an update from the conference...

Tunes:espn on tv (Brad's choice)

We (Stacey, Brad, Lauren, Kristen and myself) are sharing a hotel room here in National Harbor at the Gaylord where our conference (ACPA) is. It's this enormous and immaculate hotel that is charging us way too much to stay here (and not offer us a cot- so we're rotating sleeping on the floor) and way too much for food, so we can't eat here- almost literally. I have spent so much money this week, I get scared even thinking about it. Thank goodness for the enormous amount of money I am getting back from my taxes (and MUM for figuring that out for me).

So! I have been here 2 day's now, and have spent the majority of these 2 days in interviews with colleges and universities I could potentially work at. Yesterday was Siena, Hampshire & UMass Lowell. Today was SUNY Oneonta, Nichols, Keene, Salem State and Hofstra. Tomorrow I have 4 interviews- 2 of which (U of Southern Maine and Emerson) are first round. The others are second interviews (with Keene and UMass Lowell). I also was invited to go to a reception for SUNY Oneonta, which is just as good of a sign as the second interviews really. Hopefully I get a couple on-campus interview invites.

In short- this process is long and SLOW.

Today a lot more of the JMU professionals showed up, which made me feel more at ease. Tomorrow night they'll be having a reception and I am kind of excited to hang out with everyone dawning our Purple and Gold (duuuuukes). I may try and see Tyler on Tuesday after my interview with the School of Visual Arts. Yes, Tyler Kavanagh. I just really want an excuse to go up to DC.

I can not wait to go home on Wednesday, though. I am going to sleep so so so much.
It'll be glorious.

Miraculously the 5 of us in this little hotel room are still getting along so well. I thought we'd all be at each others' throats. But instead we're all being really gracious. And laughing often. I love them so. :)

Now, to bed.
Much love from National Harbor...

no rest for the weary...

Tunes:the colbert report.

This week was a big, big week for me and the rest of my classmates. Portfolio was due Wednesday at noon. I worked on it at the library for 17 hours just this weekend and then countless more last week and this week. I stayed up until 4am Tuesday night/ Wednesday morning to finish it. But! It is done. I am pretty proud of it. I feel like I did as well as I could given my procrastination.

And what I thought would be a really huge moment in my graduate career was extremely anti-climactic. Figures.

Kristen & I made a celebratory cake Wednesday just the same and had a bunch of our cohort over for a champagne toast to the end of that mountain of work. And then I was so ready to just collapse into a heap until graduation...but no. I spent all day today shopping for professional attire to wear at the conference I'm going to this weekend.
It was the crummiest day ever. It was grey and rainy and BLUH and I wanted to crawl under a rock. Instead I meandered around JC Penney for the better part of the afternoon. I did end up finding things to wear- thank God. But this weekend cannot end soon enough.

I have 9 interviews lined up total.
3 on Saturday: Siena, Hampshire, UMass Lowell
5 on Sunday: SUNY Oneonta, Keene, Nichols, Salem State, Hofstra
1 on Monday: University of Southern Maine

Monday evening there's this reception just for JMU people which is supposed to be fun, and then in theory I'll be done Tuesday. I may get asked to a couple second interviews. I may find it difficult to share a room with 4 other people for 4 days. I may be seeing Mr. Tyler Kavanagh while up there (the conference is outside DC)...
In short, I may go crazy while I'm up there. Ha.

All I know is this time next week I will be so less stressed out.
In the meantime...cripes. I really should pack.
Lots of love to New England- I miss everyone so much!
<3 Leigh

PS. This weekend (after 17 hours in the library) I went to a late showing on Sunday night of "I Love You, Man" and it is absolutely my new favorite movie. Nothing made my weekend better than watching Paul Rudd flounder helplessly with modern lingo and slang. Ha. so so so good...and c'mon, the man's a fox (yup, I said it)!!

"it's only grad school"

Tunes: http://tinyurl.com/austin100

I keep telling myself to stop making the task at hand greater than it really is...but it's impossible! However- the weather has been helping me stay sane...like right now- the sun is out and it's WARM...it's casting a long column of light onto my checked kitchen floor. Normally I need to have something on my feet to keep them warm, but today my toes are warmed by the light of the sun through the window in my door.

I was up at 6am with the birds, they're singing now, too.
To celebrate the weather I am determined to go outside and finish The Handmaid's Tale before my class at 3pm.

The next week and a half will either make or break me...but it's only grad school!

I've found sanity not only in the weather, but in radio. Lots of it.



Now, onto things that need to get done.
<3 LA

home, or something like it...

Tunes:radio

Some of the main reasons why I love Harrisonburg is because of its numerous coffee houses and cozy places to get my work done. I've been generally disappointed with what home has to offer mainly because Manchester and Hooksett aren't exactly cozy, snuggle-up kind of places. Or so I had always thought. Until right now.

Yes, I should be working on my portfolio-- it's why I came out to the Queen City today, afterall. However, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the place that I have finally decided to try out today: Jewell & The Beanstalk.



My mom mentioned seeing it on Chronicle recently the other night, but I remember Amy B. talking about coming here for Valentine's Day with James forever ago. I also remember passing by it a few times while out gallivanting after while still in high school. Now that I am inside, I realize it is exactly my kind of place. It's big- bigger than their website makes it seem. There's essentially 3 seating places, lots and lots of antique looking knick-knacks and lots of charm. I hate that phrase, but it really is charming. All the tables and chairs are a hodge-podge of what is surely flea market and yard sale finds, and the decor is much the same.

The woman who is running around taking orders was incredibly nice and welcoming to me- I wish I knew her name as she has since introduced me to her husband and mother-in-law who are here eating. The short woman in the back, Amber-- who I presume is the owner (as her face is in on the cover of some of the framed publications up on the wall)-- has been frantically making things since I got her. I envy her spunk and her storefront for sure. There is so much about this place I already love- like how I don't have to order coffee, I get to just help myself. I know, it doesn't take much to sway me. It helps that it is Free-Trade Sumatra, which is probably my favorite. It smells like brownies right now, too-- which is also a plus. There's lots of baked goods up front, all from scratch I'm told (by my new, nameless waitress friend). There are fresh cut GERBER DAISIES on each table, and a bunch of home made treasures such as jewelery and bags all over the place for sale.
Also, the menu is KILLER. All home made, all made with love (I'm sure-- this place seems like a labor of love).
*Sidenote: no sooner had I written that, my waitress friend, after being asked by a customer how the Maple Balsamic dressing is made, explained that Amber makes everything "with love." "Right, Amber?" she hollered to the back. "That's right, lots of loooove."

...and well, now I'm in love. End of story.



Stacey, among a slew of my other friends, keep on urging me to open my own bakery someday-- which is something I DO want to achieve in my life, I've decided. But being in a place like this really gives me a pang of jealously. I could make a cool, cozy place like this. Decorate it with a bunch of my artwork, have my crafty friends sell their wares, collect flatware and dishes and glasses at flea markets and yard sales in the summer time, bake things that are different and quirky and just plain good...I want this. Haha. In time, in time- I know.

On a different note, I no sooner got home and we were pummeled with another snow storm. New England has a way of reminding me that life in Virginia isn't so bad most days, that's for sure. For what it's worth, today is beautiful weather out, but goodness. Yesterday had me wondering why I've concentrated my job search in the area, ha. Then again, lets be honest, seeing my little brother whenever I'd like would be amazing. Same goes for my besties...Ricker called during his lunch break from work yesterday. I find this to be oddly adorable. I spent an hour on the phone with Mel last night-- even though I will be seeing her on Friday. I haven't seen ANY of the girls (as in THE girls-- Amy, Amy, Beth & Nin) but I know that I will see them all super soon. This break doesn't quite feel like a break. But I think I'll live.

In the meantime, I have to send my resume to Hofstra and finish section one of my portfolio (I've already finished section 2). Happy Tuesday!
<3 Leigh

this post is unnecessary.

Tunes:

I watched Jimmy Fallon last night and hated it.
I want Conan back now!



(I really just wanted to post this picture of me at NBC. ha)

the ball is rolling...

Tunes:"brother sport"// animal collective

The last 2 days have been oddly productive, yet wouldn't seem like it to most anyone else but me, I'm sure.

I have lined up interviews with SUNY Oneonta (which is just an hour and a half outside of Albany) as well as SUNY Oswego (which is north of Syracuse, right on Lake Ontario). I have also sent information to:
-Emerson College & Northeastern (both in Boston...the top of my list!)
-Siena College(again, right outside of Albany)
-Salem State College (Salem, MA)
-University of Southern Maine (Gorham, ME)
-UMASS Lowell (Lowell, MA...clearly)
-SUNY Cortland (Cortland, NY...upstate, west of Cooperstown)
-Nichols College (Dudley, MA...in the middle of nowhere)
-Keene State College (Keene, NH...Go Owls!)
-Bentley College (Waltham, MA)

So, I'll be sure to keep on updating because as of now I have only heard back from 3 or 4 places. I'll be sending out my information to Hampshire College (Amherst, MA) and the School of Visual Arts (New York, NY) this evening. It's very exciting to know that in a few months I will be headed somewhere new- and closer to home and people I care about.

In order for that to happen however, I need to submit a portfolio on March 25th. I've known about it since starting the program, but in true procrastinator fashion, I have put it off to the last minute. My goal is to finish 2 sections of it this week (doubtful) and then 2 more over break (here's hoping)...I want to go home to see the bro- but as of now it's going to be a very short trip so I can utilize the days off to fully work on my portfolio. I COULD work on it at home, I just don't envision that happening. But in anycase- break begins this Friday evening and I am incredibly stoked to not have any obligations to attend to here for a full 9 days. HOLLER.

Now...I need to run. Staff meeting to hold, dinner to eat, a cake to buy (an RA's birthday is tomorrow)...things, things, things.
Thanks for reading- I miss everyone a lot!
Much love,
LEIGH!

surprise party- in pictures!

Tunes:"valencia"// the decemberists

[tired from all the planning, and waiting for the birthday girl to arrive]

[the cake!]

[I love Stacey so so much]

[funsies on the front stoop...Miles, Me, Kristen & Lauren]

[CSPA 2009: Me, Brad, Josh, Kristen/ Lauren, Stacey, Kristen & Miles]

Life is good. I emailed 12 schools today in hopes of lining up interviews at the conference. I also filled in for a show at the station and had fun catching up with my old co-host, Phillip. We danced around while Animal Collective played. You would have, too! Check them out!



Welp. It's time for me to do things. What?
I'm not too sure. But only a week till spring break.
woo!

<3 Leigh