After a long discussion with my roommate about how to make money in this profession, I’ve decided I will now be accepting ungodly amounts of dark chocolate peanut M&Ms as another form of compensation.

And then I made myself into an M&M.

My hair doesn’t look like that really. They actually had hair that looked like mine, but much to my dismay, with that hair you couldn’t see my awesome robot arms. And I really do smile like that in most my pictures. But I’d never wear a camera strap like that around my neck.

And I have also decided that everyone on the photo staff at work should have an alternate M&M ego. I think I’ll submit that proposition next Monday at the staff meeting.

I really must start updating this stuff in a timely manner. The Intertubes wait for no man…

Anyway, once every fall the University of Georgia hosts “Legislature Day.” This year - Saturday, Setp, 10. Essentially, the University and all it’s important people throw a football party for a herd of local and state politicians, prominent Georgia businessmen and other important people as well as a few students and interns.

Roughly put, I interpreted the point of the entire thing as a “Hey don’t forget we exist and please give us money and we’ll be your fren’ forever and ever” event.

It’s invite only, unless you’re a sweaty student photog who ran all the way from her house a mile away to get there on time because she was running late because she had a near-world-ending fiasco involving laundry, and somebody forgot to make you a name tag. A knowing nod and a big lens will get you in anywhere.

This is probably my favorite photo of the day:

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue covers the name tag of Georgia House Representative Larry O’Neal while posing for a requested portrait during Legislature Day at UGA on Sept. 10, 2007. The only reason the phoographer noticed this was because someone said “Hey, get a picture of Perdue and the guy with the ugly shirt.” The Gov himself wanted a picture with Ugly Shirt Guy too, apparently. Once they found out they had to pay for prints, they were no longer interested. 

Everyone schmoozes, eats free food from football-themed china and cutlery, get their picture taken with Hairy Dawg, stroll amongst primarily red and black colored decorations, and confuse me with the University photographer who takes and distributes their pictures at no charge. Then they schmooze some more, scratch and then go watch the Georgia v. South Carolina game from University President Mike Adam’s very lovely and air conditioned sky box.

Were I one of the special people invited to this event, the best part would have been the Varsity free-chilidog-with-purchase-of-beverage-and-onion-rings-at-full-price coupons on the back of the pass to exist inside Mike Adam’s football bubble.

Andrew Watson, my friend and president of the Student Judiciary at UGA, displays his coupons on a string courtesy UGA President Mike Adams.

I was almost surprise with myself this day. Despite any personal feelings harbored about any particular members of the Georgia state government, I behaved myself quite well. It didn’t even dawn on me until later that as soon as I hit the fourth floor of the SLC on campus, I was walking into a… whatever. Insert vicious, fatalistic metaphor here. I just did my job and tried to enjoy myself and meet new people. Only later did I feel the urge to start a food fight, or stand on a table and sing Carly Simon songs into a microphone while stomping on those goofy little excuses for sandwich buns that were available for not-so-sloppy sloppy joe.

And there are quite a few things technically wrong with this photo ( see if you can count them… winner gets the jelly bean jar ). However, I like it anyway for some reason.

Atlanta broker McKee Nunnally.

For more info— Red & Black: “Politicians gather on Legislative Day for game day event” by Sam Steinburg