LANA BELLAMY

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Mon, 20 May 2013 17:33:47 -0400

vogue: Cara Delevingne in Burberry Prorsum dress, Chopard...

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:29:25 -0400

Cara Delevingne in Burberry Prorsum dress, Chopard jewelry at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival

Vote for your favorite best dressed woman of the week here.

bigdreamerr2010: Is it wrong that I laughed , so freaking...

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:11:05 -0400

bigdreamerr2010:

Is it wrong that I laughed , so freaking hard ; can you tell I have no life , since The Vampire Diaries ended .

abigaildonaldson: Carey Mulligan in “There’s Something About...

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:06:29 -0400

abigaildonaldson:

Carey Mulligan in “There’s Something About Carey” by Tom Allen for Harper’s Bazaar UK June 2012

Internship Day 3:

Thu, 16 May 2013 23:15:41 -0400

I am writing this entry a day late because yesterday was so packed that I ran around all day long, which is definitely a welcomed change of dynamics from the first two extremely slow days at work.

The day began with a little more excitement as my program group met that morning in the Centre Block of Parliament for a small forum with the clerk of the House of Commons. Her dry sense of humor and honest advice was much needed and quite entertaining. But it ended too soon and I had to run back to Sparks Street for work.

I decided after talking to my parents and sister that even though the tedious survey work was wearing on me, I needed a change of attitude if I was ever going to make a good impression on the Embassy workers. So I went into work and sat small goals for myself for the phone list and did not stop until they were achieved. To much avail, I ended up getting nearly 20 replies from the surveys (up from only 1 the first day and 3 the second day) and even got a call to do one over the phone. This gave me enough stamina to continue pushing through the list until that evening’s story meeting for the upcoming issue. My positive attitude was waning, but I eager to not let it get the best of me.

I finally met the owner of the company during the meeting and he was very welcoming and kind. I think everyone seemed uptight at first because they didn’t know me and they were busy with last-minute production tweaks. They were very relaxed on Wednesday and tried to include me in all of the discussions (even if I didn’t have much to contribute). Carl insisted I be put on a project (yay) so they appropriately offered to have me help Kristen with her piece on U.S. immigration. I was more than happy to oblige, but things turned out a little differently. I was curious about media transparency laws in Canada after the AP incident earlier this week so I figured I could ask a room full of professional journalists about it. Surprisingly, they had no idea if something of that caliber could happen to one of their national news sources. The publisher loved my question and put me straight to work on a story investigating the legal bounds of national security vs. the people’s right to know by the press in Canada.

But then it gets better. After leaving the meeting very satisfied with my assignment, I go back to work on finishing my phone list for the survey. While on the phone with the Honduran Embassy’s phone directory, I hear them talk about the Haitian reception at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Can you believe that nobody in the office besides Anca wanted to go (and even she wasn’t terribly excited about it)?? I heard Carl joke that maybe I would want to go with her so I quickly hung up the phone and acted like I was working so I could listen in. When Anca asked me, I was like, “Uh, is that even a question?” So I left work early and ran to the dorm to listen to our Quebec trip meeting, ran upstairs to change purses, and then literally ran back to the office just in time for us to pick up her friend and catch a cab to the museum.

The reception was unbelievable. We checked our coats at the door and networked in the foyer with diplomats and ambassadors. I was so excited to meet the Ambassador to the European Union that I could hardly contain myself. We were soon welcomed into the theatre for a classical piano concert and an opera (both performers were Haitian). A MP from Canada and the Haitian Ambassador gave short speeches (all in French. I couldn’t understand a word, though I tried very hard!) before we were taken back outside the theatre for food and wine. We spent the rest of our night sipping on wine and chatting with Ambassadors and Charge d’Affaires’. Anca and Victor walked me all the way back to the dorm. I was on cloud nine… or living a dream. I still can’t determine which. Needless to say, this experience was something I will tell my children one day.

Lesson of the day: It is amazing what a change in attitude can do to flip your whole day around. I went from dreading work because of the tedious assignment I was given, to making myself be optimistic and have experiences of a lifetime. I truly believe because of my change in attitude and positivity toward my assignment, they were more willing to give me another project and then felt they could trust me to co-represent them at the event.

For the record, I will never get tired of saying, “Hello,...

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:51:00 -0400

For the record, I will never get tired of saying, “Hello, Ambassador. Lana Bellamy with Embassy Magazine.”

But then again, I only have four more weeks of this privilege so I better soak it up!

I was personally invited by the Argentinean Charge d’Affaires to their National Day reception at the Chateau Laurier on the 28th and the Palestinian reception this Tuesday. People really get to do these types of things of a living? Oy vey… Talk about a dream come true!

In the pictures: the first one is the copy of the magazine that came out this week. It’s printed on newspaper, but the analysis included in the story gives it a magazine-feel in the writing. The second is the program book given by the Embassy during the piano concert/opera. The third is a picture of the press ticket they gave us for entrance. The last is the invitation to the reception given to me by Kristen Shane.

(See Internship Day 3 entry for more details)

sounds-of-the-s0ul: The Cure - Just Like Heaven

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:40:04 -0400

sounds-of-the-s0ul:

The Cure - Just Like Heaven

"The key is this: Meet today’s problems with today’s strength. Don’t start tackling tomorrow’s..."

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:35:56 -0400

“The key is this: Meet today’s problems with today’s strength. Don’t start tackling tomorrow’s problems until tomorrow. You do not have tomorrow’s strength yet. You simply have enough for today.”

- Max Lucado (via creatingaquietmind)

rosalarian: Angelina Jolie had a double mastectomy, in case you...

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:34:28 -0400

rosalarian:

Angelina Jolie had a double mastectomy, in case you hadn’t heard. How dare she remove those ticking time bombs from her chest, amiright? Like, hasn’t she learned by now that her body is public domain and we all get to vote on what she does with it? Sheesh, how selfish can ya get.

ambientlight801: Heber Valley, Utah

Mon, 13 May 2013 23:15:11 -0400

ambientlight801:

Heber Valley, Utah

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Mon, 13 May 2013 23:10:12 -0400

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Mon, 13 May 2013 23:09:45 -0400

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Mon, 13 May 2013 23:06:48 -0400

dawcy:

Mon, 13 May 2013 21:31:46 -0400

dawcy:

alangwiggy: dysphorism: deflaw: haave-you-met-ted: thefrogman...

Mon, 13 May 2013 21:28:46 -0400

alangwiggy:

dysphorism:

deflaw:

haave-you-met-ted:

thefrogman:

So this guy volunteers at the Olympics. He figures maybe he’ll get to see some amazing athletes doing athletic things. And then the fastest man alive gives him a fist bump.

Look at all that happy.

this is still my favourite thing on the internet

seriously the 5th time reblogging this non b&w gif sorry not sorry

AW I LOVE THIS

Aww, now THAT was pure happiness in its prime :’]

Internship Day 1:

Mon, 13 May 2013 21:27:54 -0400

This morning, me and my roommate decided to wake up a little earlier and visit a coffee shop a couple streets over from the dorms before we had to meet our director in the lobby. That coffee was amazing and will probably be where I stop every morning on my way to work.

Dr. Baker took us to get our Parliament passes that will let us go in and out of every government building at our leisure and then escorted us, by group, to our appropriate offices and departments. Mine was last since it wasn’t a government building, but this allowed me to see all the different offices in La Prominade, which were amazing.

It was nice to finally put together all the names and faces I had seen in the magazine. They were all very welcoming and friendly, but also extremely busy with last-minute edits and phone calls for their stories. They go to press tomorrow, so they really didn’t have time to show me around or orientate me into the office. My assignment for today was to basically be a telemarketer for their annual Savvy Diplomat Survey. I originally thought I would be going to different embassies to hand out the surveys, but instead they asked me to do it by phone and email. I probably called 25 embassies with only 2 or 3 friendly responses (Czech Republic (it was a new guy), Ireland, and Australia). The other ones were either too busy or didn’t understand what I was trying to do. But it was hard for me to really press the matter. I guess that’s why I didn’t go into marketing or sales as a living. I knew there were more important issues ambassadors had to deal with. But tomorrow, I am really looking forward to working on more paper-related matters. Shane said I would probably be helping to proofread articles or layouts and possibly writing briefs for their talking points! Finally something I know how to do.

All in all, it was an exciting first day, but now I am ready to really get into the writing and reporting aspect of work and get more acclimated to the city environment.

well i mean, the cold just comes with spring. a week ago it was extremely warm, and now a week later it's freezing. trust me, it's more bipolar weather than canada just being cold. on hockey... it IS playoff season, and ottawa is in the finals. i know people who don't give two shits about hockey any other time of the year who claim to just LOVE it right about now. but glad to hear you think we're nice :) we try! haha.

Mon, 13 May 2013 21:20:28 -0400

I hope I didn’t sound rude in my post. I am really enjoying my time here. The places I have been thus far are absolutely beautiful and Ottawa is one of the cleanest cities I’ve ever been to (the other clean cities have all been outside the U.S. I think I’m noticing a trend….)! Thanks for the elaboration though. I have heard from locals today that the cold weather right now is not typical, and it sounds like your playoffs are bandwagon-esque just like the NBA playoffs back home. I think Canadians and Americans are more alike than people realize. :)

FYI, everything you think you know about Canada is probably true.

Sun, 12 May 2013 22:33:08 -0400

At least from what I’ve seen.

The “eh,” the friendliness, the cold, the maple leaf and hockey obsessions, the high cost of living, the accents, and how they have Canadian versions of all of the U.S. shows.

The only thing I haven’t really seen much of is the whole bacon and maple syrup fascination. I hardly see bacon anywhere, but then again, I’m not much of a fan myself so I probably just don’t notice it.

We had lunch with the Senate pages yesterday and they were so friendly. They loved getting our perspectives on Canadian politics and government and one guy even came out for drinks with us last night and showed us around downtown Ottawa. He is from New Brunswick and gave a lot of good advice, especially on how to talk to other Canadians and city life in Ottawa. But he majored in linguistics, so of course he love talking about all of their colloquialisms. One girl admitted that while they were sitting with us at lunch they were trying to not say “eh” and not be stereotypical Canadians around us, but we still saw it anyway. I hope we hang out with them more while we’re here.

I’m nervous, but excited about starting my first day at Embassy Magazine tomorrow. The walk is going to be tedious and long, but I think I’ll get used to it. Morehead being so small and driver-friendly has definitely spoiled me.

I also tried poutine last night. They refer to it as the Canadian version of chili-cheese fries. It has fries with cheese curds doused with brown gravy. Everybody raves over how awesome it is, but I thought it was gross. I guess I’m not cut out for this life, haha.

medicalstate: Coffee Propaganda. This is an interesting and...

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:27:17 -0400

medicalstate:

Coffee Propaganda.

This is an interesting and cute video about coffee with the flair of 1940s and 50s propaganda. Despite everything the video touches upon, I drink coffee for the simple reason of staying awake on those very bad days.

Patrick Stump Destroys Shane Morris On Twitter; Individual Tells FOB Fans To Kill Themselves

Thu, 09 May 2013 08:17:06 -0400

propertyofzack:

Patrick Stump just went on a very large Twitter attack on an individual named Shane Morris who has been heckling Fall Out Boy and their fans in truly cruel ways for months. You can see Morris’ Twitter profile here and check out the series of tweets from Stump below after the jump.

Update: Who Is Shane Morris?

Read More

I wish I could insult someone like this… Seriously, if you see this post on your dash, click “Read More” and read the tweets from the bottom to the top.