this is what i do

I have been frequenting a tea shop around the block from where I work in the morning. They have an herb garden out front and serve about 40 different kinds of tea. Seating upstairs allows me to sit at a tiny little table, look out over the street and journal or read in the morning.

Or, sometimes I do like I did yesterday. I got to Union Station and went from there to a little coffee shop called Ebenezers and grabbed a cafe au lait. Then walked from Union Station to the Capitol Building and sat out by the fountain. I drew, I sipped and I enjoyed.

Around 9:30 I start heading back up to where our office is. Located just two blocks from Dupont Circle it's in a great location. The street is quiet and I found out today about an amazing Thai restaurant around the block. The press is located on the third floor, and in the basement, of this building below. I go into the door between the first two trees on the left and downstairs. My desk is in the basement, with the rest of the production department.

This picture so easily sums up what I am helping do in my internship. Yesterday I was organizing a shelf and throwing out manuscripts and correction copies of books that had been published for more than six months. I stumbled upon this first corrections draft and was amazed at the red, green and black corrections plus the author queries, all sticky-noted. I pointed it out to my boss and she went over and grabbed the book off the shelf. That pile of papers became the book on the right.

Lots of work by interns like myself went into it of course.

lunch at my desk

Remember when I wrote about my job and told you that part of it includes the castoff, which determines the length of the book and begins production?

I'm in the middle of one currently. I have, so far, been working on it for 3 hours now and am about halfway through it.


What I love about having a big-girl job:

My work stays at work
Getting up early
Feeling the time go quickly
Learning new things everyday
Feeling needed

in celebration of the autumnal equinox

First day of fall!

evening under the stars

We, the Wecker family and I, went to a Warrenton town event on Friday night. The Weckers own the the Iron Bridge Wine Company, a breathtaking restaurant with atmosphere to die for and food that will kill you again. We had a bite there and then went outside to enjoy delicious food and music.

View from the top floor. From left: Jesse, Joy, Zoe, me, Christian and Patti.

Everybody meet Joy!! She is probably the greatest and totally the coolest- pretty much ever. I had a blast Friday night and these words just don't seem to do it justice, because it was epic.

thirds

I finished checking final corrections for my first manuscript today. I made a PDF of the finals and my boss sent them off to the typesetter. I wanted to jump up and down and get really excited but alas, all business down in the basement at Island Press (yes, my desk is in the basement).

Just before I left I started making a master of a new book. In order to do this I take the PDF from the author and compile the corrections with corrections from the proofreader. A long, detailed, and tedious task when the manuscript is about 400 pages long. I am learning through the entire process.

seconds

My second day of internship was wonderful. I feel like I learn so much everyday (listen to me, it's only the second one!) This morning I learned how to begin what is called a "castoff". Basically the most important part of the production process as it estimates how long the book will be and what it will look like. From this cost is generated. From this printers are found. From this editors are hired and manuscripts are typeset.

It's my job to get it perfect.

But I also want to talk about yesterday. I decided to brave the metro home and find my way by myself. Some wise words reminded me that the best way to find your way is to get lost. I figured thats the worst that could happen so I went for it. Proud of myself I returned to Elkridge on the 5:16 train without any problems.

Let me preface the next part with this: when you get off the train all the passengers have to wait on one side of the tracks until everyone has unloaded. Then the train leaves and when the tracks are clear all the passengers walk over the tracks to the other side, where the parking lot is located.

Proud of myself I hear that my stop is next and begin to gather my things. Binders, my purse, an apple I had been eating all are in my arms as I stand up with my fellow commuters to unboard. I stand patiently in line waiting for my turn.

I get to the stairs and on the first of six I trip. Everything flies out of my hands. I proceed to fall down the stairs face first and off the train onto the sidewalk. Into the sea of people waiting for the train to leave.

Happy first day in Washington, D.C. Laugh it up.

overwhelmed

This morning I caught the MARC at an ungodly hour and rode in to the D.C. Metro for my first day. A woman from church actually makes the same commute each day and I had a delightful ride in with her and was so thankful that she showed me how to get to work. The train is nice and quiet- I have a feeling I will enjoy the ride each day. The closest thing I can compare the Metro to is the London Tube, however the quality is no where near the same (in my mind the London underground is comparable to Michelangelo's finest work in aesthetics and Gutenburg's in functionality).

Island Press is just two blocks from Dupont Circle, where the metro lets me off. This morning I walked through the circle, past the fountain and up Connecticut Ave. to my office. It's a small, neat space- yet in each office resides piles of files and books. I have learned SO MUCH already and feel a tad bit overwhelmed. However the feeling is familiar, like a first day at a new school, lets use Oxford as an example. This morning I was overwhelmed with the new sounds, beauty, smells and sat sipping a pumpkin spice latte in a shop

I like the people. I like the office and its location. I love what I will be learning to create.

newness

Two of my favorite things are cozy kitchens and windows. They are right up there with chocolate, mushrooms in pasta (or anything really) and an amazing book.

I'm sitting at the Elkridge house, in the kitchen specifically, with a playful kitten named Franklin. It is quiet here this morning, which is unusual for this house. With it's eleven rooms there is space for people to always be around, whether they live here or not.

Sunny today, but fall is definitely around the corner.

I start my new internship tomorrow. I'll be catching the train around 7am and be in the city hopefully in about an hour. At church yesterday I sat next to a woman who commutes into D.C. everyday and she gave me some really helpful advise, and her phone number, for how to get tickets and get there smoothly.

Green is the color of everything here. There aren't many right angles and I have the whole day to enjoy.

welcome to baltimore

Well, Elkridge, Maryland really. I left Southern California and packed my life up and toured it around to see people I love for a little bit. I went home to visit my family in tiny little Cold Springs first. Such a wonderful few days at home. I got to sleep in, spend time with my grandparents and meet my new baby cousin Kaden! He is so wonderful (pictures posted soon) and a great new addition to our family.

Next I drove back down to Azusa to spend a day in the life with Amber Wells. RA extraordinaire, she is living in an amazing hall with some amazing girls. So fun to spend some time with her there.

She dropped me off at John Wayne and my plane landed in San Antonio. The 1300 miles I've wanted to conquer for months now and the moment finally happened. The most wonderful few days with my bestie and I met some new friends too! I can't wait to go back yet I am excited for the new season we are moving into. Yesterday we got to drive to Kerville to see Noah and Katie Jenks and Mona McGrady! Joy of all joys they are and wonderful conversation. Forever friends they are. I was so happy that two of my worlds collided for a bit.

So much has happened and I haven't had internet so apologise for the listiness of this blog.

Up before the sun this morning, James and I had fun getting to the airport.We listened and sang to music and soon I was off. Strange to fly on a day that is so monumental for everyone in the airline business. I was greeted by the most wonderful Joy. Joy Wecker and her mom, Patti, came and got me from BWI with a welcome sign in the shape of a crab! Pictures soon.

I love this house. It's old, full of hard-wood floors, has more rooms than I can count, is full of life and people, has windows with trees outside, and is complete with a secret passageway.

No. Joke.

excitement

I picked up the essentials to start my new internship on Tuesday. The heels were only $8.00. Score!