Happy Inauguration Day, folks!

A year in review

Hello there! I'm going to turn a new leaf in 2009 and begin blogging faithfully (or at least a bit more regularly) once the new year starts. I think I'll be changing the name and theme of this blog as well.

But before looking ahead, here's a look back at the year, in photos. The photos piece together a pretty eventful year of change, stopping, starting again, firsts, lasts, big moves across the country and small steps towards growing. I'm starting from the present and working back to the start of the year, which was oh so long ago.

I can hardly believe so much has passed during this year - I went from graduating to being jobless to being jobful (I made that up). And that's just the skeleton - these photos put some meat on those bones.

My first Christmas away from home, in Barstow.

Ikea threw up in my living room.

The nuts and bolts of it.

My new room - it looks bare here, and has since improved in looking more home-y.

The first breaking of bread in my new home.

On the road, from Atlanta to Barstow.

Checking out the Jamestown Sun in North Dakota.

A walk in the park while in Savannah, visiting Leah.

Chef Liu's one night.

Heej and I after our first 5K together.

Rhoda and I discovered we share the same birthday.

Meeting Jessie for an afternoon romp around downtown Chattanooga.

Picnic lunch at Chastain Park while Grace was in Atlanta, avoiding Hurricane Ike.

Lee and Mike got married.

Watching the Olympics while in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

My AJC mentor, Eileen, and I reporting on a radio show interview.

A random and beautiful night at Spring Hall with oodles of free drinks and goodies.


Hanging with Emory friends during the summer.


First time visiting Jessie's family in Oak Ridge.


I went on a solo hike.

Fourth of July at Centennial Olympic Park, where Grant performed.

Moving into 1413 was one of the biggest events of the year.

Saw a cool exhibit at the High Museum.

Grads!

Checked out the Botanical Garden for the first time.

Lots and lots and lots of ACF, with Lydia and Jane.

Visited my cousin Sam in New York.

I got new glasses last January. Not that big a deal.

But now, they remind me a little of Sarah Palin glasses....doh!

So long, 2008.

2009, we await!

I've been blizzarded

I had my interview today. It was very formal. I think it was a good two-way conversation, where they got to know me more and vice versa. It was three vs. me again. They said they'd call me by early next week.

It started lightly snowing in Jamestown around 3 p.m. The local forecast has predicted a blizzard to hit around midnight tonight. Needless to say, my 7 a.m. flight out of here tomorrow got cancelled. Now, I get to play in the snow and make snowmen until my rescheduled afternoon flight. I wish I brought my mittens...and had friends to enjoy the snow with...

I feel so tired and bloated right now. All that happens on interview trips is eating and talking. Going to restaurants and eating and talking. Then sitting in conference rooms and talking some more. Then going on driving tours of the town and listening to someone else talking. Talking is tiresome.

I'm ready to go home. For the first time in my life I'm wishing, "please don't snow too much."

To Barstow and back...

So, what you got?

I'll need to do some homework tonight. I picked up several copies of the paper so I can catch up on recent news so I can have half a clue about what to do when I get assigned a story tomorrow morning.

The paper is pretty thin. Since it's a small town paper, I'd say it's daily print product is about the thickness of a large metro paper's individual section. It's part of a regional collection of four Gannett-owned daily community newspapers. The managing editor and I went to dinner and I got to ask her a bunch of questions. She's fairly new herself and has a lot of plans in mind (video, multimedia, mentoring, etc.) but says she hasn't put things in motion yet.


Here are some pretty flowers . The scenery here reminds me of Oregon. I've been hearing a lot about this trail called the Green Circle, which is like a 26 mile loop that encircles the town (which also gives you another gauge on the size of this place).

Also, sports are big here. Baseball, hockey, and of course, with the Green Bay Packers, football. But I only like football that involves tv dramas like Friday Night Lights. Ah well.


Apparently another big deal here is fish fry. There are several bodies of water around. Ponds here and there. The great lakes not too far off. A river that cuts through the middle of town. (I guess they ran out of the letter "s" from the other side of the sign.)

I'll close with a nice view from the airplane and some ending thoughts on the day.

I'm feeling a lot more pressure now that I'm actually here. Not necessarily pressure from the company to take the job, but pressure to just make the right decision - a good decision.

I've heard someone say that when it comes to choices, you make a decision and then you make it the right one. When is that attitude/outlook beneficial? Or is it just the only option in some cases?