Fall Flag Football Fun

Love Letter to the best Georgia Season

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

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

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!

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!

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?

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

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:

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

hanging with kate

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

words

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

"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!!!