Annie Cutler's Blog

LIVE EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST

acutler — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:18:00 GMT

On Sunday I did just that. I was full alright... literally. I didn't do a darn thing but eat the entire day! And with each handful of Pringles I ate, I knew better. But don't you guys ever have days like that? It's one of your days off and you know you should try and be productive, or just simply get out of the house and enjoy the sunshine. But the ease of chucking it all out the window to watch movies on TNT / USA / HBO was just too much to fight.

And when a day like that happens, I say run with it! Go very over the top and enjoy the heck out of it... because come Monday (or whenever) it's double duty at the gym.

Although my official excuse for Sunday?

"It was too hot."

Enjoy the sunshine and lemonade!

-Annie

UNSOLVED MYSTERY OF MY MISSING GYM OUTFIT

acutler — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:12:00 GMT

All of you trusting people out there, let what happened to me last night be a lesson for you.

I'll start from the beginning... When I go to the gym, I usually put my sweatpants, pullover, membership card, etc. in a locker. Foolish of me I don't put a lock on it. I've been going to the same gym the past 5 months or so. And I go anywhere from 3-5 times a week. And I've put my stuff in the exact same locker everytime... and no problems. Until last night that is!

When I finished my workout last night I went back into the locker room, opened "my" locker and stood there dumbfounded for a few moments because I expected to see my gym clothes there, but saw a completely empty locker instead. Well maybe I forgot I had put my stuff in a different locker. So I check, then another, then another, then another.

After I realized that now I'M starting to look like I'm trying to steal other people's stuff that I dart to the front desk to see if someone had turned my stuff in, and to make sure my car was still there (yes, the key was in the pants). Car there... clothes not.

Okay so now I have the gym secretary lady doing a sweep of the joint to see if I might have missed something. No luck. Now dark out and I'm freezing without my warm-ups, I call a locksmith. Another half an hour passes when the front desk lady runs towards me holding my car key and membership card!!! Someone had found them in one of the locker room stalls. Awesome! BUT WHERE ARE MY CLOTHES??

I'm now left to believing that some WOMAN who CAN afford a gym membership and cares enough about her health and physical upkeep to be at the gym.... would just steal my clothes! She doesn't want a car, or care about the info on my membership card... she just wants Addidas sweatpants and long sleeve pullover. Did she stand in the locker room and hold my clothes up to see if they're about the same size? Did she actaully try them on before taking them? I can just imagine it...

So friends, let this be a lesson. And I will take my own advice. LOCK YOUR STUFF UP AT THE GYM.

Happy workout,

Annie

HOW DID I EVER DO IT ALONE?

acutler — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 22:44:00 GMT

Wouldn't it be nice if I woke up every morning, threw on whatever, and came to work without a care in the world except for some oversized sunglasses and a grande Starbucks? YES. But that's not the case my friends.

Like every other reporter - male and female - I do my own hair and makeup. And I try to go through the entire day without anything on my head or face disturbed. (Lets put the major cold front that will it us in a day or so aside for a second) With the high today in the 90s - and possibly the first 90 degree day I've worked since I've been in Utah - I thought to myself all day, "I can't believe I used to do it all alone." Yes, many of us have been what the industry calls a "one-man-bander." A.k.a. "backpack journalist." That's when a reporter is the reproter, photographer, and editor all in one. And as I was sweating today only rolling the light kit as my photographer hauled the camera and tripod... I was / am so greatful that those days are gone.

Photographers... Thank you!

-Annie

"BRIDENAPPING"

acutler — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 21:58:00 GMT

Lemuel and Julia Redd... what to say? I'll start with a reminder: They have been charged with kidnapping. They allegedly agreed to take their daughter, Julianna, out to do some last minute wedding errands... and ended up driving 300 miles to Colorado. Needless to say she missed her wedding.

I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, and it'll be interesting to see how the case unfolds. But what do you think?

If the Redds did do what they're accused of, should be punished with up to 15 years in prison? Or not because of the parent / daughter dynamic?

I'd like to believe that the root of all of this is that the Redds were trying to be good parents. But I do think good parents need to be able to set aside their own feelings for certain things and situations, and let the kids rise to the occasion and handle it. If it does turn out to be a mistake, hopefully they learn from it. But you parents out there are probably saying to yourselves, "Yeah, easier said than done!"

The Redds, Julianna, and her husband Perry will be on tonight's (June 1st) 20/20. Be sure to catch it at 9pm.

Climbing High

acutler — Wed, 30 May 2007 21:22:00 GMT

It was a media frenzy at the airport when Apa and Lhakpa Sherpa returned to Salt Lake after spending nearly two months in the Himalayas. Both of them combined have climed to the top of Mount Everest thirty times! Wow!! Everest is almost 30,000 feet high. If you think about it, it's like climbing to cruising altitiude for an airplane. Think about that next time you're sitting back in one of those oh-so-comfortable airplane seats.

That got me thinking... I've been an athlete my entire life. I've run a half marathon. I watch all those MTV Real World / Road Rules Challenges and say to myself, "I can totally do that." But this was something entirely different - in it's own catagory. I know I can "do anything I put my mind to." But seriously...my mind can be telling me, "Just keep climbing. It's Everest. You've paid tens of thousands of dollars to do this." BUT, if I'm freezing - possibly frostbitten - and not getting any oxygen... mental encouragement may not be enough.

But these Sherpas have got Everest all figured out. And this last expedition was extra special. Their climb was taped and will be part of a documentary to raise awareness of their people and history - a story rarely told. The money they raise from the documentary will be sent back to Nepal to help with children's education, something that desperately needs money and attention. If for no other reason, I want to watch the one hour piece to see if Sherpas really have special genetics that make them such good climbers!

In the meantime, I'll stick to the mountains of Utah.

Wildfire Fighters

acutler — Fri, 25 May 2007 02:40:00 GMT

Say that five times as fast as you can! I was looking forward to covering the Utah Wildfire Academy all week. And when I finally got there, I was not disappointed. It was a world I had never been exposed to before...nothing more than I had seen on the news like everyone else. I was amazed by how many people - both trained fire professionals and volunteers - were involved in the training. Maybe it's because I'm not a Utah native, but never did I think to fight wildfires when someone asked me what I wanted to do for volunteer work. Or paid work for that matter... And talk about living, breathing, eating, sleeping fire... it costs these students thirty bucks a day for training and that DOES NOT include food or lodging. So... they all pitch tent and call it a day. Love it. Another thing I loved was the sense of brother and sisterhood amongst those going through the training. Like fighting this first fire - even though it was a "controled incident" - was enough to bond them for life. And after talking with some retired wildfire fighters during lunch, I realized that trusting your life in others hands in situations like that really DOES bond you for life. Spending just a day with all of them inspired me enough to want to go through the academy myself! Getting a chance to experience that and spend a day so close the flames was amazing! Oh, and maybe I can start to make Nomex fashionable? -Annie

Appreciating the Little Things

acutler — Wed, 16 May 2007 21:51:00 GMT

Wednesday May 16, 2007

The typical work day for a reporter isn't typical at all. We often start and end our days at odd hours, spend the majority of our time away from our desks (which I like), and lunch? If we're lucky.

I'm usually in the car (I've driven as far as Delta and Duchesne for a story) and lunch will consist of something I can get in a drive-thru. Or I'll be munching on handfuls of whatever in between interviews, writing my story, hairspraying my hair, etc.

But today happened to work out so that I had time for a "real" lunch. We're talking about a sitting still, fully chewing my food before I swallow, enjoying the taste lunch! This job really makes me appreciate the little things like that. And, since I'm a "newbie" to Utah, if you know of a "must eat here or you'll regret it" restaurant (or hole in the wall) let me know.

Until next time, enjoy the sunshine (Thanks Marti)

-Annie Cutler

Welcome!

acutler — Tue, 15 May 2007 16:38:00 GMT

Hello Utahns and Friends! This is my very first blog and I want to take a minute to thank all of you who are reading this and take the time to watch ABC 4. I'm thrilled to be able to connect with you all beyond the television.

As many of you know, I'm new to Utah and can't wait to discover all the beauties and treasures here. Now that summer is knocking on our door, if you know of good hiking trails and rock climbing sites, let me know!

My friends and family constantly ask me for stories about Utah and what I come across during my work days "out in the field." It's always a pleasure to share some of the amazing people I come across and neat things I learn, and I look forward to sharing that with you as well.