As a monster Cat-3 or 4 hurricane races toward the Gulf Coast, new meaning can be found in this recent Times-Picayune story about 20-somethings who moved to New Orleans to help rebuild it after Hurricane Katrina.

Known as Young Urban Rebuilding Professionals, this idealistic and highly educated group is responsible for bringing vitality and optimism back to Katrina-torn New Orleans. They’ve been doing it by leading the restoration of social programs, schools, parks and streets.

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I’m a city girl. So when I went to a Putnam County farm today to cover this really neat event that features sculptures displayed on farmland, I felt compelled to do something adventurous — like successfully walk down a steep hill in wedge sandals.

Farm owner Sandy Saunders greeted me with a smile and and dirty handshake and offered me a lift around the site.

“We  can take that,” he said pointing to a little red SUV, “or we can take that,” he said motioning to his monster-wheeled tractor (with no doors and just a seat.)

I said either would do, not thinking he would pick the grumbling farm contraption. We would get better views from it, he claimed.

He told me to hop on and pointed to the side fender. Oh. I’m so glad I wore a skirt today, I think.

(AP photo/Morry Gash)

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The crummy housing market has a silver lining if you’re a 20-something — with a significant other and a decent income, according to a Chicago Tribune advice column.  I sigh whenever I read a story that reminds the world is built for couples: you can’t have a fork without a knife, thunder without lightening, or a house without two incomes. Sigh. I have a looong way to go.

Anyway, the columnist suggests that even though the pitter-patter of children’s feet is a distant reality for some, 20-something couples should plan to purchase a home with versatility for their changing lives.

While low home prices might be appealing and  feasible for young couples, expect some resistance from mortgage lenders. Now more than ever, they are cautious in making deals with people with shady credit histories and a flaky work background.

I like not having to worry about a mortgage at this point in my life, though. I’d rather just worry about bringing the macaroni salad to the next house-warming party.

(AP Photo)

Director Brett Ratner this week expressed his interest in making a Guitar Hero movie. Here’s a plot idea he had in mind:

“It could be about a kid from a small town who dreams of being a rock star and he wins the ‘Guitar Hero’ competition. One of these dreams-[come-true] kind of concepts.”

Hmm, not bad. Ratner has cranked out decent (altho not amazing) films like X-Men 3 and the Rush Hour movies, so I could see him pulling this flick off.

Let’s just pray this movie happens. Perhaps if I prayed by playing the Christian Guitar Hero game, my dreams would come true.

(AP Photo)

While the last presidential race in 2004 was quite a big deal for me (since it was the first time I could vote), something about this year’s election has both excited and inspired me.

Sure, seeing signs that read “Vote or Die” as I walked across the politically-conscious campus of Howard University years ago was provoking, but this time is different.

Either way, the possibility of history being made is likely, with the country’s top two parties supporting Sen. Barack Obama as the country’s first black president for the Democrats and Gov. Sarah Palin as the first female vice president for the Republicans.

This year’s election is also more important to me than the last, because as an adult, I’m more aware of the issues that so many Americans face.

I’ve felt the pinch of the pocketbook at the gas pump, I’ve seen great minds filled with institutional knowledge laid off and, as a reporter, I’ve heard the heartbreaking stories about the loss of hope.

Regardless of what party or politician you choose to support, I hope that more young people and 20-somethings will think about their own American dream and definition of success… and then go vote.

(Photo credit: AP/Joe Amon; AP/ J. Scott Applewhite)

The hoity-toity—or downright obscure—college majors your parents warned you about may not be as pointless as previously believed, according to “The 6 Coolest Jobs for Weird Majors,”  a U.S. News story from today.

Reporter Liz Wolgemuth investigates the hidden value in some common weird major suspects, such as classics and linguistics. Apparently, linguistics can get you a job naming products, while classics will help you craft a gnarly law school argument. But she also uncovers the surprising practicality of some zany majors like packaging and food science; ever consider becoming a sustainability engineer (making product packages with less junk) or a flavor chemist (making lip gloss and ice cream yummy)?

When all else fails, your seemingly useless retention of Beowulf quotes might wow your crush at a party.

AP/PRNewswire

OK. I’ll admit that I felt a little sick when I got this announcement in my email box.

It’s probably because the last thing I was able to purchase was a pair of jeans. Gap jeans. Gap jeans on sale. Gap jeans on sale at a thrift store.

AP Photo/ Everett Fenton Gidley

But for all you folks ready to buy your first home, here are the deets:

“The Westchester County Association’s Young Professional Advisory Committee (YPAC) will continue its Home Buyers Series on Tuesday, September 9 when a panel of leading realtors and attorneys participate in Part II: The ABC’s of Real Estate Agencies.  The panel discussion, followed by a networking cocktail reception, will take place from 6 to 8 PM, at 1133 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, in the lobby level conference room.”

See: www.westchester.org or contact Julia Salem (she’s cool, I promise) at (914) 948-6740.

As for me, I’m looking forward to unpacking my winter clothes, where I usually find a few crumpled up $5 bills in my sweater pockets.

In January, we wrote about 23-year-old Julieann Benes of Yonkers, who was studying public relations and finishing up her final semester of graduate school at Iona College.

You know all those recent grads who are moaning and complaining about not being able to find a job?  Benes is happily employed in the consumer relations department of PepsiCo. While schlepping to the office everyday isn’t quite as much fun as rolling out of bed five minutes before class, Benes is embracing life as (gulp) a real adult.

Q: What’s been the biggest challenge in adjusting to your first full-time job?

A: I think getting used to the normal 9-5 work schedule is the biggest challenge I’ve had so far. When you’re in college you make your own class schedule, so you really can mold it to fit your preferences. There’s no adjusting the work day!

(The Journal News/Stuart Bayer) Read more of this entry »

My new favorite blog, “The Brazen Careerist,” is a career advice center for those of you, who like me, could barely point in the right direction to their college’s career center (mine, was in some sort of underground cave—or so I heard).

The site is for those of us who never really bothered to ponder what full-time work and a real career would be like after we had successfully squeezed the most out of college textbook refunds.

I love the article on types of people to avoid in the office (my advice: just avoid everyone) and why it’s OK to be imperfect (Whew. After watching Michael Phelps in the Olympics, I had been holding myself to a perfect standard in my own life.)  But the best is a posting by one chick, who I guess uses her real name, who accuses her boss of being a pathological liar. I would recommend living vicariously through her, though, rather than writing your own boss rant.
Enjoy!

AP/Ritzy Ryciak

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge Hello Kitty fan. After one sight of that huge head with a red bow on the side, small eyes, button nose and cute little dress, I fell in love.

I have every Hello Kitty accessory that one can think of and my Civic is the ultimate Hello Kitty mobile. My friends and family think that I am crazy and cannot fathom why a grown 20-something woman would love what is basically considered a toy for small girls.

My eight-year-old cousin who is also a Hello Kitty fan came into my room one day, saw my Hello Kitty sheets, jewelry box and dolls and laughed hysterically.

“Danielle, you’re weird,” she declared.

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