Videoblog #1: Testing!

My first attempt at a video blog! As a test, I speak a little about Savannah and SCAD in preparation for my (hopefully!) continued videoblogging while attending the Savannah College of Art and Design!

Getting Ready for the Move!

So, it is about a month away from my move down to Savannah and I have been starting to get stuff ready!


Molly and I looked at Ikea and thought we had founs a couch. it was a white sofa in their "Ektorp" series. One problem we were debating on was how big the couch was going to be in the apartment. I skecthed out the square footage of the living room and cut out the furniture to scale. It seemed that the sofa may be just a little too tight.


Luckily, Molly had gone to World Market with the kids she nannies recently. While she was there, she came across a beige loveseat that caught her eye. So, she and the 5 year old decided to test it out- and they both seemed to like it. However, 'Molly and a toddler' is not an appropriate unit of measurement for adult-sized furniture.

So, today I went with Molly to see this new sofa- it was perfect! It can easily seat three adult people and is very comfy to lie on. We were gonna come back in the afternoon and buy it!


When we got back we asked about it at the front register and were helped by a very nice employee who gave us the tag to pay at the front. As the woman at the register rang us up, she called someone to meet us infront of the store to help us get the couch in the car. The man on the phone started YELLING at her not to ring us up, so she stopped me from continuing the transaction...


Turns out they had none of the couches in stock... even though they were on the show floor. And now we have to wait 10-14 days for it to HOPEFULLY come in...

Oh, well. At least we tried...

Published with Blogger-droid v1.4.9

Thoughts that cross my mind at work...

...After having worked at an ice cream store for over three years... many thoughts have gone through my head which would be inappropriate to say to customers. Luckily, I don't think anyone that these apply to read my blog:

- "Are you sure you really want a gotta-have-it?"

- "It's not my fault you don't like it. Anyone can tell you that peanut butter and cotton candy don't go together."

- "The price is on the board. Read it beforehand."

- "I'm really glad he made it to the trash can before puking."

- "We like singing for tips about as much as you like paying $6 for ice cream."

- "We do not have butter pecan. Get over it."


- "Gotta-love-it sizes don't exist."

- "If running out of strawberry ice cream ruins your night, then don't leave your house."

There you have it.

5 Reasons Why Savannah is the Perfect Location for My Ghost Story

5. Unmarked Graves - Savannah has many unmarked graves and cemeteries. From Native American burials to slave cemeteries and bodies that were moved due to the Civil War, there are many unknown graves around the city. There are many times during road construction where a construction crew will uncover human remains...

4. Spanish Moss - Spanish Moss is a plant that often grows in trees and hangs from their branches. This plant is found all over Savannah and gives the city a mystical and somewhat mysterious feel.



3. The Architecture - The city of Savannah has many beautiful, grand old buildings in many different architectural styles. When walking down the street in Savannah, there is always something to look at. Each street acts as a perfect backdrop, streaming seamlessly from one to another.

2. The Squares - Savannah has about 24 squares spaced out throughout the city. Each square has either a statue or fountain in its center. This breaks up the residential and commercial sections of Savannah with a touch of history and nature right in the city. Many of these squares have a rich history and are centerpieces in some of Savannah's well-known ghost stories!



1. It's Old! - Savannah has such a rich history! It was founded in 1733 and, as an important port city, has played hosts to pirates and merchants alike. It housed many soldiers during the Civil War and was struck hard by the Yellow Fever pandemic in the mid 1800's. With such a history in the town, there are many markings of the past (both visible and invisible) giving it an enchanted feeling where almost anything could be possible...

Some More Research for the Book...

So, I have an update for my book that I am writing. I recently went to the library to check out some books to help me find some background information on the story.

I want to approach the paranormal from both a supernatural and "scientific" angle. One of the books I checked out, "Ghost Hunters" by Deobrah Blum, goes into the history of William James (author Henry James' brother) and early attempts of finding scientific proof and reasoning of life after death.

I'm also researching some of Savannah's documented ghost stories. Although I am planning the main "haunting" of the book to be fictional, I want some excerpts of real Savannah ghost stories to give the book more of a historical and realistic feel.

In planning some of the early chapters of the book, I am having the main characters go on a ghost walk (something I did while in Savannah). This, I feel, will help to introduce the reader to the culture of Savannah and its hauntings.



Check back soon for more updates!

New Layout

So, I decided to create a new layout for the blog to have it stand out a bit. I added the new header and changed the title of the blog so it is a little more generic for what I am going to be posting about.

Also, if you look on the left, there is a column with some of my videos on Youtube. For some reason, it has been showing someone else's videos from time to time... but hopefully it was just a fluke.

On Planning a Book...

... So, in order to successfully write a (hopefully) decent book, it is going to be vital for me to plan out the plot. I believe I have a fair idea of how I am going to do that.


I have a basic idea of what I want the story to be about and how the plot should develop. My plan now is to map out each chapter one at a time. First, I will write out the basic plot of each chapter and then go through them again to make sure that the key points and connections between each chapter are there.


The detali work I think I am going to leave until I actually start writing. For me to be successful, I need a basic structure of the story but will need to be free to come up with the details. Having to plan details of a story seems to restricting.


I probably won't reveal too much of the plot until I work out more of the story after planning. Wish me luck!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.4.4

Hiking "Adventure"

Here are a couple images from our recent climb up Ampersand Mountain in the Adirondacks. I don't think that most of us knew what to expect. The total hike, up and back, was oover five miles long and up a veeery steep hill. There were several instances where we had to climb on our hands and knees. Needless to say, the view from the top was spectacular!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.4.2

Published with Blogger-droid v1.4.2

Published with Blogger-droid v1.4.2

Published with Blogger-droid v1.4.2

Could I Be the Next Michael Crichton?

So, when I was in 8th grade I picked up a copy of Michael Crichton's "Jurassic Park", mainly because I was a big fan of the movie. The book was very enjoyable and I also found it quite suspenseful, just as the film was. Last summer, when I was on vacation with the Careys in the Finger Lakes, I finally read another one of his books, "Next". It dealt with the morals of science, specifically experimentation with altering the natural way things are. I just finished reading Crichton's "The Lost World" (which was a pleasant contrast to the film adaptation) and am starting his novel "Timeline". What I really like about his writing style is that he writes science fiction very convincingly. His stories take place in the present (rather than on a space station in the year 3000, or in a non-existant universe of fairies and goblins). Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with space wars and fairies and goblins (I am, after all, an avid Harry Potter reader). I just find this brand on non-fictiony fiction so interesting because it sounds like it could be real. On quite a tangent, I am VERY excited to be moving to Savannah. The city is just so deeply steeped in such a rich history... and folklore! On my first visit I took a walking ghost tour which taught me a lot about the history of Savannah and of its ghosts- absolutely fascinating! So, to now connect my two trains of thought. I have always thought of writing a book. I feel that it would be a great accomplishment to write it- even if it does not get published. I thought I would enjoy adapting Crichton's non-fictiony fiction style with my interest in the paranornmal AND Savannah. I would really enjoy researching some more of Savannah's history and its ghosts as well as "scientific" ways of looking at paranormal activity (not the movie- 'cause it was boring). I could combine these interests (which I would probably research in my spare time anyway) and use that as the basis of my new project. Something else that I have been wanting to do, but failing at miserably, is blogging more regularly. I don't find that day to day life is all that interesting to other people. So, I would use this blog to track and share progress on my story! Hopefully, enough people will enjoy reading this blog (and, who knows, maybe a book eventually!!) that it will keep me going on both projects. I will keep you posted on my progress!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.4.1

Downtown Saranac Lake Village

Yes, that is a neon sign in the art gallery's window. Very classy! ;)

Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.9

and there was live entertainment!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.9

Our dinner stop

Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.9

I jumped off of this rock!

For those of you who know me, you would know that this is a BIG accomplishment for me!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.9

And an incredible view...

... of the Adirondack Mountains. Who knew how peaceful and serene it could be just a few hours north of NYC?

Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.9

The locks to Saranac Lake!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.9

Molly and her new fishing glove!

She says she loves to fish, but she hates touching the worms and the fish... so- a glove for fishing is the perfect solution!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.9

View from the dock!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.9

Over the hill and through the woods...

The path over the bridge on the way to the cottage we are staying at. It is gorgeous and completely secluded! The perfect getwaway for the week!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.9

Another photo from lunch...

Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.9

Pretty Little Place for Lunch!

So, I am heading to the Adirondacks with my girlfriend and her family for a week long vacation! We stopped for lunch in a small town along the Saint Lawrence Sea Way across from Bolt Castle. I thought I would share some photos!

Also, funny thing, but an otter snuck into the inside deck area that we were eating in. Not sure if that is a common occurrence here or not?

Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.9

My Day in Nashville

So, part one of our trip down south for my sister's school orientation and my looking for apartments has been successful thus far. We arrived in Nashville Sunday evening at the tail end of the CMA Music Festival, so naturally the entire city was clogged with cowboy hats and road blocks. We drove through the downtown in search of a restaurant, but due to the crowds we settled on an establishment closer to the Vanderbilt and Belmont campuses.

On Monday, my sister and my parents went to orientation and I decided to set off and explore the city on my own. I left our hotel and headed downtown on foot. After about a twenty minute walk, I was amid Nashville's finest dining establishments, attractions and Elvis gift shops (and a Willie Nelson fortune teller!). After cooling off for a bit in a Starbucks (I had to), I decided to wander over to the Frist Art Museum, where they had a Chihuly glass exhibit.

The exhibit was very nice. The displays were well thought out but I was a little disappointed that there were only four rooms to the exhibit. I was very disappointed that he four-room Chihuly exhibit was the ONLY exhibit in the entire museum...

In the evening, after the orientation was over, we headed to Jack's BBQ in downtown. They specialize in various types of barbecued meat with all the southern trimmings- mac and cheese, sweet corn, fried apples and (of course) home made BBQ sauce!

As we began to meander our way back to the hotel (and look in cowboy boot stores) we were approached by a very nice gentleman, dressed for the rodeo, who began to talk to us. He informed us that we were in the presence of a great prophet. He began to compare himself to Moses, Elijah and Jeremiah. "No- I'm just kidding... I'm not as great as they are!"- He seemed to b having a FANTASTIC day!

We are currently finalizing our packing and heading out for Hilton Head in South Carolina. The drive is about 7-8 hours, so hopefully we will all survive this leg of the journey!

The Apartment Search is On!

Things are finally starting to set themselves into motion! Next week my family, Molly and I are going down to Savannah to look at apartments for the in the fall. I spent a large part of yesterday calling landlords through Craigslist and other websites in order to get some looks at available apartments. I decided to post some photos and info on some of the apartments I am looking at. In a week or so, I will post about the visit.... and hopefully(!) I may have an idea of where I will be living!

1712 Abercorn Street

1700-1708 Abercorn Street

2303 Habersham Street

412 West Park Street

Hopefully I will be able to call one of these my own soon!

Salaam Mira!

Yesterday was the Elkin R. Isaac Research Symposium at Albion College. Students from all across the school share their research in presentations or poster displays for the rest of campus. I sat in on several very interesting presentations including that of my girlfriend Molly, her roommate Kelly and my roommate Corey. The highlight of the day, however, was to come ater that evening.

Mira Nair, director of films such as "Salaam Bombay", "Monsoon Wedding", "Vanity Fair" and "The Namesake" was chosen to be the keynote speaker this year.

At 7 PM I joined the rest of the interested crowds in Goodrich Chapel to hear Mrs. Nair speak. She was welcomed by the college president and introduced via a short film chronicling her work over the past few decades. She then spoke to the audience about her career and how she developed through her career and from a documentary filmmaker to working with Hollywood fictional films. She was then honored with a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Albion College.

After the lecture, there was a reception held at the Bobbit Visual Arts Center where I, and the rest of the audience, was able to meet Mrs. Nair. She was very charming in person and kept great conversation. I told her of my plans for this fall and her eyes widened when I mentioned SCAD. She said she also has an honorary doctorate from there, as the was the commencement speaker a few years ago. What a small world!

You just caught me on a good night. I'm doing what I was made to do - and I've got a feeling I'm going to do it even better this time

So, I have tried blogging several times already- and those have not proven to be successful ventures. The one successful blog that I kept somewhat regularly was kept while I was interning in New York City (See Here) and chronicled my experiences there.

Well, I am now entering a new chapter in my life and felt that it would be an appropriate time to start blogging again. I am going to be graduating from Albion College in two (!!!) weeks and will then be pursuing an MFA in TV and Film Production from the Savannah College of Art and Design. I am sure there will be plenty of exciting things to document!

Up until recently, I was very nervous and depressed about graduating and leaving everything I know about Albion behind. However, I recently flew down to Savannah to visit SCAD and I was blown away by both the city and the college. I now know exactly what is meant by describing something as breathtaking. From the moment the taxi entered the city of Savannah, to my walks though the historic district and along the river- I was out of breath and in awe!

The faculty and students that I met were so welcoming and were able to answer all the questions I had, I felt very at home there.

Coming back to Albion I found a newfound ease with the prospects of the future. Knowing where I am going next fall and having experienced what ife will be like there, I have found myself ready to move on. Although I will miss everyone I have gotten to know here, I am anxious for new surroundings and the opportunity to do what I love at SCAD's Film School.