Mickey, Rudy, Sam... Sean

Last night I made my way over to the student center. As a senior, this was my first experience to such an occassion but I had heard from several sources that Sean Astin, actor, most famous for his roles in films including Goonies, Rudy, and Lord of the Rings, was in town.


Goonies was your typical 80's kids movie that everyone has seen and to which now is a standard joke at keg parties. Rudy may be one of the first movies I remember being emotionally inticing. As a sucker for the underdog, Rudy was inspiring and helped me through a few suicude sprints in my high school day. Ah, Lord of the Rings - The grown up version of Harry Potter. Suspenseful, thrilling, action packed, well acted, directed, blah blah blah.. everything that makes a movie great.


Sean Astin. He has vital roles in each of these films. I was no less than thrilled to hear what he had to say. Through the grapevine, I hear he is here to promote his book, There and Back Again. The event begins with a stream of clips from the many appearances he has made. The 800 or so students and faculty who came were amped. What do you expect after hearing his locker room speech from Rudy?


As I am with most celebrities, I am always surprised at how normal he is. Astin's speech was similar to that of an Oscar speech....but longer. He thanked God for his family and gave credit to his Mom and Dad (who apparently were famous actors too). He gabbed about his wife and kids and how he is enternally greatful. He was able to carry on an entertaining and well written oral presentation while appropriately making comical references to his movies. He seemed happy, content, and proud of his accomplishments. With good reason, I must add. I was impressed with his vocab and his list of philanthropic ventures as he read, yes read, his words. My critique is this: While he boasted about his college degree in History and Literature, he most likely did not take a public speaking course. In the words of my own professor, "I saw the top of his head more than his face." What a bummer!


As we entered our Q&A session, I was excited to hear how he would respond without his trusty notes in front of him. Again I was satisfied with his showy ability to use big words but what impressed me most was that he was actually funny! This, mind you, is the quality I am most vulnerable for. He fired answers back at students with wit and charisma. He effecitevly used metaphors, and mocked politics as well as his previously played characters. His acting skills paid off because he was well versed, speaking with conviction and all the while showing integrity and confidence.


Q&A began to bore me after students became comfortable enough to ask questions like "Want to go grab a brew?" and "Will you marry me?". I left early slightly annoyed at this but was happy to hear a few entertaining words from Astin. I may not buy his book, as I am a financially struggling student, but I would be excited to hear what others have to say. I'm guessing it might leave it's readers thinking, "RUDY! RUDY! RUDY! RUDY..."

the almost adult

We are all familiar with the feeling when you're in class and you have to give a presentation on something you've been working on for a month. All your insecurities float to the surface of your conciousness and make your palms sweat and your legs a little weaker. Some even sway or develope temporary parkinsons disease. My problem is when I am in presentation and realize I haven't breathed in an unhealthy amount of time. And the only thing that makes me realize this has happened is when I either one, can't get through a sentence bc I have no breath, or two, because I have just let out an embarrassing sigh letting everyone ELSE know I am nervous. It also kinda sucks when your speach is slightly shaky... Makes me want to slap myself across the face and say IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER... CHILL!!!!



...So what if... what happens when it does matter?



The same feeling arises during job interviews. First of all, I have a hard time comprehending the fact that I am old enough to be job searching. Second, though I may have passed a mere class presentation using a trifold poster or whatnot.... scratch that, nobody uses those anymore... using an eco-friendly and tech-savy slide show, listing my strengths and weakness for a critical individual whose main purpose is to hound me with questions on how I am smarter, more experienced, more mature, better equiped, and just plain better than the probable-infinte amount of other applicants, is far beyond my abilities to maintain sanity.



so... IM SORRY that when I am not fully prepared for a single unexpected question like with who else am I applying for internships and why and why them, specifically, I am a little uncomfortable because to be quite honest I applied to what seems about 1000 other places to hopefullly increase what small chance I probably have of getting an intership anyway!!! If you ask me, (and not the social-norms-inventor) then I would say, "That's none of your damn business!!



post interview: My palms are dried and my heartrate is normal. I feel silly for getting nervous and even sillier for thinking that one small question where I was hesitant and unsure of myself will lead to an automatic red line drawn diagonally over my resume. I am sending my dutiful followup message tomorrow.



"Wish" me luck!

To decorate or not to decorate

To decorate or not to decorate... was NEVER the question. Granted I am only in this tiny apartment for 5 months, but I can't help but to make it feel like home. Not only do I enjoy the finish product of a well accessorized living space, but it's the process that makes me excited. Things like organizing a bookshelf, froofing the walls, and picking out affordable pillow patterns are more entertaining to me than, dare I admit, facebook, even!

For me, someone who has moved six times since high school graduation 5 years ago, likes change, and part of moving into a new place is using a little creativity. My style and tastes have changed dramatically over these past 5 years. My freshman year dorm room was bright pink and lime green! As much fun as it was to compare our neons to the other polka dots and IKEA themed hall mates' rooms, I am maturing into my current very brown phase (except the kitchen. I think a kitchen should alwys be bright). My brown is accented with metallic. I am increasingly a fan of metallic. The creatvity comes into play when the monetary resources are running low. As a college student, broke a way of life. To compensate, I rely on donated furniture, borrowing, slip covers, hand-me-downs, garage sales, clearances, and alternative uses for everyday items. Creativity is making the most out of what you have. Ex - frame wrapping paper, use a pot to hold kitchen utensils, candle holder to hold pens

Spray painting has become my new favorite hobby. It's cheap, fun, quick, and with the new bottles, they are easy to use and you aren't left with a throbbing pointer-finger! Our kitchen, or what we have staked as our area-for-eating, is a freshly painted brown table and copper chairs. The copper chairs are spray painted with a "hammered look" to add some texture and I have chosen new fabric to cover the seat cushions. On our table, I added pizazz by spraying over the design of a grate. love it! - except the top of the table where I got overzelous pretending to be artistic. I will be repainting the top sometime soon.

Other newly painted items include picture frames, floor baskets, and tomorrow I paint my dresser green! (on the lookout for cheap, decorative drawer pulls/knobs)

I have one item I will struggle with this semester. The walls are beige. If I had it my way, I would obviously paint, but painting walls is a different story than an accessory. My funds are non existent and now that classes have started, my spare time is limited. Something to deliberate...

To leave the walls be, or not to be. THAT is the question.

Back to the Future

As I finish up some online reading for my Sociology class, I am sitting down pondering my life as of now and what is to come, something I do quite often before I go sleep. Must be something about the quietness of the night that allows me actually think straight! No wonder I like to study at at this time - see? it's not procrastination, don't be so negative!

I am back in the United States of America and tonight I am bloggin' about my experiences since I have returned. It has been five days.
I was told in a journalism class that a writer should include something that will attract a readers attention like a pie graph or a bullet list. so another list -

5 days of USA

• day 1 - Hartsfield airport - While I commend their efforts to protect us from terrorists, I am no less than annoyed by the 2 hours it takes from landing until I get to my car.
• day 1 - HOTlanta
• day 1 - First stop Chick-Fil-A
• day 1 - nausea from CFA
• day 1 - Atlanta traffic
• day 1 - driving on the right side of the road
• day 1 - driving
• day 1 - American TV shows
• day 1 - call to Papa - still ranting on Obama
• day 1 - American accents
• day 1 - alone time... ah, yes
• day 1 - my own: bed/shower/closet/food/kitchen/family/schedule
• day 2 - biscuits and gravy
• day 2 - giant glasses
• day 2 - free refills
• day 2 - not having to search for an outlet converter
• day 2 - tiny coins - fewer coins
• day 2 - I have way to much STUFF
• day 2 - American music
• day 2 - using a cell phone! (unlimited texting!)
• day 2 - Obama email from Papa
• day 2 - constant sunshine!
• day 2 - ATHENS!!!! "It feels like home to me"
• day 2 - Rush, from a distance this year
• day 2 - Downtown Athens and lovely Allgood - saw Will and Thomas from Oxford trip
• day 2 - local friends
• day 3 - feeling of being broke
• day 3 - apartment froofing
• day 3 - saying/hearing "yall"
• day 3 - wal-mart maddness - avoid for at least two weeks after classes have started
• day 3 - Kroger!! and the Kroger Plus Card
• day 4 - bus routes
• day 4 - morning exercise routines
• day 4 - having a routine
• day 4 - THE HEAT
• day 4 - professor mentions Obama
• day 4 - jet lag continues
• day 4 - head to trivia night anyway
• day 4 - my car
• day 5 - UGA football ticket sign ups
• day 5 - tennis class - could fry an egg on the court
• day 5 - rushing
• day 5 - organizing
• day 5 - ...settling

High Table

I had the pleasure of being invited to the last high table dinner hosted by Oxford University. From what I had heard, you dine with the finest people, are served the finest three-course meal, and are under strict orders to behave in the finest manner. urk - no pressure for me who has just been throwing bread into a pond with no ducks and running around the playground with ten other 5 year-olds.

To give you a taste of what I ws anticipating, apparently at high table it's not polite to get up to go to the toilets! Before beginning your meal, a bowl of rose water is brougth around where you are expeceted to daintily wash yourself. Proper procedure is to talk to the person beside you. After you hear the gavel sound, you switch and converse with the person on your other side. I took cotillion, but this scenario was way out of my league!

I dressed in my most cocktail attire adding a shaw to present myself conservatively, paid my 1.80 pounds for the bus, and we headed on our way. We began our night on the lawn outside the school mingling and sipping our pims. I was told pims is gin and tea with orange and lemon slices. I wanted to throw back about four in efforts to cover up my insecurity of not being on top of my fancy-game, but I put on my poker face and socialized with the Oxford dons who didn't stay long, mind you! To my surprise, the crowd seemed casual.

Group by group, we made our way into the dining room. Picture the Harry Potter dining scenes. The long tables and the elders on an elevated stage. Photos of historic patrons like Queen Victoria and John Wesley lined the walls and watched me eat with their judging eyes. I soon felt comfortable, however, the bottomless wine was more than welcomed. The atmosphere, while gave the image of high class, the noise level was similar to that of a busy pub. I sat amongst fellow students yelling to speak to the person across from me. Not what I had expected from the tall tales of the infamous high table experience.

We made it through a lovely meal of crawfish and avocado, beef and potatoes and what I took as a very alcoholic red velvet cake. We were left with a speech from an Oxford don and an unexpected UGA chant, "Who's that comin' down the track..."

My experiences have shown me that there is no event too classy that UGA students and alumni can't turn into a party. Go Dawgs!

I AM(probably not)sterdam

When I think Amsterdam, I think:

1. Red Light district
2. Bike capital of the world
3. Vincent Van Gogh
4. Heineken
5. Canals
6. Marijuana
7. Anne Frank Huis
8. Tulips
9. Crooked houses

As the six of us step off the train in the famous Amsterdam Central Station, we are immediately introduced to what makes up the Red Light District. Our five-minute stroll to the hostel consisted of stoners, gays, prostitutes, homeless beggers, and drunken college students... or as I'm guessing, the drop-outs. With pepper spray in hand and eyes bugged, I practically broke down the hostel door. I guess he was right - an Oxford don advised us on our way to the airport that the RLD is not suitable for young ladies.

After the inital shock wore away, I was able to embrace what Amsterdam had to offer. Outside the RDL, Amsterdam kept us busy. For two and half days we walked, biked, and floated around the city and visiting the attractions. Van Gogh and Anne Frank Huis were my favorite sites and well worth the pricey tickets.

If I were to work for Rick Steve or The lonelyplanet, I would encourage a bike tour. It gives you a chance to see the city in a fun and unique way. However, if you decided to rent for the day, like we did, you will not be able to sit comfortably in a chair for the next three days.

In my opinion, if you decide to make a trip to Amsterdam, do it in your youth. The nightlife encourages what's considered sinful misbehavior to those who are culturally in tune with that of mainstream American values. While I admit to a few innocent bites of space cake and a couple Heinekens before strolling the streets by night, that was the extent of my social deviance. I must have looked like a stepford wife compared to the hippies and stoners who lurk. It also didn't help that our group of six consisted of frat boys in their greek letters and well-manored girls from our very southern state of Georgia!

Our last night it was just Chelsey and me left in the city. We decided to sit down to one of the many table and chairs outlining a popular square. We enjoyed another beverage and some street entertainment before making our way back to the hostel. Can't go wrong people watching. I consider it a must-do if you're looking to really experience a city and get to know its culture. All in all it was another successful adventure. I leave Amsterdam tired, dirty, sore, enlightened, and still young.

The Nanny

The best summer job has been found. The nanny, or more appropriately called, Au Pair, in my case, is me this summer (emphasis on the "the"). I am beginning my blog with my experience of being an Au Pair in Oxford, England for six weeks.

After a couple days of touring Dublin, Ireland our ferry took us to our final destination in Oxford and more specifically the tiny and "quite lovely" town of Summertown (how appropriate, right?). I have been here for just over a month as of now and I have several things to cover.

ONE: Things noticeably different than in the US

1. Efficient public transportation locally, nationally, AND overseas


2. things are smaller - food proportions, vehicles, restaurants, apartments, toilets, refrigerators, washer/dryers (all-in-one), ovens, street width, size of shops,


3. in the efforts of doing things in tiny ways, the Brits are eco-friendly


4. obviously noticeable that they drive on the right (but wrong) side of the road


5. too many coins with which to deal


6. Oxford snobs pronounce their "t"s and the everyday Brits completely the "t" sound.


7. everyone has a dog - a well trained dog


8. parks are phenomenal: duck ponds, punting, HUGE playgrounds any US kid would be jealous of, mini golf, flowers gardens, kids train, aviary, large well-kept meadows


9. cars are not a necessity


10. Americans have a lot of STUFF

About my perfect job: Because it is perfect it will seem like I am bragging but it is all-encompassing in why exactly it IS perfect. My flight to Europe was paid for as is my place to stay. Also I am a live-in nanny so my groceries are free. I am technically on duty for about 20 hours per week. I have afternoons and weekends to travel which is somewhat paid for by my added hourly wage. Making friends was easy since I live in a college town. A new beer I discovered is Kronenbourg, which I highly recommend. We live across the street from one of the parks I described earlier and right beside a local preschool. On a sunny day, my life is fairtale-esque. Kids laughing and playing, people playing fetch with their dog, the locals taking a stroll with their spouse - It's picture perfect! I have started picturing a quaint life here.

While on duty, I must admit, it is not all glitz and glamour. I am in charge of two girls. While considering one is 12 going on 30, her younger sister, 5, puts my patience and authority to the test daily.

TWO: Nannying lessons learned

1. I have learned to not react to her nails digging into my skin, her screams piercing my ears, or tears melting my heart.
2. I have learned that attention is the most desired gift.
3. I have learned the difference between babysitting and being a live-in nanny: Comfort level.
4. I have learned to vent via emails to my own mom who, in response, sends her encouragment and wise words of advice from experience.
5. I have learned that I love these girls unconditionally.
6. I have learned that I am not ready to be a mom.

one of my recent tweets (http://twitter.com/fab_car): Finally peace and quiet. Either I'm turning into my mother or this is what she was talking about when she said, "One day you'll understand"

THREE: Nannying has also ruffled up some memories of my own childhood

1. sibling rivalry - determining which bowl has the most icecream
2. intentional yet discret pestering between siblings and knowing exactly what can set them off
3. Obession with princesses and make-believe
4. apple juice and Cherrios- which I never liked
5. dancing and singing in the mirror
6. Home is where Mom is.

This weekend is Amsterdam, three days off-duty, and last weekend overseas.