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Click Interests to get to Part Two of my intricate "Mugs and Interests" page: I've got a truly various assortment of random pictures matched with descriptions of some close friends. Basically, I took a quick look through my pictures and picked a few of the worst shots of some close male friends and if some good ones for female friends and the rest is history. Also, it doubles as a checklist of my closest pals while I'm in D.C.
Abbie Gustafson A buddy since our time at Sandy Springs Middle School (and my senior prom date if I wasn't stuck on a plane en route from Israel), Abbie was always our "famous friend," starring in T.V. commercials, documentaries and even sitcoms like "Reality Check."
Allison Gaudet The veteran Cherry Blossom Queen -- virtually Miss Macon -- was also my girlfriend's roommate in '02, as well as a TEP sweetheart. A broadcast television major, Gaudet's shaking up the TV world.
Andrew Friedman A true character from the heart of South Carolina with his heart set on a legal career.
Ari Weitz One of my closest friends -- and now a comrade at The Red & Black as a sports beat writer -- this guy was my third and savior roommate in the roommate struggle of 2000.
Chris Brown A transplant from Leesburg, Virginia at the end of his junior year in high school, Chris and I quickly became close friends, bolstered by a historical trip down I-20. By senior year, after I was done introducing him to the entire school (I embarrassed him a lot -- you can see perhaps the most awkward of his embarrassments here, which also serves as my site's home page), I basically lived at his house, with Mama and Papa Brown.
Conrad Fink Fink's the epitome of a "newsman." He worked his way up from reporting for the Associated Press in Chicago to later becoming the AP's Southeast Asia bureau chief and eventually rising to the ranks of Vice President of the world's largest and most famous wire service. In 1983, he joined the staff of UGA's Grady College where he has left a lasting mark on all students, with his stories, lessons and mannerisms. He took me under my wing my freshman year, when I nervously entered his office. He snatched my Red & Black out of my hands, threw it at me and said "This (pointing at the newspaper) is the most important thing you can do in your four years here." Since then, I've been going to him for critiques on my writing, advice (personal and professional) and interesting conversation (he has a boatload of Cold War stories that will make you cringe). And yes, the eyebrows are real.
Craig Friedman My roommate in TEP, this crazy cat is an aspiring comedian who worked for CNN in Atlanta and then The Daily Show with Jon Stewart in New York in '02.
Dan Cooper My social chair cohort, this kid knows how to have fun in style. And I always set him up really, really well . . . He graduated with some sort of French/Risk Management combo after escaping a ballroom dancing class.
Dan Ketmayura One of my closest friends from high school and part responsible for who I am today. Once relegated to the "perverted" category among middle school friends, my Thailandese friend quickly became something of a ladies' man and soccer buff in high school, dominating especially with the underclassmen.
Danny Mills Along with Michael Bernstein, we'll be sharing a Towne Club pad together with this character 2003-2004. Mills is happily dating Dana, a fellow North Springs alum. Both he and Bernstein are business majors, which prompts quite a challenge for their very un-business roommate. Otherwise, this runner-up for the title of Atlanta's puniest at a 96 Rock radio contest last year is setting his sights on a long legal career.
David Coddon My first cousin, born a month earlier than me, was my enemy at birth. But after realizing that our similar looks could wreak havoc on unsuspecting counselors, we quickly became friends at the age of 5. Best buds ever since, David has helped make every family event enjoyable. He's about to travel the world and start a legal career.
Eliot Levin Don't ask, just click
Greg Greenberg One of the Saints of Savannah, Gregory Greenbean is one of my closest friends and his family has played host to me a number of times down there. An advertising major, he's busy fulfilling his proagandic destiny.
Jamar Laster That was the most embarrassing picture I could find of him, taken when he was a little tyke -- and before he started partying. One of my mentors in college, this guy put up with me for two years at The Red & Black. Now he's the managing editor at sports industry magazines in Atlanta and causing trouble in Athens on the weekends.
Jennifer Swails One of my closest friends in high school Swails is a budding physician. While she may be on a straight shot to medical school now, it was her invaluable, clearly non-scientific advice throughout high school that helped me eventually land Sheryl.
Jessica Schiffman After striking up a friendship while withstanding daily cross country practices/torture sessions, Jessica and I quickly became close friends. I credit a visit to her father Jim's CNN offices in 1998 during the Kosovo bombings with reawakening my stirring for journalism. A talented musician and student, Jessica is studying medicine and saving the world.
Joey My beloved dog that pees on command, gets infuriated by the "buzzzz" sound, snaps at the flip of a books' pages and eats his own vomit. Serves as the official mediator as he starts barking and tearing up things whenever anyone raises their voice.
John Javetz This peculiar man/beast hails from the great city of Savannah, my home the summer of '02. An avid boater and philanderer, he pines for the times when he can kick back in his Docksiders and sail off to his secret island.
Kristen Mays My close high school friend, adviser and eventual neighbor, Kristen's house (and hot tub) was often the gathering spot -- and it worked out well that I lived only a few houses down the street for her. In fact, Kristen was one of the main reasons our family moved to the neighborhood, and her kindness and hospitality served her well at Davidson.
Leslie Coughlin My first post-Kindergarten crush, Leslie and I met in Mrs. Crowder's fifth grade class my first day in public school at Woodland Elementary. While we didn't exactly hit it off, two years later in seventh grade at Sandy Springs, we became best buds, helping to form the nucleus of our cliche, The Raindrop Gang (TRG).
Little Brothers I've been blessed with two little brothers, Max and Lenny, and two fraternity "little brothers," Matt Weiss and Ben Lorber (pictured above).
Melanie Horton My Red & Black buddy from the very beginning, Melanie switched from news reporting to copy editing in '02. She's interning for an Atlanta magazine company over the summer, and served as the Red & Black's managing editor in Fall '03.
Michael Kruger The Macon heir to a roofing company, this kid is a walking dictionary of obscure references, movie buff, former tennis star and a sports nut. He's also one of my roommates in Buckhead, and can always be counted on to enjoy a funny movie or a high-brow sitcom.
Sheryl Marbach The girlfriend. A marketing major permanently embedded on the Dean's List, Sheryl was the VP of her sorority, a professional notetaker and an elementary student's tutor. She does more when she's not at work or taking classes -- she is constantly busy, although more often with the many people that go to her for advice and help than she is worrying about herself.
Stephanie Kahn A friend since the fourth grade, Stephola reentered my life at Camp Barney Medintz, where we were both first-year staff. A TEP sweetheart as well as a kind soul and a friendly ear, Steph doubles as Sheryl's best friend and future roommate. She's also a Red & Black colleague, although she's on the advertising side of things.
Venkat Lakshminarayanan Other than his 16-letter name, Venkat was one of the most unique people I've ever had the honor to befriend. My best friend and close companion throughout high school, we first met when he beat me in an election for Freshman Class Treasurer (I talked about being frugal, he just made posters of his last name). Our friendship quickly blossomed -- I was also his ride everywhere since he never got his license -- and we still keep in touch.
Washington Center for Politics & Journalism This group of 12 students from California to England, from Ottawa to Memphis, formed the basis of my 4-month long stay in Washington, D.C. Together, we shared in the trials and tribulations of working for a major newspaper or television bureau during wartime and we delighted in experiencing the wonders of D.C. together.
Click Interests to get to Part Two of my intricate "Mugs and Interests" page: |
