Day 9 (Wedsday Sept. 15)

Wait!!!! If you have been reading the New York City Journal up to today on a regular day basis. Go back to the start. I just updated it with some more stuff. I think the additions are good. Enjoy.

Today I fly back. It's early in the morning on Wednesday and I already feel sad for leaving this town. I can't wait to be big time and get a job here. I would love to live in the Big Apple. We'll see.

Ok, I'm back. Today was kind of cool. I just needed to go see a few final spots before heading out. Some of those spots included visiting Yankee Stadium. Actually, that was the only spot.

The other spot was visiting Queens, but since my subway was going to go through there on my way to the airport, I knew I didn't have to worry about seeing that. I tried to go back to the Museo de el Barrio, which I try to see yesterday. However, time did not allow for that to happen. One thing I did get to see, which I had yet to see and didn't think I would get a chance to, was the "Naked Cowboy". If you haven't heard of the "Naked Cowboy" just look at his pic:

This guy is known all over the world because he usually hangs out at Times Square and sings. Technically, he is not nude. He wears "tighty whities", a guitar and cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. So, he's not naked. However, I saw him and got those photos done. These photos are especially dedicated to Jill. She's a really cool friend, sometimes I think she's my best friend. Either way, she's awesome and she deserves to get hooked up with a good looking, successful man. Anyone out there fit the description? He has to be in his 30s though, that's a requirement. I should know, I didn't pass the test when I apply for the position because I was a "young pup" as she calls me. Anyways. When I left for Texas in May, she said to bring her back a cowboy. Well, I think I got the job done. Not only did I bring her a (pic of a) cowboy, but a good-looking NAKED cowboy all the way from Times Square. Jill, AKA Pinky... Enjoy!

Inside Toys R Us in Times Square. Can't go here w/o stopping at Toys R Us.

Wow, u can build just about anything with Lego's.

Honesty! That rocks!

Meanwhile here are more self portraits of today's short adventure.

Me at Yankee Stadium.

Me at Times Square.

Me outside my future office building at Reuters. Hmm, news media providers you better hire me before someone snags me. Either that or before my head blows up too big. :)

OK... It's officially over! As I write this last entry, I sit on the plane somewhere in the air headed back to Dallas to go back to my correspondence schooling and my freelance photography. It's overwhelming how I feel right now. I can't believe that I have accomplished this much, this year. Let's recap. I just finished an awesome four-day internship in New York City alongside the top 11 students in the country. I don't know how I ended up here and why I was chosen to be part of it. All I know is that whomever made the choice is probably not too upset about it right now. I think I gave the required effort, plus more than that, to show I am capable of doing a decent job. The coolest thing about this internship is not the fact that SPJ covered most of the expenses, including staying at one of the best hotels in New York City. It's not the fact that it was in New York City. It's not the fact that I was able to take a week off work to enjoy photography at a different level. I think the coolest thing about this whole experience is that I was wanted here. Being a guest to a large organization like SPJ is amazing. From the moment I got into my first meeting, to the moment I saw the last intern (Lauren) go their own way. I just felt so wanted. I came here to produce quality images. I believe that I did that. In fact, Bobby Sanchez, the editor at Al Dia Newspaper saw my photography from the 9-11 memorial and he said he was "impressed".

It's awesome seeing a new part of the world. It's amazing how things look and how your body gets numb when you see the sites you've only seen on movies, tv and photos. Being in front of the Statue of Liberty was awesome. Seeing the light beams over the Ground Zero memorial was emotional. Walking out of the underground subway onto Times Square was impressive. I can't believe I experienced all of that. Even more, I can't believe I was brought here as a "guest" to experience such thing. I always dreamed of coming to New York City. I always thought that a very aggressive financial savings plan would take care of that. Or that somehow I would win the lottery and buy my way there. I just never imagined that the love for photography and journalism would do it for me. It's amazing how well journalism has treated me this year. A summer in Texas, a trip to New York, a chance to shoot Monday Night Football and pro baseball. Journalism... Thank You. I love you!

Yesterday-Main-Bloopers