joyous

 I wish life was like this all the time.
I'll be in a lot of airports next week and would love for this to happen. just sayin.

Happy Monday!

live from salt lake...

I got in touch with my inner reporter yesterday and had one of my most exciting election days yet.
I'm in a poltical science/broadcast journalism class about journalism and elections. Since I am neither a fullblown polisci or broadcast student, I am a little out of my element, but it is interesting to see things from a different perspective. Our whole semester has been leading up to yesterday, our election coverage for KBYU.

I spent the day with two lovely broadcasters, following around Sam Granato and Peter Corroon, the Democratic candidates for Senate and govenor. Met at Corroon HQ, went to Granato's store for lunch with the fam, followed Corroon on a visit through the AFL-CIO. I tagged along through it all.

Then it was off to Democratic HQ at the Marriott to get ready for the results. True, Democrats in Utah aren't super exciting, but it was cool to see. We walked in to the ballroom as they're setting up; the 4 big news stations had great set-ups on the side of the room. KBYU was sitting on the floor, Internet-less. Well, we pulled some strings, made some friends, and scored ourselves some wireless and a table. We were in business. Soon they started setting up the bar right next to us, and I knew we were in for an entertaining night. I didn't have a ton to do, so I watched and soaked it in. These broadcast students sure are on top of things. They did a great job. And the emotion of the room was intense as the night wore on. Concession speeches, reactions, poll results--we were there for it all.

What a memorable/long day/night!

Setting up--news stations with their fancy set ups, and the lovely bar

Command Central--our set-up for the night

Granato's concession speech. Dems love him.

all hallow's eve

I love that Halloween falls on a Sunday this year, giving us Utahns a chance to celebrate all weekend long.

My roommates and I hosted a murder mystery dinner on Friday, complete with costumes, delicious food and a mysterious atmosphere of candles and (unimpressive) dry ice. The scene: college friends coming together on a remote Canadian island for a reunion...and a murder. (dun dun dun)

 

The roommates before the party--we look like we belong on the Babysitter's Club.

Lauren was a movie star, Justine was a neurosurgeon and Jessica was a grandma.

Andre was a businessman on vacation and I was a soccer mom. would this be a good time to mention I was also the murderer? yeah, shocker.

The entire group with a faulty self timer.

We moved the kitchen table to the living room and the couch to the kitchen, so the boys had to move it back when we were done. Somehow I ended up being taken on my chariot of a couch.

 

 We went costume bowling Saturday night with a super fun/random group of people.
I bowled a (respectable) 107.

Here are the roomies again in costume #2. Justine is a cupcake, I am a Native American (let's be politically correct, people), Jessica is a baby and Lauren is Minnie Mouse.

 When roommates and Sammamish friends collide

All in all, a lovely year for celebrations.

I love Halloween!

washington, baby, dc!

I'll admit I was a little apprehensive to go back to DC,
 because I didn't want my memories to be different from how things really are.
But it was so great to be back in my favorite city.
It really felt like I was coming home.
And fall on the east coast is just about the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

I was the group's tour guide, so I spent the first few days mothering everyone around DC, worrying the whole time I was going to lose someone
(there was an unfortunate incident of my boss getting stuck in the metro doors his first time, but other than that we were drama-free)

I loved visiting some of my favorite places, like the Lincoln Memorial at night, white house protesters) and some new places too (How had I never been to the 9-11 memorial at the Pentagon?)
And I missed the BCDC family so much...especially when we stopped by the Barlow and went to good stuff and when we talked about how "anything is possible"

highlights:

 Let's be honest--the first place we went (literally right after we checked into the hotel) was Good Stuff. I was worried I had talked it up and people wouldn't like it, but then I remembered how amazing good stuff is. and how life-changing those toasted marshmallow shakes are.

 just a little BYU PRSSA pride before the opening social.

 Arlington. always one of my favorite places and so beautiful in the fall

what up barack!

oh, you want some media placements about our award? ok

daily universe

byu news

awesome.

we're kind of a big deal

DC was awesome
I loved being back in my city
and soaking up the PR goodness.
(more on that to come)

But perhaps the best part?
Recieving my PRSSA National Gold Key Award?
Not quite (but still awesome)
Winning the Outstanding Chapter Award over more than 300 other schools.
Basically, it means our PRSSA Chapter is the best in the country.
I spent two full weeks putting the application together this summer, and it is so good to see it pay off.
BYU has a great PR program with great students, professors and advisors.
If I learned anything from conference, it was to be so grateful for my BYU education.
so yay for winning!
(and we sure looked good doing it!)

lately...

here are the going-ons of the last month or so, as told from my iphone.

loving fall

"loving" provo

loving life

 the roommates and I decided to spend a lovely Sunday afternoon reading on the temple grounds. Little did we know that the entire MTC was allowed to do the same thing. We left as herds of missionaries walked over.

 kylie fit in small spaces.

 the apartment fair fish, Seattle, lasted longer than the 12 hours I had predicted (2.5 whole days!) but then died a sad death.

 warm fall hit, so I studied outside. also, flashcards took over my semester.

 we found an awesome sink, but no Africa-shaped toilets at the Malawi pizza place.

 General Conference was lovely. so was looking at the temple.

 Cameron and Cynthia shared a moment.

One Saturday morning brought a hot air balloon cruising super low over Provo. I waved. the man waved back.

monday

how do you make Monday even try to compare to how awesome the weekend was?

Wear rolled up jeans and new tennis shoes and pretend you're about to start a rumble all day.
When you're a Jet, you're a jet all the way