all felt like idiots.

Never fear, however. The young team (black, black, black) creamed the old folks in a grudge match. We won two out of the three games. Take that!

I highly recommend the Family Feud DVD game. A good time was had by all.

tada

2008-04-04T11:17:00.003-06:00

Introducing our newest kitchen curtains:

Many thanks go out to our super seamstress, my mama. We were up really late last night, and mom finished them off this morning.

kitchen decor

2008-04-03T16:40:00.003-06:00

Two posts in one day. Amazing, I know, considering my blog history lately.

Mom and I have been busy all day decorating the kitchen. Check out the spread above the cabinets:

We also bought a cute plate rack to put above the bay window, and the star for the wall by the stove. LOVE IT!

Now we're working on the curtains in both the kitchen and living room. Stay tuned!

ready for greatness

2008-04-03T10:38:00.003-06:00

Yes, even if the Lord doesn't me call me to be a stake relief society president, I'm ready. My mom got into town last night to go to a stake relief society training meeting with the General Relief Society Presidency. Now, Mom didn't want to be alone, so she guilted me into getting into a dress and tagging along.

It was a two-hour training session in the Tabernacle, and I actually enjoyed myself. Yes, none of the information applied to me nor will apply to me any time in the near future, but I still enjoyed it. I even took notes (since Mom claims she is a horrible note taker, although we all know she has her fancy little shorthand system as witnessed by her nervous tick).

So for all your stake relief society presidents who missed the training, give me a call. I can now train you to train ward relief society presidents.

Oh and for all of you who think the presidency is full of nice, quiet women who do what they are told, these ladies are nothing of the sort. Sister Beck, the president, was very impressive and definitely CEO material. Sister Allred seemed like the sweet one of the bunch. My favorite was Sister Thompson. She knew how to crack a good joke, and even asked if her mic pack made her look fat.

So, did it?

to my Friday night girls:

2008-03-31T15:25:00.002-06:00

"I choose constipation."

"Satan, get thee hence."

"That's bull$#*%."

Let's get together and have another hilarious night of girl talk soon.

whoops

2008-03-27T15:09:00.003-06:00

So I never blogged about my trip a few weeks ago. So I'll just let my sister do it for me.

Check it out.

mccain in the beehive state

2008-03-27T14:59:00.004-06:00

John McCain, the likely Republican nominee for president, was in Utah on Thursday peddling for campaign cash. Utah's favorite son Mitt Romney was also in tow.

No, I didn't get to meet any of these national political figures. I stood outside, in the freezing cold, with about 15 protesters hoping to catch a glimpse of McCain driving by.

Of course, he took a side entrance and avoided us. So instead, I interviewed a few of the protesters for tomorrow's paper and quickly headed to 7-11 for a hot chocolate. Seriously, it was 60 and warm yesterday and the day I have to spend hours outside it snows and is like 30 degrees out. Awesome.

the old roomies

2008-03-27T14:52:00.006-06:00

Tuesday night I hung out with two of my favorite old roommates in the world, Car and Amy. Here's a pic from the good ol' days.

Car now lives in the same complex I did a few years ago in Midvale. She's married now, and we all love her hubby. They dated while we lived with her, so we all got to be good friends. They had an adorable baby named Finn. He's hilarious, and would totally cheese it up when the camera was around.

We're all getting together with some more old friends on Saturday. Good times. I love how everyone lives close to each other again.

you can't stop the beat

2008-03-23T21:39:00.002-06:00

I got a new beat at work this week! I've been moved up to cover state politics and the transportation beat. I'll be covering all of the Legislative races in November, which will be quite a handful. But I'm excited, and I'm always up for a change.