Explain a time where you wanted to fall off a cliff...

So the last two days, I've been interviewing for jobs. Why didn't anyone in college tell me about the HR questions that never end? "Tell me a time where you wanted to fall of a cliff and no one came to save you but your meanest coworker and they turned out to be your new friend? What was your next move? Did you tell the whole office about it?"

First of all, how many questions do they expect you to answer at a time? 25 with three anecdotes and four examples. Honestly, do they want you to have diarrhea of the mouth? I think they do. There I was in my power black suit that seemed more like a straightjacket, smiling constantly until my cheeks went numb. I felt like I was back in a wedding line with my eyes glazing over because of the flash. Only this time wasn't a flash of light, it was a flash of terror.

I'm nervous and tense and desperately trying to figure out the job description for the people in front of me. Did this one want impeccable interpersonal skills or a working knowledge of HTML. or inside and outside and upside down sales experience. I just can't remember! I also had to hurry up to the right office on the right floor, speak to the right receptionist about the right interviewer and sit there and wait and get more nervous. AND REPEAT. AND REPEAT. AND REPEAT. I hope my sweaty palms will get me somewhere great...cross your fingers!!

Long time no blog...

I feel so bad about not blogging for awhile. My internship ended in early December, and I started the job search. I knew I wouldn't find a lot in journalism during this time of year, but I applied a few places before Christmas. My holiday was fun, pretty quiet, but enjoyable. After enjoying my Christmas holidays, I didn't hear any good news with newspapers.

So I started to develop PLAN B...I hate plan B's but I needed one. I considered the coaching/teaching option in December and decided to try it out in January. I started coaching a 12-under club volleyball team and subbing at Cleburne Independent School District before my apartment lease ended in Lewisville. The time was critical for a decision about what to do, where to live, blah, blah, blah...

After a lot of thought I decided to stay in Lewisville and move in with a friend named Katie in my ward. It's been going great! I've been doing some temporary jobs, which have been paying the bills and a little bit enjoyable. I just had four job interviews in two days...I'm beat!!

Friday Night Lights

Oh the life of an intern, not the romantic view you're thinking about, believe me. The Dallas Morning News is keeping me busy, running from football field to volleyball court and back again every day, nonstop. I'm turning out content daily with multiple projects in the works. I started with football teams at DISD schools. One word for ya-DANGER! At least I know where in South Oak Cliff not to go at night, jk. I recently was put on the entire volleyball beat with roundups, notebooks, rankings, player of the weeks, stats, whiny coaches, flaky coaches and ditzy coaches (quite the trifecta) and everything else that comes with the package.

Football is my newest language. I wish I took a few more classes in high school and college because sometimes I feel lost. That's where Dad and Drew and I have fun though, analyzing why the Flexbone offense is better than the Spread offense and why defensive ends can't play safety. I'm in charge of the Garland schools for football along with Dallas Skyline and Bryan Adams.

It's pretty fun, but I'm still unsure what the recent buyouts and consolidations at the Morning News will mean for me. I hope to stay but have no idea what their needs are. I'm just trying to work my tailend off and have no regrets. I still make time to run at a nice family-friendly park in Coppell and treat myself with a new CD or DVD every once in awhile. I'm surviving and loving the cooler weather here! I also got a spiffy new hair cut, so watch out!!!

Coming back to Texas

Driving back to the Lone Star State took a while but it was worth it! I was excited to get things set up here. Julie and I got an apartment in Lewisville, Texas, with a sweet girl named Kristy Dodge, who goes to Church with us. We had to make many trips up to the third floor when we moved in, but we had some help and did it pretty quickly. Slowly, we got more and more furniture and set up our utilities. Best of all, we made tons of friends in our Church branch and have had a lot of fun hanging out with them.

Julie and I also got dates to the Tim McGraw and Faith Hill concert. It was an awesome show and a fun night. We've also gone swimming a lot to survive the Texas heat. Things are going well now. We both got callings and were asked to speak in Church. I am the new activities chairperson and Julie is a Sunday School teacher. We're excited about becoming more involved in the branch.

I've also had time to spend time in Cleburne working basketball andolleyball camps, which was fun. The only drawback was that after two weeks of running drills and coaching, I sat up in bed twice calling out "Go over there" and "We need to switch them out." I figured that coaching was not the best career path for me as it disrupts roommates and my sleeping habits. I also have spent time with my parents and Drew, Lindsey and little Dallin, who just celebrated his first birthday. He's a very funny guy!

Airports

Coming home from NYC was an adventure to say the least. I was in eight airports in like 11 days. Crazy you may think but just all in a day's work as a hurricane! Try and keep up with the airport count if you dare.

(June 21) Hurried to come back home, I went to the wrong airport on the morning of my flight in NYC. (2 airports) I still can't recall which one was correct and finally got in to Minnesota to see my brother Matt, Kristin and little Andrew, Caleb and Isaac (3 airports). We had tons of fun at the Mall of America, the pool, zoo, parks and on the slip and slide of course. The three little rascals were hilarious that I should have carried around a tape recorder to get all of their funny quotes down. I was off journalist duty but they had some great sound bytes!

Then I flew to Texas from Minnesota with Kristin and the three wild boys (5 airports). We went swimming and shopping, two of my favorite summer activities. I was the Cleburne Primary Swim Day lifeguard too. We dropped Kristin and the boys off a few days later and also took Drew and Lindsey and Dallin to the airport (7 airport visits) and had an interview with the Dallas Morning News sports staff, which went very well since they offered me an internship two days later. Finally, some plans in my life. I'm staying in the Lone Star State after all!

One glitch in the ointment though. All of my stuff and car was in Utah, so on July 2 I was on a plane back to Salt Lake and Provo to round up all my stuff (9 airports). I said goodbye to friends and family in Utah and started on a two-day trek with Julie and her grandpa, another hurricane of an adventure! To be continued...

Last day at a tabloid

Today is my last day at a tabloid. My scandalous days are over according to BYU, jk. I just finished a two-month internship at the New York Daily News. It's been a blast, and I've learned a lot about reporting, news values and the great city of New York City. I have a few blooming options for my future in sports journalism, but nothing certain. I'll keep ya posted on all of that!

Here is by far the coolest thing you've ever seen, a blog about a Hurricane that meteorologists have never called Ang. I hear that chance is one in a billion, but ya know, here I am and all my random thoughts and wonderful life adventures. Don't hate me because I'm out of control!