November 2011
2 posts
Coffee Shop Blues...
It’s 10:30 on a snowy Saturday morning, I’m sitting here in the Beans & Brews Coffeehouse while I wait for the tire shop to put on my snow tires. I’m sitting here enjoying a warm beverage and some time to myself.
The moment would be ideal if not for the nagging thought that the list of people in my life who are willing to “be there for me, unconditionally”...
“Soup…? It’s only 9:30.”
– Sarah Griener (Regarding Jon Howard’s breakfast choice)
October 2011
33 posts
Practice
I spent the last two days feeling more stressed out than I should have. An accumulation of small problems and moderate needs seemed to compound leaving me less composed than I would have liked. While the issues I was dealing with were not directly my own, I felt compelled to resolve them in an effort to assist my friends.
Hindsight provides clarity to examine the situation and pinpoint the...
“Where’s my super suit?”
– Abigail Sanders (Quoting “The Incredibles”
I Go To The Field
(Taken from http://thethinksithinks.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-got-to-field.html?showComment=1319694619370#c4125549042647345078 )
Today is one of those days where I walk into the library, knowing that I’m not going to be leaving this place till it closes at midnight.
To be honest I really don’t mind days like this.
I think there is something to be said about the fact that...
Thank You...
It’s been a busy morning, filled with running errands and fighting for parking. I received an e-mail this morning that indicated there was a rapidly approaching deadline for one of my errands.
In preparation for an upcoming PRSSA event I needed to purchase a few restaurant gift cards as “Thank You’s” for our presenters. The only problem is that the school issued credit...
“Brett once ate a puzzle piece and the man in the yellow hat had to take him to...”
– Marshall Sanders (During a conversation about Brett Chambers & his love of adventure)
Gratitude
The mentality behind gratitude is that you place more value on what you have than on what you don’t. As a college student with a family and a mortgage its easy to get caught up thinking about the things I don’t have, or the things I wish I had, or even the security that would come from a surplus. Thoughts like that however quickly lead to stress and anxiety.
Serenity comes from...
“Are you sure you don’t want me to install it for you?”
– Refrigerator Deliveryman (After we declined letting him plug it in)
Those cold and timid souls...
We brought a group of 17 students to the PRSSA National Conference all the way from Utah Valley University. During the conference we had the chance to listen to amazing presenters, and to network with peers and future colleagues. An unintended fringe benefit was the unofficial study of small group dynamics that took place during our week-long visit to Orlando.
Frequently the need to make...
Distance...
It’s one thing missing you from the other side of the country where the logistics of a quick visit are impractical. It’s another to be within a few miles but separated by responsibility.
“Home is wherever I’m with you…”
– Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Asking the hard questions
During my freshman year of high school as an eager young student interested in computers, technology, and the internet I developed an interesting quirk. I sought out any and all website URL’s that I could find. Whenever I would find an address I would write it down in a notebook that I carried around. I would search through computer magazines and spam e-mail messages, the content of the...
Honesty from a 3 year old
Lanette Sanders: Abigail, why is Jude crying?
Abigail Sanders: I hit him...
“Marshallito!!!!”
– Henry Cervera (Every few minutes during the 2011 PRSSA National Conference)
“I hate you…”
– Laurie Neff (After Cori Fox gloated about having two quotes on my blog)
Weird
Marshall Sanders: That was weird
Cori Fox: Thats ok, weird stands out
Marshall Sanders: ...Cori Fox, Stands out
(Conversation at the Waffle House)
PRSSA National Conference Day 5
The conference officially came to a close this morning with a farewell breakfast and closing remarks. It really is a bummer having tis experience come to an end.
As far as the Orlando experience went for the UVU crew, I played the part of chauffeur. I took a group of students over to Universal Studios in the morning and then another group closer to noon. I helped Henry Cervera chase after a...
“Henry bamboozled me…”
– Bryan Welch (After Henry Cervera convinced Bryan he had to go on a wild goose chase with us.)
“It was like the night before Christmas…”
– Cori Fox (Describing her anticipation for Harry Potter World)
2 a.m. search for free wifi at the iHop...
Nick Hansen: Hi can I have the password for the internet
Days Inn Clerk: There is no password sir its free
Nick Hansen: But it's asking for the password
Days Inn Clerk: There is no password
Nick Hansen: It's asking for a password
Days Inn Clerk: It's free in your room
Nick Hansen: Well I walked over to the iHop and it's asking for a password
Days Inn Clerk: Are you staying in our hotel sir?
Nick Hansen: ...Can I have the password
click
PRSSA National Conference Day 4
Our final day of conference started out for me with a career development workshop. Multiple sponsers from graduate schools, PR agencies, and conference/industry sponsors set up tables in an attempt to vie for our attention. While most of those in attendance lined up to nervously ask a few questions and hand their resume off with a wish and a prayer I encouraged those in my chapter to ask the...
“God loves us…”
– Kaiti Pratt & Colin Olson (Regarding how lucky they are to have each other)
“Here is the fact of the age, people believe nothing. They believe everything is...”
– Peggy Noonan (Quoted by Steven Behm at the 2011 PRSSA National Conference)
PRSSA National Conference Day 3
After an extremely wonderful and refreshing night of sleep I began day number three by attending a joint PRSSA, PRSA session featuring Soledad O’Brian and Peter Diamandis. Soledad talked to us about the storytelling aspect of the documentaries she had made (Black in America, Latino in America) and the importance of getting to know our audiences on a human level. She talked to us about...
“Is that the real Tower of Terror?”
– Vanessa Perkins (Referring to a Tower of Terror billboard at the entrance to DisneyWorld)
Regarding my first trip to Disney...
Me: I'm excited to go to DisneyWorld but I'm sad my family isn't here.
Vanessa: Yeah but think of it this way you are just being responsible, you are scouting it out.
Me: Yeah I like that... I'm making sure everything is appropriate. I've got to make sure Mickey keeps his pants on.
PRSSA National Conference Day 2
After a late night filled with concern for lost technology, I began day number two of the conference with a quick stop at the continental breakfast before heading into the opening session. Craig Dezern, Vice President of Global Public Relations for Disney was our keynote.
Dezern talked to us about his experiences doing PR around the world. Even though his title indicated a focus on global PR he...
“Don’t be obnoxious…”
– Diane Jones, President (Regarding Resumes, 2011 PRSSA National Conference)
Reunited and it feels so good
After a semi sleepless night I woke up early to check with the hotel’s lost and found. The wonderful staff renewed my faith in society when they told me my phone had been found.
Life lessons learned as I lamented my lost phone: (my apologies for the alliteration)
1.) If I needed to I could give up my phone, I would miss it… But I could live without it.
2.) I’d rather not...
Missing...
Grateful I can speak Spanish to ask the Hotel staff if they found my missing phone… Sad that they haven’t.
PRSSA National Conference Day 1
Not with a bang, and not really with a whimper either. The 2011 PRSSA National conference kicked off this morning with smaller numbers than would have likely been preferred.
Timothy Howard, an Assistant Professor from California State University addressed us with the topic of “Emotional Intelligence”. He was articulate and charismatic in presenting relevant information lost on too many of my...
“Work harder than others.”
– Mary Henige (Chapter President Leadership Workshop 2011 PRSSA National Conference)
“Be nice to everyone…”
– Timothy Howard (On Emotional Intelligence 2011 PRSSA National Conference)
3 a.m. love letter
With 21 credits and a full time job being away from home is nothing new, but there is something interesting about how distance magnifies feelings of longing. The realization that I am gone for a week on the opposite side of the country hit me as the plane took off. They say it’s easy to give up what you want when there is something you want more. I’m chasing not only what I want,...