UP IN THE AIR

Year In Review (2011)

2012-01-05T22:23:00.000-07:00

This past year has been such a great year and I wanted to remember some of the exciting things we did. Matt and I have been so blessed to be able to travel and spend time with our friends. This last year we really tried to stay connected with friends and other people we care about. So many people forget about their friends once they get married and start having children.

We did not do much in January or February because of Matt’s school but we did get to go the Arizona for spring break with some of our friends. Blake and Emily took the eight hour car ride with us to play at Lake Havasu.

I was able to fly to Seattle with my friend Emily and attend the wedding of a Mission friend. I was able to have some good quality girl time with Emily and Kami while we drove to Spokane for the Wedding.

Over the summer we were able to visit my parents in Cody, Wyoming and take the scenic route through Yellowstone National Park. We took Gary and Maliwan with us. I am not sure they knew what they were in for. Neither of them have traveled much.

We also were able to go camping a few more times this year. When I say a few more times I mean two times. One more time than the year before.

Over the 4th of July we were able to host the Greer family reunion. I think it turned out well. I do not have a ton of pictures but during the reunion my immediate took family pictures.

Matt and I were able to share a new experience. I decided to become certified in the art of scuba diving. I was really worried at first but there is nothing like being able to breath underwater.

Matt and I celebrated our three year anniversary.

Matthew Gregory had his second birthday.

I started a new job at Sundesa, the BlenderBottle Comany. I do not have any pictures of this but I am really enjoying it.

The last big thing we did this year was go to the Dominican Republic.

Family Trip

2011-12-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

Matt and I recently went on a family trip to the Dominican Republic. I was worried about spending two weeks straight with my family but I was willing to take the risk. Surprisingly, everything turned out well. We had our few squabbles but all in all it was good.

We stayed at an awesome resort in Punta Cana called Barcelo. It was the nicest resort I have ever stayed at. It had pools for all the kids and a beautiful white sand beach. The resort was all inclusive. They offered wind surfing, paddle boats, snorkeling, and food for free. Usually, when you hear all inclusive it means just food, but this resort offered so much.

Matt and I went scuba diving but we were disappointed. The visibility was so bad we could not see a foot in front of us.

After the resort Matt and I went to stay with my sister in-laws family in La Vega. We wanted to get the real Dominican experience. It was disappointing. We rented a car we did not really get to use and spent way too much money on food we did not eat. We thought we were going to experience the country but we ended up just sitting around all day. In the end it was a waste of our money to stay the few extra days.

The bonus to staying was interacting with Rosy's family. They were awesome and so accommodating. They made us feel so comfortable.

If I had to do it again I would probably not go back to the DR. It was a great experience but not what I expected.

Matthew's 2nd Birthday

2011-11-06T19:10:00.001-07:00

Matthews birthday was so stressful for me. Matt and I decided to make it a tradition to take Little Matt to Texas Road House for dinner on his birthday. We did it the first year he was born and just thought it would be a fun thing to keep going.

Afterward we went home to let him open his presents. He are the pictures of him enjoying his birthday.

Pure joy!!!

He has learned to pose for pictures.

So spoiled.

We have already lost all the darts.

Pumpkin Patch

2011-11-06T19:01:00.000-07:00

We took Matthew to the pumpkin patch to pick out his own pumpkin this year. He had a blast. Here are the pictures of the adventure.


Trying to pick the first pumpkin he saw.

He was not so sure about these.

We had to find our way through the corn maze to get to the pumpkin patch.

Posing with the scarecrow.

Matthews fist time in a bouncy castle.

Playing in the tunnel.

He found the perfect pumpkin for himself.

Last Day at The Walton Group Inc.

2011-10-28T13:35:00.001-06:00

I can not believe today is my last day of work at The Walton Group (TWG). I have been here a year already and it has gone by so fast. Working here has definitely helped me narrowed the field of where I want to work. I now know I do not want to work in an agency.

I do have to give thanks to my boss Linda Walton. She took me under her wing and trusted me to work on projects and create campaigns for clients. When I first came to TWG I was an intern. I had been done with school for about a year and I was ready to jump in with both feet. I had taken a year off to care for my son but I learned quick that I am a working girl. I admire those stay at home moms but it is not the life for me.

I have been blessed to be able to hone my skills of writing press releases, networking, advertising, and even a little graphic design . I have learned how important doing charity work is. I have learned a tremendous amount in my year here but I feel like it is my time try something new.

The new place I will be working is called Sundesa. They are the inventors of the Blender Bottle. At first I will a sales administrator, but they said I will be doing some PR too. I really want to learn about corporate/in-house PR. I am still young and want to explore all of my options. I do not want to get stuck in job right out of college I end up hating 10 years down the road.

Sundesa is a very laid back atmosphere. The people I have met are very friendly and seem like they would be fun to work around. When I went in for my first interview the employees we talking about eating 100 day old eggs from China. I instantly knew I would fit in. I really hope this job works out and becomes a career for me (It also means Matt will get to stay in Happy Valley). It seems very promising. The President of the company said there is lots of room for advancement in their company. The only down side is they are not very community oriented. I think it is really important for a company to be involved with the community and show the people they care.

Well, wish me luck!

Reconnecting

2011-10-18T11:07:00.006-06:00

I love reconnecting with people from my mission. Facebook is such a blessing in my life. It has been hard for me to stay in close contact with people because I never knew their real names. We only knew people by their nick name.

Today I was able to get in touch with a man I met in one of my favorite areas. He is a refugee from the Congo. From what I know of his story he was a boxer. I am not one hundred percent sure what happened but I think he lost and his country told him not to come back. He had to leave his family behind and go to Thailand. When he came to Thailand he met a Thai lady and had a baby with her. He is very cute. Unfortunately after he joined the church his girlfriend left and took their son. He is still living as a faithful member of the church in Thailand. Having faith and hope that one day their will be peace in his country so he can return home.

He definitely makes my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ so much stronger. He lives with nothing and yet still lives a happy life. I feel so spoiled to have a nice place to live and food to eat every day. He has a great support system in Thailand. I admire his courage and his faith. He is a great man and will someday be a great contribution to his country as a member of the church.

Dream for the Future

2011-10-12T15:23:00.000-06:00

Why does it always see like our dreams/goals in life are so far away? I have been think about where I thought I would be by this time in my life and this is not it. I have a great life but I have not accomplished all I wish I had. I always thought that I would be married (check) and have two kids (half check) and have a well paying job with benefits (kinda check). I thought I would be graduated from the University of Texas (graduated but not from Texas). I really wish the economy was better because I feel like it has been holding me back. I am a college graduate and have work experience but can not find a job that will pay enough to support our family. But at least I am working.

By this time in my life I thought my husband would be graduated from college and have a good job. I thought we would be living on our own and have a nice little starter home. I always thought I would have the option of working or being a stay at home mom because my husband would be making enough to support us with out me working.

Even though not all of my expectations have been fulfilled I am so blessed. I have a great husband who supports me in any of my adventures (except yoga and Zumba). I have the best son in the world who loves me unconditionally. I have great in-laws that let me live in their basement apartment for free. They babysit whenever we are in a bind and even if Matt and I just need a break. I have a great boss who would do anything to accommodate my situation. She lets me take off when Little Matt is sick or when our babysitter has to cancel. We have hardly any dept (have to drive something). I live in one of the cleanest cities in America. I can go to the temple whenever I want because it is five minutes from my house. I never have to worry about second had smoke or being overrun by liberals. I am free to practice my religion and not be persecuted for it.

General Conference- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

2011-10-02T13:00:00.001-06:00

I feel in past few conferences I have not made a great effort to pay attention. I would watch or listen to parts of the conference but never made it a priority.

With in the last month someone in my ward gave a talk about discussing the church with a non-member. While he was speaking with this non-member they had starting talking about prophets and how we still receive revelation today during General Conference. The non-member asked him about going to conference and if he attended/watched. This member said he usually watched the Sunday sessions. The one thing that really stood out to me about his talk was when the non-member asked him how if he knew he was receiving direct revelation from God how could he not make it more of a priority in his life. WOW!

I really started thinking about this and my testimony of the gospel. So, this conference I have made it a priority to listen and take what the Prophet and Apostle say and apply it to my life. The talks this October have been so amazing.

I remember as a missionary we could not wait to get the General Conference issue of the Ensign and be able to read it in English. We really do learn so much more when we listen in our own language.

Another Rant

2011-09-27T09:39:00.000-06:00

I saw this on the Blaze this morning and thought I would share. I love when people say we need to accept everyone and their beliefs but yet we do not accept them if they do not believe in what we believe.

Wyoming

2011-08-31T19:29:00.003-06:00

This past weekend we took some friends of ours to Wyoming to visit my family with us. My home town has changed so much over the years. I have only been gone for 5 years and it seems as though Cody is a whole different world. Maybe it is just that I am so used to being in Utah that Cody is foreign to me.

Saturday morning we took out some of my dads "toys" (Polaris RZR and Joiner) to Red Lake and went off "roadin". As we were driving down the road we passed a bar and saw a few people sitting out side smoking cigarettes. I turned to my brother and said, "only in Cody will you see people sitting out side of the bar at 10:00 in the morning." That I do not miss.

We spent a few days in Cody and then came home through Yellowstone on Monday. I forgot how long it actually takes to get home. It was fun but we did not make it home until 2:00am. We did all the tourist stuff in the Park because our friends have never been there. We went and saw the hot pots and Old Faithful (not so faithful). We wanted to see wild life but there was very few animals. The dang wolf population has decimated all the herds. We saw one herd of bison, 3 elk and a ton of crows. It was disappointing.

We decided to stop in Jackson Hole for a bite to eat before we headed all the way home. We agreed on Thai food so, we looked up the Thai places and headed to our first one. It was called Thai Me Up and it was sad because how can you have a Thai restaurant without any Thai people? The cooks were not even Thai. There was no way we would pay those kind of prices for a place with no real Thai influence. The next place we went was called Bon Appe Thai. All the cooks were Thai and even some of the waiters. It turned out well.

The worst part of the trip was from Jackson to Provo because it was 9:30p.m. when we left and still five hours to go.

We all made it safe and sound and we did not kill each other. I call that success.

I am only 26!

2011-08-25T11:30:00.000-06:00

I read an article about this list today and thought I should share. I am only 26 and it makes me feel old.

This is from Beloit College

"Each August since 1998, Beloit College has released the Beloit College Mindset List, providing a look at the cultural touchstones that shape the lives of students entering college this fall. The creation of Beloit’s former Public Affairs Director Ron Nief and Keefer Professor of the Humanities Tom McBride, it was originally created as a reminder to faculty to be aware of dated references, and quickly became a catalog of the rapidly changing worldview of each new generation. Mindset List websites at Beloit College and at mindsetmoment.com, the media site webcast and their Facebook page receive more than a million hits annually."

The Mindset List for the Class of 2015

Andre the Giant, River Phoenix, Frank Zappa, Arthur Ashe and the Commodore 64 have always been dead.
Their classmates could include Taylor Momsen, Angus Jones, Howard Stern's daughter Ashley, and the Dilley Sextuplets.

There has always been an Internet ramp onto the information highway.
Ferris Bueller and Sloane Peterson could be their parents.
States and Velcro parents have always been requiring that they wear their bike helmets.
The only significant labor disputes in their lifetimes have been in major league sports.
There have nearly always been at least two women on the Supreme Court, and women have always commanded U.S. Navy ships.
They “swipe” cards, not merchandise.
As they’ve grown up on websites and cell phones, adult experts have constantly fretted about their alleged deficits of empathy and concentration.
Their school’s “blackboards” have always been getting smarter.
“Don’t touch that dial!”….what dial?
American tax forms have always been available in Spanish.
More Americans have always traveled to Latin America than to Europe.
Amazon has never been just a river in South America.
Refer to LBJ, and they might assume you're talking about LeBron James.
All their lives, Whitney Houston has always been declaring “I Will Always Love You.”
O.J. Simpson has always been looking for the killers of Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
Women have never been too old to have children.
Japan has always been importing rice.
Jim Carrey has always been bigger than a pet detective.
We have never asked, and they have never had to tell.
Life has always been like a box of chocolates.
They’ve always gone to school with Mohammed and Jesus.
John Wayne Bobbitt has always slept with one eye open.
The Communist Party has never been the official political party in Russia.
“Yadda, yadda, yadda” has always come in handy to make long stories short.
Video games have always had ratings.
Chicken soup has always been soul food.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show has always been available on TV.
Jimmy Carter has always been a smiling elderly man who shows up on TV to promote fair elections and disaster relief.
Arnold Palmer has always been a drink.
Dial-up is soooooooooo last century!
Women have always been kissing women on television.
Their older siblings have told them about the days when Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera were Mouseketeers.
Faux Christmas trees have always outsold real ones.
They’ve always been able to dismiss boring old ideas with “been there, done that, gotten the T-shirt.”
The bloody conflict between the government and a religious cult has always made Waco sound a little whacko.
Unlike their older siblings, they spent bedtime on their backs until they learned to roll over.
Music has always been available via free downloads.
Grown-ups have always been arguing about health care policy.
Moderate amounts of red wine and baby aspirin have always been thought good for the heart.
Sears has never sold anything out of a Big Book that could also serve as a doorstop.
The United States has always been shedding fur.
Electric cars have always been humming in relative silence on the road.
No longer known for just gambling and quickie divorces, Nevada has always been one of the fastest growing states in the Union.
They’re the first generation to grow up hearing about the dangerous overuse of antibiotics.
They pressured their parents to take them to Taco Bell or Burger King to get free pogs.
Russian courts have always had juries.
No state has ever failed to observe Martin Luther King Day.
While they’ve been playing outside, their parents have always worried about nasty new bugs borne by birds and mosquitoes.
Public schools have always made space available for advertising.
Some of them have been inspired to actually cook by watching the Food Channel.
Fidel Castro’s daughter and granddaughter have always lived in the United States.
Their parents have always been able to create a will and other legal documents online.
Charter schools have always been an alternative.
They’ve grown up with George Stephanopoulos as the Dick Clark of political analysts.
New Kids have always been known as NKOTB.
They’ve always wanted to be like Shaq or Kobe: Michael Who?
They’ve often broken up with their significant others via texting, Facebook, or MySpace.
Their parents sort of remember Woolworths as this store that used to be downtown.
Kim Jong-il has always been bluffing, but the West has always had to take him seriously.
Frasier, Sam, Woody and Rebecca have never Cheerfully frequented a bar in Boston during primetime.
Major League Baseball has never had fewer than three divisions and never lacked a wild card entry in the playoffs.
Nurses have always been in short supply.
They won’t go near a retailer that lacks a website.
Altar girls have never been a big deal.
When they were 3, their parents may have battled other parents in toy stores to buy them a Tickle Me Elmo while they lasted.
It seems the United States has always been looking for an acceptable means of capital execution.
Folks in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have always been able to energize with Pepsi Cola.
Andy Warhol is a museum in Pittsburgh.
They’ve grown up hearing about suspiciously vanishing frogs.
They’ve always had the privilege of talking with a chatterbot.
Refugees and prisoners have always been housed by the U.S. government at Guantanamo.
Women have always been Venusians; men, Martians.
McDonalds coffee has always been just a little too hot to handle.
“PC” has come to mean Personal Computer, not Political Correctness.
The New York Times and the Boston Globe have never been rival newspapers.

Utah in a Nut Shell

2011-08-24T11:38:00.000-06:00

I saw this video the other day and laughed so hard. I wanted to share it with you.

Another Anniversary Come and Gone.

2011-08-19T21:59:00.001-06:00

Matt and I just celebrated our three year anniversary on August 16. This year we decided to go back to Midway and stay at The Homestead Resort and scuba dive at the crater. It was a nice get away. We only took one night off but but it was wonderful. Matt was so cute and took me to dinner at the place we ate at on our honeymoon. He was even going to try and get the same table but someone was already sitting there. After dinner we just watched movies and relaxed in the room.

People always say the first few years are the hardest but it has been great. Luckily I am married to a man who avoids confrontation at all cost and still treats me like a queen. Matt is still the man I married three years ago. I am so grateful to have found such a great man. He really is the only man that could put up with all the crap I put out.

Love you honey.

Bill Maher is an Idiot.

2011-08-09T15:23:00.000-06:00

Wow! The title really says it all. I know some people do not think we (Mormons) are Christians but that fact that he thinks we worship Joseph Smith is so off base. I do not pray to Joseph Smith and do not think Joseph Smith atoned for my sins.He was a prophet of God. He was a mortal man that we see as restoring truth back to the earth through the hand of God. Jesus, on the other hand, is not just a prophet but the Son of God and our Savior.

Watch the clip below: (This is another reason why I do not watch MSNBC)

Dominican Republic

2011-08-04T13:32:00.000-06:00

I am so excited to go back to the Dominican Republic. I went when I was 19 or so and have always wished to go back. My parents are taking the whole family to Punta Cana this December for Christmas vacation. I am so excited to show Matt the beautiful country my sister in-law comes from. Thailand will always be my number one country to visit but the DR and the people that live there are so fun. Matt is excited to go and eat crazy food but I think he will be disappointed. Not that the food is bad but it will not be weird enough for him. I do not think they can top eating bugs and lizards.

We are planning on staying at a resort for 5 days and then go stay with Rosy's family for a few days. Matt and I want to experience the true Dominican experience. We just hope the language barrier will not deter us.This will be the first time Little Matt will leave the country. I am just sad he will never remember it. I guess we will just have to go back when he is older.

Here is a taste of Dominican music. I do not know Spanish so if there is any bad language sorry.

Crawdads, crawfish, or crayfish?

2011-07-13T15:46:00.000-06:00

Last night we took some of our friends fishing for crawdads. This is not your typical fishing expedition with fishing poles and lures. We did take our poles but did not use them the same way as regular fishing. We walked off the boat ramp dock at Strawberry Reservoir, put a chunk of elk meet tied to a rope and threw it in the water. We wait for five minutes and then slowly pull the rope up and net the little crustaceans. We also put a piece of meet on a large hook and cast our lines in the water and waited for one to latch on and then we would pull them up. We caught 10 to 20 lbs of crawdads! Since I do not eat "sea food" we gave them to our Thai friend and her husband who went with us.

I have to tell you a short story. When I was a kid we lived in Houston and thought catching and eating crawdads was such a blast. One night our neighbors took us (my friends and I) to the driving range close to our house to eat crawdads. This place would sell them by the bucket full. We would order two or three 5-gallon buckets of these things and chow down. Back in the day, we thought it was fun to pop the eyes out of the head and suck the juice out. Now I will not even touch the disgusting little creatures.

Pay Freeze=Pay Raise

2011-07-08T13:26:00.001-06:00

Obama does it again. He keeps saying his people have not had a pay raise in the 2.5 years he has been in office but the numbers do not add up. Here is an article from PR Daily that suggests otherwise. Here are the names of the Obama communication department that received raises.

• Kevin Lewis, director of African-American media, went from $42,000 to $78,000.

• Elizabeth Olsen, special assistant to the president and director of presidential correspondence, saw her $76,500 salary boosted to $110,000.

• Thomas Vietor, senior director and national security staff spokesman, is now raking in $105,000 per year—up from $78,000.

• Johanna Maska, deputy director of advance and director of press advance, was making $56,100 a year; she’s now earning $80,000 annually.

• Semonti Stephens, deputy communications director, is now making $75,000—a $21,000 boost from what she had been making.

• Andrea Turk, director of information services, now makes $70,000—up from her previous salary of $50,000.

What a hypocrite! Another thing to add to my list.

Here is a link to the top 20 White House Raises: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/obamas-white-house-staffers-salary-freeze-lie-2/

Close Minded

2011-06-28T10:50:00.003-06:00

I have been called close minded this week by one of the interns in my office, but as I sat and thought about it he was wrong.

I think it's funny how if you do not have the same views as someone else you are considered close minded. The intern and I had been talking about abortion and same sex marriage. I strongly disagree with both. I think abortion is killing an innocent child of God and same sex marriage is not of God. I believe in treating everyone fairly and with respect but that does not mean I have to agree with what they are saying.

I am willing to listen but when I do not change my mind, do not be surprised. I know what I believe. I am a child of God and he loves me and loves all of his children. I do not think God loves his children any less because they make different choices.

A friend of mine is pro gay marriage and that is her choice. Am I closed minded because I do not agree? NO!!! I still like her as a person and we are still friends. We just do not talk about politics or religion.

I hate that people with convictions are persecuted. Yes, I find Glenn Beck interesting and I was reading how his family was mocked in New York. He was trying to spend time with his family and the people around him were spilling wine and calling them names because they do not agree with what he says. Liberals only believe in free speech when they are speaking. Who is really close minded?

Here is the account of what happened to Glenn:

Hoping to enjoy some time together, while taking in a showing of Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps with his wife, Tania, and daughter, Glenn and his family instead experienced an unfriendly and borderline violent scene. At one point, an angry moviegoer kicked a glass of wine into Tania’s back, and as she got up to walk away, a man shouted, “We hate conservatives here.”

If they do not like him then do not listen to his show. That is their choice. I choose not to listen to MSNBC because of its bias but I do not hate their news anchors.

In conclusion, I am not close minded but know what I believe and stand for. I am proud to be conservative and to have high moral standards.

20 Month Pictures

2011-06-24T13:57:00.001-06:00

I was a little late on having pictures taken of Matthew but here they are.

Love My Job

2011-06-23T16:01:00.001-06:00

My firm and I helped plan this event!!!

My Son

2011-05-24T14:02:00.000-06:00

I love to brag about my son and how cute he is. I sometimes think he can not get any more adorable, but he always surprises me. Matthew is starting to talk more and more coherent words (at least Matt and I can understand them) and they just keep getting better. The best word he says right now is bubble. I have never seen a kid who loves bubbles more. He will come up to Matt or I and just say "bubble" until we stop what we are doing and go blow bubbles.

He also says duck and when ever he sees a duck he yells duck and then quacks. The last and kind of disturbing thing he does is hiss when we change his diaper. We are not sure who taught him that but he thinks there is a snake in his pants. We have these a-z flash cards with animals on them and we have been teaching him the names and sounds of all the animals. One day in the tub he was looking down and started hissing. I think it is hilarious but I am sure it will not be funny when he is 15.

Matthew says a lot more words but these are the cutest. I will post some video of him in the near future.

Politics

2011-05-20T15:34:00.000-06:00

I have been really frustrated lately with all that is going on in the world. My biggest problem with politics is all the flip flopping going on. If you really believe something then stick with it. If you don't get re-elected; oh well. At least we know what you believe and you will hold strong.

I'm already not an Obama supporter but it seems like everyday he does something to piss me off more. He said a year ago that we (America) are not going to divide the city of Jerusalem and it is the capital of Israel and then a few days later he said we should change the borders back to the way they were in 1967. Is that not dividing the city? I guess he meant we would not divide it with barbed wire.

Watch the two clips below and see what I am talking about!

http://youtu.be/HVGEMpQOW8I

Life Update

2011-05-02T13:36:00.000-06:00

I have not posted much about our family life lately so, this will be an update.

Matt and I are doing great. I am officially finished with school and Matt has decided to quit his job and go to school full time. He only has a year left if he goes full time. YAY!!! His last day of work was about a week ago and he has been enjoying his time off. He had not had a Saturday off in over a year! Him and Little Buddy have just been spending quality father/son time.

Little Matthew is also doing great. He is getting sooooo big. He is walking and talking and all things boy. He loves being outside but the Utah weather has been so unpredictable lately. We would go to the park but the only nice days come right after a big rain storm. Leaving the ground a big mess.

We took a little family vacation to Arizona this past weekend with some friends of our from Ogden and it was so nice to get away. Our plan was to take the jet ski out and lay on the beach but we had not anticipated the big celebration going on. There were hundreds of boats on lake and it was so choppy. We (Emily and I) did lay on the beach and Matt and our friend Blake went snorkeling/spearfishing. Little Buddy played in the sand and a little in the water. The temperature was a perfect 85 degrees. The wind killed the rest of the trip, as far as jet skiing goes. There were white caps out on the lake that we probably could have went surfing on.

You should be caught up for now. I will keep you posted.

Interns

2011-04-26T15:50:00.000-06:00

We had an orientation for the new interns in our office today. They seem to be really good and I hope they work hard. I am ready to relinquish some of my responsibility on to them. We are going to let the interns have more responsibility and manage accounts on their own. I will be supervising of course. Welcome to The Walton Group!

Reverse psychology

2011-04-20T16:03:00.001-06:00

This video is so funny. I will have to try it on my son. The fact that it is in Spanish makes it so much better.

Have You Seen This? Reverse psychology

April 20th, 2011 @ 2:30pm

By Graydon Johns

SALT LAKE CITY -- Reverse psychology. Does it really work?

Oh, yes it does... well, at least on unsuspecting children.
In this popular YouTube video a father and son debate (and I use that term lightly) their mode of transportation.

The dad wants to walk; the son wants to take the car.

After a few back-and-forth yeses from the son and no's from the dad about taking the car, the dad quickly switches and says, "yes!" prompting the little boy to say, "no!" The dad concedes and the pair walks away from the car.

I bet the little guy is thinking to himself, "Ha, my dad's such a sucker. What a pushover" and chalking it up as yet another feather in his cap.

Reverse psychology at its finest!

Interesting University of Utah Study

2011-04-19T11:00:00.000-06:00

Watch this video and then read the article that follows. It will not work unless you watch the video first.

'The Invisible Gorilla' reveals human brain capacity

April 18th, 2011 @ 6:50pm

By Nkoyo Iyamba

SALT LAKE CITY -- University of Utah researchers say about half of us can become so involved in what we're doing that we miss the obvious events that flash in front of our eyes.

That's the foundation behind a new study called 'The Invisible Gorilla' experiment. The study asked 197 students aged 18 to 35 to watch a video where a group of people were passing a basketball to each other. The participants were supposed to count how many passes exchanged between the players wearing white t-shirts. During the sequence of the video, a person wearing a gorilla suit strolls across the scene, stops briefly, pounds his chest and walks off.

The study found that about 58 percent of participants were so intent on counting the passes between the players that they missed the gorilla.

Researchers found that the higher memory capacity you have, the more likely you are to see the gorilla.

"They can do the task and do it well and still have leftover resources to kind of monitor their environment," said Janelle Seegmiller, Lead author, University of Utah doctoral student in the Department of Psychology. "Somebody with lower memory capacity may do the task and may do it really well but it's taking up all of their resources that they have to do that task. And so they miss the gorilla."

What does this mean for those of us not doing an experiment?

"You can think of it as your ability to deal with a lot of information and to process it and make decisions or make responses," said Seegmiller.

She says having skills like these can be especially impactful when we're doing serious tasks like driving.

"If you're driving and you're really focused on driving and you're doing that really, really well," said Seegmiller, "you still might miss unexpected events that can cause accidents."

Even on a rainy day or with inclement weather, researchers don't know yet how our attention is impacted. But they also say that even on a good day, drivers can still miss something dart out right in front of their eyes.

"Because people are so different in how well they can focus their attention, this may influence whether you'll see something you're not expecting," said Seegmiller.

Researchers tried similar tests on pilots.

"Pilots were crashing into planes on the runway because they were so focused on their screen in front of them," Seegmiller said.

Other researchers say because the human brain can only process so much, we need to pick and choose how much information to upload into our brains at a time.

"What are the cognitive costs of a cell phone, the cognitive costs of doing A, B or C in the car while you're driving?" Said study co-author Dr. Jason Watson, University of Utah, Department of Psychology. "This research really tells us that attention is limited, and so what we're really trying to do is explore the range of devices that may exert some sort of impact or cost in terms of our attention."

Seegmiller says it's just humanly impossible to process everything in our environment -- but if we know what causes our selective attention, we can mitigate some of what we miss when it counts.

The study will be published in the May issue of The Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition.

GOP Candidates

2011-04-11T16:51:00.000-06:00

Who will the GOP pick for the 2012 presidential election?

I was doing a little research today to see who might be at the top of my list and I was so overwhelmed by how many potential candidates there are. This is not the complete list but you get the idea. I think they want us to be so confused that we do not have a chance to be informed and vote on how handsome or beautiful they are!

Here is the list:

Gov. Mitt Romney

Rep. Michele Bachmann

Gov. Mike Huckabee

Sarah Palin
Newt Gingrich

Gov. Chris Christie

Gov. Tim Pawlenty

Gov. Mitch Daniels

Rep. Mike Pence

Gov. Haley Barbour

Sen. Rick Santorum

Jon Huntsman

Donald Trump

After the Mission

2011-04-05T16:34:00.000-06:00

It seems to me that most people do not keep in close contact with mission friends, and I do not know why. I love my mission friends and have become so much more to me than just another acquaintance. This past weekend I was able to travel to Washington State with my dear friend Emily to see one of my favorite mission companions, Kami. We spent four glorious days exploring Seattle and Spokane.

We arrived Thursday night in Seattle and spent the night catching up with each other. Kami's parents were kind enough to let us stay at their house and eat their food. Mark tells the best stories so every time I get a chance I take it. This time he was telling about his new ventures with Sri Lanka travel. Wendy is the biggest sweet heart and would do anything for you. She gave me the cutest bracelet with elephants on it because she know how much I love elephants. Thank Wendy!!!!

We only spent one night in Seattle and had to rise super early to start our journey to Spokane for a wedding. A good friend of mine from the MTC, Tim Odeen, was getting married. It was an interesting experience because Tim's is the only member of the church in his family and for the most part they are Baptist. As we waited out side the Spokane temple for Tim and Amelia, we saw Tim's parents standing outside in the rain. Of course we went and talked with them and let them know they were allowed to wait in the waiting room. It something we members forget to tell people. Most non-Mormons think they have to wait outside but in fact they can go into the waiting room.

The wedding was great and we are so happy for Odeen and his new bride. We stayed the night in Spokane and went "clubbing". It was not our scene obviously but it was still fun to have a girl's night out.

We left Saturday morning and it was so windy We stopped at a look out point for the Columbia river and the wind was howling. The wind caught my glasses and broke them in half. I was lucky to have my contacts with me.

When we got back to Seattle we ate dinner at this awesome Thai restaurant. The will make anything for you if you just call ahead. It was so delicious.

Then we went on a double date with some of Kami's friends. I was of course the 5th wheel but it was still so much fun. Kami has the most interesting and fun friends. The first on we met was Matt. He is a personal injury lawyer but you would never know. He was a blast to talk with. The Second friend was Porter. He is a multisport coach (triathlons) but has a degree in naval engineering. I think Kami should date him but who am I to meddle in her love life.

On Sunday we walked around Pike's Place market and went and saw the Fremont Troll.

We flew home Sunday afternoon and thank goodness because I was worn out. I do not remember ever getting exhausted from playing but I guess it comes with age.

Jon Stewart is a Riot

2011-03-30T09:25:00.002-06:00

I am glad the President has decided to do take action in Libya and I do not think everything he has said in his recent speech is garbage but I did have a few questions. I am not the only one. Jon Stewart from The Daily Show also felt the way I did. Watch this clip and have a good laugh.

The Daily Show
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

And the award goes to.... Hugo Chavez.

2011-03-29T14:35:00.001-06:00

I was reading an article today in the paper about Hugo Chavez (the dictator of Venezuela) winning a journalism award in Argentina. According to the paper he is helping the people be heard through public broadcasting. I think it is an oxymoron because dictators control their people and usually restrict speech.Being in the journalism field, I think this is very sad. Where have our journalistic ethics gone?

Venezuela’s El Nacional newspaper criticized the award Tuesday, saying the journalism school must be ignorant of Chavez’s continuing crackdown on independent media. “That a South American university doesn’t know about this grave situation and dares to honor this military leader with the Rodolfo Walsh Prize says much about the destruction of values that the Kirchners have imposed on the Argentine nation. Walsh was a victim of military repression and his example is now stained absurdly.”

Here is the link to the article if you are interested in reading about it.
http://bit.ly/dG3YH4

Continuing My Education

2011-03-28T15:41:00.000-06:00

Last week I went to a disappointing public relations conference in Logan, Utah. The speakers were great and the food was good but I was disappointed in the turn out. They did not promote the event and it was sad to see very few of their own students show up. They were charging 35-40 dollars a student to attend and I think that is just outrageous. Skip the lunch and dinner and offer breakfast. It is cheaper and will last all day.

I was only able to attend one day worth of seminars because I had to get back to my family, but what I did see I enjoyed. The second day may have had a better turn out.

I was speaking with one of my former professors and current department head Ted Pease about teaching at the collegiate level. I was asking him what they look for and what I should do to even be considered for a position at USU or any other college. To even teach at most respectable universities you have to have a Master's Degree and at least 3-5 years real world experience.

This chat inspired me to further my education. I am not going back right away but I am looking into get a second Bachelor's in political science and then applying for a Master's in public relations. The hard thing is I do not think I want to move anywhere to go to school. I did find a program through Montana State University in Billings that is all online. My second choice (to no ones surprise) is University of Texas in Austin. They have one of the best grad programs in the country for pr and advertising, but I would have to mover there. I would not mind moving back for a few years but there is no way in I could convince Matt.

Graduation

2011-03-16T12:01:00.000-06:00

Graduation is in sight. If you would like to some see me walk all the information is posted below or you can go to http://www.usu.edu/commencement/.

Commencement Activities

The Graduate Commencement and Hooding Ceremony for master's and doctoral degree candidates is Friday, May 6, 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Assembly of candidates takes place at 12:30 p.m. in the Nelson Field House for the procession. Candidates will hear their names and degrees formally announced; master's candidates are hooded by members of the Graduate Council while doctoral candidates will be hooded by their major professors and deans.
The Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony is Saturday morning, May 7, in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Undergraduate students assemble on the University Quad with their colleges no later than 8:30 a.m. In the event of rain assemble in the Nelson Field House. The procession will begin at 9:00 a.m. The ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. Degrees will be conferred on candidates for the bachelor's degree. Tassels on caps should be worn on the left side.
Breakfast for Seniors 2011 will be served Wednesday, May 4, 9-11 a.m. at the Taggart Student Center Patio.
Senior Celebration 2011 takes place Thursday, May 5, 7-9 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center. This is a free event for graduating seniors, and $5 for guests. There will be refreshments, giveaways and entertainment. Tickets may be picked up at the David B. Haight Alumni Center starting April 1.

Guest Tickets

Guest tickets are not required for the Commencement Ceremonies in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum or for the College Ceremonies. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors to the Spectrum will be open to the public for Commencement Ceremonies at 12 noon, Friday, May 6, and 8 a.m., Saturday, May 7.

Habitat for Humanity Press Release

2011-03-14T11:07:00.000-06:00

Here is a copy of a press release we wrote for Habitat for Humanity. I did not actually write the whole thing but I was able to put my two cents in.

Methamphetamine Housing Reconstruction FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1-1-1 2/22/11

For additional information: Stephen Tagliaferri, 801-263-0136 #3

(SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH)— Utah Habitat for Humanity affiliates are raising awareness for the Methamphetamine Housing Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Fund, which will rebuild meth exposed houses into safe and affordable homes for families.

They will be hosting a “Check the Box Media Event” on March 16, 2011 at 9am at a Salt Lake City Habitat home on 1077 W. Wenco Circle.

The Methamphetamine Housing Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Fund will demolish meth contaminated housing and rebuild over the sites. This will help Habitat for Humanity affiliates, and replace the site with a simple, decent and affordable home.

Donors can check the box under code 10 of line 28 on their 2010 tax form to donate $1 or more.

Donations need to reach $30,000.00 for the fund to remain on Utah state tax forms.

Habitats mission seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.

2-2-2

Utah Habitat for Humanity affiliates are independently run nonprofit organizations. As an affiliate they are in charge of home building, fundraising, site building selection, and selection of partner families.

Habitat does not simply give away houses, but selects partners from a list of applicants who applied online or in their local office. They select partners based on the family’s level of need, willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the loan.

Partner families are required to make a minimum $500 down payment and a contribution of 500 hours of “sweat equity” on the construction of their home or someone else’s house.

Habitat is a self-described Christian housing ministry, but provides housing opportunities for families regardless of race, religion or ethnic background.

###

BYU Basketball Player Jackson Emery

2011-03-14T11:05:00.001-06:00

BYU basketball player Jackson Emery helped Habitat for Humanity to make a video. The video is to help promote their new project in order to raise money to tear down former meth homes and build new ones.

Donate $1 or more

To Help Habitat For

Humanity Rebuild Homes

For Families.

You Can Help

Just Check The Box

Support the Methamphetamine Housing Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Fund to rebuild meth exposed houses into homes for children and families. Choose code 10 of line 28 on you 2010 tax form to donate $1 or more to help.

Death of a parent

2011-03-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

I guess someone with my dads name died recently and people have been going crazy. My dad broke it to me gently that he had passed but when it comes directly from the person it is a bit weird. I tried to google search the real person but can not find a trace of who it actually was. There are two Greg Greers' I know of in Wyoming but they are both still alive and kicking. I can not imagine how my granny felt when her brother in-law called and asked if her son had died. I am sure she would have been the first to know. If anyone hears anything let me know!

New Business Development

2011-03-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

Working is great, but unless we have work I will be out of a job. Since I have been at The Walton Group Inc., I have found there is not much work unless I go and find it. My boss works really hard trying to get former clients to revamp their public relations and advertising but we can not rely on former clients. I never thought I would have to make cold calls again but I feel that it is a big part of my job.

It seems as though there is no way around it. The economy has made it so people are cutting back and not utilizing some of the most important aspects of PR. I have had the hardest time trying to figure out new ways to entice people that they need PR.

Our Represenatives

2011-02-16T10:32:00.000-07:00

How proud it makes me to know one of our very own senators from Utah thinks my degree is a "degree to nowhere." Senator Howard Stephenson said, "“The state is wasting billions of dollars conferring ‘degrees to nowhere’ on college students because higher education is badly ‘misaligned’ with the work force,” the Salt Lake Tribune reported. On his web site he states the role of government "is to secure the rights and freedoms of individual citizens."

Why does he get to decide what a degree to nowhere is?

Here is an article I read from the Hard News Cafe at Utah State University. It goes into detail about the effect this statement has had on the faculty and students.

Story & Photos by Shirrel Cooper
LOGAN—Controversy surrounding a Utah state senator’s comments, dismissing most college majors as “degrees to nowhere,” has not diminished since he spoke them earlier this month.

On the contrary, Sen. Howard Stephenson’s comments have sparked controversy around the state as potential budget cuts to higher education loom.

Christy Glass, an assistant professor of sociology at Utah State University, was so frustrated about the Draper Republican’s attitude that she and some colleagues considered taking action.

“A few of us friends and colleagues sent around this article with the quote,” Glass said. “We were all talking, ‘Should we write a public letter that we all sign, or should there be a public statement from all the deans of the colleges?’”

For the rest of the story go to: http://hardnewscafe.usu.edu/?p=4065

Mrs. Holy Roller

2011-02-15T11:23:00.001-07:00

I was listening to a song by Will Smith today and I thought is was very interesting. I actually like it because I feel there are a lot of people in the world who think they are "holy rollers" and they are the only ones God accepts. Even though people are not the same religion as me does not mean they are going to hell. As the Thai people would say "all religions teach you to be good" and if people are honestly trying to live a good life and serving others they are good people in my book.

Here are the lyrics. Tell me what you think.

"Ms. Holy Roller"

[INTRO]
Mic check 1, 2, 1, 2.. this is dedicated to an old friend of mine, Michelle...

[CHORUS]
Ms. Holy Roller, new angel, got ya Bible out shoutin' and you're ringing a bell
mid-life, reborn, can't wait to tell, if I don't believe what you believe,
I'm going to hell...
I've been down with Jesus since Sunday school & Easter speeches
The Bible was survival, that's what my grandma would teach us
Since I was 5, I've been dying and trying to read it When I did I did, it redefined it
Now you was 34 when you found Jesus after your life fell to pieces
Wife two times, with two guys, now enlightened in speeches
Seemed to flow out your mouth with the hype of a preacher
Took your whole life to reach you, now I'm a trifling creature

[CHORUS]

Come on, if I die right this second, I reckon that God would simply check
into my life & times, dissecting my rhymes, he'll see how I've been leading his troops
You can't do dirt your whole life then say "oops'!

[BRIDGE]
Now where was Jesus, when you life then you was cheatin', when you was deceiving me?
Where was Jesus when you greedy, your lawyers was bleeding me?
Where was Jesus when every weekend, a new man living with you?
Oh, wait he was with me, trying to keep me from killing you!
Now, where was Jesus when you was lying & you was betraying me?
When I was trying to make it, you was hatin' delayin' me, huh?
Where was Jesus when the ice was thrilling you,
Oh, he was he with me trying to keep me from killing you!
If I ain't know Jesus, ain't no telling where I would be
It's been nights I felt like feces; I needed to fight to release it
I'm in the limelight, it's hot & the heat is ceaseless,
Holding my tongue while little bums cut me to pieces
The only reason's cause I studied the life of Jesus &
Venting with my pen, intending to write & release it
But when an ex-friend would slight me or slam me with venom
I hate it, I can't stand it, damned, I really resent it
I always strive to be righteous, my version of God
The reason why I never write verses with curses inside
The reason I never purposely hurt persons,
I've applied many teaching of God,
Searching the reaches of God
Pondered the mysteries of why you be dissing me,
I adore you all I hope for you is freedom from misery
You made mistakes & blunders, you breaking from under
But yo, If I'm going to hell, it's making me wonder.

[BRIDGE]

The greatest atrocities ever committed on this planet have been in the
name of God
This country was founded by Puritans, for the expressed purpose of
oppression-free worship
Your attitude is the same arrogant, fearful fundamentalism that fueled the
hatred of the Crusades
& the attacks on 9/11.
If we are not allowed to worship God as groups & individuals free from
persecution, in respectful
Tolerance, there's only one outcome...

[CHORUS]

Michael Buble - Funny Valentine

2011-02-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

Thought this song was appropriate since it is almost Valentines Day.

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/My+Funny+Valentine/2vUVG5?src=5

Slacking

2011-02-03T14:52:00.000-07:00

I have been slacking so much on my blog since I started working. I want to apologize to anyone who actually reads or cares about our lives. Matthew and I have been so busy with work, school and the little guy.

With in the last month so much has happened. As you all know I have graduated from Utah State University with my degree in Journalism and Communication. My new job is so awesome. I did not think I would ever find something I really enjoy doing but I have. My boss trusts me enough to run the office while she is gone. It is tempting to not come in but luckily we have a ton of work to do and she would know if I had not been coming in. The interns I work with are really good workers and are willing to do what ever I give them. Scott (intern) is so much fun to work with because he has such a great attitude and is really smart. Gavin (other intern) is a little more difficult but he is a great writer and has a lot of experience in the real world. Right now we are working on a state wide project for Habitat for Humanity. We are trying to get people to donate a dollar on when they fill out their tax forms for 2010. The project is called Meth House Rebound and the whole idea is to tear down old meth houses and build new ones for underprivileged families. It is truly a great idea. We only need 30,000 people to donate to keep us on the ballet for next year. FEEL FREE TO DONATE!!!!

Matthew convinced me to take scuba classes and I actually love it. I just took my last class yesterday. I am officially ready to go to the Caribbean! I thought it was going to be worse than it really was but once I got used to breathing out of the regulator I was fine.

Little Matthew is still not walking but we are working with him. He will walk if you hold his hand and he has taken a few steps on his own. He still thinks crawling is easier. Matthew has started crying when Daddy, Mommy, and Granny leave him. He will cry when I take him away from grandma because she is way more fun than me. We have noticed him saying a lot more words lately. He can say I love you, cat, dog, up, and he even said Dade the other day when he was visiting.

Love Love

2010-12-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

So I totally love my new job. I was really worried at first because I was afraid I would not know what to do but not the case. So far, it has come naturally. The Lord has really blessed our family lately and I feel so lucky. I have passed my final class and will be graduating this semester. I will be walking in May at Utah State University. I am so happy to be finished with school and have a job.

Enough about me and on to the the rest of our family. Little Matt is getting so big. He is 13 months already and we are working on walking. He is not there yet but he is standing on his own and he will walk when you hold his hand.

Big Matt is doing great. He still in school but getting closer to graduation. He is such a dreamer and loves thinking up new businesses. He has recently come up with a great idea to help fishing lodges up in Alaska. He is hoping it will be up and running in the next couple of Months.

Now that I am working Matt and I are planning on moving out of our in-laws house and finally being on our own. I am not sure when we will move but we are planning on March for now.

Not much else has happened with us. We are still trudging along.

We wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Success

2010-11-24T17:21:00.000-07:00

I have finally grown up and become a real contributing member of society. I am proud to say that I have recently been offered a job working for an awesome PR firm in Provo, Utah. The Walton Group Inc. is a full service PR and advertising firm. My official title is an account executive. We have great clients and do a lot of work for charities, which I love. This is the first time I get to experience the real world of PR. I have been there about 3 weeks as an intern and have been given one client to manage so far. I officially start as an employee December 1. YAY!!! I am so happy and excited to have a job.

Craziness

2010-11-01T15:55:00.001-06:00

This last month has been so hectic with all the birthdays and Halloween. Little Matthew turned one year old and is growing so fast. Matthew can now say a few words and is trying to stand on his own. He points at things and says, "Whats that." He is really cute.We had a joint birthday with Matthew's cousin who also turned one.

I had my birthday a few days later but it seems the older one gets the less exciting it is. It was just another day to me. I had class that night but ended up skipping it and went to dinner with Matt's family.

The hunt came and gone with no success. Matt was pretty disappointed this year with everything about the hunt. The weather was bad and there were no deer anywhere.

Halloween was a lot of fun despite the rain. We dressed Little Matthew up as a monkey and took him trick or treating down Osmond lane. He was not sure what was going on but it was still fun. I also convinced Matt to dress up with me. We have been eating the candy and found out the baby loves chocolate. Not sure that is a good thing but it is funny to watch.

Temple Blessings

2010-10-06T20:52:00.000-06:00

It is so awesome to see people receive the blessings of the temple with so little opportunity to go. Napa and Dipu were converts from my mission. Kami and I had the opportunity to teach Napa and her friend and watch them both be baptized. Thailand is not a high baptizing mission and the fact we even got to see it was amazing. The retention rate is also not very high and for Napa and Dipu to have stayed active as long as they have has been a miracle in my life. I never doubted them but things happen in life we can not control.

Dipu was a refugee from Nepal and I am do not know the whole story but that usually means if they go back to their country they will be killed. Dipu was a lucky one and was able to get the papers he needed to become a legal in Thailand. Napa and Dipu were married about a year after they were baptized. Since they were married they have been saving money to come to America and go to the temple. It may seem silly because they could have gone to Hong Kong but they wanted to share this special time with people they loved. Most of the people they have befriended have moved back to America. They attend the Asoke international ward and most of the members are Americans sent there by the embassy and only spend about three years there.

On October 5 Napa and Dipu received there endowments at the Oquirrh Mountain temple. It was so amazing but it was so small and intimate. They both were able to listen to the session in their languages. It defiantly strengthens my faith to know God loves his people so much he provides them with the means to keep the commandments. It was so neat to be able to meet with the sealer as well. His son had taught the temple prep class in Thailand for the couple and told his father about it. His father called and asked to be the sealer and found out when the endowment session was and came to that as well. How often does the sealer get to go through a session with the couple?

Today Napa and Dipu went to the SLC temple and were sealed for all time and eternity. They were so cute sitting on the little couch listening to the sealer. At the end the sealer told them they could kiss and it was funny because in Thailand people do not kiss in public. It is kind of taboo so Dipu gave her a kiss on the cheek and everyone giggled.

This was one of the best moments in my life! I was able to see people keep the promises they made at baptism and commit to spending the rest of their lives together. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Fruits of Our Labors

2010-09-24T15:23:00.000-06:00

I loved my mission and cherish it everyday but the real blessing is being able to see someone I was able to teach be sealed for all eternity with the love of her life. Napa and Dipu are coming to Utah to receive their endowment and be sealed. They have been so strong the past 3 years and it warms my heart to see them heading in the right direction. Congrats Napa and Dipu.

Spiritual Things

2010-09-22T14:34:00.003-06:00

Matt was looking through some of his old mission papers and he came across The King Follett Sermon. I was reading through it and it made me realize some important aspects of the gospel. I always understood about God being an exalted man but I did not know exactly where is came from. As Joseph Smith gave his sermon he explained about God and comprehending the character of God. Here are some excepts from the original.

"There are but a very few beings in the world who understand rightly the character of God. The great majority of mankind do not comprehend anything, either that which is past, or that which is to come, as it respects their relationship to God. They do not know, neither do they understand the nature of that relationship; and consequently they know but little above the brute beast, or more than to eat, drink and sleep. This is all man knows about God and His existence, unless it is given by the inspiration of the Almighty.

If a man learns nothing more than to eat, drink and sleep, and does not comprehend any of the designs of God, the beast comprehends the same things. It eats, drinks, sleeps, and knows nothing more about God; yet it knows as much as we, unless we are able to comprehend by the inspiration of Almighty God. If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves. I want to go back to the beginning, and so lift your minds into more lofty spheres and a more exalted understanding than what the human mind generally aspires to.

God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret. If the veil were rent today, and the great God who holds this world in its orbit, and who upholds all worlds and all things by His power, was to make himself visible—I say, if you were to see him today, you would see him like a man in form—like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man; for Adam was created in the very fashion, image and likeness of God, and received instruction from, and walked, talked and conversed with Him, as one man talks and communes with another."

I never understood why some other religions believe in karma or being reincarnated but after reading this sermon I can see where they may have misinterpreted the true teachings. The sermon goes on to say:

"When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave."

Life is Looking Up

2010-09-08T16:38:00.000-06:00

Things are finally starting to turn around for me. I finally was able to get into my stats class so I should be graduating this year. I had a great interview at BYU. This does not mean I will become a BYU fan of any kind but it will be nice to work again. I should find out on Wednesday if I got the job or not. The only problem now is finding a babysitter for little Matthew if I do get the job.

Graduation in Sight?

2010-08-30T13:44:00.000-06:00

I am so close and so far away at the same time. Anyone who has gone through their last semester of college needs to give me some advice. I am super excited but scared to death at the same time. I have no idea what I am going to do with my degree. I know what I want to do but I need experience first. It seems all the jobs I apply for require experience but how do you get real experience when you have never used your degree before? I have only done one year of internship stuff and that is not always enough. Help ease my stress and let me know how to cope with being a real person.

2 Years and Going Strong.

2010-08-18T10:08:00.010-06:00

Matt and I had a wonderful anniversary. Matt had the day off from work so we spent the morning car shopping. Matt (on his own) decided it would be better to have a more family friendly car, so we went from dealership to dealership looking for a truck.

The first place we went tried to scam us but of course we saw right through it. I hate it when car salesmen try to tell you there is no other deal like this and it is once in a life time. There is always another deal out there. The guy told us we could get a lot for the trade in on the mustang but the price of the car never went down. After we left there we went home to blue book the truck to see what it was really worth. He was trying to sell us this used truck for 6,000 more than the suggested retail.

Next we went to Ken Garff and they were super nice and friendly. They did not try to pressure us into something we really did not want. Unfortunately we did not find the truck we wanted. We looked at a few more places but then finally we found her at the Larry H. Miller truck dealership. She is a 2007 Ford F150 Lariat edition, four-door super crew, stone gray and leather seats.

Everything that day did not go perfectly because when we decided we wanted to buy the truck it was already 5:00 and the guy told us he could get us out in 15 minutes and we believed him. We had a dinner reservation at 6:30 and I still had to get ready. The Anniversary in was still 15 to 20 minutes from where we were. We finally left the dealership at 6:15. We did call and had our reservations changed to 7:45.

We checked into the hotel and quickly took showers and got ready. We did not even get to enjoy the room because we were in such a hurry.

We ate dinner at a restaurant in Cottonwood Heights called Tuscany. It was super fancy and more expensive than we were expecting. But the dealership said they would pay for our dinner since they made us late. It was the best dinner I have ever had. Matt ate a 53 dollar rib-eye steak. That does not include the salad. I had the ravioli and it was so delicious. The overall bill was 130 dollars with the tip and the valet parking. A funny side note: Matt and I dressed up all fancy and when we walked in no one else was dressed up. Most people were in business casual attire. We did not care because it made us feel good to be all dolled up for once.

We returned to the hotel at about 10:00 and by then I am exhausted. Matt and I cuddled and just enjoyed each others company. We finally decided to go to bed around 11:30, so we turned off the TV and tried to go to sleep. The room next to us was playing their rap music so loud it sounded like it was coming from the speakers in our room. At first we thought it was coming from outside but when Matt went in the hall way he say there door was cracked open and some inappropriate noises were coming from inside. They must have been trying to hide what there were doing behind the music. We did call down to the desk and had them turn down the music. Overall it was a great night and anniversary.

Just Gets Worse

2010-08-13T11:06:00.003-06:00

I do not understand why colleges make people take classes that are just not needed. I have been in college for 5 years now and should be graduated but I still have to take a math class. I am not sure why I have to take it if I have made it this far in life without needing it. I would have had it all completed but in Utah if you do not take a math class for more than one year then you have to retake the math placement test. What a waste of my time.

So Frustrated

2010-08-10T14:42:00.008-06:00

I have been having a hard time lately living with the in-laws. They are great people and are so wonderful for letting us live with them rent free. I always have a babysitter when I need one but it is still hard. Matt has a car we are paying off so it is impossible for us to afford an apartment right now. I think I am going to go crazy. Just as wishful thinking, I have been looking around for apartments/town homes to rent or buy. I was looking on KSL.com and found a great deal. It is a 2 bedroom 2 bath town home in American Fork for 68,000. Something we could really afford with the help of my parents. They told Matt and I they would help us buy our first place just like they did with my brother. So I called my mom and talked to her about it and she agreed it was a great deal but they could not fork over the money right now. She said if we could wait till the end of September or beginning of October they would have the cash. This is such a great deal and I just do not want to pass it up. Me and patience are not the best of friends.

"Paul declared to the Hebrews, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”"

I know I need to have patience but it seems as though everyone else is being blessed and we are stuck. Stuck in a rut and can not get out. Sometimes I just wish life was not so hard.

Now I am trying to find a job and see if we can make something work. I have applied at a few places and now I am just waiting to hear back. The hardest thing is I will have to put Little Matt in daycare or find a babysitter. They are so expensive these days and I always told myself I would never put my child into daycare. I guess when you are poor you just have to do what you have to do.

Road Trips

2010-08-05T12:53:00.004-06:00

It feels like Matt and I would never get to take a road trip together this summer. We have done a lot together but nothing that lasted more than one night. For our anniversary we are going to the Anniversary Inn in Salt Lake City. It looks like it will be a great get away because the rooms are themed. It is not just another hotel but every room is different. We are going to stay in the Enchanted Forest room.

In September we are going to Moab with my parents and some of their friends. We are having a couples trip and I am sure we are the youngest couple going. My dad is bringing 4-wheelers and a off road vehicle called a Joiner. I have only been to Moab once when I was in high school and we did not have anything but bicycles.

After that trip Matt and I are going to Arizona with some friends of ours. We are going to stay in my parents condo and hopefully take out the jet skis. If not that then we will take the jeep out and just have a good time. My Parents bought this place in Lake Havasu about a year ago and we have only been able to go down once. So this will be a nice chance to go when the weather is still nice.

School Stress

2010-08-03T11:36:00.002-06:00

This year is going to be the most stressful year of my school career. I have one class to take to graduate and I am not sure if I can even get into the class. I have to take the math placement again and pass it to make it into 1050. I am only two questions away from passing. I want to graduate but I have such a hard time with math. If I can just get this out of the way I will be on my way to a real career.

It scares me to think I will have to be a real person and get a real job but I think I am ready for it. I really want a job in sports so if anyone has a connection to a university looking for people I can always use a job. I eventually want to work for a professional sports team or a D1 school. Staying around Utah would be ideal but I am willing to go anywhere at this point.

Embarrassing

2010-07-13T16:31:00.003-06:00

I just had to tell everyone about my shopping trip today. I decided to check out the Win Co Foods in Orem because I have heard it is cheaper than Walmart. Yes I am cheap. So I shopped and found some really good deals on baby food and cereal. I probably had 50 or 60 dollars worth of food in my cart when I went to the check out. The cashier just finished ringing me up so, I swiped my credit card and the machine said, "debit or check". I was very confused but I asked the cashier if they took credit cards. And to my surprise they do not. Of course I do not have a debit or check with me. It was pretty embarrassing having gotten all that stuff just to leave it with the cashier. They said they would hold it for me but I decided it would be easier to just go to Harmon's. Win Co really is cheaper but almost not worth the drive to Orem.

I Love Summer

2010-07-07T10:53:00.008-06:00

I love summer and being outside!!! I also love being in the water even if there is no boat involved. My friend Melanie called me the other day and asked me if I wanted to go float the Provo River with her and her husband. Of course I did but what I did not know was how cold the water was going to be. The one day in the summer when the temperature was below 80. If it is scorching hot the water does not seem as bad but when the wind is blowing and it is only 75 degrees, floating the river is just not as fun. It took us about 45 minutes to get down the river and at first it kinda sucked but once we became numb it was fun.

We celebrated the 4th of July the same night by having a fmaily barbecue and watching the Stadium of Fire at BYU. It was a disappointment because the show was not as long or as exciting as years past.On the real 4th we decided to go to the ranch with some mission friends. We left Sunday night after church and had a nice dinner. We ate elk steaks with potato salad and beans. Matt makes amazing steaks! We had a nice little camp fire and roasted marshmallows and ate dutch oven peach cobbler. The next morning we shot guns and played around on the four-wheelers. No one got hurt thank gooodness.

Family ride.Brent Call and girlfriend Ashley

Nate MartinKelly BarcusMatthew G. getting ready for the guns.

In the end we had a great 4th of July. We are so grateful to live in a free country and are thankful for those serving in the armed forces.

Cody Wyoming

2010-06-30T14:29:00.000-06:00

Most of the month of June I have spent up in Cody Wyoming. The first time I came I was only there for a week and, little Matthew and I were able to spend time with the grandparents. We missed Big Matthew a lot but being able to work and take in a little extra money made it work it. Then I was home for a week then went back to Cody with out little Matthew or his dad and it was hard. I was gone for two weeks working with my dad. While I was gone the baby went from scooting to crawling and his first tooth came in. I am sad I missed it but Matt and I could really use the money.

My dad owns his own asphalt paving company so, the work is hard but it is nice being outside. I have worked harder in two weeks than I have in the last 18 months or since I found out I was pregnant. I love running equipment and shoveling asphalt.Being home is a lot of fun and I just wished Matt could have shared the experience with me. I spent most of my free time with two of my best friends. They are really the only friends I have left in Cody. Annie married my best friend from high school and soon became my best friend too. She works at the movie theater and took me to a few movies.

The last few days in Wyoming are spent at the lake. My mom has been itching for a camping trip so, my dad took her camping on the Friday before I left. Matt and the baby and his brother also came up on Friday to go to the lake with us but they did not make it until 12:45 am. It seemed like forever since I had seen them. We were going to take the jet skis out but one of them was broken so we took one out and played. It was fun but could have been better. The weather was kind of crappy in the morning and did not clear up till about noon.Sunday we went to church at the student ward in Powell Wyoming. My dad had to speak so the whole family went to support him. The rest of the day was spent taking naps and making cupcakes.
Monday was the long trip home with two cars. Matt's 16-year-old brother drove the mustang most of the way but I would not let him drive by himself on I-80. It is such a dangerous road.

Now we are home just relaxing and spending time with the baby.

Funny Story

2010-06-25T20:38:00.002-06:00

When I am home I always get caught up on all the gossip so I have to share this funny story. My mom and dads best friends are really funny people. They have been married for twenty something years and love each other very much, but when they get mad at each other they really hold a grudge. We are going to call them Jack and Jill.

Jack and Jill own their own business and work together and are together 24/7. This will help in understanding what happened.

On Sunday they got into a little tiff about using a certain brand of eye drops. Nothing big but they were annoyed with each other all day. Jack was annoyed enough to leave church early and go home and pout. It did not stop there. Monday roles around and they are still annoyed with each other. So Jill decided to stay home and do work from there while Jack went to the shop to work. Jill had to go to the shop the drop off some papers and found out her husband was not there. The shop was swamped and they really needed Jacks help. Jill went home to see if she could find him and, to her surprise, he was there spraying weeds. She informed him that the shop really needed his help. He was not in the mood to be nagged. He mouthed off to her and she did the same. Jack snapped and was really upset. Jill told Jack to take his perfect little ass and put it in his perfect truck and hook up to his perfect trailer and take a perfect little trip. SO he did. He has been gone since Monday afternoon. My mom and dad and Jill have been worried because he will not answer his phone. Thursday he sent my mom a text saying he was fine but had spent the morning in the ER. He did not say why or what had happened and that was it. Today is Friday and still no word.

When I talked to Jill she said this happens about once a year because they spend so much time together that sometimes they just need some space. He will eventually come back and all will be well again.

Summer Fun

2010-06-09T16:26:00.014-06:00

It has been a while since my last post and so much has happened. The baby has grown and is becoming a little man. Matt and I have a lot of plans for the summer and hope we can actually do some of the things we have planned.

Swinging at the Park

So far this summer I have gone home and visited my family. I took the mustang and the baby with me. He did really good on the way up but on the way back he was really fussy. On my trip I helped my dad with work and realized how much I love laying asphalt. I forgot how hard it was to do it when you are out of shape. Being a stay at home mom had really taken its tole on me. Grandma Greer was able to play with Little Matt for a week and try to teach him how to crawl. While I was home I found out my brother and his wife are trying to have a baby. This will be number three. My nephew Dado man was calling Matt his brother and did not want to give him up. Big Matt had to stay home and work. When I told Dade he was not coming he was very disappointed.

When I came home from Wyoming Matt and I went and had dinner at an amazing barbecue restaurant (Pat's) in Salt Lake City. Then we went and visited with some old friends of mine and played cards all night. The next night after church We went camping with some friends of ours from here in Provo. It was a lot of fun but Matt was wacked in the face with a tree. He and Jordan were moving trees out of the road that had fallen over night. One of the trees slipped and Matt was in the wrong place. It almost knocked him out. He was lucky he had sunglasses on because he may have lost an eye.

First Camping Trip

We only camped for one night then came home to do laundry and clean up. On Tuesday morning we had a primary service project we had to go to at a park near our house. The kids did such a great job picking up trash.

Anyone who knows Matt knows how much he hates sitting around so, on Tuesday went fishing at Deer Creek Reservoir. It was not very good fishing but we both caught one.

Brown Trout

Now everything is back to normal except I am going back to Wyoming on Monday to help my dad some more. I will be gone for three weeks this time. Matt is going to keep the baby with him for half of the time then he is going to visit me and we will switch.

The only bad part of the summer so far is that our washer pooped out on us and now we are sharing with the in-laws. It is not too bad as long as I get it done in the morning. Other than that everything is great and we are having a lot of fun.

The update on Little Matt is that he is learning to crawl and becoming a real handful. He is such a smart little guy. He loves to cuddle and play. He is sitting up on his own and reaching for everything. He loves to eat and does not seem to be picky.

Baby Milestones

2010-04-22T11:01:00.006-06:00

Little Matthew is growing so fast and getting so big. He has been rolling over from back to front for about 3 weeks now. He is also talking more and I think he is trying to say words but it may just be wishful thinking. The little worm is scooting on the floor but not crawling yet but I do not think it is very far off. The only bad think he has started doing is whining when he does not get his way. He really wants to eat people food but he needs teeth still. Here are some pictures to show how much he has grown.

Little Matts first trip to the Ranch

So many changes

2010-03-31T22:02:00.013-06:00

The last month or so has been so crazy with school, the baby and every thing else in our life. My in-laws have let a very distant cousin, Kathrine, from Germany live with them (and us because we live with them too) until she got married. She was here about a month and now she has been married about four days. Her family is now staying here for a week or so until the reception is over. They are good people. Kathrine's dad is a famous opera singer in Germany and her mom sells jewelry on a TV show like HSN.

While Kathrine was here we did celebrate her 30th birthday with her.

Well, other than them staying here, Matt, I and the baby have all been sick. I caught a really bad head cold that turned into a sinus infection. No fun!!!! Because I was sick I got behind in my homework and for the last few days I have been trying to catch up.

The baby is getting more adorable everyday. He is now trying to crawl but is mostly just scoots and usually goes backwards. He has started reaching for his toys a lot. Not just grabbing at stuff but really reaching with both hands stretched out. He is also laughing at everything we do. Matt bought a new backpack to carry him around in Little Matt loves it. He really likes going places with us. It makes it easier than trying to carry him in his car seat.

Matthew and grandma helping with Eric's eagle project.

Matt just realized today that he has to have all of his math homework done and turned in by the end of the week. He has an online math class so he does all his homework and then send it in. He can not take his tests until the teacher grades and send it all back. It ends up taking about two weeks. By the time he gets them back the semester will be about over and only have a few days to take the test.

I have been stressing out about being done with school. It is weird to think I will no longer be taking classes or even be a student. I could be a forever student if I did not have to worry about money. I am actually afraid to have a real job and put my schooling to use. I do have to take one math class and it is my vice. I hate math so much and it kills me that I have gone this long and never needed it or even used it. I will not let it keep me from graduating!

On a lighter note, Matt and I have adopted some cute little ducklings for Easter. They are so cute but very messy. We bought two black ducks and one white pekin duck. I am not sure what to name them but I was thinking Huey, Duey and Luey? When they are all grown up we are going to let them go at a city pond or on the river. They are already recognizing me and sorta starting to follow me around. They do not like it when I pick them up but I think they know I am the hand that feeds them.

The Ducks enjoying bath time.

My brother in-law has recently received his mission call and we are so excited for him. I think I am the most excited out of everyone in the family. More than Brett. He is going the the Stockholm Sweden mission. I can not even imagine learning Swedish but then again I learned Thai.

Las Vegas

2010-03-01T21:33:00.004-07:00

Matt and I took our first trip to Vegas last weekend and it was great. We stayed in style at the Super 8 behind the strip. It was not as bad as it could have been. At least the sheets were clean. We got to Vegas at about 9:00pm and started looking for something to eat. We figured everything would be open late due to it being a city that stays up all night. We were wrong. the only buffet open was at the Bellagio and it was 40 or 50 dollars a person. Not worth it for a buffet, so we walked around till we found the grungiest place on the strip. It was not a buffet but a food court next to the beer pong tournament.

The next day we went and watched a NASCAR race and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It was great but then the weather started to change and we thought it was going to rain. The race was half over and if it rained they would call the race so we decided to leave. We were positive it was going to rain but to our surprise it did not and my parents said it turned out to be a great race. At least we beat most of the traffic. After the race we went to the Pawn Stars store on the strip. We were very disappointed because the store was not as seen on TV. The Old Man was not there to make it worth it. Now it was time to eat so again we went on the search for a place to eat. What ever happened to the cheap buffets Vegas was known for? We ended up at the end of the strip at the Excalibur buffet. They charged us 20 dollars a person for a Golden Corral quality buffet. On the way out I saw a stand selling pearls and of course I stopped. The guy working there asked if I wanted anything and I said I was just looking. He got real snooty with and Matt almost hit him. He was sassing me for no reason, but I think he was having a bad day. The rest of the night was spent walking around the MGM, Luxor, and M&M World.

The last day was Sunday so we did not do too much but walk around. We looked in the NY NY and Coke place. We had had enough of Vegas and decided to go home. When you don't drink or gamble Vegas is not as fun. I personally do not enjoy watching drunk people act like idiots and I really missed my baby.

Visiting Mom and Dad

2010-02-25T16:25:00.002-07:00

I went home this last week to visit my family and show off my handsome baby. I always think that when I go home I will want to stay but it is not my home anymore. I like visiting but after a week I was ready to come back to Utah. After living in Utah and seeing how much different the people here are makes me not want to leave. I always told my self I did not want to live in Utah but I really enjoy the smoke free and mostly alcohol free living. I mean I do not have to deal with drunk people or worrying about my baby sucking in second hand smoke.

For example my father and I had to go to Billings Montana to have my moms car serviced and we also did a little shopping. We were walking into a store when we see this lady holding a small child of one or two and another child about 3 walking next to her. In her hand she has a cigarette and is smoking it like nothing is wrong. She had no regard for her child. I almost said something to her but I did not want to embarrass my dad or her in front of her kids.

That kind of behavior makes me so angry. How can people not care about their family and increase their chances of cancer without their consent.

The best part of going to visit my family is getting to snowmobile again. I really miss doing it every week. I used to be good and now I get tired after one or two hours. My dad has not really been going as much either. It may be his age or not having anyone to go with.

For me I am happy being a Utard. I may not have any luxuries but I have my husband and child and that is what makes me happy.

Lazy people

2010-01-31T21:10:00.002-07:00

Everyone knows Matt and I are poor college students but yet there are people so lazy they have to steal from us. We were sitting at the Rumbi Grill in Provo yesterday when Matt received a call. It was the credit card company asking us if we had made a purchase for 400 dollars in Vegas. Some loser got the information for one of our credit cards and tried to use it to buy booze at CVS pharmacy. We do not know how they got it because we both have our cards and have not shopped in Vegas lately. Lucky for us the card was declined. Not that we did not have the money but our card does no allow us to charge that much at one time. I am so peeved about it because people are so dishonest and lazy. GET A JOB LOSER!!! Stop trying to ruin other peoples lives.

Cooking

2010-01-28T21:24:00.002-07:00

Recently Rene and I have come to an agreement for me to help make dinner three times a week. It is the least I can do living in their house for free. Lately I have just been making food I know how to make or read from a cook book but tonight Rene and I went to lady in our wards house to learn how to make tamales. I am not a fan of tamales but I do like knowing how to make a wide variety of foods. We made a dozen tamales each and I just hope Matt will eat them because I do not think I will. The lady teaching us has at least 10 cookbooks published. She must know what she is doing. She has this class every month where she teaches us a new recipe. Next month we are making healthy meatballs for spaghetti. I do not care if they are healthy but I do want to know how to make meatballs. I figure I can substitute the turkey for elk.

The Bee's Knees

2010-01-23T14:12:00.005-07:00

Since Christmas Matt and I have been extremely busy with the baby, school, and work. Matt's job is very tiring because, unlike his other job, he is always doing something. We both thought he would have more time to do a little homework but this hospital is a little stricter than the one in Logan. Matt is kind of like a dispatcher for the housekeepers. The nurses discharge someone and it is his job to assign a housekeeper to clean it. He also has to make sure they are always working. They have no down time because if they do not have rooms to clean they have busy work.

As for me, I have been staying home with the baby and trying to keep up with school. I am taking 12 credits in order to graduate. It has not been to bad yet but I am afraid I may have bitten off more than I can chew.

The baby is doing great. He is growing and straining my back every time I pick him up. He is only 11 pounds but he gets heavy. He still does not sleep all the way through the night but he is getting better. He only gets up one or two times to eat. It is hard because those of you who know me know I do not do well getting up when I am really tired. Matt helps out by getting up once and then I usually get up the second time.

Matt and I are all moved in to his parents basement. I has been really good but sometimes I feel stuck. I am home alone most of the day and I tell my self I am going to accomplish something but I almost never get around to it. I will start doing something then the baby will cry and I will have to hold him or feed him. It is ok but I feel like a slacker. I would go out an do stuff but we are trying to save money and when I go out I always spend money. Rene (Matt's mom) and I decided that I could help her out and make dinner three times a week. She works as a vice principle and does not get home until after six most nights. It gives me a chance cook new things. I have really been enjoying it thus far.

Fireworks

2010-01-03T20:09:00.007-07:00

The holidays were great!! Matt and I had a great Christmas break in Arizona. We spent the holiday riding four-wheelers and shopping. Havasu is so pretty and I can not wait to go back. The whole city is a big playground. If we wanted we could have rode the four-wheelers all around town. There is no grass, just dirt everywhere. The town also has the old London Bridge. It is pretty neat because they actually moved it from London to Arizona. I guess it was sinking and the Brits were going to tear it down so some rich guy bought it and had it sent to Havasu.

Matt was so sweet and bought me a Garmin because he knows I am not good at getting around on my own and we did just move to Provo. The baby had a great time too, I think. He is not able to tell me yet. He was very spoiled over the holiday by his grandparents on both sides. He got new clothes and toys.

The New Year was really fun as well. Matt and I invited a high school friend and his wife to come and shoot fireworks off. Matt's brothers are crazy and spent tons of money on all sorts of fireworks. It ended up being a great show. Baby Matt even had a great time. Of course he did not make it until midnight but I think he tried. I was not sure I was going to make it either but since we had company I stayed up. This year is going to be a great one because I will be graduating after this semester and will hopefully find a job. Then, Matt will be able to go to school full time and get done sooner.

On the first we went out to dinner with the whole family. Tiffany (Sister in-law) had her 27th birthday. We ended up going to Texas Roadhouse and as always it was great. They have the best prime rib around.

Holidays

2009-12-23T15:56:00.002-07:00

We are leaving on our holiday adventure today and I am not sure what to expect. Matt does not get work off until 5:30 and I have to get everything ready to go. my parents are meeting us in Provo before we all head down to the lake house. It will be weird not having snow for Christmas. It will be just like it was in Texas when we lived there. This year it will only be My parents, Matt and I, and the Baby. Landon and Rosy are staying in Cody to celebrate the holiday in their cute new home. I will miss seeing Dade and Mia opening their presents. Dade finally understands about Christmas and presents. He even knows who Santa is. Rosy is so cute because she has such a big heart and invited a girl from school to come over during the holiday. She is from the D.R. and can not go home and the college will not let her stay there.

Finishing up 2009

2009-12-14T20:11:00.006-07:00

This year is about over and so much has changed. Matthew and I hit our one year mark and had a child and are the happiest parents ever. Even though he was a surprise, we are happy to have him. Our son was born October 14, 2009. He was 6 lb 13 oz. and 19 inches long. He is the most beautiful baby ever. I may be biased but I took a vote and everyone agreed.

The labor was not as bad as everyone said. I went to the hospital in the morning of the 14th and was only in labor for about 4 hours. I spent three of them pushing but that was because the baby's head could not fit. They used the forceps on him to get him out. Everything turned out great and he was such a healthy and happy baby.

Since the baby we have moved to Provo with our in-laws. We were not expecting baby Matthew and were not financially ready for him. We wanted to wait until I was finished with school but he was one semester early. Luckily, I will be graduating in May with a degree in Journalism.

I have been looking for a job in athletics and have applied for and internship opportunity with several NFL and NBA teams. I have not heard anything yet but I am hoping to hear something soon. Matt is not as excited about it as I am because he can not imagine moving away from the mountains.

Matt is going to school and just recently found a job working at a hospital in Provo. We were worried for a while because he did not have one just days before we moved but God blessed us. Now we are trying to get all of our stuff moved in to our new place. Matt has so much stuff!!!! I do not know how we fit all our stuff into our little two bedroom apartment.

Anyway, we are excited for Christmas and will be spending it in nice warm Arizona. Since Matt started his new job on Wednesday he does not have the whole vacation off. We only have four days but we will make every day count. This will be our first long car trip and vacation with the baby. We will see how it all goes.

Facebook Friends

2009-02-27T10:13:00.004-07:00

Before Facebook, I always thought a friend was a friend but now days people I am not close to can be my friend. Facebook is more of a networking tool than a keep in touch tool. I read an article at www.csmonitor.com/2007/0118/p09s01-coop.htm and it is about the different facebook friends. Who knew there were so many options.

Privacy on the Web

2009-01-26T12:38:00.006-07:00

According to an article written by cnet (newshttp://news.cnet.com), our freedom on the web is limited. Google has the ability to track our internet history through their site. For me I am not too affected by it but I can see how others would be. This article states there are not really any laws to protect us from this.

"Q: Aren't there any privacy laws that protect us?
Not really. There is a federal law called the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. But it was enacted in 1986, long before politicians knew about the Internet, and the wording doesn't prevent police and attorneys from targeting search engines."

Google can track us even if we are not logged in.
What does this mean for a world that relies so heavenly on the internet?

Email Etiquette

2009-01-15T21:41:00.001-07:00

I never realized how important email etiquette is but in this day and age it make sense. E-mail is used for every kind of communication. They can be used as letters to companies, media and many other sources. There is an article at www.emailreplies.com that talks about this issue. There are three reasons they give for the importance of e-mail etiquette: Professionalism, Efficiency and Protection from liability. The article goes on and gives the top 32 rules to follow when sending an e-mail. This article is informative and can help any business or professional know how to use e-mail correctly.

Whittier Community center Proposal Letter

2008-12-02T11:52:00.002-07:00

Justin Hamilton
Café Sabor
600 W. Center St.
Logan, UT 84321
435-752-8088

Dear Justin,

The Whittier Community Center has been a part of Logan, Utah for many years now working very closely with women and children. We would like your help with our latest project called the Adventure Playground. We are building a 100 percent disability-accessible playground. It will be constructed on April 20-25, 2009 and we would like your company to help us build the playground by donating your goods and services.

The people in Logan love Café Sabor. It is one of the most popular restaurants in town. We would like you to sponsor our fundraising and building efforts by donating your food and catering services. We have many volunteers that we need to provide lunch for and we would enjoy it if your restaurant would help us accomplish our goal. We have already contacted other organizations in Logan to donate building supplies, volunteers, and beverages, at the same time we need to be able to feed everyone. This is where we will need your help; we would need approximately 75 burritos per day starting April 20 through April 22, 2009. Firehouse restaurant has generously agreed to provide lunch for our volunteers from April 23 through April 25, 2009.

We believe that this relationship will greatly benefit the Whittier Community Centers efforts and at the same time benefit your company. We will feature your restaurant in our monthly newsletter. We will also put up a sign at the project site that would let everyone know that Café Sabor donated the burritos they are enjoying for lunch. This could be a great marketing tool for your restaurant. It would also benefit us because we believe the promise of Café Sabor for lunch will entice more volunteers to come out and help us with our project. We believe this will turn into a long term relationship in which we both benefit from each other’s contributions.

We would like you to sponsor our fundraising and building efforts by donating your food and catering services. We have many volunteers that we need to provide lunch for and we would enjoy it if your restaurant will help us do that. Because Café Sabor is so well-known and loved throughout Cache Valley, we feel this is the perfect opportunity for your company to help give back by sponsoring such a great cause. We have seen how much of a difference your past contributions have made in the community, and we know your contributions will make a big difference with our project.

As we have previously stated Café Sabor is a great contributor and supporter to the community. By catering for the Adventure Playground project, you will be able to add to your list of charitable events you have sponsored. We are asking for Café Sabor to supply lunch to our volunteers as they work to complete a disability-accessible playground. According to the catering page on your website, your company is able to cater “for that special event at a unique location, let the Cafe Sabor's professional catering team attend to your every need.” Catering of the Adventure Playground will help Café Sabor receive free advertising through news articles and radio announcements about the project. We will also mention your contributions in our monthly newsletter and on the Whittier Community Center’s website.

With the help of your donation, we know our project will be more successful and more appealing to potential volunteers. Your donation will aid us in completing our project on time by attracting members of the community to volunteer. Donating your food and catering services will better your business because we will provide free advertising at the site on the day of the event, on the radio announcements, and flyers around the community. Wherever we advertise the building of the Adventure Playground, we will advertise your business’s contribution. Your donation will also be tax deductable.

The Whittier Community Center is a non-profit organization. Housed in the historic Whittier School (built 1908), the Whittier Center supports local civic, arts, educational, and non-profit organizations by providing space and program support. There are currently over 30 organizations maintaining space or holding regular meetings and classes at the Whittier Center. The Whittier Community Center was established in 1992 with the mission to: (1.) Enhance our community and neighborhood through the venue of a community and neighborhood center, and to (2.) Restore and maintain the historically significant Whittier school building. In celebration of the centennial of the Whittier School, a 100 percent disabled-accessible playground will be built entirely by volunteers at the Whittier Community Center. The design of the playground comes from the imaginative ideas and suggestions of local school children. Leathers and Associates is the project director. They have worked with close to 2,000 communities over the past 35 years.

We need your help to construct the Adventure Playground. We would like you to provide lunch for our volunteers for April 20-22. Your menu advertises a Traditional Burrito at $7.00. The monetary value of providing our volunteers with 75 burritos each day, for three days, totals $1575. We also need seven employees for five hours per day to prepare, set up, serve, and clean up.

We would love you to contribute to our project. We believe that this could be the start of a long-term, beneficial relationship between the Whittier Community Center and Café Sabor. Please contact President Marsha Ralins at 435-753-9008 for more information.

Sincerely,

Marsha Ralins, president
Whittier Community Center
290 North 400 East
Logan, UT 84321

2300 Brent Guy

2008-11-20T11:09:00.004-07:00

Recently at Utah State University the head football coach was terminated. The reason being, the football team had not progressed enough since Coach Guy started working here. So what is next? Does USU have any idea of they will bring in to fill the spot? It is hard to believe that anyone would want to come here. USU is one of the lowest paying football coaching positions in the country. They should not expect much to change in the football program unless they are hoping for a miracle. Not that the team itself is bad but they need good direction. Maybe USU will find someone with a big heart willing to do the work just because they love the game.

It is so hard to believe that USU let Guy go with one game of the season to go. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, they asked him and his staff to stay until the end of the season. That would be a hard situation to deal with, knowing you are fired but yet still have to coach for one or two more weeks. This is what the Athletic director had to say about it, "I thought it was important for the student-athletes that Brent finish out the season," Barnes said. "But the process will now begin. We will begin a national search for a new coach."

Murder in the Canyon 2300

2008-11-13T15:42:00.004-07:00

It was shocking to find out about the suspected murder in Logan Canyon. What could have gone wrong? I am so interested in this story but there is not much about it in the news. I am guessing the police are investigating what went on. They must not know much about what happened.

This is the article from the Herald Journal

By Matthew K. Jensen
Published:
Monday, November 10, 2008 12:57 AM CST
Cache County Sheriff’s officials are investigating a homicide after a local fisherman spotted a body in Logan Canyon just feet from the Logan River.

Search and Rescue teams combed the river and its banks along U.S. Highway 89 east of mile marker 467 looking for evidence that would shed light on how a woman in her mid-30s ended up at the bottom of a steep embankment with a bullet wound to the back of her head.

Sheriff’s officials said Logan resident James Bilskie was looking for a place to fish Saturday when he spotted a body between the road and the river sometime before 3 p.m.

Bilskie told authorities he first suspected the body was a dummy — a leftover prank from Halloween. Walking closer, the man saw the body was real and left the area to notify law enforcement. Reports indicate Bilskie drove to Logan to report the finding, as cellular reception is not available near the crime scene.

Sheriff Lt. Matt Bilodeau, who manned a mobile incident command center at the scene Saturday and Sunday, said the woman had black hair and well-manicured nails but could provide few additional details since the body had begun to deteriorate.

“The body’s been here a while — perhaps a week,” he said. “So there has already been some decomposition.”

Bilodeau said the woman was dressed in regular street clothes and did not appear to have taken part in any outdoor activities.

No vehicle was found near the body and there are no campsites or hiking trails in the vicinity. “There’s nothing around here,” Bilodeau said.

On Sunday morning, Bilodeau said investigators had little reason to suspect suicide. About a dozen Search and Rescue members worked Saturday evening and throughout Sunday to look for evidence near the highway.

The body was transported Saturday evening to a mortuary in Logan and was stored there overnight. Sheriff’s officials then accompanied the body to the Utah State Office of the Medical Examiner in Salt Lake City to be further analyzed.

The identity of the individual is still unknown.

Bilodeau said the victim’s skin is so discolored from exposure that her race couldn’t be determined.

Bilodeau encourages anyone who may have any information about the incident, or who saw or knows of any suspicious activity occurring near the Birch Glenn summer home area, to call 435-994-1400.

2300 PR news week

2008-10-20T13:05:00.003-06:00

It is crazy to see how fast online media is growing. I was reading a study done by PR News/BurrellesLuce Media Measurement and Analysis Survey

"polled more than 600 communications professionals, revealed that nearly 30% of pros spend the most time measuring online media, but only in the context of traditional media outlets' online versions (nytimes.com, cnn.com,etc.)."

It is amazing how far we have come in this world. We went from radio and newspapers to the internet and blogs. From my own experiences this analysis is true. I spend more time online looking at the NY Times over my local paper.

2300 Wrigley's

2008-10-20T12:20:00.003-06:00

It is so ironic to find changes being made to the Wrigley company as I am working on a project for one of my classes dealing with Wrigley. It is a mock advertisement for the company to learn how it is done. This release is exactly what i picture one to be. This personally is not a story i would want to write on but it is a great example of PR in progress.

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Names Dushan Petrovich President

CHICAGO, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company today
named Dushan (Duke) Petrovich as President, effective immediately.
Petrovich has been with Wrigley for more than 30 years and will be
responsible for the company's worldwide strategy, operations and business
performance.

In his new role, Petrovich will continue to work closely with company
Chairman Bill Wrigley, Jr., and both will report to Paul S. Michaels,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Mars, Incorporated. The Wrigley
Company was acquired and became a subsidiary of privately held Mars on
October 6.

A native of the Wrigley Company's hometown of Chicago, Mr. Petrovich
began his career in the Wrigley finance department and later served as Vice
President, Corporate Controller and Vice President, Corporate Treasurer. In
his most recent role as Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative
Officer, Mr. Petrovich has been responsible for many of the company's vital
functions, including global supply chain, global procurement, information
technology, People, Learning and Development (the company's human resources
organization), corporate communications and global real estate. He also has
responsibilities for commercial operations in Latin America.

"Duke has played an important role in the transformation and ongoing
growth of Wrigley throughout the years," said Bill Wrigley, Jr. "He has
served on our Executive Leadership Team for more than 10 years, and has
proven himself to be a strong and visionary leader. Given his experience,
combined with his ability to respect the company's heritage while remaining
focused on our future, Duke is the right leader at the right time for our
company."

Commenting on the appointment, Paul S. Michaels said: "The combination
of Duke's deep-seated understanding of Wrigley's operations, respect among
the company's associates, and financial expertise makes him the ideal
person to connect Wrigley into the Mars organization and build future
growth for the business."

Petrovich is President of the Wrigley Foundation and is a member of the
Board of Trustees of Knox College in Galesburg, Ill. He is also a member of
the City of Chicago's Sister Cities Belgrade Committee.

William D. Perez, who previously served as President and Chief
Executive Officer of Wrigley, will support the company in an advisory
capacity through the end of 2008. "It has been a pleasure to work with Bill
Wrigley, Jr. and the great team of people here at Wrigley to help drive
growth and success for our brands, and I wish the combined organization
nothing but success in the future."

Bill Wrigley, Jr., commented, "Over the last two years, Bill Perez
helped us grow profitably, build brands and improve our discipline and
focus as a public company. We appreciate the important contributions he has
made to our company and our people."

About the Wrigley Company

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company is a recognized leader in confections with a
wide range of product offerings including gum, mints, hard and chewy
candies, lollipops, and chocolate. The Company has operations in more than
40 countries and distributes its world-famous brands in more than 180
countries. Three of these brands - Wrigley's Spearmint(R), Juicy Fruit(R),
and Altoids(R) - have heritages stretching back more than a century. Other
well-loved brands include Doublemint(R), Life Savers(R), Skittles(R), Big
Red(R), Boomer(R), Pim Pom(R), Winterfresh(R), Extra(R), Starburst(R),
Freedent(R), Hubba Bubba(R), Orbit(R), Excel(R), Creme Savers(R), Lucas(R),
Eclipse(R), Airwaves(R), Solano(R), Sugus(R), Lockets(R), P.K. (R), Cool
Air(R) and 5(TM). Wrigley is headquartered in Chicago, IL and operates as a
subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated, based in McLean, VA. Mars is a
$27-billion, family-owned company that produces some of the world's leading
confectionery, food and petcare products and has growing beverage and
health & nutrition businesses.

2300 AIG Scandal

2008-10-15T18:20:00.002-06:00

I was reading a PR news article written by Diane Schwartz on the AIG scandal. This article peeked my curiosity, so i went to the NY Times and searched about the incident with AIG. The article infuriated me because AIG went out spent part of their bail out money on a fancy retreat to California. I was against the bailout to begin with and this pushed me over the edge. My favorite is this line in the Times,"The chief executive agreed that was improper, and said he would have stopped it if anyone had told him." Are you serious? This is the biggest joke. If the chief executive is so blind as not to know what is proper, i do not think he should be the executive. Just two weeks after the bailout AIG spent $442,000 on a "conference at a fancy California resort." What a waste of money.

Aggies For Africa release 4

2008-10-13T16:49:00.001-06:00

“We go barefoot so they don’t have to,” said Public Relations Chairman Dawnica Lauritzen.

Aggies for Africa also bring in speakers to help raise the awareness of the problems in Africa, such as, John Bul Dau (Lost Boy of Sudan).

AFA is a non-profit group based out of Utah State University. It is completely run by USU students from all majors. The organization is made up of 5 committees to take care of events, public relations, campus affairs, community affairs and advertising.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Public Relations
Raelle Greer
576 East 1000 North
Logan, UT. 84321
raellegreer@gmail.com

-END-

2300 Rio Tinto update

2008-10-13T15:41:00.002-06:00

Rio Tinto seems to be working awfully hard to get their name out there now that the new Real Salt Lake soccer field is named after them. I am almost annoyed by it. Why is their name worth 2 million a year? It is all about advertising and PR. Do what you have to do to make the company look good.

ACORN and McCain 2300

2008-10-13T14:44:00.005-06:00

There is a great PR news wire article on the relationship between McCain and ACORN. We have all heard of this scandal in the news but it is interesting that John McCain used to support them. He was even the keynote speaker at an ACORN sponsored event. Here is part of the article:

MIAMI, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Senator John McCain's
recent attacks on the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now
(ACORN), are puzzling given his historic support for the organization and
its efforts on behalf of immigrant Americans. As recently as February 20,
2006, Senator McCain was the keynote speaker at an ACORN-sponsored
Immigration Rally in Miami, Florida at Miami Dade College - Wolfson Campus.

Bertha Lewis, Chief Organizer of ACORN, said, "It has deeply saddened
us to see Senator McCain abandon his historic support for ACORN and our
efforts to support the goals of low-income Americans. Maybe it is out of
desperation that Senator McCain has forgotten that he was for ACORN before
he was against ACORN; he was for immigration reform before he was against
immigration reform; and he was a maverick before he became erratic. We were
thrilled to partner with him to help reform the outdated immigration laws
Senator McCain and his campaign have recently launched a series of
coordinated attacks on ACORN, the nation's largest community organization
of low- and middle-income families.
in this country, and were pleased to work closely with him on this issue."

Can this hurt McCain's campaign? As we see ACORN is the nations largest organization of low- and middle income families. That is a lot of people to be pissing off.

CVAIA Media Pitch

2008-10-10T15:09:00.002-06:00

Cache Valley Area Investors Association

Subject Line: Financial Independence for Cache Valley

Dear Heather

I thought you might be interested in a new financial association in Logan, Utah, after reading your article "Parenting:troubled economy means serious talks for parents."This is a non-profit organization that is free to anyone who wants to learn how to become financially independent. The association brings in experts to teach members important financial issues. It is a non- threatening environment allowing members to feel comfortable to ask personal financial questions.

Parents and their children (16 and older) can come learn how to spend money wisely. Especially if parents do not know how to talk with their kids about these issues.

Meetings are every other Thursday starting at 7 p.m. and ending at 8:30 p.m. CVAIA holds their meetings in the Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce, located at 160 North Main Street. The next meeting is Thursday, Oct. 17, 2008.

Can we meet Wednesday, Oct, 18, 2008 to talk more about CVAIA?

Please let me know a time that will be good for you.

Thank you,

Raelle Greer
576 E. 1000 North
Logan, UT 84321
307-272-6412
raellegreer@gmail.com

Media Pitch

2008-10-08T22:10:00.006-06:00

CVAIA

Cache Valley Area Investors Association

Subject Line: Financial Independence for Cache Valley

Dear Heather

Just wanted to let you know about a new financial association in Logan, Utah. This is a non-profit organization that is free to anyone who wants to learn how to become financially independent. The association brings in experts to teach its members the important financial issues. It is a non threatening environment allowing members to feel comfortable to ask personal financial questions.

Meetings are every other Thursday starting at 7 p.m. and ending around 8:30 p.m. CVAIA holds their meetings in the Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce, located at 160 North Main Street. The next meeting is Thursday, Oct. 17, 2008.

Can we meet Wednesday, Oct, 18, 2008 to talk more about CVAIA?

Please let me know a time that will be good for you.

Thank you,

Raelle Greer
576 E. 1000 North
Logan, UT 84321
raellegreer@gmail.com

Press Release 4

2008-10-08T21:52:00.001-06:00

NEWS RELEASE
Cause Promotion

Oct. 08, 2008

Aggies for Africa
President Jo Olsen
Utah State University Service Center
aggiesforafrica@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AFRICA AWARENESS

Aggie for Africa (AFA) raises awareness about issues occurring in Africa and participates in fundraising efforts for non-profits such as Shine on Sierra Leone and Invisible Children.

The non-profit group holds a shoe drive every year and donates them to Cameroon Africa for those who can not afford to buy their own shoes. During the shoe drive the club encourages students to go 2 days without any shoes.

“We go barefoot so they don’t have to,” said Public Relations Chairman Dawnica Lauritzen.

Aggies for Africa also bring in speakers to help raise the awareness of the problems in Africa, such as, John Bul Dau (Lost boy of Sudan).

AFA is a non-profit group based out of Utah State University. It is completely run by USU students from all majors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Public Relations
Raelle Greer
576 East 1000 North
Logan, UT. 84321
raellegreer@gmail.com

-END-

2300 PR NEWS BLOG

2008-10-06T14:09:00.004-06:00

The PR news blog post on the 700 billion dollar bail out is an interesting thought. The post pokes fun at the bill and how businesses will spend the money. The author Diane Schwartz brings up the issue of Wall Street stealing money from the education fund, health care, and housing. It kinda makes you think about where the governments priorities are.

2300 U of U humanities building

2008-10-03T13:38:00.001-06:00

I have noticed when news articles talk about Schools and Universities for the most part they are on the side of the school. This is one way to tell this is a PR driven story. It is obvious that the PR rep. for the U gave the info for this story in the Tribune.

2300 Rio Tinto

2008-09-30T15:38:00.003-06:00

How do we know if an article is a PR driven story or a Print Journalists story?
There is an article in The Salt Lake Tribune, Sept. 30, 2008, talking about the new Salt Lake Real soccer team's stadium that illustrates the difference. This article is clearly PR driven. The Sub heading gives it away by saying it "brings credibility." The article is so positive and is really pushing for the cause. There is nothing bad about spending 2 million dollars a year to keep the name on the building.

Financial Independence

2008-09-29T14:06:00.006-06:00

NEWS RELEASE:
CAUSE PROMOTION

Sept. 23, 2008

Cache Valley Area Investors Association
President/Founder Preston Parker
Cache Chamber of Commerce
160 N. Main Street
Logan, UT 84321
cachevaia@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CACHE VALLEY AREA INVESTORS ASSOCIATION IS BRINGING FINANCIAL STABILITY TO THE COMMUNITY

LOGAN, Utah-Cache Valley Area Investor Association (CVAIA) is helping Cache Valley realize its potential to be financially independent through teaching the community the importance of a passive income.

President/ Founder said, “There are enough jobs in America that you can find a job you love. When your passive income (invested) surpasses active income (earned) you don’t worry about going to work to earn money.”

If you quit going to work everyday how long would you last? CVAIA helps answer questions like these.

CVAIA is offering free membership to all who wish to learn how to invest money in the right places; such as investing in self, real estate, and even the stock market.

"There are enough jobs in America that you can find a job you love. When your passive income surpasses active income you do not worry about going to work to earn the money," said Parker.

The non-profit organization, CVAIA, was founded by Preston Parker in July 2007 to help people find true financial independence.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Raelle Greer
576 E. 1000 N.
Logan, UT. 84321
raellegreer@gmail.com

-END-

Cause Promotion

2008-09-23T14:48:00.004-06:00

NEWS RELEASE
CAUSE PROMOTION

Sept. 23, 2008

Cache Valley Area Investors Association (CVAIA)
President/Founder Preston Parker
Cache Chamber of Commerce
160 N. Main Street
Logan, UT 84321
cachevaia@gmail.com

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CVAIA IS BRINGING FINANCIAL STABILITY TO THE COMMUNITY

CVAIA is helping Cache Valley realize its potential to be financially independent through teaching the community the importance of a passive income.

CVAIA is offering free membership to all who wish to learn how to invest money in the right places.

"There are enough jobs in America that you can find a job you love. When your passive income surpasses active income you do not worry about going to work to earn the money," said Parker.

-END-

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Raelle Greer
576 E. 1000 N.
Logan, UT. 84321
raellegreer@gmail.com

Burger Planet 2

2008-09-22T16:20:00.005-06:00

NEWS RELEASE

Sept. 17, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

James E. Muellenbach III, CEO
Burger Planet
123 Healthy Way
Gary, IN 46401
877-765-4321
james@burgerplanet.com
burgerplanet.com

JAYNE PETERSEN SPEAKS FOR BURGER PLANET

Famous fitness guru, Jayne Petersen, is joining the Burger Planet team May 12 to help endorse a new healthier Burger Planet menu.

Jayne Petersen will work with Burger Planet chefs to make sure new offerings are as healthy as possible. She is also developing new tray liners that will offer nutritional advice. And she is developing a new adult Burger Planet Smiley Meal that will include an ankle weight, fruit packages, and a white meat Chicken entree.

Burger Planet is not changing everything. It is still offering its old items, they are just adding new healthy items for more diverse menu.

"Burger Planet has been a leader in the Quick Service Restaurant industry in offering healthy menu choices. The company believes in encouraging customers to live healthier, active lifestyles and I have spent my life trying to teach women that lesson," said Jayne Petersen.

Burger Planet's Corny(Burger Planet mascot) will be pairing with fitness guru Jayne Petersen in advertisements and health-conscious appearances at restaurants and shopping malls around the country.

Scheduled events:

May 12 - Kick-off ceremony at the Burger Planet franchise located in Times Square in New York, New York.

May 14 - Petersen appears in a new television commercial showcasing the low-carb entrees added to the Burger Planet menu. She will be featured with Corny the Clown in an advertisement that shows them jogging into a Burger Planet franchise and ordering one of the low-carb entrees.

Month of June - Promotional appearances with Corny the Clown at 12 Burger Planets around the country that will focus on providing nutritional packets and advice to consumers.

Month of July - Promotional appearances with Corny the Clown at 7 shopping malls around the country that will focus on providing nutritional packets and advice to consumers. The first mall appearance will be at the Mall of America in Minnesota.

This change in Burger Planets's menu is due to the demand from consumers. CEO James E. Muellenbach III said,” The Company has succeeded because it puts customers first. We listen to our customers.”

-END-

For more information contact:

Raelle Greer
Assistant Public Relations Account Executive
Burger Planet
Office: 435-555-5656
Fax: 435-555-6565
E-mail- raellegreer@gmail.com

Burger Planet

2008-09-17T16:56:00.010-06:00

NEWS RELEASE

Sept. 17, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

James E. Muellenbach III, CEO
Burger Planet
123 Healthy Way
Gary, IN 46401
877-765-4321
james@burgerplanet.com
burgerplanet.com

JAYNE PETERSEN SPEAKS FOR BURGER PLANET

Famous fitness guru, Jayne Petersen, is joining the Burger Planet team May 12 to help endorse the new healthier Burger Planet.

Jayne Petersen will work with Burger Planet chefs to make sure that new offerings are as healthy as possible. She is also developing new tray liners that will offer nutritional advice. And she is developing a new adult Burger Planet Smiley Meal that will include an ankle weight, fruit packages, and a white meat Chicken entree.

"Burger Planet has been a leader in the Quick Service Restaurant industry in offering healthy menu choices. The company believes in encouraging customers to live healthier, active lifestyles and I have spent my life trying to teach women that lesson," said Jayne Petersen.

Burger Planet's Corny(Burger Planet mascot) will be pairing with fitness guru Jayne Petersen in advertisements and health-conscious appearances at restaurants and shopping malls around the country.

Scheduled events:

May 12 - Kick-off ceremony at the Burger Planet franchise located in Times Square in New York, New York.

May 14 - Petersen appears in a new television commercial showcasing the low-carb entrees added to the Burger Planet menu. She will be featured with Corny the Clown in an advertisement that shows them jogging into a Burger Planet franchise and ordering one of the low-carb entrees.

Month of June - Promotional appearances with Corny the Clown at 12 Burger Planets around the country that will focus on providing nutritional packets and advice to consumers.

Month of July - Promotional appearances with Corny the Clown at 7 shopping malls around the country that will focus on providing nutritional packets and advice to consumers. The first mall appearance will be at the Mall of America in Minnesota.

This change in Burger Planets's menu is due to the demand from consumers. CEO James E. Muellenbach III said,” The Company has succeeded because it put customers first. We listen to our customers.”

-END-

For more information contact:

Raelle Greer
Assistant Public Relations Account Executive
Burger Planet
Office: 435-555-5656
Fax: 435-555-6565
E-mail- raellegreer@gmail.com

ABC Real Estate LLC

2008-09-07T15:47:00.001-06:00

NEWS RELEASE
September 5, 2008

ABC Real Estate LLC
123 Creative Way
Logan, UT 84341
President Preston Parker
801-555-4567

For Immediately Release

ABC Real Estate, LLC Opens in Logan
Investors Wanted

Logan, UT- ABC Real Estate LLC. is the new up and coming in real estate. ABC Real Estate makes buying a home easy with the equity-holding beneficiary-directed land trust program. This program helps first time home buyers, with limited assets, build credit.

“It’s a way of investing with an ownership mentality,” said President of ABC Real Estate, LLC, Preston Parker.

ABC Real Estate, LLC is a state-wide company looking for new investors to help the real estate market turn around.

-END-

For more information contact:

Raelle Cunningham
123 Creative Way
Logan, UT 84321
801-555-4567

ABC Real Estate, LLC

2008-09-05T13:38:00.003-06:00

News Release
September 5, 2008

ABC Real Estate, LLC
123 Creative Way
Logan, UT 84341
President Preston Parker
801-555-4567

For Immediately Release

ABC Real Estate, LLC Opens in Logan
Investors Wanted

Logan, UT- ABC Real Estate, LLC is the new up and coming in real estate. ABC Real Estate makes buying a home easy with the equity-holding beneficiary-directed land trust program. This program helps first time home buyers, with limited assets, build credit.

“It’s a way of investing with an ownership mentality,” said President of ABC Real Estate, LLC, Preston Parker.

ABC Real Estate, LLC is a state-wide company looking for new investors to help the real estate market turn around.

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For more information contact:

Raelle Cunningham
123 Creative Way
Logan, UT 84321
801-555-4567

Public Relations

2008-09-01T21:50:00.006-06:00

Dear Melanie-

I want to thank you for your inquiry regarding public relations. The field of public relations is diverse--it is much more than just advertising or marketing. All corporations, organizations and small businesses can benefit from public relations whether it be promoting a client or resolving a conflict. According to “Public Relations: The Profession and the Practice, Second Edition,” public relations can include “research, counseling/advising, government affairs, media relations, public affairs, marketing communication”, and much more.

The Public Relations Society of America summarizes what public relations encompass as follows:

· “Anticipating, analyzing and interpreting public opinion, attitudes, and issues that might impact, for good or ill, the operations and plans of the organization.

· Counseling management at all levels in the organization with regard to policy decisions, courses of action, and

· communication, taking into account their public ramifications and the organization’s social or citizenship responsibilities.

· Researching, conducting, and evaluating, on a continuing basis, programs of action and communication to achieve

· the informed public understanding necessary to the success of an organization’s aims. These may include marketing,

· financial, fund raising, employee, community or government relations, and other programs.

· Planning and implementing the organization’s efforts to influence or change public policy.

· Setting objectives, planning, budgeting, recruiting and training staff, developing facilities — in short, managing the resources needed to perform all of the above.

· Examples of the knowledge that may be required in the professional practice of public relations include communication arts, psychology, social psychology, sociology, political science, economics, and the principles of management and ethics. Technical knowledge and skills are required for opinion research, public-issues analysis, media relations, direct mail, institutional advertising, publications, film/video productions, special events, speeches, and presentations.”

A good public relations representative must have outstanding people skills and be able to communicate well with the media and others. It is important for a PR representative to have good relationships with all media and know how to control a situation, whether good or bad. There are instances when miscommunication or misconception will occur and the representative will have to find a solution or know how to handle the situation.

PR is not only about the corporation, but also about the publics that affect the company. The company must to know the needs of the public or publics it deals with. Much of PR deals with research and knowing the clients you represent, and the public's opinion of them.

I hope this helps with your inquiry about the field of public relations. Remember, this is not all that PR includes. As I said before, PR is a diverse field with many different aspects, but this should bring you closer to understanding the wider scope of the profession.

Sincerely,

Raelle Cunningham

Pet Peave

2008-08-27T12:53:00.000-06:00

Dont you hate it when you are sitting at a computer and a person comes and sits next to you, then starts talking in your ear and you are trying to concentrate.