Two posts in two days...oh my! I know I can't believe it myself.

This is my third session here at Brooks Institute and along with my photo class I am taking a public speaking class. I didn't ask to take this class, I'm just that lucky I guess. If you can't sense my sarcasm here you should know that I am totally being sarcastic. I don't mind speaking in public, but there is just some sort of stigma I have associated with speaking in front of a class in which I'm being graded.

I decided to make myself a list of things that would help me with my speech:

• Don't chew gum
• Dress to impress
• Make sure you don't have lipstick on your teeth
• Wear shoes (preferably closed toed)
• Be prepared
• Speak clearly
• Relax... but not so much that you fart because that's no fun for either party
• Do not picture the professor naked (my friend suggested I do this and you know in theory that might be a good idea, but really? I think that would only be distracting and awkward. Just sayin'.)
  

These are only a few things I'm going to try to keep in mind over the next 6 weeks I have this class.

Note - Last session I was in a group where we had to give a presentation. One of the guys in my group did not wear shoes. He was barefoot. Not cool. The teacher was not impressed and neither was I. I told him if he didn't wear shoes for our next presentation I was going to hurt him. Read More

On April 1st 1996 (give or take a year) I was made a fool. I'm going to backtrack a bit because I think it will help you follow the story.

This is on a need to know basis and you need to know that at that point in my life I still had not had my period. I knew that it had to come at some time because all my friends were starting to get theirs. Every time I went to the bathroom I would check the toilet to see if I had indeed started with no luck. I wasn't really sure how I would figure it out, but I wanted to be as prepared as possible for it.

This is where April 1st 1996 comes in. It was the end of the school day and I was waiting outside to catch the bus home. I saw a girl I knew get off the bus and walk straight toward me. She leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Allison the back of your pants are all red, I think you started your period." I was mortified. How could that happen to me at school when I was so not prepared for it? She let it sink in for a minute and then squealed, "APRIL FOOLS!" Read More

If you are following me on twitter (which you totally should be), you may have read last night that I found out some FANTASTIC news and I'm finally getting around to posting about it.

I have been trying to figure out for a while now what I want to be when I grow up. I decided that I wanted to pursue photography seriously, so I figured the best thing in my case would be to go back to school.

A while back Ashley posted on her blog about the school her father attended and when I clicked on the link to see the school I instantly fell in love. I guess you could say it was love at first sight.

Ever since that day I have been going back to the school's site thinking about how awesome it would be to become a photographer professionally. I've "met" so many fabulous photographers here on the internet that are for the most part self taught. It kind of makes me jealous that they have learned so much by just going out and doing it. I am more of a hands on, show me and I will do kind of girl. If that even makes any sense at all.

Well...I applied for the professional photography program at Brooks Institute and I found out last night that I was accepted! OMG! OMG! You truly have no idea how completely overcome with excitement I am.

I finally feel like I'm going to do something productive with my life, finish school, and move to a place I've never even visited before. Brooks is in Santa Barbara, CA which is approximately 11 hours (with out traffic) from where I am now. In some ways it seems like a long way, but when I think about the fact that people travel from all around the world to attend school here it makes my commute seem a little insignificant.

Aside from being completely ecstatic about my acceptance I'm also a little sad. Moving to California means leaving behind my family and my man. Of course I will visit and I'm sure they will too, but it will still be incredibly difficult to be away. The photography program at Brooks will take me 3 years of intense work to complete, but it will be so worth it.

I better go, I have a ton of paperwork to fill out and financial aid to find. Wish me luck! Read More