Art is the proper task of life.

Serious ponderance

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:42:28 -0400

Is it considered uncouth to munch on a sandwich in the middle of Barnes & Noble?

I work remotely a day or two a week to cut back on commute time, and often set up shop in the local bookstore cafe - to cut costs, I prefer to brown-bag. However, I always feel so out of place with my massive lunch spread amongst the books and coffee - like fellow patrons are staring. And judging.

Thoughts?

I’M STEALING HIM

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:42:43 -0400

I’M STEALING HIM

Photo

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 20:26:19 -0400

But, but, but - its my favorite punctuation mark!

Sat, 28 May 2011 15:18:00 -0400

But, but, but - its my favorite punctuation mark!

Obligatory post-grad post

Sun, 22 May 2011 22:38:46 -0400

Well, its over. I graduated TCNJ last Friday (the 13th!) and after approximately 10 days of pure, unadulterated laziness, I step into the shoes of a real person tomorrow morning and trek up to Westfield for my first day of work.

1. You know how every graduating senior has his or her inevitable crying jag - when the last assignment is turned in, the room is all packed up, the president makes her speech at the Champagne Toast (part of Senior Week, which, by the way, was AWESOME. Kind of like the last meal before execution - why yes, I’m the sunniest person alive, why do you ask? - but amazing nonetheless), etc.? Well, I was haunted by MINE on the football field during the main graduation ceremony surrounded by thousands of fellow graduates and spectators. Embarrassing.
2. For the record, I was around .04 GPA points away from Cum Laude. SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR. I blame the TCNJ French department.

This whole turn of events hasn’t really sunk in yet. I’ll post again in a panicked state of depression when it does.

OK. off to try and calm my frazzled nerves before resting up for the first day of the rest of my life.

That awkward moment

Sat, 21 May 2011 16:39:48 -0400

When Jesus called in sick to work.

It blows my mind

Thu, 19 May 2011 18:23:46 -0400

How renting a luxury high-rise apartment in South Jersey/Philadelphia is cheaper than renting a roach-infested shoebox in North Jersey.

Too bad my job, my social life and the core of civilization are located in the latter.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Video

Sat, 07 May 2011 14:56:47 -0400

mandaflewaway: CLICK TO MAKE SOME MUSIC

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 22:55:39 -0400

mandaflewaway:

CLICK TO MAKE SOME MUSIC

Photo

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:39:53 -0400

I’m almost 20 and haven’t been able to score a better job than a fucking cook at a local...

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 11:42:44 -0400

I’m almost 20 and haven’t been able to score a better job than a fucking cook at a local fast food joint. What makes it worse is that I live in a small town so business is pretty limited, and where I work is the only place that’ll hire high school graduates. I’d get the hell out of this town if I could actually drive too, but I’ve failed every damn test I’ve ever taken. I’m socially awkward, even my only other co-worker fucking hates my guts. I have repressed lust for one of my best friends too; she’s athletic, smart, and a gorgeous southern bell. I love her. You know what it’s like; I’ve been friend zoned real hard. She’s my only best friend, besides this one kid, who I’m pretty sure is only hanging around me because he is mentally challenged. I guess he’s the only one that can tolerate me. And what makes this all worse is that I live in a fucking pineapple under the sea.

Well, this is it.

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:21:19 -0400

I’m the first to say that I’m an unreliable blogger. Between interning (iVillage in NYC, if there is someone out there who reads my blog but is not friends with me on FB. Which would be nothing short of a miracle since I’m not certain anyone who IS friends with me on FB reads this), working, a full course load and other various extracurricular, academic and social committments, my plate is pretty full this semester. I mean, there’s plenty of times when I’m aimlessly Facebook surfing or watching America’s Next Top Model that I could have updated this with a little more than a picture or an amusing YouTube video, especially since I plan to enter a field where blogging is pretty integral, but alas.

Currently, it’s early afternoon on a Tuesday, and I’m sitting in the lib basement procrastinating writing a paper. In a couple of hours, I’ll leave (probably without having accomplished much, since my desire to complete the assignment is so low I’m reviving my extinct blog) and visit my boyfriend, then come back and hang around the townhouse/prepare for class tomorrow. Pretty uneventful, but the scary truth looms … I only have a little over a month left of this lifestyle, where my biggest accomplishment of the day is bumming in the lib. Yes, I’m talking about the G-word, which I should probably start referring to as graduation considering I’m picking up my cap and gown tomorrow. Nothing short of terrifying.

This would probably be a good time to mention that I’m fortunate to be one of the lucky few soon-to-be graduates who has received a job offer, much to my extreme surprise and joy. (Take that, economy/every college class ever!) I’ll be doing Web production, writing content and launching social media campaigns for a small company in Westfield called StreetCar Media, which essentially manages the Internet presence of a network of court reporters and lawyers (there are a few other adjunct companies I’ll be working on projects for, but that’s the main one). How on earth did I manage that? Well, 1. A. A Web producer who can write/a writer who can code is somewhat of a desirable combination these days and 2. I was in the right place at the right time. That’s all. To be honest, I’m still in shock - I think I’m somewhat talented, and have definitely worked hard throughout my four years at college, but don’t think I’m the BEST in my class. I guess this recent turn of events has something to do with the fact that this new job isn’t in the journalism field - and outside of journalism, jobs exist! Who knew? Granted, the salary isn’t enough to move out of the house just yet (and the commute is going to be brutal), but baby steps.

It feels like so long since I’ve really, truly written. Sure, I’ve done bits and pieces for my journalism capstone assignments, patch.com and iVillage, but I’ve focused so much effort into honing my Web skills that its kind of fallen by the wayside. While I’m excited to move forward in this next stage of life, it is kind of weird that I’m essentially abandoning journalism for the time being. I can’t imagine going my entire life without seeing my byline again.

Also, can we talk about the fact that after graduation, I’ll have a week off, then most likely be working full-time for … the next 30-40 years of my life? THAT’S A SCARY THOUGHT. But who knows what will happen? I’ll probably change career paths a million times, weigh the pros and cons of a creative, fulfilling writing career that pays peanuts vs. a more technical, routine career with a larger salary. I honestly don’t know where I’ll be in five years, or even at this point next year. Hopefully I don’t fall into a crippling post-college depression. But we’ll see. Keep the faith.

For those about to hit (or already in the throes of) post-college depression.

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:13:46 -0400

For those about to hit (or already in the throes of) post-college depression.

For all those stressing out…

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:56:12 -0400

For all those stressing out…

Photo

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:35:37 -0400

g-violet: “Guys and girls fall into certain archetypes when...

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:27:30 -0500

g-violet:

“Guys and girls fall into certain archetypes when they get drunk. Exhibit A: Santana, the weepy, hysterical drunk. Lauren Zizes and Quinn: the angry girl drunks. Brittany also known as the girl who turns into a stripper drunk. Mercedes and Tina: happy girl drunks. And then we come around full circle, right back to you, Rachel. And right now, you’re being the needy girl drunk”.

Colleges Against Cancer

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 11:05:00 -0500

Never realized there were any for it.

Scientific conclusion to "a day without caffiene" experiment:

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:06:50 -0500

Never again.

Wednesday nights.

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:11:41 -0500

“And guess how much memory the computer had? Forty. Eight. K.”

:Entire class laughs uproariously while I look on with a baffled expression:

Welcome to being the only journalism major in a class of computer science geeks.

Irony.

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:35:47 -0500

“When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the handgun ban in the nation’s capital in 2008, Representative Gabrielle Giffords applauded the ruling, calling gun ownership “an Arizona tradition.”

(“After Tuscon: Why are the Mentally Ill Still Bearing Arms?” - TIME)