Black Tie Lounge

I'm catching up on my favorite show--The Office. I took a stroll today and realized how close my apartment is to a lot of parks. I'm near Union Square and Washington Square, which is NYU territory. I'm really digging this. Today I thought that it would be funny to run into someone from Tech on the subway. That didn't happen but I did run into someone from school while I was walking out. If I haven't said it yet, I'm definitely loving where I am. Mind you I wish I knew more people and was a little bit more settled but that's ok. I'm at a good place. It's been a week and I have no complaints with the agency. Oh yeah, I'm not working full time. This whole internship things is really a gamble because I'm not sure exactly how things will pan out for me in about a month. To be honest, I'm not worried. I'm not concerned. I have the same attitude I had about finding a job after college. I'm not concerned because I know something is going ...

I survived my first week as an employee and resident of New York City. I was homeless all last week and have settled into an apartment in the East Village close to Alphabet City . I feel like a kid in a candy store with all of the shops, bars, restaurants, and parks to visit in this area. I'm such an explorer, but for these next couple of weeks I'll be exploring on a budget. I got through last week surviving on the free lunch that the ad agency provided for attending seminars and pizza stands where I could get a slice for under $2. This is definitely going to be rough. As much as I want to work out and stay healthy, my diet is out the window until I can come to a place where I have a decent amount coming in. I'm definitely not here for the money. Yeah I could have stayed in SWVA or Nova and found a decent job but when I got the call to come up here and work for the summer, I knew I had to see if I could do it. Today's Father's Day and I told my uncle that I had to c...

So I'm about to take my first step into conquering this city. I'm not in the city but while I wait for my final interview, I need to look for a place to live. My plan is to find a summer sublease then by the end of July find a more permanent spot. This way I can save money my first couple of months living in the city. Time is ticking. Knowing that this in NYC, I expect prices to be high for next to nothing type space. Still people are making it work. This is my journey to see if I can make it work. I visited one place while I was there last week but I was not impressed. I got off the phone with one offer out in the East Village and I don't like to be rushed into making a decision. So my search continues. Like I said, there are people making it work so why can't I. In other news there really is no other news. Two teams I don't really care for have made it to the Finals and I hate being on the fence about what team I want to see win. I'll leave it at that. One of ...

If you read my blogpost economy schmonomy, you know how I feel about this recession. Businesses are still making money. People are being even more creative. Good things are happening for those who work hard. I'm doing a bit of back tracking since a lot has taken place with me since I graduated and even before I graduated. Since we are on the subject, two days before I crossed the stage, I got a call from an ad agency that I had made contact with through the American Advertising Federation's (AAF) MOSAIC Career Fair. One of the HR reps asked if I was interested in working with them this summer. Now I did not apply directly to this program. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I say this to reiterate that even in the midst of the economy some people are still making moves. Opportunity is available for those willing to get to know those that can make it happen. In no way do I attribute this to my personal swagger or anything special that I have done. Still, ...

Tomorrow is the day that I walk across the stage to receive a Masters in Communication. For those of you contemplating on whether or not to go to graduate school, you definitely want to give it the same amount of thought you would give a decision to take on a new job, a family, or move to another area. Needless to say even though it is a serious matter, it has worked out for my good in the most ridiculous ways. I'm coming out of this program better connected, with more confidence, and deeper insight into what I do and do not want. My passion for PR has been confirmed, my desire to start a business and meet the needs of the community are even more ablaze. I'm ready, even for the unexpected. I did not get to express all my final thoughts in Josh's video but I am going to miss everyone. I've been so blessed to meet the people that I have and to have worked with everyone I have. I have been put in contact with people I never would have imagined I could cross paths with. I h...

This morning I turned in the last paper of my career as a Masters student. I don't know how I feel right now. I'm experiencing a mix of relief, anticipation, excitement, ease, and overall wonder for what is in my path for the next few months. A few days have really altered the course of my perspective on graduating. I got some pretty rough news about the passing of a close family member. Luckily through no strength on my own I pulled it together to finish my last paper. The only thing this changes, well not the only thing but a few of many is that I may not be able to hang with the grad students like I expected. No showing my tail this week, my family needs me and I them. I'm collecting the money that was raised for the trip. I feel a bit anxious about leaving when there are so many things going on back home. I'm a very weird spot right now. This is probably the realest I've ever been on my blog but what else is a lounge if u can't do just that. Current events: ...

I'm booking a hotel in NYC for a trip at the end of May, while listening to James Morrison "You Make It Real" on serious repeat. Right now Orlando is spanking Boston in the 3rd quarter. I've got dinner on the stove and here I am. I just got a sudden rush to blog. I can talk about how I haven't been consistent on this nor with Twitter, but honestly my focus has been on . . . a lot. I stepped out of my office for a few minutes on Thursday to allow my mind to breath while I worked on one of the last academic papers I may write for awhile. It's bitter sweet. I'm happy to be graduating but I have been on the go so much that when I thought about how I really am leaving the Virginia Tech community. I've been here for 7 years and it is coming to a close. I really can't believe it. My state of amazement didn't last long because I had to refocus my mind to finish my PR paper, a paper that I got an extension on and no one else knew about. My point is--wel...