Annoyed.

I'm annoyed at the fact in addition to working 280 hours to complete this internship (as if it isn't enough), I have to submit a written report of my activites each week, write a 3-5 page paper comparing my internship to a particular book, print a new portfolio, update my resume, turn in a resume DVD, and complete an evaluation of my internship.

And this doesn't include the organizational flow chart and station mission statement I already had to turn in.

One thing I will NOT miss about school: endless amounts of pointless busy work.

Or does it transcend to the office, as shown in the cartoon above?

A byline, a byline!

First of all, I must sincerely apologize for the drought on this blog. I fully intend to keep up on it, but things have been busy since my last post.

We first had our family pictures taken by Melanie Lee on Saturday. They turned out amazing! Here's a preview of what she took.

Monday night, I had a dreadful time sleeping, thanks to some newly-developed pain in my right knee. The pain has come and gone since high school, but now I think it's here to stay. And boy did it manifest itself with a vengeance Monday night. By the time 4:45 a.m. rolled around on Tuesday morning, I had a massive headache from the lack of sleep. I did try to straighten my hair for work, but I had to lie down several times due to exhaustion. That's when I decided to give up and call in sick.

So Wednesday was a make-up day for Tuesday. I did my usual hours, but instead of going out with reporters, I decided to stay in and rest my knee. Well, it just so happened that the greatest story ever fell into my lap, so it's a good thing I was stuck in the newsroom that day!

KPHO (and BYU Daily News) has a program called iNews where newsroom personnel type scripts and organize run-downs for the shows. Part of iNews includes a Late Breaking section where we keep all of our breaking news from various police departments, viewer e-mails, police scanners, etc.

One story came from the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office about a Sedona man who was caught pretending to be a justice of the peace and had married several couples while keeping up his charade. Incredible! Part of the release from YCSO mentioned he had a Web site advertising this service. Well, those who know me know I am the Queen of Google. I can literally find anything on the Internet, and I can find things fast. So it didn't take me long to pull up this dude's Myspace page, full of videos of ceremonies he had performed, and his personal page, which advertised him as a justice of the peace, paralegal AND --get this-- personal investigator! A little more digging led me to discover he is a local talk show host for an internet program called Visit Sedona. His mug and name were shamelessly plastered everywhere on the World Wide Web.

Well, with all this information, I was equipped to enterprise a story and earn a byline (i.e., "By: Jenna the Intern"). You can read the finished product here.

Naturally, I was feeling very proud of this accomplishment. But oh, the fun didn't stop there! Pretty soon, CNN (our affiliate) found it and linked it on their Web site. Then, a bunch of national stations picked it up and put it on their sites.

So now, when I Google my name, my articles pop up on news sites in Denver, Kansas City, the Bay area, Detroit and Boston, among other places. I cannot tell you how cool that is.

Nicole (my Web editor) encouraged me to enterprise a story when I started at KPHO, bribing me with a byline if I did. I wanted to, but didn't think I'd have enough time to do the research for a story. Now that I've finally done it, I feel like my passion for journalism has been rejuvenated. So thank you, Nicole, for the boost! You're the best editor an intern could ask for.

Oh, and if you were all wondering, I am getting an MRI on my knee tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Venturing out of the newsroom.

Yesterday was my first rotation outside of the newsroom. I went out with one of the photographers and a reporter to a story in Chandler. It was actually kind of nice (even though I had to follow behind the live truck) because when the day was over, I was already half-way home!

Here's how the story went: Chandler police said a 22-year-old man who was drunk got into an argument with his baby mama and shot at her. She was holding their 7-month-old baby at the time. Luckily, the bullet only grazed the baby's middle finger. The baby is fine; her finger bled, but nothing else happened. The man was, of course, arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault.

So Greg, Jack and I headed out to Chandler to talk to police and try to talk to the victims. When we arrived at the home, no one was there (except for a barking dog). We went across the street to talk to a neighbor, and that's when the family (minus the father) came home.

Of course, they didn't want to talk, but they did answer some questions for us on camera. Baby was fine, mother was fine.

The package ended up being great and even included the 911 call. You can read the print version and view the video here. Greg (the reporter) went live at 5:30 and then I drove home.

The photog also shot a few stand-ups for me. That was fun!

Here are some pictures from the day:


This is what it's like to follow a news van. Good thing they drive slowly.


Here's what they look like on the inside -- lots of monitors and buttons. There's the photog, editing the package. We spent a lot of the day in here. Good thing they have a generator so we could run the A/C, or we may have sweated to death in there and died.



This one, you'll have to click on to see what I'm talking about. That really tall pole with the squiggly cable wrapping around it like a snake, coming out of the live truck? That's the microwave mast which sends the live signal to the receiver. That thing is outrageously tall.

It was a fun but exhausting day. I'm going out again tomorrow, and there's no telling where we'll be.

Oh, if you're ever in downtown Chandler and you get hungry, try Guedo's. It looks like a hole-in-the-wall, but it's delicious. And cheap.

To stay at home, or not to stay at home?

My mom and my three sisters in August 2007, at my baby shower.

Recently, I've been caught up in some chatter over at Baby Makin(g) Machine (an awesome blog--go check it out!) about stay-at-home moms, otherwise known in the online world as SAHM's. This is something I've really been thinking about in recent months with graduation on the horizon.

I'll start by saying I have great admiration and respect for anyone who chooses to forgo a career to be at home with her children. What a blessed opportunity! Not every woman is in a situation where she can be at home. But for the ones who can and do stay home to raise their kids...I applaud you.

My own mother was a SAHM throughout my childhood. It was always such a luxury for me. During the school year, I could call my mom if I got sick at school, and she could pick me up. Or, if I forgot my homework, I could make a simple phone call and she's bring it to me minutes later. When my brother and I had our birthday, she'd often bring treats to share with the class. She also spent a lot of time volunteering at the school.

Then, when we came home, the house was clean and our laundry was done. She'd usually be cooking dinner in the kitchen while my little sisters played. I cannot ever remember coming home to an empty house.

During the summers, my mom would come up with many fun activities for us to do. We'd run in the sprinklers, go swimming, make popsicles, paint with watercolors, play with friends and each other, or go to the library...you name it, we did it. We were rarely bored.

And lest you think she did everything for us, think again. My mom had us folding laundry, doing dishes, vacuuming, changing diapers and making bottles right alongside her. She never missed an opportunity to teach us.

Looking back, I realize how important it was for me to have my mom available. In high school, always vowed I would do the same for my own children.

But, since then, my thinking has changed. I'm about to secure a college degree in a few weeks. And I hate to sound full of myself, but I love my chosen field and I'm good at it. However, it seems there's hardly room (if any) for SAHM's in broadcast journalism.

So, I feel like I'm left with two choices after graduation: stay at home or go to work. I suppose I could do something in between (teach piano lessons from home, freelance from home, work part time), but ultimately, I'm going to have to choose between being at home or being in a newsroom somewhere. And yes, I am still undecided.

I've never been a SAHM. Well, unless you count the two and a half months I spent at home after Bubby was born. I had her in October and started school in January, though, and I've yet to take a break. I really don't know motherhood any differently. I've always had someone babysitting so I can go to school or go to my internship. So, in a way I feel prepared to work at least part time.

So, SAHM's out there...tell me why you do it. What did you have to give up to be at home? Do you wish you could have it differently? What about those of you who work from home or work part-time? I want to hear it all--the good, the bad, and the ugly. And those who are in the same boat as me...which direction are you leaning?

Being a Single Mother.

Jean with her four children (Dill in center)

Dill went away on a river rafting trip this weekend. He left yesterday morning and is expected to be back Saturday night or Sunday. This is the first time he has ever gone on a trip without me in our marriage (I have left him behind a few times, though). I am sure he's having fun, but I really miss him already.

This little outing of his is providing me with a little perspective. Yesterday, I got a taste of what it would be like to be a single, working mom. And I am starting to realize how grateful I am for Dill.

I worked my usual 10-hour shift, followed by the hour-long drive to my mom's house to pick up Bubby (sans scary photo radar flashes). By the time Bubby and I got home, we were both exhausted. Normally, on Thursday nights, Dill bathes the baby and gives me time to catch up on my blogs and stuff. But since he wasn't here, I bathed Bubby, brushed her teeth, read her a book and then tucked her in for the night. She went to bed without a peep. Lucky me!

Dill is a fantastic husband for many reasons, and the #1 reason is for waking up with Bubs every morning since she started formula-feeding at 6 weeks. Yep, he lets me sleep in and wakes up whenever she gets up, which is usually between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. He feeds her breakfast -- a bowl of oatmeal -- changes her diaper and puts Sesame Street on while he eats and gets ready. I wake up at 8:15, just has he's leaving for work. I have no idea how I got so lucky. But it's pretty much wonderful.

So, this morning was killer. I started hearing Bubby making noises at 6:30. Nooooooo. I was really enjoying having the whole bed to myself. I figured I'd let her make noises until 7:00 or until she started bawling hysterically, whichever came first.

6:45 rolled around, and I decided Bubby's incessant shouting was reason enough to abandon my fluffy, warm bed. I made her a bowl of oatmeal, changed her diaper, and now she's watching Elmo while I blog.

I cannot imagine being a single mom. The last 12 hours have NOT been hard, by any means. Really, if every day was like today, I would be fine. I'd be lonely, but I'd survive. But Dill and I share the workload pretty evenly around here. I don't think I could handle it all by myself. And that's just with one kid and a peuny apartment.

Dill's parents had four children together. Just weeks before the last one was to be born, Dillon's father died unexpectedly from a sinus infection (the infection spread throughout his body and killed him). That last baby was Dill.

Dill's mother, Jean, raised those four kids by herself for quite some time before she remarried (she died in a car accident when Dillon was 6 years old*). I can't imagine it, finding yourself husbandless with four children under the age of 7, including a newborn! If my husband died, I would barely be able to take care of myself, let alone four completely dependant children. I don't know how she did it, but she laments how difficult it was in her journals. It breaks my heart to read her experiences of surviving motherhood without her husband. She had a lot of help from family and friends. But ultimately, the burden of raising those kids fell on her shoulders.

I always think about how it would be if I were suddenly the sole provider of my family. Initially, this was the primary reason I went to college. Now I see how a college degree is much more than a trampoline to fall back on. But certainly, if my husband became incapacitated and couldn't work, I'd have to assume the responsibility. A scary thought, indeed, but one I feel like I am prepared for.

Would you feel prepared to take care of your family alone?

*In case you were wondering, Dill is not still an orphan. He and his siblings were adopted and raised by his uncle (father's brother) and aunt.

Smile! You're on Photo Radar!

Last week, I was moseying my way down I-17 after work. Traffic on I-17 at 4:45 p.m. usually fluctuates wildly; at one moment, you'll be going 55-60 miles per hour, and the next, you'll be stopped. This day, it was flowing about as smooth as poo out of a goose.

I was cruising right along at 65 mph when a yellow sign popped out at me: "Photo Enforcement: 300 Feet." I looked at my spedometer and lucky me! I was going 66 miles per hour. Since the speed limit on most freeways is 65 mph, I figured I was in the clear. I passed the camera. Bright flash.

"Cheese!"

Disbelief. My heart began to race. All the cars around me were going just as fast as I was. It couldn't have been me. COULDN'T HAVE. I searched frantically for a speed limit sign, but none were to be found. The next one I saw was about a mile away. It said "SPEED LIMIT: 65 MPH." Phew. I continued to rock out to Rihanna and forgot about the whole thing.

Fast forward to today. Dillon comes home from work and hands me a lovely envelope. Oh...no.

That's right. A photo radar ticket. I'd been flashed.

It was the exact location I had remembered before -- I-17 southbound, milepost 195. 4:54 p.m. My approximate speed -- 65 mph, just as I had recalled.

Posted speed: 55 mph.

REALLY???

And there below it all was my face, concentrating on the road. And next to it, my license plate.

The cost of this violation: $181.50.

At first, I was furious. I wanted to shred the thing and never look back. Then, I wanted to invest in a baseball bat and inflict my wrath upon those unsuspecting Satan machines. Then, I wanted to cry. I went through an array of emotions. But one thing I knew: if an officer had been there instead of a camera, I would probably not have been pulled over.

I do not doubt I was going 11 over the speed limit. However, I wasn't alone. The cars around me were going at least 9 or 10 mph over the limit. Plus, I wasn't aware of the speed limit on that section of the freeway. I honestly believed it was 65, since that's the speed limit on 90% of the freeways here. And since that was the first number I saw after the "flash". I do believe I fell victim to a speed trap.

But my real gripe lies with the cameras.

Everyone I know (with the exception of one person who shall remain nameless) HATES the photo radar cameras. And now, I know why.

When you get a ticket from a photo enforcement device (as opposed to a ticket given by an officer), you do not get a chance to plead your case. The ticket states you must pay the fine or contest your responsibility in a court of law. You cannot dismiss the ticket by going to traffic school. You must respond by paying the full sanction and the surcharge, contest responsibility, or indicate you are not the driver in the picture. Otherwise, they file a complaint against you. That means more money, which is exactly what they want.

Basically, what this means is, you are GUILTY until you prove your innocence. Sounds backwards, huh? That's because you learned differently in 7th grade American History class. Photo radar tickets directly contradict the Constitution, which states everyone is "innocent until proven guilty". Yeah, I can go to court and defend myself. But guess what? If they don't believe me (which is most likely), I still have to pay the ticket, an additional $25-30 fine, and the violation goes on my permanent driving record. What ever happened to "due process" and a fair trial?

Speed cameras do not curb roadway dangers. If the states wants to stop speeding, they have to get to the root of the problem, no? Turn the patrol lights on, pull over the speeding vehicles. That's how you make the roadways safer -- by removing the dangerous drivers.

Speed cameras are simply a money-making measure. If you fork over the cash, the ticket will go away. And many people do. Where does your money go? To the great state of Arizona . . . and to PhotoNotice, the company that manufactures and operates the cameras. Yep.

The photo radar issue is one of the hottest in this state. Everyone is talking about them. I always thought they were annoying at red lights before, but they are truly a distraction on the freeway. When people see the warning signs, their gut reaction is to put on the brakes. This interrupts the natural flow of traffic and, in my experience, causes panic and confusion. I am having a hard time seeing how this is any safer than speeding.

The moral of the story: start investing in baseball bats, residents of Arizona. It's the only reasonable solution to this problem...

...or just hope and pray photo radar will end up on a ballot sometime so we can remove them from the roads for good.

Thoughts?

Pregnancy and work.

It was the end of January 2007 when I found out I was pregnant with Bubby. I had just been accepted into the Broadcast Journalism major and the new semester was beginning. The first few weeks of classes went well; I had a new zest for school, having finally begun my major. I was excited to go full-force into it, knowing graduation was only a few semesters away.

Then came the positive pee-stick:



Followed closely by ruthless vomit-fests.


Bubby was planned. The nausea that was so bad I could only attend class 30% of the time: not planned.

I knew it was coming. Every first-time mom who gets the positive reading on a pregnancy test knows it's inevitable, but we all hope it will somehow pass us by. You hear of varying degrees of nausea -- some say they only felt mildly car-sick for two months, others lament vomiting several times a day until they deliver. And then, there are the rare ones who say, "I never felt sick. I felt GREAT!"

And it takes every ounce of strength you can muster not to go ape on them.

I was one of those "middle-of-the-road" pregnant women with textbook nausea (I refuse to call it "morning sickness", since rarely is it ever limited solely to mornings). I threw up at least once a day, didn't do my hair or make-up for six weeks, and ate only saltines and Goldfish crackers. I got to know my bed and toilet very well. I'm sure my classmates wondered it I was homeless.

You know, there really isn't a problem with this bed- and toilet-ridden lifestyle if you're not working or going to school. Yeah, it still sucks, but it's do-able. You whine and cry about it for 6-10 weeks and then you forget all about it. But, let's face it; most pregnant women can't just lay around all day and mope. You're either in school, working, or taking care of a family. Life goes on, despite the fact you have a geyser of bile about to spew from your face at any moment.

At least at BYU, most professors have already dealt with their share of pregnancy woes and can offer some sympathy. There is no shortage of pregnant women in Mormon society. So when I had to run out of the classroom on occasion, swiping up the trash can on my way out, it wasn't a cause for alarm. Sleeping through class? No biggie.


I squeaked by with a C average that semester; once the sickies subsided, I was able to kick it into high gear and bring my sinking grades back to sea level (or maybe, "C" level, get it?). Despite the fact I only went to class once or twice a week on average, I managed to do as well as any other college slacker.

Time went on and my belly became gigantic. But I continued on into Spring/Summer semester. I carried my camera and tripod up and down "The Hill" (all you former Zoobies know what I'm referring to, that impossible mountain located at the south end of campus) each day, sometimes several times. I waddled proudly. I sang in the choir (even though I had to sit during the concert), finished my core classes and reported for the Daily News twice a week. I survived, and with an A average to boot.

Looking back, I have no idea how.

Now that I'm working, I can't imagine doing this while pregnant. Everyday life is hard enough without adding the rigors of the workplace to the mix. And your boss in the professional, non-BYU world isn't going to care if your lunch is about to become a Jackson Pollock on the floor. You're expected to work just as hard as any non-pregnant person in the office. And it's only fair.

So, how do you do it? Those of you who have lived to tell the tale, how'd you cope?

A little bitty baby.

This evening, I came across a dear friend's blog. She just had a baby in early January and he is darling. I looked at the pictures of her precious newborn, cooing over his gummy smile and squishy face. Then, out of nowhere, a green-eyed monster attempted to burst from my abdomen and eat the computer screen.

Jealousy. It takes over when you least expect it.

Now, why in the world would I be jealous of someone who has a newborn? Hello, Jenna. Don't you remember when you got puked on 3-5 times a day, spent most of your time bouncing in order to silence the screaming, and walked around in a bra-less haze from lack of sleep?

REMEMBER? Remember going days without showering, changing explosive diapers, tiredly lugging around a 20-pound car seat and dissolving into tears when you couldn't find the binky?

Oh, how soon we forget when our eyes fall upon a sweet newborn.



As I begin the downhill stroll of my journey towards college graduation, I can't help think about the NEXT BABY. When do I want to throw out the birth control? Some days, I am tempted to flush it down the drain immediately. Other times, I want my tubes tied.

So basically, I'm undecided.

In the meantime, I will just enjoy new motherhood through the blogs of others.

Wow. That sounds creepy.

Anyway...

To all the new moms out there:

My message is simple. SAVOR IT. One day, you'll be looking at this, wondering how she'll ever learn to hold her own head up, let alone walk:



Then, you'll blink. And when your eyes reopen...



...a little girl will be looking back at you.

I'm installing toothpicks in my eyelids as we speak.