Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Thursday, February 14, 2008
V-Day
Happy Valentine's Day to all you sweethearts out there!
A little Valentine's history lesson:
Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.
One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial -- which probably occurred around 270 A.D --
So there you have it! We send cards, flowers & candy and go out to expensive dinners all b/c some guy was thrown in prison ;)
Use this day to show the people you love just how much you love them.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Blog? Seriously?
In the inspiring words of my office-mate, "You're going to start a what?" A blog. Now mind you, I barely read long emails all the way through and have little patience to type to a 3rd paragraph, but I was entrigued by how easy it was to start a blog and that it was free!
Working in public relations; what a better way to relate to my public, then be in cyberspace with my fellow surfers and as a photographer, what a better place to showcase my work.
Alittle background on me:
Born & raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and still a New Orleanian at heart, I am currently living in Downtown Birmingham, Alabama, USA (a little tribute to Rick Carter & Franky Velvet). After graduating from the University of Alabama in May 2005, I have been building my 'illustrious' public relations/photography career at Panorama Public Relations in Pepper Place working w/ all types of media outlets regionally and on the national level. Working recently with Belk has turned me into quite the fashionista (I'm sure to my husband's chagrin) and recently moving into our first home, a loft in Downtown's North Side, has made us quite cosmopolitan (or quite the yuppy; you decide).
Moving here from New Orleans wasn't the hugest of adjustments, but you'd be surprise and the amount of differences (like the first time I couldn't buy alcohol on Sunday - that was a shocker). But living downtown to make Birmingham as urban as possible has been very refreshing. Meeting the eclectic people that live there has been the best part; we are like a family. It is almost like a small town in a city. Everywhere you go; you see at least 2-4 people you know. Being able to walk to get coffee, or dine at a yummy restuarant, or go out for drinks has been great and I live all of 3 minutes from work (if I catch all the green lights). A Vespa is my next big-ticket item. I'm a huge advocate for downtown; can you tell? I believe a city's downtown should truly be it's center where people flock for culture, dining, entertainment, shopping, etc.; all of the extra lifestyle elements should be found downtown. My dream is for downtown Birmingham to be a bussling, metropalitain, city-center. It is chaulked FULL of potential and let me just tell ya, if I had the money, I'd been fixing-up a gorgeous old building and make it a live/work. Ok, I'm off my soap box. Stay tooned for the next entry!
Working in public relations; what a better way to relate to my public, then be in cyberspace with my fellow surfers and as a photographer, what a better place to showcase my work.
Alittle background on me:
Born & raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and still a New Orleanian at heart, I am currently living in Downtown Birmingham, Alabama, USA (a little tribute to Rick Carter & Franky Velvet). After graduating from the University of Alabama in May 2005, I have been building my 'illustrious' public relations/photography career at Panorama Public Relations in Pepper Place working w/ all types of media outlets regionally and on the national level. Working recently with Belk has turned me into quite the fashionista (I'm sure to my husband's chagrin) and recently moving into our first home, a loft in Downtown's North Side, has made us quite cosmopolitan (or quite the yuppy; you decide).
Moving here from New Orleans wasn't the hugest of adjustments, but you'd be surprise and the amount of differences (like the first time I couldn't buy alcohol on Sunday - that was a shocker). But living downtown to make Birmingham as urban as possible has been very refreshing. Meeting the eclectic people that live there has been the best part; we are like a family. It is almost like a small town in a city. Everywhere you go; you see at least 2-4 people you know. Being able to walk to get coffee, or dine at a yummy restuarant, or go out for drinks has been great and I live all of 3 minutes from work (if I catch all the green lights). A Vespa is my next big-ticket item. I'm a huge advocate for downtown; can you tell? I believe a city's downtown should truly be it's center where people flock for culture, dining, entertainment, shopping, etc.; all of the extra lifestyle elements should be found downtown. My dream is for downtown Birmingham to be a bussling, metropalitain, city-center. It is chaulked FULL of potential and let me just tell ya, if I had the money, I'd been fixing-up a gorgeous old building and make it a live/work. Ok, I'm off my soap box. Stay tooned for the next entry!
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