Getting Toward the Finish Line

It has been difficult for me to post frequently since the summer is winding down. I’m trying to live a healthier lifestyle, which leads to me posting less than I should. I apologize. Now back to the intern news!

PTM– My New Jersey story has gone to press! I will have my second story in a magazine later this week. It feels like such an accomplishment. It took me a while to write the story and now that it’s done, I can look at it in a magazine! My other story about piers is wrapping up and I will start on probably my last story or two for PTM ever. This chapter is closing but I got some great stories out of it as well as “InSite” on travel.

Wave Swinger at a NJ park. Photo from Morey's Piers and Beachfront parks.
Wave Swinger at a NJ park. Photo from Morey’s Piers and Beachfront parks.

Suburban Life– My story about Brookfield Zoo’s Blanding’s turtles was published last week, as well as my nice story about Packs 4 Kids and a summer agriculture program through the Cook County Farm Bureau. I worked on a few interesting crime stories last week and I spoke with the president of Riverside about the Village manager’s position. I learned more about the Relay for life in Brookfield/Riverside as well as the impact it has on those affected by cancer.

Look how adorable these Blanding's turtles are. Brookfield Zoo has established a nurturing habitat for these interesting turtles. Image from Chicago Zoological Society.
Look how adorable these Blanding’s turtles are! Brookfield Zoo has established a nurturing habitat for these interesting creatures. Image from Chicago Zoological Society.

This internship will also be wrapping up soon. I was able to get a different perspective about a newsroom than I had at the Missourian. It was a different dynamic than what I had experienced before, but I have learned that I shouldn’t close the door on newspaper entirely. It’s rewarding to talk to these people and showcase the money they raised for an organization, the new business they opened or the award they received for their hard work. It will be interesting to see where I end up next year. *Aah! Scary*

NYK– I started editing actual stories last week and I really loved it! I was nervous because I thought to myself: “What if I really don’t like this editing business, then what would I do?” but I realized after editing the stories I really have a passion for helping others get across what they are trying to say in an understandable and fun way.

I also have a knack for WordPress now, as you can tell; I’m a WordPress aficionado.*Ha.* With all my SEO knowledge and text sizes and image dimensions. There could be a career in that as well *Maybe?*

This weekend I also went to my last two events of the internship. It was kinda sad, but it went out with a bang! On Saturday I went to the Taste of River North, and it was so fun! It was right on the riverfront and there were options for some good food, drinks and music. I might go again next year.

View of the Chicago River during the taste. To view more photos go to www.facebook.com/NowYouKnowEvents
View of the Chicago River during the taste. To view more photos go to http://www.facebook.com/NowYouKnowEvents

The last event was the Rock ‘N’ Roll half marathon. I saw a bunch of people who accomplished so much. (Because there is no way I could ever run 13.1 miles) There were bands staged along the route and there was a celebration after! Although I’ve never been to a race prior, I thought it was nice that we were able to congratulate these people and have some fun after all the training and running is done. It was held in Grant Park and it was a festival as well as a race.

1001023_606952889355306_1233099250_nThere were tents for people to get physical therapy as well as free samples of health memorabilia. There was also a beer garden, which seems counter productive before noon, but I am not to judge. My favorite part and the reason it went out with a bang is a band that I enjoy was headlining the celebration: Walk Off the Earth. They made their start on YouTube and had a record deal with a CD in March. They were so much fun with a lot of energy. They were throwing instruments around, hitting drums with glitter flying everywhere and jumping around to their fun beats. I really felt like I was at a summer festival even though I was at a half marathon event.

rock1It made me sad and nostalgic of all the events I’ve been to this summer, but I know that I can go to these events anytime to enjoy myself. That was kind of the fun of it though; to think, how can I illustrate this on paper? That has been my challenge this summer and I hope it will continue for the rest of my life.

-Becky

Erring on the side of creativity

Long time no see bloggers! I’m trying to get back into the habit of blogging because it’s been a while. And because of this, I have a lot of catching up to do.

PTM: Last week I finished my sports article and my music groups story. I also finished my parade piece that made me reminisce about my high school and college band days. I am finishing up a story about New Jersey’s Southern Shore. What I learned besides the information and attractions to go to is that I really want to pay a visit! With that story almost done, I have some time to think about that article being my second piece published in a magazine. I love those glossy pages and seeing my work in them is the cherry on top of a job well done.

The sports story was about Chicago Southland. photo from insite.sportsdirectory.org
The sports story was about Chicago Southland. photo from insite.sportsdirectory.org

Suburban Life: My band story was published two weeks ago as well as others. I started working on stories for Brookfield Suburban Life and the Addison Press. My two stories were more artistic than the typical news story and that’s why I enjoyed them. They were fun to do because I got to know these people not only because of their accomplishments but also the passion behind their successes.

I talked to a woman who just opened a store in Riverside called Flur that is a gluten-free bakery. She was very nice and told me about her gluten-free journey and how it led to Riverside. She was trying to find a building to call her home for her bakery when she was driving through Riverside as a short cut. She found 1 Riverside Road’s for rent sign and pulled over at the side of the road and called the number!

Flur_Prod_Cupcake_v1
Cupcake Flavored Macaroon! Image from Flurflavorfirst.com

My second story was about the Choreographer of the Year nominated by Dance Chicago. Kate Jablonski has two companies, a youth group and a professional group. She seemed like a fun, energetic person but very hard working. Her style errs on the side of contemporary and reminds me of a spring board instead of the typical ballet “puppet on strings.”

NYK: I attended Tech Week Chicago and wrote an article about what I witnessed there. I learned about some software and networking as well as phone apps. It was also a lot of fun with different zainy things to drink or run into, *ahem* robots. I also went to the Chicago Artists Coaltion’s event where I took pictures for an article. It was a fusion of art, food and cheerleaders, believe it or not.

Orville Kline, Chicago DJ, and I. Image from nowyouknowevents.com
Orville Kline, Chicago DJ, and I. Image from nowyouknowevents.com

I also started editing people’s events last week and I’m really getting the hang of WordPress. I understand SEO more and am learning about a variety of events in the city!

I reference many of my stories in this article, let me know what you think in the comments! Also, if you want an easier way to navigate my stories I have a tab for each publication that showcases most of my work.

−Becky

My Jams of the Week #1

I’m starting a new fun weekly section that I’m going to call “My Jams of the Week.” I have an eclectic taste in music and that is one of the reasons why the adjective is part of the title of this blog. I have electic interests, but the most obvious example is my musical taste. So, I’m going to try this weekly post and see how it goes. The songs may be from the same genre; they may be from 5 completely different genres. The goal of this is to pick 5 songs I like during the week. So here’s this week’s Top Five:

1. The Proof of Your Love (The Monologue Mix) by For King and Country. Genre: Christian

I discovered this song while listening to K-Love; a christian music station. Whether you are Christian or not, this song is darn catchy. Check it out!

The Proof of Your Love Video

2. Say My Name by Destiny’s Child. Genre: Pop

This may be an obvious reasoning, but I am listening to this song this week because of the Destiny Child performance from the Super Bowl a few weeks ago. I can’t get enough of them.

Say My Name Video

3. Stay (feat. Mikky Ekko) by Rihanna. Genre: Pop

I’m normally not a fan of Rihanna, but when I heard this song during the Grammy’s I enjoyed it very much. Whatever the meaning is behind the song, I’m not going to delve into it. The song just sounds pretty.

Stay Music Video

4. Cowboy Casanova by Carrie Underwood. Genre: Country

Never in a million years would I listen to country. But after seeing Carrie Underwood perform at the Grammy’s, it made me want to check out her music. My roommates and friends also make me sit through Nashville the TV show so I guess it’s subliminally seeping in my mind. I went and watched all of Carrie’s popular music videos and I am fond of this song.

Cowboy Casanova Video

5. Hope by We Came as Romans. Genre: Alternative Punk/Metal

I would actually call the genre Screamo, but I don’t think that is a category iTunes uses. Screamo is if you made an alternative rock and a heavy metal sandwich. It’s not too soft rock and it’s not too hardcore. There’s some screaming, and there’s catchy riffs. I chose this song because We Came as Romans is one of my favorite bands and I had a few songs from their most recent album. I hadn’t heard this song until I saw the video for it about a month ago. I bought five songs off the album, but had no idea this song was this good.

Hope Video