Monday, April 28, 2008

Blog Crazed

I've always considered myself something of an early adopter as far as technology is concerned. At my current internship, I've given myself the title of Tech Goddess, with the subtitle of "Thou who installs printer drivers and figures out the website". It's pretty interesting, especially because I work at a local historical society, and technology is very hit or miss. I've learned to piecemeal things with OpenOffice or work on machines that are 10-15 years old. (And I love it!)

My newest foray into technology has been ongoing. I've taken to reading blogs that have to do with my future career ambitions and subject interests, so last night I went Google Reader crazy. I've found some awesome sites, such as Museum 2.0 and I'm in Ur Museum Blogz (which has a great post about finding a job with a museum... check!). I'm not sure what the policy will be like at my new job in Texas, but I think creating a blog for a museum is a great way to generate interest (and these blogs have some other great suggestions for basic marketing as well).

I mostly write in my blog to keep in touch, but I'm going to also write in here about new strategies for museums and my thoughts. As a college senior, I think I offer a (naive) (or new) perspective on the world of public history.

For starters, check out a post on my old blog about Mount Vernon. It's an example of a museum taking technology and using it to enhance exhibits, not to overshadow them.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

A Place to Sit

Well, I don't have a place to put my stuff or lay my head or whatever the saying is. However, I do have a place to sit! I was on the phone with my boss the other day, and she mentioned to me that they were (at that very moment) getting me my desk! I finally have the perfect place to put my digital picture frame and photos like this:



(this may be my favorite photo of all time)

Also, an update on the apartment search. The leading apartments are a bunch near White Rock Lake or the Village Apartments, where my boss lived when she first moved to Dallas. They're farther out than I would like, but it's almost all 20-somethings and they have a great gym, intramural sports, and a restaurant/bar right in the community center.

I also got my work email address and phone number! I'm so excited to get started down there, but, for now it's back to some college senior debauchery! (Read: finishing the last paper of my college career - I'm a rebel).

Friday, April 18, 2008

Loving Technology

So today I was introduced to a new thing called Flagr, which is really helping me at least map out where apartments are. Right now, my possible apartment map looks like this:



All of them are pretty close to work, which is also good! I know I'm being really obsessive about this, but, hey, that's how I am! My dad yesterday (hi Dad) was telling me how I've got everything planned out and how that's really good etc etc etc - and I told him that if I didn't have a plan right now, I'd probably be freaking out.

I mean, I'm freaking out anyway, but maybe to a lesser degree? Oh well, it's the weekend and it's GORGES outside (ha ha), so I'm off to enjoy the sun!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Sight Unseen

I'm finding out that it's really REALLY hard to find an apartment in a city you've never visited. It leads to falling in love with a place with all the amenities, and then finding out something like this:

(Okay, there IS an image that goes here, but Blogger won't let me do it right now - check back soon)

UPDATE: Day 2 - and Blogger still hates me :-(

Which is kind of conflicting. I don't know much about Dallas, but it doesn't seem like these people can agree on how to rate the place where they actually LIVE. Also, ever the skeptic, I'm not sure that I can trust the positive reviews (may be written by management) or the negative reviews (may be written by management from the place next door). Sigh.

However, I have found a few places I'm feeling good about and I've booked a few appointments. I also found out that there's an IKEA (!!!) right near Dallas, so my furniture needs should be close enough to met. (Thanks for the living room sofa, Mom!)

I also passed my background check today - I guess they decided I wasn't going to rob the museum or something like that. Today also marks one month until graduation (or close enough). I can't believe I'll be leaving college so soon, but I'm really excited to go to Texas!

I might be most excited about doing a weekend at a dude ranch - who wouldn't love that?!

Monday, April 14, 2008

Leaving the Jersey Shore


I was on the phone with my mom today, trying to figure out the logistics of graduating, visiting home, packing, going to Maui (!), and moving to Texas. I had a great plan worked out, except for one thing - it involved me driving south through Jersey on Memorial Day weekend.

Now those of you from Jersey are already groaning and rolling your eyes, but everyone else has no idea what I'm talking about. Memorial Day weekend at the Jersey shore is downright painful. You can't drive south. You can't drive east. And you most certainly can't do either on Friday or Saturday. Why? One word. Bennys. Bennys are tourists from Bayonne, Elizabeth, Newark, and New York (hence the acronym), and they can make any Jersey girl's commute and social live incredibly difficult.

When people find out I'm from the Jersey shore, the first question is always "How close are you to the beach?" The answer is - very close, but it might as well be an hour and a half away. The population of my town nearly triples in the summer, and driving/parking at the beach is a nightmare. To be honest, one of the major bonuses about moving to Dallas will be the decreased amount of tourist traffic.

Anyway, that whole rant leads to me having to drive home 3 days earlier than I intended. Thanks, Bennys. I hope you have a good summer.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Sudden Realizations

Today I've come to realize certain... realities? Like - I'll need an apartment in Dallas (fast!), I have to move across the country, I have to DRIVE across the country, I have to start packing!

Memo to self: start packing. Now.

I only have to pack up an entire apartment before graduation (5/18) so my parents can each load up their cars and try to store all of my belongings in my garage in New Jersey. How did I amass so much stuff? I can't believe four years ago everything I owned fit in a dorm room!

I called a few places yesterday about potential apartments, but I'm not too familiar with the neighborhoods in Dallas. I know I want to live downtown, and I've found a lot of places that are really affordable and have a gym, pool, and hot tub! I'm liking my new city!

I also did a Google Maps search for my drive down there. It looks far, but really interesting - it takes me though a lot of southern towns I've never visited. I'm hoping to break up the drive with some stops in new cities and maybe visiting some people along the way!


View Larger Map

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Decision time

So I'm sitting on my couch, relaxing after a whirlwind tour of Minneapolis and watching South Pacific. I think I should be watching a western or maybe No Country for Old Men. After all, I am moving to Texas in less than 2 months!

For some quick background: I'm a senior at a college in central New York, and I've been lucky enough to land my dream job out of school. I'll be working in the marketing department of a museum in downtown Dallas. The only problem is that I've never actually been to Texas, but I love country music and line dancing, so at least I have that!

This blog is going to cover my cross-country move and the culture shock I'm sure I'll experience from moving to the south and just living life after college! It's definitely going to be an adventure, but I'm excited to rise to the challenge!

I also want to point out that it's been my dream since I was eight to move to Texas. When I was 10, I wrote and recorded a song about my love for the Lone Star State, and the chorus went like this:

How many seasons does Texas have?
Oh my friends say 4, but my folks say 365
Before any ol' Texas year is done


There's also a line in the song about wanting to go to Texas no matter what:

No matter what my parents say
Damnit I am ten, I'll do what I please!


I think my ten-year-old self would be very proud of me right now!