Progress Report- 5 Years Later

This morning as I struggled to get out of bed and get ready for a meeting- which shouldn’t have been a struggle since I didn’t have to wake up until 9 am… I had a Timehop notification.

Scrolling through my social media mistakes of the past I saw a Progress report and anniversary post from 2 years ago. I had a bitter sweet smile as I saw what it was. It was a post about an amazing date I had two years ago with a guy I called Major. I took a moment to read the post.

It amazes me how much I used to write on this blog. Though to be honest it was easier to write when I could post without my grandma texting me afterwards with life advice I neither wanted or needed. I have better writing material if I’m allowed to continue in my mistakes uninterrupted. I also was amazed at how much my life has changed. Not just within the 5 years I’ve had this blog but within the past year. Heck, life has been pretty extraordinary within the last 6 months!

5 years ago I thought that not being married would be the end of the world.

3 years ago I was wondering if I had a future in news.

2 years ago I thought I had met someone that was going to be a permanent part of my life.

1 year ago I was constantly questioning if I could make it through grad school, let alone figure out what to do after grad school.

Within the past few months…

I’ve gotten to speak with Warren Buffet and ask him if he needed help paying for lunch.

I got to be part of the media covering President Obama coming to Omaha- and didn’t get arrested by the secret service.

I camped out in a Chick-fil-a parking lot for 30 hours and attained a free year’s worth of food- again!

I have a job once I finish at UNO, at the news station I’ve wanted to be a part of since the day I moved to Omaha.

I work within the Regional Public Affairs for church, and love every aspect of the calling.

Every Thursday night I work at the temple, something I’ve also wanted to do since I moved to Omaha years ago.

My life is not perfect. My life is not easy. My life is nothing short of blessed and spectacular. A lot changes in 5 years. I can’t wait to see what will change within the next 5.

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Texts From My Father Part 15- iPhone Edition

What can be said about my dad that has already not been said? So instead of giving a cute little anecdote about him I’ll get straight to our conversation because that’s what everyone really wants. Plus I have an iPhone and can take screen shots! It’s nice to finally be out of the dinosaur age.

Just trying to brag to my dad that I was hanging out with a radio reporter he is a fan of and suddenly I’m the stalker. If I am one it would only because I learned everything I know about making friends from my dad.

The Hardest Accomplishment

I had to call a friend and cancel plans, but I took the chance to catch up with her. As we talked we brought up writing, and she mentioned an article I wrote for a website.

She said she had been on a website for people who love to knit and there was a thread (pun intended) for Mormons. Someone discussed being afraid to join because of their family and before my friend had a chance another person shared my article.

I was surprised, but then again I shouldn’t have been. When I wrote the article, well, I just knew it was something Heavenly Father needed shared…

It was Christmas break and my friend Blake who co-owns the Millennial Mormons website was complaining about lack of new material for the site because of the busy holidays. I had wanted to write about Mormon women needing to attain higher education, so I volunteered my services. Blake was just desperate enough to take me up on my offer, and I began to write.

As I sat at home trying to write I couldn’t get my piece started. I had the story worked out in my head but it just wasn’t getting out. Then, I had an impression that distinctly said, “You have another story to tell.” I wrestled with the impression for a moment until I realized that I did have a story that needed to be told.

I began to write about what happened when I first became Mormon. A lot of people have heard my story, but not like how I was about to share it. For once I was giving the whole truth from beginning to end. To say there were a few tears shed during the writing process would be an understatement.

As I wrote the article I knew it was going to help people but there could be a downside as well. Sharing my most personal experience and hardship wasn’t easy, especially when I knew some people would not be able to understand why I did the things I did.

But somehow through my fear and concern I wrote everything out. I said a prayer and submitted it to Blake, I was afraid he was going to reject it, but surprisingly he said he liked it. We made a few minor edits and published it just a day before my 24th birthday.

I was surprised by the reaction to my article. I had numerous friends show support and the article was picked up by another prominent Mormon website as well.

It’s been a few months but every once in a while I go back and read the article. I’m still surprised at what I wrote, but then again I really think I had some Heavenly help with the writing.

So here is the article. It was by far the hardest thing I have ever written, but it certainly has become one of my greatest achievements in life.

How to handle family opposition after becoming mormon

Texts From My Father Part 14- Even My Mother Texts

Typically my dad and I text insults back and forth. Other times we share what terrible people we actually are.

Dad: The greatest thing about eating lunch in a crowded, loud cafeteria is to be able to fart anonymously no matter how dreadful the stench.
Me: I usually sit by people who I could easily blame the smell on.
Dad: I have noticed people who are old (Sue & Trish) smell a lot like farts and death.
Me: I am so saving this to show to mom and Aunt Sue.

But don’t worry we carry on our usual insults too.

Dad: I see that Gma Carmen sent me an email saying that she is spending the night at our home. Not quite sure about that. I thought that I was on her “dirtbag” list. Wonder what happened, because I haven’t changed.
Me: No you haven’t changed but apparently her tolerance for dirtbags have.
Dad: Nobody likes u
Me: I’m sorry, can’t hear you dirtbag.

And occasionally my mom joins in. Though to give some background I was with friends and they talked about things family left them after passing away. So I thought it’d be a good idea to ask my mom what I’d get when she passes.

Me: What of your stuff can I have when you die? Just curious.
Mom: What do you want? My used q-tip collection?
Me: Is this Dad?
Mom: No this is actually your mother, I must’ve had a good one!
Me: Okay… But seriously I want the dining room set. Don’t worry I’m in no hurry.
Mom: You will be eating off TV trays for a looooong time!!!!!!!!
Me: Alrighty then

I wonder if other families are as polite and kind as mine is when texting?

Texts From My Father- Part 10 Walking Dead

I think my dad has started to jump on The Walking Dead bandwagon, but just doesn’t want to out right admit it. Though our last text battle does show that he definitely has zombies on the brain.

Dad: I just want to warn you. If we were chased by zombies, I am going to have to trip you.
Me: you’d have to catch up to me first old man.

Things might have escalated a bit much after that…

Dad: I will bring you down like a rabid dog in the street. And I will have a BIG smile on my face.
Me: You will be my first kill.
Me: And I meant that in the most loving way Dad ❤

Then Dad did that thing where he can’t top what I texted so he throws random insults.

Dad: Better bring your umbrellas ladies, hurricane Rick is bringin’ the rain.
Me: I’m sure it will just be a drizzle of slobber. You always had trouble keeping spit in your mouth.

And finally, he reused an old insult. A classic sign that shows he has lost.

Dad: Quiet woman I have no time for your tears

This is also his favorite line from the cartoon show Dexter.

Me: your demise will be the pinnacle of my life.
Dad: nobody likes you anyways.
Me: I win.
Me: Goodnight dad, maybe some sleep will help you sound less pathetic 🙂

And this everybody, is how my father and I stay in touch and show our love. Though in all seriousness I’m sure he would trip me, but only if he absolutely had to.

Want to see the Other ‘Texts From My Father’ then click on the “Reoccurring Problems” tab

To Be A Dad

Despite my need to fill everyone in on my mishaps I feel the need to dedicate this post to my dad.

If you’ve kept up with this blog from the beginning you may know that my dad and I have had a ‘rough patch’ in the past, but even through the years we were distant I learned there were a lot of reasons to admire and respect my dad.

I wonder if he realized as he first held me that a legend had just been born?

Since I can remember there was never a weekend that my dad wasn’t either taking us on a family outing or helping someone in need (and bringing one of us kids with him). I never realized what his example was teaching me to do; he was teaching us the value of family and of service. It drove me crazy for years trying to figure out why I could never let myself have a free weekend, why I always had to stay busy! Until I realized my dad had instilled this in me. Sometimes I feel wearied because I can’t pass up a chance to help someone else (even against my better judgement at times) but then I realize I would rather help too much like my dad than to look back and wish I had served more.

My dad also taught me to see the humor in life. There is no such thing as an embarrassing moment if you know how to laugh at yourself and turn those moments into a good story. My dad even has his own article in the town paper where he posts about his own mishaps and his love of free food (obviously, these habits were inherited by yours truly). If you want to get a better sense, just read my Texts From My Father posts. I think one of my favorite things I have ever been told is that I look like my mom but I talk like my dad.

Lastly, I have to thank my dad for setting an example for what kind of man I should marry someday. When I first started college and began to really date I realized that some guy I dated could wind up marrying me, and I wanted to know how to know he was Mr. Right. I often asked my mom what dad was like when they dated. She told me of how he brought her flowers on their first date, made sure to memorize her favorite candies so he could surprise her. I was even more impressed by how she described my dad’s lifestyle; even though he was a young bachelor in the military he went to church faithfully every week, paid tithing, had clear educational and career goals, and loved to serve other people. Even to this day my dad does all that and more. I sometimes wonder if my dad’s example has set the bar too high for me to ever meet anyone as great lol

Now there are millions of other things I could write about how great my dad is, but I really need to leave some things to post about next year. I know sometimes I may complain or act embarrassed by my dad, but the truth is I feel really blessed to call him dad. Happy Father’s Day!

5 Things I’ve Learned In Broadcasting

This past weekend I shot a story about Omaha’s craft beer week (and yes, it is ironic that a Mormon was doing a story on beer week) and sort of felt like I ran into my past and future self.

While I was trying to shoot my story I met a man who had been a reporter and quit so he could have a family life, and then I met a dad that wanted some info so he could warn his son about the downfalls of the business.

After talking with both these men I started to go through my thought catalogue on everything I’ve learned about broadcast journalism since I started my schooling waaaayyy long ago. I can compress everything I’ve learned into 5 points.

It Ain’t Glamorous
You go in thinking that being a reporter is a career filled with beautiful people and a chance of uncovering a story so big that they’ll make an action movie about you someday. No. No, no, no, no, no. That’s for print journalists. Broadcast journalists must put in long hours, give up a social life, and work for pay that is comparable to a teacher’s salary (no disrespect to teachers, we just all know you are underpaid).

Writing
Nobody realizes how much writing goes into broadcast news when you first get in. You think that you can just carry a camera, or maybe anchors don’t write their own stories. Wrong. You will sweat. You will toil. And you will learn that broadcast journalism writing is a whole different language from what your English class teaches. Can you say, “Subject-verb-object?”

The Social Life
Have you ever noticed that the news doesn’t stop? Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, Memorial day- the news is still going on. While most of America punches the clock at 5 reporters will be hard at work trying to please you (though we never please you, do we). And don’t get me started on how hard it can be to have a family when you’re in news. I can’t begin to tell you how many people I’ve met leave the business so they can have a shot at a family life. Lets just say I can feel my biological clock die as I get deeper into broadcasting.

Thick Skin And No Emotion
When you’re in broadcasting you have to desensitize yourself. You come into work and have to face stories of death, abuse, rape, corruption everyday. You have to distance yourself when you do these stories so they don’t break you, but eventually one will. Sadly I already had a taste of being affected by a story and it had me rethinking my career.

It’s Worth It
Okay so far my points have been a bit of a downer, but there are good points to broadcasting too- lots of them. My dad taught me that every person has a unique story, and I get to share that through broadcasting. Sure it’s grueling work, but when you do a story and you can tell you’ve made a difference or that you’ve made someone indescribably happy, well there just aren’t words to describe how great it makes you feel.

Not to mention you get some pretty cool experiences. I’ve known a reporter hold an Olympic medal and interview a champion, another do correspondence in London, and others get to do things many will only get to see through a television screen.

I wouldn’t be in broadcasting if I didn’t absolutely love it. It isn’t cut out for everyone and who knows if I’ll be in it forever. But for now I can’t imagine going into anything else.

Conversations With My Father

If you read my previous post you know that I had quite the weekend. As if my altercation with a soulless ginger wasn’t enough I had a few interesting “altercations” involving my delightful father, with whom many of you have gotten to know through my infamous Texts from my father posts. The first altercation with my father was me learning what he envisions my future to be like:

Ryan: Oh look we’re passing by the prison, or as Dad likes to call it: Lauren’s future home.
Me: Um what?!

The next “altercation” my dad decided to hit me where it hurt.

Me: So when are Gabby and Scott getting married?
Dad: Before you.

So by now the score was Dad-2 and Me-0… Next one hit even harder

Dad: I did a load of laundry for you Lauren, do you want me to switch it out?
Me: Thanks Dad, this almost makes up for the fact that you called me an Old Maid.
Dad: Oh I did not call you an Old Maid. I just pointed out that everyone is getting married before you are.
Me: I’d get started on that laundry if I were you…

As much as I usually win against him in our text battles I was no match this weekend. The KO punch came when I saw him after getting my ticket and he asked why I couldn’t smile my way out of a ticket this time. He didn’t say it, but I could tell he wanted to say it was because I am an OLD MAID. I don’t know what it is but ever since I turned 22 my dad has been on a huge point-out-Lauren-is-old kick. But you know what, I won’t let it get me down! Besides, before he knows it he will regret every time he called me an Old Maid as I send him to a retirement home in the worst place ever: Iowa.

I hope that die-hard Husker fan enjoys being imprisoned in Hawk Eye territory.

Mixed Luck

There is good luck, bad luck, and then there is mixed luck. What is mixed luck you ask? Mixed luck is when you have good luck that is partially bad luck or vice-versa. This week I’ve been having my own special brand of mixed luck with a dash of awkward fairy tale. Confused yet? Let me explain!

First off I won free play tickets from twitter and I went to pick them up today (though I won them last Friday). Soon as I got the tickets I anxiously opened the envelope to see when they were for. Of course, they were for tonight when I’d be in my night class that I can’t skip… The one time I win something I have to give it away… But wait, there’s more!

This week my dad finally learned how to send a picture message and sent me a pic of something he had found under my bed. The picture was pretty dark so I couldn’t tell what it was. A few days later while clearing out my messages I took another look only to realize it was a picture of a dead, rotting mouse. A dead rotting mouse that had been decomposing underneath my beloved bed… I don’t know what’s more disappointing: my treasured cat whom I let sleep in my room never took care of the rodent or that I feel like this is the closest I’ll ever be to being like The Princess and the Pea… So how is this “mixed” luck? Because my dad finally figured out how to send pictures on his phone- he just happened to use it to send me dead rodent pictures.

Side thought: If a princess being able to feel a pea under a bazillion mattress means royalty then what does not being able to notice a dead mouse underneath my bed mean??? You know what, maybe it’s best we don’t answer that.

And to top off the week of mixed luck I get to co-anchor for our local election program in April! Now this is good news, but I’m freaking out! I didn’t want to anchor, I thought I’d just be a field reporter again! This is going to be a huge honor, but it is going to be a ton of stressful work. For our 2012 election broadcast it ran 4 hours, but there was lots of material and people to help. For our local special most of the content and interviews will have to come from my co-anchor and I. Do you know what weird things I could possibly say?!

The worst part is when I’m anxious or nervous about something I smile. Yes, I smile… It’s weird I know, but I’ve been doing that since I can remember. People think I enjoy public speaking or that I’m always happy but the truth is that smiling sometimes is the same thing as my nervous face. So now whenever I think about anchoring I get an uncomfortable grin across my face. I think it’s a cross between Sheldon and the Joker’s scars.

Yeah good things have been happening, and maybe I’ve been focusing on the down side of things a little much. But you know what, once you learn you slept with a dead rat underneath you you have trouble seeing the light! Maybe when I go home this weekend I’ll be fortunate enough to have a different room to sleep in…

How To Get Your Father Arrested

If you read my posts you know that my family has its own dysfunctional way of showing love. By this I mean that we find insults and pranks as signs of endearments. I think this past weekend I showed the ultimate sign of love when I tried to get my dad arrested.

Saturday my parents were in Lincoln to drop my little brother back off at the dorms. Luckily I didn’t have anything planned for the day so I went down and met up with them. We had lunch with my sister and her family and tried to come off as mature even though some of us hoarded the straws so that we could blow the wrapper at people.

The rest of the day I drove my parents and brother around to get some errands done so he would be ready for classes Monday. Not only was every aspect of my driving abilities brought into question but my dad and brother would corner me wherever we stopped and stuff snow down the back of my shirt. After they did this a few times I knew I had to find a way to put a stop to this tom-foolery.

We were in a crowded parking lot of a grocery store and I could see my dad gathering up the snow, readying for the attack. As he approached me I yelled as loud as possible, “HANDS OFF PEDOPHILE!” I can’t tell you what his reaction was because I ran into the store so it’d look more legitimate.

From what my mom says my dad just got a lot of concerned looks from everyone in the parking lot. It seems I’m going to have to try this a few more times before I can get police to catch on.

After that incident my dad quit with the snow, but my brother decided to try still pester me in a more tactful manner.

Ryan: Hey Lauren, do you have a boyfriend yet?
Me: Um no Ry-guy I don’t…
Ryan: Too bad, I’m going to start calling you O.M. Which is short for “Old Maid.”
Me: Fine Ryan, I’m going to start calling you D.M.
Ryan: What does that mean?
Me: Dead Man.

It was a good time with my family and I found a new way to get my dad to stop acting out, I just now have to figure how to properly get my brother back since he now refers to me as “O.M.” in all his text messages…

minorproblems

I'm awkward and I know it

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