Behind the Scenes

From Stranger to Friend...

I will always remember my first Friday here in Richmond.  It was 19 months ago.  I walked into work and pitched a story about new driver's licenses being issued at the DMV.  

I was given the okay to work the story and was told my shooter would be Ronnie - a photographer I had never met.

We went to the DMV.  We were strangers.

Three hours later, we returned to the station.  We were friends.

Since then, we have covered A LOT together.

Ronnie did live shots in the pouring rain with me when the DC Sniper was executed.

Ronnie was by my side shooting heartbreaking video following the murder of UVA lacrosse player Yeardley Love.

Ronnie hid with his camera as we had fake panhandlers beg for money during an undercover investigation.  

Ronnie drove three hours with me at 1am to cover an event in Roanoke, stayed in a nasty hotel, then cheerfully drove back home the next morning when the story was canceled.  

Ronnie was in the operating suite as I underwent LASIK eye surgery - knowing that he had to shoot it right the first time because, with this story, there were no re-do's.

Not to brag, but this year I won some journalism awards for stories that aired last year.  

Ronnie shot every single one.

This good man has spent literally HUNDREDS of hours of his own time working on and perfecting dozens of my pieces.  

He has spent literally HUNDREDS of hours listening to me talk about work, girls, being Mormon, running, Utah, s'mores, girls, Idaho, Jamba Juice, girls...everything!  

Truth be told, Ronnie is one of the main reasons I'm dating my incredible girlfriend.  He began encouraging me in September to pursue her...and eight months later I finally listened.

Ronnie has become one of my best friends.

Tomorrow I will say goodbye to him.

He's leaving Richmond.  Monday he begins a new job at a station in Charlotte, North Carolina.  

He is so happy.  I am happy for him.  He deserves this job.  He is super talented and will one day be shooting for a major news network.

I'm grateful I'll still get to see him occasionally.  I'm grateful his beautiful girlfriend is still in Richmond.  I'm grateful he'll be visiting Utah next year for the first time ever.  I'm grateful he'll hook he up with a job at CNN when he gets the offer soon.  I'm grateful he and I will stay friends. 

Most of all, I'm grateful that when I walked into work on a Friday morning 19 months ago, I left with a new friend.

10 days...

In a little over a week, my life will change.  I've been anticipating (and somewhat dreading) this for the past nine months.  I'm a little nervous...a lot excited...and ready.

I'm ready to wake up extra early to avoid the heat.
I'm ready to feel exhausted on Saturday's.
I'm ready to crawl into bed with my eyes closed every night.
I'm ready to endure blisters, sore knees, scrapes, bumps, and bruises.

I'm ready to begin training for the Richmond Marathon!

My shoes are broken in. My i-pod nano is loaded with a mix ready to play. My drawer is full of nasty tasting gels, shots, and bars.  

 
 
 
Here's the plan I'll follow. ------------------->
 
 
I ran the 26.2 mile course last year with my friend Liz and finished in 4 hours and 20 minutes.
This year I will finish in under 4 hours.
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I've run several races before.

 

My good friend Chris and I ran the Teton Dam Half-Marathon in Idaho a few years ago.

 

 

 

 

Last summer I was in New Hampshire for Memorial Day and competed in the Black Fly Blitz.  Such a fun race - and cousin Amy and I even medaled in our age groups!  She's secretly planning to come run Richmond with me.

Two months ago I ran the Filthy Muddy 5K Fun Run in Richmond.  Who wouldn't want to be in a race that involves climbing through a river, jumping across rocks, and ends by jump into a massive vat of mud? 

There's something about pounding the pavement that can be therapeutic.  I've discovered answers to major questions while running down Monument Avenue.  I've thought about important issues and received revelation while struggling up one too many hills.  I've met life-long friends while silently pushing through pain in Idaho potato fields.

So now I'm ready for months of training, sweat, injuries, and emotion. 

It will all be worth it when I cross the finish line that cool, crisp November morning. 

In a little over a week, my life will change.

Will you join me?

And the Rockets' Red Glare...

What better way to launch a blog than with fireworks, freedom, fun, food, and friends?  

That's exactly how I spent my Independence Day weekend.

Let me show you.

Some good friends and I decided to spend the 4th in Washington D.C.  
We leave Richmond Saturday morning...excited and determined to have a weekend we'll never forget!

Erica is kind enough to drive and be our captain.  I'm kind enough to distract her from driving.  Kyle's kind enough to mock me because I think it's cool to wear sunglasses above my mouth and love to shut my eyes while photos are being taken.

We arrive at the very festive and fancy JW Marriott Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue.  These rooms normally cost $1000 PER NIGHT!  But because Sam Waters has amazing hook-ups, he gets us a killer deal...and we get to walk around in swanky bathrobes.

Erica, Caitlin, Kristi, and I spend the afternoon at the White House...

and purchase extremely rare and hard-to-find $2.50 DC T-shirts.

That night some of us visit the Washington DC LDS Temple.  As a Mormon, I go here to worship God, increase my spirituality, and make promises to live a better life.

Following the temple, the search is on for a late night meal.  We pull into a parking lot and are thrilled to see               A CARNIVAL!                   After deciding not to spend $11 on rides, we take photos and Erica and I dance to Spanish music.

We end up eating at Ruby Tuesday...but our stomachs aren't satisfied until we risk our lives getting these:

After ordering $20 of the frozen treats, we head back to the hotel.  We beg, plead, and practically force the girls to leave our room so we can go to bed.  Daniel puts on his shorts, black socks, and suit coat and jumps into bed...letting his snoring constantly remind us that he's sleeping perfectly.

SUNDAY 

we wake up and prepare to attend church in Washington D.C.

After leaving the hotel and walking five minutes, we realize it will take an additional 40 minutes to get to the chapel.  We quickly decide to hold our own church service inside our hotel room...and Elaina takes charge.

We sing, pray, bear testimony, and discuss the gospel.  

A simple, short meeting I will always remember.

From here we join millions of others in celebrating the Fourth of July in the nation's capitol.  We walk several miles in the hot sun and end up on the front lawn of the Capitol.  We wait five hours in 100 degree temperatures for the festivities to begin. 

US WAITING:

Finally, the star-studded show begins.  We know this because girls scream as David Archuleta takes the stage. 

Other entertainers follow...including fellow Mormon and "Midnight Train to Georgia" superstar Gladys Knight.

But no one compares to this.

The moment everyone is waiting for...

R.E.B.A.

The redheaded Queen of Country belts out her classic "Fancy"...then sings "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America" as fireworks erupt over the Washington Monument.

An amazing show that ends too soon.  We try to beat the crowd and rush to the Metro station.  Every single train is jammed packed and thousands of people wait on the platform.  You can see we become very, very comfortable on the 30 minute ride...but I sure don't mind!  

We arrive back in Richmond around 1.30 am.

SUNBURNED...DEHYDRATED...EXHAUSTED...

 GRATEFUL 

for the land of the free and the home of the brave.