pdot.r

Kiss for Peace on New Years Eve

2008-12-29T13:32:00.000-08:00

While using Facebook for Mercy Corps social media & interactive over the holiday, I came across an event invitation for the first annual iPeace celebration.

iPeace is a virtual action event which translates into real life for attendees, created by the organization Peace Bloggers Unite, a group of bloggers who promote peace by using their keyboard. Today, while Gaza continues to be attacked, I thought I should do at least one thing to help promote peace - even if today, I only use my blog to do so.

Anders Abrahamsson wrote on the groups Facebook page, "in the twenty-first century, the keyboard is mightier than the sword. At arms length, you can live the peace-making reaching globally with words as deeds..."

iPeace day is set for the 31st of December. The group suggests that there are a 'million things' one can do to promote peace without leaving their home, but offers these suggestions:

* Kiss for Peace
* Write a poem for peace
* Make a video. Post a video.
* Organize a concert for peace
* Play music in the streets for peace
* Plant a tree
* Blog or write an article
* Organize a gathering
* Pray
* Light a candle
* Teach peace
* Organize iPeace Day events in your campus
* Meditate
* Run for Peace. Walk for peace
* Organize a game or a match for peace (any sport)
* Have peace dinner with friends (or with strangers)
Or, anything that will express peace – for you.

Please join and contribute to the first annual iPeace day and stand in unity for those who help others find peace every day.

Thank you for all you do :)

Merry Christmas from Alaska!

2008-12-24T23:18:00.000-08:00

For my favorite family, friends, coworkers and readers: I love you!
Warmest wishes and all my love from Alaska.

Copyright Remix: Updating Prohibition-Style Laws for Web 2.0

2008-12-23T13:32:00.000-08:00

On National Public Radio's Fresh Air program yesterday, author and law professor Lawrence Lessing discussed his perspective of today's antique copyright laws and how they apply to Web 2.0.

Typically a casual NPR listener, I was quick to tune into this story. Copyright laws and their implications were discussed at length in my Communication in the Information Age course this term. The ways that existing copyright law relates to technology in a 2.0 world is a tricky course but also an example of ways government and the corporate world scrambles to keep up.

Lessing offers an interesting and progressive ideas to update copyright laws he describes as "antique" and likens to Prohibition.

In my opinion, there are several things to be accomplished by copyright laws. First, artists and creators of content need to receive just compensation for their work. Second, consumers and active users of creative content need some degree of rights to use, share and enjoy content. If both components are fulfilled, content will benefit both groups and society as a whole.

Another soundbite that caught my attention:
Lessing is also the creator of Creative Commons, a nonprofit organization that promotes the legal sharing, repurposing and remixing of creative work. (NPR 2008) While developing Mercy Corps Flickr site, Tiffany Wheeler (my boss and coworker) explained the opportunity provided by Creative Commons. As we discussed and dug through the internet, it became clear that there was plenty to learn about the Creative Commons concept.

As Lessing points out, there are clearly alternatives to our current laws on copyrights that would better address the world of Web 2.0, for artists and consumers. Although I hadn't realized how many alternatives were available for online copyright strategies, I am excited that the social networking world and thinkers like Lessing are helping explain and promote these possibilities.

You can listen to Lawrence Lessing's interview on NPR here

The sooner we create laws to fit the needs of constituents, the further our society can move forward - using social media and the Web as a tool.

Still Believin'

2008-12-23T13:24:00.000-08:00

But...I also asked for a Newsweek subscription for Christmas. Just to keep up on Obama :)

bicycles, new belguim brews and bests - fort collins, colorado

2008-11-24T13:01:00.000-08:00

To continue my official birthday month, I flew to Denver, Colorado last weekend to see my best friend. Chelsie & her boyfriend Galen go to Colorado State University in Fort Collins...which (in my book) is now officially the coolest damn city east of the Rockies.

We went to Road 34 for $1 microbrews and played drinking games...

The people in this bar reminded me of Portland, so I loved it. Duh.

We went to Estes Park to see the Historic Stanley Hotel, which was appropriately creepy. Chelsie gave me the free ghost story introduction on our drive, so we could avoid the $10 ghost tour of the hotel (ha ha :).

<---

the Rockie Mtns

The Stanley Hotel -------->

Chelsie took me on a campus tour, which is pretty much when I decided Fort Co. was that bad ass...

There were parking lots full of bikes, a bus system that students can ride for free all over Fort Collins, recycling bins on every corner, etc, etc.

The green guy in this poster is on posters at least every 100 meters...the funny part is that he is completely anonymous. The administration refuse to say who he is, but his picture (complete with green paint) is posted in the CSU Administration portrait gallery. Ha ha

At about this point, I lost my drivers lisence. Cool, right? Not. That pretty much did a 180 on our plans...we improvised and had fun anyway, but it cramped the weekend. Especially right after my 21st...ugh!

We went to New Belguim Breweries in Fort Collins (there are 4 different breweries in the city), drank free beer (yum!) and went on a brewery tour.

My very good friend and college roommate Jamie surprised me on Friday night, driving alll the way over from Utah to see us :)

<------------ my fabulous friends/hosts/tour guides Chelsie & Galen :)

I discovered Growlers...the best invention probably ever. And bought one at New Belguim...who knew you could get 64 oz of microbrew for $6.00?!

We went to a massive CSU football game and tailgated before the game. It was a cold day at first, but warmed up enough in the afternoon for my poor face to get a sunburn, ha ha.

Before heading back to the airport, Chelsie & I stopped at the Denver Art Museum and cultural center. I wish I had more time there, but it was such a fun stop! I was impressed that Denver had such a developed art scene.

It was suchhh a fantastic weekend, and such a good birthday present! There is so much more I could write about - CSU game & tailgating, this wonderful Asian restaurant, board games, going to a Unitarian Church for the first time...etc, etc. We packed so much into four days..wow.

our deeping courtship with social media

2008-11-03T16:32:00.000-08:00

If 2004 was truly the 'year of blogs', 2008 is certainly my year to become truly close friends with the web.

I began my internship at R/West in January with a lose grasp for social networking. I had a Facebook, shopped for books, clothes and even contact lenses online, and checked my MySpace regularly. To be honest, I posted blogs then, too I posted updates on MySpace and little 'blog-notes' to friends. Before my 12 week stay in Spain in 2007 I begun a blog, but rarely updated it while I was there. My understanding of the websites I used was strong, but my perception and overall understanding of the internet was very limited.

R/West really began to embrace social media and networking online while I was there, although I was an observer of most of this change at that point. The outreach and education process that I was able to watch, however, really was an 101 course for public relations in the social media realm.

I was lucky enough to apply much of what I learned (from my own reading and digging around as much as from others) at ASWOU and then on a broader scale at Bernholz & Graham later in the year, setting up social networking sites for ASWOU and increasing our presence throughout campus that way. At Bernholz & Graham I was fortunate to have opportunities to work on projects that were most likely above my head and pay scale regarding social media. I've found that as a rule, the sink-or-swim approach to learning really works well for me ... :)

At this point, I had begun using Twitter, LinkedIn, PROpenMic, Tectnorati and Digg. I'm still learning about these websites now, but I have been using Facebook with more and more prowess, reaching out to new people and trying applications that do really, really amazing things for their users.

With only 42 days left of my undergraduate degree, I'm plugging away at two courses that focus primarily on the presence of technology (namely social networking capabilities of the internet) in communications. Communication and Technology, and Communication in Politics. In the later, we're reading Blog Wars, by Perlmutter.

And because I'm 'taking it easy' this term and supremely bored as a result, at home I'm reading The New Rules of Marketing and PR, by David Meerman Scott . It's an incredible book so far, focusing on the ways that public relations practitioners can begin to connect directly with consumers and bypass the typical courting of traditional media outlets to score media attention.

I also think that the elections have increased the overall use of social media this year. With the elections consuming at least several hours of many Americans average day, we're becoming more accustomed to finding news and information online, combing websites and engaging in discussions with others online. Although the public relations and marketing fields have been casting their gaze on social media, I believe this final familization by average audiences has a broader affect on the traditional marketing and public information process.

In one last note, I loved this Green RSS feed by PRWeek. You can find it at http://feedproxy.google.com/PRWeekGreen

pun-kin carving & voting for obama!

2008-10-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

My brother Ned, my boyfriend Noel and I carved pumpkins last night.. such a great break from midterms this week. Check em' out!

Ours is supposed to look like Casper the Ghost - mostly because I had a mini crush on him when I was little :)

More importantly, the presidential election will conclude on Tuesday, November 4th. I sent in my Alaska absentee ballot last week, and was proud to vote for two outstanding Alaskan Democratic candidates for Senate and House. Although I am dreaming and praying for an Obama win, the elections conclusion will be bitter sweet. We've all been following this election for so long!

In honor of our man Barack, my roommate Kate carved him a pumpkin...which I'm showing a little love to below :) ------>

Happy Halloween & please don't forget to VOTE by Tuesday!

p.s. if you're undecided, check out barackobama.com - 'issues' for more information on the nominees plan for America

learn from the bottom up: start with the basics

2008-10-22T20:49:00.001-07:00

I've been back in Oregon for over six weeks now, during four of which I've been rudely reintroduced to college academics, happily reunited with friends, and quickly cementing plans for the next year. It's been an almost annoyingly laid-back month and a half, but the perfect time to make plans and decide what I want after graduating.

I feel that I missed an opportunity to blog about finishing at B&G. Although I can't reach back and make up those missed blogs, I want to say that working at B&G ended up being a fantastic experience. It was challenging and rewarding, keep-on-your-toes tough and big-client-exciting. I learned so, so much. And I was able to contribute in ways that I hadn't expected to, in areas like social marketing, client brainstorms and marketing plans, and the eventual strong friendships I formed with coworkers who for most of the summer I timidly acknowledged as my superiors. I was able to learn something valuable from every person at Bernholz & Graham, and can only count a few that were markedly lessons on what not to do.

My foray into the world of internships has been overwhelmingly helpful, a way for me to pinpoint and design what my future career will look like and how I should reach out toward those aspirations. I do have a couple tips for others going into internships:

1. Take initiative.
Even the smallest things can make a big difference to your boss.
2. Be respectful of rank, but never timid.
3. Pinpoint the office etiquette. And tune in.
4. Ask for the experience you know you'll need (or want)
If the people you work for don't support your growth and education in areas you show interest in, carefully set an ending date. Internships should be completely about learning. Don't waste time with people who aren't helping you progress!
5. Listen closely.
I've learned the most by watching and listening to my boss(es) at Bernholz & Graham, and am so happy to have had the chance to learn by watching.
6. Get your hands dirty.
By quickly and cheerfully running an errand or volunteering to reorganize the supply shelf, it shows you understand the 'all hands on deck' strategy at most PR agencies and make yourself noticed for broader (and more exciting) tasks for clients as they come up.

the pitch for rebranding feminism

2008-08-15T17:35:00.000-07:00

I am a gender equalist.

I am also a feminist, and our movement is crying for a name change.

I’m not a woman who has experienced poor treatment, or even great disparities. I believe that in my situation, I have received favors for my gender as often as I discovered discrimination.

I believe that we can learn to treat people in a way that equalizes opportunity. I know that by allowing women and men equal opportunities, our families, careers, economies, and civilizations will find great benefit.
I am also trusting in that feminism is a tremendous movement, and wish I spent more time thanking those women that have advocated for equality and in turn, taught students (like me) to embrace it’s message.
But I am a gender equalist.
Because it is time for we embraced change and retitled our movement. Time for a name change – a revitalization and repackaging, if you will. It's time that we recognize how beautiful equality is, and how men of various genders suffer from as much discrimination now as women did in the 1950's. It's time we allow the world to take part in our movement by shedding the connotations of 'feminism' that sometime lean overwhelmingly toward the negative.

We must truly sell the message of gender equality to people of all genders and orientations.

And for the record, I’d be happy to help with the rebranding ☺

finding faith in follow up and an interns guide to bernholz & graham

2008-08-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

Bronwen, my fellow B&G intern in crime, is out for a whole week

– and it’s lonely at B&G!

Today has been pretty quiet, some of our people are on press tours (with the Economist, nonetheless) and others are traveling to ATIA partner locations. B & I wrote an 18 page document titled ‘An Interns Guide to Bernholz & Graham Public Relations’. And believe us – future interns will not leave even a sentence unread. Every one of those 18 pages is priceless. Ha ha

I sent press releases and got the fantastic opportunity to do follow up calls to editors & newsrooms, etc. Awesome! Pitching and contacting editors isn’t as scary as it seems – sounding friendly, confident and getting your point across very quickly goes a long way.
I’ve spent most of today in the office with B&G vice president Amy C, who is such a bA. So fun! I’ve been picking her brain on what to do when I finish my B. degree. The verdict: travel for as long as possible.
Yes, please!

entertaining various hackneyed wants and wishes

2008-08-15T17:14:00.000-07:00

I’ve been entertaining the idea of going to graduate school after finishing at WOU. The question, of course, is whether I need to have a graduate degree to succeed in public relations. And the resounding answer has been a chorus of ‘no’, although no mentor I’ve asked has discourage it.
Having a graduate degree can’t hurt anything of course, and learning more about corporate communications is only helpful.
The fact that I’m finishing my undergraduate degree just barely a 21 year old is a promising note that allows me another couple years to move on.
And also makes me a very young account coordinator, with 9 months of interning under my belt.
Since when do weeks and months go this quickly?

Another promising side note: if I move from the small, regional Western Oregon U to a big name graduate school (fingers crossed), I might improve my chances of beginning at a great agency.
And perhaps the opportunity to move up the ladder quickly
Which, of course – would help with everything.
There is also the option of interning in New York in the Spring and taking graduate certification courses while I’m there.
But I’m left with the dilemma – continue on to graduate school now
Or get a job in the spring, work for two years, and take a break to go to graduate school.

The options.

Good. Northwestern University (Chicago)
http://www.northwestern.edu/academics/graduate/index.html

Very Good. New York University
http://www.scps.nyu.edu/areas-of-study/public-relations/graduate-programs/ms-public-relations/index.html

Way out of my league. Columbia University in New York http://www.ce.columbia.edu/masters/about.cfm?PID=2&Content=StratComm

math yucki-ness

2008-08-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

I took my math final this week! I learned…well, nothing. I was completely distracted and focused on my internship this summer, and didn’t spend close to enough time with the material. But! Long time family friend Lucy came over to proctor the exam, and we drank a beer while I plugged in logarithms and mind twisting equations into my nerdalicious calculator to finally, finally, finish the final.

Oh, the trials of my undergraduate degree.

Five more classes before my degree is done, and done!

the beginning. portfolios..

2008-07-13T12:51:00.000-07:00

Good news:

I am FINALLY putting together my portfolio!

I decided to buy a simple black, 40-pg. portfolio rather than the more expensive leather bound version. If I interview with a firm that demands a nicer version, I'll buy one then. And for interviews in other states, I'll end up sending an electronic version anyway.

Speaking of which - I need to scan all my stuff in...what a chore.

My writing with R/West is extensive, and I am so proud of all I did there. All thanks, of course, to them allowing me to write anything at all. Turns out, I great deal of my work in PR has been publicizing sustainable or environmental awareness events, followed by health care and then education.
Surprising? Yes. Exciting? Oh, man.

Palmer Skate Park - Project & Press

2008-07-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

I recently collaborated with the Palmer Skate Association to publicize the (brand new!) Palmer Skate Park. They wanted to encourage the community to attend the parks grand opening celebrations, which were held last Saturday....

A press release and media advisory sent to the Anchorage Daily News, Frontiersman, and our ABC, NBC and CBS news affiliates led to some fabulous press and even more exciting, a great turn out t the grand opening. The Frontiersman (a local, daily newspaper) ran the story on the front page of Friday's paper, titled "Shredders Paradise, Palmer Skate Park opens on Saturday".

Of course, I know that no matter how much information you give a reporter, a unique approach will emerge in the published article. And such was the case with this story - a neighbor the new skate park was quoted with her qualms about the noise and foot traffic. Controversy makes a front page story, though. The only downside.

I stopped to pick up the paper that morning - I was thrilled. This kind of press for admirable community projects and initiatives is what makes public relations a truly valuable asset.

I think the media advisory was the most effective way to get this information across - with recent budget cuts and sinking moral of journalists and reporters around the country, a info snapshot - Who, What, When, Where - made a huge difference in story coverage. This move was thanks to the advice of Robbie Graham, the CEO of Bernholz and Graham...I just came out and asked what she thought. I have nerve, ha ha.

Congrats to the Palmer Skate Association and the City of Palmer. I am proud of this project :)

summer oh-eight rockin' with bernholz & graham

2008-07-08T00:39:00.000-07:00

Before this moment passes, I have to write something about my internship with Bernholz and Graham!

This summer I work on 9th Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska. The Bernholz and Graham offices is much better described as a sort of 'headquarters', or even public relations barracks..this firm goes to work on public relations for the state of Alaska. The russle and buzz of stories and events becoming news absolutely packs the air in our small, bullpen style offices.

Bernholz and Graham is shortened to the simple B&G, and holds down the fort in a modern and quite beautiful building on 9th street. I have never expressly tried to work in Anchorage, but here I am. I feel myself walking along 9th from the parking strip at 8:40 a.m. and wondering how I find myself in this city, at this time.

And what that means?

In short, it means that I landed a pretty sweett internship with a fab. PR firm :)
Among other things.
Doesn't hurt that its in the most beautiful state in the U.S., thanks!

I work with another intern, who I am soo lucky to get to share the whole intern experience with. Having another person around who is literally my co worker is refreshing and, possibly, even heartwarming at times. Lucky, lucky me.
B&G typically only hires one intern for the summer, but they hired two this summer in lieu of an account coordinator. It is an interesting dynamic.

Bernholz and Graham's clients and issue management is much more politicized than R/West's. My experience this summer is going to be 100% different, in a couple ways

1. I'm doing the 9-5 gig, which translates to my life being much more boring outside of work, but mostly that I'm learning twice as much...not too bad.
2. I am always next to both of my bosses \
and...
3. My public relations writing is down 75%, clerical and correspondence is up 200&.

The main account I'll be tackling in the next 10 weeks is the Alaska Travel Industry Association (www.travelalaska.com - killer website, know it), booking media press trips throughout the state of Alaska.

This week will be my third week with B&G.. it is passing so quickly already..ahh!

Much more to come about B&G, Alaska, and Calle (the wild kitten I found in Oregon and drove up the Alcan with. I know, I know)

happy endings & thank you, R/West

2008-07-04T01:42:00.001-07:00

Soo it's been two weeks since I last updated!
As in most cases, the busiest times in life are both the most important and hardest to take time to reflect on.

The moments it takes to pause, to breathe are often too much to ask, althought they allow us the time needed to reorient ourselves within experience. These moments easily become a luxury to easily pushed aside for 'later'...and that is the moment I am strong-arming myself into now!

Once you stop to reflect and 'digest' appreciating the luxury provided by that moment comes easily. As I open this blank canvas of computer space to throw out thoughts and experiences, all this vernacular leads to something a bit larger.

It allows that moment. Just a few moments for reflection, for pause.

I'll start with Portland...

I had to say goodbye to a lot of things at the end of this year, including ASWOU, my beautiful college house, a handful of amazing friends as the graduated, and goodbye to my very first internship in public relations at R/West.

After six months of spending 2-3 days per week interning at this amazing agency, my last day fell on a Wednesday - June 11th.

When I began, my cousin Elizabeth spoke highly of Heather, the Director of Public Relations at R/West. She was so happy that Heather had joined R/West, and described her as one of the very best in Portland.

And she didn't exaggerate. I am SO lucky to have learned from such a phenomenal public relations professional. All the women in R/West Public Relations - Heather, JulieAnna, Kendall and Brittney.

(last day at R/West...the intern office!)

I've been warned that the first internship and first job are the most important, because you have to work upwards from your staring point...

I'm here to report that R/West is a pretty unbelievable beginning mark in public relations :)

Looking back on the accounts and projects I worked on...

The Better Living Show

Sustainable Lifestyle Show...By far my favorite project - amazing. 2009 is coming to Portland, watch for it!

The Portland Clinic
The Game Factory
BeThree (www.bethree.com)

Delicious web site and e-newsletter on health, beauty, fitness, travel...check it..!

Portland State University

Graduate Business Program and Masters of International Management

I'm working on a portfolio this summer, and looked over some of my work with R/West last week. I am definitely proud to have worked on such great accounts. I really couldn't describe all the things I learned with R/West - what a whirlwind!

I have to admit...there were some times that Portland has really thrown me a learning curve. Mostly the one way streets and parking situations. Especially getting towed...what a tragedy! (Thanks Nick and Jake offering to help :)

---Elizabeth and I ----------------------->

So, I have to admit that I will miss R/West! We've had some very good times.

I will miss all the times we b.s.ed about Obama in the office and Nick's excitement about him visiting Portland, late nights downtown, hanging out with Mark and Compton, Kendall's yummy smelling candle and Julieanna's expertise in social media and all things hip, Heather's C-BOY vw license plate, getting to see my niece Adeline at least twice a month and my amazing cousin and role model Elizabeth even more often. With a little shuffleboard and BridgePort mixed in, of course. I might even miss the early afternoon commute :)

Thank you R/West, I will be back in Portland soon..

.kb

alaska's live music & fresh veggies - what?!

2008-06-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

I'm finally to the point of having only ONE final left to print and turn in. I thought writing about Alaska's art-culture-music-brewery scene would be a good way to take a break..so here it is!

I'm pumped to find out that Anchorage emulates Portland a bit by having a First Friday Art Walk [going to call it FF]. LOVE that. The guide points out that FF doesn't only include galleries, but restaurants and boutiques downtown as well. It's between 7 and 8 p.m. July FF - here I come.

The next-best thing I discovered is the Anchorage Market and Festival. An open market of vendors selling fresh veggies and flowers (weekly flowers at my B&G office?!) - arts & crafts - sounds amazing. Mostly, I'm excited to get my hands on local produce, which I've been vying for in Monmouth but is hard to come by in such a little town...
The Anchorage Market is on Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
www.anchoragemarkets.com

Another weekend treat - Saturday Concerts (for free..) all summer from 1 - 4 p.m. in Peratrovich Park on 4th. Culture? I think so...

I work on West 9th - and was looking for things to do during lunch and after work.

Hump Day Lunch Break - here it is:
LIVE jazz and popular music and get lunch from local vendors in Peratrovich Park (again, on 4th) - from 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays.

I had no idea Anchorage even imagined this....I'm impressed.

And I cannot wait to go to Snow City Cafe (on 1034 W. Fourth) - described as cheap and all about breakfast - if it serves breakfast past 11 a.m. I'm GAME for an early-mid day lunch.

Yum!

Other downtown lunch/late night at work options I'll be trying out:

Cafe 817 - deli sandwiches & homemade soup (Sixth Ave)
Snow Goose Restaruant & Brewery - pizza, halibut, ribs... (3rd Ave.)
Lucky Wishbone - we'll see... (Fifth)
The Marx Brothers Cafe - an expensive treat (Third Ave)
and....Phyllis's Cafe and Salmon Bake - salmon? please. (D. St)

A couple years ago I went with my girlfriend Tara to the annual Artic Thunder show - phenomenal. Definitely planning to that again (June 28-29). All sorts of amazing planes fly above the crowd in unison, demonstrating amazing prowess for aviation. Not only that - it's FREE.

Want to hit up the annual Greek Festival (diverse for a town like Anchorage, right?!) Live band, gyros and wine - mid August. Gyros are making my mouth water already.

There are a surprising number of summer events happening all over Alaska - I get to Alaska so late that I'll miss a handful of fun ones :)

More to come later this week!

notes from those people that do not belong on the third [quiet!] floor

2008-06-09T12:59:00.000-07:00

Well, exciting news! One final down, 4 to go! Two of which are in rough draft form, which is the hardest part by far. I'll tell you my goal, and then explain the reality -
[goal] 100% done by TOMORROW by 6 p.m.
[reality] 100% done by Wednesday at 1 a.m.

because of two reasons:
1. from 5 p.m. on, the library becomes a social gathering scene for everyone that has climbed under a rock and only studied for the last two weeks. if i get to see my girlfriends this week, it will be while enjoying the libraries comfy swivel chairs while facebooking and looking over communication studies notes. this will extend my final time studying by at least 2 hours. ridiculous? yes.
2. i will be 100% brain dead between 2 and 3 p.m. i wish America recognized siesta time like the rest of the civilized world.

So! Estimated time of being completely finished with finals is sometime tomorrow morning. Fair enough.

I brought the Alaska Vacation/Travel guide with me to the library - I'll blog on that later today during the brain dead zone.

Me and Noel are on the libraries third [quiet] floor - he is actually doing something very academic right now. Looking over notes on Africa's crisis with land mines or something scholarly like that. We're not actually being very quiet - people like me do not belong on the quiet floor of any respectable library. Period. :)

Noel also has a cold, and now I'm preparing to get that same cold by utlitizing my 1.5 liter SmartWater bottle to choke down Emergen-C.

I love SmartWater. Not so much love for Emergen-C.
:)

.kbs

a cultured Anchorage & silver falls brain break

2008-06-08T19:51:00.001-07:00

Today is the Sunday before Finals week.

Stress levels are hitting records.

And yet, instead of writing a paper reflecting on my growth as a scholar of gender communication, I went to Silver Falls State Park with my friend Noel.

[Probably more to come later about Noel - we're point-devise :) ]

<---------Silver Falls (fabulous, right?)

Anyway, amazing trip. The skies just opened up today and the sun finally came out - long overdue. Typically Oregon enjoys a warm Spring starting modestly in April and coming to fruition (at least) by May.

This Spring was the opposite - it's typically been warmer in Alaska than Monmouth (erggg!)

I'm finally back to working on my take home finals, but our mini adventure was a much needed break :) It was a tremendous trip. We have fun...

--Noel & I----------->

I have five classes this term. This week, that equals four take home finals and one in-class open note essay. Upper level professors do not dig exams - they like to make us slave away over papers.

I estimated:

This week also equals 33 pages of take home finals.

Yuck!

On another note, I tracked down a Visitors Guide to Anchorage.

I'll be back with a list of fun places to explore & restaurants to try out.

Alaska = culture?
Soon to find out...

summer[ish]

2008-06-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

You know those 'busy' people?

I'm one of those people - always moving, changing, making things happen - deciding on goals and then deciding how to get to them.
I live to do.
Throughout 2 page todo lists and weeks of 4 hours of sleep nights, I have an unwritten, unofficial two part way I stay grounded:
1. Talking
2. Writing. I write a lot.
To do lists, letters, notes, thank you and holiday cards, emails. And now blogs.

All this moving and changing (jobs ending, internships beginning, friends leaving the state, new house, new car, etc...) is making me want to write everything down - in traditional todo list style :)

Summer 2008
To-DO!
.Learn to play guitar [2 hrs/week]
.Blog [2-3x/week]
.Exercise [walking 1 hr/3x per week]
.Eat healthy(er) [more veggies, less meat, more water and less sugar]

.Take online math class [yea, a boring one]
.Read fabulous, worthwhile books [4 books in the summer]
.Read newspapers & watch the news [daily - like, every day]

.Learn everything possible about public relations [ask questions, watch, listen, be 100% involved...come early and stay late]
.Go to a PRSA luncheon
.Develop PR portfolio
.Apply to internships with N.Y. firms [8-10] - send mid-July

.Begin talks about curbside recycling in the Mat-Su Borough
(now my environmental nerdy side comes out...reuse, recycle...)
.Learn to roll a kayak [and sea kayak much, much better]
.Research study/teach abroad opportunities in Winter 09'

Pretty solid list for June 23rd - September 23rd, right?

I hope so. I cannot get bored - I have a lot of Oregon to miss and a lot of Alaska (and my own talents/adventures) to discover!

.kBs

heading north.

2008-06-07T14:26:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my first blog of the summer! I've vowed to do a variety of 'life todos' this summer, and blogging about Alaska and my phenomenal internship is one of them :)

So, my name is Kathleen. I'm a senior (believe that!) at Western Oregon University [WOU] - I'm 20 years old and graduating with my Bachelor of Arts in December - this is my very last summer of college. I'm originally from Palmer, Alaska - sourdough born and raised. I'm spending the summer in Alaska to do my second internship in public relations at Bernholz & Graham.

I've been in Oregon (or abroad studying) for most of the last three years, and decided that some quality family time and 24 hour Alaskan summer will be a good transition into graduation & future adventures Alaska is amazing, and it is home. Such a fantastic place to grow up, but I adore Oregon, the state has it going on - it's Alaska without the freezer-box effect :)

Work and college have taken my time and attention for a while, and I'm lucky when I get to see my family! We're a pretty tight crew. Pumpped to spend time with them in Alaska.
<---------------- [family]

Next week is finals week at WOU, and I'm ready to get this term done! My last Spring term as an undergrad has been fabulous, I'm taking fantastic classes, have PHENOMENAL friends, live in a beautiful house. I work as the student body Vice President of ASWOU [www.aswou.org] and a public relations intern at R/West, a out-of-this-world fabulous media & public relations firm.

In the next 10 days I will be:
.studying
.moving out of my house [866]
.packing for the summer
.spending time with graduating friends
.saying goodbye to ASWOU staff
and R/West mentors, friends, coworkers

I'm DRIVING to Alaska (ahhhh!!!!) with my friend Keely Beach - she is unbelievable cool. We're leaving on June 18th. I start my internship at 9 a.m. on June 23rd, and I cannot wait!

Looking forward to a fantastic 10 days and summer in Alaska :)