Moving along...

Hi all - thanks for reading this blog (all six of you!)

I've started a fresh one at Wordpress to kick off my move to Santiago, Chile. Adventure's on the horizon! Hope you'll follow me on my journey.

http://www.mandiwoodruff.wordpress.com

...it's coming...

No one needs to be informed about the eventless summer I have before me, hence the barren blog gap between some gaffey Biden quote in March and today. Business is slow folks! I graduated (!!!) a couple of weeks ago and have spent each day since shriveling up in Athens and biding my time until my apartment lease is up. (Word to the wise - rent a house, folks! No pesky 12-month contracts involved.)

I'm STILL looking for a part-time job. In the meantime, I've been tutoring/babysitting in the afternoons and teaching English classes (I use the world "class" loosely) to native Spanish-speakers for an organization called Casa de Amistad. This week I've got a meeting with Athens' United Way to start volunteering there as well...hey, I'm a pro at working for free. Not so much at the paying gigs yet...

So this summer, needless to say, is going to be entirely worthless for blogging.

But never fear - there are big, exciting plans in the works so stay tuned. I won't give all my plans away, but I can give you some hints.


1. It involves me cursing Delta repeatedly for their ridic baggage fees.
2. I've been dreaming of empanadas quite a lot these days.
3. It requires me to learn how to surf - couch surf, that is.
4. I'll be taking my reporter's notepad and my pocket Span/English dictionary
5. Lastly, I can tell you that it has something to do with chili - but not the one you eat.

:)


Nos vemos!



...OK, I'm not that lame. I'll tell you what I've got lined up. As of August 13, I'll be flying to Santiago, Chile for an internship with an English-language newspaper called The Santiago Times.


It's pretty much for expats but covers all sorts of news, mostly human rights and feature stories. I'm going for a minimum of 4 months (I bought a one-way ticket, so we'll see how it goes...) so I guess I'll see you around Christmas at the earliest! This is the most exciting thing I've done in a while - especially since I'm funding it myself, it was my own idea, I'm planning it all myself, and I miss South America sooo much it hurts to think there are still 3 long months between us. But I"m sure Aug. 13 will come all too soon and I'll be shaking in my flip-flops as I board the plane for what is my first solo-international trip ever. There are no safety nets for this trip. It's all on me. So, if you have any wonderful travel advice, let me know! And pass my blog along to any friends who might be interested - I'll update regularly with pictures and short blurbs about the goings-on.

Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. Still time to work out the details! There is no greater rush than feeling as if I'm looking straight ahead into a tunnel with no idea what I will be like or where I will be when I come out the other end. Only time will tell.

VP Biden: Quote of the Day

I suddenly feel a rush of affection for and the urge to punch our gaffe-happy Vice President at the same time. Here's a quote from his speech at Gridiron on the future of newspapers:

I understand these are dark days for the newspaper business, but I hate it when people say that newspapers are obsolete. That's totally untrue. I know from firsthand experience. I recently got a puppy, and you can't housebreak a puppy on the Internet.

Do you like my drag queen lashes?

Adele is officially the best vocalist I've ever heard live. It gave me chills listening to her belt out her entire Grammy award-winning album, 19. Best New Artist indeed!

After a long drive to ATL with some very loud friends of mine and about a dozen sing-a-longs to NSYNC, we made it to Little 5 Points where she was playing at Variety Playhouse. Her opening act, Kameron (something), was like a short version of a sexy Steve Urkle (Stefan, anyone?). He had an amazing falsetto, but like a friend said: "I like Brian McKnight better." Quick shout out to McKnight - where you been?

When Adele finally made it on stage, the energy was so great. Who said a concert without CGI and fire blowing out of people's asses couldn't be just as breathtaking? It was all about the voice. Adele seemed genuinely nervous about the sold out crowd. We were standing about one row back from being right up under her nose and I've never been that close to an artist before. I had a great view of her "Dragqueen fake lashes" which she purchased that very day in Little 5. She wore all black as usual, with a black wrappy shawl thing and cute black jumper dress. No shoes, just black tights.

She blew the lid off each beautiful track off 19 but also did some amazing covers of Etta James's "Fool that I am" and Sam Cooke's "Keep moving on." It was great to sing a long and I was surprised how many of her songs are good for dancing.

After the show my friends and I debated whether we should stalk her outside her tour bus. I definitely wanted to! I heard before she sometimes comes out to sign autographs for fans and such so I wanted to stick it out. We were not disappointed! After about 30 minutes, she finally emerged from the bus, cigarette dangling from the corner of her mouth and all awkward smiles. She was so sweet. My friends and I were about 2nd in line to meet her and we all got photos with her. Pretty sure my friend got her T-shirt signed as well. I'm not really one for autographs (a piece of paper with someone's scribbled initials - why bother?) but Adele had a sharpie and was just standing there so I asked her to sign my ticket stub. Can't get over how nice and normal she was and that accent was perfectly adorable.

All in all, what a great night! I was exhausted to drive alllll the way back to Athens and have to turn around and come back this morning for work at 8 a.m. If anything, the show made me all the more excited for Lady GaGa in April! It's sure to be a spectacle.


More pics:

Fresh Meat

There is hope yet for the youngin's! The NY Times hired a 29-year-old conservative columnist to dazzle the Op-Ed page with his wit and right wing insight. Too bad its another conservative dude, but he sounds like a fresh mind with a bit of the flexibility and willingness to compromise that was missing from his predecessor, William Kristol.

The New York Times has hired Ross G. Douthat, a 29-year-old conservative writer and editor at The Atlantic, as an Op-Ed columnist, nearly two months after ending the year-long run of another conservative columnist, William Kristol, officials at the paper said Wednesday.

Asked when The Times last had such a young columnist, Andrew Rosenthal, the editorial page editor, said, “I don’t think ever.”

Mr. Douthat (pronounced DOW-thut) has written a popular blog for The Atlantic and articles in the magazine, as well as being a senior editor there, and he has had articles published in other publications. He is also the author of the books “Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class” (Hyperion, 2005) and, with Reihan Salam, “Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream” (Doubleday, 2008).

His writing steers away from partisanship — he frequently criticizes Republicans — or doctrine, showing a concern for income inequality that is usually the terrain of more liberal writers. On abortion, he said in an interview, “I’m sort of a squishy pro-lifer,” interested in finding areas of compromise. He initially favored the war in Iraq, but later opposed it.

Mr. Douthat will begin writing columns online in mid-April, but his job will soon include columns in the paper and a blog, he and Mr. Rosenthal said.

PROGRESS! All states please step forward into the 21st century...(Except you, of course, Georgia)

Progressives, intellectuals and everybody pretty much can now rejoice! Gone are the days of mixing science with religion. Bring on the future. Stem cell research has the potential to save millions of lives and it's a pity it took this long to give it the green light.

However, like always, Georgia is going to eff up the chance to jump on the 21st century bandwagon. Will we ever get it right?


3/10/09
From the AJC:

A bill that would limit stem cell research in Georgia and define a living human embryo as a person, has a good chance of coming before the state Senate for a vote Thursday.

The “Ethical Treatment of Human Embryos Act” was approved in a Georgia legislative committee Monday, the same day that President Obama lifted Bush administration restrictions on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.

Senate Bill 169 has an 85 percent chance of coming to the Senate floor for a vote Thursday, Senate Rules Committee Chairman Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville) said Tuesday.

Balfour’s committee decides which bills see the light of day in the Senate chamber. The embryo bill will go before the Senate Rules Committee Wednesday afternoon and senators will decide if it will make it onto the Senate calendar for Thursday, Balfour said.

Thursday is the deadline for a bill to pass a chamber and remain alive during this year’s session.

Senate Bill 169 defines a living human embryo as a person and prohibits the destruction of an embryo for any reason, such as scientific research. Supporters say the bill does not limit study of stem cell lines already in existence or new lines that come from out of state.

The bill would also prevent a couple who decided they no longer wanted to try to become pregnant from being able to dispose of their frozen embryos kept at a fertility clinic.

Opponents say the bill criminalizes stem cell research in Georgia and would have a chilling effect on the practice of in-vitro fertilization.

Supporters say it’s an attempt to respect life — even that of a 6-day-old human embryo that might have a chance to live if placed inside a woman.

Proponents of stem cell research say embryonic cells hold the potential to find cures to many serious diseases, such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and therapy for spinal cord injuries. The cells have the ability to morph into any kind of cell in the human body.

Self destruction in 5... 4... 3... 2...

Today was low for me, and it wasn't just because I spent it running around the capitol following Alzheimer's lobbyists.

One of my stories got a huge smack down for being misleading. Apparently, I need to brush up on my industrialized home building code knowledge (ie: actually get some). My stomach dropped to the floor when I read the email from someone ripping my story to shreds.

I just knew I'd get fired. I had to be fired. Credibility is all journalists have to rest on, and I screwed up in a big, nasty, please-hand-over-your-reporter's-notepad-NOW kind of way. Or at least I thought.

I have to give it up to my boss, a very patient man who, to my utter disbelief, actually came to my defense. Together we talked over the story and the facts that seemed misconstrued and talked about how it happened. It reminded me of a scene from the David Glass movie, "Shattered Glass," where Hayden Christensen's character fabricates dozens of stories for the renown New Republic. When his lies begin to catch up to him, his editor doesn't start throwing staplers or clearing out his star reporter's desk. He looks up at him and says, tell me that you have facts to back up your stories so I can defend you. I want to be able to stand behind you.

It was sad because Glass was a complete pathological liar and his editor couldn't back him up. But my editor looked at me and gave me the same chance, and I was able to show him what led me astray. It was humbling and a hugely valuable lesson for me to learn.

When I first read the email, my first reaction was to email my editor and apologize. I think I said something along the lines of "this is unexcusable, I should not have blah blah blah..." What I really wanted to say is "Please, dear God, just fire me. I suck at this job. I'm a failure. I'll never find a job in this business."

I gave up on myself with a few sharp words from someone I've never met before. After I wrote the email, I ducked out of the office to finish up my Alzheimer's story, but I didn't make it halfway down the cooridor before bursing into tears.

Side note: Mandi Woodruff does not burst into tears.

I was totally freaked out by it. So, I stood next to a window looking out at the South side of the capitol and dialed my mom's number (the 911 of my life). She could do nothing obviously, but it took just a couple of minutes talking to her before I could gather up myself and walk out the door. I had to pull it together. As much as I wanted to dig a hole and bury myself Sadaam-style, I had a job to do and I didn't want to give up.

Lucky for me, a couple of people didn't want to give up on me either. It's nice having someone in your corner.

I won't take that for granted again.

***********************************************************

It also helps when your wonderful mother sends you a little edible love to greet you after a particularly crap-tastic day. Thanks, Mom.

Put some ketchup on it.

Kevin told me I don't update my blog often enough, but really I just think there's not that much that goes on interesting enough to write about. Nevertheless, I'm suffering from a bit of insomnia tonight so here goes:

There's something liberating about dancing in your parents' backyard, margarita in one hand and surrounded on all sides by really good friends. That's where I found myself last night. It was an epic evening in Locust Grove. My step brother, Steve, and his fiancee Shellie were celebrating their upcoming wedding and my mom threw them an amazing Fiesta-themed shindig with catering by La Parilla and an endless, luxurious fountain of some damn fine margaritas. What could possibly go wrong in this scenario?

I was lucky the fiesta coincided perfectly with a visit from my friends Kevin and Tessa (of ASB/Storm Corps fame). Kevin drove over from Biloxi, Miss. Thursday and I drove him to Atlanta for the Britney Spears concert. Loved seeing how giddy he was before/after the show ("Omgomgomg I died like a million times!"). It was amazing seeing him in general since it's been nearly a year since my last spring break doing hurricane relief with United Way in SW Lousiana.

So, the party was fabulous and not all that awkward, given I barely know any of my step father's family and they outnumbered my mom's side pretty handily. No worries, we broke out my amazing iPod selection (slightly awkward when the Lion King and Little Mermaid soundtracks started playing...hehehe) and turned our patio into a dance floor. For the record, salsa dancing is harder than it looks. Also for the record, Kevin KayJay Jones and my roomate Denechia make one hell of a dancing duo.

Anyway, my mom was gracious enough to buy us a hotel room for the evening. Due to it being a race weekend and us being so close to the track, there weren't many hotels to choose from. But I don't really think any of us minded (did I mention the margs?).

Kevin is driving home to Mississippi as I write this and I hope he's got enough red bull to make the 8-hr drive a bit less tiring. See you in April for Lady GaGa, Kev! This time we are hitting up the club so bring that nice shirt again.

Sadly, no spring break for me this year. Not in the traditional sense anyway. It's strange to think I've spent each SB in college doing hurricane relief and this year I'll be working. Sad times. I'm going to miss everyone at ASB and thinking of them next week. So to Eric, Tessa Jo, Cody, Kevin, Ryan, Jessica, and all the other Storm Corps alumnus still going strong and giving back to the Gulf Coast, I love you guys and hope you all kick ass next week.

On that note, going to try to get some sleep now. Work Monday-Wednesday and then heading for Panama City Thursday for the wedding!

'Nite.

Whatever He Likes...

Never a dull moment as an intern. Got to cover T.I. (aka King of the South) Friday on his latest venture to brainwash kids across the nation into thinking he's a role model.

Don't be like him kids. Don't do drugs or get caught with a bunch of guns. But yeah, he's fly and he's got a milli-a milli-a milli and he can have whatever he likes. You don't want to be rich like Clifford Harris and break the law. You get easier prison sentences and get to walk into the GA Supreme Court dressed like a hoodrat (what would his mother say, really?) and you even get trusted to mold young minds.

Really, it's a bad deal kiddos.

On a more serious note: I did actually enjoy his talk. I think he's talented and could serve the youth well if he got his life together. Here's to hoping 366 days in federal prison does the trick.

On a more hilarious note: Loved seeing journalists whip out their disposable cameras and picture phones to snap photos! One guy put down his notepad and barely wrote down a thing; he was just listening to the man speak. (In my own defense, I only took video in hopes a newspaper might want it for online. Alas, no takers.)

Makes me wonder what would happen if Obama visited one day. Would I be too awestruck to do my job? Hope I get the chance to find out.

Srsly?

This chick should be deported.

Truth

He speaks it:

"I don't care whether you're driving a hybrid or an SUV. If you're headed for a cliff, you have to change direction."

- President Barack Hussein Obama in a speech to Democrats in Williamsburg, Va.

Capitol Punishment

Legislators can smell a news intern a mile away.
So can seasoned pros I rub elbows with in the Senate press box.
Might as well wear a sign on my forehead: Green reporter here! Feel free to give her the run around!

Bit of good news...was published in three newspapers last week, including photos I took during Capitol Tech. Not too shabby. Learning something new everyday. For instance: When you bypass security at the Capitol without your press pass on, they will, in fact, stop and search you and then look at you suspiciously from there on out. Smells like trouble.

Great lede of the day...

"PHILADELPHIA – A destructive winter storm left more than a million customers in the dark before barreling into the Northeast on Wednesday, delaying flights and turning the morning rush into the morning slush as communities braced for the worst."

Who says journalism is nothing like poetry?

My life is a comedy of errors

(I stole that headline from someone's Facebook profile.)

There, I've confessed. I am a terrible liar. Can't even lie about a silly quote.

Like today, when I knew very well that I did not have my assignment for Spanish lit class (one of THREE Spanish lit courses I'm taking this semester- matarme por favor) I couldn't look my professor in the eye during the entire hour. When, just before we were dismissed, he made his rounds and took up everyone's papers, I ducked my head and slipped out the door. I couldn't tell a story about my aunt passing away (which, sadly, is true) or even make one up about a broken laptop, busted printer and lost bulldog bucks card. I'm a whimp. A whimp with a screaming conscience. A whimp with a screaming conscience that will never shut up.

I digress...I'm in my second week of school and the new job covering state legislature. It's been interesting so far, but my boss is a bit scatterbrained since he fired all his reporters last December and has been pulling everyone's weight since. I feel bad for the guy and the guys that I, a lowly intern, have replaced. I am doing their job for $7.50/hr and probably not doing a very good job at that. But this makes me hopeful for my future in journalism. If they're firing all the expensive, seasoned reporters because they can't afford proper journalism, then by all means, please hire the young and inexperienced! I know I'm getting assigned a helluva lot more stories now than had there been four pros to compete with.

I don't think I'll ever get tired of walking past the capitol; it's actually pretty thrilling. You feel like you're going someplace exciting, some small part of the machine of government, one tiny screw in the engine of change....

And then you realize you're stuck outside your office with no key card to get in because your boss (who is busy writing 10 bajillion stories) didn't have time to issue you one.

Comedy.
Error.
Life.

Turn left at Capitol Hill...right into History.

Finally pulled into DC around midnight and made it to Kim's home in Maryland shortly after. I managed to get turned around somehow thanks to a poor satellite signal that turned my GPS into a worthless talking box on my dashboard ("Recalcualting, recalculating..."). But my mix up led to a detour through downtown DC that was more than welcome. Women in gowns and men buried beneath thick woolen trench coats crossed the streets, going to or from some grand ball. I suddenly felt that tingle of anticipation, starting in my fingers as they drummed impatiently on the steering wheel and ending up stuck in my throat in a giddy bark of laughter. This is it, I thought. History. And I'm here.

The epilogue of Dreams From My Father was Obama's speech from the 2004 Democratic National Convention. I had never heard it before; I only knew it as the defining moment in his career. That rare twist of fate when magic, inspiration, ambition and guts come crashing together. And from the explosion emerged a movement. Led by a man who would go on in four years to represent the future of a nation.

So, it's past 2 a.m. and I am heading to bed. But I'll let him have the last word tonight. Because Obama understands -- as well as Lincoln, Frost, Shakespeare, Dr. King and other leaders did centuries before him -- the sheer power of the spoken word. That it can change the course of a people like a strike of lightening.

To me, this was the acceptance speech for an election he did not yet know he would run.

It is that fundamental belief -- it is that fundamental belief -- I am my brother's keeper, I am my sisters' keeper -- that makes this country work.

It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family: "E pluribus unum," out of many, one.

Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes.

Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America.

-- Barack Obama, 07/27/04

Top O' the Hill (Day One of D.C. Roadtrip)

After dragging myself out of bed this morning, I kissed my mom goodbye (promising to be careful) and hit the road -- Inauguration bound. It was a pretty uneventful six hour drive to my friend Tessa's apartment in Chapel Hill, NC. I listened to Dreams from My Father, Barack's first memoir. It was nice reclining behind the wheel, his smooth baritone keeping the road rage and fatigue at bay. It's hard to say if I'm excited or still a little in shock since Obama gave his epic victory speech on that cold Chicago night Nov. 4. Everything changed. And nothing changed, too. We knew then that the worst and the best were both yet to come. And he had squared his shoulders to receive the burden of a nation, tall and calm, a mountain in the face of an avalanche.

But he's not in this alone. We'll dig ourselves out of this mess the same way we got into it -- together.