morgangster

Moving Time

2008-06-12T12:13:00.003-04:00

i'll be posting from Morgangster.tumblr.comfrom now on. woop.

yeah for a new home!

notes from the laundromat

2008-05-20T13:20:00.002-04:00

One of the only places in Juan Les Pins that has free internet is the laundromat a few blocks from our apartment. The song "New Soul" by French artist Yael Naim just came on the radio and it made me feel like writing because in that moment, things made a lot of sense to me.

I'm a new soul
I came to this strange world
Hoping I could learn a bit bout how to give and take
But since I came here, felt the joy and the fear
Finding myself making every possible mistake

See I'm a young soul in this very strange world
Hoping I could learn a bit bout what is true and fake
But why all this hate? try to communicate
Finding trust and love is not always easy to make

I got on the wrong train today and ended up very far from where I wanted to be. Since the next train wasn't coming for about 45 minutes, I took the opportunity to explore a little on my own for the first time on the trip. Here's what I found:

French graffiti is more beautiful, I think, than in America.

If you look genuinely confused, people will go out of their way to help you.

If you look mildly confused, people will assume you know what you're doing and are just choosing to be annoying.

Loneliness doesn't have anything to do with how many people are surrounding you.

Bonjour from France!

2008-05-12T13:20:00.000-04:00

France is awesome! Getting here was quite an adventure, but I feel really accomplished after battling a language barrier and really ridiculously confusing layouts of airports/trains/streets. Customs in Nice were a joke. We serisously just showed them our passports, they stamped it, and we were in France. I kept looking around for someone to ask us some questions or frisk us or spit at us for being American, but they didn’t. No one was begging to help us, though, either. We finally figured out where to go to get our bus tickets to Juan Les Pins, but the ticket counter lady gave us all the wrong tickets and then refused to refund us when we told her they were wrong. The infrastructure for a lot of things, we would soon find out, isn’t really great here. There is no “upper management” to deal with complaints or customer service or anything, so we had to bite the bullet on the really-expensive-wrong-ticket even though I know we asked for the right ticket and she printed the wrong one. Makes me think they might do this to a lot of Americans because they know we can’t argue out of it.
We took a bus to Juan Les Pins, where our apartments are, and hauled all of our luggage down the tiny streets of the town. Everything is so tiny here! The streets are tiny, the shops are tiny, the cars are really realllly tiny… the people aren’t tiny per say but they aren’t fat. Very lean and lanky and tan. Which, to be honest, is really strange because all these people do is drink, smoke and eat bread. No lie. I don’t understand how everyone isn’t 400 billion pounds. I guess it’s from all the walking. The town of Juan Les Pins is exactly what you might expect from a small Mediterranean French town. Our apartment, the Couleours Soleil Residences, is about two blocks from the sea. Right next door is a little café called “Non-Stop Pain Sandwiches” which we still haven’t quite figured out. The food is good, but all I’ve had the nerve to order there so far is a ham and butter sandwich (though in all honesty I didn’t know that was what I was ordering at the time!) It is amazing how many phrases you can pick up pretty quickly just because you’re hungry. I realized pretty soon that if I didn’t learn some French, I was going to starve. But like I said, everyone here eats bread. I thought that was just a French cliché… that people walked around carrying baguettes and yelling “Bonjour!” to everyone, but they really do. I mean, everyone carried bread and is always saying hi. Strange phenomenon.
We discovered the best bread place in town. Actually, Allison, our director, told us about it, but we actually found it by ourselves yesterday. It’s called artisan and I don’t think I’ve ever had a better croissant. The lady who runs it is really nice, and she appreciates us trying to speak French I think. A common trend with the French is that they like to try to guess where you are from when you try to speak to them. They think it’s cute, or something, because they will laugh at you and then tell you where they think you are from. Surprisingly and thankfully, I guess, most people haven’t right off of the bat guessed “American, no?” So far we’ve gotten Italian (weird, right?), English and Dutch. Most people can tell just by looking at us though that we are not French, so that’s kind of nice. They usually give up trying to speak French to us and start speaking other languages until we understand.
But back to the whole “French infrastructure” as Allison calls it. Things just aren’t really efficient here. Cell phones don’t have plans, you just buy minutes and type a code into your phone. They don’t have big companies that run things like that. They also have random holidays when they feel like it. Most everything is closed every Sunday and random Mondays they have “bank holidays” where everyone decides they will take a holiday as well. The French don’t really seem to work that much, either. It is the law that everyone take a break between 12-2 and everyone gets 2 months paid vacation. Also, you can’t fire someone. It takes like 5 years to fire somebody, so some people really don’t care about their jobs. Very strange mentality. We were also told that the doctor and dentist are really, creepily cheap. Apparently some kid last year had to get his appendix out and was in the hospital for a week and it was only 35 euro or something ridiculous. On that note, things are otherwise kind of expensive here for Americans. If the dollar was more equal to the euro, things would be awesome! But the dollar is about .6 euro, so it’s hard to remember that when something costs 3 euro, it’s not 3 dollars. It’s more like 5.50. it’s really easy to forget sometimes.
It’s really nice being so close to the beach. Lots of enjoyable people-watching. The water is waaaay too cold for my liking, but the air is about 70 degrees and it’s really really sunny. Women, especially old women, like to go topless, so that’s a little disturbing and guys of all ages rock the speedo. Yikes.
We went into Cannes yesterday to get a look around before the festival starts. The trains like I briefly mentioned earlier are really confusing. Partly because the schedules are in French, partly because the times are writing in military time, and mostly just because things don’t really make a lot of sense here. My most common thought is “there has GOT to be an easier way to do this!” but really, there isn’t. French things are just complicated. We finally made it to Cannes and looked around, but most places were just getting ready for the festival. Building stages, putting up banners and signs and barricades… the festival starts Wednesday morning. Cannes has the McDonalds that I vowed I would never go into, but seriously it’s the nicest Mcdonalds I’ve ever seen. I didn’t buy anything, simply out of principle, but some of the guys wanted to try mcdonalds’ beer. Yep, they have beer. And apparently it was about what you’d expect from mcdonald’s beer, but they said the burgers were really good and well made. Interesting. They were playing some really funny music inside though, like destiny’s child and the quad city dj’s of “come on ride the train” fame.
A random thought… French guys looove to wear capris. They love them. It’s very strange.
A bunch of us braved the grocery store today… that was an experience. We could not figure out where everyone was getting the shopping carts or baskets so we just carried all of our stuff. The aisles aren’t labeled so you just have to guess where the different items are. Also, this is good to know… they don’t have bags. You have to bring your own. We learned this the hard way, but you can buy the big reusable kind. We also learned this the hard way. But now we know, and it’s good that the French are doing their part to save the environment. We kind of panicked, though, inside the store because things are packaged differently and there aren’t any of our family brands to go by. We bought some bread (we’re adapting so quickly) some nutella, some ham and salami, some soup and some cheese. Seriously that is all I could figure out. I wanted to buy some veggies but the whole contraption looked very complicated so I am going to wait on that one. Also something weird… orange soda here isn’t the orange soda I love from home. It’s more like sparkling orange juice. But let me tell you, it’s better here. I don’t what is in that junk from home, but we are really missing the mark.
In other “French stuff is weird” news… French showers and toilets are bizarre. Toilets have a the flusher on the center in the top and you pull up on it to flush. Showers are designed for you to sit down and they don’t have shower curtains. Things get WET. The whole bathroom gets soaked. And the water pressure is so intense! It hurts. We are managing though! Also, the whole no fitted sheets thing still gets me. I’m so glad I brought my sleeping bag!
We have a big welcome dinner tonight with the whole program and then tomorrow class starts. Then, starting Wednesday, we won’t have class again until after the festival, which ends on the 25th, even though we’ll have assignments to work on! Our classroom is on the top of our residence, in this glass-walled room on the 7th floor. It has a huge terrace around it that we can see the city and the sea and the French Andes. Not too shabby for school!
Well, I am going to see if I can go down to the Laundromat and use the free internet. I’ve been typing this letter in my room on our balcony. Our room faces a really cute little street…

More to come!

Au revoir!

Morgan

Je t'aime, Cannes!

2008-05-08T00:18:00.003-04:00

This weekend I will be in France. Whoa. Take a deep breath, do a happy-dance, and read that again. I will be in France! You better not be dancing because you are glad I'm outta the country for a while (some friend you are). You better be dancing because I can't contain enough dance in my own body to express the joy that is within.

The Cannes Film Festival is a once in lifetime chance. I read some travel books at the bookstore that say the everyday person's (read: non celeb's) chance of getting into the festival is almost zero. "Almost" because, well, I-- along with 24 of my fellow UGAers, will be in attendance. One book said "you have a better chance of winning the lottery, getting struck by lightning, and seeing Big Foot all in the same day than getting into the Festival."

Well dang. Updates from Cannes to come... until then...

Au Revoir!

when nerds protest

2008-05-03T23:13:00.002-04:00

saw this on neatorama and laughed. and then cried because laughing at it meant that i am a big nerd, too.

Planet Party Crashers: Pluto's back with an entourage

2008-04-30T13:27:00.002-04:00

I would like to think that our generation's vocal disapproval of the removal of Pluto from the Planets has something to with why our favorite little planet is back. Facebook groups and t-shirts reading "When I was your age, Pluto was a planet" were most definitely a driving force in the return of Pluto.

But news flash: Pluto is back with friends. Yes, Pluto is a "dwarf" planet and he's brought two other dwarfs with him, Ceres and Eris.

WHAT!

Are you kidding me?

There was even a contest to make up a new mnemonic device for remembering the new line-up. The winner: My Very Exciting Magic Carpet Just Sailed Under Nine Palace Elephants.

I will never remember this. Never. For the rest of my life, My Very Educated Mother will have just Served Us Nine Pizzas. There will be no magic carpets! No elephants! And absolutely no palaces! Just Pizzas! Nine of them! Served by My Mother! Who happens to be Very Educated!

In response to this growing outrage by all people who have already graduated the 5th grade, I will never consent to these new planets.

Ceres, Eris... You are dead to me.

Baby Mama Opens Today!

2008-04-25T09:46:00.001-04:00

I have been waiting so long for this moment! Someone pinch me.

Watch the trailer!

100 Things: Part 2

2008-04-24T13:37:00.004-04:00

picking up where I left off... part 2 of my list of 100 things I want to do in my life!

26. sleep every night in a hammock
27. develop photos in a dark room
28. write a novel
29. deep-fry a turkey
30. experience zer0-gravity
31. dance in the rain
32. meet Donald Miller
33. be in a band (or have Poppyseedchicken make it big)
34. live in a yellow house (soon!)
35. build a canoe
36. fall in love
37. perform stand-up comedy for an audience
38. learn how fireworks work
39. ride a unicycle
40. go glacier climbing
41. watch sea turtles lay eggs
42. make crème brûlée
43. see Singing in the Rain on stage
44. work in a bakery
45. learn to make stained-glass things
46. re-learn to play the piano
47. own a cupcake courier
48. blow bubbles off of the Eiffel Tower
49. read the New Testament in Spanish
50. complete a perfect March Madness bracket

stay tuned for the ever elusive 100 Things: Part 3!!!

100 Things: Part 1

2008-04-19T10:09:00.002-04:00

I've been tinkering with the idea of posting this for a while, and then I read from mightygirl that it was sooo the cool thing to do. Hopping on that bandwagon, here's part one of my list of 100 things I'd like to do before I die.

paint a mural
go barefoot for a year
float in the Dead Sea
share the Gospel in a foreign country
milk a cow
write a play
go to the Cannes Film Festival (soon! so soon!)
smoke hookah ha ha
shave a sheep
work on a ranch out west
own a business and hire all of my friends
make a phone call from a British phone booth (the red ones)
see the northern lights
use my Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country
get paid to be a photographer
witness a total solar eclipse
meet Tina Fey
write thank you notes to my teachers
go a whole week without the computer
catch a fish and cook it for dinner
hike the Appalachian Trail
be the instigator of a massive food fight
zip-line through the forest in Costa Rica
read all of the books on my "Books to Read" list
sit front row at a Sufjan Stevens concert

Part Deux: Coming soon!

"Veterinarian/Taxidermist...

2008-04-13T10:52:00.002-04:00

Either way, you get your dog back."

I need something like this. Something awesome. Something intriguing. Something that people will look at and laugh and remember.

I need to make business cards for myself for when I go to France this summer. We have to have them to hand around to famous people and bouncers at the Film Festival. Seems pretty weird, I know, but nonetheless, I've gotta do it.

Previous students said they just made stuff up, like they were these famous movie producers or something. Apparently it can help at the festival if you appear to 'be somebody."

Now, while I'm not condoning lying... I do think it would be pretty sweet to have something hilarious on the card. Any suggestions?

Morgan Cogswell.
Baller.

I'm not sure the French would get that.

Stuff Christians Like

2008-04-07T15:57:00.002-04:00

Lamphere showed me Stuff Christians Like, a parody of the blog Stuff White People Like today whilst hanging out in our office (aka the Mac lab at the SLC) today. Yeah, it's funny, but it's also, like, totally true. OMGosh.

But seriously.

While I can sit back and laugh at that blog because of its hilarious social commentary, it also calls my attention to how some people view Christians. It's important to be in the world but not of it. We need our faith to be real and our love for Jesus fervent. If we have a love for Christ flowing through our veins, shouldn't we want others to have it as well? We can't just hang out with our Christian friends in our Christian bubble... doing stuff christians like... and expect change to come about.

Like my dear friend Anne Story says... Until All Have Heard.

jake and amir

2008-04-06T23:15:00.002-04:00

I think I love this guy.

March Madness Video

UGA VISION is becoming clear

2008-04-04T19:05:00.002-04:00

The website that I have been toiling away on for the Admissions Department is finally up and running.

And there was much rejoicing.

Of course, there is still much to do. Videos to make, pictures to take, and adventures to be had. But it is a start.

Let me know what you think!!!

UGA Vision

Fireworks

2008-04-03T10:52:00.001-04:00

if you’ve never

punted the butt of a cigar,
you should at some point.

the only downside i can think of
is the black spot it leaves on your boot.

and even that’s not so bad.

Hot in Herrre

2008-04-01T23:23:00.002-04:00

This is my dream! Seriously, Poppyseed Chicken is the next big thing. Thank you, Lamphere, for sending this to me, and thank you Jenny Owen Youngs for being my hero. Watch the video!

townies and soundies

2008-03-27T16:30:00.003-04:00

Jason filmed a couple of music videos last week and I was able to tag along and get some behind the scenes pictures. Nate Nelson and Cortright did two soundies (continuous shot, raw sound videos) and Hope for Agoldensummer did a full video, complete with a blue bird that delivers messages (SWEET)!

Look at more of the soundies! They are awesome.

Eggstravaganza 2k8...

2008-03-21T23:43:00.004-04:00

... the greatest Easter event ever! Well, maybe a close second to the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. But seriously, it was a great, triumphant, pastel-colored day. Thanks for the memories, Inglewood.

Here's the facebook invite info:

Let me tell you the story of easter...
Once upon a time there was a bunny. She ate a lot of candy and blew up like a balloon. Her chicken boyfriend broke up with her because he thought she was fat, and she was very upset. Miss Bunnie crawled into a hole and stayed in there to hide her blubbery body. But then all of her chicken and rabbit friends gathered around the hole and told her she was beautiful, and they gave her lots and lots of candy. So Miss Bunnie creeped out of the hole, and rose again. And that my friends, is why we celebrate easter.

Basically we just wanted to create an excuse to relive our childhoods, and we want you to come over and have fun doing it with us! (doesn't that sound dirty? i didn't mean it to... but its funny so it stays)

Easter egg hunts, pinatas, and good friends- what more could you want? COME OVER!

wear your easter dresses and khakis and sweater vests and little suspenders with rabbits on them.

For more pictures from the glorious day, click here.

How it Ends

2008-03-20T14:03:00.003-04:00

Life really is a musical, I'm convinced of it. I don't necessarily believe that my ipod can read my thoughts or predict the future, but I do think that God has something to do with it.

I've been having so much uncertainty lately about things (silly things, really) and when I woke up this morning I prayed that God would just assure me that things are going to work out alright (which, I know deep down they will.) Sure enough, I turn on the ipod and hear song of comfort after song of comfort. And that's on shuffle. The first song was DeVotchka's "How it ends" and the lyrics go like this: (Seriously, read them.)

"Hold your grandmother's Bible to your breast.
Gonna put it to the test.
You want it to be blessed.
And in your heart,
You know it to be true,
You know what you gotta do.
They all depend on you.
And you already know.
Yeah, you already know how this will end.

There is no escape,
From the slave-catchers' songs.
For all of the loved ones gone.
Forever's not so long.
And in your soul,
They poked a million holes.
But you never lettem show.
C'mon it's time to go.

And
You
Already know.
Yeah, you already know
How this will end.

Now you've seen His face.
And you know that there's a place,
In the sun,
For all that you've done,
For you and your children.
No longer shall you need.
You always wanted to believe,
Just ask and you'll receive,
Beyond your wildest dreams.

And
You
Already know.
Yeah, you already know
How this will end."

You may think it's silly that I believe the Lord played this song for me this morning... but is anything too small for our God? You already now how this will end. :)

my itunes keeps playing this song every time i put it on shuffle.

2008-03-19T10:14:00.002-04:00

Oh no
Love just leaves you bruised
If you want to know
Find something to lose

The world won't turn until something breaks
Who will make the first last mistake?
You say good things come to those who wait

Into the spiral
Your world and my world
It's never final
Love just leaves you bruised

I went because you said you'd be there
A box of candy
Smoke in your hair
I didn't know
I didn't care
Now I know
Love just leaves you bruised

photography for social change!

2008-03-18T23:29:00.003-04:00

There are two things that I've aways wanted to be "when I grow up." A writer and a photographer. Unfortunately, these are two really hard things to do and do well. (And be able to live off of.) Recently, I've been feeling really discouraged in my endeavors.
Journalism seemed like the practical way to be a writer, but I don't think it's really my calling. And photojournalism seemed like a practical way to be a photographer, but I don't think that's my calling either.
What, Lord, could this mean? What do you have planned for me?
I have these desires and passions for writing and photography and so I know it must mean something for the plan that the Lord has for me... but I am not sure.
The unknown is terrifying and yet at the same time, I am excited that I serve a God who is faithful and merciful even amidst confusion and my own doubtful heart.

So where am I going with all of this?

While I'm not exactly saying that I have an idea to change the world or cure diseases, I feel like the Lord has placed this idea into my head and that I have to do something about it. I want to use photography and writing as a means for social change. My photojournalism teacher recently talked about the fact that sometimes when you photograph people... that is the first and possibly last time they will have their picture taken. When your picture is taken, you feel like you belong to something. One of the greatest feelings in the world is to have someone make a piece of art for you. It's a part of you and once it is put into a tangible form... it can be life changing.
My mom painted a portrait of me recently and I can't describe the way it felt to look at that painting, something deep within me stirred. Since we are made in the image of God and God is the Creator, it makes sense that we would love to create things as well.
I'm not sure what this feat will look like. It may mean me going overseas or to rural areas with my camera and taking pictures of people and giving them to them. My mind has been racing thinking about it, but I think using photography to highlight issues and bring to life the fact that not everyone lives in a house and owns a car and has a facebook account. All I know is that something has sparked inside me...

Begging the Question and Starlight: The Last Email

2008-03-06T01:11:00.001-05:00

From time to time I like to send out emails. Like massive, group emails to cool people in my life. Here's the latest.
----------------------------

Well, hello, there.

It's been what feels like a year since I've written. I really should be studying for a mid-term that I have tomorrow (whoops) but I was inspired to send out email since it's been so long. I have this theory that I shouldn't have to study because I should learn everything I need to know in class, so I'm really not worried. But I'm kind of worried... so this begs the question-- what kind of theory is it if the theorist doesn't even believe in it?

(I do not really know what "begs the question" means. People use this phrase all the time, especially on college campuses, and I believe they use is incorrectly. I do not know if they are using incorrectly, though, because I myself don't know how to use it. I just have an innate sense that the usage is all wrong.) --EDIT-- I googled "begs the question" and I found a truly hilarious article. Check it out here... you'll be rolling in laughter. http://www.themorningnews.org/archives/the_nonexpert/begging_the_question.php --END EDIT--

Most of you I haven't talked to in a very, very long time and for that, I am deeply sorry. Sometimes I get really sad when I think about how close we used be (emotionally, and by location) and now so far away. This is my lame attempt at an apology and a little update on what's been going on with me in the many months we've had of this break in communication.

The short version of the last couple of months, take one:

I'm a junior in college, which is not very much different from being a junior high school except everything is magnified. Looking back, junior year was the hardest for me in high school. Classes were difficult, many friends had already left for school, and the choices of colleges and universities daunted me. Now... it's not much different. Classes are really hard (fun, challenging... but so demanding!) and friends are getting engaged/married, and the choices of the real world daunt me. It's a weird feeling.

But the future is promising. I still have my internship with the Admissions department here and I love it. I don't know if this would ever turn into a Real Life Job, but I've talked about it. I know it is certainly not something I'd like to do FOREVER, but I do love it and UGA and I'm all about working for something I love. And besides, who doesn't love wearing a University of Georgia polo shirt and a sweet magnetic name tag? I'm all about it!

The friends and I are in the midst of trying to find a house for next year which has led me to the conclusion that house hunting might be my least favorite thing I've ever done (right below getting my wisdom teeth out but just before taking the SATs.) It's seriously not fun at all. We would finally find a house we like, and then it would have to be in "the hood" or next door to "questionable inhabitants." Whatever. I'd sleep in my hammock in a field if it meant I didn't have to look at another 4BR/2B house listing again in my life.

This Friday is the beginning of Spring Break and you know what that means: New York. No, you probably didn't know that's what it means, but this year, for us, it rings true. I'm off to the Big Apple for the first real time (I've seen Lady Liberty and been to Ellis Island, but only for the day. Weird, but true.) and we have a 15-page itinerary. If we can get ourselves up and organized enough to see a tenth of the stuff we've planned, I will be a happy tourist. And if I see Tina Fey just chillin' out outside the NBC studios, I might die of excitement. So if you never hear from me again, it's possible that this is what happened.

Oh, and I am going to the Cannes Film Festival in France this summer. Look for me on the Red Carpet lookin' supa-fine and swanky in my red carpet getup. I'll be right there, hopefully friends with Tina by then.

Well. I do need to get some sleep because it's super late and I have a test tomorrow. All theories are bust. Which begs the question... what is the point of busted theories???

Good night sweet friends and fellow email/gmail lovers.

MORGAN
Jesus Loves and Jesus Lives!

PS. Pray that a lovely house will fall into our hands. (Or better yet, pray that it falls into a nicely landscaped yard just a few hops from campus. And, it magically has free cable. And hottie neighbors. And a cupola with a spiral staircase. And appliances that run on dreams and starlight.)

Ahhh, Molecules

2008-02-25T21:23:00.004-05:00

My body completely rejected me this weekend. It threw in the towel. Something like this:

Me: Come on, let's go!
Body: No, thanks, Self. But I am not moving today. Or tomorrow. Sunday's not looking so bright, either.
Me: Oh, well, thanks a lot, White Blood Cells for NOT WORKING!

On a lighter note, being sick did allow me to get reacquainted with my love for sleeping. I kind of wish there was a way that I could watch myself sleeping WHILST actually sleeping, because I think that could be really enjoyable. Just imagine... dreaming about yourself sleeping! How relaxing! Instead I usually dream about studying or cleaning and then wake to find that I was only dreaming and I have to actually do it now that I am awake. Terrible.

In the midst of being sick, my mind wandered to such thoughts like "What could scientists POSSIBLY be doing with their time that they haven't found the cure for the Flu yet?!" and other thoughts like: "I wonder what is inside Nyquil that makes me feel so wonderful..." when I came across this headline at the New York Times:

Ahhh, the Seductive Fragrance of Molecules Under Patent

So this is what all those Scientists are up to. I may have the flu... but at least I smell good.

Stilettos, Pumps, In The Club

2008-02-21T22:58:00.004-05:00

"Stilettos, pumps, in the club, whoeva thought that these girls could get crunk!?!"

I've noticed lately that there are an abundance of songs about shoes these days. There are boots with the fur, stilettos and pumps, new shoes that are on, air force ones...

But what about The Real Shoes of Our Lives? Where are the raps about Chacos, the ballads about TOMS, the pop-synth hits about Rainbows or the techno beats about Wallabies?

Anyone who is willing to jump on this bandwagon, we should start composing. I think it could be monumental.

"Chaco, funk, in the club. Who ever thought that shoes smell so yuck?"

I think I'm on to something here, people.

The Cannes Can-Can

2008-02-19T21:55:00.002-05:00

Hoorah! I am headed to Cannes... le Festival international du film de Cannes... one of the world's most prestigious film festivals... and needless to say... I am pumped. All I want to do is dance for joy! (Appropriately, I want to dance the Can-Can.)

So I'll be over here, dancing, and yelling HOORAH for France, HOORAH for Films, and HOORAH for Cannes!

J-Walking, or, Why I Don't Want to be a Journalist

2008-02-18T23:47:00.000-05:00

About two weeks ago there was a mysterious rumor about a fellow UGA student getting hit by a transit bus while crossing in a crosswalk on Baldwin. (Rumor proved false: he actually fainted. Or something. But no bus.) This kind of information spreads very rapidly around here. Even at a school with over 25,000 undergraduates, I heard about it within 20 minutes and had not even left my house for the day yet.

I kept hearing little whispers about it all day-- speculation over whether it was indeed a bus hitting a boy or a bike running over a stray cat (I was totally hoping for the cat... heh) or whether anything happened on Baldwin Street at all besides the usual mass-j-walking occurrences in between classes.

When I finally got to my journalism class later in the day, talk had started to die down. No one could confirm anything and the people who originally claimed to have seen it disappeared. But since it was a journalism class, everyone was curious about the real scoop. One person in my class had apparently been hiding under a rock or in a cave somewhere and had no idea what we were talking about. He proceeded to get very excited about the prospect of a student getting hit by a bus as it would be a great front page story for the school paper. He was happy about the off-chance that this terrible accident could be a good selling piece for the newspaper.

It was in that moment that I decided I don't think I want to be a journalist.

I don't ever want to be excited about someone getting hit by a bus.

another night with Happy China

2008-02-18T11:45:00.000-05:00

Another Night with Happy China

Birds can’t knit, my silly darling sapphire!
Their birdy legs are much to short to reach the wool from the shelf!

Hands to floor and knees to chin I listened. My mother’s voice was thick and breathy, like that Of a woman in love! she said.

Tears do nothing unless we’re watering the flowers, Bee!
Don’t waste them on the sheets!

Head to pillow and palms to quilt I remembered. My father’s house was down the street, To give us more space to explore! she said.

A band is nothing without a tambourine!
It’s the heartbeat and the loose change we find in our pockets!

Feet to floor and arms to chest I watched. My mother always swayed when cooking Because even rice needs rhythm! she said.

An uneaten cookie still has a fortune!
Gotta trust it to come true without you!

Hand to fork and mouth to food I ate. My father always ordered take-out dinner Because only your Mother knows how to cook! he said.

Nerd Love

2008-02-16T14:11:00.003-05:00

I love this.

The card, not chemistry class. Let's be for real.

On a similar yet completely unrelated note, I just finished the book Geek Love and it has nothing to do with what you might think. Two nerdy kids on computers IMing eachother smilie faces and LOLing? Wrong. In fact, you are so, inexplicably wrong. Because it's weird. Really weird. I mean, really, really weird. Deliciously weird. I-want-to-read-it-again-because-I'm-not-sure-what-happened Weird.

Yonder Mountain Valentine

2008-02-15T15:31:00.003-05:00

The man standing next to me at the Yonder Mountain String Band concert last night reeked of a fun night in downtown Athens. You know what I'm talking about. His date appropriately had a flower tucked into her hair, and they were swaying back and forth to the music. Oh my, were they swaying. Love might not have exactly been in the air, but something sure was. Everywhere, people were fist-pumping for the glory of bluegrass music and finding camaraderie on St. Valentine's day with the help of some illegal, smokable substances.

It. Was. Awesome. Until I decided I'd had enough of hippie fest and was ready to get into my nice warm bed.

Before we left, the man I mentioned earlier tapped me on the shoulder. He asked me if anyone ever told me I looked like Molly Shannon, of Superstar fame. At first, I didn't know whether to be offended or honored. Sure, she's hilarious and got the sweet moves. But my glasses sooo much cooler than hers.

In the end, I decided to find it flattering and proceeded to do the Superstar Dance to the next song, just for my newfound hippie friends.

Man, I love Valentines day.

I Should Have Checked the Weather

2008-02-06T12:27:00.000-05:00

I have an unnatural fear of being kabob-ed by an umbrella.

On rainy days like today, they are everywhere-- swirling discs of death with eight prongs of eye-pokers...

Be careful with that thing! We have two eyes each for a reason... one is not a spare just waiting in case the first gets skewered.

Also, silly girls, don't put eye-liner on whilst on the bus. You're asking for it. And I don't think there's a detergent that gets Brain out of clothes.

Why You Should Want to Be in J-School

2008-02-04T22:06:00.000-05:00

For my newest photo-story I am working on a profile piece of UGA student Jason Miller, who owns his own production company called Eikon and does other various cool things, like Campus Movie Fest. Basically, I get to hang out with him all semester and take pictures and write a story about him. Journalism is fun. J-School 4 Life.

Here's his video from the festival... sweeeeet eh?

I Love My New Camera

2008-01-05T11:08:00.001-05:00

Fake Frosty?

2007-12-11T00:21:00.000-05:00

It was a lovely 75 degrees today. The birds were out. People were basking in the sun at the intramural fields. I went barefoot. It was an all around glorious day.

Except that it's December.

During my daily regiment of wasting time on the internet... I found this. Kids, it's time to embrace the fact that this drought is starting to have some serious effects...

Behold! The End is Near!

2007-12-03T23:00:00.001-05:00

2007 is almost over and that means that my 365 project is almost over as well. I've had a few people ask me how I feel about this impending deadline, and honestly, I am relieved.

It's been a long process. Taking a picture every day of the year for a whole year isn't daunting in itself... it's taking GOOD pictures every day that people will want to see that makes it daunting.

So am I going to do 365: 2008 Edition? Not on your life. But be ready for some new projects to come about next year... I can't peak in 2007.

Flights.

2007-11-26T00:23:00.000-05:00

Dear Mr. Leather-Jacket Man,
Please keep your hairy knuckles and halitosis to yourself. You may have my bag of Non-Peanut-Containing-Variety-Snack-Mix if you do.
Love,
the Rest of the Plane.

Fall Flag Football Fun

2007-11-20T02:04:00.000-05:00

Love Letter to the best Georgia Season

2007-11-19T13:21:00.001-05:00

Dear Fall,
I love you. Truly, I do. I know it's hard to believe, because I am sure you hear this often, but I think I love you the most. You taunt me with your colors on my way to class-- you say: "Stay out and play! Look how crunchy my leaves are!" You know I want to. You know how hard it is for me to turn away from you-- there's nothing quite like you, Fall.
I love the way you make an apple cider from Jittery Joe's taste and I love it when my scarves and mittens find their way out of my closet when you come around.
Fall... thanks for being perfect.

Love, Me

An English Lesson on Nicknames

2007-11-15T16:12:00.000-05:00

A friend coined the nickname "Morgangster" for me back in high school. A genius blend of both my name and the word "Gangster" no other name could capture me quite as well. When Julia, a classmate from Creative Writing class, commented on my facebook status (which read: "Morgan is Morgangster than you") with the following statement, I felt ever more proud of the nickname: "wow, your amazing portmanteau status is unbelievably perfect. morgangster. i am so jealous of your name now. all i can think of for me is "juliaison" but thats so not cool..."

And in the midst of relishing in the wonderment of this comment... I realized-- portman who? Portman whu? Whu?

So, thank you, wikipedia, for explaining this to me, straightening this whole thing out and being there for me when I need you most.

Also, Julia-- you are a genius.

The Great Sufjan Song Christmas Exchange

2007-11-15T00:16:00.000-05:00

The great and talented Lindsay Lamphere sent me this website today and I think it might have made this The Best Thursday Ever! I, for one, am jumping on board The Great Sufjan Song Xmas Xchange!

Souljah Boy, Tell 'em!

2007-11-13T00:40:00.000-05:00

From a comment on Get The Picture and a story about the Dawgs!:

My mother calls me long distance from Athens, while watching the game:

“And who is this soldier boy?,” she says.

“Well, mom. He’s a graduate assistant who roams the sidelines to fire up the team,” I reply.

“Well, O.K. then. I think he’s wonderful.” Mom says.

Indeed.

blackout=success!

2007-11-11T16:37:00.000-05:00

After a week of speculation over whether the Dawgs would be donning black jerseys or not... I was a little sad to see the team warming up in traditional Georgia Red. Not that I don't love the red, but man, I was pumped and convinced I was going to see some black jerseys.

So when the team ran out onto the field after their team prayer and pep talk in the locker room-- sporting snazzy black jerseys-- I was stoked. Beyond stoked. Super stoked.

"I'm just proud to be a Georgia Bulldog right now. To walk out there and see our student body jammed packed in their sections, all decked out in black, it inspired our team. When I called our team up after pregame warmup, I said, 'Just look into those stands. You ever seen anything like that before?'

"After we came back out in our black after the coin toss, it was as if we were in a movie or something. It was pretty surreal. It meant so much to the players to see the Bulldog Nation unite like that and make it happen." -- Coach Richt in an interview with the AJC after the 45-20 victory over Auburn last night!

what's that you say?

2007-11-08T22:18:00.000-05:00

When Mark Richt says "jump!" you say "how high?" When Mark Richt says "diet coke!" you say "how cold!?" When Mark Richt says "WEAR BLACK!" you find your best ninja costume and help the team get "jacked up" for the game! AIIGHT! AIGHT! War Eagle nothing.

talk on indolence

2007-11-07T19:29:00.000-05:00

The Avett Brothers are playing at Georgia Theater tonight and guess who's going to be there? Yes it is indeed I who will be in attendance-- as well as Sara and Aaron and a slew of other sweater-clad coeds who will be bobbing their heads to the fine banjo and guitar tunes of everyone's favorite brothers.

one more reason why my friends are better than yours:

2007-11-05T12:29:00.001-05:00

Unless of course, Natalie Webb and Dennis Byrd (UGA Homecoming Queen and King, respectively) are your friends too.

hanging with kate

2007-10-27T11:32:00.001-04:00

life is like hot chocolate: appropriately warm and completely satisfying in such a season.

words

2007-10-06T03:02:00.000-04:00

I met a graffiti artist downtown today... Mr. Never is his name (gave me his business card!) He inspired me to take a closer look at the art that is all around... here are my photos of what i found. (rhyme! score!)

Life Lessons from Youtube

2007-10-04T15:44:00.000-04:00

3 Things You Can Learn from this Youtube Video:

1. Mint Royale is the coolest thing since sliced bread.
2. There needs to be more breakdancing musicals.
3. Don't litter. Dancing trash is scary.

The Gospel According to Fashion

2007-09-28T09:35:00.000-04:00

I'm not one to be a fan of fashion and trends -- partly because I am never aware of what's going on until things are on their way out -- but whatever style movement is going on right now, I am all for.

Our parents would be proud. Especially in Athens, it seems like everyone is rocking a blend of the 60s, 70s, and 80s--- bringing back vintage and hitting up thrift stores like there is no tomorrow. So what does this mean to me?

I like the idea of things becoming new again. Recycling. Reusing. Things taking new form. Reassembling things that are broken or forgotten. It's a stretch, but every time I see a swanky hipster in their vintage duds, it reminds me of Jesus. He took us- old, dusty, forgotten, broken, ugly- and made us new. Put us back together. Made us whole.

So when I see an old Holga photograph, I smile. (photo from zinkwazi.com)

Let's All Just Be Hippies

2007-09-21T15:20:00.001-04:00

The New York Sun recently reported on a study that shows that students know less after graduating from four years of college. Now when you feel like a class is slowly sucking away your life... you may not be too far off.

inspired.

2007-07-25T00:18:00.001-04:00

The best inspiration about orientation I have ever heard:

"Some people like cheese pizza. Almost everybody likes chocolate and vanilla ice cream. Me, well I like chocolate-raspberry ice cream. To me, it is awesome. Where am I going with this? Well... you can be one of two things. You can be just good for everyone... or you can be awesome for someone. Your job is to be the best YOU that you can be."
-Jason, OL '02

HoCo gone loco

2007-07-13T01:24:00.000-04:00

Hot Corner is one of the staples of Athens. During the school year, the beloved coffee shop houses collegiate fratstars, hip townies and everyone in between... 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On any given night... HoCo is bustling with activity: live shows, open mic nights, poetry readings... the atmosphere and ambiance is almost as thick as the smokers breath in the breezeway between The Quiet Room and the main lounge. Heck, HoCo recycles, rocks the mismatched couches and local art... AND sells coffee from the Daily Co-op all while playing appropriately indie tunes. It's an eclectic, hipster, new-age, free thinking, artsy-persons dream.

But one thing disturbs me, and I'm not sure why.

The bathroom, decked out with a fine vintage vanity, low lighting and fiercely pink walls... houses a motion-detecting paper towel dispenser. It seems so terribly odd.

i want a love like fireworks

2007-07-06T00:03:00.000-04:00

Not only was this Fourth of July spectacular because we got to spend it with Dennis and his family... but it was also Hadas' first Independence Day as an official American and the third time this week we've had tailgate/cookout food for dinner.

the excitingness of pure being

2007-07-02T23:16:00.000-04:00

Never read Gertrude Stein? You should. Basically... it's a poetry acid trip. Don't believe me? Read her poem "ROOMS" and you will have your mind blown. It's the equivalent of abstract painting- which a lot of people don't "get" but there is so much more than just "getting" it. Her word paintings explore "the excitingness of pure being"... which I can't explain but there you have it.

A good writer is constantly trying new things... so in attempts to be a good writer I put my hand to work on mimicking good ole Gertie. Here Goes. Think about it.

A PENCIL.

What were thoughts for forever on a timeless ticking surface. A branch of gold holds words inside. What was before was spread out after what was left to come or go. Permanence is petty since the whims of one pink might act accordingly. All can see the secrets all can know the knows. Had that gray been black it would be forever knowing.

when in doubt, read a map

2007-06-30T18:05:00.000-04:00

An excerpt from my 365 album:

#176 (6/25/07) Bailey and I had Test Results duty. While it sounds important and awesome... it's really just important and boring. but nevertheless... we made it interesting. ever noticed that creepy building behind clark howell hall? well now you will. we tried to figure out what the building was for and upon further investigation all we found was this sign: creepy photograph that reads "guarantee of satisfaction." hmmm. later, a map dispelled our assumptions about it being a drug hub/secret lair. it's the geology lab building. who knew? but that still doesn't explain the cryptic sign...

O.W.O.W: Orientation Words of Wisdom

2007-06-19T23:09:00.000-04:00

"I am not afraid. I was born to do this."-Joan of Arc

When I took on this job of Orientation Leader... I really thought I would be the one doing most of the teaching: spreading the gospel of UGA, relieving fears and calming anxious minds... but like so many other things in life- I was wrong.

For being a bunch of 18 year olds, they know a lot. Humility, graciousness and fellowship... I don't even know if they know what an effect they've had on me.

The class of 2011 is going to be the best yet, and I am so thankful to have a part in it!!!

It Has Begun

2007-06-08T21:43:00.000-04:00

I don't know what day it is, and I certainly haven't slept in what feels like a few days... but Orientation (aka the Ultimate Sleep Deprivation Game) has begun and I couldn't be happier.

This is a picture of some of the OLs and Miss Diane from Family and Consumer Sciences. Not only does this woman own every single piece of Georgia memorabilia, but she also is one of the most friendly people in the whole world. If you're undecided, check out FACS. These people are crazy nice.

Revelation: I love freshman. In a really non-creepy way, I swear.

The Finer Things

2007-06-03T23:51:00.000-04:00

Athens is a quiet town in the summer. I went over to the "casa del sol" right before moving in for orientation, and I think Katie summed it up when she said: "Being here on the front porch drinking tea and reading books... I feel like this is what we were meant to do!"Amen.

I never thought the sentence "I love your yellow dish set!" would ever come out of my mouth, but it did, and it felt good. Plus the tea bags had quotes on them...

Sic 'Em

2007-05-25T14:42:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite hobbies is perusing the internet for little gems of life. Normally I stick to Wikipedia and gain mad knowledge, but today my wandering led me to a blog called Fashionist where I found this little guy:

I wish to have one of my very own.

the future looks bright

2007-05-22T12:26:00.000-04:00

i received the most interesting email today.

it was from myself.

On December 11, 2003, I sent myself an email. In high school I heard about this website called Future Me and I set to work to write myself an email that would be delivered at a later date. I don't know why I chose May 22, 2007, but I'm glad that I did. I was 17.

Here's my email. Despite the grammatical and spelling errors, I found it amusing.

Dear FutureMe,

you bum. shouldn't you be off traveling the world and not checking your email? you really shouldnt spend this must time online. i hope you are better about it now. here are some other thigns i hope for you, myself. wierd.

i hope you are in college. at a cool college with cool people in a cool place. please don't go to university of florida. if you are a gator, i will come to the future and slap you. if you aren't in college, i hope you are famous. like writing movies or something. and for being so young, it's so good of you to be so famous!

i hope you have a boyfriend. seriously, it is time. and please don't let it be chris. again, i will slap you if it is. but if you are in college or famous, i highly doubt he is a candidate. if you don't have a boyfirend, GET OUT THERE. i am serious. that is plain rediculous.

i hope you've stopped biting your nails. it is a disgustin habit and you've (we've) been working on that one for a while so i hope it hasn't been all for nothing.

i hope you haven't lost your child humor.

i hope you've finished that book you started. or at least i hope you are still working on it. i know it needed a lot of work and i hope that since you are smarter now that you have figured it out. or maybe you've written many books. or maybe none. don't let me down.

i hope you learned to juggle and that you can touch your toes without bending your knees. i've got a good stretch going now so i hope you haven't lost it.

i hope you've learned more about jesus. i hope you understand it. and live it.

as for right now, i am thinking about cutting my hair. i also want to play tennis and paint my room. i'm not taking the sat's again and i hope that doesn't hurt me in the future. i'm reading the book Epiphany and it's good. i hope i read a lot of good books between now and when i read this again.

I hope that i've loved. i hope that i've lived. i hope that i have great friends and a dream and place to call home. i hope mom and dad are proud of me and brett too. i hope i am not estranged and that i come home from time to time and we go out on the boat and talk about nothing. i hope i've met matt damon. mostly, i hope i am happy. that's all. oh yea, write another one of these things when you get this one. let's keep this going, shall we?

finally.

2007-05-17T22:55:00.001-04:00

run!

2007-05-16T23:12:00.000-04:00

I find things like this, and I love the world a little bit more.

Overheard

2007-05-10T23:45:00.000-04:00

In the dressing room at Macy's.

Girl 1: I do! I do! I always say that! I-
Girl 2: No, you don't.
G1: -I always say that, it's a thing I say, like, it's me, it's mine, I say it.
G2: Doesn't Ghandi say it? I mean, like, isn't that his thing? Like a famous Ghandi thing?
G1: There is no way Ghandi says that. That's something I say. I am not Ghandi.
G2: I can't even begin to understand you. But that top is really cute!

I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't hear the beginning of this conversation...

made ya blink

2007-05-09T22:05:00.000-04:00

Every math and science teacher in the entire world has heard this question an innumerable amount of times, and I'm sure we've all asked it ourselves:

"When are we EVER going to use this?"

Physicist Dr. Piers Barnes validates the hard work of teachers with his calculations that find the number of photos one has to take to get a blink-free shot.

Practical math, anyone?

Revelations from the ride home

2007-05-07T21:16:00.000-04:00

1. The boy band 98 degrees has a CD called Revelation. When my iPod died on the 8-hour-drive home, I realized that I know every single word to this album... including the "ooh yeahs" and the "uh-huhs" and the sneakily placed "baby's." This might be the leading factor in my inability to remember things for school.

2. There is an obscene amount of people that have stuffed animals in back windows of their cars. This is not okay.

just a typical night in athens

2007-05-06T16:21:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we went to the human rights festival and pumped our fists and yelled "end the war!" with all the hippies of Athens.

2007-05-03T14:15:00.000-04:00

After tomorrow, at precisely 9:34 (okay, speculation) it will be summer vacation. This will be the first summer since I was 9 that I am doing something different i.e. not going to camp. Weird. I keep re-reading that sentence and it doesn't seem real to me.

Instead, this summer will be spent in Athens. I love this town. I love the people. I love the places. I love the discoveries and the adventures and the food and entertainment... if you've never been here, you should come. If you have been here, you should come again. Sometimes I have to remind myself that life exists outside of this place because it's so easy to get wrapped up into it.
This post is more of a segue into the summer of UGA Orientation, 2007. I'm pumped.

Meet the UGA Orientation Team

social commentary

2007-04-11T02:16:00.000-04:00

you sold me when you made a gang sign.

not so secret garden

2007-04-09T09:29:00.000-04:00

My creative writing teacher mentioned this place in passing. When people mention places in passing they don't usually give fantastic directions so it was an adventure to try and find this place based on the vague murmur of the name "Boulevard Avenue" (ironic) and "warehouses."
Sarah and Katie Clay were up for the adventure, even though I'm sure they doubted me half the time. Wandering out into the unknown searching for a "fake tree, with fake birds, in a case" amongst some warehouses didn't really seem too promising.
We might not have found a fake tree in a case, but we did find a real tree in a building. And fake birds. Which, is a whole lot better I think.

Not your ordinary Ice Cream

2007-04-03T23:50:00.000-04:00

I went to a poetry reading downtown tonight. Scott Cairns, the poet of the hour, read some of his subtle yet fiercely humorous words at Hot Corner. The one poem that sticks out in my mind is one entitled Necropolitan. Hmmm. Not your ordinary ice cream indeed...

No, no no no no

2007-04-03T00:11:00.000-04:00

The earliest I can recall feeling remorse was at 10 years old. Maybe it's because I am getting older, and my memory is getting weaker... or maybe that is the actual age I first felt that dreary pit in the bottom of my tummy that wasn't a result of too many cookies. I know I was 10 because in 5th grade, I really loved yo-yo's. And after a while, I couldn't even yo-yo because I felt so bad. I put the yo-yo in a sock in my drawer and left if there until junior year of high school.

Back then, I used to imagine the world with a dark cloud over it, where everyone shuffled their feet and didn't look at eachother and no one would play games, or laugh. I remember watching Sesame Street as a kid, and there was an episode where they sang a song called "No." The premise was what the world would be like if you couldn't do anything... "No Walking... No Talking... No no no no no no no, No." It was a catchy song but terrifying. It literally gave me nightmares and sometimes when I think about it even now... I get chills. The idea of not being able to truly Live...

What if the world was really like that?

Praise Jesus for coming and rescuing us from these feelings. For lifting the cloud and raising our eyes to Him. Praise him for allowing us to Live.

resolution

2007-04-01T22:57:00.000-04:00

I've always been anti-New Years Resolutions. But this year is different. The idea for 365 is turning out to be much better than ever thought! If you have the ambition and a camera... I suggest you do it as well. Start tomorrow... take a picture every day and watch your year unfold!

Dear Winter,

2007-01-15T17:29:00.000-05:00

Where've you been? We missed you this year at the Christmas Party. It's not like you to be a no-show at the Holidays. I can't remember a time when we celebrated without you. Are things okay?
Remember how we always used to watch "A White Christmas" together, and drink hot tea, and wear scarves? Without you, I don't feel much like doing these things any more. It just doesn't feel right.
I thought I might see you around today, seeing as January is one of your favorite months to be outside. And today especially looked like your kind of day. I thought I almost got a glimpse of you, but it was just the rain- I couldn't see you.
Where ever you are, you should know that even though you missed the Holidays, it's not too late to show up. I don't hold grudges. I just miss you.
Please, Winter, come visit this year. It won't be the same without you.
Love, Morgan

Acceptance

2007-01-03T01:51:00.000-05:00

I’ve never been one to save anything. Those kids who save their Halloween candy so that it lasts until Christmas… I wasn’t one of them. I never could save so much as a candy cane until the end of the Christmas Eve service. I’m the kind of person who bites ice cream and looks at the dessert menu first. I’ve accepted this.
When it comes to tea, I need a big mug. Not a deceivingly tall mug that actually holds the same amount as the one that your fifth grade teacher kept on her desk for pencils. A real mug. Some might call this a soup bowl. The size of the mug is imperative because of the hastiness in which I like to drink it. I’ve accepted this as well.

Nerdy Christmas Gifties

2007-01-01T13:04:00.001-05:00

Nerdy Christmas Gifties
Originally uploaded by morgankc.

I find that when I write my list for Christmas, it is usually just books and other book-like items. Here are some of my favorite things from this year's tree...
12 journals. (one for each month!)
A book on troublesome words (because the dictionary is sooo last year.)
No One Cares What You Had For Lunch (a book by the witty and fabulous Margaret Mason.)
A bathrobe (for staying in all day while writing in my journal and reading my book. yay)
Not pictured, but still a favorite, are The Office DVDs...

"Happy Birthday Jesus, sorry your party's so lame."

Where He may lead me I'll follow

2006-12-02T17:42:00.000-05:00

God has truly smiled upon me! It seems as though I'll be in Athens this summer as an orientation leader. Wow. I never thought I'd actually write that sentence. !!!!. I am incredibly thankful and excited to see what the Lord has planned for this whole situation... but I am also terrified to no end. We shall see!!!!!

I know not what awaits me,
God kindly veils mine eyes,
And o'er each step of my onward way
He makes new scenes to rise;
And ev'ry joy He sends me, comes
A sweet and glad surprise.

Where He may lead me I'll follow,
My trust in Him repose
And ev'ry hour in perfect peace
I'll sing, He knows, He knows;
And ev'ry hour in perfect peace
I'll sing, He knows, He knows.

(Thanks for the hymn, Erin.)

Goodbye, Teenage Years

2006-10-28T23:30:00.000-04:00

Today was my 20th birthday. I feel really old, considering the fact that I feel like I peaked at the age of four (see photo for evidence). Even though I've waved goodbye to my teenage years, I feel like 20 is going to be very exciting...

One Year Ago Today

2006-10-15T01:55:00.000-04:00

A Clandestine Message

2006-08-23T16:07:00.000-04:00

yellow dresses
Originally uploaded by morgangster.

I've lived on Lumpkin street for 18 days now. Trading in the Chacos for a yellow dress wasn't exactly my idea of a good time. The getting up at 5:30, the showering, the noisy band parties next door, the 5 roommates, the scheduled meals... I didn't think I could cut it.
This morning when I woke up... a Post-It note was on my computer screen: "You sleep like a dead person. Enjoy your day!" I love this house!

Why Camp Rules

2006-06-12T10:26:00.000-04:00

Today's vegetable is Lettuce with Marshmallows.

Here It Starts...

2006-06-06T22:33:00.000-04:00

camp begins
Originally uploaded by morgangster.

Camp has begun. That is all.

My Life Be Like, Ooh Ahh

2006-05-24T12:02:00.000-04:00

ooh ahh
Originally uploaded by morgangster.

I have joined the ranks of the four-wheeled kind. No more Heinz Stucke-ing It for me.

How about a date?

2006-05-19T12:24:00.000-04:00

Life never fails to entertain me. When the cute boy handing out samples in the grocery store asked me if I wanted a date, the normal response would have been to take the fruit and walk away. But language is funny. Words, humorous. Definitions, laughable. Whose idea was it to have several things have the same name? Didn't they know this would cause problems? I don't know about other languages, but English and Spanish are definitely guilty. When a small squiggly line is the difference between being 19 years old and having 19 anuses, there is a problem. Just take the fruit, and walk away.

Passion

2006-05-16T22:42:00.000-04:00

I don't know why I want to be a writer. Is it because I think I am a good writer? Or that I feel particularly called to do it? Is it because I want to be known for something, or do I really have something to say? I don't know.

I hope it's that I have something to say... but I haven't really figured out what that is yet. Sometimes I feel like I could just sit down and write for days, without really thinking or applying any effort. And other times, the thought of writing makes me feel like my skin is on fire and my brain is imploding.

Maybe that's the way it is with all our passions in life- maybe that's what makes them passions. The thing that inspires you is the same thing that can make you go crazy... and it's that force, that constant, repelling force of inspiration and insanity that allows you to be passionate about something...

Time for a Change

2006-05-15T23:28:00.001-04:00

Upon seeing my watch, my brother made the comment that it looked like a party favor he had received in kindergarten after a Ninja Turtle Themed birthday. I tried to take this as a compliment, but the more I looked at it, the more I realized he was right. I hate it when he's right.

So that's when I got this.
It screamed "Responsibility!" and "Maturity!" and "Better Make That a Venti Caramel Mochiato, Paul!"... but alas. It ticks. It actually ticks, like clocks do in the movies. And as hard as I try, I can't get the ticking out of my head. I try to sleep- it ticks. I try to read- there it is, ticking away. It's like a ticking bomb that follows me around, or an annoying song you can't seem to get out of your head. I can't hide it in my pocket, or under my pillow. I also can't read the hands fast enough or without panicking.

It's back to the Turtles for me. It was a good faith effort. And Paul... better make that a Strawberry Milk- to go.

Yeah, I Did That

2006-05-15T00:01:00.000-04:00

Coming home after a year in college is not so much a strange feeling as it is a strange event. Here you are, standing in your driveway after 9 months of complete and ultimate freedom. Minus the occasional phone call to update your status ("I'm still alive".... "I need more money"... etc etc) your life has been completely separate from the world you are about to re-enter. Parents are thrilled, siblings hide their excitement, and pets are in the same spot you left them. Only everything is different.
It's interesting to think that a year has passed. High school seniors are getting ready to graduate. My little brother is driving. My room is coated with a layer of dust.
And what's this feeling? Is it saddness? Is it emptiness or longing? Do I wish I'd done things differently? Gone to a closer school, kept up with friends, come home more often? And honestly, I don't know. The experiences I've had this year, the people I've met, the places I've gone, the things I've seen, the things I've learned- I needed them. As much as things have changed, as weird it is to be back in this town, I needed to leave. I needed to grow.
Now I can come back and appreciate my high school teachers, and let my brother drive me to see old friends. I can even enjoy the dust in my room. I can stand in my driveway and think about these things and say, "Yeah, I did that."

Roger that

2006-05-01T11:36:00.000-04:00

the boys of 80 springdale, otherwise known as Club 80, find a baby bird struggling for life outside on the ground. He must have fallen out of a tree, and left to die, alone. They pick up his frail, featherless, wrinkly body. They attempt to feed him, but to no avail. They decide Roger, as they've loving named him, is too far gone for help. They decide to put him out of his misery. They get the sling shot, load him, and fire into the woods. Alex spoke some final words for him: "At least Roger died doing what he does best... falling."

Art for Sale?

2006-04-27T17:39:00.001-04:00

Marcel Duchamp created the style of art known as "readymade" art. As the title suggests, he took everyday readymade objects and made them, somehow into art. Pictured is Duchamp's "Advance of a Broken Arm" piece. The largest producer of this type of art is, apparently, Home Depot.

Let the Narcissism Begin

2006-04-26T16:37:00.000-04:00

this is my first post... so I think I will tell you a little something about me...

Born the inevitable middle child on October 28, 1986, I started my life just as any other girl in the 80's. I took ballet, was involved in Girl Scouts, and enjoyed playing "pretend" in the loft of my house with my sister. I grew up in a lake town, and therefore spent many hours swimming, skiing, and fishing. When I reached kindergarden, my life aspriation was to be a tap dancer like those in Singing in the Rain, and was undoubtedly let down when I realized I must have missed a whole chapter in the Growing Up Handbook on coordination. Ballet and dance in general became ancient history and I discovered sports in which uncoordination turned into unmatched skills. I continued to play soccer, softball, basketball, volleyball and tennis through my high school days. I found a place on the stage, acting in our town's plays in such reknown roles as Robert the Turkey and Princess Amelia's Grandmother. Later, I captured the roles of Dory in Finding Nemo, Buzz in Toy Story, and the Wicked Step Mother in Cinderella. I discovered writing early in my high school life, and haven't looked back since. The University of Georgia is now a place I hope to hone my writing skills and someday write for a living.