bratpacker47

I was recently advised in one of my PR classes to start up a blog which would act as a potential writing sample. Needless to say that I already have a blog, but I wanted to start a new one to make it more centered on and relevant to my public relations major. So I figured, why not write what I know? Public relations from the perspective of a still-learning student.

I'm still writing the Examiner articles (the most recent one was posted yesterday and is about the upcoming Thanksgiving TV specials), but the blog will give me a bit more freedom about what I can write about. So the challenge that I welcome will be keeping up with both.

Feel free to take a look and leave some comment love. Also, if anybody has any suggestions on a topic for the blog OR an Examiner article, please feel free to share.

Stay Gold,
~Ali

A new Examiner article is up! Check it out to see which Thanksgiving specials to watch. And spread the word. :)

Thanksgiving TV Specials

Please check it out and leave some comment love! Sorry for the delay in posting a new one. Hope you enjoy it!

examiner.com

Fresno State University held a walkout yesterday to protest fee increases, class cuts, graduation delays, faculty cuts, and a lack of student representation. And I attended. That's two things off my bucket-list: attend a protest and join a protest march.

It was really inspiring to see so many people gathered to stand up for themselves. Even more inspiring to see that some professors joined the protest in support of the students and to speak out about the cuts their departments have been suffering.

All in all, it was an amazing feeling. Great event.

Stay Gold,
~Ali

Thanks so much to anyone and everyone who has supported me with my Examiner articles. It's been a lot of fun and I think I've caught the writing bug. If anybody has any ideas for stories, I'm also very open to suggestions.

I have a new article posted right now that's about TV of the past versus TV of the future. I plan on doing this comparison again in the future, exploring various types of TV, such as news, variety shows, cop/crime shows, etc. This week's installment is GLBT themes and characters in TV past and TV present.

It's in honor of the 30th anniversary of the first march on Washington for gay rights, and October being GLBT history month. Feel free to check it out, comment, and subscribe!

Unfortunately the picture uploader isn't working right now so I'll have to let everyone know when the pictures finally load.

Examiner article

I just posted a new Examiner article. Feel free to check it out and comment/post!

http://www.examiner.com/x-26057-Fresno-TV-Examiner

Stay Gold,
~Ali

It's official, I am now a published writer! I've been hired as the TV Examiner for the Fresno area on examiner.com

It's very exciting, and great experience for my resume. So please take a look at my page, and subscribe to my articles, I would really appreciate it.

http://www.examiner.com/x-26057-Fresno-TV-Examiner

When I get busy, I get busy.

I've had some good opportunities arise, and all at the same time. So now, I am currently a full-time student, an intern with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, fulfilling service learning at the downtown library for my public relations class, gearing up to join TALK (the student run PR firm on campus), writing my first Fresno Television Examiner article to publish, and deciding about joining the organization committee for the 2010 Vintage Days festival on campus as part of the PR team.

I'm a little exhausted just talking about it. But today, I am going to try and finish my homework early so I can go with my brother to the movies for his birthday. And then to the fair so Rob and I can watch the Barenaked Ladies perform.

It's exhausting and tiring, but incredibly exciting.

Hope all is well,
~Ali

I have officially left my job after just over two years. It started to come down to school versus work and I chose school. There are a lot of activities I'm trying to pursue in order to get ahead in my major, including an internship and some committees. Also, hopefully a paying gig I found about on campus. I've had complaints from managers before about my availability, due to school and having to look elsewhere for work while they cut hours (and still hire more people for some reason,) so I knew it would be best if I avoided all the stress and left. I feel better now that I can pursue the things I really want to do.

Stay Gold,
~Ali

My first week of the semester is over. It's been pretty exciting as a lot of things seem to be falling into place. I am officially a senior and well on my way to having my mandatory internship taken care of, and well ahead of when I originally expected. There are a few possible activities I'm looking into, which I won't get into now as details are not fully worked out yet.

I've got a small amount of homework for the weekend, but I actually got a good amount done early son it won't be all that much. It's nice to have a bit of a relaxed Friday, compared to the rest of the week where I'm in class at 8a.m. Although I can't complain - I have a friend who has two or three days starting at 8 with the other two starting at 6a.m.

Hope all my favorite internet people are well,
~Ali

Classes have started up again, and it's so far, so good. It's only really exhausting if I have to go to work straight after. A couple classes look like they're going to be a bit of a challenge, but worth it. And hopefully in September, I should hear back from the Muscular Dystrophy Association on whether or not I've got the internship spot I applied for.

Class will be starting soon, so I'll end it here.

Hope everyone is doing well or hanging in there.

Stay Gold,
~Ali

moar funny pictures

It's getting down to the wire. Tomorrow, my dad is putting on another art show and demo at a local art supply store. It's exciting, but also terribly busy, since he and my mother are trying to get everything ready, and my mother is trying to put the finishing touches on a slideshow of the photos she's taken while he worked on each painting. Hopefully we'll have a good audience tomorrow for the demo, where he'll show and explain the whole process. I'm so proud of him. :)

The next day, Rob and I are hopefully going to go to Pismo with a couple friends to camp on the beach. Should be fun, especially since I didn't have a chance to go this summer, what with things being all hectic.

Hope all my favorite online buddies are well,
~Ali

John Hughes died today, at the age of 59. The man created some of the most iconic 80s teen films, and I greatly admired his work.

R.I.P.
~Ali

It's been a hectic time, but somehow I'm left feeling like I haven't done much. Looking for another job, since budget cuts have my current position at the library up in the air. Still, I'm looking into an internship with the Muscular Dystrophy Association too, which will be nice to focus on. I'm hoping that if I can get another job, I can leave my other retail job, which I'm eager to do.

Also, I'm gearing up to go to school. Got my classes (so far, provided they don't cut them from the budget as well.) And my book list for those classes which I need to start working on. Hoping to find some good deals so I don't have to risk spending $300 at the school bookstore (although that's much less than I would normally spend at the school bookstore.)

I've also drawn a complete blank on everything else I was going to write, so I'll just leave this as it is right now.

Stay Gold,
~Ali

Just spent almost an entire day yesterday at the beautiful Lost Lake. Rob and I went to have a belated birthday celebration for him. His birthday was actually on the 7th, but we really didn't want to fight the crowds for a spot at the lake on 4th of July weekend. Holiday weekends bring way too many people to the lakes and parks for it to really be enjoyable, so it seemed way more relaxing and enjoyable to go the next week. And it was -- we got these disposable min-grills and cooked up some zucchini and steak. For anyone who doesn't know, I am a major carnivore and steak is my favorite, so I was in heaven.

It made a nice double celebration. Rob's birthday incidentally falls on the halfway mark for our anniversary, so we got to celebrate being together for a year and a half. It's really flown by, and I'm excited to see what the rest of the year will bring for us.

Mum wondered if we may have had an encounter with a guardian angel while we were out buying the meat to barbecue. It was very early in the morning and I am not a morning person, so I wasn't at my most agreeable. Rob and I were bickering a little over price versus quantity but this elderly woman came along and told us about how she used to barbecue with her husband who had passed away. They used to have friends over all the time to barbecue. She said that she remembered standing in the aisle and picking out meat to cook; that we should have fun. It was a really nice moment to pause and be grateful for who and what you have.

Stay Gold,
~Ali

Such a great birthday yesterday. Some of my closest friends, my family, and my boyfriend spent the better part of the day together, having some great food, listening to awesome music, and having random and fun conversation.

Plus, I got a few really cute gifts. Never really been a birthday=gifts kind of person, but it's always nice. Though the best part, by far, was spending time with the people I adore, but don't get to see as often as I'd like.

Happily,
~Ali

My hearing is still funny after last night's concert. Went with my parents, my brother, and practically brother, plus Rob, to watch Patrick Contreras play. He's an amazing local artist that plays the electric violin. He is the American Rock Violinist according to the posters, and I'd have to agree. It was general admission so we were standing pretty close. My hearing still has that post-concert muffled feeling from being so close to the speakers. Still, it was worth it for the mind-blowing show and the signed CD!

No, not the show. That's the theme for my MDA camp. Rob and I leave tomorrow. Woohoo!