WE THANK THEE, O GOD, FOR A PROPHET

Gordon B. Hinckley, prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away last night at age 97. I received the news through several text messages while at work.
President Hinckley was the man! click here to read all the amazing things he accomplished in his many years on this earth. If I could do like 8.9% of all of his accomplishments, I'd be the raddest girl you knew. He was incredible. I was able to attend the Draper Temple groundbreaking ceremony in 2006 with my black girlfriend Michelle, Pres. Hinckley, and the Twelve and it was an experience I'll never forget.

We thank thee, O God, for a Prophet
To guide us in these latter days;
We thank thee for sending the Gospel
To lighten our minds with its rays.

On a side note, if I die soon I want the songs If I Ever Leave This World Alive by Flogging Molly and Baby Blue by George Strait played at my funeral. I also don't want everybody to be sitting around crying. Sure, put up an open mic and everybody can say good things about me...if you can't think of any go ahead and make some up. Then throw in some greased pig wrestling and pizza or something. And put together a slideshow because I have lots of photos from this world, that's for sure.
xoxoxo

SECOND DATES

.......Next few days.......

(Thurs & Fri Jan 24-25, 2008)

I had a date with a bottle of Nyquil and bag of cough drops Thursday. It went so well, I decided to try it again Friday night. But Friday I did rise from my bed and travel to Park City to meet Jimmy Hu at the Filmmaker Lounge (director guy in photo from Day2) to get tickets to a film coming up on Monday. I was also supposed to meet my new friend Sean(from the Broken film Day1) but he called and couldn't make it up. Jimmy took me into the New Frontier Lounge where I was in awe of the technology genious around me. I made a friend at the information desk and Jimmy bought me a hot cup of herbal tea because I sounded like Marge Simpson's sisters Patty & Thelma. He was sick also from "too much partying" and the cold, cold Park City air. So we called it a night. Don't remember much else.

FESTIVALING ON

As mentioned from the Sunday story, Jenny and I scored red carpet tickets from director Al Massad to see his film Recycle, so we headed up to Park City again. I grabbed some cold medicine on the way because I was feeling a little under the weather...nothing bad just a little congested.
We park and walk like 3 blocks to the theater, not realizing there was a shuttle or a parking lot at the local Albertson's grocery store nearby. Don't worry we stopped halfway between the theater and our spot at the local 7-11 to warm up under the hand dryer in the restroom.

HOW ANYONE CAN LIVE IN PARK CITY AND NOT DIE FROM THE FREEZING TEMPS IS A MYSTERY TO ME.




Upon entering the theater we were seated with the director's entourage. Pretty sweet. The film was grand. Go here to read about it. After giving our director friend a hug and high-5, we braved the cold on our walk past our car to Main Street. Good gosh it must have been like 2 degrees F. Jenny and I stalled until Patrice showed up and then we met our 3 friends from Sunday that we met in the Director's Lounge at Irie for some Cajun dinner. Nice boys from Biola University in LA. The conversation was spicy and the food was never dull. After promising maybe a midnight movie this weekend or breakfast before they go back to LA, we girls headed home to Provo...a drive that is becomingly beautifully routine it seems.

DEAL OR NO DEAL

.......End of part 2...Intermission...End of intermission...PART 3........

Day 3 (Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008)
That's right, Jenny, Dane, and I decided to recover from Day 2 of Sundance festivaling by taking Monday off and came back up on Tuesday night with the hopes of getting into a party for the movie The Deal. Only problem was we couldn't make in the door. Our friend Keith Fox tried his best. But, alas, tonight was a bust. All we got was some sticky gum and hot chocolate on Main Street then we headed to Albertson's to drown our sorrows in some gatorade, deli wraps, and gummy worms. Sorry no big stories today.

PARIS HILTON & THE SUNDANCE KIDS

......Part two........
DAY 2 (Sunday, Jan 20, 2008)
After accepting my new calling to the party class at church Jenny, Hannah, and I decided strolling along Main Street would be a great roommate sabbath activity. Little did we know what the night held for us...

We arrived at the Director's Lodge and I suggested we go in. The security was real tight--
security thug: do you have a badge?
me: no
thug: uh...ok go in, I guess
but we managed to make it in just in time for wine and mini hors d'oeuvres (which meant water and raisinettes from a bowl for us Mormon girls). Met a few directors and film students who we will rendezvous with in later blogging.


We leave and continue on our journey up Main running into a crazy space cadet man who interviewed us about buying real estate (www.wellcomemat.com look for us on the site maybe), free cucmber water at an art gallery, an australian with a fuzzy pink shirt and amazing eyes looking for a cheeky drink, chocolate bananas on sticks, a celeb or two, free gorgeous watches, one of our director friends Al Massad who gave us red carpet tickets to his film premiere Recycle on Wednesday...then our friend Dane.



Dane had been waiting with fellow fans for Paris to come out of Fred Segal. I was just interested in warming my hands and feet. So we walked around the Green Room. While I was standing around an outside heater some guys come walking out of a private party saying "Keith Fox is leaving so there is no point in trying to get in to the party anymore folks." I chime in and tell Keith I love him. He responds with a thank you. My friend go inside to use the bathroom and we run into the same gentlemen leaving the party with Keith. I say, "Keith, we meet again. And those are ridiculous gloves you're wearing." He shows them to me and describes how they help him climb things like spiderman... Then one of his friends mentions something about Modesto, CA. How many people know about Modesto?! So I jump into the conversation. Before I know it the guys are walking away and inviting us to go to Erik's party with them. I shrug my shoulders and we pile into a club wagon musical taxi full of christmas lights, glowing lips, a disco ball, and a driver ready to play any song we requested. Later in the night we requested the same musical taxi and discovered there was karaoke and fun masks in there too.


So we play at Erik's and dance up a storm there making new friends, eating pizza, and taking more photos. Thank you Erik.



We leave with our friends to their condo they are renting for $15,000 for 5 days at Deer Valley. Eat some pizza, get ready for the next party, sit by the fire...it's all pretty relaxing.



Dane and I go on a mission to move our cars so they don't get towed at 2am...lame parking enforcement...and make it back as our crew is loading the musical taxi again to head to the Green Door Mansion for a party where we hung with Paris Hilton, grabbed some free designer Chip & pepper denim, played some indoor basketball, rapped with Cisco Adler and danced on the table until 5am because we were snowed in and no taxis could come up to take us home.
Our Hollywood friends blogged about us and posted a picture with Dane and Paris here...hooray for the local Mormons...only sober people at 5am and still partying.
Barely making it back to the condo and to our cars covered in snow we realized there was no way we could make it out until the roads had been plowed. So we stuck around and I borrowed some socks so I could sleep for about an hour and a half before braving the roads back to Provo. Wake me up because I must be dreaming...how in the world did that night ever happen?!
Read up on Dane's version of the night on his blog also.

SUN-DANCING WITH THE STARS

.............PART 1...........

"Just heard about some music festival you have there today on the news. What is this?" What?! I received that text from my friend Wayne in England. How could he possibly have heard about the Sundance Film Festival in Utah all the way in England?! I had to find out more. So I put on my snow boots, wool coat, and hat and packed up the crew to find out how big the Sundance Film Festival really is...PARK CITY HERE WE COME.





FIRST NIGHT (Saturday, Jan 19, 2008)
David Rampton came all the way from Cali to hit the scene. Senses telling me it might be big. Patrice, Jenny Baum, and I meet Dane, Danny Wilson, Katie G, Patrick, Jessica Brothers, and some other girl friend for sushi on Main Street after parking at Deer Valley and shuttling down. OK so parking signs are out...doesn't mean it's big just means it's crowded. After dinner with our lovely waiter Will (who had amazing hair... so amazing I asked permission to touch it), we grabbed some hot chocolate and went to get numbers to wait to buy tickets to see a movie at midnight...that was a mouth full. Met some boys along the way from Estonia, Latvia, and Oregon all in town JUST for the festival. OK learned some phrases from their various native tongue. As we were waiting for the film to start we went inside a mall to stay warm. The power went out on Main. The bets started among the girls to sell our kisses for $1 to strangers (a great way to pay for the $10 movie ticket in my opinion and to meet new people). Final score- deanna: $4.25, a slice of pizza, and a wristband to a party hosted by Quicksilver. Other girls: $0. Looks like deanna wins again. Once we escaped the wait line run by friendly staff Eric and John McNally, we made it in to the theater to see the show The Broken (yes my movie was paid for by the end of the night). Good gosh the only thing scarier than the film we saw were the people on the same row who wouldn't move down 1 seat to allow me to sit with my friends. One seat! And they wouldn't move their legs for me to get by to sit on the other side of them...beasts! However, it proved to be to my advantage because as I walked around the row I made friends with two lovely fellows sitting in front of me who got my digits. There really are people like that out there...

ACROSS MY UNIVERSE

Not sure how I hadn't heard a thing about this film, but 50 cent Tuesday came around and I went with the roommate Danny Wilson to see Across the Universe. At first, I was skeptical wondering if this was like a High School Musical set to Beatles songs. In the middle I was a little confused. By the time it ended, I walked out of the theater in love with this film. It might be because I believe the Beatles were music gurus, because I just returned from London and am smitten by the English accent (Jude is just gorgeous), or maybe because the cinematography was grand...oh and the love story behind it all was super too. Hopefully this show crosses your universe one day.
xoxoxo

POSH TUBING

The new ward sprung for us all to go to Soldier Hollow to go sledding. Now this isn't your average type of sledding...this is choose your tube, hook it on to a pulley and they PULL YOU up the mountain, then you sit down and sled on the man made tracks. Maybe not as adventurous as finding some steep hill and building jumps to go off but hey, we can be posh. Tubing is tubing.
xoxoxo

ROOMMATES ASSEMBLE

New roommates mean new rules. So after a roommate council held at the Chuck A Rama, we transcribed a document, signed it in blood (or red dry erase marker), signed it in ink, and sealed the deal with a chug of the pink catawba straight from the bottle. ROOMMATES ASSEMBLE!
xoxoxo

TWO-OH-OH-EIGHT

Time for a new year and where better to celebrate than LAS VEGAS?! We drove there Monday night, some hit the craps tables while others walked the strip with a video camera, we made new friends, kissed lots of boys, drank some sparkling cider, and hit the pillow at about 5am just to drive back home the next day (after a great buffet in Mesquite, of course).

2007 was full of new friends, new continents, new loves, new jobs, new looks, new rules, new residences, and new knowledge. May 2008 bring the same and more to all who read this...and plenty of new blogs. deanna loves you!
xoxoxo

NOLLAIG SHONA DUIT

...That's how they say it in Irish.
Christmas at the Watson's in the states 2007. It was full of snow, zoo lights, presents, family, far away friends, egg nog, gingerbread houses, city lights, and fun.
xoxoxo

EUROPE, EURDOWN, EUR-BACK

One month later and I'm back in the states from my holiday with Jenny Baum. Europe is amazing but I must say God Bless the USA! Short recap...

IRELAND: Lots of time in the pubs, sausage, castles, trying to go to the American Embassy on Thanksgiving in hopes of a turkey meal but being turned away because it was closed due to the American holiday so we ate Mexican porkchops instead, pineapple juice and redbull, 33 1/3 (said tirty tree and a turd), my face exploding to the size of a soccer ball, Irish family, driving on the wrong side of car and road (hard to shift gears), taxis, Guinness, dirty humor (lifts vs rides), stopping traffic to photograph ourselves walking in the crosswalk at Abbey Road...several times, Grandma & Donald, and hot firefighters on Grafton Street.

LONDON: amazing English accents (I'm smitten), rain, Big Ben, Days Inn hotels, Underground and minding the gap, fish & chips, more rain, 1 pound= $2, tea, theater, meeting our American friend, stealing towels from Buckingham Palace, telephone booths, the Queen, A to Zed books, Bee movie premiere with Jerry Seinfeld, SPICE GIRLS returning, Sherlock Holmes ale, and sneaking photos in the National Gallery.

PARIS: not having a place to sleep in London so we rode the coach for 8 hours through the night spent the day in Paris then slept on the coach the next night, Louvre closed, trying to order food at McDonald's in French (c'est tout ce que j'aime), Notre Dame, baguettes, Eiffel Tower sparkling at night, and Ed Hardy.

SAN FRANCISCO: family in Modesto, visit to Tracy, In N Out, nachos with the fam, jingle dog, 5th grade crush, delivering Christmas gifts to dental offices, TV, real showers, Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39, sourdough bread, Lombard Street, HOJO with breakfast on Deanna but not ON deanna, sea lions, See's Candies, and drive through convenience stores in San Bruno.

WATSON, DEANNA WATSON

Since I'm leaving for Ireland in two days for a whole month and won't be able to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday (what kind of a country doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving?!), I decided to post things I'm thankful for.
These are a few of my favorite things:

xoxoxo

MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

I was able to say goodbye to my sweet grandmother last night before her leaving this earthly experience early this morning.

In a talk by Thomas S. Monson he says, "Frequently death comes as an intruder. It is an enemy that suddenly appears in the midst of life’s feast, putting out its lights and gaiety. Death lays its heavy hand upon those dear to us and at times leaves us baffled and wondering. In certain situations, as in great suffering and illness, death comes as an angel of mercy. But for the most part, we think of it as the enemy of human happiness." (“Now Is the Time,” Liahona, Jan 2002.)

The last time I stopped by to visit with my grandma after work, I sat by her armchair and we talked about the many things she has experienced in her life. I asked her what made her fall in love with my grandpa and she replied, "Just Grandpa!" It was the sweetest answer I think I have ever heard on love. I know she was ready to be reunited with her eternal companion.

I am humbled by the expectancy of death, the uncertainty of life, and the power and love of my Heavenly Father. Sadness comes in the loss of a loved one. But there is gratitude also—gratitude for the assurance I have that life is eternal. Yes, life IS eternal; death is not the end.

Because life is so fragile and death so inevitable, we must make the most of each day. We must say please and thank you, forgive and be willing to be forgiven, forget ourselves while serving others, try and then maybe even try again, we must be willing to swing away when we step up to bat/dance when we hear music playing/love like we have nothing to lose, laugh with others and sometimes at ourselves, and just be the best we can! I've learned time is way too precious to be mad, hold grudges, or wonder what might have been...and I think it causes horrible wrinkles.

Grandma Watson, while I will miss you here on Earth, I know if I live a worthy life, I will see you and Grandpa Watson again. We can hug and sit on a magical armchair in heaven where we can share more life stories with each other. I love you.
xoxoxo

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Carving pumpkins, watching Garfield's Halloween Adventure, going to haunted houses, dressing up, partying in parking lots and Hollywood Houses, spooky family parties...what could make Halloween any better?! Besides candy, candy, candy...
xoxoxo

YARD WORK

Pulling weeds was considered a punishment when I little. It still is...even if your friends are there with you.
So I've always wanted to rake up a pile of leaves and jump in it. I think I waited until too late in the season because this is how big my pile was. Wasn't the softest landing but I can check that one off the list.
Oh yard work, how I loathe thee...

xoxoxo

FULLY INVESTED...FOR AT LEAST ONE GAME

What's better than football? Football in the snow. Oh wait, football in the snow with my brother and friends. NO! Football in the snow, with my brother and friends, using free tickets, and BYU actually wins. Go Cougs! nuff said.
xoxoxo

LIFE'S TOO SHORT TO WORK SO MUCH TOUR 2007: Take 1&2

I set out to Cali on 10/2/07. Hung out with Aunt Linda and cousins in Temecula for a week. Headed to Vegas to drop something off but didn't make it in time so I decided to come back since I was halfway to Utah 10/9/07.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: San Diego temple, Sydney White movie, good Mexican food, feeding animals, riding the rhino with Ed, picking blood oranges, charity event fun, Newport Beach, Bruegger's Bagels, the same 3 CDs, Misty & Jonny, and a text that said "U r awesome but..."

Stayed in Utah for a night. Happy bday party for Dave Iba at Happy Sumo with Lindsey Lohan and a football game. Then off to Cali again with Patrice and Nicole 10/11/07.

TRIP 2 HIGHLIGHTS: great gas stations along the way, Freemont Street experience with Josh and Liz, marathon expo prizes, being in random people's photos, David Rampton/House of Blues/Downtown Disney, Patrice's brother's football game, riding in the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile and handing out weiner whistles, stalker boyfriend, making the Long Beach newspaper, and losing the car for 5 hours then driving home at 1am with the same 3 CDs again 10/14/07.
xoxoxo

WATCH OUT MC HAMMER BCUZ YOU CAN TOUCH THIS

My name is deanna and I'm an addict.

That's right...I'm addicted to 2-for-1 Saturday at the Utah College of Massage Therapy. I've gone 2 weeks in a row now and I wouldn't mind going EVERY week for the REST of my life if the massage therapists are as good as Mike and Kevin were to me. That's right--deanna's ideal date is a 2-for-1 and ice cream (or pasta...thanks Nathan).

I posted this as a note on facebook Thursday, June 7, 2007...but I don't know if anybody reads those notes so I wanted to put it up here:

“It is the magic of a touch, the power of a hug . . . that make life joyful.”

I recently have learned how extremely powerful a touch can be. IKEA offered free 15 minute massages for all employees the first week of it's grand opening and I quickly signed up each morning for my spot. It was wonderful! As I sat there taking the relaxation in, I realized the power of a touch. How could this massage heal my aches and pains giving me energy to be willing to finish my shift? Then it came to me...touch! That's how healing began.

Think about how often Jesus heals by touching – or by someone touching him, specifically the hem of his garment. Jesus reaches out to touch a leper and cleanses him. At other times, Jesus rubs mud on the eyes of the man born blind, takes the hand of the temple leader’s daughter whom everyone else thinks has died, puts his fingers in the ears of a deaf man, and Jesus heals them all. Jesus is not afraid to touch those persons who will make him ritually unclean by Jewish law. Jesus uses his touch, his hands, to lift up, to strengthen, to encourage and to heal.

Last week, my 3 year old nephew fell and came up to me crying for me to "kiss it better." I did. He instantly stopped crying and went back to playing. I overheard a little boy tell his father in a store that he had a headache. The father asked what he wanted him to do and offered to kiss it better and the two were able to continue shopping (that scene was adorable by the way).

In the book 'If Life Were Easy, It wouldn't Be Hard' (one of my top 10 favorites), Sheri Dew wrote of a little girl she knew who was afraid of the dark. Every night, she and her mother went through a ritual designed to make her feel secure in her room. But inevitably, during the night, the girl would sneak into her parents' room and climb in bed with them, at which point her mother would carry her back to her room. Her mother tried every argument she could think of to convince her daughter she would be ok. One night she said, "Honey, your father and I are just down the hall. You'll be okay, Heavenly Father is watching over you." To which the little girl responded, "Mom, don't you know? Sometimes you just need someone with skin on." It's true. Sometimes we just need to hug someone, reach out to someone, or have someone reach out to us.

There is just something about contact comfort. I remember several times I turned to a friend when I needed help and he would allow me to come over and fall asleep in his embrace...we didn't talk about what was happening, in fact we would turn on a CD and I would fall asleep crying. He may not know how eternally grateful I am for his friendship and how much I needed that shoulder to cry on -- to know that someone was there to care about me-- but it meant sooo much to me.

Science tells us that a touch triggers the release of brain endorphins — an endogenous analgesic more powerful than heroin or morphine. But touch is more than just a scientific confluence of brain chemicals. Touch tames wild animals, can soften a heart, provides more warmth than a fireplace can, it can calm our worries and give us confidence, and in the end...just feels so good. Oh and the best part about touch is that it's worth a million, but doesn't cost a cent!

Am I saying if you see someone get hurt you should try to kiss it better? Well, maybe...but don't hold me accountable for the reaction...and be careful if it's a complete stranger...boys behave! Just some food for thought. Many know that I like hugs. And when I get or give one I feel recharged and celebrate joyfully. deanna loves you. xoxoxo

YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW WHEN TO HOLD 'EM & KNOW WHEN TO FOLD 'EM

I did it. I put in my 2 weeks at IKEA. Loved it...don't regret it. But retail is just not my bag, baby. I have a new VIP hookup with concerts that I've been doing to earn the cash. But it's off to CA to find true love for a month I go with Jenny (GoJen).
xoxoxo

I HOPE YOU DANCE

Ever need to hear a song once in awhile to help you through a day, week, or big fat grown-up decision? This is one that makes me smile (part cheesy, part inspiring).
xoxoxo
I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack

Discover Lee Ann Womack!

"Life is good. Life is big. Life beats a rhythm in every heart that beckons each of us to join the dance" -Annie Danielson.

ART IS WhatEVER

I met some boy at Wal*mart at the beginning of this month and more recently we were talking about museums, art, and such and he showed me a flyer for an exhibit that dealt with fluorescent lights. Some might not consider that to be a "piece of art" like a painting is, but to them I ask the question what is art or maybe even who is an artist? My favorite answer comes from the genius illustrator Milton Glaser: Art is whatever....clever.
Here are some cool websites for some neat artsy fartsy stuff:
*This one has lots of interactive things and cool people to see

*Paint like Pollock

*I love chairs

*Andy Goldsworthy Q&A...you have to find his photos yourself

*something for my warped minded friends

*This is just a cool website. choose blog and then search for interactive wallpaper

xoxoxo

LLLLLIPS

Some people get best friend bracelets or necklaces to prove their friendship will last forever. Us? We get lips.
It started out us crashing a spa party to get some free laser hair removal and then the night plumped into a whole new surprise. I couldn't say my B's or P's and used a whole bunch of chapstick. They call me DeAngelina Jolie.
xoxoxo

I THINK I FELL IN LOVE...

6AM. Air freezing. Jordanelle Marina. Hit the lake to get my first...and hopefully not last...wakeboarding trip for the year (with Jamie, Hannah, and the anniversary couple). And I think I fell in love...with a blue Mastercraft Xstar. Heavenly.
xoxoxo

MAKE LIKE A TOM AND CRUISE FAR AND AWAY

This is my lazy way to recap the trip. Enjoy the photos. Thanks Mom & Dad.
xoxoxo

BIRTHDAY SCHMIRTHDAY

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

So deanna's birthday month has been sort of a bust compared to last year. Who likes the number 27 anyway?! Ah well, I guess you find out who your friends are...there is always another one coming up next year.
not so many x's and o's

THE MOVING WALL

The slick black stone of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.,has stood since 1982 as a silent sentinel to the more than 58,000 names listedas casualties or missing in action from the Vietnam War. Mobile versions of the wall have been touring the country for more than 20 years — and one came to Provo. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall was atProvo's North Park, 500 N. 500 West, Thursday(8/3/07) to Monday (8/6/07). There was an openingceremony at 10 a.m. Thurs and a closing ceremony Monday at 10 a.m. During bothceremonies, the Timpview High School band played a tribute to armed forcespersonnel from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. Visitors looking for specific names could have a free certificate printedwith additional historical information at no charge. I visited the wall a few times, made rubbings of family member names, andattended the closing ceremony. What an amazing piece of history to take part in.I've been to the wall designed by Maya Lin in DC, but this was so cool. I loveAmerica. We live in an amazing country. let freedom ring! xoxoxo