My transition from a plannabie at Miami Ad School to planning at Y&R brought me home for a good 3 months. During that time I got to live as a teen again. Depending on my parents for housing, food and TV. While I was finally able to appreciate all that my parents gave me I came to another revelation. Mexican's are vastly different from Americans. While this observation could of been made by any person who knows anything about both cultures, I was able to see it, live it and be it. I dedicate this blog to all my personal observations of my family's culture and the one we all currently live in.
Whistling as Communication
If your a girl, you've experienced this a million times over. Your walking down the steet, by yourself or with your friend, and some ugly ass dudes always in their late 30's to 50's start whistling. While most, in American culture, believe this is the only use of whistling now for Mexicans it is a lot more useful. Mexican's as I found out use whistling more like a language. According to linguists, "whistling arose in cultures (which later influenced the formation of the Mexican nation) that occuped areas where daunting terrain and distance prohibited easy conversations. Since the past is ever-present for Mexicans, it makes sese that the Mexican propensity to whistle-talk is a breathing cultural artifact.
Whistle-talk is broken down like this:
A sharp tweet is to catch someone's attention
A longer version show's disgust for performances
An even longer note to annoy non-Mexicans
Five successive, rapid trills that offend
Now these whistles are used in tons of variations like the whistle to catch someone's is personalized for everyone in the family. We kids get a different one than my mother. Other reason's to use whistling vs. verbal language are: frequency of whistle's carry farther, learned behavior living in an ambiguous environment, discretion and it's a lot classer than yelling.
So what does this mean to us, planners, advertisers and clients alike? Well this could be an interesting way of creating an execution specifically to the Mexican culture. Can a "secret" non-verbal language like this be used as part of a bigger brand experience i.e. Axe, Bom Chicka Wah Wahs? Can bringing back the whistle in a postive way be important for certain products?
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Friday, May 4, 2007
Come on Down....
You’re the Next Contestant on the Price is Right!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE the Price is Right. Who doesn't? I'm sure everyone has a memory of watching it and excitedly shouting at the TV in hopes the contestant on TV will take your suggestion on what number to pick. I began watching the show when I was younger during my summer vacations. Just recently, I've had the time to watch it again. What I've noticed the second time around is that this show has not changed one bit. It's 70's bright, glittery colors and graphics are as old and outdated as the microphone Bob Barker uses. The one with the skinny handle and long cable leading who knows where. The 80 games that are on constant rotation have not changed and neither have the cheesy prizes. Contestants still have a change to win old-fashion popcorn makers, silver dishware and 1990's floral living room furniture. The constantly changing Barker's Beauties seem to wear the same cheesy outfits since the start of the show in 1972. Yet none of this seems to matter.
The show has been on for 35 years making it the longest running game show in American TV history. The show has also had the pleasure of having the same host Bob Barker for the length of the entire show. Bob has won 17 Emmy awards, received a Lifetime Achievement award for host and has been installed in the TV Academy Hall of Fame. What makes a show that seems to be stuck in the past so popular? Well for one, they give hope. Hope to be a contestant for just being in the audience. Hope that a contestant doesn't need to super smart or witty in order to win. Hope getting the right price. It's about hoping you win the prize.
The element that has led to the success of this brand is consistency.
1. The charmingly Bob Barker
2. Barker's Beauties
3, Games
4. Announcer
5. Set Design
6. Barker's Beauties Outfits
7. Excitement (contestants & audience members)
8. Bob T-Shirts (contestants wear)
9. 'Have your pets spare or neutered."
10. Prizes ranging from living room sets to cold hard cash.
This consistency over 35 years has built a safe haven for all to enjoy. From stay at home moms, children to young to go to school, retired folks, college students and the unemployed. You won't find deception, drama, scandals, blandness or sexual references here. This type of behavior is only common around the soap operas, court and talk shows the game show is nestled in-between.
So what does this mean for brands? Consistency is good. A safe place is what consumers want when most shows in daytime television show dysfunction in families (Montel & Maury Povich), argumentative TV hosts (Rosie from The View) or broken relationships fighting over money (Judge Judy, People's Court). A little hope that one day you can be a contestant on the Price is Right!
Bob Barker is retiring this month so lets make sure to pay tribute by spade or neutering your pet.
I LOVE the Price is Right. Who doesn't? I'm sure everyone has a memory of watching it and excitedly shouting at the TV in hopes the contestant on TV will take your suggestion on what number to pick. I began watching the show when I was younger during my summer vacations. Just recently, I've had the time to watch it again. What I've noticed the second time around is that this show has not changed one bit. It's 70's bright, glittery colors and graphics are as old and outdated as the microphone Bob Barker uses. The one with the skinny handle and long cable leading who knows where. The 80 games that are on constant rotation have not changed and neither have the cheesy prizes. Contestants still have a change to win old-fashion popcorn makers, silver dishware and 1990's floral living room furniture. The constantly changing Barker's Beauties seem to wear the same cheesy outfits since the start of the show in 1972. Yet none of this seems to matter.
The show has been on for 35 years making it the longest running game show in American TV history. The show has also had the pleasure of having the same host Bob Barker for the length of the entire show. Bob has won 17 Emmy awards, received a Lifetime Achievement award for host and has been installed in the TV Academy Hall of Fame. What makes a show that seems to be stuck in the past so popular? Well for one, they give hope. Hope to be a contestant for just being in the audience. Hope that a contestant doesn't need to super smart or witty in order to win. Hope getting the right price. It's about hoping you win the prize.
The element that has led to the success of this brand is consistency.
1. The charmingly Bob Barker
2. Barker's Beauties
3, Games
4. Announcer
5. Set Design
6. Barker's Beauties Outfits
7. Excitement (contestants & audience members)
8. Bob T-Shirts (contestants wear)
9. 'Have your pets spare or neutered."
10. Prizes ranging from living room sets to cold hard cash.
This consistency over 35 years has built a safe haven for all to enjoy. From stay at home moms, children to young to go to school, retired folks, college students and the unemployed. You won't find deception, drama, scandals, blandness or sexual references here. This type of behavior is only common around the soap operas, court and talk shows the game show is nestled in-between.
So what does this mean for brands? Consistency is good. A safe place is what consumers want when most shows in daytime television show dysfunction in families (Montel & Maury Povich), argumentative TV hosts (Rosie from The View) or broken relationships fighting over money (Judge Judy, People's Court). A little hope that one day you can be a contestant on the Price is Right!
Bob Barker is retiring this month so lets make sure to pay tribute by spade or neutering your pet.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Blocking You Out
Just as I finished my last post about brands building meaningful relationships with people or fear the rath of the people (formally: consumer).
Art Hijacks Internet Ads
Artist Steve Lambert and the non-profit “R&D For The Public Domain” Eyebeam OpenLab, coded a Firefox add-on that replaces ads on a website with contemporary art. While a prototype is up and running, they’re working to build a fully curetted art database.
The project will be supported by a small website providing information on the current artists and curator, along with a schedule of past and upcoming AddArt shows. Each 2 weeks will include 5-8 artists selected by emerging and established curators. Images will have to be cropped to standard banner sizes or can be custom made for the project. Artists can target sites (such as every ad on FoxNews.com) and/or default to any page on the internet with ads. One artist will be shown per page. The curatorial duty will be passed among curators through recommendations, word of mouth, and solicitations to the AddArt site.
Art Hijacks Internet Ads
Artist Steve Lambert and the non-profit “R&D For The Public Domain” Eyebeam OpenLab, coded a Firefox add-on that replaces ads on a website with contemporary art. While a prototype is up and running, they’re working to build a fully curetted art database.
The project will be supported by a small website providing information on the current artists and curator, along with a schedule of past and upcoming AddArt shows. Each 2 weeks will include 5-8 artists selected by emerging and established curators. Images will have to be cropped to standard banner sizes or can be custom made for the project. Artists can target sites (such as every ad on FoxNews.com) and/or default to any page on the internet with ads. One artist will be shown per page. The curatorial duty will be passed among curators through recommendations, word of mouth, and solicitations to the AddArt site.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
People (not consumers), Building Momentum (not awareness)
I came across this article today about old school vs. new school of planning....
I think it explains very well where advertising is heading. People aka consumers are so savvy to being marketed to that the upping the frequency of ad messages just doesn't cut it anymore. It's like my friend, the wonderful, wise Erin says its about starting a conversation and I wholeheartedly agree. It's about starting a meaningful relationship that engages people in a two -way conversation. It's about giving people the ability to interact with the brand. To get to know it without being intrusive and just taking up valuable time in a person's life.
momentum versus awareness
I’ve been thinking about the value of brand momentum versus raising awareness. The old marketing/advertising model looked at reach and frequency as successful ways to raise awareness of your brand. If ‘x’ amount of people are exposed to your brand, ‘y’ amount of times, they are more likely to engage with your brand. So, the equation looked like this:
x (amount of people exposed) ‘times’ y (amount of times) = awareness
A CMO can take this soft data and defend the current marketing campaign to the CEO, CFO, etc. The problem with this model is that it focuses strictly on traditional advertising mediums such as TV, print, radio and traditional interactive. All which are one-way form of communications and doesn’t factor in engagement, interestingness, etc.
That’s where marketing 2.0 comes in with brand momentum.
From CP+B’s Hoopla,
“momentum is a better goal to strive for than awareness…Momentum, if sustainable will roll over everything in its path.
How do you know if your brand has momentum? The answer to this is…you just know. People are talking about it without being prompted. New stories are being done about it. Independent websites spring up, where enthusiasts swap tips about it…”
Get the picture? It’s about connecting with people (not consumers) and building authentic relationships and holding conversations (not advertising) with them. This is similar to the transmedia planning model Faris talks about and what Leland just wrote about.
Also, marketers are looking into the momentum effect to measure campaigns on social networking sites.
The “Never-Ending Friending” study identified a metric dubbed the “Momentum Effect” by Marketing Evolution, a marketing, measurement and consulting firm. The metric attempts to quantify the impact of a brand within a social network beyond traditional advertising impressions to encompass the viral power of consumer-to-consumer communication.
“We looked at awareness levels, responses to an ad, the number of people who came to the custom community–and asked what the exponential value of the conversation happening in the social network is,” Browning said. In other words, what value can be placed on the brand chatter among friends in your network?
Read the rest of the Mediapost article here.
We can start by replacing traditional advertising lingo with different phrases and goals.
Raising awareness -> Brand Momentum
Targeting individuals -> Engaging a brand community
Does your brand have momentum?
Posted at 5pm on 04/30/07 | no comments | Filed Under: advertising read on
I think it explains very well where advertising is heading. People aka consumers are so savvy to being marketed to that the upping the frequency of ad messages just doesn't cut it anymore. It's like my friend, the wonderful, wise Erin says its about starting a conversation and I wholeheartedly agree. It's about starting a meaningful relationship that engages people in a two -way conversation. It's about giving people the ability to interact with the brand. To get to know it without being intrusive and just taking up valuable time in a person's life.
momentum versus awareness
I’ve been thinking about the value of brand momentum versus raising awareness. The old marketing/advertising model looked at reach and frequency as successful ways to raise awareness of your brand. If ‘x’ amount of people are exposed to your brand, ‘y’ amount of times, they are more likely to engage with your brand. So, the equation looked like this:
x (amount of people exposed) ‘times’ y (amount of times) = awareness
A CMO can take this soft data and defend the current marketing campaign to the CEO, CFO, etc. The problem with this model is that it focuses strictly on traditional advertising mediums such as TV, print, radio and traditional interactive. All which are one-way form of communications and doesn’t factor in engagement, interestingness, etc.
That’s where marketing 2.0 comes in with brand momentum.
From CP+B’s Hoopla,
“momentum is a better goal to strive for than awareness…Momentum, if sustainable will roll over everything in its path.
How do you know if your brand has momentum? The answer to this is…you just know. People are talking about it without being prompted. New stories are being done about it. Independent websites spring up, where enthusiasts swap tips about it…”
Get the picture? It’s about connecting with people (not consumers) and building authentic relationships and holding conversations (not advertising) with them. This is similar to the transmedia planning model Faris talks about and what Leland just wrote about.
Also, marketers are looking into the momentum effect to measure campaigns on social networking sites.
The “Never-Ending Friending” study identified a metric dubbed the “Momentum Effect” by Marketing Evolution, a marketing, measurement and consulting firm. The metric attempts to quantify the impact of a brand within a social network beyond traditional advertising impressions to encompass the viral power of consumer-to-consumer communication.
“We looked at awareness levels, responses to an ad, the number of people who came to the custom community–and asked what the exponential value of the conversation happening in the social network is,” Browning said. In other words, what value can be placed on the brand chatter among friends in your network?
Read the rest of the Mediapost article here.
We can start by replacing traditional advertising lingo with different phrases and goals.
Raising awareness -> Brand Momentum
Targeting individuals -> Engaging a brand community
Does your brand have momentum?
Posted at 5pm on 04/30/07 | no comments | Filed Under: advertising read on
Monday, April 30, 2007
Manipulators & Deceivers
When your so vested in your industry, starting out, waiting to get IN, you tend to forget. Forget what? Forget what the rest of the world thinks of you. I quickly realized it today. In my daily routine of checking my 5 e-mail accounts, 2 advertising trades, 50 advertising blogs and daily news sites I came across this:
"And Then We Came To The End," by Joshua Ferris, a former adman, who explains his old job as follows: "We were the hired guns of the human soul. We pulled the strings on the people across the land and by god they got to their feet and they danced for us." Welcome to the working week!
Joshua Ferris, a former employee of Chicago's Davis Harrison Dion found a gold nugget. While I'm trying to get IN, I lost of what others think of the industry I'm trying to get INto. Ad people are clumped in with used car salesmen. We lie, deceive and manipulate to get sell products people don't need. Somewhere in the dark, locked place in my mind I know this is partly true BUT it does not lessen my desire to get IN. This does give me a reality check.
In the ad industry, there is talk of a thick, viscous, cluttered world. There are models being constructed right now to decrease this in fear of a complete block out of ad messages all together by consumers. One is a movements to make commercials base their success and length of stay on tv by ratings like TV shows. But this is only half of it. What I've realized is that the number of messages out there don't really matter. What matters is the quality of the message. What you say and how you say it. If your product is there just as a filler or to make useless noise then it doesn't matter.
This book is a reminder that it is important not to throw more fuel in the fire. I am here to help quiet it down.
"And Then We Came To The End," by Joshua Ferris, a former adman, who explains his old job as follows: "We were the hired guns of the human soul. We pulled the strings on the people across the land and by god they got to their feet and they danced for us." Welcome to the working week!
Joshua Ferris, a former employee of Chicago's Davis Harrison Dion found a gold nugget. While I'm trying to get IN, I lost of what others think of the industry I'm trying to get INto. Ad people are clumped in with used car salesmen. We lie, deceive and manipulate to get sell products people don't need. Somewhere in the dark, locked place in my mind I know this is partly true BUT it does not lessen my desire to get IN. This does give me a reality check.
In the ad industry, there is talk of a thick, viscous, cluttered world. There are models being constructed right now to decrease this in fear of a complete block out of ad messages all together by consumers. One is a movements to make commercials base their success and length of stay on tv by ratings like TV shows. But this is only half of it. What I've realized is that the number of messages out there don't really matter. What matters is the quality of the message. What you say and how you say it. If your product is there just as a filler or to make useless noise then it doesn't matter.
This book is a reminder that it is important not to throw more fuel in the fire. I am here to help quiet it down.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
I'm Back...
SO like my fellow planner Erin, I am starting my version of a planning blog. This is about finding my way in an ever-changing world.....
In reading an article about the value of MySpace to marketers and brands, I found a golden nugget,
"advertising and marketing is a co-creation process in which a brand can have a meaning it wants to convey through advertising, but consumers create that meaning when they see the brand in a context that generates meaning."
IF brands are not placed in mediums that consumers 1) are welcoming to messages 2) and placed in the appropriate environment it will lose value and meaning to consumers. The brand becomes part of the clutter that is currently affecting the industry. To better serve the brand, a clear and 3-dimensional picture must be painted of the consumer including appropriate outlets they interact with on a daily basis. In doing so, we can find opportunistic ways a consumer can create meaningful experiences with the brand.
Another example of why its so important to understand consumer in & out
"When Burger King finally landed on the target segment it wanted to win with most -- 18- to 35-year-old males -- and what was most important to them, the fast-food giant never looked back. It tapped into its roots while embracing innovation across all of the four P's.
Tactics such as SubservientChicken.com reignited the brand's relevance to a younger crowd while spurring epic levels of internet chat. The creative rebirth of its kingly (if creepy) brand icon through such savvy promotions as the much-sought-after Halloween masks and its XBox partnership helped give Burger King relevance."
In reading an article about the value of MySpace to marketers and brands, I found a golden nugget,
"advertising and marketing is a co-creation process in which a brand can have a meaning it wants to convey through advertising, but consumers create that meaning when they see the brand in a context that generates meaning."
IF brands are not placed in mediums that consumers 1) are welcoming to messages 2) and placed in the appropriate environment it will lose value and meaning to consumers. The brand becomes part of the clutter that is currently affecting the industry. To better serve the brand, a clear and 3-dimensional picture must be painted of the consumer including appropriate outlets they interact with on a daily basis. In doing so, we can find opportunistic ways a consumer can create meaningful experiences with the brand.
Another example of why its so important to understand consumer in & out
"When Burger King finally landed on the target segment it wanted to win with most -- 18- to 35-year-old males -- and what was most important to them, the fast-food giant never looked back. It tapped into its roots while embracing innovation across all of the four P's.
Tactics such as SubservientChicken.com reignited the brand's relevance to a younger crowd while spurring epic levels of internet chat. The creative rebirth of its kingly (if creepy) brand icon through such savvy promotions as the much-sought-after Halloween masks and its XBox partnership helped give Burger King relevance."
Sunday, March 11, 2007
I suck I know....
I've been meaning to post but with me finishing my Miami stay in two weeks its been a little hectic. I've been working long and hard on our end of the quarter project, Office Max. Our question to answer is how to you get new customers, like you, into OM to buy ink? Any suggestions?
Anyways today I saw it all today.
1 - A dog (yorkie, I think) in a stroller WITH a polo and a sailor hat. Hmmmmmmmmm
2 - A couple having lunch on Ocean drive with their dog. Normal scenario, right? Ummm NOOOOO not when the dog is sitting a chair like a human. He had his legs to the side and almost positive his front legs on the table with shorts AND sunglasses. Yes, sunglasses the cool tinted, wire frame ones.
I've seen it all.......!
More support why I dislike dog parents and little dogs.
Post pics soon.
Anyways today I saw it all today.
1 - A dog (yorkie, I think) in a stroller WITH a polo and a sailor hat. Hmmmmmmmmm
2 - A couple having lunch on Ocean drive with their dog. Normal scenario, right? Ummm NOOOOO not when the dog is sitting a chair like a human. He had his legs to the side and almost positive his front legs on the table with shorts AND sunglasses. Yes, sunglasses the cool tinted, wire frame ones.
I've seen it all.......!
More support why I dislike dog parents and little dogs.
Post pics soon.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Happy Valentine's Day Part Deux
So does anyone know who Keith Richards is? I didn't until I found him sitting at the same bar I was. He was alone and looked f**ked up. Just so that I can claim I stood next to him, I went to the bar and ordered a water. He moved away quickly, probably thinking I was going to mob him. When he realized I wasn't he came back to tap his cigarette in the ash tray. I've never seen someone as shakey as him.
And then I stayed out til 4:30AM. EeeeekkK! The most surprising fact is that I would of stayed out longer if a) I had more money for drinks and b) I wasn't so hungry. Ohh...the craziness of Miami Beach.
And then I stayed out til 4:30AM. EeeeekkK! The most surprising fact is that I would of stayed out longer if a) I had more money for drinks and b) I wasn't so hungry. Ohh...the craziness of Miami Beach.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Happy Valentine's Day!
Sorry! I'm a terrible person. I haven't updated for exactly two weeks. But you can't get mad at me its Valentine's day.
Soo lets catch up! In the last two weeks, I've worked with an awesome group, had drama with the new groups (not really me but other people in my class), have been briefed on my end of the year project which is INK for Office Max (blah! If anyone really loves ink let me know) and had my lobster come! YAY ! We did TONS of things and I'll share it with you in pictures below.
Last but not least, I've bumped into more celebrities following Bill Murray. It's weird you'd think living in LA I'd see then more often but I guess South Beach is so small you have a greater chance of seeing them. So below is the list of people I've seen:
Hulk Hogan at this little Cal-Mex place called the Lime. He's always ALWAYS there.
Some chick from Dancing with the Stars. I couldn't tell you who since I don't watch the show but my roomie pointed her out but it was the night before the Superbowl
This dude I KNOW is in some movies but I'm terrible with names and titles soo you'll just have to take my word for it. He was seen after Dancing with the Stars lady.
Last but not least, Julia Stiles. I KNOW! I was excited too but no one in my group cared. I saw her last night at this TINY little bar next to my apt. that holds like 20 people.
Now for pictures : )
Soo lets catch up! In the last two weeks, I've worked with an awesome group, had drama with the new groups (not really me but other people in my class), have been briefed on my end of the year project which is INK for Office Max (blah! If anyone really loves ink let me know) and had my lobster come! YAY ! We did TONS of things and I'll share it with you in pictures below.
Last but not least, I've bumped into more celebrities following Bill Murray. It's weird you'd think living in LA I'd see then more often but I guess South Beach is so small you have a greater chance of seeing them. So below is the list of people I've seen:
Hulk Hogan at this little Cal-Mex place called the Lime. He's always ALWAYS there.
Some chick from Dancing with the Stars. I couldn't tell you who since I don't watch the show but my roomie pointed her out but it was the night before the Superbowl
This dude I KNOW is in some movies but I'm terrible with names and titles soo you'll just have to take my word for it. He was seen after Dancing with the Stars lady.
Last but not least, Julia Stiles. I KNOW! I was excited too but no one in my group cared. I saw her last night at this TINY little bar next to my apt. that holds like 20 people.
Now for pictures : )
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Isn't it ironic?
Location: Apt. Dining Room Table
Weather: A windy 76
Time: 10:47
Sooo in my attempt to forget to forget that I'm too busy to go out and went out I had a blast SORT OF.
Night started off us (roomie and I) trying to find this little hole in the wall bar called The Room. After 5 phone calls and 3 failed attempts to find this Room. One attempt failed because my roomie asked for The Doors which a bouncer kindly replied thats a band THEN asking for The Door which didn't work either since the door we were looking for was for The Room that at that moment in time did not exist. When we finally found the room it was HOT and more HOT with no place to sit. After hanging out for an hour or so and having cherry beer YUM we left to go and find another place that wasn't soo hot. We passed the club we had asked a bouncer where The Room was located and immediatley got stopped by a Frank who asked if we were locals and not believing us said just to tell "them" we were and that we had been invited by Frank. Cool! Free entrance is all I need to hear. Yet we didn't realize how annoying it would be when they cornered us and kept harping where our proof of residence was. After my mumblings of "in an international city like Miami NO ONE is going to have a state ID much less carry a bill with them everywhere to prove their residency." SO one of the girls in our group Amber (there was 5 of us) was chosen as the leader of our ring and was given a pop quiz. I hadn't realized we were in high school and that we were trying to break in to the popular club's secret location.
After we finally got in, we danced the night away and had a blast. As the night was winding down there was a crazy little tourist group dancing very crazy. I pinpointed a particular old german tourist wearing plaid pants and proceeded to tell the leader in our group that he was dancing really funny. We laughed and went about our business to dance the night away. Some guys sitting next to us pulled the ring leader over and told her Bill Murray was in the area. Her and I jumped to find out where Mr. Murray was. I slyly tried to dance close to the private area to catch a glimpse but saw only drunk young people. Oh well. Ms. Ring Leader came over to me and said wow I can't believe he's here. Tell me, tell me where he is I said. Sure enough to my irony he was dancing right in front of us wearing plaid pants. The ring leader and I shimmed our way in front of him and danced not believing this was Bill Murray himself. He took a good liking to the ring leader and even pinched her ass. I pulled her away asking if she was ok and crazy dancer Bill Murray yells to me "I think your friend loves me." He then grabbed her and spun her around to his hearts content. The rest of the girls in our group came over and then he proceeded to pick my roommate and the ring leader up. Awesome! I hurried over to text my lobster that I had just danced with Bill Murray. We were then kicked out of this room to the another room and decided we had had enough.
I checked to see if my lobster had text me back and to my shock and awe there was no phone but everything else was there. So I lost my phone because I called Bill Murray an old german tourist. I guess those two things cancel each other out right?? Ok below are pics of our walk over to the club. Sorry no pics of Bill as his bodyguard told me NO pics ma'am.
Going out but not last night
Who watches Miami Ink?? Thats my roomie
Cool light up building
Fish House
The club where it all went down
The cool patio..
and decor
The ring leader
The cool thing about being in a state that produces fruit is that they literally produce their own fruit
More crazy lunes
Weather: A windy 76
Time: 10:47
Sooo in my attempt to forget to forget that I'm too busy to go out and went out I had a blast SORT OF.
Night started off us (roomie and I) trying to find this little hole in the wall bar called The Room. After 5 phone calls and 3 failed attempts to find this Room. One attempt failed because my roomie asked for The Doors which a bouncer kindly replied thats a band THEN asking for The Door which didn't work either since the door we were looking for was for The Room that at that moment in time did not exist. When we finally found the room it was HOT and more HOT with no place to sit. After hanging out for an hour or so and having cherry beer YUM we left to go and find another place that wasn't soo hot. We passed the club we had asked a bouncer where The Room was located and immediatley got stopped by a Frank who asked if we were locals and not believing us said just to tell "them" we were and that we had been invited by Frank. Cool! Free entrance is all I need to hear. Yet we didn't realize how annoying it would be when they cornered us and kept harping where our proof of residence was. After my mumblings of "in an international city like Miami NO ONE is going to have a state ID much less carry a bill with them everywhere to prove their residency." SO one of the girls in our group Amber (there was 5 of us) was chosen as the leader of our ring and was given a pop quiz. I hadn't realized we were in high school and that we were trying to break in to the popular club's secret location.
After we finally got in, we danced the night away and had a blast. As the night was winding down there was a crazy little tourist group dancing very crazy. I pinpointed a particular old german tourist wearing plaid pants and proceeded to tell the leader in our group that he was dancing really funny. We laughed and went about our business to dance the night away. Some guys sitting next to us pulled the ring leader over and told her Bill Murray was in the area. Her and I jumped to find out where Mr. Murray was. I slyly tried to dance close to the private area to catch a glimpse but saw only drunk young people. Oh well. Ms. Ring Leader came over to me and said wow I can't believe he's here. Tell me, tell me where he is I said. Sure enough to my irony he was dancing right in front of us wearing plaid pants. The ring leader and I shimmed our way in front of him and danced not believing this was Bill Murray himself. He took a good liking to the ring leader and even pinched her ass. I pulled her away asking if she was ok and crazy dancer Bill Murray yells to me "I think your friend loves me." He then grabbed her and spun her around to his hearts content. The rest of the girls in our group came over and then he proceeded to pick my roommate and the ring leader up. Awesome! I hurried over to text my lobster that I had just danced with Bill Murray. We were then kicked out of this room to the another room and decided we had had enough.
I checked to see if my lobster had text me back and to my shock and awe there was no phone but everything else was there. So I lost my phone because I called Bill Murray an old german tourist. I guess those two things cancel each other out right?? Ok below are pics of our walk over to the club. Sorry no pics of Bill as his bodyguard told me NO pics ma'am.
Going out but not last night
Who watches Miami Ink?? Thats my roomie
Cool light up building
Fish House
The club where it all went down
The cool patio..
and decor
The ring leader
The cool thing about being in a state that produces fruit is that they literally produce their own fruit
More crazy lunes
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
School Sux!
How can a student enjoy the beach and all that South Beach has to offer when all I have to study and work ALL DAY!
School sucks and thats why I'm going OUT tonight to forget that I can't go out and enjoy myself!
School sucks and thats why I'm going OUT tonight to forget that I can't go out and enjoy myself!
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Third times a charm....
Hey everybody,
Location: Apt.
Temp: Cold and rainy for once (weird!)
So I've come to enjoy and hate my third week of school! I think I'm definitely learning something but what I don't know yet. Just found out I need to fly to NYC a couple of days after I graduate which will be f-ing awesome but with no money as I am a poor student who knows how that will work out. I guess I can eat Grey's Papaya Hot Dogs all day long : ).
As for me I am counting down the days for my bf to come. VERY excited as I'm soo happy to be seeing someone from back home. Not that I'm not making tons of friends here but its nice to see a familiar face once in a while to remind me of what home is. I hope he brings the smell of pollution drenched LA : ) I'm starting to hate this humidity
I have updates on Cracky, my unexpected new best friend. I've seen her sitting on the ground with about 5 bags from CVS which perplexes me because I thought crackheads don't have money. THEN I see her two days later covered up, hair combed and sweeping the sidewalk. YES, she's finally rehabing it LL (Lindsay Lohan for you none celebrity gossipers) style but the she started yelling to at everyone that walked by when we left.
As for school, I got a team that I didn't get along with and was finally relieved to get a new team but my old team member Ana Maria got stuck with a particular partner again. Oops!
AND I got to see John Stewart at the Comedy Central Festival in South Beach! YEA baby! But I couldn't take a camera in so here is some pics from the free shows.
Lots of these old ladies walking around
Cool museum
A taste of Miami Beach
Cool Art Deco Fence
A little taste of home
I'm starting to miss my asian food. Could anyone PLEASE send over a Vietnamese sandwich????
Location: Apt.
Temp: Cold and rainy for once (weird!)
So I've come to enjoy and hate my third week of school! I think I'm definitely learning something but what I don't know yet. Just found out I need to fly to NYC a couple of days after I graduate which will be f-ing awesome but with no money as I am a poor student who knows how that will work out. I guess I can eat Grey's Papaya Hot Dogs all day long : ).
As for me I am counting down the days for my bf to come. VERY excited as I'm soo happy to be seeing someone from back home. Not that I'm not making tons of friends here but its nice to see a familiar face once in a while to remind me of what home is. I hope he brings the smell of pollution drenched LA : ) I'm starting to hate this humidity
I have updates on Cracky, my unexpected new best friend. I've seen her sitting on the ground with about 5 bags from CVS which perplexes me because I thought crackheads don't have money. THEN I see her two days later covered up, hair combed and sweeping the sidewalk. YES, she's finally rehabing it LL (Lindsay Lohan for you none celebrity gossipers) style but the she started yelling to at everyone that walked by when we left.
As for school, I got a team that I didn't get along with and was finally relieved to get a new team but my old team member Ana Maria got stuck with a particular partner again. Oops!
AND I got to see John Stewart at the Comedy Central Festival in South Beach! YEA baby! But I couldn't take a camera in so here is some pics from the free shows.
Lots of these old ladies walking around
Cool museum
A taste of Miami Beach
Cool Art Deco Fence
A little taste of home
I'm starting to miss my asian food. Could anyone PLEASE send over a Vietnamese sandwich????
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Oh SHIT!
I'm about to give my presentation for my second presentation and well .........YEAH!!! WISH ME LUCK! I'll write more later
I MISS YOU ALL!
I MISS YOU ALL!
Sunday, January 14, 2007
I've Survived...
I FINISHED! Well not exactly but my first week has officially ended. Already neck deep in work if I haven't mentioned it. FUN work at that but still in the learning process. The MAS theory is not very apparent as they just throw you in to work and the lectures come later. I'm guessing it will work since it worked for me when my friend decided to throw me down the BIG mountain my first day of snowboarding instead of the bunny slopes. I dreaded it then but none the less very grateful. I did manage to be late to the mandatory soccer games because our "professor" saw us last. I almost cried because I thought I would surely be demoted in my planner status but I was reassured very quickly its only purpose was to force the students to relax!
Oh yes I have a new unexpected best friend. Her name is Cracky, short for Crackhead as that is what she is. I bumped into her on my first day of in my new apt. I've seen her ever since. She yelled at me that she was "so f**king old," and then appeared with a toothbrush the next day, What a women with no home and no ownership of a sink or any proximity of water will do with a toothbrush and toothpaste is as good of guess as mine.
Anywho, enjoy a beautiful view of Miami Beach!
And another of my new friends and 'professors" AND MY TAN.
Oh yes I have a new unexpected best friend. Her name is Cracky, short for Crackhead as that is what she is. I bumped into her on my first day of in my new apt. I've seen her ever since. She yelled at me that she was "so f**king old," and then appeared with a toothbrush the next day, What a women with no home and no ownership of a sink or any proximity of water will do with a toothbrush and toothpaste is as good of guess as mine.
Anywho, enjoy a beautiful view of Miami Beach!
And another of my new friends and 'professors" AND MY TAN.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
I'm back like a MAC ATTACK
I'm back and excited as hell. My first project is MTV, can't get any better than that. My client presentation at the end of my term is OFFICE MAX, can it get any better than that??? Anyways, I have no TV so now I must step out and enjoy different things, so what should I put on that list?? Well I already have salsa and.........that its.
A picture of the view outside my window : )
AND, here are pictures of my school
ANDDDD a very Miami piece of art
>
A picture of the view outside my window : )
AND, here are pictures of my school
ANDDDD a very Miami piece of art
>
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
First Day of School
I've made it....and didn't die.
Current Temp: Sunny, Breezy 73 (just like Santa Monica)
Location: Apt
Our orientation began with the introduction of two dogs, three cats and two pregnant birds. Like any typical school, right?
We all had to stand up and introduce ourselves and tell where we were from. Out of 62 new students myself and one other girl were from Cali. Talk about diversity. The school is definitely a little intimidating as right in the lobby they have a handful of awards they've won. Then they indirectly and directly let you know that only the top students get accepted to the school so don't be the one to jeapordize that reputation. Great, thanks for more pressure.
We had a guest speaker that night from Current.tv thats like utube but the video if picked gets played on cable television. You can also make ads called Vcam's for major companies like Toyota, T-Mobile etc and get paid for it. One of our students was selected by L'Oreal to be played on cable television which made her $5,000 richer....
This morning we had a brainstorming session where as an assignment we have to come up with 50 ideas...believe it or not is really fun..
I'll post pics of the school when I get a chance and then you'll know what I mean.
Hasta Luego,
L
Current Temp: Sunny, Breezy 73 (just like Santa Monica)
Location: Apt
Our orientation began with the introduction of two dogs, three cats and two pregnant birds. Like any typical school, right?
We all had to stand up and introduce ourselves and tell where we were from. Out of 62 new students myself and one other girl were from Cali. Talk about diversity. The school is definitely a little intimidating as right in the lobby they have a handful of awards they've won. Then they indirectly and directly let you know that only the top students get accepted to the school so don't be the one to jeapordize that reputation. Great, thanks for more pressure.
We had a guest speaker that night from Current.tv thats like utube but the video if picked gets played on cable television. You can also make ads called Vcam's for major companies like Toyota, T-Mobile etc and get paid for it. One of our students was selected by L'Oreal to be played on cable television which made her $5,000 richer....
This morning we had a brainstorming session where as an assignment we have to come up with 50 ideas...believe it or not is really fun..
I'll post pics of the school when I get a chance and then you'll know what I mean.
Hasta Luego,
L
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Survival of the Fittest
Hello everyone, it looks like I'm FINALLY settled here : ) but typical of me not without a few disasters.
Temp: 77 (and its 8:16PM!!!)
Location: New Apt.
So with an hour to go for the taxi I decided to store my luggage at the hotel and wander around on Ocean Dr. as I still had an hour to go. First priority was to find water. As I approached Ocean I couldn't help but head towards the ocean as I am naturally attracted to it being a Cali girl and all. OH to my amazement it was SOO clear. Not at all like dirty, nasty LA beaches where a minute dip causes your skin to burn. The clean, pleasant, breezy beach had blue and white cabana's lined all along the beach and I immediately felt like I was on an island! I went up to the water's edge to discover no seaweed or foamy water, typical of LA. Just nice small, calm clear blue-green waves. Is it just me or am I the luckiest girl in the world. I went back to Ocean to check out the restaurants and stores and to my delight stumbled on Irene Marie's Model Agency, the agency MTV's 8th & Ocean centered on! OHHHHHH look (check out the $$$$ car...)
After checking out some shops I hailed a cab to my potential new roomate. I say potential because in the beginning of our apt. search we decided to live together. When she flew out here to find the apt. Not only did she find overpriced dumps, but she didn't find any 2 bedrooms in my price range. She ended leasing a one bedroom and let me stay until I found my own place. I crossed my fingers that I could persuade her to let me stay as it would cut my costs in half and I hate living alone. SO as we got the cross streets she e-mailed me, the address I wrote down was no where to be found. I freaked for a second and decided to just have the cab driver drop me off at an building numbered 1611 (I wrote 1161 praying hard that I had inverted the numbers). My plan was to try to call up and if she did not answer after 15 min or so I would walk up and down the block to hopefully find the place. WELL as the cab driver took out my suitcase all its contents spilled to the floor. Come to find out, I stuffed it to the max and the zipper opened. ARGGGG how was I supposed to walk up and down the street with a broken suitcase. I told the cab driver I would be find and to leave me. I quickly thought i could stuff the suitcase put it in the doorway of the hopefully right apt and pray hard she lived in the building. As I was dialing the apt., no ring. I tried again and again. Then went over and over the directory praying I had gotten the apt wrong too when I hear a voice from the second floor calling my name. AM I THE LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD I THOUGHT. My potential roomate Amy helped me pull up my luggage and they welcomed me into the apt. with a glass of wine.
The reported on how "furnished" apt mean't a bed, a futon, a coffee table and a dining table with three chairs with nothing else. Amy continued that she ended up furnishing pretty much the entire apt. She then relayed that the ideal living situation would be for me to find an apt in the building so that we could walk to school together. Disappointed and stressed I left a msg for the property manager in hopes there would be no apts. available. Amy told me she didnt like roommates and I was even more dissapointed. We left to go shopping to finish furnishing the apt. and to stock up on a few things. As we went shopping, she started warming up to the idea of me living me there. Her only concern was that she didn't want all my stuff laying across the floor, as there was no closets. We fixed that easy by buying shelves and drawers and she agreed to be my roomie. YAY!!!!
Here is our apt. below. Check out my plant named Fernando : )
SO less than a block away from our apt is a street just like 3rd Street Promenade but longer and wider with tons of great restaurants with awesome deals. We've already found a pizza place that between 5:30PM - 7:00PM they offer this great deal called "Beat The Clock." Depeding on what time you get there, lets say 5:45PM, thats what you end up paying for your pizza and beer. SO you get a 6 slice pizza and a 24oz. beer for $5.45!!!! The earlier you get there the cheaper it is. Next great deal was a bar that sold imported bottled and beer on tap for $3. The end of Lincoln Road Mall (South Beach's version of 3rd St leads you to the beach. Not complaining about anything yet : )
Temp: 77 (and its 8:16PM!!!)
Location: New Apt.
So with an hour to go for the taxi I decided to store my luggage at the hotel and wander around on Ocean Dr. as I still had an hour to go. First priority was to find water. As I approached Ocean I couldn't help but head towards the ocean as I am naturally attracted to it being a Cali girl and all. OH to my amazement it was SOO clear. Not at all like dirty, nasty LA beaches where a minute dip causes your skin to burn. The clean, pleasant, breezy beach had blue and white cabana's lined all along the beach and I immediately felt like I was on an island! I went up to the water's edge to discover no seaweed or foamy water, typical of LA. Just nice small, calm clear blue-green waves. Is it just me or am I the luckiest girl in the world. I went back to Ocean to check out the restaurants and stores and to my delight stumbled on Irene Marie's Model Agency, the agency MTV's 8th & Ocean centered on! OHHHHHH look (check out the $$$$ car...)
After checking out some shops I hailed a cab to my potential new roomate. I say potential because in the beginning of our apt. search we decided to live together. When she flew out here to find the apt. Not only did she find overpriced dumps, but she didn't find any 2 bedrooms in my price range. She ended leasing a one bedroom and let me stay until I found my own place. I crossed my fingers that I could persuade her to let me stay as it would cut my costs in half and I hate living alone. SO as we got the cross streets she e-mailed me, the address I wrote down was no where to be found. I freaked for a second and decided to just have the cab driver drop me off at an building numbered 1611 (I wrote 1161 praying hard that I had inverted the numbers). My plan was to try to call up and if she did not answer after 15 min or so I would walk up and down the block to hopefully find the place. WELL as the cab driver took out my suitcase all its contents spilled to the floor. Come to find out, I stuffed it to the max and the zipper opened. ARGGGG how was I supposed to walk up and down the street with a broken suitcase. I told the cab driver I would be find and to leave me. I quickly thought i could stuff the suitcase put it in the doorway of the hopefully right apt and pray hard she lived in the building. As I was dialing the apt., no ring. I tried again and again. Then went over and over the directory praying I had gotten the apt wrong too when I hear a voice from the second floor calling my name. AM I THE LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD I THOUGHT. My potential roomate Amy helped me pull up my luggage and they welcomed me into the apt. with a glass of wine.
The reported on how "furnished" apt mean't a bed, a futon, a coffee table and a dining table with three chairs with nothing else. Amy continued that she ended up furnishing pretty much the entire apt. She then relayed that the ideal living situation would be for me to find an apt in the building so that we could walk to school together. Disappointed and stressed I left a msg for the property manager in hopes there would be no apts. available. Amy told me she didnt like roommates and I was even more dissapointed. We left to go shopping to finish furnishing the apt. and to stock up on a few things. As we went shopping, she started warming up to the idea of me living me there. Her only concern was that she didn't want all my stuff laying across the floor, as there was no closets. We fixed that easy by buying shelves and drawers and she agreed to be my roomie. YAY!!!!
Here is our apt. below. Check out my plant named Fernando : )
SO less than a block away from our apt is a street just like 3rd Street Promenade but longer and wider with tons of great restaurants with awesome deals. We've already found a pizza place that between 5:30PM - 7:00PM they offer this great deal called "Beat The Clock." Depeding on what time you get there, lets say 5:45PM, thats what you end up paying for your pizza and beer. SO you get a 6 slice pizza and a 24oz. beer for $5.45!!!! The earlier you get there the cheaper it is. Next great deal was a bar that sold imported bottled and beer on tap for $3. The end of Lincoln Road Mall (South Beach's version of 3rd St leads you to the beach. Not complaining about anything yet : )
Friday, January 5, 2007
I'm here...
I'm finally here and just about settled in but not without a few hiccups on the way.
Currently: 77 F and breezy...
Location: Hotel Lobby
Yesterday (Jan 4th) started like any normal day except for the fact that I was leaving CA FOREVER (I know, dramatic : ) Since the day I bought my ticket, my father has been murmuring that we need to leave EXTRA early as traffic to the bay is no joke. Like any teenage daughter : ) I brushed off every one of his suggestions. Thurs morning my mother woke me up at 4:07AM. I felt like I was back in high school again. She quickly told me to get ready and ran off to make me lunch. YAY mom! As 5:00AM rolled around I choose to ignore my father as he nagged "we're already late." At 5:10AM we speed off only find it raining. LA traffic coming to a halt flashed through my mind and I started sweating. WHY OH WHY did I not listen. But then I remembered we were in Nor Cal and people here are accoustmed to driving in the rain YAY but to my dismay at 60mph rain or shine : (. We'll we were making good time, well sort of, until we headed to the San Mateo bridge (shortcut to the Golden Gate bridge for you non-Nor Cal). My father started murmuring again that traffic on the bridge is the worst as people are heading into the bay. Thanks dad for extra dose of guilt. Well we ended up at the SF airport at 7:15AM and my flight left at 8:30AM. YAY dad! My dad dropped my brother and I at the outside check-in stand to leave my two bags. Much to my dismay and warning from my father, one of my bags was 10lbs over the limit and I was not about to pay the extra fee. I did some slick manuvering and left the bag weighing at the max permitted. YAY me! I did leave my Costco size lotion (that weighed about 2lbs) to my brother to take home. I think the attendent flight bad and he rewarded me by letting me slip in the lotion into my baggage. YAY attendent! By now it was 7:40AM and my father was no where in sight. I kept checking my watch as my flight boarded at 8:05AM. He finally showed up but wanted to sit down and have some breakfast. I couldn't deny him that after he got me through bay area traffic. So we found a cafe right next to the security area so I could dash out right at 8:05AM. As we finished I said goodbye and ran off to the security line only to find a line. Incidently, my brother was asking me if I had ever gotten pulled out of line to be searched and said no and I hope I never well. Just so you know I wasn't pulled out but the person behind me and two people up were. YAY good luck. At this point it was 8:15AM and remembering LA check-ins I thought I had plenty of time. Well as any proper Angelino, I was late but not just "my watch is 10 min slow late," I was A-list celebrity late. I came up to my gate and saw no one around and I freaked. I walked faster to question the attendents but as I came up to the desk the blurted, "Ms. Conner?" me: "No?" them: "Ms. Barajas?" me: "SHIT" them (with microphone in had): "Come with me!" me: "SHIT!!" She pushed open a closed door and I ran down the hall to find a cheery attendent welcoming me to the flight. I didn't even bother to look at everyone already seated I just worried about not hitting anyone with the biggest backpack in the world I happened to be carrying. As I had the my seat at the last row I was a bit worried. I was fine in first class but as I got to coach the aisle was half the size. I decided to adjust the backpack before I began my descent down the aisle when the cheery attendent showed up and decided to punsih me. Boo! As I adjusted, she asked in her very cheery voice if I was the tail of it. Confused and embarrased at the moment I had no idea what she was saying. She repeated herself three times and I finally deciphered that she wanted to know if I was the one that everyone was waiting for. " NO there is still someone else. A Ms. Conner, I snitched." That's when it dawned on me I was standing in front of everyone. Thanks for the extra dose of guilt. I was able to finally sit down and hide from the embaressment.
We arrived to Charlotte, NC first and had an hour until my next flight. Three things I instantly noticed, I only saw US Airways planes and attendents, Bank of America seems to have sponsered the airport as well as the airline and they had rocking chairs for people to sit in, in the middle of the airport. Fun!
Our flight arrived safely into Miami airport and had no missing baggage (my number one fear traveling anywhere). I waited for the shuttle about an hour and a half and then arrived to my surprisingly cute hotel right on Collins Ave. (one block from the infamous Ocean Drive. FYI: My hotel's claim to fame is that it appeared in 8th and Ocean (MTV reality TV show about Miami models).
Check out the mini-bar/supplies.....interesting
So now I am waiting for my taxi to take me to my potential new apt.
Currently: 77 F and breezy...
Location: Hotel Lobby
Yesterday (Jan 4th) started like any normal day except for the fact that I was leaving CA FOREVER (I know, dramatic : ) Since the day I bought my ticket, my father has been murmuring that we need to leave EXTRA early as traffic to the bay is no joke. Like any teenage daughter : ) I brushed off every one of his suggestions. Thurs morning my mother woke me up at 4:07AM. I felt like I was back in high school again. She quickly told me to get ready and ran off to make me lunch. YAY mom! As 5:00AM rolled around I choose to ignore my father as he nagged "we're already late." At 5:10AM we speed off only find it raining. LA traffic coming to a halt flashed through my mind and I started sweating. WHY OH WHY did I not listen. But then I remembered we were in Nor Cal and people here are accoustmed to driving in the rain YAY but to my dismay at 60mph rain or shine : (. We'll we were making good time, well sort of, until we headed to the San Mateo bridge (shortcut to the Golden Gate bridge for you non-Nor Cal). My father started murmuring again that traffic on the bridge is the worst as people are heading into the bay. Thanks dad for extra dose of guilt. Well we ended up at the SF airport at 7:15AM and my flight left at 8:30AM. YAY dad! My dad dropped my brother and I at the outside check-in stand to leave my two bags. Much to my dismay and warning from my father, one of my bags was 10lbs over the limit and I was not about to pay the extra fee. I did some slick manuvering and left the bag weighing at the max permitted. YAY me! I did leave my Costco size lotion (that weighed about 2lbs) to my brother to take home. I think the attendent flight bad and he rewarded me by letting me slip in the lotion into my baggage. YAY attendent! By now it was 7:40AM and my father was no where in sight. I kept checking my watch as my flight boarded at 8:05AM. He finally showed up but wanted to sit down and have some breakfast. I couldn't deny him that after he got me through bay area traffic. So we found a cafe right next to the security area so I could dash out right at 8:05AM. As we finished I said goodbye and ran off to the security line only to find a line. Incidently, my brother was asking me if I had ever gotten pulled out of line to be searched and said no and I hope I never well. Just so you know I wasn't pulled out but the person behind me and two people up were. YAY good luck. At this point it was 8:15AM and remembering LA check-ins I thought I had plenty of time. Well as any proper Angelino, I was late but not just "my watch is 10 min slow late," I was A-list celebrity late. I came up to my gate and saw no one around and I freaked. I walked faster to question the attendents but as I came up to the desk the blurted, "Ms. Conner?" me: "No?" them: "Ms. Barajas?" me: "SHIT" them (with microphone in had): "Come with me!" me: "SHIT!!" She pushed open a closed door and I ran down the hall to find a cheery attendent welcoming me to the flight. I didn't even bother to look at everyone already seated I just worried about not hitting anyone with the biggest backpack in the world I happened to be carrying. As I had the my seat at the last row I was a bit worried. I was fine in first class but as I got to coach the aisle was half the size. I decided to adjust the backpack before I began my descent down the aisle when the cheery attendent showed up and decided to punsih me. Boo! As I adjusted, she asked in her very cheery voice if I was the tail of it. Confused and embarrased at the moment I had no idea what she was saying. She repeated herself three times and I finally deciphered that she wanted to know if I was the one that everyone was waiting for. " NO there is still someone else. A Ms. Conner, I snitched." That's when it dawned on me I was standing in front of everyone. Thanks for the extra dose of guilt. I was able to finally sit down and hide from the embaressment.
We arrived to Charlotte, NC first and had an hour until my next flight. Three things I instantly noticed, I only saw US Airways planes and attendents, Bank of America seems to have sponsered the airport as well as the airline and they had rocking chairs for people to sit in, in the middle of the airport. Fun!
Our flight arrived safely into Miami airport and had no missing baggage (my number one fear traveling anywhere). I waited for the shuttle about an hour and a half and then arrived to my surprisingly cute hotel right on Collins Ave. (one block from the infamous Ocean Drive. FYI: My hotel's claim to fame is that it appeared in 8th and Ocean (MTV reality TV show about Miami models).
Check out the mini-bar/supplies.....interesting
So now I am waiting for my taxi to take me to my potential new apt.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
I'm Leaving!
Happy New Year to everyone. I hope 2007 will bring much joy, happiness and adventure! I know my adventure is just
about to begin : )
In light of my new adventure, I have begun a blog to keep all of you updated without having to write 100 e-mails. I hope you like....
Counting down.......
I haven't even left my hometown of Stockton, CA and I'm already home sick. As all of you know, I'm off to sunny Miami (currently about 80 F, yes please be jealous) and while maybe a year ago I would have been throwing it in everyones face this time around I'm just not. I'm actually a little depressed I'm off to an exotic location, that has plenty of stories in the making, with alcohol to spare, and parties that just don't stop. Am I getting too old? If thirties are the new twenties, then at 25 I must be 15, so NO. Is it the fact I'm in a long term relationship? I've read space makes the heart grow fonder, well my heart is currently overwhelmed with fondness, so maybe. Is it that I've been living in my parents house like a teenager with no responsibilities (i.e. rent, free food, free utilities, yes please be very jealous)? YES!!!! Is it that image and attitude in Stockton, CA is just a wee bit different that Miami (SOUTH BEACH), FL? Ummm YES! Is it that Is it that I'm a Cali girl at heart? YES! YES! YES!
Yes I know I'm complaining about moving to fabulous Miami and none the less having (yes having) to live right in the heart of South Beach. But I think I'm just getting too old. YES OLD! I'm OLD at 25. At 25 I'm just done with change and thats part of getting old I figure because I more than welcomed changed at >25. MOVING for one is not the greatest thing in the world and I've had to MOVE three times YES 1, 2, 3 in less than two months. THEN the fact that I have to fit 3 months worth of clothes, stuff and MORE stuff INCLUDING my big thick blanket in two suitcases and a carry-on is NOT FUN! And with no money now that I'm a student I can't just buy stuff when I get there. But I'm sure I will be able to afford more than my fair share of ramen noodles. Oh ramen noodles how I've missed you.
bye-bye Cali
hello Miami
hmmmm....
Anywho, I'm off to terrible Miami this Thurs., Jan 04. I'll semi-officially be an east-coaster. yay : (
about to begin : )
In light of my new adventure, I have begun a blog to keep all of you updated without having to write 100 e-mails. I hope you like....
Counting down.......
I haven't even left my hometown of Stockton, CA and I'm already home sick. As all of you know, I'm off to sunny Miami (currently about 80 F, yes please be jealous) and while maybe a year ago I would have been throwing it in everyones face this time around I'm just not. I'm actually a little depressed I'm off to an exotic location, that has plenty of stories in the making, with alcohol to spare, and parties that just don't stop. Am I getting too old? If thirties are the new twenties, then at 25 I must be 15, so NO. Is it the fact I'm in a long term relationship? I've read space makes the heart grow fonder, well my heart is currently overwhelmed with fondness, so maybe. Is it that I've been living in my parents house like a teenager with no responsibilities (i.e. rent, free food, free utilities, yes please be very jealous)? YES!!!! Is it that image and attitude in Stockton, CA is just a wee bit different that Miami (SOUTH BEACH), FL? Ummm YES! Is it that Is it that I'm a Cali girl at heart? YES! YES! YES!
Yes I know I'm complaining about moving to fabulous Miami and none the less having (yes having) to live right in the heart of South Beach. But I think I'm just getting too old. YES OLD! I'm OLD at 25. At 25 I'm just done with change and thats part of getting old I figure because I more than welcomed changed at >25. MOVING for one is not the greatest thing in the world and I've had to MOVE three times YES 1, 2, 3 in less than two months. THEN the fact that I have to fit 3 months worth of clothes, stuff and MORE stuff INCLUDING my big thick blanket in two suitcases and a carry-on is NOT FUN! And with no money now that I'm a student I can't just buy stuff when I get there. But I'm sure I will be able to afford more than my fair share of ramen noodles. Oh ramen noodles how I've missed you.
bye-bye Cali
hello Miami
hmmmm....
Anywho, I'm off to terrible Miami this Thurs., Jan 04. I'll semi-officially be an east-coaster. yay : (
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