The Blog

Of all the photographs they took of the 2009 AP intern class, this is the only one they could choose? I’m the only one looking away, like a goofball! The photographer took several shots! There had to be another shot with everyone looking and smiling for the camera!

Way to class it up, Aaron! Of all the bad pictures to have…

Sigh.

Jennifer and I went to a Bilal show in D.C. last night. Neither of us had seen him live. He was great. The man’s got an unusual, but extraordinary voice. And he completely killed my favorite song, ‘Sometimes.’ The whole place dug it.

I admit, Bilal is not for the amateur soul music fan. He’s often spacey and vocally spontaneous, both live and on CD. You have to just trust him — even through piercing falsetto vocal riffs — that there’s seasoned artistry happening on stage.

He didn’t disappoint.

My mom and step-dad came to Baltimore to visit. It was nice to see them. And they got a chance to meet Jennifer. (Yes, I’ve gone and got myself a girlfriend. )

My step-dad has a brother that lives in near the beach in southern New Jersey. Villas, to be exact. We caught the ferry out there from Lewes, Del. Nice ride.

This was the first time I’d ever met Uncle Mike. We have a lot in common. I’ll definitely visit seasonally, if the east coast is indeed to be my new home for the next several years.

Pictures from the trip:

The ferry was nice.

This was the first time I’d been on a ferry that carries cars.

The beach near Uncle Mike’s place. Perfect weather. Perfect lighting.

Beautiful.

These are horseshoe crabs. They were all over the beach. Most carcasses. Some alive.

Fin.

I gained two pounds last week. (And yes, I checked when I went back to the gym.)

Diane, one of the AP intern program coordinators, took very good care of us. Leading up to the trip I hadn’t eaten much of anything. And I’m a foodie. Sheesh! Difficult times. (I’ve mapped where we (I) ate. Check it out at the bottom of this post.)

More importantly, the intern’s week was a great experience and at times a little bittersweet. Going in, it was clear to most of the recent graduates in the intern class that jobs with the oldest news gathering service in the world were not plentiful. The week was almost like a dangling carrot.

Please don’t mistake my characterization for sarcasm or bitterness. I think I can speak for most every editorial intern to say we’d all chop off our baby toes for a gig with the AP. Pound for pound, it’s still…THE AP! And we 20-somethings are still not yet jaded by long years working in this profession.

Living this life is tough — the “I-just-graduated-from-college-with-a-journalism-degree-and-I-could-be-homeless-in-a-month” life. While I look for something to pay the bills, I won’t get too comfortable. I guess I’m waiting for someone (anyone) to tell me there’s a job in ‘Houlton, Maine‘ and that it’s Maine or … (*crickets)

That’s what you do when you love this profession, right? I mean, when you spend the last five years of your life studying and pursuing it …

What I’ve learn: Don’t put down any roots. Be okay with changing your mailing address at least three times in the next four years. Measure your decisions about long-term romantic relationships. No more Thanksgiving and Christmas with the family. Pick one.

I know I sound like I’m whining. I’m not, really. Just facing a reality — one that I admit is the least appealing part of this trade. Traveling is great. But feeling like a vagabond, not so much. I know many people would tell me I’m wrong, naive and unadventurous. And those traits are unappealing in this industry. So I’m training my brain to stop processing the following feelings: loneliness, nostalgia and a desire for real contentment. This way being in a place I didn’t choose will be easier to deal with.

I think my biggest fears are the lost connections or strained relationships: with family, with a significant other, or even with myself.

But, ‘tough it out’ is my new motto.

There’s a silver-lining somewhere. There always is, isn’t there? You show people you can withstand a little geographical hazing and they’ll appreciate you for it someday. And then you get opportunities in places where you’d like to be, right?

Thanks for reading. I rambled, I know. Had to get it out.

Here’s some pictures from the week:

The newsroom was really big. Not very many people at desks. But still a sight to see.

We ate at the Peking Duck House. The duck was pretty good. So was all the other food.

A talented group of people, the editorial interns were. This is just a few of us.

Map of where I ate all week:

View AP Intern’s Week Cuisine in a larger map

I was on my way to New York for a intern’s meeting at AP headquarters, when I realized I had never ridden a train before. I’m 24. I’m thinking most people have popped their train riding cherry by 24. (Wow, talk about innuendo.)

I took an Amtrak train from Baltimore’s Penn Station to New York’s Penn Station. I’ve discovered that trains are my second favorite way to travel. (My preferred mode of travel: airplane.)

Trains are relaxing. You can use your cell phones. And there’s room to get up and walk around or go back to the bar car.

Only downside: they are not as cheap as I thought they would be. My tickets were almost as much as air fare.

During my internship, my trainer (@akellap) has made it a point to expose me to as much of the industry and the company as possible. Baltimore is so close to AP Washington offices, that it was almost inevitable that I’d go there a few times.

On my first trip I met Jesse Holland, the AP’s supreme court correspondent. Yes, that’s right. He was covering the Sonia Sotomayor confirmation hearings. I met him at a luncheon, a few days before the hearings began. When the luncheon was over I thought we’d just walk over to part of the office and talk about careers.

Instead, he gave me an ‘insider’ tour of the Congress, which I had never done before. And let me clearify, he took my to areas the general public is not allowed. I don’t think I ever imagined visiting the press rooms in the US Capitol at such a young age (see picture below).

And to top that off, he gave me a tour of the supreme court building and its press room.

So, needless to say I’d seen much more in a couple hours than I thought I’d see in a lifetime. My goals in a journalism career certainly don’t include being at the highest echelons of political reporting. I think this tour may have changed my mind about that.

So thank you, Jesse. That day is something I will never forget.

By the way, Holland’s got a book out and is working on another. Check it out.

Ahhhh, Carmine’s. What can’t I say about this family style Italian eatery? For one, I can’t say that they don’t have this cuisine down to a science. I’ve probably been here eight times (I’ve lost count) — most of the visits were when I lived in California. In other words, I always make it a point to get here when I’m in New York.

I already know what to order when I go each time: the fried zucchini appetizer, caesar salad with a side of anchovies, chicken parmesan, and shrimp scampi on angle hair pasta.

To. die. for.

Last week, I went with who I always go with, my cousins Makeda, Raymond and Tangie with her beau Damon. We tried a new item, the lobster and clam bake. Delicious!

I can’t recommend this place enough. Just go. And thank me later. If you go on a weekend, be ready to wait. They take reservations, but even that’s a crap shoot. Don’t go starving. And go with a group. It’s too much food for even just two people. Thank God they have two locations, otherwise getting a table would be near impossible during the “dinner rush hours.” Okay enough talking, go eat!

View Carmine’s in New York City in a larger map

I’m always relishing at the chance to blab on about why I love the east coast so much. Unlike California, there are three or four major cities within striking distance of any city or town, big or small. I’ve been to New York four times in the last month and a half. And honestly, I can’t get enough of it.

Here’s a few shots from my weekend visits. (I’ve got more pictures that I’ll post when my Holga film is developed…long story about why Holga pictures are taking so long.)

Me on j-school buddy Jessica Jones’s fire escape. Looking down at Brooklyn.

Najma on Jessica’s fire escape. She, Jess and I all went to San Francisco State University together. It’s quite odd how we all seem to stick together. No, seriously. So many of us of on the east coast right now.

Gracious host Jessica Jones on her couch in her apartment.

A shot from another j-school buddy Christine Ferrer’s roof.

Another shot from the roof. It was about to rain.

I’m usually hungry when I stop off the Bolt Bus from Baltimore. So I grab a ‘recession special’ — two hot dogs and a papaya juice — from Gray’s Papaya. I’ve blogged about this place before.

Copped these new shades at the Afro Punk Block Party a few weeks ago in Brooklyn. That was a fun day.

Historically, Baltimore has been the “stomping grounds” of some pretty important people. Billie Holiday spent a portion of her childhood in Baltimore’s Fells Point neighborhood. A couple of weeks ago, residents and city leaders rededicated a monument to the jazz legend in the city’s western region.

Here’s the (made) brief story I wrote for the Associated Press: http://tinyurl.com/nnk63a

I snapped a few pictures on my iPhone the day before the rededication event.

View Billie Holiday Monument in a larger map

I seem to be on a big art kick lately. At Artscape, billed as the largest free arts and crafts festival in the country, aficionados put their junk rides on display. All were pretty impressive. I liked the ‘Camera Van’ the best.

A Baltimore Sun article about the art cars: http://tinyurl.com/mqkkuv

Photos taken on my iPhone.