These past few months have been a whirlwind. Case in point: I am writing this from 30,000 feet above ground on an iPad, en route to Denver with my partner-in-crime, Mallory, for work. We’re spending a few days at an “offsite” sale for the Go Cars and Trucks market. You know, the used car sales where they unload hundreds of vehicles at the stadium. We’ll be at Mile High Stadium, taking photos, meeting customers and Twittering away.

We’re both thrilled to be traveling and spreading the social media gospel to our other markets. We might even try and stop by a store or two while we’re out there. June 18 marked my two month anniversary on the job and there’s plenty to show for it:

Things have been moving fast! I like to think it is because our social media team really gets it and we work together so well. Stephen, our social manager, and Gary, VP for marketing, are touchstones for positivity and encouragement. Our partnership with GOSO, the automotive social media outfit, have kept us inspired and on our toes at the same time.

Working with my best friend has been nothing but fun, too. I knew Mal and I had really hit it off when we first met over Twitter when she joined the Herald in November 2008, but I am continually thankful for what great friends we have grown to be.

The contrast between my job as a social media coordinator and a newspaper designer is night-and-day (and not just literally.) As a designer, I felt like I was always striving to become an artist, but working in newspapers meant I often just ended up drawing boxes. I lacked the confidence to immerse myself in art, but I really enjoyed the information architecture aspect to designing a product for consumption. As a social media coordinator, I get to interact with our local and national community and am continually thinking up new ideas for blog posts, contests and campaigns. The creativity I sought after as a designer is being fed. Sure, I miss geeking out over leading sizes and kerning, but I do get weekends and holidays. I can’t really complain.

For any of my friends in the newspaper business who are looking to branch out and try something new, or those who feel don’t know how to make the first step towards a career change, it is true: there is life after newspapers. Find something that excites you. Find a way to work it into your current job. Start looking for other opportunities – they’re out there. You just have to be willing to give them a try. You can’t win if you don’t try.

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I am looking for a job, preferably in South Florida, in the social media/blog world, though not restricted to journalism. My temporary job as Interim Online Community Manager ends Friday, Apr. 2, though both Knight Foundation and I hope to continue to work together on a freelance basis.

If you’re confused, let me explain: I took this job in January, after being laid off from the Miami Herald, as a temp-to-perm position. Another awesome candidate came forward for the position, and he was offered the job as he had a few years more experience than I with project management. That said, the parting is amicable. I wish it were longer, but I really do hope to continue some relationship with Knight Foundation since it’s work is so near-and-dear to my heart.

Please send any job leads and/or inquiries to me via Twitter or email. Thanks!

Just a quick note to let you know that I’ve found work at the Knight Foundation, here in Miami, where I am interim Online Community Manager. I got word shortly after my last post when I announced that I was officially unemployed. As I find my footing, I will post about some of the exciting things that are being done at the foundation to help transform the future of journalism, among other things. For now, you can catch me on Twitter (@loritodd) and over at the Knight Blog.

New Years resolutions, in my option, are doomed from the get-go. While the new year is a good time to reflect on the past year and make goals for the next, I feel that announcing to friends and family (hell, even if you just keep it to yourself) that “This year I will [insert an unrealistic goal here]” adds unneeded pressure to the new year. I don’t need any more pressure in my life. 2009 was too difficult to stomach. It had it’s high points, but it ended on quite a sour note. For me, 2010 is a clean slate. Here’s a list of what I’m looking forward to in 2010:

New career

Note, I did not simply say “new job”. 2010 will be a year where I try something new. I don’t know what it will be quite yet, but I am looking forward to a future outside of newspapers.

More time with friends and family

Having worked as a newspaper journalist since graduating college, I’ve not had a single Christmas or New Year’s off in many years. My weekends have fallen on just about every combination other than Saturday and Sunday, too. In 2010, I’m planning to spend the holidays and weekends with my friends and family. They come first in 2010.

The elusive Apple Tablet

Rumors surrounding the Apple tablet are running rampant. At the time of writing this, it seems likely that the tablet will be announced January 26th. Catch up on all the rumors and “news” on Gizmodo (tag:appletablet).

Grooveshark for iPhone

If you haven’t tried Grooveshark, the streaming music site from a start-up out of Gainesville, you’re missing out. Supposedly, an iPhone app has been submitted to Apple for approval, but it’s been a while since we last got an update on this. We can only assume Apple hasn’t yet gotten around to it yet. Find it in the app store soon.

EVENTS

Olympic mascot ice sculpture in Whistler, Canada. Creative Commons photo by Flickr user Tim Gillin

2010 Olympic Winter Games

Vancouver, February 12 to 28

I’ll be watching the games from the comfort of my couch. Or my bed. Or online, even. The Olympics are one of my favorite sporting events and the Winter games allow me to imagine a world with seasons. Sure, I love watching figure skating, but in the past few years I’ve learned to appreciate the fine art of curling (Etienne’s infatuation sparked my interest) and ski jumping (thanks to Wii Fit).

For more information on the games, visit the official website at Vancouver2010.com. In the US, you can catch the games on television on NBC (and NBC HD) for free. Visit NBC’s Olympic website for TV listings.

South-by-Southwest Interactive Festival

Austin, March 12 to 16

I’ve been planning to attend this conference for over a year now. Things didn’t work out this past year because there was no budget at the paper to send anyone. This year, even if I’m still unemployed, I plan to (somehow) attend SXSW. I simply cannot pass up the opportunity to experience it for myself. Not to mention it’s a great excuse to see all my Austin buddies.

This year, many South Florida techies will be in attendance and I am hoping that we can make our presence known to the greater geeky audience. Brian Breslin, Davide Di Cillo, Alex de Carvalho, and Peter Martinez will be holding a panel discussion on our burgeoning tech community called “Coconut Valley: Building a Tech Community on the Beach.”

Some of the speakers/sessions I plan to attend include:

• “Yelp Effect: When Everyone’s A Restaurant Critic” by Addie Broyles (my former colleague and food writer for the Austin American-Statesman)
• Clay Shirky’s unnamed presentation
• “DSLR Filmmaking: Unlocking New Visual Possibilities” by Philip Bloom
• “Why Self-Promotion Will Save the World” by Peter Shankman from Help a Reporter Out (HARO)
• “StoryCorps 2.0: Social Networking Meets Storytelling” by Suneel Gupta, The Kahani Movement
• “PayTV vs. Internet: The Battle For Your TV” by Avner Ronen, boxee
• “Interactive Infographics” by Casey Caplowe, GOOD magazine
• “I Don’t Trust You One Stinking Bit” by Chris Brogan, New Marketing Labs
• “Funemployed: Success Stories From the Laid Off Community” by Chris Hutchins, LaidOffCamp

2010 FIFA World Cup

South Africa, June 11 to July 11

I remember watching Brazil win it’s fourth World Cup title in 1994. I was just a kid, but it was the first time I remember watching a sport on my own. My interest waned since then, sparked only for a summer when I abroad in Prague in 2004 and we watched the Czech Republic games broadcast live in Old Town Square. In 2008, I was glued to the television, watching each game, and even DVR’ing the games I missed while at work. This year, I can’t wait to be sucked in again. On my couch.

Visit the official site at http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/ for more information and the latest news. In the meantime, watch this really cool video that shows how the official match ball is made, from start to finish: