haha

I'm about to get on the 6:25 train into the city. I think before i settle into a seat, I'll stand up and ask everyone if any of them plan on talking on their phone for the entire trip. hahaha

Don't get me wrong...

Because my blog is based on my job search and the trials of that, I think it may come across as me being unhappy with my discion to move there. I don't often write about the fun things I do and the cool people I'm meeting. I'm very happy I moved to Chicago, it's a great place with lots of things to do and see. A place I'm proud to say I live. I just think that until my life is more settled, I may be a bit more negative than I usually am...

For example, I totally forgot to mention that while I was driving to Crate & Barrel I received a random phone call from a sports entertainment firm who was very impressed with my work and would like me to do some freelance work for them. I have a meeting with them tomorrow at 2:30pm. See, in all my negativity, I forgot to mention it. ;)

huh?

For those keeping track...apparently when i interviewed at FlyDesign...i was interviewing for an internship. That's right, internship. I seriously have no idea how this happened. I distinctly remember being asked, "are you looking for an internship, or full-time?" Of course I answered full-time and we went through with the interview with all signs pointing to this meeting possibly leading to full-time, part-time, or freelance...you know, paying jobs.

Sigh* Another knotch on my belt in this land of challenges. I will now move forward with the other job opportunities in my life that will most definitly not work out.

my family and job update

Last night I realized, I really miss my family. I haven't seen them in almost 2 months which would be pretty normal even when I was living in Florida. But just knowing that seeing my family involves a $200-300 plane ticket and a 3 hour plane ride makes the time seem even longer and reminds me how far away they really are. Since I left for college when my little brother was only about 11 I feel like I missed out on a lot of his growing up and it makes me sad. I feel like my little brother and I have a lot in common. When I was his age, I was also pretty quiet and to myself, while my older brother was always the outgoing popular one. Whenever I do see my little bro, I feel like because we have this in common, we naturally get along and feel comfortable around eachother. It makes me sad though that I don't know a lot about what he likes, what kind of things he's into, what are his overall goals. I've also been thinking about my grandma's, I miss them so much! Sometimes I wonder if I should have moved, maybe I should have stayed in Florida, closer to my family. But then I think, my parents did the same thing I'm doing now. They moved south, to Florida, when basically their whole family was up north in NJ or NY. Even though I miss my family, I have to remember how badly I wanted to experience something new and remember that that involves leaving for some amount of time and that a lot of people do it. Pretty much everyone I know has parents living in a different state than where they're living. I guess it's just something I'll have to get used too if I want to continue seeing new things.

On the job front, I'm expecting to hear back from FlyDesign this week. I think i'll call them tomorrow. I'm also going to call back that real estate firm i had the phone interview with (which btw i think went well). Tomorrow i'm going to have lunch with Olivia at corporate Crate&Barrel. While i'm there, i'm going to drop off my resume in person...

phones on a train

Today, while on the train home to Palatine, I had the pleasure (not) of sitting in front of a girl who's voice sounded exactly like the Indian girl from The Office. Maybe worse. I was exciting for the first time to be riding on the train because that meant a whole hour of uninterrupted reading of my new book, "Haunted" by Chuck Palahniuk. I settled into my seat and cracked open my book, when she sat down...right behind me...that squeaky, high pitched voice. She talked nonstop for an hour about how unfair her HR department was at her hair salon (?) and 'what happens if her car doesn't start and she's late to work...would that mean she'll be terminated?!' I had no choice but to listen to hear dumbass conversation to her dumbass friend on the other line. Even repeated glances her way didn't stop the endless crap coming out of her mouth. She stretched a conversation that should have been 5, maybe 10 minutes long, into a whole freakin' hour! And she spoke at a volume in which you felt that she really wanted everyone on the train to know about the details of her conversation with HR. Here's a reality check, your conversation is not important to us, we think you're annoying. There's a reason why we bring books on the train or ipods or gameboys, it's not for all those things to be drowned out my your nasally voice. I find myself becoming more and more annoyed with these people; the ones who talk at high volumes on cell phones in public confined spaces like the train or the bus or the subway. I don't so much mind when two people are talking to eachother at that volume when I can hear both sides of the conversation. But there's something about these people on their phones on otherwise quiet trains; don't they feel awkward having all theses strangers listening to them? I really need to get an ipod.

interview

This morning I received a call back from a high end real estate team that is looking for a full time graphic designer. They called to set up a 15 minute phone interview that will take place tomorrow at noon. The company is located in downtown Chicago in the John Hancock Building. I think it would be so exciting to work not only in the loop but also in such well known landmark. This would mean that I can give my car to my parents, and I could take the L to work. No car payment? No Gas? Sounds perfect to me ;)

I should also be hearing back from the guys at FlyDesign sometime next week. I'm very excited to hear back from them. I feel like this would be a great place for me to thrive at what I know best (print design) while at the same time learning the ins and outs of web design; something I've been interested in for a very long time, but never had the chance to really work with. Also, being a very small company, I feel like I would have the kind of creative input and responsibility that I've been craving, while being surrounded by other very talented designers that have a lot to teach me.

The other job opportunity that I'm excited about right now is the opening at the corporate office at Crate&Barrel. My friend Olivia, who works there, let me know about the position and I'm hoping that knowing someone on the 'inside' will help get my resume looked at. While the corporate office is in the suburbs (Northbrook) and I'd have to keep my car, I'm very excited about the opportunity to work at such a big name company and to be possibly designing things that will make it out to a wide audience. Plus, I've meet a lot of Olivia's friends that also work there and they are great. The whole C&B vibe and the way everyone there hangs out with eachother reminds me a lot of my old Glatting crew. To be able to work in an environment like that is rare and I would love to be a part of something like that in a new city.

Wicked good.

Last night I surprised Tim with tickets to the muscial Wicked. Our one year anniversary is coming up and I wanted to do something different and special and "big city-like". Luckily, I found some cheap tickets on craigslist. When we got to the Ford Theater/Oriental Center we were amazed at how ornate the theater was. Every inch of the walls and ceiling were carved out into figures and ornamention. It was beautiful. Somewhat to my surprise, our seats were perfect (center balcony); we had a dead-on view of the stage from a 45 degree angle. What I love best about going to see a play or a musical is the elaborate set designs and how they create special effects with raw materials. I was not disappointed. Sitting on top of the stage through the entire show was a daunting mechanical dragon with an impressive wing-span and glowing red eyes. At certain scenes in the show the dragon would come alive, breathe smoke and rear around its ugly head. Some of my favorite scenes were the darker, slightly evil ones; like when the monkeys get their wings and when the wicked witch rebels against the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Defying Gravity). I also liked how the story explained how the characters from the Wizard of Oz came to be...the scarecrow, the tin man, and the cowardly lion; as well as how Dorothy got those ruby red slippers. I thought the story of the misunderstood 'wicked' witch of the west was told in a very clever and entertining way and I would recommend it to anyone to see.

The application blues

Yesterday while Tim and I were looking for a local place to eat dinner in Lincoln Park, we walked by the inevitable Urban Outfitters. I noticed they had a big "hiring" sign on their front door...so...I went in to grab an application. I know...I know. I can't explain how weird this felt. It's been years since I've filled out an application (by hand) that asked me where I went to high school, as well as what were my favorite brands and what were the last couple of CD's i bought. I couldn't help but think to myself...I'm I cool enough to work at Urban Outfitters? haha. I'm kidding of course, but there was something so teeny bopper about the application and filling it out reminded me "Hey, i went to college. Why can't i find a job?" But hey, if they call me back...I'd be stoked.

FernGully

FernGully was on TV today! I loved this movie when i was little but I totally forgot about it until I saw it this morning. It was like watching something from a past life.

Air and Water Show

The weather here has been gorgeous! Today felt like it was in the low 80's, making it perfect weather for the "beach."

Chinatown and the Museum Campus

A week ago Tim and I checked out Chinatown. I bought a paper fan for when the subway feels like a suana and we had some amazing Chinese food. Afterwards, we took the train down to the Museum campus to enjoy what i think is the most beautiful area of downtown Chicago.

stood up

After a two hour drive (because of traffic and horrible Google Maps directions) from Palatine to my friend's house in the city and two bus transfers to a very shady Starbucks, i was stood up by a woman who was sopposed to be meeting me for a portfolio review. I've never been stood up before and i was pissed! What happened here?! DId she forget? Did she have an emergency? Did she just decide to leave because i was 5 minutes late (thanks CTA)? I feel like I am constantly being tested here. Another knotch on my belt.

project runway

my girl Allison got booted from Project Runway?! ...and Vincent is safe? and Angela is still there? wtf, Heidi?

air and sea show

is this weekend! and it's freee :)

The saga continues...

Armed with my "interview dress" and new pumas (high heels stowed in my purse) I hopped on a bus toward Lincoln Park to meet with the good people at FlyDesign. The interview went very well, I showed my work and they really seemed to like it. We talked design, and about my future goals in this industry. The company mainly creates websites, and I consider myself a print designer, but I definitely got the impression that they would strongly consider me for full-time or maybe part-time employment. Which would be so nice! With Tim in law school now, it's getting tougher to stay in the city at his place to go to job interviews. I really hope something starts to work out soon. I'm thinking that if I could just make enough money to pay bills, I desperately want to move into the city. The 2 hour commute back and forth to Palatine is really wearing away at me and is incredibly inconvenient. I know i have free rent in Palatine, but it's like living in Ocala while conducting ALL your business in Orlando. I applied to a law firm yesterday and a real estate firm, not my dream jobs, but at least it's something. I knew this time of unemployment while trying to adopt to a big city would be rough and it truly is. I have to keep my thoughts positive that things will soon fall into place.

alarm

my cousin's alarm goes off at full volume every morning from 6:30am until 7:30am. how does he sleep through this? teach me.

new kicks

it's 1am and i can't sleep (might have something to do with an air mattress) so i'll write about my new shoes. i'm now better equiped for my miles of walking i do in the city with these fashionable, yet sensible new sneaks. they were the first shoes i saw in the first shoe store i tried at the mall. Plus, they were on sale for only $30...what a deal!! that's my kinda shopping :)

this is a test

I am the last person in the world who should even attempt to keep a daily blog. I’ve tried in the past and failed miserably due to lack of "motivation." However, I’ve been inspired by a friend who has successfully blogged everyday for the past year. I found it extremely interesting that she could click on any given day from the past few months and know exactly what she did on that day, who she did it with, etc. I'm going through a very exciting yet stressful time in my life right now. I just moved to a large city, that is, in just about every way, different from where I came from. Challenges face my everyday here and everyday, I get lost. Although I am temporarily living with my cousin in his condo in the suburbs, I can't help but to feel a bit homeless and very unsettled. I split my time between my cousin's house and my boyfriend's studio in the city. I live out of a large blue duffle bag. While the past month has been taxing on my ego (job searching can hurt one's ego), I feel that this move has been one of the bravest things I’ve done and will ultimately be the most rewarding.

thanks olivia

for giving me this idea... :)