A Life Made Memorable

Sugar Fast Day 3

2009-09-15T21:30:00.003-04:00

Breakfast:
Trail mix (Kashi cereal, pecans, dried cranberries)

Snack:
Banana

Lunch:
Grilled pork chop
Wild rice
Sauteed spinach

Snack:
Peanut butter on cheese crackers
Apple

Dinner:
Roast beef sandwich
Strawberry/banana/peanut butter smoothie
Peanut butter & jelly sandwich
Rotisserie chicken
I know I know, I ate quite a bit for dinner ;)

Sugar Fast Day 2

2009-09-14T22:00:00.001-04:00

Breakfast:
Banana

Snack:
PB on cheese crackers

Lunch:
Grilled chicken
Spinach
Corn on the Cob
Wild Rice

Snack:
Smoothie King High Protein Shake
Kashi Trail Mix Bar

Dinner:
BBQ chicken
Spinach

Snack:
Apple

Sugar Fast Day 1

2009-09-13T17:44:00.002-04:00

Breakfast:
1/2 bagel w/ peanut butter*
2 scrambled eggs
hash browns
1/2 grilled chicken breast

Snack:
Trail mix (pecans, dried cranberries, Kashi cereal)

Lunch:
strawberry, banana, peanut butter smoothie**

Snack:
Kashi Trail mix bar

Dinner:
1/2 grilled chicken breast
sauteed spinach
corn on the cob

Snack:
Blue corn tortilla chips w/ salsa
Cantaloupe

*Next time I'll try to do a better job of cutting back on the peanut butter, as I eat several spoonfuls a day. Yeahhh, it's good stuff.

**I used a packet of Splenda to sweeten the smoothie, along with some honey. I think I may just settle for the more natural (and less enjoyable) taste, or find some other alternative to fruit smoothies.

No desserts or fried foods today. Not bad - let's see how the rest of the week pans out.

Breaking Up With Sugar

2009-09-12T18:58:00.009-04:00

Sweet tea. Muffins. Pop tarts. Waffles. Milkshakes. Cookies. Doughnuts. Brownies. Honey buns. French toast. M&Ms. Pancakes. Cheesecake. These are just a few of the sweet, sugary things that I find myself craving on a constant basis, and I need to come to terms with it. I don't think that any of these things are bad in moderation. A piece of Dove chocolate or two here and there. A warm cookie with a glass of milk. These are simple indulgences that most of us allow ourselves, but when you've got a pit in your stomach because your pancreas is running marathons in a mad dash to process your latest sugar binge, there's a problem. And unfortunately, I'm one of the ones with a problem, as I am completely unable to settle for one dessert portion, usually opting for two or three instead. I then compensate by pounding the pavement for a 3 to 4 mile run or an hour trip to the gym. I won't be able to keep this up forever. I'd like to evolve to a point where I exercise purely for heart and mental health, and not the purpose of counteracting a day's worth of bad eating.

Most who know me know that I talk a lot about how much I love food. And who doesn't? Like clothes and jewelry, food is comforting and therapeutic, but unlike those things, food is inexpensive. If I'm having a boring or rough day at work, a two-pack of Pop Tarts is just 65 cents. Krispy Kreme doughnuts are $5 a dozen. Waffles at Waffle House are warm, fluffy and are only $2.65 a pop. Sugary foods are readily available at budget-friendly prices everywhere you go, but with obesity on the rise and the future of American healthcare looking shakier by the day, there's no better time for me to take better care of myself.

So that's why I'm challenging myself to a 30 day sugar fast. This means that I will do my absolute best to stay away from artificially sweetened foods. Will this be easy? No. Will I cheat? More likely than not, but I've got to try. Last year I wrote about a night out in Paris where I ate three desserts within the space of two hours. Sure, it's fun to splurge and eat without abandon, but when you can't focus on your work because you're thinking about your next sugar fix, there's a serious problem.

Recently, NPR wrote an article likening the danger of sugar to cholesterol and salt. I'm quite sure it's as addictive as cocaine or heroin as well. I'm by no means a totally healthy eater, but I'm always up for a challenge. Because I'm well aware of how hard this is going to be, I'm going to force myself to publish what I eat every single day. Sure, I could be lying, but I'd only be hurting myself by being dishonest about what I'm eating. This also means that I may have to re-examine my belief of trips to Smoothie King to be harmless, especially with the various powders they toss into the blender to make the final product - you guessed it - sweet. I've been going there 2x a week for the past several months, so cutting that out might be good for my wallet as well as my health.

*Deep breath* Let's see how this works out.

Why I Bash Twitter (Every Now and Then) But (Probably) Won't Leave It

2009-08-13T08:55:00.004-04:00

Gotta keep your finger on the pulse of what's happening. Check out the following article from Applicant.com --

"30 Profiles and Sites Every Job Seeker on Twitter Should Follow"

Twitter has become one of the best job search tools on the internet. The growing number of job search sites and recruiters on twitter makes it one of the easiest platform to look for a job and build contact with potential employers. Social networking has become of extreme importance when it comes to job hunt and the power of twitter cannot be ignored. We have heard countless news of people landing their dream jobs through twitter and other social media platforms. If you have yet to utilize social media for your job search, especially twitter, it’s about time you let the potential employers on twitter know that you are available.

To read the full article and to see the Twitter profiles in question, read the article by clicking here.

Beware the She-Wolf

2009-07-31T12:40:00.002-04:00

Even though I don't understand what the hell she's saying 90% of the time, I still think Shakira is a genuinely talented performing artist and musician with a passion for great art. I bet women everywhere will be signing up for yoga lessons after watching this video.

The Incredible Flexible Sasha Fierce

2009-07-29T13:26:00.004-04:00

This gives me an idea - maybe instead of taking this blog down, I'll post random tidbits that appeal to me, like Kanye does with his blog. I'll be sure to write paragraphs here and there in order to keep the juices flowing.

Pedestrian Non-Friendly Atlanta

2009-07-23T09:52:00.006-04:00

Atlanta is the 22nd least-walkable city in the nation, according to a Web site that measures walkability.

Walkscore.com ranked the largest 40 cities in the nation on a scale of zero to 100 based on how easy it is to live a “car-lite” lifestyle. Atlanta, at number 22, scored 52 points. According to the Web site, cities that scored between 50-69 were "Somewhat Walkable -- Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car."

-- Read full article here

Funny how I often think of what it must be like to not need a car, and then this article surfaces. Guess I'm not the only one tired of paying for gas and car upkeep, as well as dealing with traffic.

Another Quick Update

2009-07-22T11:12:00.001-04:00

I finally configured my friggin' Shelfari to display my books how I wanted them. I don't know why that was so important to fix. Darn borderline OCD (no not really, I've never been diagnosed).

Quick Update.

2009-07-22T10:27:00.002-04:00

Yeah yeah yeah, I know I said I'd try to stay after work to write some things down, but you know how it goes. I have been thinking about this blog a bit lately, and I'm not sure how long I plan on keeping it up. It's not that I don't have thoughts that I feel are worth writing down, but that I grow increasingly aware of the dangers of putting my private thoughts on display for God knows whom to read. I'm not much for generic posts, and aside from the occasional thrill (e.g. a concert or evening out), I don't go out often enough to fill a blog with items I wouldn't mind being broadcast for public eyes. I'll think on it. It'll depend on how I feel.

The internship has been going just fine, for anyone who might happen to be wondering. The economy is still in the crapper, so advertising revenue has yet to return to its former glory. I only have a novice idea of how that may affect my job hunt. As always, only time will tell.

Irons in the Fire.

2009-07-10T10:40:00.001-04:00

It's unbelievable how much I've got going on at the moment, but I promise to write on it by the end of the day. In fact I plan on staying an extra half hour after work to write it all down.

The Best $75 I've Ever Spent, EVER!!!!

2009-07-02T21:07:00.010-04:00

I'm going to spend the next several paragraphs explaining how much I admire this woman and how great she is at what she does. Consider yourself warned. Still interested? Let's go...

If you say you don't know any of Beyonce's songs, you're lying to yourself. If you say you don't like her or her music, you're still lying to yourself. You'd have to be living in an Amish compound to have never heard of any of her material. Beyonce is, without any doubt, one of the best artists of our generation. Her dedication to memorable artistry and immaculate performances is inspiring and honest. This woman is the real deal because she always gives 100% of herself, and Wednesday night's performance at Philips Arena was no different.

Having recently been listed at #4 in the 2009 Forbes Power issue (click here to read the feature on how she makes her millions) for raking in $87 million between June 2008-June 2009 is proof of how hard she has worked to establish herself as a respected artist in an industry long plagued by racism and sexism. After having sold more than 100 million records by the age of 27, she's accomplished that. Her performance proved that she's worked hard to perfect her craft, and as she said in a recent issue of Ebony, "I will never stop."

Her performance was two hours of flawless singing, dancing and seemingly limitless energy. Floating around the stage in one sexy getup after the other, Beyonce (or Bee, as so many of her fans like to call her) gave the best live performance I'm sure I've ever seen, singing in a variety of genres with an ease and skill reserved for those who've worked their asses off to attain it. Though I'm sure everyone in attendance had a favorite section of the show, my personal favorite was Bee's rendition of "If I Were A Boy," which topped the United World Chart for several weeks at the end of 2008. Though I always liked the song, I never really loved it until I heard it last night, performed with live instruments by her band, Suga Mama. Beyonce performed the song in full diva getup, dressed in a black gladiator top with a black leather skirt, and a pair of black sunglasses to match. She looked awesome and sounded even better. Check the clip below to a) see how damn good she looked and b) watch her perform "If I Were A Boy" in London with one of the UK's finest, George Michael.

I've rambled enough, but if you're reading this and Beyonce's tour has missed your city, make sure you buy a ticket the next time she hits the road. You really need to check this woman out...

Workin' Day & Night

2009-07-01T10:03:00.002-04:00

Currently working 7 days a week until mid-July. Not a heck of a lot of time to update this thing, although there's always 4-5 good paragraphs marinating in my head that provide (or would provide) an excellent idea of where I am mentally right now. Hm. It's all good. I'll be sure to check in to write something down for the 3-5 readers I have on this thing. Yeah, I can make jokes at my own sucky readership's expense :)

Epiphany

2009-06-23T10:12:00.001-04:00

I just had a sudden epiphany while working on a spreadsheet. I'm going to respect the fact that I'm on company time and blog about it later, but I'm just jotting this down as a reminder to myself to elaborate on this thought when I get some time this afternoon.

Independent Women

2009-06-17T20:59:00.003-04:00

I always loved Batman Returns, and thought that Michelle Pfeiffer did a hell of a job in her role as Catwoman. I often think of the quote below as one of the most significant contributions to the feminist agenda:

(After rescuing a woman from being mugged in an alley) "You make it so easy, don't you? Always waiting for some Batman to save you."

After flipping on my computer, I decided to type the entire quote into Google to see what I'd find. The following excerpt, taken from this Bitch Magazine article, made for a good read. Check out the entirety of the article by clicking the link, or read below for the gist.

--------------
Catwoman’s inner conflict comes to a head when she must choose between living a fairy-tale life with Batman, or being true to her sense of justice and new-found personal power. The ending does not disappoint. Warning—I’m about to give it away, so if you want to see the movie and be surprised, you’ll have to skip this part. In the final scene, Batman and Catwoman confront Shreck, the ruthless tycoon whose plan to build a huge power plant—one that would secretly drain instead of generate electricity—has brought mayhem to Gotham. Batman wants to take Shreck to jail. But Catwoman distrusts the justice system and wants to take care of him herself.

Batman: Why are you doing this? Let’s just take him to the police. Then we can go home, together. Selina, don’t you see, we’re the same, we’re the same, split right down the center. Selina, please.
Catwoman: Batman, I would love to live with you in your castle forever just like in the fairy tale. I just couldn’t live with myself. So don’t pretend this is a happy ending.
Shreck: Selina Kile, you’re fired.

But it is a happy ending. Selina Kile is fired—that naive dependence is gone forever. Catwoman administers her own justice, giving Shreck the kiss of death as she grabs a power cable and fries him to a crisp. Then she takes off, leaving Batman and his fairy-tale desires behind. Go girl!
--------------------------

I often find myself wondering how anti-feminism continues to survive in the 21st century, especially with feminine independence thriving through figures such as Oprah, Paula Deen, JK Rowling, and Queen Elizabeth II, to name a few. The recent announcement of Kelis and Nas' impending divorce has been splashed over the front page of many a gossip blog, and for good reason. Those who have kept abreast of the story are well aware that Kelis is demanding a hearty share of spousal support benefits, perhaps more than a fair share. I think I'll write more on that later, as my opinion on the whole affair is still in formulation. For now I'm content to pontificate on society and gender, and how the former imposes its views on the latter.

I Caved In...

2009-06-12T10:45:00.004-04:00

Twitter.com/BaronBrown

AS A DISCLAIMER, I WILL SAY THAT I WAS ASSIGNED TO RESEARCH TWITTER FOR MY COMPANY'S ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT'S NEW MARKETING INITIATIVE!!!! How else could I learn Twitter without actually, you know, Tweeting?

Please don't judge me. And I maintain my stance that my life is still not that interesting on a daily basis. But the idea of getting Eliza Dushku's attention does appeal to me....

That Darn Wagon

2009-06-10T10:19:00.003-04:00

Why is it that it's so hard to stay on the healthy lifestyle wagon once you've reached a certain point? Since January I've lost well over 15 lbs. and though I'm very happy with the way I look, I'm not quite as muscled as I would like. Nonetheless, since I moved back home last week I've been eating as though I have a well for a stomach. Chocolate moon pies from the vending machine, Mom's homemade almond chocolate chip cookies, Dad's Lays potato chips, banana's foster cheesecake from Copeland's, bacon cheeseburgers and fries from Goldberg's are only a few of the sweet/salty/fried things I've enjoyed recently.

You name it, I've probably eaten it within the past 10 days. It's a funny feeling to recognize that you're slowly but surely falling off the "diet" wagon. Obviously I have the word in quotes because any health expert advises against using it, as it implies that once you've reached a certain weight you'll go back to eating biscuits for breakfast and peanut butter smothered bagels for dinner. Ahem, not that I know anyone who does that, of course...

I guess admitting there's a problem is always the first step. Hm.

Canceling Your Vacations This Summer?

2009-06-10T09:13:00.001-04:00

Blockbuster is launching a new campaign aimed at those looking to be budget-conscious this summer. I think this is a really cool idea.

Blockbuster Launches Movie Road Map

We Are In Tough Times, Indeed

2009-06-04T19:36:00.003-04:00

On Monday, I started my internship at the paper. In this role I work under a dozen Advertising Account Executives to support their operations. That's a fancy way to say that I'm their go-to guy for anything they need done, whether it be the completion of a sales presentation, or a promotional mailing for prospective clients. Even after four days in, I can tell that these people are on top of their game. Advertising requires an especially thick skin and a hell of a lot of perseverance. I'm incredibly fortunate to have nabbed a position in my field, as there are no doubt thousands of college graduates out there coming to terms with the fact that their ideal positions are well out of reach. Although I'd much rather be a salaried employee, I'm more than happy to take what I can get for now.

In the ad department, each Account Executive focuses on a specific area of expertise, in order to preclude any possibility of competition. For example, Residential Real Estate is designated to D, Commercial Real Estate clients are managed by A, and S deals with Educational Institutions. Whoever thought this up was wise to do so. Since there's no chance of the Account Executives pitching the paper to the same client, every one gets along really well. ~~Which bodes well, seeing as how the entire staff is comprised of women.~~ I'm sure male-dominated stockbroker firms deal with this same issue.

But there's nothing like working in an account services to make you realize just how bad the economy is. This position has already done a lot to educate me about current events, and that's not because I work at a newspaper. These people are stressed, and for good reason. Take for example the recent announcement of GM's bankruptcy. This affects D directly because she handles the automobile industry in addition to Residential Real Estate. I can only imagine what her commissions look like now as opposed to a year or two earlier.

This reminds me of my high school economics class, where my teacher told us that every expenditure is someone's receipt. Well, because receipts have been low for businesses in Atlanta (and everywhere else, I'm sure), they have less money to advertise, which hits the pocket of my supervisors.

I don't say all of this to incite feelings of depression or melancholy, because I believe this recession is teaching everyone a great deal about the importance of spending less than what's earned, and spending less in general. I'm pretty sure that the entire newspaper staff has picked up on this. Even though Atlanta is home to some really delicious local restaurants, nearly everyone pinches pennies by bringing their lunch. Advertising rates have been reduced sharply in order to entice existing and new businesses to place ads in the paper. The circulation department has lowered the price of subscription in order to keep money flowing into the company.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going, that's for sure. I think when this economy rebounds in a few years (don't delude yourself into thinking you'll be balling in 2010, because in all likelihood you won't), people may just emerge a bit richer and a heck of a lot smarter. I dare say there's hope for us yet...

Patience Is A (Time-Consuming) Virtue

2009-05-27T23:32:00.003-04:00

Think I can reach 100 by the end of the year?: Requiem for a Dream, Body of Lies, Run Fatboy Run

There have been a couple of updates since last Monday's post on the job hunt. Just to keep you abreast of the stats - since the end of April, I have submitted a total of 19 job applications, 12 of them being for full-time positions, with the other 7 being internships or other forms of temporary contract work (e.g. camp counselor, airport customer service rep, etc.)

Out of those 19 submissions, 4 of the companies had the decency to let me know that the positions had been filled by a better qualified candidate. Out of the remaining 15, I netted 3 interviews. If you've done your math right, you'll see that the majority of the companies who received résumés from me failed to send any kind of update. Tsk tsk, but c'est la vie.

I was turned down for a position after one of the interviews, the third interview was held just yesterday, so the results are pending, but the second - an advertising sales internship with an Atlanta newspaper - was successful! Eureka. I'll be working full-time for 12 weeks at the paper, which will not only keep me busy while I look for a permanent position, but it will provide me with a decent income for the summer.

I am thoroughly excited to start the internship, and yet I can't help but feel a pang of disappointment that this isn't quite the real thing. Because it's an internship (my fourth, but who's counting?), the pay is hourly, and as I am no longer a student I am not covered under my parents' health insurance. Bummer. And because the internship is in Atlanta, I'll be packing things up in Athens and moving back home, at least for the time being. Not too sure how I feel about that, especially as I won't be able to throw my sweaty gym clothes wherever I want, followed by my ritual of blasting "The Best of Sade" as I shower with the bathroom door open. But I will be living rent free, so I can't forget the principle of quid pro quo.

But as I always say, no worries. I've been getting some tips from fellow alumni on where to purchase a monthly health insurance subscription, and as the internship starts next Monday, I'll need to make a decision fast. On top of that, I finally got myself off my father's cell phone plan in an effort to transfer more responsibility for my upkeep to me. Somewhat reluctantly, I opted for a nice Samsung instead of the pricier iPhone or BlackBerry. With my new handset, I have access to a GPS service (so long Mapquest!), as well as unlimited text messaging and data transfer, to the tune of about $70/month. Getting one of the more popular AT&T phones such as the iPhone would've raised that cost by at least $30, and I have to remember to distinguish needs from wants.

Speaking of monthly expenses, I also intend to begin paying for my own automobile insurance. Depending on whether I find a full-time job after the completion of the internship, I'd also like to pay one of the household utilities, as well as half the groceries. I plan to brown-bag for lunch during the internship in an effort to save money, which will be tough, as Atlanta is a great place for eating out.

If you haven't fallen asleep on this post by now, you'll recall that I mentioned a third interview, for a full-time job position. Though I had already accepted the internship offer, I decided to go in for an interview because I figured it couldn't hurt. My soon-to-be supervisor is well aware of the fact that I will maintain the job hunt throughout the summer, and because yesterday's interview will lead to several more (if I didn't blow it), I've got time on my side. Ideally, I'd start a full-time position as soon as the internship finishes, in order to avoid having to dip into my savings. But this'll all work itself out.

Thanks for reading! And please, make good use of the comment feature. I'd love to know what you think. Is there something I could be doing better?

Late Night Ramblings - I Think I Should Make This A Series

2009-05-18T23:56:00.005-04:00

Since my last post: Star Trek, Angels & Demons, Deception, The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008),Wall Street

Music of the Moment: TLC, "Red Light Special"

As the days pass and I wait for the results from different job interviews, I continue to grow restless. Not to say that this is a bad thing, as it gives me plenty of time to do my favorite thing - think. While thinking is a nonstop chore for the brain, I believe I do spend an uncanny amount of time thinking consciously. I guess when it comes to food for thought, I'm a glutton.

Speaking of food for thought - I had a thought-provoking conversation with a good friend of mine yesterday morning. She's the same age as me, but graduated from college a year before I did. One of those rare few who actually graduates college in four years. Go figure. Anyways, she majored and minored in Anthropology and Biology, respectively, and after graduation, sought to get some experience in the life sciences industry before going to graduate school. Unfortunately, that turned out to not be the case. Though an internship at a zoo or aquarium would have done wonders for her professionally and personally, the call of real world responsibilities was too great to be ignored.

In order to pay the bills, she took a job as a cashier at Wal-Mart, and a year later, has had to deal with some rough situations. Her mother (who I love, by the way) is an adorable, feisty woman, with some glaring bad habits, financial mismanagement ranking top among them. A couple of years ago, my friend, who I'll call G, agreed to authorize her mother as a user of a few credit cards under G's name.

One thing led to another, and those credit cards were maxed out, with G having no way to pay for them. Throw in a broken down car, medical bills, and general monthly expenses, and it's safe to say that G has had a rough time. One of the things we talked about during our conversation was the fact that you can't stay mad at things that have happened in the past. We talked about the age-old saying "Don't cry over spilled milk," and how it's really antiquated, seeing as how people have a tendency to spill milk over and over again. I joked that the saying should be updated to say this: "Don't cry over spilled milk, but learn to not spill it again, because milk is expensive." Not catchy? It sounded good at the time, I swear.

G has been through more than her fair share of financial woes, and I give her a lot of credit for pulling through. She talked about how she had to guide herself through the car-buying process, as her mother was in too much debt to cosign on a car loan, and didn't offer much help at all in terms of information or advice on where to look or how to shop for the best deal. I've definitely been fortunate to have been raised by parents who saw after all of my needs, and although they may not have had the best financial practices themselves, they did take the time to talk to me about the mistakes they made, and the things I should do in order to avoid them.

Learning about how to take care of oneself is so important, and it's something that I preach about (a little too) fervently. Independence is a quality that I find attractive and empowering, and because that isn't easily achieved, I work constantly at it. I'm always reading blogs and news articles on how to budget money and save for the future. Sometimes it's hard to do that when you're young and old age seems far off, but I know what I want for myself.

Do you?

Goodbye to Television?

2009-05-14T23:24:00.007-04:00

So graduation was almost a week ago, and the job hunt continues. Being an alumnus does feel really good. Knowing that I completed two degree programs in a *ahem* respectable amount of time gives me a solid sense of my own worth and what I'm capable of accomplishing. I get a really powerful kick out of doing things that take a great deal of focus. Which leads me to my next point...

Anyone who knows me knows that I do not have television at my house in Athens. Yes, I have a television, but I do not have access to televised content via cable or satellite. This has been the case since February 25. That's right, since February 25, I have not had television. Somehow, I've survived. How? TV networks have wised up to the fact that viewing habits are changing, and have responded by putting their primetime content on the internet. I can watch my favorite shows - Desperate Housewives, Dexter, Family Guy, True Blood, 30 Rock, and Dollhouse without having to pay for a cable subscription. And of course, the news is available online, 24/7. So when you think about it, I haven't really missed out on anything.

However, I've grown increasingly dissatisfied by my leisure habits, and this is attributable to my growing passion for interacting with people. Living alone (which I love, by the way), has led me to appreciate the time I do spend with people because for me it's a sort of project. I studied interpersonal communication for years, and I'm definitely living my major because I'm always making a conscious effort to communicate effectively. Speaking with precision and emphasis and avoiding space fillers like um and er. Keeping hand gestures to a minimum. Choosing my words carefully so that people never get the wrong idea. And working on my worst habit - not waiting until people finish talking before I chime in.

This is all very fun for me, and I'd like to make myself even smarter by lighting a fire under my imagination's butt by reading. Lord, I haven't read in months, and for me there's really no excuse for that. I always loved reading when I was younger, and there's no doubt in my mind that people who read for pleasure are the most interesting people on the planet. People who read have a genuine understanding that there is always more underneath the surface. As such, they are never satisfied, because there is always another page to be turned. In college I was surrounded by smart people, but the ones who read for pleasure are those who never cease to keep me guessing.

While searching for insight by those who had also given up the boob tube, I stumbled upon this article. Check it out. It made for a great read (pun intended).

However, this is not to blame television as the only time waster. A comment to that article made a great point: "TV watching, like many other activities that consume our time, such as using the computer, reading, socializing, eating, music listening, sleeping, should be done with some degree of moderation and life balance. Being consciously selective about how we use our time is the ultimate spiritual enlightenment."

Maybe I won't say goodbye to my favorite programs just yet, but I definitely need to pick up a book and go out more often.

This is Where I Get Off

2009-05-12T10:26:00.005-04:00

Before I forget: Role Models, Taken, 30 Days of Night, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Paris, Je T'Aime

Last Saturday marked the end of my undergraduate journey. It really was a bittersweet moment. Why? Because as much as I disliked:

- Professors who thought they knew everything (There is more than one way to submit a case study!)
- Morning classes (The thought of seeing 7AM really does make me ill)
- Low internship pay rates (especially in the summer of '06 when gas ran me $55-$60 every five to six days)
- Tests! (I can't rant enough about this. Why grade me on my ability to memorize information when I'm going to forget it a month from now?)
- Course evaluations (does the administration even take those seriously?)
- The masses at the Ramsey gym (back off Fabio, I'm not done with this machine yet)

I'm going to miss it. All of it. Being a college student was great because it was predictable and unpredictable all at the same time. I could organize my semester however I wanted (to some extent), take naps at 3PM (which is when my energy level just goes to crap), and buy shots for $1 a pop (though I only did that a handful of times - I'm a lightweight). College was, in one word, cool.

Graduation was even better. I got some really amazing gifts from my family members, which did everything to convince me that I don't deserve them. God has really put some incredible people in my life, and I thank Him for that, along with getting me through some tough moments. Ahh well. What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger.

I would post some pictures, but chances are if you're reading this, you've already seen them on Facebook. On the other hand, it has been a while since I decorated this blog with some pictures.....

Au revoir, Georgia. You shall be missed.

Add 'Em to the List

2009-05-08T06:41:00.004-04:00

When making a list of the movies I've seen this year, I forgot to mention:

- The Abandoned
- Volver
- Burn After Reading
- Eagle Eye
- Descent
- 1408
- The Family That Preys

I'm likely to add The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to that list pretty soon as well.

GRADUATION IS TOMORROW!!!!! But for today, two convocation ceremonies. I'm going to be exhaused by the end of this weekend.

Gimme A Beat

2009-05-04T22:40:00.004-04:00

I usually rag on Ciara for not being much of a singer, but like any other recording artist of minimal vocal talent, she turns it on with the uptempo. This song has always been in any running playlist of mine, and I've played it about five times now while writing my last ever undergraduate paper! Enjoy.

Ciara - "I Proceed"

EDIT: And check out this one from the "Death Proof" soundtrack.
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch - "Hold Tight"

Early Mornin' Ramblings...

2009-05-04T04:08:00.005-04:00

Album of the Moment: Mariah Carey - Daydream (Butterfly and Emancipation are much better though)

I'm up at 4 in the morning after a weird nightmare in which I was a survivor in a sealed-off dormitory style building, fending off zombie attacks with about a dozen others. And these were the fast, rampaging zombies of 28 Days Later, not the slow dim-witted fools from Night of the Living Dead. Sometimes when I'm pounding it on a run outside and I get to a really hard hill, I tell myself there are zombies behind me, as a means of motivation. I really have to stop eating if I'm feeling sleepy. I don't know if there's anything scientifically proven about food-induced nightmares, but I'm gonna go with my gut (no pun intended) and stick to a glass of water before crashing. Sheesh.

I'm indulging myself in some random list making. If you don't care to read on, I won't blame you.

Movies I've Seen in '09

- Slumdog Millionaire
- Doubt
- The Wrestler
- Cadillac Records
- Marley & Me
- Eat Drink Man Woman
- Kung Fu Panda
- The Usual Suspects
- Meet the Browns
- Haute Tension
- Skinwalkers
- Obsessed
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine
- Zack and Miri Make a Porno

I also started Elizabeth, You Don't Mess with the Zohan, and Rachel Getting Married, but turned them all off at the halfway mark. I definitely won't waste valuable Facebook time watching a movie I don't like, no sir I won't! I do think it's fun to try different genres and actors, because it teaches you more about what you will and won't stand for. I think the common denominator behind all three of those movies is that they were either too slow to take off or made no sense altogether. Because movies only have 90-120 minutes to explain their thesis, I feel as though they should generally be fast paced. Develop your concept into a TV show if you care too much about character development. Anyways...

Concrete Loop has a new thread on singer Solange Knowles' expeditions in Europe. Seems as though some of her dates over there coincide with her sister's. Viewing the pictures of her in Barcelona and Amsterdam definitely aroused the tourist in me. It's just so much fun to be in different places and be surrounded by newness. I told myself that I was going to cool it on the traveling until I got a better hold on my job situation, but that carefree voice inside my mind tells me to throw caution to the wind and hop a plane somewhere. All in good time, I suppose.

In other news, I picked up my cap and gown from the university bookstore last week. Turns out that I get two tassels, one for each degree. Will I be placing both of them on my cap? You bet!

More lists...

Things I Want by the Age of 25
- Financial freedom (meaning all student loan debt eliminated)
- A new(er) car
- At least $10,000 in savings
- A job position that makes me not want to hop a plane to Barcelona or Amsterdam
- A strong, well-toned body
- A healthy, committed relationship

Places I've Thought About Visiting More than Once
- Brazil
- Thailand
- South Africa
- Japan
- Australia

The gym opens in approximately 90 minutes from now. I think I'll busy myself with a few more resume submissions before it opens. Gotta work some of that spaghetti off.

Why I Don't Worry Anymore

2009-04-26T17:02:00.004-04:00

Album of the Moment: Jay-Z, American Gangster

Interesting Bible passage:

Luke chapter 12, verses 22-26:

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

- New International Version

I also thought this was noteworthy. I pulled this from a status update from a Facebook friend:

Life is so not like a box of chocolates. You know that no matter what you pull out of the box, you will get chocolate. Life is more like that game where you use the claw to grab for a prize. And you may not get sh*t.

Although this is a somewhat pessimistic view on life, I found it hilarious nonetheless. I've learned to accept and even embrace the humor that comes from not having everything go my way. Sometimes things don't work out the way you hoped because of a shortcoming or folly on your behalf. At other times, it's just because that's the way the cookie crumbles. Either way it goes, I call for an end to worrying.

Yes, I'm still applying for employment positions that are right for me. No, I haven't been hired anywhere yet. Yes, I appreciate your concern. No, I'm not worried. And yes, I am well aware that graduation is less than two weeks away. And no, I'm not worried.

Site of the Moment - FmyLife

2009-04-22T23:30:00.002-04:00

If you haven't visited this site, you definitely need to: F My Life. I love it! It's nothing but a series of brief anecdotes, contributed by various users across the net. Obviously, because the expression "F**k my life" is used as a means of exasperation when things aren't going your way, the anecdotes are HILARIOUS. I got bored in graphics class today and I started reading some. I had to put my hand over my face and look focused on my InDesign project just so that no one around me would think I was off task. A few quick samples, in case you aren't sold on the concept yet:

Today, I woke up with really dry, chapped lips. Still in bed, without my glasses on, I sleepily reached down into my purse for some chapstick and applied it. Upon awakening later I realized I had mistaken a mini Sharpie permanent marker for chapstick. I have a job interview today. FML

Today, I was responsible for taking care of Hoppers, the rabbit belonging to my sons 3rd grade class. Tomorrow my son returns Hoppers so the next student can care for him. That won't be happening because Hoppers hopped out my 5th story window. FML

Today, I was in the supermarket and I see this little boy trying to reach for something on the top shelf. I proceed to go over to him and ask if his mom knows where he is. The boy turns around and turns out he was actually a very angry midget. FML

Obviously, some of these could very well be fake, but they make for a good laugh anyways.

Let the Networking Begin...

2009-04-15T21:51:00.003-04:00

I didn't have class yesterday, so I took the opportunity to meet up with one of my former supervisors, who I'll just refer to as J. J managed my first internship back in 2006, and we've since stayed in touch. Unfortunately for her, she was laid off in February 2007, a few months after I returned to school. After going through the motions for a bit, she found a managerial position at a modeling agency. As it turned out, she hated that job, and found a better one as an Account Manager for a well-known coffee company. In the interim between July '06 and yesterday, she and I kept in touch via e-mail and Google chat (important later).

After a few failed attempts at meeting up, she and I met at Ria's Bluebird, one of Atlanta's many independently-owned restaurants. She and I spent a good hour catching up, and as I was telling her about my current job hunt, she advised me to maintain a standard. What I mean by this is to say that she recommended I continue to look for a position that would be a good fit for me, while working odd jobs in between to keep the bills paid. Admittedly, I'm relieved. Given the current state of the economy, the average emerging professional would probably be advised to hop on the first offer that came along, but J's advice has always been sound, and I felt even better after our meeting because holding out for a good position is exactly what I had intended to do.

A month or so ago, I was entirely gung ho about shipping off to Japan or Korea to put the real world on the back burner and play around a bit. I still think that's a great opportunity, and while I haven't completely closed the door on it, I've been cogitating (SAT words, yeah!) on several factors. The truth is that I think a great deal on where I see myself in five years. By that time, I want to be in a challenging and rewarding job position that makes the most out of me and I continue to make the most out of. And as the days pass, every lucrative job offer that I see in some grand city like New York, Chicago, or Miami mandates at least several years of experience. Bustling off to teach English in Saigon would be a hell of a good time, but when I eventually returned, I know I'd find myself well behind my peers, already engrossed in getting their feet wet with entry level positions in smaller markets in order to pave their way towards better cities and better pay. I don't consider myself a rat in the system, but the hard truth is that anyone looking to excel in any field needs to put in the work, point blank. The thought of earning $28,000 after the age of 25 doesn't really appeal to me.

I just made a "tsk tsk" clicking sound with my tongue after a brief pause in writing this. Do I really want to turn down the possibility of more traveling? No, but I am an adult, and as such I have to be aware that every action has a consequence. Case in point: depleting my savings account to study in Paris in 2007, working my butt off to replenish my funds, and then depleting it again to fly back for a low-paid internship in 2008. I had best make that experience count towards a good job. Perhaps I'll be able to find a way to marry my love of new places and my desire for a job in my field by landing some cool gig outside of the US. We'll see what happens.

I alluded to e-mail and Google chat earlier in this post, and I'll elaborate on why. Networking is crucial to staying afloat in your industry, and with electronic media, networking has never been easier. No, I'm not on MySpace, and I don't know if I'll be Tweeting anytime soon, but I try to make the most of my e-mail by constantly staying in touch with former employers, as well as those who I've interviewed with, only to be passed over. Yeah, most e-mails sent to those in the latter category end up unanswered, but it's important to try.

Site of the moment: Meet Up. I just joined, and already, I've found a French speaking culture club that meets on a monthly basis. I think it'll be a good way to keep the creative juices flowing. I met with a former French teacher today at the coffee shop on campus to have a chat in French, and boy am I rusty.

A Thing of the Past

2009-04-12T17:45:00.004-04:00

At the moment I'm putting together a document that includes all the research from my advertising capstone course. We've been working for the last four months to think of ways to address the college binge drinking problem, and we've finally come up with a serviceable campaign that "we believe will prove effective in our mission to confront the binge drinking situation." I've become so familiar with writing like an account planner and talking like a telemarketer, that I jokingly advise anyone to double check their wallets after a conversation with me. I may just swipe a $5 from your billfold. You just never know.

Speaking of telemarketing - although I enjoyed the weekly paychecks (especially given the current state of the economy), I was working way too many hours at the site and with several key assignments due over the next four weeks, I found it best to focus all of my energy and effort towards the completion of those assignments, so that I do graduate, or "roll out," as I like to say it.

Quitting the telemarketing site returned 30 hours of time to my disposal, which I made pretty good use of last week. Not only have I been scoping out some ideal job arrangements (more on that later), but I have also returned to something of a social life.

This week I was contacted by a friend with a spare ticket to see Lady Gaga perform at Center Stage in Atlanta. Funnily enough, she told me about her plans to go to the concert at the beginning of March, while I was in the midst of my brief stint at the telemarketing site. Ordinarily, work commitments would've precluded me from attending, but because I was a newly free agent, I of course said yes. Lady Gaga turned to be every bit as charismatic and coquettish on stage as in her music videos and televised performances. I grinned from ear to ear when she said, "People ask me, 'Gaga, why do you talk about sex, and fame, and sequins in your music?' I said, 'Because those are the things I know about. Everyone here is an expert at something.'" This was made even more hilarious when a flamboyant guy behind me yelled, "FELLATIO! I'm good at fellatio!"

Good times. Back to work.

EDIT: I titled this entry "A Thing of the Past" because I am officially declaring worry to be that thing. Man, am I a terrible writer or what? Can't even remember my own diatribes.

In Memoriam...

2009-04-05T21:31:00.002-04:00

Not more than ten minutes ago, I learned that Andy Hallett passed away on March 29 as a result of an ongoing battle with heart disease. This really hit me, as his role on Angel is one of the reasons why I enjoy genre television so much. Angel, along with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, were really creative shows that were scary, funny, and sad, but always very interesting to watch. I like to think that every successful genre show of the 21st century owes a great deal to Joss Whedon, creator of both shows, along with the now defunct Firefly and Dollhouse, which currently airs on FOX at Friday at 9:00PM EST.

I would like to write more, as I haven't contributed anything within the past two weeks, but I don't want to take away from the moment. Don't get me wrong, I'm not sitting here with tears streaming down my face, but I do respect this guy's talent and what it did for one of the best shows ever to grace television. Thanks so much for your talent, Andy. Rest in peace.

Quick To-Do List

2009-03-21T22:37:00.002-04:00

Sometimes it helps to see things in print:

1. Return videos to Blockbuster (and maybe rent more)
- I rented Eat Drink Man Woman, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, and The Abandoned. I'm keen to rent Meet the Browns, Cadillac Records, and maybe Rachel Getting Married

2. Order Graduation Announcements

3. Get cap and gown

4. Graphics test on Monday

5. Fill out more job applications (I am lagging on this so bad it's not even funny. I try to remind myself that I'm really shooting myself in the foot if I don't step this up)

6. File Taxes (my least favorite thing!!!)

7. Finish and submit internship evaluation in order to receive class credit so that I will have a reason to complete objectives #2 and 3
- I returned from France in December! What is wrong with me?! Why is this thing not done yet?!!! I even got an email from my advisor reminding me to do this. She probably thinks I don't even want to graduate, haha)

Already Completed:
- ~~Pay Power Bill~~
- ~~Pay Water Bill~~
- ~~Pay Rent for April~~

And to think, there are actually people who PAY to have things like this done for them. Curses...

Describe Your Life With Music

2009-03-18T09:11:00.003-04:00

Using only song titles from one artist, cleverly answer these questions:

Pick a band/artist: JAMIROQUAI

1. Are you a male or female: "Space Cowboy"

2. Describe yourself : "Starchild"

3. How do you feel about yourself: "King for a Day"

4. Describe your ex boyfriend/girlfriend: "Just Another Story"

5. Describe your current boy/girl situation: "Feels Just Like it Should"

6. Describe your current location: "Traveling Without Moving"

7. Describe where you want to be: "Corner of the Earth"

8. Your best friend(s) is/are: "You Give Me Something"

9. Your favorite color is: "Hot Tequila Brown"

10. You know that: "Time Won't Wait"

11. What’s the weather like: "Seven Days in Sunny June"

12. If your life was a television show what would it be called?: "World that He Wants"

13. What is life to you: "Virtual Insanity"

14. What is the best advice you have to give: "Use the Force"

15. If you could change your name what would you change it to: "Mr. Moon"

Multi-Tasking Is for the Gods....

2009-03-15T03:09:00.003-04:00

Album of the Moment:
Lady GaGa - The Fame

I definitely know that I had planned on finishing at least three things by the end of this week. I'm all too aware of the fact that I haven't written anything in several weeks, and the truth is that I'm just busy sorting things out. With graduation now less than two months away, I now need to focus on completion of all the pre-ceremony rifraff such as sending out announcements, getting the cap and gown, and most importantly, finishing my internship document. I still have yet to submit the docs in order to get my class credit, and I'll definitely be wanting to do that! Aside from that, I have of course been looking at employment opportunities.

I'm not too worried that the life updates are less than exciting at this point. I know me pretty well, and I'm sure I'll have lots to report on in due time....

Who You Callin' A Monkey?

2009-02-18T10:51:00.005-05:00

This was found in today's edition of the New York Post:

I suppose even our cool new president isn't immune to racial slurs and downright ignorance.

All Things in Good Time

2009-02-17T14:13:00.002-05:00

I just finished off a pretty good lunch of tilapia, spinach, and grapes, and now I'm thinking of things I need to do before I leave for work in an hour. Speaking of which, the telemarketing company has been very pleasant thus far. The people are really easy to work with, and because I only work with inbound calls, I never have to worry about getting cursed out for harassing someone. Just waitin' for the first paycheck, and that leads me to another item to do...paying bills. I've been keeping them pretty low thus far by turning everything off and taking short showers, so I only have about $50 to pay for both water and power - not too bad!

Got dirty dishes in the sink, clothes strewn around the room, jobs to look for, and a focus group to organize. My advertising campaigns project (check out the blog at http://campusboozeblog.com) is putting together a series of short panels to ask college students about their boozy ways. Should be fun. I think we're going to offer pizza as an incentive to come. Is it wrong that I'm more excited about the pizza than the actual focus group? Hmm.

Other than that, this week is pretty chill. Even though I'm without fun and exciting twitter-style updates from Paris, I thought it would be a good idea to keep this thing updated - months and years from now I'll be able to look at my posts and pontificate on what a wise, well-adjusted young man I've become. Hah!

A Wing and a Prayer

2009-02-12T09:50:00.004-05:00

Although I usually hate email forwards, this one stuck out to me, especially with me being in a bit of a rough spot managing bills and the forthcoming life after graduation. Check it out..

One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God," I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me...
"Look around," He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes," I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.
But I would not quit. In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle." He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots".
"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others."
He said. "The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern.
Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come," God said to me. "You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?" I asked. "How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return. "As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and brought back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you. Never, Never, Never Give up.

Prayer is not an option, it's an opportunity.

Just call me Bamboo Brown...

And I Think to Myself, "What A Wonderful World..."

2009-02-10T22:05:00.002-05:00

Man oh man, has this week been juicy, and it's only Wednesday.

"Leap Kills Motocross Star." "Rihanna Reportedly the Victim in Chris Brown Assault Case." "Wildfire Death Toll Reaches 180 in Australia." "Kellogg Drops Michael Phelps."

Must be something in the air. Regardless of all the action going on out there, I try to keep a strong focus on what I'm supposed to be doing, and in case I haven't said it a dozen times, that would be graduating and finding a good job opportunity thereafter.

That of course means that the job hunt begins now. I've started looking at a few organizations - none of which I feel appropriate to comment on - and I feel fairly optimistic that I'll be on someone's payroll somewhere down the line.

I do have a couple of things keeping me busy though. I've recently begun working part time at a telemarketing company, where (thankfully) all of the calls are strictly inbound. This means that I will not become one of those people that you just love to curse out for dialing your number. The pay is pretty solid, and it will definitely help to take care of the bills for the time being. Hello financial security, how I've missed you.

Speaking of the bills - I live in a wonderful three bedroom/two bathroom house, and I lucked out by getting the master bedroom on the first floor, complete with its own bathroom. I love it. It's a fantastic place to live. The neighborhood is filled with really mellow students, singles, and families, and because it's not an apartment complex, I NEVER hear footsteps or voices 20 feet from my window. Looking back, it's a wonder I survived the crappy apartment I lived at during my fourth year. Whatev, I'm sure it built character.

The rent for my room is $300, which is a real steal, and the utilities aren't so bad either, except for the fact that I may be paying for them by myself pretty soon. I was under the impression that I was going to split the utilities in three with the other two roommates, but they both moved out, which left me with a quiet house all to myself (joy!) and the utilities in full (crap!).

Strangely enough, I'm not too worried. The three utilities are cable, water, and power, and I may end up lopping off the first one to save me about $40-60 bucks a month. I never watch basic cable, and though I love the movie channels, I am always dealing with one of two problems: 1) turning the TV on to find that an interesting movie has already started, or 2) having to wait for an hour or two for one to come on so that I can watch it in full. Because I've never been the type to schedule my life and free time around TV, and also because movie channels may end up being better for those who can tape them with a DVR, I may be better off just cancelling cable altogether. I love playing music, surfing the 'net, and reading in my spare time. The quiet, 'tis not a bad thing.

Boy, did I get to ranting or what? I have a magazine sketch due tomorrow for graphics, as well as an article to read for speech. Hasta la vista......

A Moment of Your Time

2009-02-05T11:20:00.003-05:00

Check out this blog created by my advertising campaigns group:

Campus Booze Blog

Please comment on the topics, contribute to the survey, watch the fun video, etc.

And I got a B- on that graphics test. Whatevs.

You Spin Me Right Round, Baby Right Round

2009-01-27T21:13:00.005-05:00

Music of the Moment:
Esthero -
Breath From Another

So it's the night before my first test in graphic communications and I'm feeling fairly confident. I've never been much for conventional studying (i.e. cracking the book) but I always attend class and try to be as attentive as possible during the lectures. Plus, the content is fairly enjoyable (computer design, creative planning, colors, hues, and type). I think that counts for a lot. Or at least we'll see.

Tomorrow shapes up to be one hectic day - after the test, I have a graphics lecture, followed by rhetorical analysis. After that, I have two job interviews (hooray for that because poverty sucks) for part-time work in Athens. Somewhere in between the interviews and class, I need to spend at least 45 minutes at the Spring Career Fair. Though over 250 employers will be in attendance, I'm only interested in working for 6 or 7 of them. That's not a great ratio, and to top that off, I really shouldn't be so picky, given this increasingly poor economy.

O/T (or new topic? hm): I was talking on the phone for a few minutes - and I'm supposed to be studying for a test, right? Yeah I'm focused - and we were dicussing cultural differences. She works as a cashier at Wal-Mart, and she said that in general, the whites who appear to be middle-upper class seldom buy anything in bulk, and they never buy ready-to-make canned or boxed dinners. They prefer fresh produce and ingredients. E.g. buying frozen chicken, rice, and vegetables instead of Chef Boyardee or Campbell's Soup.

In contrast, she said that most black people (upper-class in appearance or otherwise) usually stick to quickie meals and processed products such as hot dogs, frozen bags of fries (Good God those are so bad for you but they are so GOOD!!!), and other shortcuts to a heart attack. I definitely empathize. Growing up with two full-time working parents, I never missed a meal, but a great deal of those meals were not good for me. Quick stops to McDonald's, Chick-Fil-A or Burger King often took place in lieu of mom or dad (I say both parents because raising children to think critically about the foods they eat is everyone's job). It also didn't help that I was a latchkey kid growing up, and often times I ate whatever I could get my hands on, and at times that even included items as bad as cake frosting! Yeah, I know. It's weird how thinking of the old days makes me happy and sad at the same time. But I'm thankful for everything that's happened in life, because at least I get to live.

ANYWAY - damn I have a penchant for ranting - I went to the store last night and bought all kinds of healthy stuff like chicken, fish, brown rice, spinach, broccoli, strawberries, grapes, apples, bananas, etc. Pretty smart buying, right? However, there was one item that I did buy and I have no clue as to why I did so. Maybe because I wanted to satisfy the inner child who always fantasized about going to the grocery store and being able to buy whatever he wanted. Who knows? But I bought these:

Pancakes On a Stick, brought to you by the ~~murderers~~ fine people at Jimmy Dean. These things are so ridiculously bad for you...and yet they taste so good. My amazement at the power of junk food is only paralleled by my addiction to it.

I'm a junk food addict. This I know. A junk food addict who works out at least four times a week, and freed himself from overweight status more than 2 years ago. But what I need to face is that addiction is something that you deal with everyday, so I'd do better to avoid buying any more of these things in the future. That goes for cookies (love to bake them and eat them with ice cream), cake, and virtually any other sweet baked good.

Ahh that's enough self-disclosure for one night. Back to graphics.

The Pain of Planning

2009-01-23T20:05:00.007-05:00

For some reason, I've been on a big Toni Braxton kick for the past week. I've always been a big fan of her sound - that rich, deep contralto voice and her unapologetic sexiness. Though she only released three GREAT albums (and two mediocre ones), she's a legend in R&B and mainstream music. Ever since Michelle Obama became our new First Lady, my respect for black women has been rejuvenated. Michelle sacrificed a lot in order to support her husband, while making time for her children. Black women are the backbone of America, and I remind anyone who disagrees to remember how hard female slaves had to work to please both their masters and their families. Although I do chuckle at thinking that I had to hunt for a few good minutes to find a photo of Toni in which she was reasonably clothed.

Anyway, January 29 marks 100 days before I become a college graduate. Right now my main priorities are completing my course load without any problems, looking for a (hopefully lucrative and exciting) full-time job, and keeping to a healthy eating and exercise plan. Somewhere along the line I picked up a few side projects, although I'm sure I am not lacking for things to do.

I agreed to help out with the public relations for an SGA (Student Government Association) campaign, and it looks as though I may have to help plan my own graduation party. Not that I intended to have nothing to do with the latter, but I was hoping to leave the majority of the planning duties with my mother and grandmother. But in order to prevent any unnecessary stress (get-togethers involving my family rarely go down without any incidents of high stress), it looks as though I will have to play a larger role in planning than I previously thought. *sigh*

I can't let this get in the way of my job hunt though. In truth, the interactions with my family, both negative and positive, play a pretty big part in whether I'll ultimately take a job in a different state or country. I don't think escapism is healthy, as whatever problem I'd be escaping would be waiting for me when I got back, but putting distance between me and my family could be a good thing. I have a lot of love for them, but I'm not sure if staying close to home after graduation would be the best thing for me. It could do me a world of good to truly live on my own for a year or two.

Saturday Night Stay-In

2009-01-17T21:37:00.003-05:00

Albums Listened to Today:
Katy Perry - One of the Boys
Toni Braxton - Libra
Tim Kearney - Nothing Left to Lose

Funny - no matter how many Saturday nights I spend staying in, I never cease to feel as though I'm missing out on something. I think time alone is great - really, I do - but there's something about the best night of the week spent indoors that's a bit lame. Ahh well. I'm on a budget anyways.

Speaking of which - I've really gotten good at turning things down. A friend of mine is planning on attending concerts by Adele and Lady GaGa. While the latter merely intrigues me, I'd really like to see the former, as I've heard a few of her songs. Adele has a genuinely moving voice, almost haunting. I'm sure it would've been great to see her, but I'm sure she'll be around for years to come. Hopefully, in years to come, I'll have way more money...

I was browsing Britney Spears' blog when I got the idea to add blogs by Kanye West and Margaret Cho to my "Good Readin'" section. I think Britney's site is great, but the fact that the content is contributed by her staff and not Spears herself, it doesn't count as a blog so much as it does an official fansite.

There's a lot going on, isn't there? In addition to a plane landing on the Hudson river, a continually weakening economy (farewell Circuit City), and Israel's assault on Gaza, we have a presidential inauguration! That's always exciting. It's scheduled for this Tuesday, January 20th at 10AM EST, the day after the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. I plan on watching it, and I should probably participate in a US Day of Service event for goodwill's sake.

With so much going on, it can be hard to keep track of what's important. For me, priority numero uno is to have a good job awaiting me after graduation. That's why I've marked my university's spring career fair in my agenda. Although there will be upwards of 300 companies in attendance, only a dozen hold my interest. I know, I know, I probably shouldn't be picky, as a job is a job, but I think I can be selective enough to insist on working in the communications industry. I know there's a lot to learn, and I'm game for one hell of a lesson.

More Fitness, Yes Siree

2009-01-14T22:15:00.003-05:00

Yeah yeah, so I'm a bit obsessed with getting back in shape, but with only three classes and no part-time job as of yet, I have a great deal of free time on my hands, so why not use it wisely?

Tonight after leaving the gym (third day in a row! I may take tomorrow off), I googled "cut muscles," just to see what would pop up. Naturally, a Yahoo! Answers forum popped up as one of the primary results.

I think these are pretty good tips, so I'm going to try and follow them as best as I can.

For Muscular Definition:

1.) Use heavier weight and fewer reps to bulk up - example: 10 pounds/3 sets/8 reps

2.) Use lighter weight and more reps to cut the muscle - example: 5 pounds/3 sets/20 reps

3.) You must fatigue the muscle to make gains. That means that the last few reps (the # of times you repeat the motion) of the last set (how many time you do a group of repetitions) should be difficult or impossible to do - so choose your weight according to that rule.

4.) To fatigue the muscle group more quickly, try super sets = a combination of two exercises for the same muscle group done consecutively (one right after the other). They work best with the larger muscles and should just be done once in a while, maybe every third workout. Example for chest is bench press and flyes.

5.) Use Compound sets to force muscle growth. This is similar to supersets except the exercises are for opposing muscles instead of the same muscle. Example is chest & back.

6.) Perform all exercises slowly for both concentric (shortening of the muscle) & eccentric (elongating the muscle) contraction. This will balance muscle strength and help you to achieve a sculpted, uniform appearance.

Note: even when cutting, your last set should be difficult and the last few reps near impossible to achieve without assistance. Just be sure you are using a lighter weight, eventually you will do enough reps to fatigue the muscle.

-----
I'll even go one bit further and write my food intake for the day. I don't count calories, but I may even have to start doing that too...

Breakfast:
1 Banana w/ Peanut Butter
Bowl of Granola Cereal

Mid-morning snack:
Fiber One Chocolate Granola Bar
Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bar

Afternoon snack:
Bagel chips w/ hummus

Late Lunch:
Salmon filet
Spinach
Wild rice

Dinner:
Turkey sandwich
1 Banana w/ Peanut Butter
Apple juice

Late Snack:
Bagel chips w/hummus
Slice of pineapple

I see now why people keep food journals - I am noticing a pattern here. I definitely should snack less, or turn my focus from carbs to fruit or protein. I have tried protein bars though - trust me, they suck.

Ah well, on continues the project...

Ay Yi Yi...

2009-01-12T22:08:00.002-05:00

So classes have begun (luckily I only have three this semester), and I am optimistic about graduating on a high note. Though I won't be stepping into the best job market possible, I will have options, and that's always a relief.

Recently I joined the typical January fitness craze by diving back into the gym after spending four months of eating the most delicious food Europe has to offer: kebap sandwiches (almost always with fries), croissants, pain au chocolate, steak and roasted potatoes, and my worst habit...crepes. Although I am not exactly sure how much weight I gained while I was in Paris (probably about 10 pounds), I find myself getting better and better each day at getting back into the rhythm of things.

All this week, the fitness center on my campus is running a promotion where all of the group fitness classes are free. As you guessed, they've been packed to capacity, with students eager to shed as much weight as possible while being able to benefit from free training.

Yesterday I told myself I'd try as many of the free classes as possible, so today I went to "Boot Camp" after classes and it KICKED MY BUTT!!!! No joke. I've been jogging/running since high school, and I've never had any trouble completing 2-4 miles on a pace of 5.5-6.0 MPH on a treadmill, but weight training circuits are a whole 'nother kettle of fish. This was our workout (keep in mind we only had about a minute of rest in between each circuit:

- Push-ups
- Jump rope
- Bench Dips
- Stairs
- Squats
- Lunges
- Sit-ups
- Planks

By the time we cooled down with a few stretches, I was so out of breath that I felt nauseous. I Googled this, and it turns out that "exercise-induced nausea" is pretty normal, especially during high intensity regimes. No wonder I've always heard of guys throwing up during football or track practice.

So there you have it, your boy is in even worse shape than he thought. My advice to anyone reading this - get back and stay on the exercise horse ASAP. The longer in between workouts only keeps you rusty, and that never feels good.

Into the Athens Groove

2009-01-09T04:44:00.003-05:00

Although I still don't have everything I need quite yet (pots and pans, hangers, etc.), I have successfully made the transfer back to Athens for my last semester of university. The first day of classes was yesterday. Luckily for me, I only had one, my advertising capstone. After we were introduced to the syllabus, our professor told us a bit about her background. Before coming to UGA to serve as an associate professor, she worked in the advertising field for the better part of a decade. For a few minutes, she opened the floor for us to talk about our dreams, goals, and ideal places to work.

Just as you may have guessed, I was the first to speak up. I shared my desire to work in a fascinating and lively city, and that I didn't care too much about the salary as long as I could live on it (and save a bit, mind you). I also said that I was intent on working in the communications field. I've seen far too many a student spend years studying Real Estate or Public Relations only to end up working as a waitress in a ski resort in Colorado or a four star hotel in New York City. I'm not knocking them - a job is a job - but it's important that I find a place where I will grow professionally. I'm really all about the growth these days. The money wouldn't hurt either, but I'm confident that will come.

Speaking of money - ouch. $100 on a bed, $25 on a desk (thanks Craig's List), plus $125 in groceries and $75 in truck rental fees (to move in) = me returning to broke undergraduate status. Funnily enough, I'm not TOO worried. We'll see where I end up in four months. I just hope wherever I end up tosses a few dollars my way.

Interesting link - I actually caught Oprah on TV yesterday, and guess who was the guest? None other than my favorite financial expert, Suze Orman. Turns out she is offering a free download of her latest book, Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan, free at Oprah's website. Click the link to check it out!

Places to See Before I Die

2009-01-04T21:10:00.006-05:00

Tonight I was watching The Bucket List on television. If you're unfamiliar with the premise, the film is about two ailing senior citizens(played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) who, because of their many regrets, make a list of exciting things to do before they "kick the bucket."
Activities on this list included a safari in Africa, a climb to the top of the Himalayas, and a trip to Egypt, among other things.

But the shots of Nice, France, caught my attention in particular.

Eze Village

Villefranche

Hopefully I can make it there before I'm in need of my own bucket list. Will I too have regrets at the end of my life? Food for thought...

Why I Love Her So Much

2008-12-31T09:30:00.002-05:00

Beyonce performing Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were" at the Kennedy Center Honors.

Even though I don't at all care for Streisand or her work, it's always nice to see the softer side of Beyonce. She really is a dynamic performer.

Life Goes On...

2008-12-30T19:56:00.004-05:00

So I decided to keep contributing to this blog, even though I have returned to the States for my last semester in school. Although there are many thoughts that I am not willing to share on the Internet, there are just as many that I don't mind sharing, and I think this blog is a good way to keep the writing juices flowing.

The past week has been a bit dull, as I have not been doing too much aside from catching up on bad American television and spending time with family members. You know how that goes. I did, however, catch a showing of Will Smith's new flick, Seven Pounds, which I loved despite the negative reviews. I've learned to make a stronger effort to think for myself and not rely so much on what other people have to say. In the end, it'll be me who reaps the rewards or suffers the consequences, so it stands to reason that I and I alone should be responsible for the actions that lead to those outcomes.

I have also restarted something of a fitness regime. We'll see how long I can keep that up. The last time I did any serious exercise was Sunday, November 23rd, when I thought it would be a good idea to go running in cold weather. Lance Armstrong I am not! I caught a really nasty cold that knocked me on my butt for a day or two. I exercised for the first time since then last Wednesday, doing a 45 minute fitness DVD. I exercised for an hour (cardio, strength training) on Friday, followed by more cardio (2 miles on treadmill) on Saturday. I did weights last night, and I think I may be game for hitting the treadmill tonight. We'll see how it goes.

Is losing weight a 2009 resolution? Perhaps, but I'm focusing more on finding the perfect job to await me after graduation. That would indeed be my top priority.

Man Shot During "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

2008-12-27T22:52:00.002-05:00

Check out this news link!

Pretty crazy stuff. I've always loved movies, and although I have in recent years cut down on my trips to the theater, putting a bullet in someone's arm is just all kinds of insane. That's why I always wait for the DVD release....

Back in One Piece

2008-12-25T11:39:00.004-05:00

Airports are pure craziness, I tell you. Everytime I am in an airport, I see people at their worst. Parents stomp around in a huff while barking at their kids to stay close. Businessmen talk furiously into their Bluetooth devices while waiting in the line at Starbucks, giving the barista an evil eye as they anxiously await their caffeine fix. Backpackers and students walk around with their eyes glazed, rendered ulle airport, situated a good 10 miles from the north of the city. After we hugged goodbye, I scrambled to the departure screen to find my flight, only to see that I was in the wrong terminal. Oops.

After I hit the CDG Val (a monorail that escorts visitors to one of the airport's three terminals), I found the line for my flight. Just as I made my way to the ticket counter, one of the airline representatives told me that there were no more seats and that I would have to fly out the next day.

I can only guess that from the look on my face, she thought she had to appease me in whatever way possible. It's funny because I wasn't at all mad. I was merely thinking, "Hooray! Another night in Paris. I never did get to say goodbye to my friend across the street."

That thought must have translated as frustration or displeasure on my face, because not only did the airline rep offer me a free hotel for the night (with meal vouchers), but a seat on a first class US-bound flight for the next day, AND an international travel voucher. Who's excited? Yes, that would be me.

I'm sure you're thinking that I could've just called my host mom and asked her to pick me up, and spared the airline the trouble of booking me a hotel. I even thought that myself. Yes, a small tiny voice inside my head told me, "They're already giving you a seat in first class tomorrow, and you got a travel voucher. Have some class." But then a louder, more familiar voice in my head said, "Screw that, ride this free horse till it buckles!"

So it turns out that the hotel was one of those airport hotels, so I didn't have to travel far to get to it. That turned out to be a much better solution because I could avoid inconveniencing Micheline by getting her to drive to and from the airport two days in a row. Plus, the hotel was awesome! As soon as I stepped in, I realized that although I had stayed in places that called themselves hotels, they were merely private rooms in a hostel, complete with uncomfortable beds, dirty floors, and bad television.

This one had all the trimmings, including a plush queen-sized bed and a television that offered channels from over a dozen countries. Turns out that world news is much more fascinating in Chinese. Imagine that.

But I digress. I put my things down, giddy at the thought of being in Paris for one more day, and headed straight for the hotel restaurant, lunch voucher in hand. I gorged myself on pasta, salmon, roast beef, chocolate mousse, fruit, and cheese. Luckily there was only one other couple dining, but I doubt I would've cared anyway. Eating for free is one of life's greatest pleasures, of this I am sure.

So after I ate and crashed for a few hours, I called up my former neighbor and met her at a party in the city (I never know which arrondissement I'm in, by the way). What I love most about house parties in Paris is that I always feel comfortable as I am. In the States, I would always feel out of place for not having the best clothes or the "flyest" pair of shoes or sunglasses on. Oh, and while I'm on that tip, WHO THE HELL thought wearing sunglasses inside was cool? I blame this trend on Jay-Z, Usher, and whoever else thought they looked cool wearing a frickin' pair of Ray Bans to a party.

After the party, we left with two of her friends to head to Montparnasse for one more Kebap! I'm gonna miss Parisian junk food, even though the American variety suits me just fine. I'm glad I got to go out in the city at least one more time before a nine hour flight in first class.

Ever flown first class? I doubt I'll ever be rich or picky enough to pay an extra $1,000-1,500 for a flight, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy sitting on a giant recliner chair, drinking wine while watching any one of various terrible movies. I didn't get a chance to watch Mamma Mia, which I heard was good, but I don't see myself watching Pineapple Express or The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor ever again. In regards to the former, I really don't get fratboy humor, nor do I think Seth Rogen is funny. As for the latter, save for a cool fight scene between Michelle Yeoh and Jet-Li, the film is devoid of redeeming values.

The Day Has Come

2008-12-19T09:03:00.000-05:00

So long story short (and you'll get the long, as soon as I have the time, which seems to be never, I know), I have really grown comfortable with living here, and now that I have to leave, I'm as petulant as a cast member on "The Hills" or "Dawson's Creek." That's right, I'm pitchin' a fit cuz I don't wanna go!

I haven't posted any photos on here in quite a while (chiefly because anyone who reads this is likely to be friends with me on Facebook, where I put most of my photos anyway), but I hope to post a few here of:

- Rome
- Berlin
- Paris
- Dublin

Don't wanna go, don't wanna go, don't wanna goooooo...

Une Petite Leçon Culturelle

2008-12-16T08:04:00.003-05:00

French phrases commonly used in the English language

Even if you don't speak French, you can fake it :)

Fire Alarms in Winter? WTF

2008-12-16T05:19:00.004-05:00

So I'm on Deezer, about to play "Put On" by Young Jeezy and Kanye West (I've recently become a big fan of rap, more on that later), and then I hear this crazy alarm sound. I thought, "I don't remember alarms in this song the last time I heard it." Turns out it was a fire alarm! Yes yes, it was someone's bright idea to have a fire alarm for the entire building in 33°F weather.

It suffices to say that I was not well amused, although it was funny to see half the employees of a six-story building take advantage of the brief recess to light up a cigarette on the Champs. And who says the French aren't optimistic?

Looking to Learn a New Language?

2008-12-12T08:33:00.005-05:00

I am really in love with the idea of becoming fully fluent in two languages, and I think my cranium is just big enough for a third. Spanish would probably be the most useful, no? I scrapped this off Wikipedia a few minutes ago.

Ranking of languages by number of sovereign countries in which they are official:
* 55 countries: English
- largest: United States, India, Nigeria
* 29 countries: French
- largest: France, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Canada
* 24 countries: Arabic
- largest: Egypt, Sudan, Algeria
* 20 countries: Spanish
- largest: Mexico, Spain, Colombia, Argentina
* 10 countries: Portuguese
- largest: Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique, Angola
* 7 countries: German
- largest: Germany, Austria, Switzerland
* 5 countries: Dutch
- largest: Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname
* 4 countries: Albanian, Italian, Russian, Serbian,
* 3 countries: Chinese, Malay, Persian, Swahili, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu, Hungarian.
* 2 countries: Aymara, Bengali, Croatian, Greek, Hindi, Korean, Quechua, Romanian, Sotho, Swati, Swedish, Tswana

Logic indicates I should focus on Arabic, but I don't see that happening anytime soon...

Open Letter

2008-12-11T10:52:00.003-05:00

Before leaving to go back to the States, one of my supervisors (I have two - one is American, the other Russian-Hungarian. The American is the one headed to the US for the holidays) wrote me a great e-mail:

Hi Baron,

Well, here you are. Almost at the end of your internship with us. I know you'll be sad without the wiki, without our hovering and case study updating. But alas, life does hold bigger and better adventures!

I do hope you've enjoyed your time here with us, and I hope we've been able to give you a slightly positive idea of what it's like to work in the corporate team of an international agency. I can honestly say that your positive humour made it a pleasure to have you around.

Whatever your plans for the future may be - the next Waldo Emerson or a future communications professional - I wish you all the best and know you'll go just great. Keep seeking out those adventures! And hopefully our paths will continue to cross. Be sure to keep in touch. And...

Go Dawgs!

Quick Update

2008-12-11T08:14:00.003-05:00

Going to Rome this weekend, can't wait. Just booked my hostel today. Should be a lot of fun!

Going home the weekend after....can't wait for southern cookin', smiling faces, and American cable television. Bring on the reality TV marathons!

Architectural Digest

2008-12-03T17:17:00.005-05:00

I went for a walk in Montmartre last Friday and managed to take a few good shots of this beauty - La Basilique du Sacré-Coeur.

I've found that I have a really deep appreciation for good architecture. While museums and operas may not be my favorite things in the world, I do know good art when it's in my presence. This is indeed good art. I've also learned that when you're in an infinitely fascinating place, you are always in good company, even when traveling solo. Have the gumption to take yourself out on a date every now and then - I recommend it!

I should have plenty of good shots after I come back from Berlin!

The Time Draws Near...

2008-12-02T06:05:00.002-05:00

So it's been a pretty solid three months thus far, and I only have three left! I am excited about the trips that I booked for Berlin and Rome for my last two weekends here.

I do have a bit of homework though - I need to send a report of my internship to the States within the next day or two. Ahh, crud.

I plan on bringing my external hard drive so I can post some pictures after work. The processor on my desktop in the office is much faster than my laptop at home. Perhaps it needs more RAM? Does anyone know what hardware upgrades can be done to make a laptop run faster?

And on a more dramatic note....I DON'T WANNA LEAVE!!!!

Thoughts A-Racin'

2008-12-01T06:01:00.003-05:00

Why is it that I never have time to post? I have at least 10 things I'd like to talk about. Can't believe I'm 20 days away from returning to the States. Am I ready for that? Well I'd love to write on that...

How were the Thanksgivings? Love to talk about that one too...

Another "romanticizing Europe" post to come shortly...

I shall make time to write, I shall make time to write, I shall make time to write...

Oh Crap....Literally

2008-11-28T03:48:00.002-05:00

I usually wait so long to post my anecdotes that I end up forgetting them, but there was no way I was going to miss out on talking about this.

So it's no secret that there are homeless everywhere, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and as you can imagine, they are usually not the cleanest of people. However, never before had I seen a blatantly homeless man sleeping on a métro train. The average homeless man (or woman, mind you) is content to set up camp in a métro station, ATM vestibule, or sidewalk. This particular homeless guy was crafty.

Because my métro stop is the beginning (or terminus) of the line, I have the option of sitting just about anywhere I want before the train gets crowded as it picks up people after each stop. I usually like to sit at the end of a car, where the seats are arranged in a sofa-style fashion.

I was walking to the end of the métro car when I saw this homeless guy sleeping on one side of the couch. Though I had already decided that I didn't want to sit across from a sleeping bum (they can be physically unpredictable), I immediately got hit by this wave of FUNK. I mean, no lie, there was no doubt in my mind that this guy had been walking around in his own excrement for some time. I headed to the other side of the car, out of the stink zone, and sat down.

Here's where it gets funny - as the train got more and more crowded, people were forced to stand or sit near the guy, and I could see their expressions turn into grimaces of disgust as their noses were assaulted by the smell of feces. Many put their scarves over their faces in an effort to block out the smell, while the scarf-less smothered their mouths and noses with their hands. I even saw one woman choke, the smell was so bad. EVERY TIME the métro made a stop, the people nearest to the homeless guy would get out and hurry into a different train car. Every time.

Ahh, these are the moments that make Paris worth visiting...

Be Cool

2008-11-25T04:14:00.005-05:00

I definitely am not in the best of moods right now, due to some serious temperature-related discomfort at the house. The discomfort? It's freezing. That's pretty much it.

Not to say that the landlady has not tried to accommodate me. She's jiggled the knobs left and right, trying to get the heat to stay on, but for some reason it goes out in the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. Yeah, it sucks.

So now I have a cold today, at one of the worst possible times. Our office has a presentation on International Public Relations that we're giving to University of Florida (ugh) students tomorrow, and I'm expected to speak! How am I going to say anything and sound confident when I am all the while fearful of snot running down my nose?

At times like this, I really miss home. No, not the house I'm staying in with the supremely screwed up HVAC, but HOME. Right now I'd be in a warm bed watching crappy daytime television, eating Chick Fil A. Uncle Sam, I miss thee....

Vamped Out

2008-11-23T16:04:00.017-05:00

I have around five essay-length posts that I have every intention of publishing very soon, but I've learned to embrace each and every train of thought that keeps this twisted mind of mine entertained.

Train of the moment? Vampires. I've always been fascinated by any subject interesting enough to pull me away from what I'm supposed to be focusing on, and I've always been fond of vampires in particular. I think my first exposure to vampire lore was the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The essence of the plot? A young Californian female who enjoyed nothing better than maxing out her credit at the Beverly Center must now grapple with her calling to destroy vampires and other various demons.

Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm a person of high taste. Say what you want, but it was a fairly enjoyable camp flick. I remember checking the TV Guide listings for the HBO broadcast schedule in order to catch the flick whenever it was on the television. Imagine my glee when the (now defunct) WB network announced a spinoff in 1997. I remained a faithful viewer throughout the show's six year run. The television series quickly surpassed the film in terms of quality and intrigue. In the TV version (which I highly recommend), Buffy falls in love with Angel, a vampire cursed with a soul. Though Buffy's mission as the Slayer keeps her bound to the night, she'd love nothing better than to be whisked off by her pale lover into a beautiful sunrise...oh wait.

In 2000, one of my favorite singers, Aaliyah, announced her intention to star in a feature film adaptation of The Queen of the Damned, the third installation of Anne Rice's much-heralded Vampire Chronicles. Those familiar with Rice's canon know that her main thesis is that vampires retain their personality after being created, and many of them are sensitive, emotional creatures that spend a large part of their existence reflecting on their lost mortality (when they're not ripping out throats, that is). Though the film itself was of questionable merit, it was enough to turn my attention to Rice's literary work.

After having read books I-III - Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, and The Queen of the Damned, the latter of which I finished shortly after arriving in Paris, I considered myself just about done with vampires, until I got hooked on this, my newest guilty pleasure.

One of HBO's newest series, True Blood, tells the story of a Louisiana waitress named Sookie Stackhouse (raise eyebrows in amusement here), a young telepath who falls in love with Bill Compton, a vampire created during the Civil War. Though I openly deride this show for its obvious cliches, I somehow managed to watch 11 episodes within a week. Congratulations, HBO. You've won me over.

But I've got to draw the line with this Twilight mess. Yes, I know the film claimed more than $70 million at the box office this weekend, but as you can see, the vampire-with-a-conscience wheel is one that Hollywood has spun one times too many. I am not at all familiar with the Twilight novels, but I'd bet every cent to my name that the franchise features the following plot elements:

- Socially alienated young girl (prom queens and yearbook editors are much too busy to consort with the fang gang)
- Socially alienated young girl's motley crew of fellow outcasts who cannot fathom their friend's interest in Undead Americans (sorry, guess that's one less friend to attend the latest Evanescence concert with you)
- Broody, mopey, but always sexually attractive vampires frozen in immortal youth and beauty (Human blood creates the same fountain of youth effect as Botox, apparently)
- Vampiric love interest faces ostracism from his own kind for showing interest in humans (otherwise known as dinner)

I often fantasize about being in a position where I am able to call public attention to this fact. Maybe Roger Ebert is in need of a page? Who knows. All I know is that I need something new to fixate on. I tried exercise, but it makes me tired.

Switch 'Im Out, Kick 'Im Out

2008-11-21T05:46:00.004-05:00

As we are thankfully nearing the end of W's ~~tyranny~~ administration, I received this in a company email this morning.

'The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country.'
- George W. Bush

'If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.'
- George W. Bush

'One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one word is 'to be prepared'.'
-George W. Bush

'I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.'
- George W. Bush

'The future will be better tomorrow.'
- George W. Bush

'We're going to have the best educated American people in the world..'
- George W. Bush

'I stand by all the misstatements that I've made.'
- George W Bush

'We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe . We are a part of Europe '
- George W. Bush

'Public speaking is very easy.'
- George W. Bush

'A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls.'
- George W. Bush

'I have opinions of my own -- strong opinions -- but I don't always agree with them.'
-George Bush

'We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur.'
- George W. Bush

'For NASA, space is still a high priority.'
-George W. Bush

'Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children.'
-George W. Bush

'It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.'
- George W. Bush

He sure is edumacated.

Turkey Day x 2

2008-11-19T09:15:00.005-05:00

So it looks as though I may be having Thanksgiving after all! Twice even. Not only is my supervisor hosting a feast, but my neighbors and I are planning a potluck. I wonder what the French think of all this rampant eating...

Because I get the chance to enjoy my absolute favorite holiday in my absolute favorite city, it's only appropriate that I give thanks to Christ the ~~Feeder~~ Healer, right?

Here we go:

Dear merciful baby Jesus,
Thank You so much for continuing to nourish my bottomless pit of a stomach.
For the past 22 years, You have always provided me with more food than one human being should ever eat, and for that I shall always be eternally grateful.
For Your mercy, like my appetite, knows no boundaries.

Amen. Now get to work on securing the menu for Christmas.

'Tis truly the season.

Romanticizing Europe Pt. I

2008-11-18T12:45:00.004-05:00

In the past, I was of the opinion that Americans have a very strong tendency to glamorize Europe. I read of gorgeous Spanish beaches, delicious Italian food, and impulsive French fashion. In high school, which is where I believe many Americans develop an appreciation for traveling elsewhere, I was advised to take advantage of the abundant opportunities to visit other countries for the benefit of my well-being.

In college, where I came to better understand government, I heard many a student voice his or her dislike of American self-interest in favor of European socialism. I was also no stranger to the idea of Europe being a racially unified utopia where biracial coupling abounded, free of criticism. After twenty years of being in the South, I finally felt ready to visit the European Utopia.

When I arrived in France in May 2007, I did indeed see a country that appeared to be a melting pot of cultures. Everywhere I went, I found a reality that seemed inconceivable in America. Couples and families of all colors and ethnicities strolled down the street, without anyone giving a second look. The homeless slept by the banks of the Seine river or in ATM vestibules without being harassed by the police. And most notably, public transportation was a marvel of efficiency. Save for New York City and a few other well-known American metropolises, I believed it next to impossible to get anywhere without a car. That didn't seem to be the problem in France.

I continued to hold this view of Paris until my eyes fell upon those working the most unsavory jobs possible. For all the colored blue-collared employees I saw, I might as well have been back in the States. African maids tended to my hotel room, while Arabs toiled away at construction jobs on the métro or in the street. African men hawked counterfeit versions of haute couture bags, while Asians and Middle Easterners manned crêpe and fruit stands on street corners and in subway tunnels.

More and more, I'm beginning to see that the most important things may not be so different, regardless of what side of the ocean you're on...

Back in Action

2008-11-13T06:20:00.002-05:00

I promise to write about Dublin as soon as I get my computer back, not to mention some free time! A friend of mine needed to use it to finish her application. To Harvard. Yeah that's right, she's applying to Harvard. What am I doing? Jetting off to look at castles...when I'm not contacting agencies in Tokyo, London, and Mexico City, that is.

I'm important too, darn it!

Photos and review of Dublin soon.

Book I'm currently reading - The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver.

Off to Dublin for the Weekend....

2008-11-07T10:53:00.001-05:00

I don't plan on having regular access to a computer, so everyone have a good weekend!

Random thought: Gyro sandwiches are good.....

Brave New World

2008-11-06T06:07:00.004-05:00

I have decided that the best way to avoid boredom with the design of my own blog is just to update the background as I deem necessary.

I'm still in a state of euphoria just knowing that the country I return to, MY country, is one that has only begun to realize its own potential. Yes, yes, yes we can.

You can view our president's speech by watching the video below:

Four Seconds of Fame

2008-11-05T13:40:00.002-05:00

So it looks like CNN decided to air one third of my two cents!

Can I Just Say...

2008-11-04T09:20:00.008-05:00

That I have never been prouder to be an American. Senator Barack Obama has supporters all over the globe, and the French audience is no exception. Ever since I got to work this morning, people have been making crossed-finger gestures at me. I get winks from guys in the restroom, which is just fine, as I know they're not propositioning me (as least not today). At lunch, the other interns interrogated me endlessly as to when the results would be announced. The energy in this office is palpable - just about everyone is rooting for our dear Chicagoan. I just wish I didn't have to work today! It hasn't been too bad though, but I know I'll be white-knuckled by midnight.

Barack Obama, we salute you. Best of luck.

P.S. I'll be sure to post pictures from the Election Soirée sometime this week. It should be a lot of fun! There'll be a buffet, TV interviews, a buffet, free alcoholic beverages, a buffet, hundreds of Democrats and Republicans to socialize with, and...oh yeah, A BUFFET!

Thought of the Moment

2008-11-02T15:57:00.004-05:00

Yeah yeah yeah, so I changed the template yet again. One of these days, I will take the time to design my own template in Photoshop or something so that I can finally be at peace. Today is not that day, however.

This weekend, I had my ritual walk of the town on Friday night. Usually I walk from L'Arc de Triomphe to Notre Dame's Latin Quarter for a good pita sandwich, and this week was no exception. The change in climate may soon necessitate a variation to my routine. Can't believe it's getting this cold so quickly, but then again, I'm not in the States.

I spent the better part of Saturday roaming around town, trying to find a few pairs of pants without breaking the bank. Mission unaccomplished!!! I find myself mystified at how Parisians walk around looking like the best pages of a Macy fall catalog without living on the streets. My only guess is that they save money by turning a two bedroom apartment into a space for five. Not my idea of private space, but hey, when one wants to look good, one has to make sacrifices.

After several hours of being frustrated with the French fashion industry, I headed over to my boss' apartment, where she was hosting a Georgia-Florida football party. There I met some familiar and new faces, and had a great time.

But here's what I wanted to stress (sorry you had to read all that to get to my point): I met a French girl who studied for a few years at the University of Florida. When we were talking (in French, I might add!) about our experiences traveling to a different country, we both said the exact same thing about the other culture:

(rough English translation)
Me:I find French people very friendly and welcoming, but it has been hard to make actual French friends. The majority of my social network consists of Americans and Canadians. It's kind of hard to meet people here outside of work.
Her:I felt the same way about UF. I thought the Americans were really nice, but most of my friends were French ex patriots, and we had a kind of French community at the university. It was really hard to meet Americans.

I think this just goes to show that everyone should make an extra effort to reach out to those who come from another place. When I arrived at the beginning of September, I didn't know a single soul, save for two UGA ex pats who I rarely see because they are busy with work and their personal lives. I now have the experience of being in a situation where your knowledge of the native language isn't exactly perfect, but all you want is to establish a good rapport with the people and get a feel for the culture.

Stepping outside of your comfort zone is never easy. Do what you can to make another's transition more fluid. Something as simple as asking a foreigner for a lunch date or coffee can make all the difference in affecting their view of your country.

Threat to the Red States

2008-10-31T07:16:00.001-04:00

Note: This came from an e-mail that a co-worker sent me. If I had written it myself, I sure as hell wouldn't have dissed my own school! I thought about changing "University of Georgia" to "University of Florida," but I don't believe in tampering with original documents, no matter how damning they might be.

Subject: Letter from Blue States to Red States

Dear Red States:

If you manage to steal this election, too, we've decided we're leaving.
We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue
States with us. In case you aren't aware, that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon,
Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the
Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and
especially to the people of the new country of New California.

To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We
get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of
Liberty. You get Dollywood.

We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.

We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss.

We get 85% of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama.

We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay
their fair share.

Since our aggregate divorce rate is 2.2% lower than the Christian
Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single
moms.

Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war,
and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you
need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they're
apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they
don't care if you don't show pictures of their children's caskets coming
home. We do wish you success in Iraq, and hope that the WMDs turn up,
but we're not willing to spend our resources in Bush's Quagmire.

With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80% of the
country's fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92%
of the nation's fresh fruit, 95% of America's quality wines, 90% of all
cheese, 90% of the high tech industry, 95% of the corn and soybeans
(thanks Iowa!), most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods,
sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford,
Cal Tech, UCLA, Berkeley and MIT.

With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88%
of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92% of
all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the
hurricanes, 99% of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all
televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the
University of Georgia.

We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.

Additionally, 38% of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually
swallowed by a whale, 62% believe life is sacred unless we're discussing
the war, the death penalty or gun laws, 44% say that evolution is only a
theory, 53% that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61% of you crazy
bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties.

Finally, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed
they grow in Mexico.

Peace out,

--Blue States

Always So Friggin' Tired...

2008-10-30T16:20:00.003-04:00

But I guess that's how it is when you have a....what do you call it, a job? Hmm.

Updates:

- Going to Dublin, Ireland next weekend
- Attending the CinéAqua all-nighter election party next Tuesday!
- Watching the Georgia-Florida game this Saturday at a friend's place

That's about it!

Weekends in Paris

2008-10-27T08:56:00.007-04:00

I had a really good time this past weekend. On Saturday, I went to the Museum of Erotic Art with a friend, and afterwards we went to a café for lunch. That same night I met up with a group of people at Bong, a Korean restaurant, for a birthday celebration. Half of us ended up dancing for hours at a club that played some of America's best 90s R&B and hip-hop.

Sunday I slept in, and took myself out on a date where I strolled through Boulevard St. Germain, and had quite a few desserts:

Though there's no way in hell I can justify eating three desserts in one day, they were all good!!

Why I Need A Good International Job

2008-10-20T10:23:00.002-04:00

My supervisor will be away for a few days because she's going on a business trip. To LONDON. She's going to LONDON to WORK. Right now I am cursing my intern status and wishing there were more jobs out there for people who love to travel and need a way to earn a living by seeing the world.

I'm not graduating until May. I suppose there's plenty of time for some international company to open a position that pays 30,000€ per year with plenty of travel benefits.

Or maybe that's just wishful thinking.

Quick Interlude...

2008-10-16T05:01:00.001-04:00

Scarlet Takes A Fall

If you don't have time to watch the whole thing, just fast forward to 2:45. I have watched this five times now and am still unable to stop the tears from my eyes.

I really have to get back to work!!

This Land is My Land...

2008-10-07T06:00:00.003-04:00

I have been meaning to write a mini-essay on how much I appreciate the chance to interact with people of various nationalities and interests in this fascinating city, and I will, but for now:

- Turns out I am indeed going to that Kanye West concert (I wonder how you say "Love Lockdown" in French?)
- I am in the process of mailing out my absentee ballot for the presidential election
- Hoping to visit Rome during a 4-day weekend next month
- Currently reading "The Bean Trees" by Barbara Kingsolver
- Anxiously awaiting the release of the first single from Beyoncé's new LP

C'est tout pour le moment, à bientôt....

Mr. West in Paris

2008-10-02T06:42:00.003-04:00

Kanye West at Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy

I think I would be quite stupid not to check this out.

Rainy Day, But the Sun Approaches

2008-09-30T03:42:00.005-04:00

I talked with one of my best friends last night, who works as a flight attendant. It turns out that she has secured some time off, and is coming to see me in a couple of weeks. Hoorah. Not only will it be good to see a familiar face, I'm excited to show off my (miniscule) knowledge of Paris life. Should be fun!

The haircut? Didn't get it quite yet, but I have the address to a place recommended by a co-worker in the office.

New Project for the Weekend...

2008-09-24T08:29:00.001-04:00

Asking for a haircut in French. I hope I don't end up bald. It's not a good look for me.

What A Day...

2008-09-24T03:39:00.004-04:00

Yesterday's turn of events got me off to a rough start, seemed to take a turn for the better, and then dumped me back where I started.

I walk out of the house around 8AM to begin my typical hour-long - yes, 1 hour - commute to work. After reaching the RER (Paris commuter train, this is different from the métro), I find the gates closed and the station completely empty. Not knowing the reason but frustrated nonetheless, I hopped a bus that I believed would take me to the nearest train or métro stop possible.

Not the case. After a few stops, I realized that I was on the right bus, going in the wrong direction. It completed about 15 stops before finally coming to the métro. Now, already late (damn) and not wanting to miss a 10:00 team meeting, I scrambled to the métro, where I got to work mere minutes before the meeting actually started. Whew.

After work, which was thankfully eventful, my boss and I went to The Green Linnet, an Irish pub. There I met a bunch of really cool people from Italy and the UK, as well as France. I really appreciate the wealth of cultural diversity this city has to offer.

After a few drinks (my drink of choice being water, as I am trying to budget!), we hit up a restaurant down the block and had dinner. The food was not by any means exceptional, but I enjoyed the company (One of my boss' friends, a really cool fille named Agnés, informed me that the RER was shut down due to a strike. I have got to be on top of these things). I find that for the really outstanding cuisine, you have to shell out a pretty penny. I think that healthy and delicious options can always be found for cheap in America, but I've yet to find a cheap meal here that didn't include fries. The search continues....

Once I left the restaurant around 11PM to catch the métro, I reached home in about 25-30 mins, not bad at all....only to find that the bus that drops me off within a few paces of my house had closed for the night! Oh well. I took the only bus that was still running and trekked it home in a reasonable amount of time, jamming on the iPod all the way.

I have a date or two lined up for this weekend! Stay tuned.

What A Miracle........

2008-09-20T06:46:00.005-04:00

I finally have internet at my house now. For some reason, the WiFi was not working for a few days, but Micheline (the landlady) finally got it crackin'. Ordinarily I would be writing an essay by now, but not only am I having to sort out two different languages here in Paris, I have to work my way around the European keyboard as well. For the most part, it is the same, but a few letters and punctuation marks are switched.

Okay, enough writing, as I am starting to get frustrated. Pics, anyone?

I find that when you are in a big city like New York or Paris, you are always in great company, especially when walking by yourself. Last Saturday I walked around for several hours before I came to a stop at one of Paris' many brasseries (restaurant/cafe). With no other diners present save for yours truly, I opened up my book, sat back, and read for about an hour and a half. Of course I stuffed my face in between pages.

As I work in the Paris hub of an international PR company, I have the privilege of getting to know people from all over the world. One of the interns, an Italian girl named Irene, had her last day yesterday. She indulged us with crostata, an Italian cake made with jam, brown sugar, and other delicious ingredients. Yeah, it was good.

I snapped this while taking an after-work walk to burn some calories.

I Think It's Time For Me To Admit It..

2008-09-18T07:50:00.003-04:00

Many who have known me over the years are no strangers to this fact:

I am a pastry addict. I am a pastry addict living in Paris, land of pastries and all other known sweets. This is a serious problem. Already I have eaten two of these today:

You think they have a support group for this?

In other news, I turn 22 tomorrow! A friend from work has her 26th on Monday, so we are going to try and set up a joint birthday party for this Saturday at a restaurant/bar known as La Boca Chica. You can check it out here: La Boca Chica
Funny how I say "joint" birthday party, as I only have a handful of non-work related contacts here in Paris, and Claudia no doubt has tons. Nonetheless, fun is to be had, and have fun I shall.

Dagnabbit!

2008-09-17T05:40:00.002-04:00

This is the second day in a row that I have spilled chocolat chaud on myself. I may have to start shopping for new clothes if this keeps up.
Until I learn how to properly steer a cup to my lips, it's strictly water for me!

It's my favorite polo too. Crap. I hope this washes out.

The Worst Is Now Over

2008-09-13T10:23:00.004-04:00

So I have reached the end of my first week at work and I spent the better part of today walking around Paris, (re)taking in the sights. As I write this, I am on the upper floor of one of Paris' many McDonald's locations, pilfering the free WiFi. I absolutely love this city and all it has to offer, but I can't help but compare the experience I'm having now to the first time I visited Paris, in summer 2007.

Last summer was the first time I had ever been out of the country, as I enrolled in a study abroad program that my university offered. While spending six weeks there in a rather posh hotel, we took two courses and had The City of Lights to our full disposal. Everyone seemed to get along well and after a few days of introductions, people buddied up and we all went about enjoying the city in our own way.

Although I'm happy to be back, I have to admit that there is a great deal of difference between being surrounded by a group of fellow Americans with whom you eat meals and take classes, and being on one's own to complete a work study program and having to find a place to live.

Boy oh boy, was finding a place difficult. After spending the first three days in a hotel that I had booked in advance, I lived for two nights in a house that just wasn't comfortable. After informing the ex-landlady that I had decided to move elsewhere, I moved to a nice house just on the south side, about 10 minutes away from the Eiffel Tower by car. So although I'm settled, I'm sure I'll be having nightmares about lugging my crap through the métro for three days.

There's a lot more to say, and I'll be sure to write it all down, but my laptop power is decreasing by the minute and there are no electrical outlets in sight. But I do have pictures!! I'll try to make this a habit.

Team Party

My room. It has an Indian theme - red and orange walls, night tables in the form of elephants, and Hindu figures on the pillows and bedspread. J'adore.

Gone But Not Forgotten....

2008-09-09T18:46:00.002-04:00

I promised myself and my readership (however small it may be) that I would update this thing regularly in order to A) give people a sense of what it's like to live and work in another country, and B) avoid having to answer the "So what all did you do?" question 50 times.

The job? Worthwhile. The people? Even better. The living conditions? To be continued....(meaning I have yet to commit to a place)

Ah, what an adventure. Not always a fun one, but like I said, I'll have updates soon.

For now, feast your eyes on this:

And the weather is FANTASTIC.

Bon Voyage (for real this time)...

2008-09-04T22:07:00.004-04:00

This will no doubt be the last post I make while I'm stateside. I prayed up and down for the opportunity to get to intern in France, and now that it's here, I'm goin' full force.

It's been a long time coming, no doubt. The powers that be at my new job informed me of the internship offer in May, but little did I know that there would be a small hurdle in terms of paperwork. Because of an unexpected delay in obtaining a necessary signature, I was almost convinced that I wouldn't be able to gain a student visa in time. But as they say, situations have a mysterious way of working themselves out, and here I am, less than 18 hours before my flight.

I had a good talk with a really dear friend today (you know who you are). She graduated from our university and recently started a job as a TV news producer in a relatively small market in one of the Carolinas. We were catching up when she said something that reverberated in my mind. When describing one of her colleagues, an unsavory man in his sixties, she said that he was in the winter of his life. That really struck a chord and got me thinking.

What if life really is comparable to the ebb and flow of the four seasons? In spring we are born and develop an understanding of our talents and purpose. In the summer, we push this understanding to the extreme, experiencing the best and worst that life has to offer. Autumn allows us to transform these experiences into a wealth of knowledge for others to draw from. In the chill of winter, we retreat into the earth, returning to that from which we....well, sprang.

Like anyone else about to embark on a major life experience, I've questioned myself, often to the point of frustration. But now, when I'm mere hours away from departure, I feel relaxed, more relaxed than I have in weeks. If there ever was a summer of life, this would be it for sure.

P.S. I've enabled my cell phone to dial and receive calls internationally. Earlier today, I confirmed my hotel reservation with the concierge - completely in French. Oh yeah. I'm bad. Until someone approaches me with rapid fire French and I choke, that is.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a camera is worth...

2008-09-02T22:26:00.004-04:00

Since June I've been seriously considering a new camera, and now I have finally settled on one. This Canon is one of the best reviewed makes and models on the market, and I can't wait to start snapping photos like a crazed tourist once I land this Saturday. Well, I'm sure at that point I'll be tired out of my mind from the jet lag, but once I recuperate...

The camera is an early birthday gift from my grandmother - God bless her. I appreciate her even thinking of getting me a gift, seeing as how she and Mom provided all the food for Sunday's get-together. I honestly wasn't expecting anything else. It's going to be weird having my first birthday away from home and in a different country, and I'm sure missing Thanksgiving for the first time will be even stranger.

But once you go for something, you've gotta give it your all. That means shrugging away the occasional feelings of homesickness or culture shock when they come, and I'm sure they will. Nevertheless, I know this is a great opportunity.

I can't wait to start posting once I actually get to Paris and I'll be able to start reporting on the goings-on at work and during my downtime.

Bon voyage

2008-09-01T11:08:00.002-04:00

Last night was the family gathering. We invited 15 people (pretty much the entirety of the family on my mother's side), and 12 showed up, much to my surprise. For a few nanoseconds I thought I'd get the pleasure of eating the feast that mom prepared, but the fam' started showing up a few minutes after our appointed time.

It never ceases to amaze me how people can set aside their own agendas when it comes to someone they care about. My grandfather and his second wife were there, in addition to my grandmother and her second husband, and although their divorce took place well before I was born, they were never on what I'd consider great terms. But they were friendly as could be.

I also got to see my cousin's 5-month old baby. Needless to say I'm already devising a plan to kidnap her and raise her as my own, as she was cute as could be.

Well my flight leaves on Friday and I am at the moment 100% unpacked. Duty calls....

What have I brought upon myself...

2008-08-28T22:23:00.002-04:00

"See, what had happened was...."

Remember that tentative plan to have a gathering for family? Well it actually came to fruition, in a mere hour or two.

[phone call from grandmother]

GM: "Well I think it would be nice, and we want to do it for you."
Me: "I think it'd be nice too, but it's always a hassle trying to get people in one place. Everyone always has their separate plans...."
GM: "Well you won't know until you make a few calls."
Me: "But it's Thursday! And we're trying to get people to show up for Sunday?"
GM: "You won't know until you call."

A few calls later, and everyone I call says they're good to come over!

Imagine that. Should be fun...except for the fact that a guest list of 5-6 people ballooned to about 14 family members, some of whom I have not spoken to in years.

This should be fun...

Ou habites-tu?

2008-08-28T03:31:00.003-04:00

Where will I live in Paris? That is indeed the question. I spent so much time worrying about whether or not I'd get a student visa in time for my departure. Now that that's out of the way (thank you Adriana, you're an angel), I can worry about finding a place to stay.

Easier said than done, just like anything else worth doing. On some good advice from madre, I decided to book a hotel/hostel for the first week's stay. This way I can view apartments in person when I am not at work. This way I can get a feel for where I'd be staying without actually having to commit to an agreement beforehand. On top of that, Paris is notorious for having a large number of professional scammers who prowl the Craigslist dailies, posting fake ads requesting a deposit be sent via Western Union.

Well not me, suckas. Not me.

So all's I have to worry about for the moment (baby steps are important, you know) is finding a quality place to stay that fits within a reasonable budget.

How's that going? Well, I am up at 3:30AM.....

Tick tock tick tock tick tock

2008-08-27T01:28:00.002-04:00

The hook from Madonna's "4 Minutes" reverberates in my head as I think of all that needs to be done before I leave on the 5th for the grand return to Paris.

Clean out closet (full of old clothes)
Throw out old clothes (create more space for room while packing)
Buy new ones (sounds like fun now, but I know it won't be when I see that credit card statement)
Pack clothes
Personal appointments (doctor, etc)

But the most important item on the to-do list would be to have one last hurrah with the friends and family. With less than 11 days before my flight, I am wondering how I'm going to pull this off, but I know it'll be worth it. Maybe I could have a last-minute get together for family members this Sunday at the house, followed by a simple dinner somewhere between Athens and Atlanta next week. Nothing too expensive of course, as I'll have plenty of time for meals I can't afford once I'm back in Paris.

Funny thing is, I'm not at all nervous about leaving home. I'm nervous about re-acclimating to Paris, for sure, but I know I'll be leaving everything on a good note, and that the ones I love will not only support me while I'm gone, but that they'll be waiting for me when I get back.

Hmm....1:30 in the morning and I'm sitting on the bed surrounded by clothes, both clean and dirty. Damn, I wish I was better about being organized.

Mic Check...

2008-08-25T22:19:00.004-04:00

Alrighty, here it is! I'm still in shock that the domain name "twistedflava" was still available, and I always appreciate a good surprise. Though I've made attempts here and there in the past, I've never been good about journaling consistently (my writing hand always gets tired), maybe a blog will work. I had one before in 2006 as a class project, which ultimately fell by the wayside after I received an unfavorable grade.

Here's to new beginnings...