It's Black Friday! You know what that means...

Time to rip down those leafy, orangy, autumnal decorations and pull out Santa, the reindeer, your mini-nativity and wrestle with the itchy garland and the miles of lights you were too lazy to put away properly last year.

Every year without fail, we put up our Christmas decorations the weekend (okay, maybe the week) following Turkey Day. As I've grown older, I've looked upon this occasion with both delight and dread -- I'm suddenly fighting dual personalities. Who wants to spend the whole day decorating the house, inside and out? Well, me...but then again, why can't just put up the tree, hang up the wreaths in the windows and be done with it?

What is it about getting older that makes me want to simplify Christmas? Is it the fact that I'm no longer a child, and now I'm the one who's responsible for braving the mall to buy gifts, preparing the holiday meals? Or is it that I now understand how disgustingly commercial we've made Christmas?

As the years pass at my house, we put out less decorations, freak out less over the perfect holiday get together, and making our lives easier by not requesting as many specific gifts (I can pick out my own sweater, I would just appreciate a little money towards it's purchase).

And I don't feel bad about it. I'm happier making my friends a gift box of cookies and yummy desserts than buying them a present I hope they'll like. I'm happier spending my free time at home, with my friends and family, than at the mall.

A Collection of Thoughts

Time flies: Wow, so, in case you hadn't heard, Thanksgiving is here (here, meaning close enough that I can talk about it in the present tense) and you know what that means -- one more year has gone by. This one has been especially memorable for me since I graduated from college in May and have been struggling to find a place in my industry since then.

PETA shoots themselves in the foot again: Today, PETA suggested to Damon Evans (I really wish I could have heard his reaction) that instead of replacing Uga VII with another dog, UGA should build an animatronic Bulldog for our mascot. What? Clearly, none of the people working at PETA graduated from UGA, or this never would have been brought up.

They are glossing over a nearly 54-year tradition at UGA. These dogs are an institution -- they are lovable, friendly, and pettable -- and yes, they have health issues. We knew that. Did anyone really expect the current Uga to pass away? No. His predecessors all lived an average of 8 years (only one died under 9 years of age). The Seilers are certainly going through a rough time now, and with absolute confidence I can say that they love their dogs and if there's something they can do to help them, they will.

RIP UGA VII

I arrived home today and my dad had horrible news he'd heard on Fox 5: Uga VII "Loran's Best" died suddenly today. My eyes nearly bugged out -- Uga was only a couple games away from finishing his second season, and only four years old. Bulldogs have serious health issues, I know, but by my estimation, all the Ugas have lived at least seven years.

This is sad news, especially for the Seiler family. I had the opportunity to interview three family members this past year for an article, and they truly care about their dogs. These dogs are beloved family pets, and for anyone who's grown up with dogs, you know what that feels like. It must be particularly difficult to lose two dogs so close together.

It's also a bit disheartening as a Dawg fan, because Uga is such an integral part of Gameday events, and in many ways, a representative of UGA as much as Michael Adams is. I don't know how many people know, but the Seilers and Uga are at every football game, individual college events, other miscellaneous sporting events, and other University festivities. And mind you, they come from Savannah, which is four-five hours from Athens.

My thoughts turn to the Seilers, and if you have a beloved pet of your own, give him or her and extra pat tonight.

Red & Black article
Athens Banner-Herald
AJC article

I have a job! At least until June...

I was sitting on the couch, watching the news Tuesday night when I got a phone call from a 205 number. I knew immediately that this was a Birmingham area code based on my experience with Southern Progress. To say my heart started racing would be exaggerating, but I was definitely nervous.

Somehow I managed to calmly answer the phone. Katie B., one of two ladies I interviewed with for the copy editing department, was calling me to offer me an internship! Yay!

I am so excited to know that I've earned this opportunity, and that I know I'll have something of a purpose and job for the next six months. And to my relief, Katie also sounded very happy that I would be working with them.

The quick turnaround surprised me, since I only interviewed last week, and I turned my ranking sheet in on Monday. But I am surely not complaining! As my aunt Shirley said, and it's true, waiting for a call back can be more stressful than the interview. I'm glad that I know now, and I can start thinking about all the little things I need to get ready.

My family is also very happy for me, and I'm grateful to know that they probably think about these things as much as I do, and that I have their full support.

The intern coordinator will send out information on housing and policies soon, and I am itching to take a look at the e-mail. I'm especially anxious to solve my residence issues, since I only know one other person who interviewed.

During college, I found that as long as I could come home to a quiet, for the most part peaceful apartment, all the other stresses in my life could be easily dealt with. But a crappy living situation can make it hard to get through life.

After visiting last week, it turns out that I know two of the current interns from UGA. Georgia was in my magazine production class, and she has already, very kindly, offered to give me any advice I might need. I know the other girl, Katie, vaguely from Grady, and she offered the same help.

Working for Southern Progress is an amazing opportunity, and will hopefully crack open some more doors for my career. More updates to come as I learn more.

Southern Progress Interviews

Two months ago -- I can't believe it was that long -- I reapplied for a fellowship with Southern Progress. This is a six month, paid internship with one department at their Birmingham campus. SP publishes Southern Living, Cooking Light, Coastal Living, Health, Sunset, and the now defunct Southern Accents.

I had three interviews with the company: one with the copy editing department of Southern Living, another with Myhomeideas.com, and the last one with the Travel/Living department of Southern Living.

Just like last spring, I thought that all the interviews went really well, but I won't know until I hear something back from the intern coordinators! I've found that it's easier to interview with SP than other jobs I've interviewed for because our time is spent having a conversation as opposed to going line for line over my resume and talking all about my experiences.

I left Atlanta mid-morning so I could get to Bham in time to eat lunch just before my first interview at one. I didn't get finished until after three, and I regret not being able to take a tour of the grounds. The buildings were really designed to blend in with the hills and surrounding woods, so you really don't feel like you're in an office park at all.

I waited to meet a handful of current interns for dinner; they offer their time to interviewees to ask questions and talk over dinner. I was very tired by the end of the day, but I knew my time would be well spent by staying. And, I didn't want to get back to Atlanta during rush hour!

There weren't any interns from the editorial or digital parts of the company, for which I interviewed, but I did get to meet one who graduated in my class from Grady.

I'm hoping to hear some good news back from SP in about a week and a half, so wish me luck!

Southern Progress

Cavalia

Last weekend I treated myself with a ticket to the Cavalia show at Atlantic Station. It's a new Cirque-like show, but with horses. So, of course I had to go see it! I wasn't feeling too great that day, so it was nice to have something fun to do for a couple of hours.

My seats were in the middle section, which actually afforded a very good view of all parts of the stage. It was two and a half hours of different acts that combined general riding, dressage, trick riding, lunging and acrobatics.

My favorite acts were the trick riding and the "communication" act. In the latter, one woman commanded the full attention of eight geldings (I'm guessing they were all geldings) for quite a length of time. The horses worked in groups of four, moving in a circle around the woman or the stage, and sometimes one group would do a turn while the other continued on around.

It was amazing to see how well the horses and riders worked together, so I knew that they all had very close relationships. It was also difficult at times to follow everything that was going on because I was trying to catch everything the horses were doing, but also pay attention to the human performers and their acrobatics.

The show I attended was a full house, so I'm going to say it's safe to assume that the rest of the shows will also be sold out. People in Atlanta really love this type of show, and it was definitely worth my money and time.

Pumpking Carving and Dead Computers

So, I'd like to open this post with some bad news. Remington, my beloved laptop, has died. He is suffering in the no-computer's-land of fried hard drives. He got me through college and dozens of papers, study notes and countless hours wasted on Facebook. I perfected my resume and cover letters, watched hours of TV and movies, and kept up to date on the news, Cake Wrecks and icanhazcheezburger? He housed my photos and music, and fought valiantly against the many viruses attacking Windows.

I'd appreciate if you would bow your head for a minute and then pat your desktop, laptop or netbook and be grateful for all it's done for you.

Okay, on to happier news. My friends and I had a pumpkin carving get together yesterday at the house, and it was a lot of fun. I love carving pumpkins, and though my carving skills are limited to large shapes, I love to check out all the really cool designs online every year.

I did a traditional cat, and the boys did a jack-o-lantern meets Pacman. Two of my close friends asked another if she would carve them Edward and Jacob pumpkins (yes, from Twilight). Enjoy!

Mysteries on Hump Day

Okay, so it's been a while since I finished the Tamara Siler Jones books, but you know how it is. Finish one book, move on to the next...and so on.

"Ghosts in the Snow" was well-written, and I thought the plot was well done. I don't read many mysteries, so it takes me a little longer to figure things out sometimes, but I really liked trying to keep track of all the clues and put them together. And not be thrown off by the red herring(s). You'll know what I mean if you read the book.

But besides the plot and mysterious fun, Jones takes the time to shape her characters. They show their true colors in their actions and you understand why they act the way they do. I think that I like Lars and Dubric the best.

The next book in the series, "Threads of Malice" is much more intense and darker than the first book. If that's possible. Dubric, Lars, Dien and Otlee have to leave their home this time and travel north into a deeply rural area. There are ties to the mage wars mentioned in the first book, and the area is where Dubric defeated one of said mages.

"Threads" deals with incredible violence against young boys, and that's the part of the evil Dubric has to stop. Some person is kidnapping, torturing and killing boys in the area, and Dubric has to relive some of his past to stop the killings. There's a lot of growing up to do for the main guys.

They all change in reaction to the events of this installment and I'll have to read the third book, "Valley of the Soul," to find out how much. It's interesting to look at Dubric a little more closely, and to see how the events open old wounds and heal others.

I highly recommend these books, but why? Well, I've never seen anything similar to them. I would categorize them as forensic fantasy. Set in a totally original world, and Dubric uses rudimentary forensic skills to solve murders. Footprint, fibers, etc., are what interest him. He likes science, but also has a difficult past with religion.

I also like the interesting history with the mages that has had a profound impact on the country. Hints of a technologically advanced society taken over by evil mages, and now basically operating in an equivalent Dark Ages where magic in shunned. A nice commentary on science, technology and too much power.

Another series I recently started is the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. Harry Dresden, wizard/P.I. is the main character, and he's most of the reason I'm reading the books. I like his humor, his chivalry, his ingenuity and the hints of a sordid family past. I've only gotten through the first two books -- pretty tidy mysteries with lots of subplots -- and now I'm left hanging.

Basically I'm short on cash and the library is missing the Dresden Files 3-6 and 12. Bleh. Maybe when I get a real job, I can get the rest. Or, request them from the library.

So now that I've gone gushy on two series, I have to break your heart. "The Snow Queen" is the fourth in Mercedes Lackey's Five Hundred Kingdoms series. I couldn't get enough of her Valdemar series as a teen, and I ate up the Kingdoms books. But "Queen," well, I just can't love. I want to, really, but the climax killed it.

I know, I know, it's a fairy tale and that's how things work under the influence of "The Tradition," but it doesn't make for a very realistic reading. I feel as though everything was tied off too neatly, and sometimes where it wasn't warranted.

Like Aleksia's feelings for Ilmari, Lemminkal and Veikko. She only knows about them from afar, which doesn't make for a close relationship, but Aleksia is on the verge of tears over their misfortune because she feels so close to them. What? And then at the end they're best buds! Feels like too much "Tradition" at work.

To give credit, Lackey's characters are well-developed and dynamic as they often are. You want to hear their stories. And her creative use of traditional fairy tales in this series is both entertaining and informative. Overall, "Queen" was worth it for those facets, but the first three were much better.

When they get their names in lights

So the other week, I noticed a film crew at the corner of Baker and Peachtree Street. My first thought was "Cool! More stars and hit shows in Atlanta, and not just those darn Housewives!" I also hoped that the production company was paying the liquor store and restaurant next door for their time. Probably. Anyone know about things like that? And who would be coming into the liquor store at ten a.m. you ask? Believe me, people here do! I've seen plenty of folks leave with their brown paper bags as I head to my internship.

I found out that the crew was filming some footage for an in-the-works Fox show called "Past Life." It's based on the book "The Reincarnationist" by M.J. Rose, which I actually have, but for some reason or twelve, haven't gotten around to finishing. Maybe it was that weird jump in time after the main character realized he was having deja vu fo sho'. Really annoyed me, but I've decided that I will finish books before passing final judgement.

Film is big in Georgia -- like, millions big. According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD, who oversees film, music and tourism happenings in the state) companies invested $521 million dollars in the GA economy, which equals $929 million dollars in economic impact to the state.

There are two hot shows being filmed in Atlanta right now -- "The Vampire Diaries" and "Drop Dead Diva." Parts of "Zombieland" filmed here as well, and word is that Robert Redford is coming to Savannah to start filming. I checked imdb.com and after searching under film locations, I got back over a thousand TV and movie titles. Granted, individual TV episodes are listed, so the actual number is less. Some samples from the list include "In the Heat of the Night," to "Cape Fear" to "Driving Miss Daisy."

So why is Georgia such a great place to film? For starters, the state gives production companies up to thirty percent in tax incentives to "qualified" projects. Twenty percent is a tax credit on their investment, and the extra ten comes if the production agrees to slip in a Georgia logo in the credits. AND, productions can get immediate sales tax exemptions on certain purchases.

Georgia also has a strong network of production companies and workers. GDEcD's website writes that there are 4,000 entertainment pros and 800 production related companies in the Peach state.

But, as is often the case, I think that money is at the heart of this. In Georiga, the cheap cost of living is a draw for companies and indivduals. Land, food, gas, and other necessities are cheap relative to other large cities and states. The good weather, an extensive highway system, and the varied topography that make the state fun to explore probably create a great deal of flexibility for location scouts and film crews.

Links

-Fox Past Life page
-Georgia.org Entertainment page

UPDATE: According to AJC's Radio and TV Talk blog, Fox has stopped production on "Past Life." This seems to be the new favorite thing of networks (remember "Southland"?). Bummer for the crew, and I know I was hoping to see more bright lights in Hotlanta. It also seems like a crappy business model to order filming and then shelf the project. If anyone has any insight into these things, I'd love to hear it!

Benefits of Networking

Today was my day off, and I spent most of it working on job application materials, job searches, ideas for posts and, of course, networking!

My uncle Lynn -- thanks, Lynn! -- helped me get in touch with Randy Achee, who is the CEO of H&A Media Group. And no, I'm not gonna give you his contact info, go get your own well-connected uncle!

We were able to talk for about an hour (!) and he gave me some good common sense advice about how I can approach my job search and networking.

1. Look for an area that has need for my skills, but one that has also weathered the recession better than other areas, and that will grow well in the next couple of years.

2. Find ways that best showcase my skills in my resume. I have a couple of bullet points that expand on my skills and successes, and Mr. Achee reminded me that I need to be detailed and give examples of how I have been successful and how I've developed my skills.

3. Build my web exposure. I have a good head start with this blog, a website of my senior year projects, and I have a Twitter account that I use...sometimes. I think I'll get more use out of Twitter now that I have a blog.

4. Network! I hear this all the time now, but Mr. Achee pointed out to me that 30-40% of lower and entry level jobs will show up online, but the higher up you get and the longer you're into your career, the less positions you'll find online and in public sphere. Achee said that's when my social and business contacts will be most important.

I was relieved to hear from Mr. Achee that he felt I had a good journalism/new media foundation. It's been difficult at times for me in applying for jobs and talking to people about the experience I have.

Being a journalist is a bit like being an actor in that many others want to be the same thing. It can be a struggle to make myself stand out, and to not worry about being underqualified for positions.

Mr. Achee also mentioned that being young, fresh out of school and cheap in the way of salary are also distinct advantages for me. Before and right after I graduated, I wasn't so sure these factors would help, but it's nice to hear so from a successful executive.

Another reality is that starting in communications -- PR, marketing, magazines or online -- I have to be prepared to act as an apprentice. I won't get paid much, if at all, the first few years because it's about gaining experience and finding my voice as a writer. Just like the the craft apprentices of yore, I gotta work for free under the masters before they'll help me set up my own shop.

Even knowing this, it makes all the difference having people around me that care aboutwhat I'm doing and are willing to help me find my way.

Thank you, Mr. Achee for giving me your advice and being so generous with your time!

Chattin' Up the Editors

I've been making the rounds of the editors -- slowly, but I will get them all! -- at Atlanta Mag, basically having quick conversations with them about what they do, how they got to their current positions, their views on the industry now, and of course, any and all advice they can give to a young journalism kid. I also have shamelessly offered my help for anything.

It's been fun to hear how the editors have made their way in the industry -- and a little scary. Their stories confirm really how hard it is to be successful. I guess part of me -- the innocent five year old part -- hoped that opportunities would be available, even though I knew I would have to work hard. The economy and seeing the skeleton crew of a staff here has killed that hope.

But, there are other bits of hope still alive! People are still reading papers and magazines, even if they aren't paying for them or paying as often for them. There's still a market, it's just the matter of figuring out how to draw readers in and making it worth their time and money while balancing our own work loads and integrity.

The conversation I most enjoyed was with Rebecca Burns, former editor with a capital E. She currently heads up the website. Her insight into how the magazine developed the website into something sustainable and profitable opened my eyes and answered a lot of my questions. Atlanta Mag works really hard to balance online and print content, and I think they've done well for their audience. In general, the whole staff, editorial and marketing, works incredibly hard.

There's new content on the site in the form of blogs, extras to the print articles, contests and picture galleries, as well as a digital version of the book on sale for ninety-nine cents! Something that has also been successful is the Atlanta Magazine Insiders program. People can sign up to receive newletters, alerts and event offers. All of this is voluntary, and Rebecca says that they have been very careful not to force content on the public.

Having seen things from the inside, I have to say the staff is doing their damndest to make Atlanta Mag a great city pub and a profitable one, and I'm thankful for being able to work with and learn from them.

Walk for a Memory Cure

This weekend, my family and I participated in the Northwest Metro Memory Walk. There are twenty-one Memory Walks in Georgia this month, and you can think of them as a sort of Relay For Life for Alzheimer's research and support. The walks are overseen by local people -- Georgia has 887 teams -- under the supervision and guidance of the national Alzheimer's Association. Teams raise money for the AlzOrg, which goes to research, help hotlines, support groups and educational programs.

The walk starated at the Maple Avenue Methodist Church right near the Marietta Square. We arrived about 9 a.m., and the morning started out sunny, but the clouds rolled in soon after. For one, I was glad, since that dropped the temperature down quite a bit and the weather was perfect for a brisk walk. We began our Walk a little after ten, and there was an oops! moment when our trust train of the Square passed by. There are trains that pass by the west side of the Square at regular intervals and unfortunately, we'd just started!

We crossed over South Marietta Parkway and walked around the Square, looping back around on Cherokee (I believe) towards the neighborhood near Maple Avenue. Mom, Dad, Ben and I chose to do the three mile walk, which included the Square and neighborhood. As early as it was, I really enjoyed just getting out with the family, talking and walking. Mom and I were definitely raring to walk faster, but the guys weren't so much into that. She and I walk for excercise, so we're used to moving at a quicker pace! The neighborhood we walked through provided a great view. The area is historic, and there are many cool old houses that reach back to the earlier parts of the century. We had a couple of lively discussion about the colors, styles and historic "characteristics." Like the shack (literally, but the walls were even) that served as a garage. But alas, no one can tear it down because its...historic!

In all, it was a great event, with 357 walkers. Everyone seemed very upbeat and enthusiastic about what the Memory Walk is all about, which gives me hope for the success of Walks everywhere. As of Saturday, the NW Metro chapter had raised nearly $48,000, which is phenomenal. My mom helped start a team at her wokr, and according to the NW Metro site, they raised $2,237. Way to go, Administaff! And thank you to everyone who donated!

For me and my family, the Walk was about more than service. My paternal grandpa has Alzheimer's, as did his sister, Ivalue, and my family has lived what Alzheimer's means. I can't compare the pain and sorrow to anything else, because this is the most serious disease a close family member has faced. But it is painful, because the rest of us understand and see what has happened. We realized for certain about four years ago that Grandpa had the disease, after seeing some warning signs and getting a diagnosis after he stayed in the hospital for something unrelated.

Granpda was bron in 1919 and grew up a farmboy in Britton, South Dakota. He served in WWII as a clerk and translator, and then started his career as a public school teacher (mostly history, I believe). He was so smart, and had such a vast store of knowledge. He and my grandma would do crosswords every day. They had their little stations set up in their home with Sharpwriter mechanical pencils, crossword dictionaries and notes. They would bring their supplies with them when they visited us. Sharpwriters always make me think of them. And his jokes! I'll never forget the story about the "ice cream." During one family gathering, back in the day, he and another relative served up some mashed potatoes to look like dessert, gave it to a third relative -- voila! Sour puss look and laughs. His dinner joke was to stick your thumb in the stick butter as he passed the dish. He always kept us on our toes.

Grandpa still has a lot of his humor, and some of his old grumpiness. But the tragedy of Alzheimer's is that his memories and most of his personality are gone. His Alzheimer's progressed pretty quickly, taking his speech skills and memory at the same rate. The tragedy of Alzheimer's is that your loved one is still here, but they are no longer aware of themselves, their lives, or anyone around them.

This is part of my story with Alzheimer's, but the disease reaches much farther. Every seventy seconds, another person develops/is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and over 200,000 Georgians suffer this disease. It is progressive, fatal, and the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Baby boomers are the largest group at risk right now. I encourage everyone to do their own research on Alzheimer's, and to take your own steps to protect your mind and body because no one is immune to this disease.

The NW Metro chapter will continue taking donations until Nov. 15, and you can make donations to AlzOrg any time during the year.

Extra stats (alz.org)
-35 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's
-5.3 million people in the United States have Alzheimer's
-By 2050, there may be up to a million new cases a year equaling 16 million people with Alz
-Half of all nursing home residents have some form of Alz/dementia
-Nursing home costs an average $42,000, but can be even more expensive in parts of the country

Links -- more information, and where I found many of the facts mentioned here
Alzheimer's Association
Northwest Metro Memory Walk
CDC Statistics
Global Statistics
Impact on America
Championing the Cause

Intern Fun Day Pt. 1

So, Tuesday, Amy, Jackson and I ate at a new restaurant called Flip Burger Boutique and it was delicious.

I got the Falafel Burger and a side of their french fries (which are fried in duck fat). The fries are big enough to share with two people. They were both great. I got the burger because I had a hankering for falafel a la my trip to Europe. We ate a lot of kabobs and falafel during the trip because it is cheap and tasty. The burger itself was light and really hit the spot. The falafel wasn't heavy or greasy at all and the greens, red onion, cucumber rounded out the flavor.

The restaurant probably seats less than a hundred people, so I'm sure it fills up quicktly. We arrived soon after Flip opened, and there was plenty of room. There are booths along two of the walls and two rows of high tables filling the rest of the space. I would say go early so you're not sharing your meal with the person in the next party.

We decided to split three of their milkshakes and I'm glad we did! We had the pistachio and white truffle, nutella and burnt marshmallow and georgia peach versions. I usually like pistachio a lot, but I wasn't crazy about this one. The nutella was definitely the favorite of the night, but the peach was a close second.

Everything is made fresh with really nice products so the slightly higher price tag is totally worth it.

Good communication is important

Ha. So, I almost got into a fight (not really, but close) with the Wendy's drive thru lady yesterday. I wholly claim my blame, but she was just as feisty. I wanted to order three items a la carte, and she ordered me a combo without warning. I said, "No, I don't want the combo, I just want the three items." And she came back with, "Oh, no it's cheaper." And I'm thinking, how is it cheaper for me to buy a combo AND a Frosty? I don't think so!

We exchanged a few more words and I drove up to her window. We got into a small argument about the math of a combo versus a la carte. After a minute, she finally clarified that she wasn't trying to sell me a combo plus a Frosty, but that I could get the Frosty substituted for no extra charge. Wtf? In my own ignorance, I thought they charged for that crap, so I've never subbed. I told her so, and all was well. But, jeez, she couldn't have just said that at the beginning? Lesson: good communication is important.

Oh, and not snapping at the Wendy's lady is good too. Believe me, I felt this tall when I realized how stupid and immature I'd been. Good reminder to always have a hold on my temper.

Like tonight at the football game when I have to face Sloppy Joe and restrain myself from punching him when he tries to walk into my suite holders' stands to talk to them. I may regret this, but I hope he repeats his disappearing act from last game. That was the most helpful. I have to go get ready to leave for Athens, but I will give an update of the game tomorrow, I hope.

My time in the spotlight

Or, I'm just overindulging. Betsy, one of the editors assigned Amy and me several small pieces to write for the December issue. Yay! I'm excited that I get to write even some small pieces. Now, if only I could come up with some brilliant pitch for next year...hmm....I'll get back to that sometime.

And, I passed off my super complicated story to our editor so he can look over my fact checking. I really hope I didn't miss anything. I've gone over the story so many times and I've had it for so long that it was hard to catch stuff towards the end. And, oh yeah, a third of it is unchecked because I can't get in touch with some sources. Because I'm me, it makes me feel as if I have done something wrong, when in fact, there's nothing I can do if people don't want to talk to me and/or turn their phones off.

I think my computer is really in trouble...I will have to ask Ben to take a look at it. Besides being my selectively mute brother, he is our resident tech support. I think I have everything backed up elsewhere, so he will have the green light to wipe the hard drive. (I think that's what he said he would recommend.) I'm so over it, and my laptop is so ready to be retired. We're done.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, despite it being my day off. Bleh. But hopefully it will be spent doing things that will further my career. And, maybe some personal reading. We'll see. I'm looking forward to this weekend...Dawgs vs. Arizona State!

I love Hump Day

First, because, really, someone came up with that awesome name! Second, I only have one more day of work this week. And last, it's my free day.

I sent off my (re)application packet for the Southern Progress fellowship today. I'm pretty nervous about reapplying so soon, since I haven't had the chance to write any more clips or do any more tangible work. Yeah, I fact check for Atlanta but it's not the same as a final product.

I found out that Amy, one of the other Atlanta interns is also applying to SP. I thought, man, maybe I could have snuck by, but nope. Pretty sure even more people will apply now than did this past spring. In any case, wish me luck, and God willing+my great resume, etc. = an interview!

Also, my uncle put me in touch with a really nice guy who works for a publishing company. The company is H&A Media Group and they do a lot of things that I would love to get experience in. Kudos to my uncle Lynn for going out of his way to get in touch with said media guy!

I'm in the midst of reading a new book, Ghosts in the Snow by Tamara Siler Jones. It's like a medieval murder mystery with a taste of the supernatural. It's set in an original world where a older gentleman, Dubric, can see the ghosts of the murdered. Not coincidentally, he's in charge of security for his castle and someone is murdering young women. And his motivation, other than morals? Their gory ghosts haunt him, and they won't move on until he's solved their murder.

I really like it but gosh darn if Jones isn't leading me on a goose chase! My only complaint is that the world's history and the social network of the castle comes out in bits and pieces in conversation, so it can be hard to catalog past events and characters. Another update coming as soon as I finish!

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot! I went over to Bath & Body Works today. They're having their fall scents sale. Room sprays are $3 instead of $5 and I got Leaves (my favorite!), Autumn Apple, Spiced Cider and Fresh Balsam. Leaves is spicy, musky and really reminds me of the holidays. AApple is very much a crisp, clean apple scent; I'm not sold yet on Spiced Cider but I liked it better than some of their other scents. Fresh Balsam is, in my opinion, better that last year's Tree (also by Slatkin). It's less harsh that Tree, and more complex. I think the card in the store said it had pine, musk, apple and cedar scents blended in.

Their big candles are also on sale (2 for $20) and I got my mom the Vanilla Caramel (rich and sweet) and Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin. I like this one better than their Pumpkin Patch, which I really have no words to describe. I just think it's kind of bland and not pumpkiny or spicy at all. The other stand outs were the Ginger Vanilla and Harvest Berry. They're something unique, yet appropriate for the holidays, than the classic pumpkin, vanilla and spice based scents.

I'm an intern...trust me, it's more important than it sounds

Yay, we got all of our positions filled! Okay, this was a week or so ago, but when you're only in the office two times a week, it seems like yesterday. Amy, Sarah and I are editorial and Jackson moved on to be the interactive intern for the fall.

I've really enjoyed all the stories that I've gotten to check so far. There is one in particular whose sources were hilarious! Thanks, Harmon, for the stories, and I loved picturing Jeryl sitting in his well-kept retirement digs reminiscing about the crazy '70s. Hinty-hint, look for this one in November.

My most recent story has been challenging, to say the least. Not only is the current copy twenty-five pages, but it's an incredibly detailed story that is a source of anguish and hurt for a lot of people. It really bummed me out at first -- it's hard to understand sometimes why people are dishonest and hurtful, and sometimes, there aren't any answers. Only speculation, which is probably far from the truth.

But I had to tell myself that this is just a job, and I can step back without feeling (too) bad.

It's frustrating because a lot of people don't want anything to do with the story now that they've done their interview. Um...I just want to confirm what you already said! I promise, no more than that! I can understand their reluctance in this case, but if it's that big of a deal, then don't give an interview in the first place.

This story has also been a perfect opportunity to see how much work goes into an investigative feature. I have a stack at least three inches thick of documents and records to help me, not to mention a huge folder of MORE docs on our server. Plus live sources...who don't necessarily like me by virtue of the topic I'm questioning them about.

We'll see how it goes...check back!

Am I gonna need an ark or a rake?

Tomorrow is the first day of fall, and as tired as I am of summer, I can't help but gush about it.

Speaking of gushing, we had what I'm going to assume is record rainfall in Atlanta this week. It's been so bad that schools and roads have closed. There are some really humbling pictures on clatl.com, twitter and ajc.com. Atlanta and the metro area are not known for their high rainfall, so this is doubly big news for us.

Back to fall -- the leaves actually aren't turning yet...oh yeah, because it's still in the 80s. Probably will be until into October. Oh well. However, I'm sad to report that three of our mock cherries (which drop nice leaves) have already dropped their leaves. Dead, ugly brown ones.

My brother Ben has pointed out that this might indicate the trees are dead. I'm totally bummed because cherry/mock cherry trees are some of my favorite. We have six total spanning about 75% of our front yard, so those three make a difference. We won't know until spring, and I'll continue to be optimistic.

This turning point in the seasons is one of my favorite during the year. Everything starts to cool off finally. I love knowing in my gut the changes happening. Probably still won't break out my sweaters and jackets until well into October, but it's nice to start thinking about cold weather again.

Being a homey, decorating, crafty type, I'm also excited about the onslaught of fall home goods. Decorative gourds and pumpkins? Yes, please. Delicious fall scented candles and room sprays from Bath & Body Works? Where's my coupon, BBW? Cheap, cheesy decorations from Hobby Lobby? Oh, yeah, 50% off!

And the food gets exponentially worse for my health -- good thing they're only around for three months at my house. My mom breaks out her best desserts and treats for family events -- lemon bars, pumpkin cake and pie, sweet potato casserole...must stop, I'm getting hungry.

Formal Intro -- this is it!

Hey guys, this is Brianne (pronounced brie-anne) and you're probably wondering what's going on here.

Well, there's several reasons this blog exists. Firstly, I've been swearing up and down for a year that I would get a personal blog. Not one for employment purposes (shameless plug here) or for a class.

I'm sure this blog will evolve over time, but for now, it's one where I could share my thoughts -- and instances when my name and my nickname are butchered by well-meaning strangers and even people who should know my name.

Now, all that stuff about how everyone gets my name wrong? It's my way of saying -- hey, this is actually my name, these are actually my thoughts, and not just what someone else thinks. It's not Brianna, it's certainly not Brian, it's not Bri (rhymes with lie), and it's not Marie.

Speaking of, I called and left a message with a lady this week who called me Brielle. Of all the name variations, I have to say this has been the prettiest. Unfortunately, my best friend promptly pointed out that Brielle sounds like gazelle, so I probably won't be using that name for a future daughter. Thanks, Stephy;)!

So in going forward, I welcome comments about my musings and especially stories of horrific/amusing/confusing name butcherings. Take care guys, and remember to enunciate!