Update from Jen

Hi Everyone!

I'm so sorry to do this, but as some of you know I have been just swamped at work. This last week was a doozy- was at the office until about 9 every night. I was working on the film guide, which is our guide to all things Sundance for 2009. Most Festival-goers carry this booklet around all week. It helps people select films and know what else is going on during the Festival. Because the timing of when the films are selected and when the guide must publish is very short, it means an intense production process. I am in charge of managing the production of the guide- getting the designer what she needs, routing pages past editors and staff, proofing changes and making sure the project finishes in time. Anyway- we did it! The guide was finalized at 11:30pm on Friday night. Here is a link to download it- it's pretty big like 13MB, so don't click it unless you want to download it. http://www.sundance.org/festival/09FG.pdf

I was able to take this weekend off and recharge before the next wave of work hits...tomorrow. We have the Festival Catalog which is the bigger show piece, but the good thing is that we use a lot of content from the Guide so that will help. I am also in charge of coordinating the environmental graphics - that's all the signage at all of our venues and theatres and street banners- things of that nature. So these next four weeks will continue to be busy for me. The good thing is that my job is done once the Festival begins, so I should be able to relax and enjoy it! I expect things to calm down after the new year, and then really once the Festival begins (January 15). But, until then my next day off will be Christmas Day.

But I'm loving the job, and I work with some really great people. I'm really excited for the Festival, there are some great new things we are doing this year, and of course some kick-ass films. So that makes it a little easier!

Other than that- not much is new. I have brown hair now...here's a photo to prove it:From left- Sarah and Kara and me on our wine tasting night a few weeks ago.

Chris and Spaulding are both well. We had a great thanksgiving up in Montana with Bear, Chris King and my mom. It was really relaxing and Spaulding loves being on the ranch. We got to go to a University of Montana playoff game too. It was fun. Bear is doing well- she is due in May and they were supposed to find out the sex of the baby last week, but it wasn't turned the right way. They said maybe a girl. We hope they find out soon!

Chris' mom and dad, and our two nephews are coming to town this Thursday for 6 days along with a bunch of other cousins and family. Then, on Tuesday we go to Ohio for the holiday. For new years, we will be in town and then it will be Sundance time!

So, that's what new with me. I'm sorry I have not been great about staying in touch. But once February comes around I will be back to normal.

Hope everyone is well and has a very happy Christmas!

Love,
jen. :-)

The people demand it...

All right. I've heard your fervent cries. The emphatic emails. The frustrated phone calls. You want more of me. I understand. I do.

So here we are...and not a moment too soon! Only 5 months since my last post! I guess blogging is not my bag.

But, here I sit, typing to you: my beloved public! I also sit, just 1.5 short days from 30 years old. It's a big one! Want to see what 29 looks like? Here it is:

I'll get back to you on Friday with a photo of 30. I'm guessing it will look something like this:

Especially now that I have my own business. High-stress, low pay...one has to wonder, why would anyone do this??? Probably cause it's fun. And I have a great partner! Otherwise, I would look into some other profession.
Well y'all, I'll try to keep up with this a little better...for now, that's all!

Later!

jenny p.

Election Day

As many of you may know, these days I "work" from home. I use the term "work" loosely, because some days it refers to washing my sheets and selling unwanted wedding gifts on eBay. Sometimes to get through the day, I go ahead and label anything accomplished between the hours of 9 and 5 as work.

Serving set, anyone?

This means I have a lot of free time on my hands. Normally this is something that makes me happy because I can run errands during the day like going to the Rite Aid or buying pumpkins for carving. But some days, believe it or not, I actually have some work (for which I will get paid) to get done.

Today is one of those days. However, instead of being able to work uninterrupted as one might imagine that one is able to from one's home, I have to work around the incessant ringing of phones.

"Who is calling?" you might ask. No one. Well, no actual one person, but nevertheless, the phone began ringing last night at about 7 PM. It was recordings of different Utahans speaking to me about the pros and cons of School Vouchers. About 14 hours after the first call, and after call #7, I decided I should keep a tally of all the calls I get in this 24 hour period relating to School Vouchers.

Governor Huntsman? For me?

We are now up to 8 calls. This is combination of calls to my home (the majority are going here) and to my cell phone. I actually got a call last week to my cell phone from a woman asking me how I was going to vote on the issue! Isn't that against the law? Won't some pissed-off parent who get slighted at the end of the day come hunt me down?

Will this angry soccer mom come after me?

At any rate, the last point I want to make on just how annoying this is, is a statement on the great state of Utah. I think it's a fun idea to close liquor stores on Election Day. Normally this would not bother me, but today—after 8 recorded phone calls—I actually do need a drink.

Or at least a stack of Oreo cookies. Can I get a vocher for those?


I think I am going to start a campaign to call state officials with recordings of me asking them to open the liquor stores on election day. I'm guessing I can label this as "work." Maybe I can even get the state to pay me for it. They can pay me in oreos. I'm flexible.

Day 1: Set Up

Setting up a blog is pretty quick actually. Now comes the hard part- what to write.

Maybe tomorrow will be a more creative day. For now the messy kitchen awaits!