Adventures at SUU

Home for the summer

2008-06-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, so actually I have been home for like a month now...but oh well. This is just an update informing everyone I am doing well. I am just working at the theater this summer and I think it may be the last summer I do this! I don't get paid nearly enough. Yes, I do have a full-ride scholarship but I still have rent to pay and all that jazz. I am kind of missing Cedar City, but at the same time it is nice to see everyone up here!

Besides that there isn't tons new...

Colorado: SPJ Conference

2008-04-14T22:07:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I went to Colorado for a newspaper conference. The first day was kind of tragic because when we were about three hours away from Fort Collins 1-70 closed so we had to stop in a town called Vail for about four hours. It was really annoying. While we were there we went to a McDonalds and the girls and I are the trip were looking at the video we were making about the trip. This drunk guy thought we were video taping him and decided to come and sit down by us. He was so creepy! I decided to interview him for a bit, but since he was drunk the only question he really understood was, "What's your favorite color?" Right when we were going to leave he tried to sell us drugs. It was kind of funny.

We eventually did get to Fort Collins and the next day was the conference. It was a pretty good conference and our newspaper actually won second for best non-daily newspaper. The past three years we have gotten third. After the conference we just hung out at the hotel and then we went and ate.

On Sunday we were heading back to Cedar, but on the way we stopped in downtown Fort Collins to get some footage for our TV station. We also stopped at Molly Brown's house (from the Titanic) we weren't able to tour it though because tours were full until two, so we hung out in the giftshop. The last place we went to was Buffalo Bill's grave and then to a German restaurant, which had the nicest owners ever! It was funny.

Here are some pictures:

This is from two nights before the trip. I was making my portfolio and as you can tell I fell asleep in the newspapers I was clipping.

This is my best friend McKenzie and me before we got stuck in Vail.

These are some pictures of us in downtown Fort Collins.

This is the girls, Captain, and me outside Molly Brown's house. Captain is our advisor and he is kind of like my Dad away from home.

This is at Buffalo Bill's grave. Me at the view finder is because we thought it looked like a face.

The last few pictures are of Christian and me. We are doing really well right now, but we are trying to decide what we want to do about the summer. The first picture is us at a callbox. Christian thought it was cool how Colorado had callboxes and we teased him a lot about it. We were by one when we went to Buffalo Bill's grave so he and I gave a demonstration to the video camera of how to properly use one. The next ones are us at a restaurant.

There you go! Love you all and see you in two weeks!

Bowling: An Awkward Dating Situation

2008-03-30T16:32:00.000-07:00

I have decided I dislike bowling unless you are with life-long friends or family who already know you are uncoordinated. Yesterday, Christian and I went on a double date with Kenzie and Blood and we went bowling. Christian warned me he was a terrible bowlers and I thought in my head, "Good, then I don't have to look like an uncoordinated clutz." I forgot Christian can be a really humble sometimes and has a hard time admitting when he is good at something. Basically, he would knock down a good majority of the pins while my ball decided to constantly make friends with the gutter. He claimed he was just lucky, but I told him I was sure he took bowling classes and was just showing off.

But seriously, bowling is awkward. You go and throw the ball and everyone is watching So, you have to turn around and either act excited because you hit something or indifferent about not hitting anything but deep down you are thinking "I suck."

Maybe this is just me, but I think bowling can be a bad idea sometimes.

Happy Easter! (And a announcement)

2008-03-23T16:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter everyone! As you probably all know I spent my Easter in Cedar City because I came back early from Spring Break to work. I talked to both Mom and Dad last night and they both asked me if I was going to be alone for Easter and what I was doing. I told them I was not going to be alone because my roommate Ariel was here and I was still unsure of what I was doing for dinner. Honestly, I just figured Ariel and I would make our own separate dinners and maybe eat together. Well today Ariel and I decided we would have Easter dinner. I told her I would make the main course because I had some chicken I wanted to use. She said she would provide the side dishes. I made blackened chicken from a recipe I got from supercook.com. (Just so everyone is aware supercook.com is a awesome website where all you have to do is type in what ingredients you have in your kitchen and it will give you recipes. It rocks). We set the table with some dishes we got at DI and these brandy glasses we used once to make a dessert (Yay for the dollar store!) Ariel's side dish was green beans and lentils. I have never had lentils before and I was nervous to eat them because Ariel says when they are just plain they taste like dust. However she added seasoning to it and they tasted pretty good. We had a lively conversation and talked about what our favorite childhood toys were and such (we mostly just talked about our childhood the toy conversation is what stuck out to me the most though). So, this is a picture of our Easter dinner and that is my roommate Ariel.

Now for the announcement.... I learned what my position will be at the Journal next semester! I am the Accent Editor!!!!!! The Accent section is primarily the arts section and more of featured news. I am super excited and I also am getting $20 from the photo editor Blood because he was convinced I would be Sports editor. (We made a bet on it). So, some of the perks of being an editor is I get half-tuition, but since I already have a full-ride scholarship I just get $700 at the beginning of the semester from the newspaper. I also get near $200 every two weeks! So, no more scrubbing toilets for me and I also don't have to write as many articles. I also get my own computer on Editor's row which I am excited for. (Reporters have to share computers). So, I am way excited and I cannot wait for next semester!

Happy Easter!

I'M GETTING MARRIED! JK... Fake bridal pictures.

2008-03-06T17:48:00.000-08:00

Okay, so my friend Blood (Richard) is a wedding photographer. He is still a bit unknown and so since he doesn't have a lot for his portfolio he has people model for him that he can use for advertising. He asked me to pose for some pictures, but here is the kick... it was underwater. So basically, he had a cheap wedding dress he got from DI, I wore it and than jumped into the water. Here are a couple of the pictures. I think they are really cool. The one where I am staring at my hand is supposed to be me admiring my engagement ring. Since I don't have one he is thinking of photoshopping one into the photo. So yeah! Here you go. I had a lot of fun doing this and we are thinking of doing it again sometime.

Quote of the Day

2008-03-04T16:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday at staff meeting for newspaper it was announced that it is once again time to apply for positions next year. I admit I have been a bit nervous about applying for an editor position again. I have applied for an editor position for the past two semesters and still no dice. This time I am positive I will get a editor position just because how hard I have been working and I also assist with layout a lot. Still, there is still a bit of me that is nervous especially since I am applying for the associate editor (which is the position right underneath editor-in-chief). After the meeting I was talking to my professor for a bit and than I went back to my computer to work. Before I was able to start though my professor turned to me and said, "Dana, you better keep working here because you impress the hell out of me." I think that is a good sign....

An update

2008-02-03T12:57:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

I just thought I would give you an update about this semester! So far it has been really good.

I think I have finally learned of how to manage my time between school work and the newspaper so I don't fail classes and I can help out a lot. However, while figuring out this time management I kind of spaced scheduling a social life. :) It is okay though because I really just hang out with people from the newspaper anyways.

Actually in a couple of weeks I am going on a date with one of the newspaper guys. His name is Christian. He is pretty cool. So that should be fun. Hopefully it is not too awkward or anything or that could make work awkward. (As long as he doesn't give me a gnome I think we will be fine)

I will see you guys this weekend when I come up for the Mika concert!

A Gnome

2008-01-16T12:56:00.000-08:00

Last week I had a guy from my ward, Hank, ask me out on a date. Now, I wasn't exactly interested in the guy in the first place, but I decided to be polite and go on the date. It was an interesting date...He took me to dinner and a high school basketball game. Throughout the night he would make joke of how demented I was with my arm in my sling and he had a bad habit of reaching over and eating my food. When it came to conversation it was different....he doesn't like to read and he has no preference on music. Basically, after the date I wasn't keen on setting a wedding date and I thought he felt the same way too since he took me home earlier.

A couple of days later I came home from the Journal and my roommate Jessica told me I had a present. It was a gnome. Yes, a gnome from Hank. I asked Jessica if he explained why he was giving me a gnome and she told me that he said I would understand what it was about. I don't. I have never had a conversation about gnomes with anyone until he gave me one.

The End.

Round Four! (Aka my fourth semester)

2008-01-04T15:44:00.000-08:00

So, here I am back in Cedar City. Sorry I disappeared without really saying goodbye to anyone. I actually got invited to the Editor's Retreat for the newspaper so I left a bit early. Technically, I am not an editor I am a still a reporter and paginator (which is a fancy word of saying I assist with layout). I was invited though to be trained on layout. The Editor's Treat was more of a party than anything else. Yes, we did learn some stuff and were trained a bit. But mostly we watched the movie Goodnight and Good Luck and than we played Rock Band for three hours. Somehow I ended up being the singer, but I still tried the bass guitar and the drums (not so good at the drums). P.S. Rock Band is a video game for anyone who did not know.

The rest of the week we have been putting our first issue together and tomorrow I finally get to do layout! I am so excited/nervous.

I am starting classes on Monday and I will let you guys know how that is.

That is about it...for now.

Script Analysis

2007-11-19T07:44:00.000-08:00

This year I am in a script analysis class and I just finished a group project on making plot changes to Oedipus Rex. My group and I set it in the 21st Century having Oedipus Rex running for senator and is better known as Oeddi Rex. So, my group and I created two commercials for the project. The first one is a campaign commercial and the next one is a Miss Cleo (played by me)commercial where she predicts the prophecy in the original play. My group and I put ti on YouTube.

Miss Cleo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agY1TH02398

Campaign: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvRneNwWuf8

Halloween

2007-11-04T13:44:00.000-08:00

This Halloween I was invited to my first murder mystery dinner. I was invited by editors on the newspaper staff. It was a western themed mystery and my character's name was Helena Handcart. It was a lot of fun! We had tacos for dinner and than we did the mystery. It turned out my character was crazy after getting "laughing cow disease." I guess my character would walk around town a lot naked. I was not the one who commited the crime, because naturally it was the hooker...I had a really good time. The editors on the staff have slowly become my friends instead of just my bosses. The picture is the costume I put together for it.

I'm Alive

2007-10-30T14:17:00.000-07:00

Just wanted everyone to know I am still alive...just nothing intresting happens! Well not recently at least. Love you all!

My Phone Is Retarded...Thus I Am Getting A New Phone!

2007-10-15T07:50:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

So you know how my phone is the most retarded thing? Well last night it got worse...it froze basically...I can hear when my phone rings and feel when I have text messages but I don't see any of it. So, today I am getting a new phone! YAY! But I will have lost everyone's numbers! BOO! So, give me a text after like noon today so I know your number and life will be good! Or if you hate me this is a great way for me never to be in touch with you guys ever again...your call.

Love,

Dana

A Bit of a Prank

2007-10-03T08:48:00.001-07:00

On Monday I was done with my classes and didn't have any stories to work on for the Journal. So, I was just hanging out in my apratment with my roommate Charly. We were sitting on our couch and randomly thought, "Wouldn't it be fun to steal and hide our own couch cushions?" So we did. We stuffed them in the trunks of our cars, but while we were doing that our roommate Ariel caught us. So, she became a part of the prank too.

Basically after stashing them we all left the apartment, because we are bad actors and didn't want to be there when our other roommates came home. When we did finally have to be confronted with the situation we were able to act like we had no idea what was going on...AND THEY BELIEVED US!

We decided to wrap the couch cushions and our friend in the ward is doorbell ditching a cushion every night.

However, Charly, Ariel and I are sick of not having cushions so we are going to ask Tiffany, our friend in the ward, to doorbell ditch the rest of them tonight.

And that is what I do when I am bored.

The End.

Goo Goo Dolls

2007-09-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

I just thought I would let everyone know I had the oppritunity to talk to the Goo Goo Dolls publicist. It was for a story I was working on about the band's history, since they are playing tonight at SUU. I am not going though cause I delayed of buying my tickets.

But I feel really cool about talking to the publicist.

I Think I Am Going to Be a Good Teacher

2007-09-13T16:31:00.000-07:00

So, today in my English 2010 class we were discussing "Good Country People," in our small groups. Unforutnatley, I was retarded and instead of reading "Good Country People," I read "Young Goodman Brown." SO...while my group discussed the questions I read the story I was supposed to read. I was able to finish it about half-way through the discussion and by then my group had reached a more complicated question. It was basically asking what one of the character's philosphy on nothing was. We decided to ask our teacher for help and while she was explaining it to us she and I got into a philisophical disscussion about how there really is no such thing as "nothing." When she left I felt great about knowing the answer and also ready to write a paper about that question (which I do have to do). However, the other five people in my group were still confused and asked me to explain it to them. So, I did and they understood what I was saying! I helped five people learn something new today.

So maybe my spelling sometimes sucks.

Maybe I have trouble pronouncing bigger words.

And maybe sometimes I don't say the word "to" or I say "her and I" instead of "she and I."

But I can explain and people know what I am talking about!

I just have a few more things to work on...

SUU Journal Link For Trevor

2007-09-12T07:25:00.001-07:00

Trevor made an excellent point in a comment to my last point. (He also wants me to mention him in all my postings...) If you guys are interested in seeing my articles just copy and paste this link:

http://www.suujournal.com/user/index.cfm?event=displayAuthorProfile&authorid=2512055

This One is for Trev.

2007-09-11T10:48:00.000-07:00

Currently I am talking to one of my brother-in-law's Trevor. He says he is reading my blog faithfully, but wants a new post. So here you go! This blog will be a basic layout of my day

5:30 A.M.: Alarm goes off, I mutter some things and then push snooze.

5:39 A.M.: Alarm goes off again and I decide I need to wake up...I get ready throwing on grundgy clothes and than I throw a pop-tart in the toaster and eat it on the way to work.

6-8: I clean bathrooms...my life is so glamourous. But because of boys disgusting habits (which I will NOT go into detail of) I did recieve a raise :) WOOT!

8-9: I spend this time trying to make myself look like I am of college age...I usually fail at that.

9-Whatever....never past 3: I am in classes woot! They seem to be going well. I have my first Spanish test this Thursday. I am bit nervous for that. Besides that it is going well.

Whatever-Whenever: I am usually writing stories for the Journal and doing homework. Then I sleep. That is my favorite part of the day.

When I have time to have a social life I usually just talk with my roommates and we sometimes watch a movie. We also enjoy going to Wal-Mart...Cause honestly who doesn't enjoy that?!?

There you go Trev. Happy Birthday (On Friday) Does this mean I don't have to get you a present?

OH! And I am making my first trip up to Orem this Friday so I will see everyone soon!

Paid Position and Pirate Name!

2007-08-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Well I am about done with my first week of school and I have very exciting news....I am on the newspaper staff as the General Assignments Writer! This position is only open to two reporters and they are considered the main reporters! I am very excited for this, it pays about 200 dollars a month so that should cover my rent.

Another exciting bit of news is that I finally recieved a pirate name at the newspaper too. Basically, the paper has a pirate theme to it. We have some pirate flags and everyone on staff recieves a pirate name. My name is Rote. All those who speak German should know the translation of that and those who don't I will give you a hint...it is the color of my hair.

Classes are going well, but I am slowly realizing 18 credits may be too hard to do so I am going to drop my sociology class. I will take that next semester and it frees up more of my time.

Oh, and to stop all rumors about whether I am going to be coming home this weekend I am not. I want to just chill at my apartment.

Love you all,

Rote

Start Of Sophomore Year!

2007-08-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

Hey Family and Friends!

I decided to keep a blog this year to keep in better touch with everyone. So far I haven't been done here even a week, but I am enjoying it. I am currently participating in the SUU Journal Workshop Week. The basics of this workshop is to "audition" for a staff position. I have been working on two stories one is a review on a play Candida where I actually mentioned my nephew Will. Yes, Trevor and Mayke your son is now famous. The other story I am working on with the Campus News Editor McKenzie about new faculty and staff members, we have over a 100 new employees! So, we are trying to interview as many people as we can. I have already done three interviews and all the people I talked to seem pretty cool.

As far as my apartment goes it is a little bit small, but it is nice. Currently four of us on in the apartment Amanda (my roommate), Ariel, Charly, and myself. The other two, Jessica and Natalie, are moving in this weekend. I really enjoy having a kitchen and I am slowly learning how to cook for myself. Basically my meals consist of sandwiches, pasta, and cereal. Tonight though I am going to make myself a hamburger!

Last night some of our neighbors invited my roommates and me to play night games. It was mostly freshman and it was fun. I did feel kind of old when I would mention places on campus and no one would know where it was at. My friends and I did get attacked by water ballons last night while walking by some guys in a truck. Only two of us got hit though my friend Shani and me. Shani got the most of it and was soaking wet and only my butt got wet. It was pretty intense.