Dreamin'

It has been -

probably the craziest 24 hours of my life.

Lets say hardly any sleep and 24 hours later I am back here in Provo without a husband.

I was covering elections for about 19 hours yesterday.

Honk and wave, following Corroon.  

Setting up shop at Corroon headquarters and FTPing

(yes that does mean something) 

video back to Provo.

Quick lunch grab at Gateway.

Follow Granato at his shop.

Follow Corroon around Labor Union building.

Democrat headquarters arrival.

Sit in the back of the room -

on the floor -

no internet -

no table -

and watch as the big/real newscasters have their huge setups.

Thank the nice Marriott supervisor who got us all of the above.

And made us look like real reporters.

Try to make myself look ok after hours of running around.

Makeup.

B roll.
Tripods.

Questions from the studio.

No audio.

Eye won't stop blinking in standup.

Too tired.

MADNESS.

James arrived at Democratic headquarters and I don't think I have ever been that excited to see him.

Despite the fact that I have been seriously questioning reporting as my career choice -

yesterday I had the news bug again.

It was a rush to say the least.

And it is still kind of buzzing.

I'd never done a live interview before.

And while it didn't air live - to me it was live - 

and it was frightening but exhilarating all in one.

James was the worlds greatest husband.

He did not complain once as he sat and watched me interview, write, and edit.

He sat, 

watched ESPN stats on his phone, 

and gave me great feedback.

And then helped me clean up and pack my stuff out somewhere between 12 and 1 am.

We quickly drove to Nana's house in Cottonwood heights.

She has the cutest little guest house that was all warm and cozy and ready for us.

4 hours of sleep.

Back up at 5:30 am

James had a flight at 7 am into our favorite airport Long Beach.

 

Now it's his big day/week

He has lunch/meet and greet/interviews with some accounting/finance peeps.

I couldn't be more excited for him.

Although it will be very hard to be away from him for just a few days -

I know this trip is going to be fabulous for him and for us.

He's been working and studying harder than I've ever seen him.

And he even cut his hair - 

he calls it his California professional look.

I think he's pretty stinkin cute.

Sometimes I can't believe our life together is actually real.

I love it so much.

I am the biggest fan of married life.

We are both loving dreaming of what our future family will be like.

I am in a big predicament that I think many women in my field face.

I love reporting.

But I don't know if it is worth the lifestyle.

Yesterday morning as I packed up my bag, camera, tripod etc. etc. etc.

and kissed my husband -

who wouldn't be waking up for hours -

goodbye....

I couldn't help but think,

'this would be our lives.'

And in that moment I knew it wasn't worth it.

But then - I caught the bug.

And I questioned it again.

I could make a difference through reporting - 

and that was my intention.

It is a constant tug-o-war in my mind.

Luckily for me,

James is so supportive.

And even more lucky for me,

James is following his own dreams.

He currently is set up for a job with PWC starting next July in Irvine CA.

We aren't 100% sure that is where we will be -

but either way -

I am so proud of him.

I believe in him far more than he believes in himself.

He's going to save the world one day I am certain.

But no matter where we are I am so glad we are still keeping the simple things alive.

When I got home I found this on the stairs.

 

Maybe it's because I am highly emotional right now

or maybe it's because I haven't slept

but I just teared up.

I love my life.

We have a thing with post-its.

James writes EVERYTHING on them.

And I mostly write him love notes and doodle.

Now, I still haven't found any yet.

I am pretty certain this is some sort of trick 

to make me put away the 5 foot mound of clothes on my closet floor...

(drives him nuts)

I am certain they are at the bottom of this.

Now, should I dive in and find them,

or study for my two tests today....

hmm...

Here's to a life full of figuring out what we will be when we grow up...

trying to save the world...

and enjoying the small and simple things like post its.

Good luck James.

The Barker home is awfully lonely without ya.

That is until the girls nights, chick flicks, and nail painting begins.