Thoughts on Haiti

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Everyone who knows me knows how much of a news junkie I am. So, you can only imagine that I've been completely glued to the TV watching the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. After watching it for two days straight, I still stayed up until 12:30 last night watching clips on the internet. I just can't get enough of those heart-wrenching stories and pictures.

It is horrific to watch the poor people of Haiti dig themselves out of such a mess, only to uncover their family members and friends who have died from the collapsing buildings, or who have been injured and unable to be cared for because their hospitals no longer exist.

It's times like these that I really miss being a reporter. I watch the reporters covering the amazing and devastating stories of the aftermath, and I crave to be the one finding and telling those incredible stories. I imagine with how many people who have been affected, it wouldn't take but a second to find some pretty miraculous stories to tell.

Reporters are more or less trained to leave their emotions at home, develop thick skin, and not to get emotionally involved in stories, otherwise their jobs would leave them complete emotional wrecks in a matter of minutes, all the time, especially in this day and age. To some reporters it is easy to act like stone when the only stories they cover are devastation after devastation. The stories that are the most tragic are the ones that lead the newscast and make the headlines... the bigger the tragedy, the bigger the headline and the better the ratings. Sadly, a common motto in newsrooms is "If it bleeds, it leads." And soon those nightmarish scenes become just another story and another headline. As a crime reporter my first few years on the job, I never liked covering those types of stories. Most of the bad things that happened seemed so petty. I always craved to tell happy, human interest stories instead. But sadly, those kinds of stories were rarely approved by my producers. They just don't pull in the ratings like misfortune does.

But I guess at the end of the day people are just people. And sometimes, leaving your emotions at home is pretty hard to do, even when you've encountered so many human tragedies. I've seen that happen numerous times as I've watched the coverage of the earthquake aftermath in Haiti. In fact, I was watching FOX News yesterday, as I do everyday at work, and saw this clip. I couldn't stop thinking about it. As much as I wish I could be down there covering stories and helping the people of Haiti, I can't help but think I would have the same reaction, if not more so, as this reporter, Steve Harrigan. Sometimes human emotion gets the best of us, even when we're doing our job. I teared up as I watched his report, his reaction, his emotions no longer concealed, and massive crowds of Haitians mesmerized by a bulldozer digging through piles of rubble containing their loved ones.

Goodbye 2009

SANDY, UT- It was fun while it lasted.... but as the saying goes, "All good things must come to an end." Here's a look back...

Home for the Holidays... FINALLY

SANDY, UT -- My route home for Christmas this year took a few twists and turns.
First, this happened:...Followed by a day of chaos and angry travelers at the airport. Here's the scene about mid-way through one of the longest lines I've ever waited in at any airport ever:
After three hours of waiting in line, my departure time rapidly approaching, and no where near the ticket agents, I finally called Delta's 1-800#... only to be told, that for some reason I had been bumped from my seat and put on stand-by. WHAT?! Can they even do that?! And I wasn't alone. Several people from my church were on the same flight, and they too got bumped... and rescheduled for another day, most on Christmas Eve or later... even though our original flight was scheduled to leave without a hitch. I was livid. I demanded an earlier departure time. The closest and earliest one they could find: 6:45 a.m. out of Richmond. So, I hitched a ride on my very own Polar Express (aka Amtrak) that just happened to be delayed 3 hours. Fun fact: The conductor really yells, "All aboard!" as you board the train. I am such a naive train rider.
And here is the silver lining in all of it. Because I got rerouted to Richmond, I got to hang out with this cute, little guy:


It was hard saying goodbye, but now I am home... safe and sound. Finally. Only three days late. And it is snowing here. I was hoping to have left that nasty white stuff behind in DC.

Whew...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Thank goodness my roommates and I were not home late Friday night when the furnace blew a fuse* and decided to leak CO (Carbon Monoxide) throughout our entire four story house... when on any other Friday night someone would have likely been home, and likely sound asleep.

Thank goodness for good neighbors who alerted us of eerily colored smoke plummeting from our basement.

Thanks goodness emergency responders really do come in an instant when someone dials 911.

And thank goodness for good friends, who you can laugh about all this with later.**

*This is not correct terminology. In actuality, the furnace went awry in some other manner.

**And while it's happening.

Welcome to the World!

RICHMOND, VA-- Our little buddy finally made his entrance into the world! Born at 6:34 p.m. EDT, weighing a whopping 8 lbs and measuring 20 inches long, he is all legs, (just like a Candrian). His mom and dad couldn't be happier! Moral of today's lengthy labor: It doesn't really matter how you come into the world, as long as you get here safe and sound.

Here are some cute pictures of the nameless little guy, and his happy parents, Britt and Brian:

Still Waiting... and by the way, "Say 8!"

RICHMOND, VA-- Yes, I am still in Richmond. I've been at the hospital all day long. Poor Britt and Brian. Mostly poor Britt who has had a really rough day, and for the little guy (still nameless) who will have a very rude awakening to the world as he gets yanked out of Britt just moments from now. Yep, she's having a c-section. Going the old fashioned route just didn't work this time around.

To pass part of our time today, we enjoyed a little bit of one of our favorite comedians: Brian Regan. I'm sure many of you have heard of the man. He is FUNNY! We even played this particular routine for one of the nurses today, who found it equally as entertaining.



Hopefully in my next post I will have some pictures to share of the newest member of our world. As they say in the news biz... "Don't go away, we'll have more on this incredible developing story moments from now!"

Very Thankful

RICHMOND, VA-- Since November is not quite over yet, I figured it is not too late for an "I am thankful..." blog post. So, here we go.... drum roll please...

I am thankful for so many things, but just to name a few...

• My health. I got the "mother of all colds" a few weeks ago and actually missed a few days of work because it was so bad. However, despite all that it was only my 2nd and 3rd "sick days" I've used all year. (Trust me, I would have much rather been at work). So, generally, you could say I've had a pretty "healthy" year. Knock on wood.
  
• My family. I am sitting in Brittany's living room as I type this. I am the only one here. Kind of weird... I know. Amy and I spent the entire Thanksgiving weekend down here (or over here... up here... whatever direction you're reading this from) in Richmond. It's been a lot of fun sister-bonding time. Brittany and Brian just left for the hospital a few hours ago. No, Britt is not in labor yet (I know, what is taking this little guy so long)! Britt's due date came and went on Friday... so she is going to be induced tomorrow morning! I will most certainly keep you all posted. I'm acting as Brian's backup, so I'll be here until the little guy arrives (name still not determined). Stay tuned.
  
• Good Friends. You know who you are.
• BYU Football. Thanks for beating the U last night! (I can't wait to rub it in at work this week). You made my whole football season!
• And last but not least... Missionaries. Today, Amy and I decided we'd hit up a 9 a.m. ward... it was a few minutes away... but worth it to see one of our favorite missionaries! Elder Jeppesen... you're doing great! (I know, I know, it's probably not legit to just "drop in" to see missionaries that you know (even if he is your cousin, and even if he is serving in your area), but we just felt like we should, and were so glad we did!) I feel like he is one of my little brothers, I just love the kid... (who is clearly not a kid anymore... and taller than me!) His twin brother is serving in Ghana. Amy is trying to conjure up a way to just "drop by" to see him too. My guess... she'll figure out a way.
  

I hope everyone had a happy, healthy, and peaceful Thanksgiving. If you're reading this, it's likely that I am thankful for you in my life... even in just a small, simple way.