old friends and new places

So today was, in concurrence with the theme of the week, another wonderful day. (I feel like this will get really annoying to the dear blog readers soon enough and if I don't have some crazy action soon I fear you may all start reading the nutrition label on your cereal boxes instead.) However, it was (aside from a minor earache, and how extremely tough it was to uncurl from the bed this morning) a really good day.

RS was abuzz with the thrill of the McCrystal report and the fact that RS was the headliner on every major news outlet in America not to mention several media sources abroad. And if that wasn't enough to give the workday a little extra pep, the interns got to have lunch and questions with EinC Jann Wenner. The lunch was full of good food, interesting questions (I even asked one!) and full of other motivated interns, all aspiring to be journalists, artists, photographers, publicists and so much more. All I could think about as I scanned the room noting the different styles and facial expressions rocked by my fellow interns was that these are my peers. These are my competition. And staring a little closer to my left and right, to the ones I work with, these are my friends. I think the future of journalism will be just fine. We may have to adapt and change with the advent of the iPad and whatever else Steve Jobs will think up next, but we'll survive, and not only that, but thrive if there are still this many creative and dedicated people working towards enhancing and improving the art of print.

After work and a quick trip downstairs to watch the filming of White Collar, I got a welcome surprise in the form of old friends from Ole Miss. (Because I promised a shout out to them I'm skimping on the habit of just using initials for a night!) Ben and Brock came up with four more of their Hattiesburg friends (among them a few future Rebels) and as we wandered through the village eating cupcakes and catching up I couldn't help but be extremely excited to see friends from college. It definitely made me ready for next year, and it without a doubt made my day! A subway stop and a good fifteen minute trek later we were seated on the Hudson on one of the neatest restaurants (I'm not even sure if that word works in this context) I've been to in the city so far. And from the knowledge of a non-native as well (good job, Ben!). The Frying Pan located on 12th and 26th is an awesome little eatery inside and on top of a two story barge, complete with swaying seats, live music, and some of the liveliest crowds I've seen in NYC so far. To say it was a bit of an errand to get a seat isn't saying much at all.

One more short walk, subway trip, and a goodbye to friends later, it's nice to be able to pause, sit, and breathe in my somewhat cool dorm.

With the plans that are building the weekend is looking to be epic. Will tell all later.

-Mandy