Project Lauranette

I've decided I need to crack down on myself, diet and exercise wise. I was eating well and going to yoga on a regular basis and feeling a lot better, then I got sick and stopped caring. Now I feel like doody again.

With the help of http://www.thedailyplate.com/ and the Couch-to-5k running plan I think I can pave my way to new habits I can make stick. I was doing it before, after all. And I need to make use of my Metro Sports membership, which I now pay for.

I'm keeping my progress logged online, but I won't be sharing that information unless I start seeing some results. Wish me luck, though!

Out with Prowler, back in with Billy!

My EIU alumni newsletter arrived in my e-mail today with fun news - Billy Panther is back!

While I was in school, we had Prowler (who dated back to 2002), but nobody loved him. Nobody felt "out with the old, in with the new" applied to the school's beloved mascot. Everyone missed Billy.

FUN FACT: According to this, Billy was never the official name of EIU's panther mascot, rather a name created by fans.

Even though he was a bit before my time, I knew of Billy from Old Main Vein: the EIU Hall of Fame blog, where he made fun of Tony Romo on an almost constant basis. Unfortunately, the site went down in January of 2007 (or sometime around then). "Billy" still has a MySpace, though it appears that he stopped updating that when he stopped blogging.

Regardless, I'm glad to see EIU fans like me are getting what they want.
More Billy.

I have WAY too many blogs

I have recently been trying to think about consolidation.

It is way too much of a pain in the @$$ to update all these blogs on a constant basis. I have already privated several of them until I can figure out what to do with them. HELP!

What do I mean by way too many blogs?

WORK-RELATED

Here and There - Here and There is a travel/what to do in your own backyard blog that also serves as my official Telegraph work blog. I don't see getting rid of this unless I end up not working here. Gotta set an example for the others, you know. The issue here is that - because I'm poor and because I have much more going on in my mind - this blog sometimes plays host to some of my stupid thoughts instead of just things to do. Problem is, I usually end up posting the same thing in this blog only less tame.


Insider's Look - This is not so much a blog as it is a running list of the efforts that we're taking here at The Telegraph to make the transition from print to the Web. Its purpose at thetelegraph.com is to introduce readers to new features on the site and teach them how to use them.

Online is the new black - I took it upon myself to chronicle my work here at The Telegraph as Web news editor. I use it as a more professional blog, which I can link other journalism professionals to, like at wiredjournalists.com. Some of them read the posts and give me ideas, which I appreciate. That's what that's for I guess. To share advice, get advice, whatever pertaining to my new line of work.

SILLY PROJECT BLOGS

I'm a Bonnaroo Virgin - I started this blog last year because I was listening to a bunch of new music and preparing for this big music festival and then.... I didn't go. Devastating. I haven't posted on it much lately but since I've made Bonnaroo an absolute priority in 2009, I'll start it back up when new festival news comes about.

I love STL- I initially started this blog to comment on St. Louis news and to write about stuff I went to do in St. Louis. The truth is, I don't go into the city as much as I used to, so I think this is one that I've privated and marked for possible termination.

That's a winner - This was my personal blog on Xanga until I decided to switch over to blogger permanently. Yet I kept it around and used it to blog about baseball. That didn't last very long. I think it warrants possible termination. However, I've got some archived items on there I wouldn't mind copying over onto Word first.

GROUP/COMMUNITY BLOGS

What the fu?!!?! - I've had this blog around the longest and I've always hesitated to take it down because of all the memories. That and because it gets ressurrected by one or two of us once every couple of years before it fades out again, most recently by Emily. You see, this blog was useful for keeping up with friends who had moved out of the area since we had such a big group in high school. It also got us into some trouble around the Bush/Kerry election because some of us are hardcore Dems and others hardcore GOP. Regardless, it worked for awhile. Some of us have outgrown it. You know I always love a blog though, so I think I'll keep it.

We used to be newsies - This was originally meant to do for the DEN crew what Whatthefu did to my group of high school friends. The real difference is - no one ever got into posting except me and Stephen. I'm going to send out messages to people and then this one is getting the ax if something doesn't happen.

NEVER TURNED INTO ANYTHING

Laura M. Griffith blog - This is a blogger blog I reserved to use as a personal or professional blog one day when I was bored. Never turned into anything, but I'm undecided because someone else might take my address if I delete it.

Here is my mind- I've never posted on Here is My Mind, but I want to. One day. Here is My Mind is likely the future replacement of One Too Many Blogs. Once I know more about XHTML and can make it my own more easily, I may migrate to WordPress. I don't know though. Mostly I think Blogger is better, because it's more user friendly if nothing else. Keeper?

OTHER

Thought o' the Day, a MySpace blog - Go to my MySpace page and check this bit of nothingness out. I started posting random thoughts and announcments sometimes just so there wouldn't be so much blank space up there. This really isn't an issue.

Finally, we have this one:
One too many blogs.

Name makes sense now doesn't it? Only, I'm not sure I like the address anymore...
I wish I had a single hobby or one idea for a blog instead of 8 bajillion.

Any advice?
When it all comes down to it, I just don't have anything important enough to fill this many blogs that no one reads.

Stay tuned to find out what I do about this issue.

Awards = resume update

So I've updated my resume for the first time in awhile because I won a couple of my first awards as a professional journalist -

Oddly enough, only one was even remotely for writing. Mainly, they were for video. Never thought I'd say that.

My boss wants to send me to a dinner (I feel important) to accept the awards. That's if I can get off that night because I'm supposed to fill in with newspaper design, but I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, who wants to critique my resume?
Let me know and I'll send you a full version in Word.

Vampire Weekend in St. Louis

Before the show, Mr. Matt Poli said he didn't think Vampire Weekend was very good live. I respectfully disagree. Read more of my thoughts on the show:

Visit my work blog, where I posted about it.
And for God's sake, leave a comment!

Have you seen VW live? What did you think?

I work at Dunder-Mifflin

So I finally bought season 4 of "The Office," which was funny but also short and just left me wanting more. Come on Sept. 25!

Anyway, because I've been working hard all day I took a break along with the initiative to visit The Office's official Web site at nbc.com which features a video blog by the real Angela and text blogs by Dwight Shrute (Shrute Space) and Creed Bratton's www.creedthoughts.gov.www\creedthoughts (Don't click that link, click this: http://blog.nbc.com/CreedThoughts/).

It also has a user community at www.dundermifflininfinity.com, which I joined and am exploring presently.

Instead of registering, you "apply" to be a part of a branch. I am a "temp" at the Peoria branch, which I think is the closest one to here.

There are different tasks you have to complete to earn Schrute-bucks and rise up in the company. You can watch videos by people who have been around long enough to "apply" for the position of "regional branch manager."

It's so funny, it's like a real company. Only fun.
Back I go...

Jealousy and the Mississippi Landing Lofts

So, I just went into the Mississippi Landing lofts for the first time and WOW.

My building is nice, but take my unit times about 5 and then you have the one I visited today. The loft space is the home of "God's Portion" author Judy Hoffman, resident expert on Benjamin Godfrey, after whom the town where I was born was named.

I wasn't there to look at the loft, I was there to learn about Godfrey, which I did. But you can't help but notice something as breathtaking as this place. Every room was open, the ceilings were high and there were windows EVERYWHERE. I'll bet the fireworks, had they had any this year in Alton, would have been amazing from that view.

The big difference between these lofts and our building is that the people living there have purchased the spaces, whereas we rent them. Oh, how I wish we could afford to buy a place ;)

At this point in my life, I love the loft we live in, and I love all the furnishings we put together from what we already had and what friends and family could supply us with. But oh, what I would do with an unlimited budget and that much space...

No TV, no beer makes LaLa ...

"Go crazy?"

"DON'T MIND IF I DO"

(Replace Lala with Homer and) that "Simpsons" spoof of "The Shining" always made me laugh ... but on to the real point. 

There will be plenty of TV (and beer if I so choose) in the coming weeks because it's TV premiere season! Just in time, too, because David and I only have one more episode of "Twin Peaks" before we've finished the show for good. (I know it was canceled a long time ago, but since I just started watching it, I'm feeling the pain all over again.)

And there is plenty to be excited about. 

"Fringe," from J.J. Abrams (producer of "Lost") begins tonight, which David is really excited about. I don't know if I am, but I wasn't excited about "Lost" either then look what happened. 

Wikipedia says: 

The plot deals with a research scientist named Walter Bishop (has been described as "Frankenstein mixed with Albert Einstein"), his son, and a female FBI agent who brings them back together. The show is described as a cross between "The X-Files," "Altered States" and "The Twilight Zone." Like Abrams' previous shows, it will have an overarching mythology.

I could probably be into that. After all, I love shows with "mythology." (Look below and you'll see a pattern.)

After that, I'm not really too excited about any NEW shows, but I couldn't be more pumped about some returning favorites. 

When we last left "Heroes," which returns  on Sept. 22, the Petrelli brothers had saved the world once again, but because of the writer's strike, we didn't get to see much of what became of Sylar and the "villains." That's why Volume 3 is all about "Villains." It's supposed to be bigger, badder and more intense. I can't wait. (Side note: I love Peter Petrelli) 

"Pushing Daisies" is another show that won my heart last year. In fact, I felt so strongly, I wrote a blog about it. So as not to rehash, go ahead and read that one before moving on... How, oh how will Ned and Chuck fall further in love this season if they still can't touch each other (first touch alive, second touch, dead, again, forever)? Stay tuned to find out. "Pushing Daisies" returns on Oct. 1. 

"The Office" returns on Sept. 25, and I haven't even finished season 4 yet! We meant to buy it on DVD but have been a little low on the cash flow. I can't wait to watch Jim and Dwight in real time (at least on a weekly basis). I'm sad that Toby is gone, but I'll move on. I don't know how much longer I can hold out (that's what she said) so I'm glad the season premiere is almost here. (Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.)

*SPOILER ALERT (if you haven't seen it)*

JAN IS PREGNANT? What the hell?!? I gotta get in the know on that one.

*OK, continue*

Last year, I was forced into making a decision, and this year's decision is only getting tougher. "The Office" joins "Grey's Anatomy" and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" as a member of the "we're on at the exact same time" club.  

Last year, I chose "Grey's Anatomy" over "CSI" with the idea in mind that "Grey's" follows more of a storyline and "CSI" can stand better on its own should I have to watch episodes out of sequence. Well, I was just on the "CSI" Web site and I discovered that I may have made the wrong choice. 

*SPOILER ALERT*

WARRICK BROWN DIES IN SEASON 8!!?!??!!!???
GRISSOM IS LEAVING??!?!?!!

*Ok, I knew the latter bit of information, but WOW. Continue*

"Grey's" was good, but I obviously missed out. "CSI" returns Oct. 9 with what looks to be the most dramatic and intense episode of the show to date. The team is investigating one murder and one murder only, the one that matters, Warrick's. I've followed the show through Nick being buried alive and through Sara being captured by the model maker/serial killer, but they both pulled through. I can't wait to see how they handle this. I need to get caught up quickly! (*Probably the most excited about this season premiere than all the others.)

As for "Grey's," which returns Sept. 25, I just wanna see what (and who) the doctors of Seattle Grace are getting into this season. In my opinion, "Grey's" is the best of the doctor/hospital  shows out there today. (Although I do think "House" is entertaining. Also, I am aware that "ER" set the pace in the beginning, but now it's just getting old. John Stamos? Please.)

That's my fall TV roundup. Stay tuned for reactions after the fact. 

Illini crush Panthers 47-21

But that really wasn't my main concern. In fact, I really didn't have any concerns.

The Panthers were expected to lose against the Big 10 conference team. No surprise there. Also, I don't mind the U of I. In fact, if I had to pick a college team to cheer for, I guess the Illini would be the one. The fact of the matter is, I don't really care much about football and I was just there to cheer on my alma mater (and bc David loves the Illini). And because it promised to be a new and exciting experience.

We were in Bradley-Kankakee for April's wedding on Friday, which was very pretty. I always knew we had similar tastes - her bridesmaid's dresses were brown and the groomsmen wore brown and pink (I would have gone green instead of pink but that's where we differ). Anyway, April, the new Mrs. Bobby Hawes, looked beautiful and incredibly happy. Plus we got to see Rachel and Matt at the wedding, so it was a good trip.

To make the absolute most of our weekend, we took advantage of the chance a week earlier to buy tickets to EIU v. U of I in Champaign-Urbana. So we went. We had never been to a U of I game before. It was fun! I think we should go every year when they play EIU. I took some photos, as you can see.

David, the Illini fan

Me, representing the Romo in Illini country.

The newly renovated Memorial Stadium.

Football.

The signs said something like ILL- INI BEAT EIU.

Scoreboard.

I put together a video you can watch here:

Oh, and on the way home, we stopped in Charleston so we could eat McHugh's. Ain't life grand? (On a side note, I had a brain fart and ordered the 1/2 pound cheesburger... I'm still recovering.)

I meant to post this on Saturday when we got back but I had technical difficulties uploading the photos.

Palin pregnancy

I couldn't have said it better.

In light of this weekend's wedding

Since David and I are going to April Mae's wedding this weekend, I have been in a matrimonial mood - and where might that bring a single woman like myself?

Theknot.com, that's where.

I got to thinking. If David proposed to me tomorrow, would he know to get the right ring? You see and hear all those horror stories in movies and on TV where the clueless guy the heroine thought she'd end up with picks the wrong ring and she ends up doubting their love. Not that that would ever happen to me, but just in case ;), I put him to the test:

I showed him several pages of rings and asked him to pick the cuts/shapes/colors he thought I'd like most, and guess what?





He passed :)

Although expensive, the rings you see above were my faves.
I'm such a girl sometimes.

I slept all Labor Day

You're supposed to relax on Labor Day right?

Yes, but I did more than that, to an extreme.
I laid in bed until 7 p.m. It makes me sick to think about it.

Granted, I did some school work and ate some food - I did it all from my comfy place.

I felt so bad - I meant to do some yoga, visit my dad, walk my rent check down the street... but NO.

Bottom line? No more holidays in bed for Laura.
Back to work.