1. Road snacks

Hundred calorie packs of cookies. Gushers. Twix. Bottles of water and Gatorade and (for those weirdos out there) soda. Going on a road trip is basically license to travel around with your own mini fridge. Feeling a bit parched? Just grab something from the cooler. Bored? Munch on some chips. No one else is hungry for lunch yet? Eat the last of the cookies. That’ll show ‘em.

2. Exploring the hotel room

Most hotel rooms are pretty similar. A couple of beds. A crappy TV. Bathroom in varying states of not that clean. Little tiny soaps next to the sink. We all know what to expect when we unlock the door. Buuuuuut there’s still that little child inside of you that gets excited about the idea of sleeping somewhere you’ve never slept before and can’t help but marvel over every mundane detail. Ooh, the shower curtain is curved. Hey, this pillow isn’t even that uncomfortable! Look at that, a Bible in the drawer.

3. Anticipation of continental breakfast

Free anything is always exciting. Particularly food. So you walk out the door, still in your pajamas, head down the stairs toward the lobby. Wondering what there will be. Waffles? Fruit? Juice? Chocolate? You can hardly contain your excitement as you round the corner. And then inevitably fix yourself a bowl of cereal. And maybe a muffin or two. Ooh, and some yogurt. *Gasp!* Donuts?!?!

4. Finding anything is an adventure

Hey, I’m getting hungry. We should probably go get some dinner.

Sounds good to me. Which way do you want to go this time?

Let’s try left. All we found when we turned right was a White Castle and that Big Momma’s Home Cookin’ place.

Good call. I wonder what might be left. Ryan’s? Olive Garden? Maybe a Texas Roadhouse?

Ooo, McDonald’s!

Where? Turn, turn!

5. Driving early in the morning

At 6:30 on a Saturday morning, there is literally no one else on the highway. Just you and that wide open ribbon as far as the eye can see. No trucks trying to pass each other. No broken down buicks going ten under the speed limit. No rude minivans refusing to let you into the passing lane. This is particularly enjoyable in areas such as Western Oklahoma where the speed limit is 75. There’s just so much freedom packed into those extra 5 miles per hour…

Whether your trip lasts three days or three weeks, there’s always excitement to be found in getting away from home and trying something new.

Love,

Sara

So the family I'm staying with comes back tonight, so I'm enjoying the quiet as much as I can. The next couple of weekend will be a lot less restful--I'm going to be babysitting the kids this weekend (taking Friday off) because it's John and Lori's aniversary and John mentioned something about how Lori loves Bed and Breakfast places (insert comment how my Dad reserved a B&B for him and John on their canoe trip because all the hotels were booked...I couldn't stop laughing when John told me). And the weekend after that is Chloe's 7th birthday and I'll be helping with that because that's when John will be gone on the canoe trip.

Quick recap: John and Lori are the ones keeping me. They have 2 daughters, Chloe an Daphine, who are 6 and 4 who are obsessed with Frozen. John and my Dad go way back and John has known me since I was born.

Okay moving on:

Because Abby was on vacation for a few days, I've been helping out whoever needed me--mostly the sales team. KF missed NY market week because the new clothing line wasn't ready yet, so in order to make up for it, they've been bringing in Buyers from all the big stores--like Saks Fifth Ave and Bloomingdales--and giving them a personal presentation of the completed line. We have 2 models who come in to show the buyers what the clothes look like on (one of the models was on Project Runway season 2, and both of them are really nice). I've been mostly helping the models put on/take off the clothes, hang the clothes back up, and putting them back in the right order on the racks making sure everything looks perfect. BTWs these models don't care at all that they get completely naked in front of us..it's so weird. But they do get to wear the lovely clothes...I would show you pictures, but I don't think I'm allowed to until they show it during the runway show sometime in late August/early September.

Well, that's it for now....bye!!

Hello from my porch! It’s a beautiful Saturday today in Columbus, and I am outside reading, writing, and enjoying the sunshine. :) I feel very thankful to be able to afford this luxury of relaxing an entire weekend after a difficult week at work. The guy training me to take over his position officially had his last day yesterday, so starting Monday, I have to begin figuring out many, many things without his help. He was an excellent mentor, but there’s just so much to know! I’m very thankful that my PIs are extremely understanding and willing to answer any questions I have. Wish me luck for this upcoming week!

To celebrate (*) my mentor’s last week, one of my PIs took us out to sushi on Monday night at a sushi bar called Haiku in Columbus’s Short North area. I hadn’t been exposed to different varieties of sushi to know what I like and what I don’t like, but we ended up ordering a party platter with 10-12 different varieties. Yum! Apparently I really like spicy tuna and shrimp tempura- also fittingly called the employee roll. :)

(*- It still seems kind of weird to me to celebrate someone no longer working with you, but I guess you have to think about it as the guy is moving on to bigger and better things…)

I thought I’d give you guys a bookshelf update! Thanks to Jill and Anna Beth bringing me 3 or 4 boxes of books that I had to leave behind in BG, I needed a new bookshelf. I got one two weekends ago, but it was an ugly light brown pressboard- much like you see in a college dorm or something. I spent the last two weekends painting it on my porch (what my neighbors must think, lol) and finally declared it finished early this week! I think it turned out great- what do you think? (Note: these are not all of the books y’all brought- only the ones I’ve read. I decided to put the books I own but need to read on my other bookshelf in my living room. Also, yes- the shelves do have two rows of books on them. Even now I still need more shelf space! And to think I still have a few more boxes in BG…)

(I just tossed the books up there, so I still need to organize my bookshelf… I accept organization suggestions!)

Reading update: I’m halfway through Behind the Beautiful Forevers and anticipate finishing by next Saturday. Expect a review then! (PS- It’s really, really, really good. I keep going back and re-reading parts- even though I haven’t even finished it!)

The song of the week is a cover of one of my favorite songs. Originally done by John Mayer, this cover of “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” is by Michael Henry and Justin Robinett, who do covers together and separately on their channel justinrobinett. I strongly recommend you check out their other covers on YouTube! This one is great not only for the music but also for the guy in the background playing Wii bowling with wayyyyyyy too much enthusiasm. It's hilarious!! Check it out!

Much love,
Amber

“Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” – Michael Henry and Justin Robinett

This blog is late. Not too late. But late nonetheless. And I'm sleepy, so I'm not quite sure what it's going to say. Here goes....
Basically, today I went to eat at Beijing-Tokyo with Jill and Aunt Cam, and Amy, of course, because she's always there. Then Jill and I loitered in the parking lot for a long while before going to K-mart. There we found lying cupcakes, analyzed lemon sweets, and strolled around while I spoiled an entire movie for her. (If you're planning to watch The Other Boleyn Girl just for the Benedict Cumberbatch scenes, don't waste your time. There aren't enough.)
Anyway, following up from last week's blog, as I'm sure you've all read in the comments section: I got the job! I'm going to be working as a production assistant on a short film in Louisville next month. It's only for nine days, but I'm hoping it will be very useful, educational, and fun. And hopefully I'll make some good connections. In the meantime, I'll be here in BG, hopefully getting a job before too long, and always looking for my chance to move to and work in London. Any leads? Let me know!
Also as a follow-up, I still haven't bought either of the books I asked your opinions on last week, but I'm leaning toward A Girl Called Fearless. Speaking of books, though, I just read an excellent novel by Jennifer Donnelly called Revolution. It's the account of a troubled musician living in modern times who finds the diary of an aspiring actress who lived during the French Revolution, and it follows both of their stories. It's a really compelling read, and it taught me some things I didn't know about French history and about the catacombs of Paris. Did you know that there are around six MILLION people buried down there?!? Also, the book is where I got the title for this blog post. The quote, in full, is: "Think you only kings have power? Stand on a stage and hold the hearts of men in your hands. Make them laugh with a gesture, cry with a word. Make them love you. And you will know what power is."
Boom. Perfect segue into the Theatre Thursday section of this blog. And the topic this week is, unsurprisingly, Les Miserables. I've already gushed about this to Jill, but all of you should check out the video I'm about to link to. The Dallas Theater Center is currently doing a unique production of Les Mis that features all the same music and the same classic story, but with modernized costumes, sets, and staging. It's a timeless story, and they're taking a leap setting it in modern times, which seems like a bold and exciting take on the well-known musical. I so wish I were in Dallas to see this!

Augghhhgghhh look how close the audience is to the stage. I love that! Sorry, you guys should know by now that I geek out over anything Les Mis related. (And don't think for one second, Liesl Tommy, that I didn't notice that you referred to the June Rebellion as the French Revolution. Okay, okay, it's a revolution in France, and I'm sure that's what she meant, but still...no.) 

But seriously, someone, please, take me to Texas!

-Anna Beth

Yesterday I received an email informing me that I had not gotten the position at the Wilson Center for which I had interviewed a few weeks ago. Those weeks of waiting were filled with obsessive phone checks every five minutes and crazy theories to explain the delayed response; however, as I read that email, I didn't feel the familiar rush of anxiety mixed with tingling excitement. For the first time in a while, I felt at peace. Isn't that a funny feeling to have in the face of rejection? After weeks of waiting and imagining myself already with the job, there I was, reading the email and thinking, "Okay. What's next?"

To be honest, ever since that interview I've dropped the ball on sending out more applications. I was very caught up in the fantasy of working at the Wilson Center, one of the Top 10 think tanks in the country. After all, I had spent a few hours there on my trip to DC in June, having a blast talking to the Vice President (a fellow alum from WashU) and taking an inside look at the institution. A part of me didn't want to send out more resumes because I felt that would be admitting defeat before hearing an answer. Why pour my heart and soul into yet another cover letter when there's a small chance that the Center will want me? That, my friends, is but one of the many frustrations of job hunting.

Yesterday I also had an informational interview over the phone with an individual who works at an amazing NGO in DC. He's one of the contacts I made after my networking trip there and just like everyone else I've talked to on this job-searching journey, he was incredibly helpful, genuine, and easy to talk to. The compliments that he gave me on my resume and speaking were intimidating in a way--this guy, not too much older than us, with a full-time position at an impressive activist organization looks forward to what a person like ME will be up to in the future! Talking to him reminded me that there are people who believe in my potential, and most importantly, I believe in what I can offer the world. One little rejection is not enough to make me give up.

During our conversation yesterday my contact pulled up some notes he had made during a career development meeting he had led for interns at the organization. He was nice enough to share them with me, and I'd like to pay it forward because they truly are valuable tips, both for job hunting and living well.

• Ask questions. Don't be timid or shy! Searching for a job is about getting out of your comfort zone, and asking questions is a great first step toward learning more about prospective career paths and making connections. In general people love talking about what they do for a living; it's what they do every day, so they are experts. Seek out individuals who are doing things that you have a genuine interest in, and set up an informal informational meeting over the phone, via Skype, or in person! Sitting at home and sending out one application after another can get pretty dull. Why not talk to someone who can answer your questions and may have a valuable contact or open position info up his/her sleeve?
• Be positive! After sending out several applications and not even hearing back from organizations, it can be tempting to huddle under the covers and give up. NO. That will get you nowhere. Have a fresh, positive attitude! Ask yourself, "What can I do to make this application better?" rather than being a Negative Nancy. I hate Negative Nancys. But it's hypocritical of me to say the word hate in this part of the post, isn't it?
• Keep opening doors. Once it's seemed like you've exhausted all the possibilities while searching for jobs online, you may think that your search is over. The search is never over! We are fresh out of college and looking for our first real jobs. Who says you're looking for a career? Don't be afraid to search a bit outside of your area of direct interest. Spending one year in a position that gives you more office experience, people skills, writing opportunities, etc. does not hurt your chances of moving on to the next big thing. For example, I would be crazy to focus my search only on nonprofits and think tanks that only relate to Latin American issues. There is plenty of fair game in other areas such as human rights, gender issues, international governance, and more!
• Be you. Employers have seen your resume, and they don't want to see it verbatim in your cover letter and interview. Be true to yourself, and show the world your personality. Add some color to your cover letter. Write about that time you got lost in a foreign country and what you learned from the experience that is applicable to the job you want. Reading boring cover letters and talking to boring robots who call themselves people is boring. Hence the repetition of boring. Make a connection with whoever is reading that cover letter or interviewing you. If they feel they know a part of the real you, you have a better chance at the job.
• Don't get too comfy post-graduation. We're all guilty of spending lazy summer days doing absolutely nothing. No more school, no more homework, right? Does the growth and learning just stop there then? Keep an active mind! Do the things that you never had the time to do: learn a new language or skill, research that cool topic from a class that didn't spend enough time on the subject, or write whatever comes to your mind. YouTube and Netflix are fine companions, but setting your own goals and being proactive is a great warm up for everything that's to come in the workplace. 

I'm excited about the final tip because I already know what I want to do! I am going to start writing short essays related to interesting current and/or historical events going on in Latin America. I'm going to be diverse with the range of issues and countries that I choose to tackle. This is a way for me to learn about other countries and self-discipline with deadlines and good research. I hope to write my first piece by the 23rd, and I've decided that it will relate to Brazil, the World Cup, and conflicts within and around slums in Rio de Janeiro. Here's to being positive and moving forward!

Sanaa

 

1. That rush I get from checking items off my to-do list. Who needs drugs when you can get high off productivity?

Seriously though. You start off the day with this big long list of things you need to get done. Send out emails, clean up a little, get some homework done, run by the bank. Throughout the day you vacuum here, write up a paper there, break for lunch, get back to work. Then by the end of the day you look at your list and see all the little check marks of success. And you look back on your day, and think back to what each one of those little checks represents. How productive you’ve been, how accomplished you now feel. And then you can feel fully justified spending the next day sprawled out on the couch watching Disney movies.

2. When I actually know all the words to that song stuck in my head. Then it’s everyone else who gets annoyed, instead of me :)

Am I the only one this happens to? You get a tune stuck in your head, start humming along as you prepare your breakfast of chocolate milk and cherry poptarts. Realize you sang this song just yesterday at church. The situation naturally progresses, and you want to sing along to the tune in your head. “Build your kingdom here! Hmm hmm atmosphere. Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm. Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmmmmmm, we pray!” Only knowing every third line gets to be so upsetting.

3. That first bite of warm, thick, delicious chocolate brownie that reminds me that all is not lost with the world.

Chocolate in general is just amazing, really. So creamy and sugary and delicious. You’ve got chocolate chip cookies, chocolate pudding, chocolate ice cream, chocolate candy bars. You can pair chocolate with caramel, peanut butter, mint, wafers, vanilla, fruit, marshmallows and graham crackers. It just has so many wonderful uses. Can you imagine the world without chocolate? It would be such a sadder place.

4. Sitting inside on a cold day with a blanket wrapped around me and a kitty on my lap.

It’s been a long day. Not only did you have to bundle up into innumerable layers just to make it from the front door to your car without coming down with frostbite, but it just so happens that your classes today range from Cherry Hall on top of the hill to Ransdell way down at the bottom. The snow lost its appeal after you stopped being able to feel your fingers, and you feel like you can hardly regain some semblance of warmth before it’s time to battle the elements again. But finally the day ends. You make your final trek the ten feet from the car back to the door and begin shedding those layers that utterly failed at protecting you from the biting wind. Change into your warm, dry footy pajamas and cozy up on the couch, multiple blankets wrapped around you with one hand just poking out of your toasty cave to turn on Doctor Who. The cat, seeing the heat now radiating from your camp on the couch, jumps up beside you, turns around a few times for good measure, and sits down on your lap to contribute to your thawing, purring all the while. Ahh, the bliss.

5. Children. Just all the children.

Little babies that want you to pick them up and play with them. Fifth graders who are approaching that stage where they think they’re too cool for fun, but every once in a while you can see that smile they just can’t suppress when you start belting “What does the fox say?” in the hallway. Seven-year-olds who just met you but already love you and want you to stay forever. Toddlers who tell you not to tickle them and then put your hand back on their tummies. So much cute I don’t understand how the entire adult population doesn’t just explode from overexposure on a regular basis.

6. Friends

Not sleeping at a sleepover because we’re too busy debating whether diarrhea or constipation is the worse bowel ailment. Bursting into song at random intervals. Just waiting to pounce with the perfect Les Mis quote to bring on All The Feels. Starting the blog back up so we all stay in touch, even when none of us are in the same place anymore. Knowing that no matter where we are, from China to Amsterdam to D.C. or Columbus, we can still meet up and carry on like we just saw each other yesterday in AP English.

What makes you smile?

Love,

Sara

(In case you hadn’t figured that out)

So I'm really glad I kept this Weebly app on my phone. I meant to write this via my computer; unfortunately, when I went to the website I completely blanked on which email/password I used. So instead of struggling, I'm just going to do this.

This past week had been my laziest time in NY. I left work early around 3 on Wenesday--I wanted to be back early to help Lori clean for her guests that came over (and got to tag along and get a super nice meal when they went out for dinner). Thursday I left work around 12:30 and I proceeded to do almost nothing for the rest of my weekend.

I had the house to myself because the family left for Virginia Thursday morning. I read a few books, watched a couple of movies, and went running twice. I went down to the water Friday night where I could see 2 firework shows that where happening downtown, one of which I'm sure where the Macy's fireworks. If you looked closely enough, you could also see firework shows that were happening in NJ. I left after 40 min or so--it was super windy and a bit chilly.

Saturday, I gathered up my courage to visit the NY Fencing Academy. Too bad it was closed. The building is literally 100 feet from the sprawl of shacks and sketchy rides known as Coney Island.

Don't get me wrong, I guess I'm glad I got to visit Coney Island..it's set up so you can walk all around and you buy tickets if you want to go on a ride, but it just oozed of something that was once great that's trying to hold on to that old glory...does that make since? I saw rickity stalls and rides, super long lines to get a hot dog or ice cream, and I didn't even ask how much a mojito was (though the free refill tempted me). At least I saw the ocean...too bad I had to look past the sea of people.

In summary, if you never go to Coney Island, you're not missing anything.

At least I'm caught up with Legend of Kora :)

Blogging again! I have actually been quite looking forward to this. I looked back at the last time that I blogged here: 12/29/2012. As in, it's been 554 days (/13,926 hours/797,760 minutes/47,865,600 seconds) since I contributed to this blog. So this is quite overdue. What seems insane to me is that so much has happened in those 554 days. I interviewed for and got my first real job, graduated, moved back to Bowling Green, started a different part-time job, searched long and hard for an actual major-related full-time job, got said job, and moved to Columbus (knowing only 1 person) to start said job. Now I have held my current research job for 3 months and am quite enjoying it.

Isn't life strange? I can barely remember the end of 2012 because so much happened in 2013 and in the first half of 2014. Yet I know from looking back at my 2012 posts that SO MUCH actually happened in 2012 as well, but with the perspective of 2013 and 2014... everything changes. I challenge you to look back at your last post of 2012 and see how much life has changed for you too. (Yes, that's a challenge! Do it!)

By the way, Happy July 5th! (I presume that it feels neglected next to its brother, the 4th.) I was curious what had happened in history on July 5th, and two events struck me- so here's your random facts of the day!

• 1971: President Nixon formally certified the 26th amendment to the Constitution which lowered the voting age to 18 from 21 (I'm quite a fan of this.)
• 1946: The bikini first went on sale after debuting in an outdoor fashion show in Paris (I'm also a fan of this.)

For my newly reestablished blogging, I have decided that I am going to try to do two things:

1. I am going to continue to post a song of the week! I really enjoyed sharing some fun music, and I hope you all enjoy it too. :)
2. I think I am going to start posting mini-reviews of books after I read them. I'm not setting any specific time schedule, and I don't even know if I'll follow through with this, but I have always wanted to start another blog just to post book reviews. That day is long in the future, but I think this is a good way to start. Plus, I love to share books with you all, and prompting myself to read more is always a good thing. (It should also work to expand my future library *cough, cough*.)

As such, I will share that I am currently reading Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo (Nerdfighter book club FTW!) which is quite excellent so far, and I am also going to start Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour sometime this week. I'll let you know how I enjoyed them soon!

Also, my song of the week is actually a song that I heard around 9 months ago but is probably my favorite "new" song that I've heard in the past 9 months. It's actually by a British artist and has a gorgeous violin accompaniment with it that really makes the song for me. Plus some of the lyrics knock me out... almost literally. I hope you guys like it too!

Until next Saturday,
Amber

"Nicest Thing" - Kate Nash

Hello from another Thursday in Bowling Green. 

Do I even remember how to blog anymore? There are so many things I could say, but I don't really have words. I could talk about my trip to Columbus and New York, but those feel like they happened a million years ago. I could talk about how it feels to be facing the rest of my life now, and trying to figure out what it is I should do, but that's daunting. Or I could talk about looking through my old yearbooks seeing messages like "We'll visit each other at least once a month" or "We'll still be best friends in college" and knowing that I barely kept in touch with one or two people and let all the others slip through the cracks. But that's a bit depressing. And that won't happen to us, right guys?

...Right?

But anyway, I could be really emo and talk  about all those things, but I'm not going to. I have a really awesome life, and some great things have been happening lately. Such as:

• I visited Rachael and got to tour New York City for the first time, complete with a Broadway show, of course. You know I couldn't go to NY and not see Les Mis! ;)
• Also, the lovely Ben Gunderson replied to me on twitter and I still kind of stare at that tweet with such a goofy smile on my face....
• I got to hang out with Amber in her fantabulous apartment in Columbus and experience The Book Loft. What a wonderful place. Also, watching Rachael and Jill fence in nationals in Columbus was super awesome. And Tim Hortons!!!!
• Shelby came to visit! And now she's living in Amsterdam!!! How exciting is that!?!!?
• I got cast in a play. Yeah, I know I'm not really an actor or anything, but I thought it would be fun to audition, since a local theatre group is doing The Giver. So I somewhat impulsively auditioned and I got cast as Jonas' mom. And someone I know from the BCM is playing Jonas' dad, so that'll be fun to share the stage with at least one person who's not a random stranger. 

So that's the news. I'm still waiting to hear about the film job in Louisville, so please pray for that, if you feel so inclined. Gracias!

Also, I was thinking about whether or not I want to have a theme for my blogging day like Sara has had Question Tuesdays and Amber has done music recommendations in each of her posts. My posts probably won't really adhere to a theme, but Theatre Thursday did cross my mind, since I'd probably end up talking about something theatre-related anyway.  So, on behalf of the first Theatre Thursday, here's a video that you should all watch and be amazed by. This is Carrie Hope Fletcher (a.k.a. Eponine in the current West End cast of Les Miserables a.k.a. ItsWayPastMyBedtime on Youtube a.k.a. my hero and the person I want to be when I grow up) singing "Pulled" from The Addams Family. And yes, I was already fully convinced of her awesomeness as a singer and actress, obviously. But in this performance, she really takes it to a whole new level. She's electric, and really different, and not Carrie at all but in a good way. Watch and be amazed:

Amazing, right?! 


Oh, and completely unrelated, but I need your opinions, and I like to end with a question to encourage discussion/comments. So I have a Barnes and Noble gift card, and there are two books that sound particularly intriguing. Elusion and A Girl Called Fearless. Check out the summaries that I've linked to, and let me know which you think I should get! 

Until next time,
Anna Beth