Expanding the Job Search

Today:
Interview 4 p.m. for freelance job at the Arch City Chronicle, STL.
The guy seems very impressed with my stuff. The paper is twice monthly, serving only about 20,000 readers. BUT If I can get SOME money for writing, I can continue my journalism experience, get a bartending or part time job here, save up some money while living for free- then keep looking and hopefully the job market will get better and I'll have some better, newer clips to market myself with.

Tomorrow:
Sports reporter interview with the Breeze Courier, Taylorville, Ill. It's only about 1 hr 45 min. from here, a smaller town outside of Springfield. I applied for the general assigment position which doesn't open until later but the lady contacted me to come interview for the sports one. She says if I work sports I have the option to move to news when that position opens. If I like Tayorville, if they hire me, and if they pay me at least $24,000 bucks, then I plan to get a kitty to keep me company. Also, I'd be an hour from Matt and April and almost 2 from home, not bad. Hopefully it's cheap enough to live there.

Still waiting:
St. Louis Magazine didn't have any openings that I know of, but they'd be my dream job. The managing editor says he'll definitely be in touch, so I hope he has something, ANYTHING. I COULD do both St. Louis Mag and Arch City, if they allow that sort of thing. I wouldn't think it would matter if the ideas don't overlap.

The dilemma:
I still haven't told Centralia my decision. I'm afraid the editor is already helping me look for efficiency apts. It would definitely be something I'd be into in the future, but I think I owe it to myself to make sure that's the place I want to be. I could get offered more in a place I like more, who knows? I've only been hardcore looking for a month.

Shifting gears:
I am also interested in editing for books or catalouges.
Technical writing is boring but I can do it- I excelled in that class at college.
Any writing job would help me keep up my skills and let me do what I love.
Although writing is my concentration, much of my experience is editing, which I have found I MIGHT love even more.
I want a kitty.

The dream:
To get a sweet job at St. Louis Mag (which I don't think I'll ever stop trying for job or no job) and living in the city. I used to want to go to New York and I think I still would, but St. Louis might be a better size for me.

Enough blabbing, gtg.

On the Hunt for a Jizzob

I've applied at about a go-zillion places. I've come to the terms with the fact that I probably have to leave my beloved St. Louis in order to come back another time, another day. I really still don't want to, so I'm being careful about the offers I get.

I got an offer in Marshall, MO. - 3.75 hrs. away
Didn't take it. It didn't pay enough for me to be able to live there.

I have an interview with Centralia, IL tomorrow. - about 1.6 hours away
I don't think it's even full time, but I called in a favor from a family friend, so we'll see what happens with that.

Possibly an interview with Taylorville, IL next week. - 1.75 hrs from here.
FOR A SPORTS WRITING POSITION. You know I almost think I'd like that better than general assignment. Football season would sure be a drag tho.

COME ON STL MAGAZINE! www.stlmag.com
I've been corresponding with their editor but I haven't heard from him in a bit, so it doesn't sound good. I was hopeful because they didn't have any positions open but he responded to my e-mail of interest, and I'd hoped we could work something out. STILL HOPING. CROSS YOUR FINGERS.

surveys are all that I have for kicks

A is for age:]
22.5

[B is for booze of choice:]
beers

[C is for career:]
Dream job: feature writer for metro magazine/newspaper like the Riverfront Times

[D is for your dad's name:]
Robert, BOB

[E is for essential items to bring to a party:]
camera

[F is for favorite song at the moment:]
"Every little thing she does is magic" Sting

[G is for favorite game:]
DREAM PHONE

[H is for hometown:]
Godfrey, IL

[I is for instruments you play:]
i can play one song on a harmonica if that counts

[J is or jam or jelly you like:]
strawberry

[K is for kids?]
i hope sometime or another

[L is for living arrangements:]
at home temporarily I hope

[M is for mom's name:]
Minette... that starts with an m too if you want to get technical

[N is for name of your crush:]
nobody- he doesn't exist

[O is for overnight hospital stays:]
none

[P is for phobias:]
that little dent in the center of ppls necks--- loud noises (construction, motorcycles), driving in the rain and TORNADOES

[Q is for quotes you like:]
How can I be happy when I'm not farting on anyone? - my ex-roommate David Thill

[R is for relationship that lasted the longest]:
8 mo. wow im a trooper (sense the sarcasm)

[S is for sexual preference]:
men

[T is for time you woke up today:]
8 a.m. eeskee

[U is for underwear:]
clean ones or none at all

[V is for vegetable you love:]
green beans, sugar snap peas

[W is for worst habit:]
freaking out when i lose something

[X is for x-rays you've had:]
arm, and most recently my frickin thumb

[Y is for yummy food you make:]
spaghetti

[Z is for zodiac :]
scorpio

Hi IM home for summer and if anybody would like to hang out. IM working in Belleville this summer I have to be there at 6 in the morning, so I have to get up at about 4:30 in the morning to get there on time. So IM going to be like a old man this summer going to bed early at night. If you want to do something just give me a call.

Thomas: congras about on the job we will have to go to the mini corral before you leave.

They gave me a degree

I miss EIU sooo much already!
But I went out with a bang.

Thursday we went to BINGO.
Friday to Hatter's for one last free hotdog.
Saturday I graduated, had the fam over, and then attended a kegger at Renick's.

At Renick's I proceeded to "try and catch up" (haha, he was already drunk when I got there) which entailed a lot of free keg beer and a short keg stand.
Then Renick tried making out with me after he passed out, woke up again and washed the blue penis off his face... he was successful haha.

Then we went to see a band- Romancing the Bone- for about 5 seconds near my house.

Then we went to Mal's and I did half a beer bong at a point where I should have stopped long ago.

Then we went to Lincoln Gardens, where I proceeded to trip over my broken sandal, bite it and fractured my right thumb.

Still looking for a job. Have an unpaid internship at a progressive mag in STL that would start in June, but need an actual job. There's an opening at Rock Island and I'm sending my boss some updated clips, but my parents don't want me to leave so I've been taking my sweet time- probably not a good thing. My mom even has nightmares about me going there.

I guess I can't really report till June anyway, cuz it's hard to take notes minus your right hand when you're right handed. Luckily, I'm semi-ambidextrous.

That flushes the idea of a summer softball league down the toilet, but I guess I might not be here after awhile anyway.

Congrats on the job Thomas! And happy graduation! I should be around that week for a party and I'd like to see you before you go.

P.S. I feel like a five year old with this flamboyant bright red cast. I have the Cardinals spirit I guess.

Pyramids! Yay for Greek Week

We didn't win, but look at that stack!

Look at me, singing.
Photo courtesy of Jay Grabiec, Daily Eastern News

Alphas take 2nd in Greek Sing

My sorority took second place this year in Greek Sing with or compilation of love songs from "Moulin Rouge." We worked hard. We sang well. We definitely deserved the recognition.

Kappa Delta, did an amazing set of songs from "Wicked," which earned them first place among the sororities; Tri Sigma got third place singing Madonna songs, and Alpha Gamma Delta came in fourth with a rain theme.

In the fraternity division, Sig Ep continues to own my heart (I swear I will marry that collective fraternity someday- meet my husband, Sigma Phi Epsilon). They took first singing a bunch of James Taylor songs and never failing to amaze me. Sigma Nu took second place singing love songs from morning till night; Lambda Chi took third with some more love songs. Phi Kappa Theta took fourth place, bless their hearts, and it was the first time they ever participated in Greek Sing since they recently got their charter at Eastern. They dressed in red, white and blue and stood in the formation of the American flag and sang patriotic songs like "America, the Beautiful."

I love my Greek Sing. You guys should watch it! Cuz I'm getting a copy of the DVD just before I graduate.

Visiting the Effingcross at 2:30 a.m.

Need $30 more bucks!

Hey does anyone know anyone who would donate to American Cancer Society???

I'm $30 away from my goal and deadline is March 31.

Here's the link!

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=136704&lis=1&kntae136704=628C24CFFBFB43C59CA53A78110FA5DD&supId=116551607

If you love me, and you have ANY money to spare, help me. Or you could pass it on to anyone else who might be interested. Love you! Bye

Its been a while

Sorry I have been busy with school and the girlfriend (6 months I know) IM going to b home for spring break on Sunday till Thur so give me a call and we can do something..on wend im going to amarastar with stamper we are not going till 11 (stamper has 2 work) if you want to go just let me know.

The dragon does...

Who's got the juiciest b-hole in town?


Watch this and find out.

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/235748

The DEN rocks ICPA

Staff members of The Daily Eastern News brought home 19 honors, including five first place awards, from the Illinois College Press Association's annual conference and awards banquet last weekend in Chicago.
The DEN also received honorable mention for the John David Reed Award for general excellence, an award named for an Eastern journalism professor emeritus.
Winning entries, judged by professional journalists, were published during the spring 2005 and fall 2006 semesters, and most were judged from the dailies category.

First place:
Editorial cartoon, Mike Abernathy
Non-sports column, Kevin Sampier
Sports column, Dan Woike
Feature page design, Matt Meinheit (also, honorable mention, Matt Meinheit)
General news photo, Stephen Haas

Second place:
Entertainment supplement, (open category) fall 2005 staff of On the Verge
Headline writing, Matt Meinheit
Feature photo, Nora Maberry

Third place:
Feature photo, Daniel Williams
Sports news story, Dan Woike
Sports page design, Hillary Settle and Dan Renick
Spot news photo, Daniel Williams
Honorable mention:
Spot news photo, Stephen Haas
Feature story, Cindy Tanney
In-depth reporting, Hillary Settle
Photo essay, Daniel Williams and Carrie Hollis
General news photo, Daniel Williams

ICPA conference this weekend

http://www.xanga.com/OohLala1983

Check my other blog for a list of awards we won. Photo (Stephen Haas and Danny Williams) did well, as usual, and Brian and I got second for our Thanksgiving issue of On the Verge.

Be proud! Our designer also won an award for one of our issue covers, the Evolution of the Bar Crawl. I like to think we (Brian, me and Danny) had a little something to do with it as well.

Here was my weekend:

Wed- went to bed at 3:30 a.m. Woke up at 4:30 a.m., met everyone in newsroom at 5 a.m.
Drive to Chicago. Have NSYNC dance party.
Stop in Peotone for McDonald's, courtesy of JR (DEN publisher) and student pub.
Arrive in downtown Chicago, park and hike it to the Tribune Tower.
Attend a Tribune Editorial Board meeting.
Get a tour of the newsroom.
Drive to Crystal Lake. Eat deep dish pizza, play Clue, sleep.

Thurs.- Get up at 5:30 a.m. Take train into Chicago.
Check into hotel.
Get job/internship interviews with Sun News in Waukeegan, Naperville Sun and Beacon News in Aurora.
Miss first session on in-depth reporting- which I actually needed.
Eat lunch at Chipotle, and have my first Dos Equis.
Attend session with Dann Gire, movie critic from the Daily Herald and old "chum buddy" of JR. Laugh my ass off.
Try to figure out how old JR is exactly. Estimates have hit 52. (I don't know why you guys care unless you read my last post. P.s. I'm not a psycho.)
Skip keynote (oooh they're- Joe, our adviser, and JR- gonna be mad) to hang out in hotel bar.
Get booze.
Get caught by JR- yep, mad.
Booze in Jenni's room.
Go to hotel bar to meet for dinner. Help Holly finish her booze.
Hike in frigid weather to Rock Bottom, where they brew their own beers.
Experience a wheat beer-filled bong, and gourmet mac n' cheeze.
Hike back.
Get drunker.
Pass out in room. I missed Meinheit's visit (Awww alum..... sigh)!!!!

Sat.- Get up 9:30 a.m. (way nicer...)
Shower, skip sessions. (yawn)
Eat free food and get awards at banquet.
Pack in Meinheit's car - CAR- with Greg, Holly, Matt (who is 6'5" ish or more), Thill, Amy and Erin...
Take train back to Crystal Lake.
Get Erin's car.
Turn around and get Jenni in Chicago.

And here I am. Somehow still awake and alive. They all went out- I'm barely able to keep eyes open.

Why hellooooo to you sir

Tomorrow I leave for the ever-exciting ICPA (Illinois College Press Association) conference in Chicago.

Technically, tomorrow, we are leaving a day early at 5 a.m. to attend a Chicago Tribune editorial board meeting around 10 a.m. Road trips with JR- always a fun deal.

In case you didn't know, and you probably didn't, JR is one of our professors. He's the publisher for the paper actually. And he's goofy. I guess you could say I have a little NONSEXUAL crush on him... (I'm not narsty, the man is old enough to be my dad pretty much, plus he has small children and is married and the idea of.... eewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Old guys.) So anyway. It's a big inside joke in the newsroom.

We're coming back Saturday but the weekend is going to be fabulous and everyone including Joe and JR are going to be drunk and I'm sure I'll have tons to tell you about. Love you, miss you (sorry I didn't see you this past weekend, I was in a bad mood...)

Bye ladies and gents.

I've been a bad girl

too busy to post, just wanted to say I haven't forgotten about you.

Love you all.

Bonerback Mountain

The other night I read that Emily is theonly person to post on here...

-------
Well I finally got a chance to, and the damn server shut me out, said Blogger was down for maitenance or some shit.
-------

And now I only have a few minutes.

And I'm using them to tell you that Brokeback Mountain was sweet enough for me to see it once with the 'rents, and see it again, an hour away in Terre Haute. IT IS EVEN MORE FAB THE SECOND TIME.

and Jake Gyllenhaal would give me a boner if I had the necessary equiptment.

----------------
One of my professors keeps talking about the movie as well- he thinks it's funny bc he likes the attention when we laugh at him.... grown ups. He's a fricken riot-- he keeps saying he saw my roommate David "Theel" (supposed to be pronounced Thill) and one of the other guy editors Matt "Polly" (supposed to be pronounced Pole-y) at "brock-back (brokeback) mountain" wearing assless chaps, jean jackets and cowboy hats. He said they gave it two thumbs waaaaaaaay up (if we know what he means)

This may not seem as funny to you as it does to me bc this man is crazy... all hopped up on cold medication and he's using his dry humor to purposely pronounce every word in the statement wrong, just to make it more ridiculous.


That's all I have. Except search for Larry David's (creator of seinfeld, curb your enthusiasm) column on the movie that ran in the NY Times, and go see the movie!!!

What's the dillo?

So I'm the only one who posts in this thing? Shame on you!

School blows like your mom

So I'm just now realizing how much I really hate school! From homework, quizes, pop-quizes, tests, and 20 page papers, this semester really blows! As much as I love the college life, I will def not miss this part of it!

2006

Hey kids! Long time no post, eh? So right now I'm in the longest class of my life! IS blows, but whatcha gonna do? Laura when is your graduation?? I'd be interested in comin out for that, and if possible some weekend to check out what EIU is all about. Let me know of your availability for this semester. Anywho, I think I figured out how to graduate in the Fall, which makes me very excited!
In other news, NYC rox my sox and I could def live there, if I could afford it that is. The majority of my time there was spent in bars and Marc's apartment. I only spent less than $200, and I was there from thurs till mon, not bad if you ask me, Marc and his roommates know how to put on a good time! I'll have to give details another time, like while I'm not sitting in class, hehe, I heart wireless internet!
Relationship news, Justin and I are doin good. I'm sick as hell right now and he has been takin care of me.. awww so swt I know. He's actually buyin a new truck right now, I checked it out last night and it's really freakin swt! Its raised high as hell (I almost need a boost to get in, hehe) and its an 04 chevy. He's pry the most sincere boyfriend I've had. Just the little things, like cuddeling while we watch a movie, the way he kisses my forehead in the morning to tell me bye. I don't know I can't explain it. Its nice to have a boyfriend that doesn't rush things tho. First bf since steve to not tell me he loves me b4 the 1 month mark! I love that, nice and slow! anyways I better get back to my class. bye