A few days off from writing were in order after finishing up that boot camp class. Wow, what an intense two weeks. I feel like I’ve learned a ridiculous amount about working in the newsroom . . . and sadly, I won’t be back there for some time. But that’s okay. There’s other adventures to be had in the meantime.

Another good reason for not writing in a few days – Scott has arrived!

I went to pick him up at the airport on Saturday, and it’s been crazy ever since. We’ve been getting settled into our apartment and traveling around town on bikes. (Okay, riding to class and back. But for me, that’s an adventure.) Cooking has not really commenced yet, but I hope to write about some of our creations soon. I’m getting tired of canned chili and lean cuisines for dinner.

(Another exaggeration – that chili is actually quite good. But I do hope to make some tasty dishes in our kitchen.)

I’ll be sure to take photos for a virtual tour once we finish getting everything ready and set where it belongs. Until then, here’s a photo of the housewarming cards from our respective parents, as hung on our corkboard / whiteboard panels next to the front door.

Quick update here, since Scott is busy putting together a chair. (Yes, he’s here. More to come on that later.)

In the last post, I mentioned some video and audio work. Posted today and linked here for everyone’s viewing pleasure is the multimedia piece Jarrad put together for the website. He did the editing and stills, and I shot the video. Yes, even the moment where the play comes directly at me. There’s nothing like watching two giant football players come flying at you while looking through a screen.

Watch the video here!

Jarrad did a great job in a short time period, and I’m super excited that I could be a part of this project. I can’t wait until I get to do it again!

Which Wich, a yummy sandwich shop

I find it rather amazing that a group of thirty people can be given the same set of information, the same parameters, and manage to write thirty different stories without anyone writing exactly the same words.

Boot camp is going well. Last night, I stayed up until 2am with my homework assignment partner, Kristen, while we finished up our profile stories. We were to interview each other, and then write a creative profile, touching on a telling story. And we found it rather funny that two photo students ended up writing together. I love the story she wrote about me and the angle she took, and I happen to like the one I wrote about her, too. If it hadn’t been so late, I may have reworked the beginning, but I was cross-eyed.

Kind of how I feel now.

Tonight’s assignment was not quite as difficult as I thought originally. We had a “lunch work” assignment, which I managed to bomb. Writing news leads from a small set of information is really hard when A. you’ve never done it before, and B. well, you’re just clueless. But listening to what everyone else wrote helped me for tonight’s piece, and that makes me happy. I’m understanding the concepts, it’s just taking a little bit of practice.

I haven’t gotten any feedback yet on these writing bits, so I’m not linking to them yet. But after I hear if I got it or if I’m totally missing the point, I’ll see about putting up links for you to see.

Until then, I think I should get a bit more sleep. I think I’m rambling.

Yeah, sleep.

My first day of ‘boot camp’ started out a bit rocky, due to a parking fiasco and torrential downpour as I was walking into the building. However, once that past, the rest of the day went swimmingly. We did lots of introductions, sat in on a budget meeting, and then had a pretty decent discussion of news topics, theories and skills “from 30,000 feet,” as Prof. Swafford said.

Not too shabby for a first day. Also, I just want to pat myself on the back for buckling down over the last two months and reading through the textbook for this class. I actually understood what we were talking about, and was able to use some ideas presented throughout it in our examples and discussions. Go me!

Now to take one last glance over my homework assignment and the chapters assigned for tomorrow. And maybe check the headlines at the Missourian, since it’s past deadline now (read: way past my bedtime).

*****

Here I am, waiting for class to begin. Or at least, this is the view of my seat.

And my breakfast.

I don’t remember when I signed up for this service, but I receive an email every day called “My Daily Forecast” from Astrology.com. No, I’m not a palm-reading, tarot-spreading, astrologically inclined person. (Or at least, anymore.) But I do enjoy reading my horoscope and seeing how close or how completely wrong it can be.

Over the last few months, certain parts of my forecast have been eerily accurate. Right around the time I started to work on my graduate school applications, it gave a very telling message – with an accompanying graph showing time from January until March – that it was “time to move along” in my career. About six months later, when heading out to Missouri was an event on the horizon and not just a dream, it gave me that same message. The graph reached from May until August, just when I was due to arrive in Columbia.

Today’s message?

Eerie, huh.

Tomorrow is the first day of ‘boot camp’ – an accelerated course in basic news writing and reporting. For the first week, we will cram a ton of information into our reluctant adult brains (is it possible to make yourself forget things to make room for the new information?) in the classroom. Then, we will spend the next week working the newsroom of the Missourian, the school and professional staffed newspaper.

Excited isn’t quite the word. Neither is nervous. Perhaps a combination of the two.

Okay, I lied.

I’m really excited. And only a little nervous.

Well, this is a rare occasion.

One of Scott’s cats, Roxy, has taken up a comfy spot on my lap.

me and Roxy, comfy on the couch.

Sadly, they can’t come with us to Missouri.  I think that I may miss them more than Scott – although it’s probably because he’s the one who cleans the litterbox.  Roxy and Sebastian will be going to live with their original owner, one of Scott’s old roommates.  She kind of just up and left them with him a while back, so I’m a little nervous.  But I’m sure they’ll be just fine.

:: tear ::

This move is probably the hardest thing emotionally I’ve had to do in a while.  I’m leaving a place I love for an unknown.  Usually, my moves are mandated by others – ie, when my old roommates asked me to leave in favor of their non-rent paying friend down on her luck.  (I’m not bitter, really.) But this time, it’s all me.

Oh, bye Roxy.  She just left my lap to wrestle with Sebastian.  I think she had a good enough cat nap.

Heh.

Anyways – oh. Now it’s Scott’s turn.

me and Scott, being all cute.

I am so thankful to have such wonderful support from him.  This transition would be a lot harder without it.

We have a ton of things to do before it’s time to leave.  You know, changing addresses, ordering utilities, calling people, emailing people, driving fifteen hours west . . . It’s all a bit overwhelming.  We have a list of everything, and yet I still feel like there’s more.  “More than humanly possible to handle,” says Scott.

Yes, I agree.  But we will prevail – sleep or not!

Speaking of, time to pass out.

[sorry, no photos yet.]

i’ve now been accepted to all three schools – Missouri, Boston, and as of today via email, Ohio.

i rock!

also, Ohio’s offered a guaranteed assistantship for the first year, and most likely for the third of five total quarters. (that’s the max they offer.)

time to get on the assistantship apps for Missouri . . . hopefully those decisions will be made before the deadlines. although i think Missouri ranks highest, Ohio’s just earned a higher spot in my decision-making process.

sorry, Boston. unless you sweeten the deal, :: cue heidi klum voice :: you are out.

yes. i just heard, via email. i’ve been accepted into University of Missouri’s School of Journalism for photojournalism.

wow.

now to stalk the mailbox for ohio’s decision, and researching whether or not this will work. yikes. wow.

wow.

good morning friends!

last i left you, i was musing about getting my story approved in Missouri.  i suppose i should back up and tell the whole story.  hmm . . . where to begin.

let’s start at the first weekend, just after i posted that photo of the airplane.

my first destination was Becky’s house until Sunday night.  after all, how could i go to a workshop in her state and not see her?  (for those not in the know, Becky is my Bestest Friend in the Entire Universe™.  there was Time Before Becky, and there’s Time With Becky, but when we met and became best friends, neither of us can remember.)  she’s been living in St. Louis for a while now – since 7th grade, with a detour to Boston for college.  the last time i ventured into her new hometown was for her Bat Mitzvah, age 13.  it was time to make my way back.

our time together was pretty quiet, and full of walks with her awesome dog Uli.  i don’t know why i didn’t take a photo of her and her dog . . .  bad photographer, bad photographer!  actually . . .  did we get any photos together?  yikes, i think we may not have!  ohhhhh, the sadness.  anyways.  we also spent a bit of time with her parents, since they live down the block.  her mom drove us to a street fair that was supposed to be great . . . except that it’s a drunken debauchery street fair, and that part didn’t start until about 4pm.  it was only noon.  i did see a zombie guy wandering around, offering advice on what to do against a zombie attack.  because that’s really likely.

did i not save ANY of my photos from the weekend?  UGH.

saturday night, we tried to go to the Arch after our very nice dinner with her parents, since that was one of the main things i wanted to do.  but, because of the damn hurricane the week before, the access road to the Arch was flooded out – water up to the bottom of street signs – and we could only view from afar.

i DO have photos of the Arch, just not on the computer yet.  i’ll replace it here when i get a chance.

Becky’s dad took us on a driving tour of the city, so i could see the sights at night . . . and due to the long walks we took with the dog, i was so exhausted that i slept through half of it.  oops.

sunday morning brought us to an early morning yoga class, around the corner from her house.  there’s something so lovely about taking yoga in the morning.  kinda gets you in the right mindset for the rest of the day.  especially when you’ve got a big day ahead of you.

we said our sad goodbyes, she headed off to her usual 10am yoga class (the one we took was a shorter teacher training session, just so we could do it together) and i took my car around the block to an einstein bagels for breakfast.  transitioning from ‘visiting best friend’ time into ‘let’s head out for the workshop time’ was not easy, but perfect weather, a semi-decent bagel, and a strong cup of [decaf] coffee helped point me in the right direction.

okay, so it was two maps and my iPhone’s GPS that really got me pointed in the right direction.

and then i was off to St. James!

continued in missouri – part 2. (well, once i write it.)