Take all or go home.
04-03-09 5AM est
Okay! So today is the day! The day that decides if I stay in NYC or go back to Boston after graduation! I chose to wear my new floral cocktail dress I got at Forever21, the four inch MS sling backs I got at DSW, making me 6’3’’, my hair in a controlled messy array, giving me the Edie Sedgwick vibe I wanted, and my eyes dolled out with gold liner! I love the way I look and I am prepped to answer every strange question they throw at me, since in previous interviews I’ve been asked what my favorite book was, color, what animal would I be and why, I’m betting that that one will be asked, and who I admire. So with an hour before my interview, I make my way to the train, in my chucks! Dear God I would not travel in those heels unless I wanted to mutate my foot! They are in my bag. It is pretty shitty out, sideways rain that feels like ice, but I don’t let it damper my beat. I transfer at Union and hop on the 6, exiting by 33rd Street. I make it to my interview with 10 minutes to spare, only to slip my chucks off and my S&M heels on.
The doorman and I converse for a moment. He is not surprised that I am changing into heels, since most of the clients coming into the building do, because there is a modeling agency on one of the floors. Flattered, I say I am not a model, but here for an interview and hope to see more of him in the near future. I take the elevator to the eleventh floor. Doors open. Game time.
The interview went so well! They were extremely impressed with my portfolio, loved my outfit, and noticed the eye glam. After the interview, I stepped back out into the lobby where one of the directors asked to see my resume. She scanned it over, saw my answer to “If you were an animal, what would you be and why?” (Told yeah) and loved my answer and reasoning. (A horse, I have my reasons.) She then asked me why I wanted to get into print media…and without finishing my answer she stopped me and said, “this sounds great, I think it’s a yes!” I, then stunned for a moment, let out a one-syllable laugh and put my hands on my knees as if she were my best friend telling me she was getting married. I bid them a fond farewell, and as soon as the elevator door closed I started jumping up and down.
Leaving the building, I said to the doorman “See you in May.”
My whole outfit cost (rounding up w/ NYC tax included);
Dress: $15 from Forever21
Shoes: $50 from DSW
Jones NY Pea Coat: I've had it since the 8th grade! Lasts forever, great coat, just got the lining replaced.
Jewelry: Already had - simple aqua marine studs from Longs, Calvin Klein black strap watch, Owl necklace from ALDO (on sale for $10), and my Great Aunts and Grandmother's rings.
Nude Nylon's: $5 from CVS
TOTAL = $80 and I've worn the outfit or a rendition of it over 20 times
Come Check me out Playing in
TOM SWAFFORD'S STRING POWER!
at THE TEA LOUNGE
in Park Slope of Brooklyn, NY this
FRIDAY April 3, 2009
Check It
Tom Swafford's String Power
http://www.myspace.com/tomswafford
It's the little things.
04-02-09 10PM est
So here I am ironing away at my interview dress and adding the final touches to my photo editing portfolio for my interview tomorrow with a super trendy magazine. My internist recommended it to me. At first I was going to just bring in a copy of the published January, February, March and April issues I worked on, but my advisor, suggested I not do that, (learn from her past mistakes) and make a portfolio featuring the specific photo editing I’ve worked on for each issue. It would be more professional, and save time. I bought a bright red fabric binder and sliced out all the work of done in each issue, along with a little write up bulleting what I did specifically on each page.
6/09 Summer Stuff
03-31-09 7PM est
I love it when I come to my internship and my advisor surprises me with a photo shoot. They make the day go by so much faster and I love doing the prep work for them. Like unpacking the products, which I scan over and see if I might want one. It never hurts to do some light “window” shopping. I set the products up in a believable setting for the photographer to then shoot and make this alternate world, that doesn’t exist, except for in the pages of the magazine and through the lens of the camera. It’s my movie side coming out in the work.
I know I’m not the only one who does this, but sometimes I daydream a different reality. I can either replay things in my head that have already happened or anticipate what hasn’t happened. I play them out they way I want. Today’s photo shoot was for the June issue, “Summer Stuff” featuring products which might make your summer a little more fun, stylist, filled with cute trinket like things…etc. The shoot was very thoughtful, my favorite aspect of the prop set up, even though it was not a product, was the white beach washed floorboards. It just yelled summer on The Cape to me, and I wanted to step into that world for a moment and feel the “sun,” sit in the egg shaped wicker chair and live the made life we were shooting for a moment.
Some of my added work to the photo shoot was prop styling the cooler with ice and soda pop in it. Let’s just say I made that cooler the most attractive, and quench your thirst cooler ever! Check it out this June 2009 issue!
SIDE NOTE: I will reveal what magazine I worked for at the end of my internship.
Rejection Hurts.
Even through the eyes.
03-18-09 7PM est
Today I was officially given the title of ASST Photo Editor for the 6/09 "Love Life: Couples on the Street" article. Four other girls from the magazine, and I were sent out to find, interview, and photograph couple's on the street for the upcoming June issue, Love Life feature.
Our goal was to successfully find 20 couples. Going into this, I was so excited to be give the ASST Photo Editor title, especially being an intern, but in the back of my head I was saying, "Dear God, I hate it when solicitor's stop me in the street to gab about something to sell you..." I usually always turn them down or ignore them, but today I got to see the other side of the solicitor/potential client interaction. And people who ignore someone's presence completely, is just flat out an awful feeling.
Given the call sheet for the day, us five girls set out to the NYC popular areas, such as Central Park, FAO Schwartz, Rockefeller Center, and right smake in the middle of Times Square by the TKTS Discounted Broadway Tickets booth. We were most successful with participating couples in front of FAO Schwartz and in Times Square. Though one problem we ran into a lot, being an American magazine pertaining to the North American Audience, was that we could not interview anyone not from the U.S or Canada, and almost everyone who was genuinely interested in what solicitor's had to say were foreign, huh. Most people were relatively gracious when turning my attempts down to lure them into an interview, especially after they could tell what was coming as I raped them with my eyes, scoping them out to see if they were a couple, just friends, or BROTHER and SISTER (oops!), but some people just completely ignored my existence. That was awful!
Lesson Learned: Never ignore anyone. At least acknowledge their presence and that they are still a person.
All in all, it was a successful day, and only took us from 10AM-5PM to find 20 solid couples to interview about sex, what they love most about one another, PDA, how long did they wait before they first DID IT, when is she/he at their sexiest...etc, have them sign photo releases, then allow me to basically strip them in the cold so the professional photo would be fitting for the June issue...most were happy to oblige.
Keep your eyes on the look out for some CUTE Couples on stands this June 2009!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Who am I listening to right now?!
“Location Temporary”
Mirah
Joy Ride: Remixes
3-17-09 7PM
Today I went in search for a Starbuck’s since my loving mum gave me a gift card for St. Patrick’s Day, but could not find on for 30 minutes! I did one complete circle, maybe square like poly figure, turning off of 14th Street onto 4th Ave, down 12th Street, up 11th Street, glancing at each corner, assuming there had to be a Starbuck’s there. I then made my way down through Wanamaker Place, and onto 5th Ave, just to make my way back to 14th Street and finally find a Starbuck’s which, if I turned around when I first came to Union Square, would have found…I wanted to get away from the crowd but ended up in a very crowded Starbuck’s. Of course when I am not in need of coffee, I pass a Starbuck’s every other block in Manhattan. All I wanted was some stimulus to complete a paper, and use the gift card, maybe even get some of those tasty cookies my mum has turned me on to at Starbuck’s.
Either way, I found one, got my usual latte,
couldn’t find a seat to do my paper/busy work, and am now in the New School Research/Graduate Library on 5th Avenue and 14th Street in Manhattan. I am trying to finish an essay for my last Gen Ed class, Linguistics 101, which is asking the question “Can animals learn a human language?” Let’s see where this one goes…let’s start with how I miss my kitten so much, and when I call to check in with my folks, I also ask to talk to her over the phone. In the vintage store on St. Mark’s, Physical Graffiti, the lovely English sales woman, Liz, who I’m now friends with asked, “Were you talking to your pussie?” No joke…
I confessed, yes, while hiding my immaturity.
--Also, today at my internship, Sarah gave me her credit card at the end of the workday to pick up the retouched celeb cover photo and to keep her credit card and the final processed image till tomorrow. I am happy she thinks I am trust worthy, which I am. She also informed me this afternoon that I will be taking her place as the Assistant Photo Editor on a shoot tomorrow for the 6/09 Love Life: Couples on the Street feature! Woah! Game time!
Shave, Snip, Smudge, Crop, Edit, Redo, Complete Disaster. (Not really)
3-10-09 7PM est
Just got home from work and a few weeks ago I asked Sarah, my intern manager, if she would look over my resume and give me some insight on to what looks good and what looks bad, with the possibility of presenting my resume to future magazine employer's, the film/tv industry…etc. Now I am home fixing it up, narrowing the margins, rearranging, taking some things out, adding better words for descriptions. Not too too much. She did say that my resume was one of the only ones she has reviewed and not marked it up completely. So, that’s good!
After I finish working on my resume revision, I need to finish prepping for an on-line interview with Mikky Ekko, from Nashville, TN, tomorrow!!! Check back in soon!
The New Intimate.
Can I Give You, My... Card?
3-5-09 8PM est
So besides my first week at my internship, I got butterflies in my stomach yesterday because my intern manager got the okay for me to go on an off site photo shoot as the assistant to the magazine’s Photo Director! Huh, maybe I’m doing something right! The photo shoot was for May 2009 issue featuring a “Real Women” Fashion Makeover by Isaac Mizrahi. Isaac just put out a new fashion line with Liz Claiborne, this spring/summer 2009. The clothes, not such a big fan of, but they are very age appropriate, geared toward women in their 30s and 40s. But let me tell you! Those everyday working makeover women looked fabulous in Isaac’s Liz Claiborne line, and everyone; know to never judge an outfit or article of clothing before trying it on! The hanger does not serve it justice, nor does a model, cause they are a hanger anyway…ltmq.
The photo shoot ran seamlessly, and we got out earlier than anticipated. While at the shoot, I made friends with one of Isaac’s fashion stylists, Antoni from Miami, and at the end of the day, he asked me for my card, saying he loved working with me, and would like my contact information for future work. Yeah Networking! So I gave him my cheesy promo card, with a stunning photo of myself from freshman year of college, and hand wrote my appropriate contact information. I have decided to invest in proper business cards, or in my case contact cards, because I have no profession…yet…I am a student. It was a good day J
Avon Spring 2009 Collection by
Jillian Dempsey
3-4-09 9PM est
So I just got back to my apartment and like a small child on Christmas ran, not to a tree with presents below, but to my room and unloaded a full bag a free make-up! I am not the vainest girl you will ever meet, but I do like to look good and play with looks. I consider my face a canvas and my eyes the foreground. So, many of you may be asking, where did this little biddie get free make-up, and why was I not aware of this handout!? Well that’s cause my coworker made the mistake of asking if I wanted to go check out the beauty closet and browse through the free give away items. What she was not aware of was my love for make-up, the current state in which I needed to go buy make-up (not anymore!), and to never leave me unsupervised when around things that give me creative drive. So, long story short, I got some divine make-up for free, a couple things for my mom, and a fresh look. My favorite product is the Avon Spring 2009 Collection by Jillian Dempsey, Big Color Glossy Lip Pencil: Glossy Rose!
"Plain Jane" is no more. Today they meet Jen
2-20-09 8PM est
I have been slowly allowing my personality and fashion style to come through at my internship. The first couple of weeks I didn’t want to stick out, allowing my internship coworkers to label me to any stereotype. So I decided I was to play the role of “Pain Jane.” The women and men I work with are very nice and enthusiastic. Out of the entire editorial department, we are the only ones that socialize and crack jokes, though they all work extremely hard, and it shows in their meticulous work. I am hesitant to ask questions because they are so busy and I do not want to disturb them from their work, so in my spare time I play with all the computer software and read through older magazine issues to see how they approach topics, appeal to clients, and to grasp the overall look of the magazine.
"Dirty Water" and a Scar
1-30-09 10AM est
I traveled back to Boston all the way singing “Dirty Water” by The Standells at the first glimpse of the Pru passing through Cambridge, with BU Nickerson Field on my right and the Charles River to my left. I am home to do one thing, and that is to get my first real stitches. And when I say real, I mean besides the fake tattoos and pen marked stitches I would give myself for Halloween or because I was bored, and I don’t count my wisdom teeth stitches as stitches. After the operation, awake the whole 10 minutes, I now have what I think of as a possible “classic” scar on my back, which consists of the incision and three vertical stitches.
If a scar could be described as cute,
this one is the cutest damn scar you have ever seen. If there is a noticeable scar, I think I might get a tattoo over it. I could be wicked badass and get a stitches tattoo over my stitches. Thoughts?
I did also end up coming home for a funeral of a dear friend of mine, more like a grandmother to me. She was 86 and was independent and poised till the end. One of her last requests was to make sure the undertakers do a nice job on her hair. She accepted death, and I can only hope to be as strong as her one day. I will miss her.
The Night I Went onto Craigslist Classifieds: Men seeking Women
1-25-09 11:50PM est
This is at fault of boredom and roaming the Internet.
Jen being bored = usually need to ask your conscious if something is right or not. This point and time, I said it was cool...
(to be continued, aka I need to sleep.)
...continued
Who am I Listening to Right NOW!
“America’s Most Blunted”
Madvillain Ft. Lord Quas off the album Madvillainy
While looking for another job on craigslist, I decide to take a break and my eyes fall upon the “men seeking women” classifieds. So I pop in that section just to take a peek and see what these guys are actually writing. I find the posts that say “looking for real love” quite funny, when usually craigslist I believe is just looking for some pooshanks. Anyway, I am clicking through the posts and I stumble upon one that says “looking for someone to come to an M83 concert with me.” Now, this is the first time I’ve been on the men seeking women section, and I would normally never respond to any ads, but I am staring at the M83, and thinking of the possible free ticket to a music group I like. So I decide, what is the hurt in responding to see if he was still offering the ticket? He responds back quite quickly saying that the ticket is still available, and that a friend bailed on him and he didn’t want to bother to scalp it, and rather get a date out of it…not a bad idea. So, as time passes I need to think fast, I consult my friend Eileen because she is all into the “girls on teh Internet” thing. She questions me if he sent a photo and if he is cute. Turns out, my craigslist M83 concert man is Australian, 35 or so, quite dashing and a producer, he forwarded me to his website because I told him I was a bit weary of the internet. Next factor; is it in a public place and is the event actually taking place? Yes and yes. The concert was at the Fillmore in Irving Place. As I continue to contemplate if I should be boring and stay in my apartment or take a chance and go to a free concert, one of my favorite songs comes on “Love will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division. I follow the good omen, make a note to my roommate of where I am going, and decide to go to the concert.
While finishing my make up as I suck down three glasses of wine, I eye my bowl on the corner of my night table. Thinking, ‘the concert would be so much better high since I have seen them sober once before.’ But the little voice in my head says “Jen, no. If you need to make a quick escape, it probably won’t be the best idea.” Finishing the last droplet of wine, I grab my jacket and head to the train.
Chain smoking the whole way, I finally make it to the Fillmore where I meet Mr. Craigslist out side all bundled up, and his cold face turns into an immediate smile as I walk up to him questioning his existence. We shake hands and get in line to enter the venue. Following some small talk, eating up every word he is saying with his beautiful Australian accent, I offer to buy him a drink for the ticket. I can immediately tell he is having the trouble of transition from a young adult to adult just from his mannerisms. I can tell he digs me but is a little put off from the fact that I am still in college and much younger than he.
M83 opened for themselves with an acoustic set followed by their regular set up, all glitches, pre recorded sounds and voices. The only female in M83, created by Anthony Gonzalez, graced the stage in a blue, silver and black sequin top and black pants while the boys remained casual in jeans and t-shirts, all while combusting and rocking their bodies to the rhythms they produced.
The concert ends by 11. The night still young and the added bonus that my girlfriend's want me to meet them to go dancing, I bid a fond farewell to Mr. Craigslist, find the bathroom, and then jump in a cab heading to the Lower East Side.
Dropped off on the corner of Essex and Rivington I push through clouds of hookah and find my friend Liz in Cavenera for some much needed dancing and drinks. After a few and the DJ has finished his throw back on every 90s/early 2000s song that was played at each sock hop or socially demeaning school dance, Liz and I bounce one block down and one block over to Delancy where we meet my friend Laurie from Mt Holyoke to relax in the Delancy rooftop garden. Needless to say, but to be for warned, you need to drink at least $50 worth of booze to open a tab at the bar, and sometimes their ATM can be out of order especially in the wee hours of the night. I did not open a tab.
My Goal today
1-24-09 12:53PM est
is to find the two main cultures that roam Williamsburg in one entity.
A Spanish Hipster.
I Can see the Empire State Building from my Backyard! Not Russia, Thank God...
1-12-09 5:40PM est
Who Am I Listening to RIGHT NOW!
Vampire Weekend "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" Off their Self-titled Album Vampire Weekend
Today was a day for sleeping, movies (Check out "Talk To Her" by Pedro Almodovar. The famous Spanish film director, screenwriter and producer who is commonly know for his films "All About My Mother" and "Volver") and exploring the BIG BK (Brooklyn.) On my journey I found two great bakery's, a shoe repair shop, and an area I prob shouldn't go near if I am alone and at night.
I explored Up and Down Grand Ave and Metropolitan Ave. The bread bakery I found is minimal but sells great bread and oh so conveniently Nutella spread! I also found a pastry and cocoa bakery on a side street corner between Grand and Metropolitan on my leisurely walk. I believe it was on...it was the street past Leonard. I will have the definite addresses and names by the end of this week! AND they are both oh So VERY close to my place. That might be a bad thing because I dream of plush, tea time gowns, like in the film "Little Women" and sipping tea and sweets during a beautiful sunny saturday in the spring time (I have a great image in my head and will try to find a photo which illustrates my mind process.) Either way, if I become fat, I will blame it on my day dreaming and the sweets. :)
Mi casa, no es su casa...:) Visitors Welcome!
So upon request of Mama and Father Wanamaker, here are photos of my NEW place. Below features my bed room from multiple angles, my beautiful kitchen and bathroom, which my mother and I slaved over to get it clean, my living room and hallway. There were boys living here before!!! ew, boys. Just Kidding! I still have Justin here, who is a pretty sweet roommate. And a fabulous musician!
HINT: If you Click on the photos they become bigger! For the visually impaired.
FIRST DAY!
Oh Dear, The Train!
1-6-09 11:20PM est
So today was my first day at my internship! The first challenge was not the wardrobe or what I faced at the magazine, but the train! I have only found one other person that agrees with me, and he is from Pennsylvania and also one of the boys crashing at my place (Alex), but I think the train system in Boston is so much easier to follow than the train system in New York City. So before I went to bed last night I said a little prayer to not fuck up the trains or the connections. I was so good today that I made it 45 minutes ahead of time for the internship. WAY ahead of time, that is very new for me. So I decided I would not get up as early as 7AM the next day for a job at 10AM...especially when the trains are more reliable in NYC, in relation to Boston where the trains are "suppose" to come every 15 minutes during rush hour(s).
Once I made it up to the 22nd floor at the magazine I was rushed straight to a photo/fashion/art meeting to talk about wrapping up the March issue and beginning the April 2009 issue. I was sent to look up photos of a lovely actress, who is most commonly known for her role on GREY'S ANATOMY, along side her ex husband.
I then had to present them to my editor along
with research on the topic of Cancer Myths. I was sent to find images of women talking on cell phones, one of the myths being that direct contact with cell phones is a possible supplement cause of cancer. I wasn't sure what was appropriate; I didn't really want to show a collection of women all smiles, chatting away on their cell phones, not to make light of Cancer, but I also didn't want the women looking too somber...so I went for pensive with a slight smirk.
I had an hour break for lunch, HEY MOM! There is FREE COFFEE and cocoa! I had a wrap and as I turned around after it was made, I saw sushi...dammit. Tomorrow is another day. And there is a photo shoot!
P.S.
For lunch they don't accept cash...why? Is it not currency? Wouldn't you rather the money instead of going through the credit card companies and owing them a certain percentage? Or do they have a deal? I need to investigate. Either way I thought it was absurd. (DAD this P.S. was for you. What are your thoughts?)
