Conference Betty

I've got some catching up to do! Now that I've graduated I should have more time for keeping up with my blogging.

Yep, that's right. I GRADUATED! (Finally) I now have a Bachelors of Science in Mass Communication.

I want to remember some things I did before graduating.

Jesse and I had the opportunity to present at a Alpha Chi Honor Society conference in St. Louis, MO. I was so honored that I was chosen to go. Plus, it was a really fun trip!

Here is Jesse presenting at his panel. He did great on his presentation, and he won Best Presentation at the awards ceremony! (And also scored a $100 check for his hard work.)

I didn't get a picture of me presenting, but here is my proof that I did. haha I presented on Auteur Theory and Tim Burton.  Tim Burton is one of my favorite artists and directors, so I enjoyed being able to research and share what I love. 

 The weather was absolutely beautiful in St. Louis! We did a lot of walking. I was so relieved I brought some walking shoes. haha It's such a neat city. Plus, our mentor, Dr. Nakashian, had lived there in the past, so he knew all the best places to show us around.

 Like Pappy's Smokehouse Bar-B-Q. It was the BEST Bar-B-Q I have ever tasted. There were people in line for an hour waiting to be seated in this delicious restaurant.

 Here we are waiting in the line to taste the goods.

Even on of my favorite bands, Muse, had visited the restaurant and singed a menu. I got a picture with the closest I will ever be to Muse.

After presenting, we had a chance to walk the city of St. Louis and see this famous landmark, the Gateway Arch.

My second conference was a Mass Communication conference in New Orleans, LA. It was the Southern States Communication Association Convention. I had never been to New Orleans before, so I was really excited to go. My mentor had a son who lived there, so he took us to all the local dives instead of the tourist type places. Despite the sign, this place actually had fantastic food.

 Here is the pretty night-life sky line from my hotel room. My mom went with me to this conference, and we shared the hotel room. It was nice to have mom by my side the whole time.

 I was really nervous to present, but once I got set up in the panel room, I wasn't so nervous anymore. I presented my research that I completed for an independent study course. I examined gender role portrayals on the Food Network and how viewers perceived those portrayals, and how gender roles were adopted in their own lives. I questioned if television portrayal is responsible for some gender role adoption.

 Walking the streets of New Orleans, you are most certain to hear live music. Just in the day that we walked I saw an accordion player, a guitar player, a cajun band, a bluegrass band, and these jazz musicians.  

 We went right after Mardi Gras season. Can you tell? haha Beads are in the trees.

 A photo showing how high my hotel room is. Considering I am afraid of heights, I would get queasy looking out of the window. I was trying to see what it looked like if i fell in this picture.

 The famous Bourbon street. It smelled like vomit and piss. Like I said, we were going right after Mardi Gras.

 New Orleans was very supportive of artists. There was art EVERYWHERE. Our hotel was support George Rodrigue and his Blue Dog pieces. This particular painting was signed by Billy Joel and painted by George Rodrigue. There was also a huge Blue Dog on our hotel. I was too excited and distracted to get a picture though.

 Walking around goofing with mom  in New Orleans.

 We did some shopping as well ( of course, we are women) and I found these sunshades which I LOVE. Perfect cat eye vintage frames for me!

A pic with my mom. We were chowing down. We did a lot of chowing down. (That's always the best part of a trip to me.) The food in New Orleans is rich, flavorful, and sooooo yummy.

Another New Orleans skyline picture during the day. 

  Can't go to New Orleans without getting some crawfish!

 I ate three pounds of crawfish. Which is  a pretty good bit for a gal like me. my plate was EMPTY when I was finished (except for the shells of course.) My mouth is watering just looking at this photo. 

Mom also took me to the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans. It was so neat seeing all the difference creatures and pretty colors. Unfortunately, my phone battery was dying at this point, so I didn't get very many pictures, but I still remember the fun.

Both cities are definitely ones I would like to visit again! Such great memories!