A Writer's Lead

Blustery Thursday Night: 1 Week Before AWP

2012-02-23T22:38:00.001-08:00

Not that I'm
going. I should be
Writing
again.

It's A New Year

2012-01-12T20:53:00.000-08:00

And I'm starting it off with a short story to keep things in perspective.

I once met a man who claimed he was the "happiest man in the world."
A description, not a title.
It was at the state fair.
Catching up on six years takes a while.
So we caught up over drinks and a Prince impersonation.
His story was one of heartbreak.
"You never know how much you have until you almost lose it all."
Which he did.
Almost.
Then he got it all back.
Tenfold.

And all I could think about was how much time changes things.
Standing in front of me was a man who changed his life around completely since I last saw him.
I wasn't there.
Not that I could have done anything.
That's not what it's about.

Renew a relationship this year with someone you haven't heard from in months or years.
You might be surprised.
Maybe not.
But you just might be.

Just a Quick Update

2011-10-06T21:10:00.000-07:00

So I realize I haven't been updating about life as much as I'd like too, but I have been more focused on writing (a good thing!). So here's a quick update to share what I've been up to:

1. Last weekend was the Citizen Jane film festival in CoMo. This festival is all about showing films directed by women and is intentionally placed in the fall for those of us who can't seem to wait until the True/False film festival in March. I went with R and J to see the film Southern Belle - a film about a week-long camp for girls on how to be "Southern gentlewomen" in 1861. (Yes, this is a real camp.) It brought up so many issues on both sides of the femininity spectrum, but was interesting for men as well. Issues discussed ranged from "Does this go against the progress women have made?" to "Well, this teaches the other side of the Civil War not taught in schools" and "This camp teaches manners in today's society where as they may not be taught when they go home." If you're interested, it airs on PBS and I would love to talk more about the film. Go ahead and click on the link. And yes, they do where the big dresses with the corsets every day at the camp.

2. Two weekends ago was my first biathlon. 13 miles biking and 3.1 miles running. I have to say that this was such a great experience. Raising awareness about women's health alongside 400 other women of all ages and fitness levels was amazing. Here's a picture of me with Heidi who I met during the race. Right after transitioning from the biking to the running (which is easier said than done), she could tell I was struggling and yells, "Come on 316! You were kicking butt on those hills back there! Don't lose sight of me!"She had only been training for about a month before the race and with about a mile to go her two friends came back to finish it with her (after having already crossed the finish line), and the first words out of her mouth were "We can't lose Jordan!" Such an inspiring group and I can't wait to do it again next year.

3. Some of you may have noticed that about a month ago I was raising money for a bike MS event. This proved as a challenge seeing as not many people knew what it was or why I was doing it. To explain: I road my bike 75 miles over two days to raise money and awareness for MS research, etc. This is a major thing in CoMo every year. This year, there were over 3,000 riders for the event and everyone was SO much fun. I've already signed up for next year and I'm hoping to do 75 mile routes each day to do the full 150!

4. School is going wonderfully. I'm finally doing something I love and writing nonstop. This is also fueled by the beyond awesome professors I get to engage with every week. One in particular gets you so excited to read novels I had never though about even picking up before and now I can't put them down. Now THAT is a true teacher.

5. S brought up to me yesterday that I should do the Chicago marathon next year. I'm taking it into serious consideration. Maybe even the St. Louis one before that? We'll see.

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein

It's all a matter of perspective.

A Fickle Thing

2011-10-05T17:56:00.000-07:00

Guilty.
But he would never have known.
They came in at 10:52 pm.
How'd they get in again?
We locked the door.
He couldn't have found out.
Now my body's being shoved in the car.
I didn't say a word.
Hearing the rights but not listening.
Nobody ever listens.
Did he turn me in?
We have kids to think about.
It's my turn to make brownies tomorrow.
The PTA never forgives.
Forgiveness never helps.
Did he see the evidence?
I got rid of the evidence.
Didn't I?
She deserved it.
Regret's a fickle thing.
But baby girl has ballet in the morning.
Our laundry's still in the washer.
Dishes still in the sink.
A bed still warm.
I bet it was him.

For this week's II Challenge, I was challenge by transplantex3 with the prompt, "You're sleeping with your significant other when the police break in and arrest you for murder. Decide if you're innocent or guilty." I challenged Debra Elliott with "choices. commitment. understanding."

Gratitude

2011-09-29T19:02:00.000-07:00

Since it's been kind of a rough week for myself and many people I know, I figure there's no better way to remind myself of the good things in life than a gratitude list! I've seen these on a few blogs I follow and I really enjoy them, so here goes:

I. Fall - Seriously, I love winter, but fall is probably the most beautiful season we have - hands down. The weather's chilly enough for jeans, boots, sweatshirts, campfires, and hot tea. Can't get much better.

II. Sending off my poems - I did this yesterday! Trying not to get my hopes up, but we'll see.

III. Finishing my biathlon - I did this on Sunday and it was absolutely amazing! We biked 13 miles then ran 3.1 to raise awareness for women's health. I met Heidi (#344) while running and she pushed me to the end, since I (unknowingly) helped push her during the biking portion. The first thing I hear from her is "Come on 344! You were kicking butt on those hills back there! Don't let me catch you!" People are great.

IV. Friends - too cliche? I really don't care. SO many of my friends have offered to bring me soup while I've been down with this cold it's unbelievable. I just hope I can repay it someday.

V. Random phone calls/texts - I've had one of each this week that have gotten me through my days. Tuesdays and Thursday are the worst and hearing that you're being thought of can turn your day around in an instant! Thanks R and W.

Having a not-so-great week? What's your gratitude list?

Yeah, Yeah

2011-09-29T17:00:00.000-07:00

Fighting always gets the best of us. We make it our craft. Words sling into the air like tiny bullets meant to puncture skin, but all it ever does is slightly graze. Fists are threatened by being thrown into the wind, into caution, as we realize the other could hurt worse.

It's always the little things when we know the other is angry and looking for a fight. You don't fix me a cup of coffee in the morning. I leave you with no blankets and secretly laugh when you freeze all night. Neither of us change the roll in the bathroom, even when there's nothing left. You're out of luck.

Three hazy days pass as the build up continues; yet, the tension can't be cut with knives - we've removed those since the last time. If it falls on a weekend, everyone had better be on the lookout, because three days of avoiding home means three days at your house complaining about what the "worse-half" did this time. Thankfully, we have friends that simply say yeah, yeah and move on about their day or else we'd never figure it out on our own - well, maybe by now.

Love lost is never a problem in our home, because it is always found usually hidden behind my favorite flowers or your favorite meal in the fridge. We can't help it and knew it would happen. 18 years later and here we are no longer young, not yet old. The fighting makes it interesting.

This week for the II Writing Challenge I was challenged by Carrie at Views From Nature with the prompt "The toilet paper roll is almost empty... change it or leave it?" I challenged The Mama Drama with the prompt "after a long night, you wake up one morning and realize your life is about to change."

A Prisoned Love Letter

2011-09-22T19:01:00.000-07:00

"You haven't written for a while and I don't know why. Actually, please don't tell me and don't feel guilty for not coming. I understand it's out of your hands. We both know what's coming soon, and you shut yourself away from the reality and the rest of the world.

I don't blame you.

There aren't enough seconds, or brief, fleeting moments in my day that I think of you, and what could've gone differently. When I heard those sirens it finally hit me that I was in the wrong; yet, before I knew it they threw on the cuffs and slammed me against that freezing, rough wall in the dead of winter.

I should've known better.

When you're a little older have someone really explain it to you and don't hide from facts like you're doing right now. Sorry, I haven't been working on my writing. About all they teach in here are the hard-knock rules and how to pump iron like the big guys.

I can only hope to be a bigger man when the time comes.

It's all circumstances, you know - and opportunities. Don't forget the opportunities, and don't ignore them. Nothing happens by accident. So when you get to that point in life you don't think you can go further, (and trust me, this time will come) think again, but don't think of me. I'm the exception. The one you don't want.

I want more for you.

You won't read this until you're older, but while we're at it stop doing those drugs. A late night coke fix on a skipping CD cannot erase the rage you inflict. It only makes things worse. There's no exception, and I can only hope that when it comes to the end of my time, a different poison will be out of my system and yours.

But I will always course through your veins
and my heart will always beat through you."

This week for the Indie Ink Challenge, I was given the prompt "Write a love letter from prison. You have never seen the other person," from Lance at My Blog Can Beat Up Your Blog. I challenged Head Ant at Let's Go on a Picnic with the prompt "changing tides." Go check them out!

Tied Down

2011-09-14T19:50:00.000-07:00

"I put my hair up before I go to work in the morning. Meeting people always brings a gripping fear in my side, and this way I can stand a little taller than the person when introducing myself. This is my job - meeting people, wooing them for a company that couldn't care less about them, but I do. Why'd I get into this kind of work? A million reasons, but not one would satisfy you - or me.

Was it easy? Was it hard? Should I have taken that ferry across the bay five years ago and joined the guys in the burnt-out, rusted van smelling of overused cologne and listened to them preach to anyone, someone, even you who willingly listened.

Sure, I preached to you once and no, you don't remember so don't try and act like you do. Truth is, I remember everyone I preached to when I was young and some things never change. I can tell by looking across this empty hotel lobby with my heels clacking, obnoxiously echoing even strides. The fourth bellman turns to look and you appear to have gotten your life together.
Although, you always did back then too.

They want you for the head of a department. Which one is the question I can't answer at the moment. Little do they know of your past and I dare not tell them. We always did have that pact, but now I'm supposed to recruit you when you don't remember and I don't wish to.

They ask too much of me in this job and the standards they hold me to tie me down. Oh, my mind is racing which means the anticipation is building. Someone pointed that out to me once. Switching subjects lightning fast is key for my anxiety when expectations are higher than the company's 85 floor building.

And all I keep thinking is, who are they preaching to now?"

This week I joined Indie Ink's Writing Challenge and was given the great prompt of "Outrageous Expectations" by Miranda at My Eclectic Bookshelf. I challenged Bill at his blog The Rewrite, so go check them out!

Because, Sundays I Do My Best Thinking.

2011-09-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

"You'll find out as you set out after your dreams that most people don't really want you to transcend the situation you were born into. Perhaps they're scared for you, perhaps they don't believe in you, or perhaps they're just nasty, negative naysayers. Whichever it is, I advise you to stop sharing your dreams with people who try to hold you back. Because, if you're the kind of person who senses there's something out there for you beyond whatever it is you're expected to do, if you want to be extraordinary, you will not get there by hanging around a bunch of people who tell you you're not extraordinary. Instead, you will probably become as ordinary as they expect you to be. We have a saying in New York: when you're the most happening person at the party, it's time to leave."
-Kelly Cutrone

Sunday Morning and French Vanilla Cappuccino in Hand.

2011-08-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

Oftentimes, I wonder what Sunday mornings bring for people.

I always assume the large marjority of people go to church and pray. When I was little, the routine was get up at seven o'clock, meet the family for church at eight, and off to breakfast with the whole extended family at nine. But routines change, traditions fade, and eventually, we found ourselves at the later eleven o'clock mass. Yet soon after, (probably not even two years later) when eight rolled around bodies in my household were still wrapped in covers, unaware of the time, past, or guilt of not being where tradition had us every Sunday morning at eight. And when eleven came and went, sure enough I had a hot cup of tea cradled in my hands while something sounded noisily on the TV and the laundry machine humming in the background. And now, eleven o'clock has come and gone yet again.

Routines change.
Traditions fade.

Maybe, I'll make it to the five o'clock mass.

Mulling It Over

2011-08-25T19:10:00.000-07:00

Acknowledgment, 1964
by Gabrielle Calvocoressi

"Could have gone west. Could have packed your things,
who cares that you weren't old enough to drive.
Could have sold yourself to truckers and highwaymen, could have gone down
the dark road between home and somewhere
better, the whole world watching TV and no one thinking of you.
Could've got lost. Could have said, "I don't know."
when the waitress asked, "Where you live at?"
You could have lied and said, "New Jersey."
Or "Mobile." Of course, that assumes
you'd get past Mason Dixon.

You could have seen battlefields:
Gettysburg, Fredericksburg even Chicago
if you waded deep enough into summer. Could have slept
with your head on the ground like your sister,
her ear to the transistor, listening,
listening to "I Want to Hold Your Hand."
You could have said, "Fuck the Beatles"
and left them behind, shooting the lights out
of every stadium, every coliseum.
You could have made girls scream because
you were the stranger under the bleachers, that ember
of the cigarette burning in the darkness just outside their
porch lights' glow. You could have named them:
Helen, Rachelle, Ida May, and in Texas, Irene Rosenberg
a girl just as lonely as you. Imagine,

you leaving before it ever got started. Where's that
girl you married? You don't know. You watched the cities
of the Midwest burn. You threw bottles and never
cut your hair. Remember the drum kit in Schlessinger's
Instruments? How you crawled through the broken
window and banged away in the shards of that city.
If they could have seen you then! All muscle
and heart, sweating, sweating, no more stupid melody
holding you back. Just the bass line, just the gas line
hissing and your foot on the pedal.

You could have gotten away. The country was different,
a boy could walk without getting beaten beyond an inch
of his life, without getting lashed to a fence
in God-forsaken Wyoming. Why, God hadn't forsaken
Wyoming or Birmingham yet. Chaney, Goodman,
and Schwerner safe in their beds. Perhaps you passed
by them. You could have passed me by and saved yourself
the whole mess. My mother doesn't know you yet. She's
on her back in the grass with some other man's son."

---We read this poem for class today. I'm still mulling it over, seeing as it's not settling right with me. I love it until the very abrupt ending. I'm assuming why I don't like it is because of the ending and of course who the poet is speaking to. I'm not quite sure.

Maybe you can help me out. Thoughts?

Just A Thought (May 2011 Zephyr Graduation Issue)

2011-08-01T23:31:00.000-07:00

Now that I've gotten my hands on a copy, this is the final draft of a column I wrote for the THS class of 2011. This column was printed in the May 24 edition of the Zephyr (the high school paper of which I was editor-in-chief), and I was asked for my "words of wisdom" for the graduating class. A little bit had to be changed to make it fit (and if you want the original rough copy, let me know) but overall my messages were conveyed. Since I wasn't in town most of the summer, I didn't get much feedback.

Let me know what you think.

"It's been exactly two years since my last column appeared on the pages of the Zephyr.
How've you seniors been? Seeing as you and a few juniors are the only ones who (possibly) remember me, I hope to find that you made it through these past two years without a hitch. I trust you've found a good nickname for the new principal, although I'm not sure if anything could top Tomcat (said with all due respect if you are reading this, Mr. Campbell). I suspect the grueling hours of classes, ACT and AP prep and dealing with teachers weren't too awful because you've finally made it!
Congratulations are in order for this momentous occasion, and my graduation gift to all of you is some words of wisdom from one THS alum to 192 soon-to-be grads. I know you've been getting advice for the last 18 years, but hear me out.
First, since it's your last day of classes and all, I'm going to ask you to do something that you probably haven't been asked to do yet. Stop reading for a second, glance up, and look around. Take everything in for a moment. Notice the little things. Savor them. You won't get this time back. No, sir. No more sitting in desks with your friends right next to you or joking around with teachers you know almost too well. No more doing your homework minutes before class starts (not that any of us did this, right?). But don't worry, you'll always have the memories.
Most of you are going your separate ways. You're heading off to college, entering the workforce, or going into the military and looking forward to an exciting future - one with limitless possibilities and one that you've had the courage to start, which brings me to my next point.
I want you to focus on two pieces of advice (or wisdom, as I was told to write to you all), both dealing with that last sentence. Limitless possibilities. Sound cliche? Eh, it probably is, but it's true. The journey you are about to embark on is one full of opportunities you will never expect. If you think you can't succeed or do something in this world because of where you come from or any other excuse you give yourself, think again. No, really. I've seen it happen. I've seen students working three jobs to fund their own education because they aspire to be something more. I've seen individuals who have come out of such heartbreaking tragedies, only to rise to the occasion and prove they are bigger than circumstances handed to them. Sure, life can throw you curve balls, but don't let that get you off course. Believe in yourself and your values. They'll usually steer you in the direction you need to be going, and if you ever find yourself getting off-course, that's alright. It happens. Just gently steer yourself back in the right direction. You'll eventually find your way again.
So start now. Give this summer a run for its money. The summer before I went off to college I went skydiving. Now I'm not saying risk your life for a thrill, but live your life so you won't be stuck saying, "What if...?"
And finally, you're having the courage to start a new chapter in your life. Take pride in this because it is not an easy feat. Also have courage to change your path if you ever find yourself going down one you don't want to be. On average, people change their occupation seven times during the course of their lives. It's never too late to be who you want to be in life. I recently had the opportunity to hear Maya Angelou speak on the topic of courage, and she apologized for the way the generations before us are leaving the work for us to manage.
It's going to take major courage from each and every one of you to help this world and the people in it. Contrary to popular opinion however, the world is full of optimism. True wars, violence and bad things rage on every day, but the world is on our side, and people want to help you and see you succeed in every way possible. Trust me.
Class of 2011, the world is waiting for you."

I wish I could...

2011-07-28T23:57:00.000-07:00

travel.
read in the car.
speak fluent French.
understand motives (good and bad).
run a marathon.
be a pilot.
memorize Le Petit Prince.
give blood.
sleep only 8 hours a night.

What do you wish you could... (in 9 statements or less)?
"On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux."

A Tussle for Words.

2011-07-22T19:47:00.000-07:00

What a great, quick read for a Friday night.
Watch the video as well.
Words, words, words.
The power of them all.
One of my best friends,
and should be all of ours.
Words.

I love things like this.

PS - Do you believe certain words are overused or underused? I do, but I'll let you give me your lists first.

Once Upon A Time.

2011-07-19T22:24:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been asked (quite frequently) if I'm going to write a book.

Now, I'm not sure why this has been happening more recently, but normally I tell them I'm not sure. Yet yesterday I had an interesting discussion with my friend R.S. at work. A customer was leaving and briefly mentioned on her way out that she's going back to school after 18 years, and a career assessment taken two days ago directed her to the profession she began 18 years ago, but did not complete. Come to find out, she switched her major after two years to something completely different.

After she left, R.S. and I found all of this information really interesting and started talking (since neither of us are exactly sure what to go into right now). The conversation soon veered in the direction of gut instincts and just going with it when you have one. She said, "We're writers, you know? It's that gut instinct that makes us know. We shouldn't ignore it."

I believe people ignore gut instincts for a few reasons, but primarily being because they're scared of what it will lead them to. At this point in my college career, switching/adding majors is entirely possible. I could go into the medical field, culinary arts or international business - but none of these will make me happy unless I'm writing. Maybe it's something that's so ingrained in you when you find something you love that makes the instinct, but whatever it is people shouldn't ignore what's deep down inside of them itching to get out.

The reason I haven't written in a while or started a book is because honestly, I hate the pretentious air that follows most college English students that think they're going to creative the next "Great American Novel." It's annoying and most of the time they haven't lived enough life to even have this great, unfailing idea. Confidence is one thing. Unrealistic expectation is another.

But I might just dive in head first and see if this novel inside of me can sink or swim. Who knows? Maybe it can survive with a little help from my gut instinct.

Have you followed your gut instinct?

PS - I'm now on Twitter. (I know, I know) Just follow me ---->

The Thing About Recommendations.

2011-06-27T18:45:00.000-07:00

As this Columbia/Tville summer wears on and the end of June is nigh, I find that my To Read pile keeps growing at a faster rate than my Finished pile. Although I've been filling my non-cable time in with reading time at nights (but don't worry, I've still been able to fit in My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and The Real Housewives of WhateverCity), I still seem to acquire recommendations that I just can't say no to.

The funny thing about when something is recommended to you, you either say "Okay, I'll have to look into that." or "Okay, sounds good. What was the name of it again?" Both are stated in the affirmative, however, one is the only "Yes" statement. Nobody ever says, "No, thanks for the recommendation but that just doesn't sound appealing." So because I can't ever simply say "No" or the negative affirmative "Okay, I'll have to look into that," here's the list of what I have read/I am in the process of reading/I am planning on reading in the very near future:

Finished:
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
True Believer by Nicholas Sparks
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

In the process:
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Persuasion by Jane Austen

Next in Line:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown

(Yes, I am a sucker for Nicholas Sparks and yes, I occasionally fill my time with books I've had since I was 15. Get over it.)

Since I've been given so many recommendations to fill up my summer, here's one (or three depending on how you look at it) for you: The Hunger Games trilogy. I just finished the third tonight, and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Any recommendations for me?

The Age Gap.

2011-06-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

Slacking is a bit of an understatement when it comes to my blogging commitment since school has gotten out. Now that I'm back in CoMo you can fully expect more posts as I muddle my way through having my own apartment.

And on that note, it's official... I'm old. Somewhere between 3 and 4 p.m., after I wrote my check and was handed my key, I became an adult. (I own my own couch and toaster and if that doesn't make it official, then I don't know what does.) But on the bright side of this age gap I apparently breached yesterday (which I'm not sure if it was bad or not, I'm still processing), my apartment is filled with charm. From the French door leading you into the kitchen and black, Victorian-esque light fixture, all the way down to the well-worn, creaky hardwood floors, it has a certain feeling of home I was not expecting. What a pleasant surprise.

During this age gap, that I'm probably still leaping over, my last article for Vox was published today. This one was a recurring section in the magazine called On the Job:... For mine, I had to interview an event planner who was rather comical. Also, I never posted the classical music story when it was finally published. Writing this piece was just an interesting process all the way around. Let me know what you think.

It's funny how things tend to work out in ways you would never expect. Even though I dropped my reporting class, ultimately it is how I found this lovely apartment. Occasionally you have to go through rough times to get the good ones, I suppose.

Here is a comic drawn by one of my favorite bloggers that probably sums up the other side of the age gap.

Was your age gap handing over a check and being handed a key?
Have you reached your age gap? Tell me about it.

The Final Countdown.

2011-04-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

T-minus 3 hours to the start of the Royal Wedding and I'm still not asleep. I believe it's the excitement beyond anything else at this point that is keeping me up. Yes, I am one of those American girls who fell in love with all the hype surrounding the wedding.

Maybe it's that every little girl at some point wants to be a princess.
Maybe it's something about weddings that make me so excited for two people to start their lives together.
Maybe it's being able to say to my grandchildren that I watched the royal wedding in real time.
Maybe I just want to see what her dress looks like.

Let's be honest, it's a little of each of these, and more.

I also find it interesting that the British make fun of us Americans for being so excited about it. I think it's funny that they're not. While reading the SJ-R online today, I came across this article from a Springfield resident that I found rather hateful. In no way do I find watching the wedding "un-American." In all actuality, I think it's a great idea to watch our English counterparts and the traditions they keep considering they are one of our country's closest allies. Monarchies do matter, seeing as that's where much of our American history begins. People like this never cease to amaze me.

On a different note...

training for the half-marathon is going pretty well. I have 5 weeks and 1 day until the big day and have ran up to four miles at once. (Pretty good for starting to train two weeks ago, if I do say so myself.) The hardest part I've found is working through the pain, so I just devour Advil and it seems to help. Well the pain, along with a mental barrier that I'm trying to get past about not being able to do it because I've never technically been a "runner." It'll all turn out for the best though, that's what I keep telling myself anyway.

One final thing...

if you haven't heard of the band Wakey!Wakey! I strongly encourage you to iTunes them right now. After being a fan of theirs for over a year now, I finally got to attend a concert in STL last night and it just reaffirmed why I like them in the first place. Piano, violin, drum, bass - you can't go wrong.

For your viewing pleasure, here's my favorite song and of course, a picture with Michael Grubbs himself...

A Half-Marathon and 350-mile bike trip.

2011-04-13T19:53:00.000-07:00

Let's just get right down to it.

I have 7 weeks to train for a half-marathon. Seven. Weeks. Now not typically being a runner, I've never had to be on a training schedule before. I just run at my own pace for the sake of running. Apparently, most people entering a half-marathon follow some sort of everyday regime. So if you're interested, here's my version... except condensed down into.. seven. weeks. Oh, dear.

Currently, I am at 2 miles, which means that as long as I add two miles each week I'll be golden, right?

A few questions have been running through my mind besides, "Can I even do this?" which are the following:

1. Are "rest" days mandatory? Because I'm thinking to be in shape for this run I'm going to need to start running morning and night with no breaks.

2. What does one wear for a 13.1 mile run? I have yoga pants, running shorts, spandex from volleyball, but I feel like I've seen people run in all sorts of different outfits. What about shirts?

3. How do I train for hills? Especially since most of my time training will be spent in IL.

4. Is this even realistic?

(P.S. - This was all prompted by my friend S.S. who thinks this is very do-able and who is running with me.)

I might just add that I'm also in training for a bike trip. A very long bike trip that involves 350 miles of beautiful scenic Missouri. I can honestly say that I'm not worried about this adventure whatsoever. Occurring in mid-June, it will only take about seven days going about 50 miles per day (only six days if we go 60 miles, which is what I'm hoping for). Planning around school and work for W.F. and work for me is the only tough part about this trip. (He may not think so.)

Biking is my thing. If I have a "thing" biking or rather using the more correct term of cycling, would be it. I added this part about the bike trip because I feel like I'll be able to cross train for both, just focusing a little more heavily on the running part. These two goals aren't very far apart from each other, so I'm hoping my tactic works, and if not... has anyone ever died during a half-marathon?

Anyway, I realize most of you probably have not ran a half-marathon, however, I am asking for your tips and advice anyway. Healthy food you enjoy, music during the race, etc. I would love to hear it.

After all, it's ONLY 13.1 miles... right?

I'll just channel my inner Tara from The Biggest Loser.

Strength - Extended Edition.

2011-03-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

With an overwhelming response to my last post, I thought I would update you on a few things that have happened since my decision:

1. The response I got was not expected, at all. Truthfully, I was ready for criticism, disappointment and doubt from many, if not most, people. Why? I'm not quite sure. Maybe it had to do something with what I would do with my English degree after I graduated. I definitely don't want to teach like many others do, and at this point I'm not really looking into grad school. But I could not have been more wrong about everyone's reactions.

Most were from friends that were extremely proud of me, a few wanted to go get coffee and/or do dinner to talk through the decision with me, others back home called my mom to make sure I was okay, and some even told me that because of my decision and my post that they were re-evaluating their decisions.

The thing is that I didn't do this to be courageous or brave, I just did it because it was the right thing for me. I'm beyond happy that my decision was able to help others, (if we don't help others out in this world then what are we really doing here?) and that they were able to share that with me, but I just want to clarify that this was not my intention.

That being said, I feel as if more people are probably at a crossroads than actually told me, so if you do find yourself at this point and are reading this, my advice would be to take a step back and think of what's best for you. Life's too short to be anything else but happy. As previously mentioned, my GA editor was the exact person I needed to talk to when making my decision, so my second piece of advice would be to find someone to talk it out with. If I can serve as that person for you, I will gladly listen. A major problem I had was that I felt I didn't have many people to talk my decision out with. In hindsight I know this wasn't true, but at the time it felt as though it was - and that feeling is just terrifying.

Thank you everyone who has been so supportive. It means SO much to me.

2. I've finally made it so anyone can comment on my posts and not just people who are signed up, so comment your hearts out.

3. A friend told me that I might be really close to a journalism minor. From what I could find out, I would only have 3 more lecture classes to take, so that might be a possibility.

4. Here are two stories that were published in Vox this past week. I'll have a few more as the semester goes on even though I am no longer writing for them, so I'll keep updating my blog seeing as it was originally meant to be a "digital portfolio."

Movie Review: Somewhere
Planned Parenthood Charticle

5. Did I miss anything?

Strength.

2011-03-10T17:17:00.000-08:00

I've made the biggest decision of my life up to this point: I've decided to drop out of the J-School.

Shocked? Yeah, me too.
Maybe this post will explain a little about my decision.

My last week and a half has been a time I would not wish upon anyone, ever. The stress from my reporting class became too much on top of my other classes and work. I hate reporting. Absolutely hate it, and I finally came to the realization, then why am I doing this?

My mom came in town Saturday and left Sunday. My dad came in town Sunday night and left Tuesday. Both spur of the moment trips. Both desperately needed. I scared them. I scared myself with how upset I was because of this one class. Every morning, I would wake up and wish to go right back to sleep. My stomach was in knots to the point where I wasn't eating anything, literally. I've lost 10 pounds in a week and a half. I was making myself sick.

I knew I had to make a decision and soon. To help give myself a little more time, I deactivated my facebook for a few days. A good decision on my part, since it allowed me to disconnect without any outside influences for a while. I set up times to meet with my editors, one on Monday after the Vox meeting and one on Tuesday afternoon. Having my mind set on dropping the class, my beat editor talked me out of it and wanted me to give it another week. Again, I didn't know what to do. Then, after talking with an advisor on Tuesday, I was told I couldn't drop because it would mess up my financial aid and health insurance. ~~Damn.~~ Shoot. (I gave up cursing for Lent.)

Okay, new game plan.

Now I needed to talk to my GA editor to see if she can give me any tips on how to make it through the rest of this semester. Her talk was the one I needed the most. She reminds me of an English teacher I had in high school. She can scare you like none other, but when you talk with her one-on-one she's the best. To cut to the point, she told me to think about for the next few days what my life would look like without the j-school. She said to me, "Because the important thing about dreaming and thinking is that you don't have to act on it. You can think all you want, and in the end, if you stay, then you haven't lost anything. But if you find that you're truly unhappy..."

Wait, what?? There's life outside of the J-School? Outside of this perfect bubble Mizzou tucks away on the corner of campus? Needless to say, I couldn't do it for the first oh, 12 hours after the talk. I would try, but again I would reach a barrier in my mind just thinking about after school and how I might not have a job. Then after those 12 hours were up, for some reason, I was able to understand what she was asking me to do. What would I do instead of journalism? What would I do with my time? What would I end up doing with my life? I doubt she will ever know how much that 45 minute talk meant to me.

So, here I am today, (I know, there are some details I'm leaving out, but if you want to know the nitty-gritty stuff in between ask me in person. It's a lot of stuff I don't want to bog you down with in this post.) officially withdrawn from my reporting class, and as of 8 a.m. tomorrow, officially an English major with an emphasis in poetry creative writing - and I am ecstatic. I'm about to go to college to study what I love. Why didn't I make this decision sooner?

Are you thinking, "Oh, I could never have done that. Failure isn't an option for me."? Well, if you didn't think that ran through my mind at least a million times, then you don't know me very well. But, I'm choosing not to look at this as failure, but rather strength. I'm having the strength to embark on a journey that I'm not sure where it will take me. The strength to change my path, instead of continuing on a broken one. The strength to do what I love. No, this isn't failure. I came out of this class with so many clips, that if I do ever want a writing job, I would have a portfolio to show. But even more than that, this isn't failure because I got over the thought of "What will people think of me?" and the "But I need to graduate from the world's best journalism school." and no matter what, for the next two years I will be doing something I love, and I consider that succeeding.

To sign off, instead of a picture, I'll leave it to this quote, which has always seemed to resonate with me, and I never knew exactly why. Now, I know.

"For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Crossroads.

2011-03-09T10:07:00.000-08:00

A lot of things have been going on lately where I've needed to make some decisions. I've been wrestling with the idea of writing about it in a post, but in the interest of time this week, it will have to wait for the weekend. So, I'll just cover what I've had published this last week and hold off on my surprise from the last post until a later date.

The True/False Film Festival was this weekend and I covered the concert at Mojo's on Saturday night. They were not going to let press in, but luckily since I was there early, they let me and the photographer in. I talked with the bands and was able to get set lists, which I figured would be the hardest part about covering a concert. It was definitely a different atmosphere than what I was used to, more hippie-esque if you ask me. (And yes, if you're imagining me (in a North Face) in a room with bearded guys wearing plaid shirts and skinny jeans, incense and beer, go ahead and laugh. I certainly did.) Getting there at 8p.m., not being let in until 9:15p.m., the concert going until 1:15 a.m. and then me writing my review until 3:15 a.m. made for an EXTREMELY long night and tiring morning the next day, but well worth the review.

Friday night, I went and reviewed the movie Beastly with Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens. Surprisingly, it was pretty decent which was not what I was expecting. However, I realized after this movie that I've been only seeing mediocre movies to review, so I think I need to stretch my reviewing-wings a bit and see either a fantastic movie or an awful one. I'll definitely work on that.

P.S. - I'm don't think I've said this before, but if you ever have questions about an event I've covered or just in general, comment and let me know!

Breakthroughs.

2011-02-26T21:47:00.000-08:00

Something happened to me yesterday that was the journalistic milestone I had been waiting for.

My breakthrough.

Since beginning my reporting class, I was told that eventually it would be no problem for me to simply pick up a phone and call random people, asking them questions, prying information from them, essentially digging into their lives to get what I need for my stories.

But after working on and publishing four stories yesterday, I can now call just about anyone on a whim. They said it would happen about week 5 or 6. Well, with the snowpocalypse we had, their timing was correct. I just didn't expect it to happen on my GA shift. Looking back though, it makes perfect sense.

Yesterday, I wrote about:

Four stories in 11 hours (technically 8 because of class and work). If I couldn't pick up a phone and talk to random people, I don't think I would have made it through the day (this includes interviews, as well as accuracy checks). And as it happened, I didn't notice it - I just did it. My drive home was when I finally thought, "Hey, I actually did that. Wow."

My breakthrough. Not huge, but a breakthrough none the less.

UPDATES:

Classical Music - I know I've mentioned my classical music story a few times now, but I believe I finally finished it up on Tuesday. When it will be up on the site, I have no idea... but when it is, you'll be the first to know.

Charticle - Yes, charticle is a real word and yes, I am working on one. It's about comparing preventative health services in places around CoMo, especially with this whole Planned Parenthood-may-have-their-funding-cut issue. I'm having MAJOR problems getting a hold of sources, so I'll keep you informed about this as well.

True/False - The annual True/False Festival is coming up this weekend and I'm reviewing a concert for it. We're also doing deadline reporting about happenings this weekend, considering about 23,000 people are expected. What is True/False you non-Columbians ask? It's an internationally known film festival that screens carefully selected films from across the US. It should be a lot of fun. (P.S. - If you want to come to the concert with me, let me know!)

SURPRISES:

Since I came home this weekend for some good home/Tville therapy, it's gotten me thinking about two things.

1. Code-switching.

2. My New Year's Resolution.

The first is something we're talking about in my personal identity class and I find myself doing when I'm in CoMo and Tville. It's rather interesting and deserves a whole post, so I'll hold off until later this week.

The second is something I've kind of instituted, but haven't gotten to incorporate as often as I'd like. My main NYR this year was to put myself in situations that I'm not exactly comfortable with, but I learn from. Something I'm not used to. Open my mind. I figure that as a journalist, I'm going to have to do this all my life, and it's something I should have started a long time ago. Anyway, I'm going somewhere tomorrow while at home that I'm not exactly comfortable going to, but I'll (hopefully) understand a group of people better because of it. I can't promise an update tomorrow night, but definitely by Wednesday. This is an important resolution, and I think it's an important one that I stick to.

And if you ever wondered what a newsroom looks like, here's an old picture of the Missourian newsroom. It's a little different now, sans the desk and TV in the back, but you get the gist.

So, I'm interested and therefore have to ask:

What has your most recent breakthrough been?

and

Have you kept up on your NYRs?

Don't leave me hanging.

Week 5, check. Now, week 6...

2011-02-20T16:58:00.000-08:00

Just a short post today with nothing major to report. I was hoping my classical music story would be published on the site today, but it's been pushed back another week. My editors want me to cover a classical concert on Saturday to make it even better. We'll see how it goes.

Friday, I went and reviewed I Am Number Four. It was pretty decent for rejuvenating an over-done aliens-invade-the-Earth plot, I must say. You may be wondering why I volunteer for so many movie reviews (okay, this being my third), but truthfully, it's a quick clip. How can you pass up going to see a movie for free on a Friday night AND having one more clip to put in my portfolio? Let me be the first to tell you, you can't.

Finally, I read this in the New York Times and Huff Post today (same article, just co-produced) and thought it was a fabulous editorial. It's true that we need women journalists in the field, just as much as we need men. I'm not a huge feminist by any means, but women really can bring a different side to war than men can. If you haven't read up on the coverage in Egypt, I strongly suggest you compare the styles between men and women. It's very interesting who places the different emphases on citizens' struggles. As someone who at one point wanted to be a foreign correspondent (and still somewhat does), I'm glad someone brought to light an issue that is many times under reported.

I shook Oprah AND Brad Pitt's hands!

2011-02-17T16:27:00.000-08:00

Okay, not really. I swear rumors can spread faster than anything on MU's campus. Who can forget the gunman on campus just last semester?

Brad Pitt was not on campus today. I haven't gotten complete verification about Oprah or Morgan Freeman. If they weren't here, this was some social media project. Student journalists are just so clever! :)

For you non-Columbians who are reading this, Brad Pitt actually went to Mizzou, but dropped out with just a few credits to go. Hence why this rumor could have been somewhat true. Brad-the-almost-grad was the joke told when I was touring here, obviously it hooked me.

On another celebrity note, the Missouri Grand Prix is this weekend at the rec. This time, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte will actually be on campus and will be competing. If you can't find me, chances are I'll be camped out at the rec ALL weekend long. I'll take pictures, don't worry.

A new Vox came out today and this one included my assignment for Vox Asks Columbians. Nothing in my life has been so awkward or terrifying as approaching people and asking them that question and taking their pictures. For me, this was the most terrifying thing I could have been assigned. After this, I pretty much realize I can do anything my editors ask me to do.

This afternoon, I had my final meeting for my classical music story and I think it's all done! It should be up on the website on Sunday, so expect a post then telling you all about my adventures with that story. My first real intense feature! Aside from that, I took on three stories this week so if I don't have a mental break down before, I'll be updating you on that soon.

This blog is primarily for my journalism class this semester, but I've also thought about posting some of my poems from my Intro to Poetry class. I figure that I might a well have all my pieces of writing in one place. What do you think, just journalism stories or stories and poems?

Since this is what I'm going to be seeing this weekend, I figured it was blog appropriate.

Who knows, maybe all of the sports reporters will fall ill and I'll get to interview them.

We can only hope.

How many does that make again?

2011-02-15T15:18:00.000-08:00

Since about 3 weeks ago when the uprising in Egypt began, many individuals have been killed, seriously injured, or threatened by those in protest. Among those worse off, however, are the fearless journalists trying to find out exactly what is going on.

This post is dedicated to them. To those fearless enough to risk their lives so you and I know what is happening in Egypt, I give my praise and adoration. Maybe someday, we'll all be this brave.

Christiane Amanpour was harassed and was told by a protester that he hated her for being American. Then, like a true journalist, risked her life by going 8 miles to the palace to get an interview with President Murbarak.
Katie Couric was bombarded when attempting to film in Cairo for a CBS clip.
Anderson Cooper was hit in the head ten times in Tahrir Square.
CBS correspondent Lara Logan was separated from her crew and sexually assaulted.

Who do you think was the most fearless?

Two hours later, he was stabbed.

2011-02-12T11:25:00.000-08:00

Needless to say from my title, it's been a very interesting week. But, let's start from the beginning.

I've been working on my classical music story for two weeks, when Monday I receive an e-mail from my editor saying that they're going to pull the story from this week's issue of Vox. As I was reporting it, I found that the story the editors wanted and thought was going to be there, actually wasn't the story at all, but not wanting to rock the boat, I tried to make the story fit anyway.

(A TIP TO ALL REPORTERS: Don't do this.)

Initially, the story was about the decline of classical music and what people/organizations in the community are doing to save it. Come to find out, there is no declining interest in classical music - at all. So this past week, I've been getting in contact with more sources and rewriting the entire story, which is fine. I'd rather have a different story at the end of all my hard work that is good, rather than the original story I was trying to make work and it be terrible.

So after five drafts and a rewrite later, I'm beginning my second draft of the rewrite and trying to not get burnt out.

All the while, I've been trying to talk to people around Columbia asking them my question, "What would you eat your body weight in?" I'm not sure if it's been the bitter cold temperatures, but no one has wanted to give me the time of day... and trust me, I've tried searching EVERYWHERE. Most of the time, people don't want their picture taken or tell me their age.

I've been hit on by 40-year-old men twice, AND I lost a pair of jeans while at the laundromat.
Why won't people just cooperate and answer my question?

THIS IS WHERE MY HEADLINE COMES IN.
(We've been learning about effective ways to get people's attention while blogging and this was one. Did it work?)

Thursday afternoon at around 4, I went to the public library looking for people to ask my question to. Luckily, I came away with two more people who would answer my question. One was a middle-aged guy who was probably a little too nice, but hey, he answered my question so I can't complain. The other was a woman in her late 20s.
(This all ties in, I swear.)
Yesterday, I had a GA (general assignment) shift in the newsroom all day. To prepare, I woke up early and checked out the Missourian's website to familiarize myself on the happenings of the last day.
An interesting headline caught my eye. "Homeless man stabbed at Methodist church." I began reading the article and then I stopped.

Right there on my computer screen was the name of the guy I had talked to the afternoon before. Granted, he was stabbed in the face with a pen and suffered minor injuries, so it wasn't a brutal stabbing, but two thing really shocked me.

1. I had talked to a man two hours before he was stabbed.
2. He was homeless and I wouldn't have guessed.

No, the second wasn't me just being naive either. You wouldn't have known either if you saw the guy.

So, I go into the newsroom and tell my story. The ACE on duty decides to give me the update on the story since the police finally came out with the guy's name and information on the arrest.
Here's the story. The church involved would not say anything about the dispute, but later on in the day they sent out an e-mail to people mentioning it, so I had to do another update before I left. But, weird right?

That was pretty much my excitement for the week. My question is why do these things always happen to me?

After my GA shift ended at around 6:30 last night, I then went to see the new Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston movie Just Go With It for a movie review that you can find here. It's a pretty standard movie review, but nonetheless, another clip I can add to my portfolio.

I know this was a long one, but with so much to tell it had to be. For those who read all the way, thanks for sticking with me. To leave you with a little something, here's what brightened my spirits during a rough week. Maybe all of our hard work means something after all...

...or maybe I'll be begging for a job at the end of it all anyway.

Just in case, take its advice and help save my future career.

Learning at the laundromat.

2011-02-06T16:35:00.000-08:00

Aside from doing four loads of laundry that I've been putting off, I also needed to get sources for my question as mentioned in my last post.

So in the midst of the whirring and rattling of machines probably ten years old or more, here I am at the laundromat.

Sit.
Listen.
Observe.
Rinse.
Wash.
Dry.
Sit.
Listen.
Observe.
Rinse.
Wash.
Dry.

One continuous cycle, that I'm told is what a journalist does all the time. And to really understand it, I truly believe the best place to hangout is a laundromat.

You see, I've found myself here quite a bit lately. Mostly for journalism assignments, but also for doing laundry. Even over break, I would go to our local laundromat and sit, listen, observe. People watching, in essence.

Always a new character walking in and then out, letting the brisk winter air in with them. As they set their clothes down, some yell at their children to go get more or to stop complaining. Others look around, occasionally making eye contact with other laundry-doers and share an obligatory, slight grin, then move along. Once they're organized, they choose a washer or two and start loading. Often, I wonder if they're as self-conscious as I am when trying to figure out how the machines work. They're all different.

Then, they sit and wait. Some are alone. Some are with a significant other. Some are with children. They usually talk about their days, how school's going, what they have to do next, or why they're here in the first place, at the laundromat.

When I am out of earshot, I tend to make up stories for each family or individual. What their life is like, how big their family is - do they have a family? What their hardships are and if they've heard good news today. Have they been smiled at? How long has it been since they've heard from their best friend or girlfriend/boyfriend? Have they even talked to anyone today?

Are they wondering the same about me?

Soon, they load their clothes into the washer and the whirring starts up to accompany the swirl of colors that many people get entranced by watching. At least, I do. During this last part of a trip to the laundromat, I actually heard a grandma start singing to her young granddaughter. I wondered what the song was and if I had perhaps heard it when I was younger. Maybe, it was a family song.

After all is said and done and the family has left, the building seems to lose a little bit of personality. Only to be filled with it again once another family comes to take their place. I say a laundromat has a lot of character, because of the people who walk in and out of the doors. In a sense, they are very similar to people. With all the stories that one person holds and the happiness and turmoils that are inside, yeah, I'd say we're a lot like laundromats.

Sit. Observe. Listen.

Try it out and let me know how it goes.

Bargains.

2011-02-03T22:22:00.000-08:00

For the last three weeks, I've been bargaining. Or rather, I've been trying to bargain.

My four-and-a-half-week break went by extremely too fast (like many others, I'm sure) and it felt as though I was catapulted into this semester against my will. Hence, my bargaining for time. Please just give me one weekend to catch up. Okay if not one weekend, what about one day? ... one night?

And voila, my bargaining paid off.

Three glorious snow days with 17.5 inches of snow. The blizzard (or snowpocalypse, if you will) buried me in, so I would have nothing to do except catch up mentally, physically and on homework and TV shows. It was fantastic and tomorrow, my professor cancelled my only class of the day. Even more time to catch up. Mostly though, it was to catch up on my stories.

It may seem like I haven't been doing much journalism, but believe me when I tell you, I HAVE.

Just today, our spring preview issue of Vox came out. You can check out some of my previews here. For culture, we split them up half and half, so only part of those are mine. This was our very first assignment from three weeks ago, since we work on stories for advance issues or for our online exclusives. Lately, I've been working on a fun piece about the declining interest of classical music in Columbia and what's being done to save it. I just sent in my third draft tonight, so there will definitely be more to come when that is finished.

This week, I was assigned a recurring section called "Vox Asks Columbians." For this, I have to walk around downtown Columbia and ask 15-20 people a random question that my editors pick.
Mine is "What would you eat your body weight in?" (For me, it would be Starbucks.) Not too bad, right? The trick is to find people who will answer your question AND let you take a picture of them.

This assignment is not as easy as it sounds, especially when you consider walking up to a group of guys and asking each of them for their name, if I can take a picture of them, oh yeah, and can I have your phone number?... for an accuracy check, of course!

I can hear them while walking away now. Accuracy check, riiiiight.

Well in my attempt to trudge downtown in the snow and get some interviews, one of my good friends and the first one I ever made at Mizzou, ND, came with me. Of course, picture-taking was a must after so much snow. And even though I only found two people to interview. It was a wonderful day. So I'll leave you with this question.

What would YOU eat your body weight in?

Journalism and snow. What more could a girl want.

Last night, I was THAT girl.

2011-01-29T23:21:00.000-08:00

You know the one I'm talking about.

The girl walking home by herself after a long day at work.

Looking exhausted, carrying my to-go dinner and dragging my feet back home, I passed at least five groups of students headed downtown for a night out. And every time I passed them, I got the disapproving look, because instead of my hair freshly curled, newly applied makeup, and Coach wristlet in tow, my hair was unruly at best, my makeup was well worn off and all the while, I carried my 30 pound book bag.

It wasn't a bad day, just long and stressful. My first day at the Missourian on my general assignment shift I worked from 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Add classes and work on top of that and you had yourself one tired Jordan.

But, let's backtrack a few hours.

11:30 a.m. - I walk into the newsroom, tell my editor I'm there and set my stuff down. Now what? My editor nor the ACE on duty gave me anything specific to work on, so I start helping a friend from class with her story - looking people up, trying to find info on Egypt, phone numbers, etc. Pretty standard. My editor soon comes over and tells me briefly what she's really there for and to just throw myself into everything once I arrive.

1-4 p.m. Class and work interrupt my hour and a half that I've spent in the newsroom so far. It was a break filled with relief, considering I had no idea if I was doing the right thing. Is this what "throwing myself into everything" feels like? Once I got off work, I didn't exactly want to go back...

4 - 9 p.m. ... but soon enough, I found my feet taking me back downtown towards the newsroom. With the words of the Missourian's executive editor in my head from our orientation day, "If you leave the first day and you're nervous and scared, come back the next day." So as soon as I signed myself back in my new ACE asks me if I'm Jordan. I say yes and she tells me, "Good! I have something for you!"
It was a life story.

Now don't be fooled non-Columbians, a life story is not a feature... exactly. It is an extended obituary that celebrates the life of the deceased. Yes, I had to contact family members of someone who had died just hours before and ask about her hobbies, family, stories, etc. Unfortunately for her and her family, I was only able to find one phone number for her son, which ended up being out-of-service. So, poor Nadaire only got a brief write up about how old she was, who her family members were, and when services will be held. If you really want to read it, here it is.

(P.S. - FRIENDS, if anything ever happens to me BE AVAILABLE FOR A PHONE CALL. Because I was not able to get a hold of any family member, people who read her life story won't know who she really was and the perhaps amazing things she did during her time here. For me, this is kind of a hard fact to accept, especially since I was in charge of it, but there was only so much I could do.)

Fast forward five hours later and you have me, mentally exhausted from my day at the Missourian (it doesn't sound like much, but the stress from a newsroom can really get to you), watching The Devil Wear Prada in my NU t-shirt, because like Anne Hathaway's character from NU, we're both trying to survive in a media driven world.

She just looks a little more Hollywood-fabulous while doing it.

Somewhere between my first day and Carrie Bradshaw.

2011-01-25T14:41:00.000-08:00

Many great reporters and writers see getting a piece published as just another story finished. Another one down, many hundreds to go. Another source talked to/acquired, the whole world left to question.

I, however, see it as a great accomplishment for many reasons. It may not exactly be material for the next Pulitzer, but a story is a story. Think of all the hard work put into crafting one piece of journalism. The time spent researching, calling/meeting/talking to sources, actually writing the story and getting it in on deadline, only to have to revise it when editors send it back. Time is everything when writing a story.

Another reason why I look at one piece so singularly is because the sources in it should not be grouped in with the rest of your journalism. Why you've been assigned a story is because there is some facet of it that attracts some audience/s. Your writing actually means something to someone, whether it be sources or readers. People care about it. Remember reading about that fire across town that didn't effect you? That was someone's home. Or what about the story about the recalling of those Toyota's you just glanced over because you own a Buick? Many lives were actually in danger. These stories just didn't effect yours.

Each story is specific. Each story has meaning.

Why write about this, you ask?

My first piece was published on Saturday. A simple movie review over the new film No Strings Attached, which you can read here. At first, I was so excited to have my first piece published for VOX, but then I started asking myself, "Why?" Why get so excited about a 300 word movie review that people will soon forget they ever read?

There are many times in journalism where you have to stop and check yourself - and this was one of them.

Whether or not it's soon forgotten about, people read it, and some may have liked it so much that they went to see the movie, maybe not. Either way, they read it, and that's good enough for me.

Each story is specific. Each story has meaning.

I think Carrie would agree.

Dress Code, Going Incommunicado, and Other Technicalities

2011-01-20T21:25:00.000-08:00

While waiting for the edits of my first draft to return, I figure I should write about three "highly-recommended" suggestions made by editors at the Missourian that either caught my attention and/or I have a story about. Before I start though, to make things crystal clear, I agree with these suggestions as a journalist, but as an individual on a couple of them, I had some resistance - the first of many I'm sure, but I digress...

1. Dress Code

So, this first one is more of a funny story than anything else. At orientation we were told to obviously look professional and that included jeans, but with no holes, which I would hope considering students in CoMo already have a stigma placed on them, but again that's another post all on its own. Anyway, I realized that I needed to go shopping for more pairs of skinny jeans on Monday, seeing as though my only pair have holes in them and I have many new cute boots and heels that require them. After our VOX meeting on Monday afternoon (and yes, if you were wondering, I did find room 110. It's amazing what your subconscious remembers when you're conscious is freaking out.), I headed out to the mall. It was busy with students bustling to stock up on last minute things for school Tuesday, and I found a pair of jeans, but not the dark blue pair I had wanted. This is where the funny story comes in (and I'm telling this solely for your enjoyment JN because I know you'll get a kick out of it!).

The following conversation was one I had with the saleswoman.

"Can you check to see if you have this pair in the back, please?"
"Sure!"

A minute or so later...

"I'm sorry, but unfortunately we don't, and I can't order them for you, because they just went on sale."
"Okay, well thank you."

As I start to walk away...

"...But have you tried our jeggings!?"

And in her last desperate attempt to try to sell me one more thing, I had to remember that this saleswoman, who was a good six inches shorter than me, and who sported absolutely no curves, asked me in her most sincere tone, if I wanted to try their jeggings.
I considered my word choices very carefully, while I scrambled for something not sarcastic to say, and I believe it ended up something that began with a smirk and ended with an, "I don't think so. Not today."

One, I don't think the Missourian would pass jeggings as "looking professional," and two, like Shakira, my hips don't lie... especially in jeggings.

2. Going Incommunicado

Or should I say... not going incommunicado. My first class on Tuesday was the lecture for News Reporting, (which I believe is going to help quite a bit for working at the Missourian) and while we went over the syllabus, our instructor very clearly stated that going incommunicado was definitely not an option, seeing as editors will be trying to get a hold of us, sources will try calling us back, etc.

This is where my first notion of resistance kicked in.

Obviously, I will follow this rule. 16 weeks won't kill me, yet I hate the idea of having my cell phone permanently attached to my hip, and the idea of someone knowing where I'm at 24/7. I've always been extremely independent and there are days when I go incommunicado for a reason. Again, I'll follow this rule since it's for a class, but after these next 2, 688 hours are over, I may very well take an extremely long, cell-free sabbatical. You've been warned.

3. Facebook Edits

Later on in the syllabus, we discussed our social networking sites. Everyone must get their Facebook peer reviewed, and we have to take down any political, religious or sports (if we're on the sports beat) affiliations. Two out of the three I don't have to worry about considering I didn't have them up in the first place, but when it came to religious affiliation, again there was some hesitation. Not resistance this time, just hesitation.
Although I doubt many people really pay much attention to it, it's something I always look at when looking through someone's information. (Call me a creep, but you know you look at people's info too.) The reason we're told to take it down is so that if sources look us up we show no bias one way or another. In essence, remain as objective as possible. Although it's not necessarily a huge deal, it is part of my identity that I'm somewhat publicly abdicating by taking down, and I just don't know how I feel about that. Thoughts?

P.S. - Mr. Jefferson looks rather chilly in the more than 8 inches of snow we got last night, don't you think?

Those newsroom fears.

2011-01-16T21:03:00.000-08:00

Under a grey and cloudy sky, I walked into my first official newsroom orientation at promptly 12:45 p.m. this afternoon. (I say promptly because I drove around the block a few times so as not to be too early, 12:38 p.m. or too late, 12:46 p.m.) Luckily, someone I recognized from my J2100 class last semester was headed to the same orientation I was, while looking all too cool, calm, and collected. So naturally, I followed her into the building, down the stairs and through a doorway that led me into a secluded room without windows. Unfortunately for me, my heart was racing one million miles a minute just attempting to keep up with my thoughts, which were solely focused on anything but the location. Let's just say when I try to go back to room 110 tomorrow, I might not make it by myself.

Apparently when accepted into the Missouri School of Journalism, I didn't get the memo of exuding, at all times, an air of total confidence in my journalistic abilities. Yes, I was good in high school, and that one time I wrote a Tornado basketball write-up for the Breeze, but let me be the first to tell you, this is a whole new ball game.

The welcoming part of the orientation went fine, as did the next 3 1/2 hours, until we broke off into our General Assignment meetings with our editor. I should mention that before taking J4450 News Reporting I asked a good friend and past Missourian reporter for advice, and she told me, "Just don't look the editors in the eyes and you'll be fine." Too late. My VOX beat is different than the rest of the Missourian (to an extent) and truthfully, I'm still not sure if I have to attend budget meetings at 11 a.m. everyday, but nothing puts more paralyzing fear into you than when your editor asks if you have any questions with a stare that bores so far into you that (I swear) it can see your soul.

After that no one really had any questions and we continued on to our VOX meeting. We were given our assignments as the managing editor quickly went through how to send stories, track changes, etc. and once we checked our contact information we were good to go. A little fact about me, if you don't already know, is that I get stressed out very easily if I am overwhelmed with information that I did not have previously organized or with information that I have not thought out and had a plan made. Coming out of orientation, I did not have a plan, any organization, or any room in my body not infiltrated by fear, dread and on-coming tears.

The rest of the night has been somewhat of a blur. I've organized my life for the upcoming week, so that helps a little bit, and they told us that we needed to start a blog, so here I am. I've never blogged because truthfully, I don't think people need to know that much about me; but for the next 16 weeks, whether I like it or not, in plain black and white, here will be the good, the bad and the ugly of my first real-world reporting experience. I suppose I just need to get past those initial newsroom fears.