Essentially, this blog will stay up but I won’t update anymore. Instead, I will be focusing all my energy into my journalism-focused blog (Laurie Callsen, Journalist at Large). I want to absorb myself in journalism as much as possible, which will include journalism tutorials for Intercamp volunteers, my views on new media, etc etc.

Hope to see you there!

1. My family:

I am lucky enough to have both my grandparents on both sides of my family living. I am so thankful for them because I know so many people who have only one or no grandparent, whereas I get four.

My siblings (this include you too Meredith!) and I don’t get along sometimes, but we still love each other and would do anything for each other. I can’t believe how close we are sometimes. I feel like I could ask them or tell them anything. Last weekend we were all together and it was fantastic. We may be pretty divided, but that makes getting together so much better.

My parents are pretty freakin’ awesome. I know that there are few things that they wouldn’t do for me and vice-versa. I miss them lots (especially this weekend!) but can’t wait to see them at Christmas. They o so much for me and my siblings and I can’t imagine who I would be or where I would be without them.

I am so glad for my many aunts, uncles, cousins…. the list goes on. I was especially thankful for extended family today when I spent the evening with my grandma’s sister’s family. I hadn’t seen some of my family since I was really little at G&G Callsen’s 50th Anniversary, but they still invited me to Thanksgiving when they saw that I didn’t go home.

2. My friends. I am thankful for all the friends I’ve made over the years, but here are some special little shout-outs to certain people.

Nicole, Emily and Morgan: you guys are amazing. I don’t know what I would do without you guys- probably go crazy from stress and secrets to tell . I’d also be really sober a lot more of the time and wouldn’t go to class hungover. Seriously, you guys are the best and I love you to death.

J-schoolers: Oh man, I couldn’t keep myself entertained during certain lectures without your Facebook statues and evil glares.

3. School

It seems like a weird thing to be thankful for, but I am thankful for school. I am glad that I still like journalism and that I went to MacEwan. I could be doing something really boring at the U of S just to be closer to my family, or I could be doing something I hate just because there’s money in it. I’ve pretty much have resigned myself to the fact that I will be underpaid and overworked. I’m cool with that as long as I get to see some pretty cool stuff and meet new and interesting people. Changing the world will just be a bonus.

4. Me

OK, you probably think that being thankful for myself is a bit conceited. And it is. But I am so glad to be alive and well, and that I am a good person who (usually) makes good decisions.

School is schoolish. This term I am taking Reporting III, Radio Reporting, Political Reporting, Photojournalism and Legal Issues for Writers. Yippee. This looks to be a high stress year, but I think I can handle it. All the second year students are together; yay for camaraderie but boo for annoying people you have to see ALL THE TIME. Luckily there is only a few (for me) in our program.

Intercamp is putting out it’s second issue for the 09/10 year this week. Nothing too interesting happening there, except the SA VP Operations and Finance has stepped down. He’s the second in less than a year to do so. Hmmm.

As for the song writing, it’s going fairly well for me, the terrible songstress. I am thinking of doing a set at Steeps on 124th and Stony Plain Rd. for their open mic night. Or, you know, not subject people other than my friends to listen to me sing. I haven’t decided.

Also, a sidenote: holy global warming! It is currently 27 degrees out. Sure, we had a shitty summer weather-wise, but we’re basking in the sunshine now! Maybe this means winter will be a bit delayed One can only hope. It’s so nice to be able to wear shorts in the middle of September.

Song: The Man, Pete Yorn (Nightcrawler)

I suppose this should be the pre-req “back-to-school” post. Thanks to my newest addiction of Criminal Minds I have no urge to share any overly personal information, so you will get the meat-and-potatoes version. Grab some salt & pepper, if you wish.

10 Changes

1. I am back in E-Town for my last year of school. I can’t believe how fast time goes by. I helped out with Orientation at CFAC. It seems like only yesterday I was one of those little nervous first-years. Now I get to help terrify them! Maybe I too will have my own GMac J-School legend like a certain prof. I highly doubt it.

2. I am officially a paid journalist. That’s right, I am News Editor for Intercamp. I have yet to kill anyone; however, our first production day is tomorrow, so we shall see how that stands in 24 hours.

3. I have committed to being an non-Saskie. Sniffle.

4. Pete Yorn makes excellent sleep music. As does Fiest.

5. It may be a bit soon out of the gate, but I have stopped biting my nails. This may falter once Criminal Minds and Lost start up again. Damn you television!

6. I <3 Dr. Spencer Reid, even if he has a man-bag. *shudder* (This isn’t actually a change, since I’ve always like Reid (who is a fictional character, yes). Minor detail)

7. I have a wicked tan for the first time since age seven.

8. I was outside for more than a few hours this summer since age seven.

9. Since I’ve started watching CM I’ve been profiling people. Emily does it too! It makes me wonder why I didn’t go into Psych.

10.  I can now control my peanut M&M addict. Until exam time, that is.

10 Un-changes

1. I still procrastinate by playing guitar and Facebooking.

2. I forget about my journal/blog until it’s late at night and I have trouble sleeping.

3. I have trouble sleeping. I blame the chamomile tea; it’s always had a reverse affect on me.

4. Organization is still my passion. It is pathetic, also somewhat worrisome. Again, with the CM-inspired diagnosis.

5. I also forget about food that I’ve bought. I forget a lot of things, actually.

6. Ryan Adams’ cover of Wonderwall is the best, even better than the original. Just so you remember.

7. I get bored easily. Whoopee.

8. Lost is still amazing. Hurry up, season 6!

9. Audrey and the late-night airplanes are still with me for year two.

10. Dixie Chicks & Johnny Cash are the only super-mainstream country you’ll find on my computer. And I count early Cash as ’60s, not country.

Um….. there is too much to tell in one blog post, but just know that I am having a good time, that I’ve made lots of friends and that I’m learning lots.

So, I am home for Easter. Today I decided to go see my sister. I took the backroads, as I am inclinded to do because it is so much prettier (or so I think after living in a city for a while). I got out to take a picture. I shut the car off but left my iPod running. I shut the door.

Turns out the car can magically lock itself. Keys in the ignition, cellphone on the dashboard. I’m about eight kilometres from home. So after dropping a few f-bombs and trying to pick the lock with my earring (I was trying to be resourceful; it didn’t work) I start a-walking.

2 miles later my dad found me, camera in hand, trotting on home. I can’t believe I walked that far. I’m quite proud. Unfortunetly Dea was freaking out, thinking I had hit the ditch or something. I figured someone would have figured out sooner or later that I was in trouble and would have found me.

The End

Anywho, since my last update I have done…. something. I’m sure. Well, on Friday I interviewed Rick Mercer for Intercamp and then I went to Red Deer to see my mom and Maryanne (They did a tour of Olds College, where Mac wants to study once she graduate).

Only a month and a little bit left of school! I have a big to do list, which entails:

1. Finding a job in Edmonton, starting in July. I can’t start July first, because I want the Jamboree off.

2. Finding a place in Edmonton.

Unfortunately, this list is conditional on my acceptance into Immersion at U Laval, which I won’t know about until sometime in April. If I get in, I’d have to be there May 18, which will make it hard to book plane tickets and what not. Sigh. I wish they drew the names for the spring students earlier, so we could get our shit together sooner.

I should apply for a job at the Ledge….. hmmmmmm.

Until next time, faithful reader(s).

Edited September 16, 2009.

Anyway, school is becoming nuts and not nuts. How that happens I don’t know. I just need to get into the groove of things. Today was surprisingly productive. I just need to focus and have more study time! This whole being sociable thing is wreaking havoc on my schoolwork. But not to a point to failure (don’t worry Mom!). I need to bring back the To-Do lists.

I really have very little to say. I wrote an article on cover songs for Intercamp, and wrote some stuff recently to put on my writing portfolio blog. So I am still alive with a pen in my hand.

Tomorrow Courtney and I are off to The Citadel for Julius Caesar and on Friday we are going to a magazine release party. ‘Twill be a blast, I am sure.

Until next time.

Actually, I do have that ethics paper due on Thursday. And a project due Monday. But I’m pretty much done the project, and we’re getting some class time on Monday, so I can ask Therese some questions about it.

Last night was the Vagina Monologues. It was so amazing. For me, it was the first time I had ever seen some of the monologues preformed, since most of the rehearsals were one-on-one with the director. Everyone was incredible, and so emotional. I think we changed some minds last night! There was also a great preview in this week’s Intercamp (and I’m not just saying that because I was one of the girls interviewed).

I’ve got some personal stuff (no worries, nothing bad!) going on right now, but I don’t care to blog about it.

I love my photojournalism class (my instructor is John Ulan of Epic Photography). I haven’t really done anything too amazing, but check out one of my favourite shots here. I have another one with these two lovely models (har har) but am too lazy to put them on DA. They’re on Fbook anyway.

Speaking of Facebook, I came up with my story pitch idea…. how distracting social media is. I got the idea, of course, when I was on Facebook instead of doing my homework. Shame shame.

Other than that, not too much is new. My stress levels are somewhat calm, which scares me. Reading week is coming up and I can’t wait – although I have no plans at all. Just time to chill, sleep and work. Yipee!

PS – my acupuncture story hit the CUP wire! It’s off there now, but it was there! haha this probably isn’t that big of a deal, but I’m still happy.