http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/ en Copyright 2009 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:29:36 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss American Spirit ran an article about Savannah, Ga., in the Spirited Adventures section of the November/December 2008 issue, I've been dying to visit. And to my delight, I finally had my chance to get away to this historic city during the 4th of July holiday weekend. While I would have been perfectly happy to spend the entire weekend soaking up the sun at nearby Tybee Island, there were a few quintessential Savannah sites I didn't want to miss. Here are a few of my favorites:

Savannah College of Art and Design: Yes, the entire college. Thanks to renovation projects throughout Savannah, the city has become a bastion for local arts and culture. You can find a number of galleries throughout the city displaying work by SCAD students, including my favorite, shopSCAD. Pictured here is the Trustees Theatre, which was built as the Weiss Theater in 1946 amid the post World War II construction Boom. In 1980 the theatre was abandoned and stood empty until SCAD acquired it and renamed it the Trustees Theater. Today it hosts a wide variety of performances, concerts and lectures for the community.

The Mercer-Williams House Museum: If you're up for a hair-raising experience, check out this spooky 19th-century house, the site where owner Jim Williams' assistant, Danny Hansford, was shot to death in 1981. The story is widely known thanks to John Berendt's 1994 novel, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The house features 18th- and 19th-century furniture, art and architecture, which was more than enough to keep me occupied. Interesting fact: Before Hansford's death, the house was home to two other deaths. In 1913, a previous owner tripped over the 2nd floor banister and died 3 days later, and in 1964, a boy chasing pigeons on the roof fell to his death.

Forsyth Park Fountain: When I picture Savannah, the first image that comes to mind is walking the path through Forsyth Park to the fountain. Shaded by centuries-old trees and Spanish moss, the benches in Forsyth Park are the perfect place to sit and relax with friends after a long day of sightseeing and gallery hopping. Oh, and if you ever take a trip of your own to Savannah, I highly recommend the pizza at Vinnie Van Go-Go's. I could go for a slice of that right now...]]> Megan P. recounts her weekend getaway in Savannah, Ga. Megan Pacella http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2009/07/escape_to_savannah.php http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2009/07/escape_to_savannah.php July 15, 2009 3:29 PM 200907151529 For years, I have sworn up and down that I will never have a pet. Then, I fell in love with this little guy, who just happens to be so ugly that he's cute. My friend adopted Hogan 5 years ago when he was just a puppy and kept him until this past weekend, when he moved into a loft apartment that doesn't allow pets. When I found out Hogan was going to be shipped off to a stranger's farm, I couldn't bear to see him go. Before I knew it, I was offering to take him in--but just for a few weeks. Just until we could find him a better home. Foster pets have a way of becoming your own, so I might as well call him mine. I already have stupid pet names for him, like "Sweet Hogan" and "Precious Child" (for when he wants to cuddle), "Old Crazy Eyes" (for when he looks at me as in the picture above) and "Mr. Hogan" (for formal occasions). It's embarrassing, but I swear I'll put him on the back burner if I ever have children. (I think).]]> Megan P. finally breaks down and gets a dog. Megan Pacella http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2009/05/diving_into_dog_ownership_1.php http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2009/05/diving_into_dog_ownership_1.php May 7, 2009 12:05 PM 200905071205 Lately, I’ve been falling asleep at night with visions of tomatoes, cucumbers, yellow squash and cantaloupe dancing in my head. No, I’m not thinking about planting my own garden—my tiny apartment complex doesn’t provide enough space to do my own planting. Instead, I belong to a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program that allows me to connect directly with local farmers. It works like this: Every week a farm truck comes to my neighborhood, and the farmers hand me a huge box of fresh, organic, home-grown produce. I hand them a $20 bill, we shake hands and everyone goes home happy. The best part? Even though I don’t always get my favorite vegetables in every shipment, I am fully confident that everything I’m eating is safe. When grocery stores can’t sell tomatoes because a mega-farm somewhere accidentally shipped unsafe produce all over the world, you’ll find me in my kitchen making homemade salsa with my CSA tomatoes. If you’re unsure about the quality of your food, simply contact your provider and they will tell you if your vegetables are at risk. If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you probably know that I love supporting local businesses in my neighborhood—even when it means paying a little extra for what I buy. So when I learned that I could eat locally by buying my food directly from a small farmer, I was instantly hooked. Sure, the health benefits of a CSA program are great—I’m forced to cook more than I eat at restaurants, and I receive so much produce that I have no other choice than to eat vegetarian from May through October. But more than that, I love knowing that my money goes directly into the hands of small farmers who need people like me to buy into their dreams. My first CSA shipment will arrive May 3rd—until then, I’m preparing by scouring the Internet and old family recipes for new ways to cook, can and preserve peaches, strawberries, green beans, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and more. Any suggestions? Megan P. takes supporting local businesses to a new level by signing up for community-supported agriculture. Megan Pacella http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2009/04/how_my_garden_grows.php http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2009/04/how_my_garden_grows.php April 13, 2009 1:24 PM 200904131324 Megan Pacella was such a great intern that we had to hire her on full-time, which we did a little more than one year ago. Besides restoring my sanity on a daily basis, Megan rocks out as an editor and writer for several of our publications now. This afternoon, I made her take out her earbuds for a minute and tell me a little bit about her daily routine here in the office.

What fuels you better for the day: Breakfast or lunch? I don't do breakfast—I never really have, even when I was a kid. I replace real breakfast with a few cups of black coffee, so lunch is better fuel for me. In the afternoon, I usually take a sandwich and some fruit down the street to Portland Brew, a local coffee shop. I know the barista who works afternoons pretty well, and he lets me eat there as long as I buy a cookie or some juice or something. Taking that short walk is probably better fuel than anything I eat. It clears my head and helps me catch my second wind for the afternoon. What communications medium helps you most during the day? Definitely IM. I work right across from Jamie's office, so I can just yell to her when I need something, but the rest of our editorial staff is a spread out through the office. Bill and I can communicate quickly through IM about one of our military clients when we're under deadline, and that saves me a lot of time. If I walked to an editor's office every time I needed something, I'd never get anything done. Sometimes I get tired of talking through text, though—I really prefer to communicate face-to-face. What is your favorite on the job responsibility? I love doing anything that makes me feel creative—and that changes a lot around here. I recently wrote a feature called "A Helping Hand" about small business owners who are serving their communities for MyBusiness, and that was really fun. Of all the widespread responsibilities I have, writing is probably my favorite. Call me crazy, but I also love to edit any articles that need serious help. There's something refreshing about reworking a story with a red pen and making it sound better. The newest thing on my slate is learning about video editing and production, and I really like that a lot, too. As it turns out, I really just love my job, so I enjoy carrying out most of my responsibilities (except all the fact-checking can get really old!). Do you listen to music while you work? If so, what are your favorite artists/songs while working? You will rarely catch me NOT listening to music while I work. Seriously, I pretty much have some kind of music pumping through my ears at all hours of the day. My favorites change all the time. Every Monday I make a playlist called "make it happen" and I listen to that all week. This week's selections: Jonathan Ammons, Gretel, Rod Stewart, David Bazan, Blitzen Trapper, Iron and Wine, The Submarines, Stephen Sebastian and Okkervil River. I could never narrow it down to just a few, but lately I've found myself putting "Furr" by Blitzen Trapper on repeat. I love words so much, and having lyrics running through my head isn't a distraction for me, it's just the opposite: Clever lyrics inspire me to be a better and more creative writer and editor. I should stop there. I could talk about music all day. What's the last thing you do before you leave the office every evening? I'm a little obsessive about my end-of-the-day routine. I wash out my coffee cup, declutter and straighten up my desk, and then I make a to-do list for the next day. I have to write the list on the same type of paper with the same pen (the Barack Obama pen Jamie bought me at the Inauguration) every evening. I order the list by importance and I draw a small box next to each item so I can check tasks off as I work the next day. I never leave without making that list, because it allows me to hit the ground running every morning. I never have to think about what needs to be done; my entire day is waiting for me on my mousepad each morning when I come to work. The last thing I do is find my cell phone and call whomever I'm meeting that night to tell them I'm late—I'm always late for everything.]]> Megan Pacella was such a great intern that we had to hire her on full-time, which we did a little more than one year ago. Besides restoring my sanity on a daily basis, Megan rocks out as an editor and writer for several of our publications now. This afternoon, I made her take out her earbuds for a minute and tell me a little bit about her daily routine here in the office. Megan Morris http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2009/04/a_day_in_the_life_of_megan.php http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2009/04/a_day_in_the_life_of_megan.php Working April 9, 2009 3:20 PM 200904091520 1. Call for backup. When I learned on Thursday night that I would need to round up 10 or more college students to interview for our project, I immediately turned to my phone book. Remember all those favors you’ve done for other people? It’s time to call in a few of your own. After five phone calls, I had lined up five participants for Saturday afternoon’s video shoot. And after a mass e-mail, we found six more to participate on Sunday. 2. Scope out locations. Your video can only look as good as the location in which you shoot it. Look for well-lit areas without a lot of traffic so you can set up your video gear and shoot your subject in a semi-private location (where he or she will probably feel less nervous in front of the camera). Our choices? A colorful concrete wall, a white doorway in the midst of a charcoal wall, the steps of an auditorium on a college campus and among trees in a quiet park. 3. Get organized. If you’re shooting on short notice, staying organized is the most important—and the most difficult—part of the project. The night before the video shoot, make a list of what you need to bring (including camera cords, lighting, tripods, back drops, props, batteries, microphones, etc.), a detailed shot list (so you get the look you want for the video), and a comprehensive schedule (with plenty of extra time included for mishaps—because they will happen). Once you’ve finished scheduling, contact each of your subjects to give them the time and place where they’ll need to be; then e-mail the schedule to everyone involved. Keep a list of contacts and phone numbers handy in case one of your subjects forgets when and where they need to show up. 4. Pay close attention. Keep a list of certain shots and interviews that look and sound particularly good. This will save you time when you edit later, and can help you start building ideas for how to organize the video. Also, double check everyone’s wardrobe and hair to make sure nothing is out of place. There’s nothing more frustrating than a shot that is unusable because someone’s eyes are covered up by their hair. Also, check the microphones between every participant to make sure they are working properly and sound crystal clear. 5. Pull it all together. Consult the list you kept during the video shoot, and only keep the best footage. Once you’ve selected your favorite shots, pulling together the final product will be much easier. That’s not to say that the editing process will go quickly—it took us 6 hours to create a 2-minute video. Stock up on caffeine and snacks to fuel your body (I don’t think I’ve ever drank that much sweet tea in one sitting), and before you know it you’ll have a great video on your hands. Like anything else, the more time you have to shoot and edit the video, the better it can turn out. But if you’re like me and you only have 48 hours to turn it around, these tips will have you well on your way to producing a hit video.]]> Megan P. puts down her red pen to help produce a video. Megan Pacella http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2009/03/making_the_video_what_i_learne.php http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2009/03/making_the_video_what_i_learne.php March 2, 2009 12:22 PM 200903021222 American Spirit and MyBusiness stories before Lena and Jamie have to hunt me down to get them.]]> I generally do my best to avoid making New Year's resolutions, since I usually end up breaking them (like when I resolved to give up eating chocolate in 2005, and had already devoured a Hershey bar by Jan. 4). But... Megan Pacella http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/12/ringing_in_the_new_year.php http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/12/ringing_in_the_new_year.php December 27, 2008 5:00 PM 200812271700 In about two hours I'll be boarding a flight to Pittsburgh, Penn., where I will spend the next seven days eating lots of Christmas cookies and catching up with family and old friends. But don't worry: I'll be working from home and checking e-mail multiple times a day, just for you. If you need me before we're back in the office on Jan. 5, just shoot me an e-mail at mpacella@hammock.com, and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Have a safe and happy holiday season! In about two hours I'll be boarding a flight to Pittsburgh, Penn., where I will spend the next seven days eating lots of Christmas cookies and catching up with family and old friends. But don't worry: I'll be working from... Megan Pacella http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/12/how_to_reach_me_over_the_holid.php http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/12/how_to_reach_me_over_the_holid.php December 23, 2008 3:29 PM 200812231529 The Oregon Coast: Only 80 miles from the heart of Portland, the Oregon coast is a must-see for nature buffs. Pack a picnic and leave yourself plenty of time to catch stunning views of the beach from the 101. Stick around to comb the beach and watch the sunset over the water before heading back to the city for dinner. The Pearl District: The Pearl District's unique cafes, restaurants, boutiques and art galleries make it a paradise for tourists like me who love to find local color in a new city. Be sure to visit Powell's Books, the largest new and used bookstore in the world, and then take your purchases to Pearl Bakery where you can enjoy a signature cup of coffee and a freshly baked pastry while you read. The Kennedy School: If you're looking for a unique dining experience, try this elementary school-turned pub/restaurant/movie theater. Grab dinner and a movie simultaneously in the on-site movie theater, then hit one of the five pubs to sample a local brew--and make sure you check out the work of local artists while you're roaming the halls.

Multnomah Falls/Columbia River Gorge: A short 40-minute drive on the scenic Historic Columbia River Highway, Multnomah Falls is the second-tallest year-round waterfall in the nation, dropping 620 feet. Take the steep one-mile hike to the top of Larch Mountain, where you can catch the waterfall's origin--and a breathtaking view of the Columbia River Gorge. ]]> I'm back in the office after a quick--and action-packed--trip to Oregon. Here are a few highlights from my trip. Megan Pacella http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/11/exploring_oregon_1.php http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/11/exploring_oregon_1.php November 24, 2008 11:36 AM 200811241136 On Sunday I decided to put my mediocre painting skills to good use at a Habitat for Humanity work site in North Nashville. The house I worked on will provide a new home for Margaret and David Adalla-Duku and their six children. By the time my team made it to the site, most of the house was built, but we still had about nine hours of work to put in to get the structure ready for the family. Here's a shot of me painting fascia board atop a 10-foot ladder. (I like to have proof that I'm capable of such things).]]> On Sunday I put my mediocre painting skills to good use at a Habitat for Humanity work site in North Nashville. Megan Pacella http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/09/my_first_habitat_house.php http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/09/my_first_habitat_house.php September 26, 2008 8:58 AM 20080926 858 Creating reader engagement With the transition from magazines to new media, it's important for editors to seek new ways of grabbing (and holding) readers' attention. Here are a few tips offered by Boyce Thompson, editorial director of Hanley Wood, and Daniel Verdon, editor-in-chief of DVM Newsmagazine: 1. Build Community. Give your readers an opportunity to be involved in your magazine by using Internet message boards and letters to the editor, and including readers in your news. 2. Make Navigation Easy. Package your stories with inviting headlines, informative decks and eye-catching photos. Readership drops off with length, so make the lead catchy and keep important information close to the top. 3. Use Visual Storytelling. Use your photos to set a mood and communicate the theme of the article. Make sure your cutlines offer vital details about the photos so you can use images to present information. 4. Try Alternate Story Forms. Instead of using traditional long-form articles, try top 10 lists, timelines, charticles, pro and con lists, how-tos and Q&As. These forms are visually engaging and require tight writing that will hold readers' attention. How to manage multiple projects Hammock is more than a publishing company--it's a custom media company. And that means most of us Hammock people have to wear a lot of different hats in order to produce print, Web and video content for our clients. That's why I found this session by Brian Monroe, editor of Ebony and Jet magazines, so useful. Monroe presented a case study of his company's coverage of the Democratic National Convention, a project that looked similar to Hammock's coverage of the NFIB Small Business Summit. The Ebony/Jet staff formed a team to cover the DNC using video interviews, photography, liveblogging and other forms of writing. Click here to see their work. Monroe's tips for coordinating a team to complete this kind of project: 1. Be clear about objectives. Have a clear plan in mind for the end result so your staff knows exactly what it's trying to achieve. 2. Assign tasks appropriately. Before you get to blogging, make sure every one has a defined task to carry out so nothing is overlooked. 3. Let each medium do what it does best. There are things you can do with video, like capture the exact mood of a venue, that you just can't do as well in print. Make sure you harness the full potential of each medium. 4. Evaluate success. Once you're back in the office and your project is done, take the time to evaluate your work so you can improve your product the next time around. Now that we're back to the grind, I'm looking forward to putting all this helpful information to work.]]> Megan P. reviews what she learned at the 2008 Folio Show in Chicago Megan Pacella http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/09/what_i_learned_at_the_2008_fol.php http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/09/what_i_learned_at_the_2008_fol.php September 24, 2008 2:40 PM 200809241440 Twitter use has grown leaps and bounds—and not just with the Gen Y crowd. These days, it seems like everyone is networking through 140-character messages called “tweets”—including business owners. If you’re new to Twitter, you might be asking yourself how the service can actually be useful as a business tool. While Hammock is experimenting with Twitter as a content management tool on websites (like the website we built for the NFIB/eBay National Small Business Summit), for most individuals, the answer is simple: Twitter keeps you hyper-connected to clients, employees and colleagues, one tweet at a time. Here are a few reasons why adding Twitter to your business toolbox can enhance your business: Stay in touch with employees. If you’re running late for a business meeting or need to send a short reminder to employees, Twitter keeps you well connected to everyone who follows you on the site. Struck in traffic during a long commute? Stop for coffee on your way to the office? Send a tweet via text message so the entire company knows exactly when you’ll be at your desk and ready to work. Connect to clients. No matter what kind of business opportunity you’re looking for, it starts with connecting to people—and in today’s fast-paced world, people want immediate answers to their questions. That’s why companies like Comcast and H&R Block have started using Twitter to offer customer service in real time. (You can follow Comcast and H&R Block on Twitter, too.) Share news. Follow like-minded business owners to help each other stay on top of the latest news and marketing trends in your industry. Make business contacts. Thanks to the skyrocketing popularity of social networking services like Twitter, making business connections is no longer something you do at cocktail parties and industry trade shows. Follow people in your industry and let them follow you. And don’t be afraid to alert your followers when you’ve experienced business growth. Land a new client? Unleash a new product? Update your Web site? Send out links that point to your success to expand your business’ reach. ]]> Twittering is not just for the birds anymore, and it hasn’t been since the microblogging service made a splashy debut at the South by Southwest technology conference more than a year ago. Since then, Twitter use has grown leaps and... Megan Pacella http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/06/using_twitter_as_a_business_to.php http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/06/using_twitter_as_a_business_to.php June 16, 2008 11:45 AM 200806161145 American Spirit, the magazine Hammock produces for the Daughters of the American Revolution, I have acquired a newfound fascination with American history--especially with groups that typically have been marginalized. A few weeks ago I finished reading Black Elk Speaks, John Gneisenau Niehardt's record of the Lakota (Sioux) chief's experiences as tribal healer and holy man, and his account of the battle at Little Bighorn and the massacre at Wounded Knee. Two years ago, when I was a junior in college and planning to become a high school English teacher, I spent four weeks teaching Language Arts classes to Lakota children at Pine Ridge Middle School on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. This particular reservation was a hotbed of activity during the American Indian Movement in the 1970s, with the Wounded Knee Massacre occurring there in 1973. I spent my time "on the rez" (as the locals call it) shadowing a sixth-grade teacher, Mrs. Donna Jumping Eagle, and overcoming the awkward race relations that sometimes still exist between White and American Indian cultures. Two nights before I left Pine Ridge, Mrs. Jumping Eagle invited me to her home to experience some of her culture firsthand. Nervous about the prospect of indulging in traditions completely foreign to me, I almost turned down the invitation--and nearly turned the car around and retreated to my hotel room as I drove toward her house that evening. When I finally--and reluctantly--arrived, we shared a meal of Indian flatbread with her homemade chokecherry jam, a Lakota delicacy, before retreating outside with her friends and family to participate in a sweat lodge ceremony. This Native American religious service takes place in a four-foot tall hut made of sticks and animals hides, with a pile of heated rocks placed in the center. The purpose of the ceremony is for participants to "sweat out" their iniquities, and a designated participant ensures this will happen by repeatedly pouring water on the rocks to create steam and increase the temperature of the sweat lodge. I remember distinctly trying to concentrate on improving my character, but somehow I was unable, preoccupied with the wonder of being so intimately introduced to this hidden sect of American culture. We spent about an hour in the sweat lodge and I sat attentively while Mrs. Jumping Eagle and her friends sang religious songs in their native tongue. Once the sweat ended, Mrs. Jumping Eagle insisted that we smoke a peace pipe together to celebrate building a bridge between our two cultures (Don't worry: I checked first to make sure we weren't smoking peyote). As I drove away from Mrs. Jumping Eagle's house that night, I remember thinking two things: 1) Participating in a sweat lodge was the most uncomfortable thing I had ever experienced; and 2) I should stray from my comfort zone more often. Since sharing that experience with Mrs. Jumping Eagle, I've developed a passion for helping Native Americans conserve their culture. Organizations like the Native American Rights Fund help American Indians defend their rights and maintain their traditions, and the DAR offers scholarships and cultural camps for Indian children. I've worked hard to donate extra money to organizations that help my friends on the Pine Ridge Reservation hold tightly to the culture they so bravely and openly shared with me. It's strange, but every time I smell pipe tobacco I feel instantly thankful that I didn't turn the car around that night. ]]> Megan reminisces about her experiences in a Lakota sweat lodge ceremony. Megan Pacella http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/04/straying_from_my_comfort_zone.php http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/04/straying_from_my_comfort_zone.php Bio April 4, 2008 3:28 PM 200804041528 two elle Past style meets the present at two elle, a lifestyle boutique of men's and women's clothing, and home decor. With everything from funky patterned skirts and bohemian sweaters to classic button-down shirts, this unique specialty shop has something for everyone . Portland Brew This classic neighborhood coffee joint serves up choice coffees and teas from all over the world--and with a good conscience, too. With a fair trade certified sticker declaring their global mindset on the front door, Portland Brew buys their coffee from other fair trade certified companies, ensuring that everyone gets a fair cut of the cash--even coffee bean farmers in Guatemala. 12 South Taproom The perfect location to meet friends for a relaxing dinner after a long workweek, the 12 South Taproom has various beers on tap, including select brews from Nashville's Yazoo Brewing Company, live entertainment and an impressive menu that redeems the reputation of "bar food." I love patronizing these small businesses because their owners are idealists--they have to be in order to stand their dreams up to big corporations. And the fact that I shop locally, in many ways, makes me an idealist too. Instead of simply looking at buying clothes, food and other necessities as shopping, I prefer to look at it as investing in someone else's dream--and that's hardly a waste of money. At Hammock, we're in the business of helping small businesses grow. Many of our employees are the children of seasoned entrepreneurs, and when given the chance, we always support local businesses with our needs. Through our custom media craft blog, and work with smallbusiness.com and NFIB's MyBusiness magazine, we at Hammock believe in giving small business owners the tools and tips they need to grow. That probably makes us idealists too. ]]> I'm not ashamed to admit it: I'm a small business junkie. Megan Pacella http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/03/bigger_isnt_always_better_1.php http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/03/bigger_isnt_always_better_1.php Bio March 14, 2008 4:14 PM 200803141614 One Laptop per Child every time we receive five photos of our "Hammock friends" wearing their Hammock t-shirt. And if that's boring, well then, I hope I can be boring one day too. Sure, adulthood comes with the frustration of paying off student loans, car insurance payments and those pesky taxes (I couldn't BELIEVE how much of my first paycheck went to Uncle Sam), but for me it comes with a lot of perks as well. Every day I read, write and learn about the NFIB members we feature in MyBusiness, the famous patriots we write about in American Spirit and the civilian-soldiers who tell their stories in GX. And as an added bonus, I learn more about the craft of putting together strikingly attractive magazines every day. I'm sure that after a few months I will occasionally experience the unavoidable monotony that comes with working any 9 to 5--but for now I'm convinced that I work in the most fun and exciting office in Nashville. See? Adults can be idealistic and optimistic, too. ]]> After nine semesters of college, seven different jobs and countless sleepless nights, I am finally a "real" adult, as I like to call it, with a full-time job here at Hammock, Inc. My parents, professors and older friends have been... Megan Pacella http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/01/embracing_adulthood_1.php http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2008/01/embracing_adulthood_1.php Bio January 18, 2008 11:21 AM 200801181121 MyBusiness or writing stories for American Spirit, she’s always busy. Having grown up in a small village in Ohio, Megan enjoys the perks of “city life,” taking advantage of the plethora of small ethnic restaurants and local coffee shops all over Nashville. The daughter of a small-business owner, she is determined to support local businesses and enjoys poking around the specialty shops and art galleries near her home. In her free time, Megan frequents a local coffee shop in the 12 South district of Nashville (the baristas even know her favorite drink, raspberry tea!), teaches ESL, discusses literature with her nerdy friends and throws dinner parties complete with homemade sushi. When she can take time away from the office, you’re likely to find Megan almost anywhere in the contiguous United States—she’s been to 37 states. Or she’ll be sitting around a table in Ohio with her large Italian family, enjoying homemade manicotti, gnocchi, and chicken parmesan. ]]> Megan joined Hammock as an intern in 2007 and we liked her so much we kept her around upon her graduation from Lipscomb University in December 2007. Megan works on the editorial staff of all of Hammock’s publications, and whether... Laura Creekmore http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2007/11/about_megan.php http://www.hammock.com/people/meganpacella/2007/11/about_megan.php Bio November 26, 2007 7:10 PM 200711261910