argh. i knew it. i thought i was all set to work on a big project tomorrow morning and then realized i had some sort of meeting tomorrow. so here i am, in my beloved computer lab, checking my work calendar. and my boss scheduled a meeting first thing in the morning to go over some process-related stuff. no fun for a first-thing-in-the-morning event. but then again, i am not a fan of mornings -- or meetings -- very much at all.
my current view of meetings:
http://www.despair.com/meetings.html
i suppose i should look on the bright side:
http://www.nyetwork.org/wiki/meetings.gif
well, i guess i'd better get back upstairs and finish working so that i can go to bed and get up and do more work-ing.
oh yeah, and i have to remember not to forget to program the coffeemaker. there's nothing nicer on a morning that you have to get up early than having the coffee brewing. well, except maybe having the coffee brewing and having a fabulous new outfit to wear. now THAT'S a good way to cope. i wonder if there's anything in my closet i haven't worn that's suitable for the meetings i have tomorrow (i just bought a tweed miniskirt last weekend that probably won't work). hmmm...
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Monday, February 23, 2004
my thoughts on sex and the city (for what very very little they're worth):
i'm glad that carrie is back with big. in a way. i mean, they definitely had the best chemistry, so i'm glad for that reason. i'm a little bummed because it seems as though it's playing off the classic female fantasy that the guy with whom you had the amazing chemistry but who treated you like shit will come around if you just wait. i guess it can work (my college roommate actually went through this and they've been married several years now... and then of course there's kevin and whitney...). but still i get scared thinking about that sort of thing. i mean sheesh, if i'd fallen for that, well, who knows which of the many losers i've dated i'd be hung up on!!!
i loved the moment when she found her necklace. of course, the way they did it gave every viewer a moment to go "THE NECKLACE!!!" right before she pulls it out, and i'm not sure that was entirely necessary, but it was definitely a nice little plot element that she had it back.
of course, we were all rooting for charlotte to get her baby, and i'm really glad they didn't put on the hyperdrive and show the baby arriving. that would have wrapped things up way too neatly. at first i didn't even want them to say that it was all settled and the baby was coming, but the way they handled it was beautiful and definitely made me teary.
and then there's samantha. i was so hoping that she'd admit she was in love somehow, but i didn't really want her to get engaged. i thought it was a nice touch that he gave her narcissis bulbs.
so many women think they're like carrie. i'm like miranda. it may seem much more boring, but i'll admit it. i had the pushing-guys-away tendency, and it wasn't in the fun samantha sort of way. and it's damn cool that miranda is going out of her way to earn steve, since he is a gem: a real honest-to-goodness diamond in the rough sort of guy.
okay, so i know it's pretty dang narcisisstic, even for me, to post on here my silly thoughts about the silly show, but since i haven't really had the chance to talk to anyone about it, i kinda needed to let that off my chest.
*thanks*
i'm glad that carrie is back with big. in a way. i mean, they definitely had the best chemistry, so i'm glad for that reason. i'm a little bummed because it seems as though it's playing off the classic female fantasy that the guy with whom you had the amazing chemistry but who treated you like shit will come around if you just wait. i guess it can work (my college roommate actually went through this and they've been married several years now... and then of course there's kevin and whitney...). but still i get scared thinking about that sort of thing. i mean sheesh, if i'd fallen for that, well, who knows which of the many losers i've dated i'd be hung up on!!!
i loved the moment when she found her necklace. of course, the way they did it gave every viewer a moment to go "THE NECKLACE!!!" right before she pulls it out, and i'm not sure that was entirely necessary, but it was definitely a nice little plot element that she had it back.
of course, we were all rooting for charlotte to get her baby, and i'm really glad they didn't put on the hyperdrive and show the baby arriving. that would have wrapped things up way too neatly. at first i didn't even want them to say that it was all settled and the baby was coming, but the way they handled it was beautiful and definitely made me teary.
and then there's samantha. i was so hoping that she'd admit she was in love somehow, but i didn't really want her to get engaged. i thought it was a nice touch that he gave her narcissis bulbs.
so many women think they're like carrie. i'm like miranda. it may seem much more boring, but i'll admit it. i had the pushing-guys-away tendency, and it wasn't in the fun samantha sort of way. and it's damn cool that miranda is going out of her way to earn steve, since he is a gem: a real honest-to-goodness diamond in the rough sort of guy.
okay, so i know it's pretty dang narcisisstic, even for me, to post on here my silly thoughts about the silly show, but since i haven't really had the chance to talk to anyone about it, i kinda needed to let that off my chest.
*thanks*
steve is gone again. (sniff)
i had to watch sex and the city all by my lonesome last night. well, at least nobody saw me get all sniffly. steve watched it with a group of our friends, which was good for him but a little sad for me. i hope we have a group of friends here sometime soon. we've met a few people, but there are no groups that we're part of, which is kinda a bummer. and, of course, with steve still back-and-forth it's hard to get together with ANYONE.
sarah and alex were here this weekend. we had to tell them the sad news that we have three weddings the weekend that they're getting married and that one of them is for steve's old college chum sera, who is getting married (finally! after a couple of years of postponing) in amsterdam. luckily sarah and alex are reasonable people, but it's still a totally gut wrenching thing to have to tell a friend you can't make it when it would usually be a really reasonable and expected thing for you to attend their wedding.
i guess in hindsight it makes me a little less bummed/perterbed about the folks who missed our big party. the ones that had good reasons, well, i understand that it must have been hard to tell us. and the ones that didn't, well, i guess maybe i will never really know what else was going on in their heads, but at least i have renewed hope that it was a hard decision for him -- i mean them.
.
.
.
on friday i got into a bit of a snit with my boss. he was getting on me for not doing some things i'm supposed to be doing in quite the way i'm supposed to be doing them. frankly, i feel as though i'm not doing ANYTHING at work the way i'm supposed to be doing it. i'm doing everything half-way, late, and just plain wrong (i had no training!). i hate working this way because it totally saps my enthusiasm because it saps my self-confidence. luckily defending myself to my boss (who at first didn't want to hear it -- and i don't blame him, since i *do* tend to get defensive) ended up working out since he went that very day and followed through on a lead for a candidate for my group. :) and it looks like it will work out too. hooray! finally i will have some help so that i don't do the day-to-day things so shabbily and the strategic things so hastily.
________________________________________
good things for today:
1. there's a charity in chicago called "the happiness club" whose goal is listed on their website as: The Happiness Club is a group of Chicago kids who sing, dance, rap, and create their own material for their sensational musical show. Diverse in age, race, and socioeconomic background, The Happiness Club kids sing out against smoking, drugs, violence, and prejudice and say “YES” to education, racial harmony, high self-esteem and global humanity.
wow! i love it! i need to find out more... sounds very like good ol' um children's theatre!
2. the grocery store near us (the regular one, not the fancy schmancy one) carries the yummy salsa made in detroit that i'm so dang fond of. hooray! we're not all that far away after all! now if only i could find a store that sells better made bbq chips!
___________________________________________
bad thing for today: the secretary of state of the great state of illinois has a *snazzy* website with lots of great smiling photos of himself. however, the form that you need to fill out to register your motor vehicle in this great state is only available at major offices. and get this: i called to see if they could fax it to me, and they can't because it's a CARBON COPY FORM. sheesh. so tomorrow i get to go to the secretary of state's office and register our little yellow volvo.
i had to watch sex and the city all by my lonesome last night. well, at least nobody saw me get all sniffly. steve watched it with a group of our friends, which was good for him but a little sad for me. i hope we have a group of friends here sometime soon. we've met a few people, but there are no groups that we're part of, which is kinda a bummer. and, of course, with steve still back-and-forth it's hard to get together with ANYONE.
sarah and alex were here this weekend. we had to tell them the sad news that we have three weddings the weekend that they're getting married and that one of them is for steve's old college chum sera, who is getting married (finally! after a couple of years of postponing) in amsterdam. luckily sarah and alex are reasonable people, but it's still a totally gut wrenching thing to have to tell a friend you can't make it when it would usually be a really reasonable and expected thing for you to attend their wedding.
i guess in hindsight it makes me a little less bummed/perterbed about the folks who missed our big party. the ones that had good reasons, well, i understand that it must have been hard to tell us. and the ones that didn't, well, i guess maybe i will never really know what else was going on in their heads, but at least i have renewed hope that it was a hard decision for him -- i mean them.
.
.
.
on friday i got into a bit of a snit with my boss. he was getting on me for not doing some things i'm supposed to be doing in quite the way i'm supposed to be doing them. frankly, i feel as though i'm not doing ANYTHING at work the way i'm supposed to be doing it. i'm doing everything half-way, late, and just plain wrong (i had no training!). i hate working this way because it totally saps my enthusiasm because it saps my self-confidence. luckily defending myself to my boss (who at first didn't want to hear it -- and i don't blame him, since i *do* tend to get defensive) ended up working out since he went that very day and followed through on a lead for a candidate for my group. :) and it looks like it will work out too. hooray! finally i will have some help so that i don't do the day-to-day things so shabbily and the strategic things so hastily.
________________________________________
good things for today:
1. there's a charity in chicago called "the happiness club" whose goal is listed on their website as: The Happiness Club is a group of Chicago kids who sing, dance, rap, and create their own material for their sensational musical show. Diverse in age, race, and socioeconomic background, The Happiness Club kids sing out against smoking, drugs, violence, and prejudice and say “YES” to education, racial harmony, high self-esteem and global humanity.
wow! i love it! i need to find out more... sounds very like good ol' um children's theatre!
2. the grocery store near us (the regular one, not the fancy schmancy one) carries the yummy salsa made in detroit that i'm so dang fond of. hooray! we're not all that far away after all! now if only i could find a store that sells better made bbq chips!
___________________________________________
bad thing for today: the secretary of state of the great state of illinois has a *snazzy* website with lots of great smiling photos of himself. however, the form that you need to fill out to register your motor vehicle in this great state is only available at major offices. and get this: i called to see if they could fax it to me, and they can't because it's a CARBON COPY FORM. sheesh. so tomorrow i get to go to the secretary of state's office and register our little yellow volvo.
Monday, February 16, 2004
oh yeah, we may have named our apartment this weekend.
we were tentatively calling it "sky hut" for the past few weeks, but we weren't really sure if it was right or not. and then i hit on the idea of getting fancy schmancy (today's blog phrase of the day, apparently) old-fashioned and highball glasses with "SH" engraved on them...
Sky Hut.
Sara Hall.
(and oh, yeah, Steve Hall)
http://ww2.williams-sonoma.com/cat/pip.cfm?gids=g018&pKey=cglshdfi&root=shop&src=catcglshdfi%7Cp1%7Crshop%2Fcatcglsi%7Cp1%7Crshop%2Fcatcshop%7Cp1%7Crshop%2Fhme
we were tentatively calling it "sky hut" for the past few weeks, but we weren't really sure if it was right or not. and then i hit on the idea of getting fancy schmancy (today's blog phrase of the day, apparently) old-fashioned and highball glasses with "SH" engraved on them...
Sky Hut.
Sara Hall.
(and oh, yeah, Steve Hall)
http://ww2.williams-sonoma.com/cat/pip.cfm?gids=g018&pKey=cglshdfi&root=shop&src=catcglshdfi%7Cp1%7Crshop%2Fcatcglsi%7Cp1%7Crshop%2Fcatcshop%7Cp1%7Crshop%2Fhme
well, folks, it was another romantic valentine's day weekend here in the hall household. steve and i were both really icky phlemmy sick on saturday. uck. we were supposed to have a fancy schmancy dinner with tasha and john and we had to cancel for fear that the restaurant would boot us out when we sneezed/coughed/hacked phlem all over the place. :( and so we sat at home. the only thing we left the apartment at all for this weekend was to go to the grocery store. we made that into our own sort of valentine's day date by going not only to the regular grocery store, but also to the fancy schmancy grocery store that is right next door to the regular grocery store (these stores are so different that it can't even be considered a competitive situation!). the fancy one is like a whole grocery store of zingerman's. they have a fancy butter section, for goodness sake! and so we perused the aisles, trying not to cough and hack on anything, and then headed home and made soup.
today i had the day off and steve didn't, so i left the apartment for the day so he could get some work done. my wonderful friend ann hooked me up with a spa review assignment for her magazine, so i went merrily off this morning for a free facial. woohoo! of course, this was the least relaxed facial i've ever had, since the charming proprietress was very curious about all of my other spa attending and reviewing experience, and she kept telling me details that i felt like i should memorize. and to make matters even more sitcom-esque, apparently my pores were so clogged that she didn't think she could get all of the gunk out. she felt horrible but couldn't keep picking (she was the gentle-est facialist i've ever had!) because she was worried it would stress my skin. plus, well, she had other appointments. she was a charming older romanian woman -- quite legendary for her facials -- and did a wonderful job. however, it was very different for both of us than it would have been if i'd just gone and paid and got the facial on my own. not a surprise, i guess...
and then i went shopping. and boy does that wear me out. i looked at everything. i hadn't been to a mall in forever. hell, i didn't even go to one over the holidays. and here i was, getting dropped out of spa-land on the top floor of a 8 floor mall. it took me 2 1/2 hours to get out of the mall, and i was actually trying to. i didn't want to buy much and had actual non-mall shopping to do (hangers, baking soda for the fridge, toilet brush, groceries -- all stuff that was not to be found in the mall). and yet i spent 2 1/2 hours lulled by the musak and the shiny things.
not bad for some people, but for me that is a darn long time in a mall.
.
.
tomorrow steve leaves me for ann arbor. he has a professional exam (to become some sort of certified engineer) and then he heads off to work on some random project in pittsburgh for a couple of days. he gets back in on thursday night and then friday we get to play host again; this time to sarah and alex. i am really excited about showing off our place now that we're pretty much moved in (which wasn't the case for any of the other visitors except maybe my brother). the only things we still have to do are hang up the pictures/mirror, and sort out a few odds and ends that are lying around. and, well, as picky as i am about how our place looks when people come over, that much unfinished work is fine with me for now. after a few more weeks the pictures not being up would bug me, but not yet. i think we're doing quite well, considering.
considering that i'm still pretty sick, i'd better scurry off to bed. steve's been sleeping for at least an hour by now...
today i had the day off and steve didn't, so i left the apartment for the day so he could get some work done. my wonderful friend ann hooked me up with a spa review assignment for her magazine, so i went merrily off this morning for a free facial. woohoo! of course, this was the least relaxed facial i've ever had, since the charming proprietress was very curious about all of my other spa attending and reviewing experience, and she kept telling me details that i felt like i should memorize. and to make matters even more sitcom-esque, apparently my pores were so clogged that she didn't think she could get all of the gunk out. she felt horrible but couldn't keep picking (she was the gentle-est facialist i've ever had!) because she was worried it would stress my skin. plus, well, she had other appointments. she was a charming older romanian woman -- quite legendary for her facials -- and did a wonderful job. however, it was very different for both of us than it would have been if i'd just gone and paid and got the facial on my own. not a surprise, i guess...
and then i went shopping. and boy does that wear me out. i looked at everything. i hadn't been to a mall in forever. hell, i didn't even go to one over the holidays. and here i was, getting dropped out of spa-land on the top floor of a 8 floor mall. it took me 2 1/2 hours to get out of the mall, and i was actually trying to. i didn't want to buy much and had actual non-mall shopping to do (hangers, baking soda for the fridge, toilet brush, groceries -- all stuff that was not to be found in the mall). and yet i spent 2 1/2 hours lulled by the musak and the shiny things.
not bad for some people, but for me that is a darn long time in a mall.
.
.
tomorrow steve leaves me for ann arbor. he has a professional exam (to become some sort of certified engineer) and then he heads off to work on some random project in pittsburgh for a couple of days. he gets back in on thursday night and then friday we get to play host again; this time to sarah and alex. i am really excited about showing off our place now that we're pretty much moved in (which wasn't the case for any of the other visitors except maybe my brother). the only things we still have to do are hang up the pictures/mirror, and sort out a few odds and ends that are lying around. and, well, as picky as i am about how our place looks when people come over, that much unfinished work is fine with me for now. after a few more weeks the pictures not being up would bug me, but not yet. i think we're doing quite well, considering.
considering that i'm still pretty sick, i'd better scurry off to bed. steve's been sleeping for at least an hour by now...
Friday, February 13, 2004
i realize i haven't blogged in awhile, which i'm sure will disappoint the two of you that are loyal readers out there. :)
this was our first week together here in chicago. steve made it out here at about 4 last saturday and we had an AWESOME weekend. i took him out to see "miracle" (the hockey movie that's out now from Disney) and then we had a hot date to the newly discovered grocery store that's closest to our place. i know that may not sound exciting to you all, but when you don't think there's a grocery store at all nearby and you discover one, you are willing to walk around it and check out the variety of pretty much everything (soup, pasta, fruit, coffee, booze). it was very exciting, let me tell you. a HOTHOTHOT saturday night date in the hall household!
sunday we didn't do much, if i recall correctly. it was awesome.
and then we started our first workweek together. steve seems to be adjusting okay to working at home. he's still showering in the morning (thank goodness) and he claims he's been able to get lots done and hasn't had any problems (other than minor technical ones) with his home setup. i will be watching closely to see if he starts to develop extra-strange social tendencies...
it looks like i have come down with a cold. i am never sick, so this is a real tragedy for me to admit. i can't stop coughing. therefore, i think i will go home and to to sleep. wow, this blog makes me sound even lamer than i already am, with all of my boring weekend activities...
this was our first week together here in chicago. steve made it out here at about 4 last saturday and we had an AWESOME weekend. i took him out to see "miracle" (the hockey movie that's out now from Disney) and then we had a hot date to the newly discovered grocery store that's closest to our place. i know that may not sound exciting to you all, but when you don't think there's a grocery store at all nearby and you discover one, you are willing to walk around it and check out the variety of pretty much everything (soup, pasta, fruit, coffee, booze). it was very exciting, let me tell you. a HOTHOTHOT saturday night date in the hall household!
sunday we didn't do much, if i recall correctly. it was awesome.
and then we started our first workweek together. steve seems to be adjusting okay to working at home. he's still showering in the morning (thank goodness) and he claims he's been able to get lots done and hasn't had any problems (other than minor technical ones) with his home setup. i will be watching closely to see if he starts to develop extra-strange social tendencies...
it looks like i have come down with a cold. i am never sick, so this is a real tragedy for me to admit. i can't stop coughing. therefore, i think i will go home and to to sleep. wow, this blog makes me sound even lamer than i already am, with all of my boring weekend activities...
Friday, February 06, 2004
Monday, February 02, 2004
the guy next to me is IMing and hasn't turned the noises off. for those of you who use IM, you know that it's extremely annoying. i have given him lots of dirty looks, but haven't yet said anything...
for those very few of you who read this, my apologies for not writing lately. here's why...
midway through last week i got an email from the bookclub i found on craigslist.com saying that they were meeting this sunday (aka yesterday), and i had just found out about the club. i had to go out on wednesday and buy the book. luckily it was a really really good book and i had (most of) it read on sunday. however, the very ending is quite dramatic, and so i was kinda an ass on sunday because at the meeting i got up and went to the bathroom when they discussed the ending. i hope they don't decide they all hate me and kick me out!
anyway, the book was "life of pi" by yann martel. really good. read it. i kept reading sections of it to steve this weekend, which is a great sign because it not only means that i'm enjoying it, but also that i think he might, which is rare.
and i liked the group, which is awesome. which means i *really* don't want to get booted! it's about 10 women (so it's a bit large, but who knows if it will remain large). there's a bit of diversity, with people from all kinds of neighborhoods around the city and a couple of people from the 'burbs. we've got an af-am member and an asian member and a bunch o' different professions (lawyer, doctor, accountant). and it seems like a good mix of single and attached. it'll be interesting to see how we all "mesh" over time.
"you can't take that away from me" is playing on the business center radio. i think it's rod stewart singing. i had no idea he sang this. i guess you learn something new every day.
tomorrow is a big day for me: my first day driving in chicago. granted, i guess i did rent a car and drive out to mcdonald's a couple of weeks ago, but this will be with my own little yellow car. and i have no idea how to get there and won't have people riding with me like last time. it would be reallyreallyreally nice if it stopped raining freezing rain right about now.
(guy next to me just got a flutter of noisy IMs. grrrrr...)
steve's office is all set up. and we have the wireless network up and running. and i have my laptop. but i don't have a wireless network card. soon, very soon, we will be all set and mr. noisy IM won't be bugging me. grrr...
wow -- the two other people in here just left simultaneously. ooh! and one gave the IM guy a dirty look. i'm going to give him a dirty look and leave now too...
for those very few of you who read this, my apologies for not writing lately. here's why...
midway through last week i got an email from the bookclub i found on craigslist.com saying that they were meeting this sunday (aka yesterday), and i had just found out about the club. i had to go out on wednesday and buy the book. luckily it was a really really good book and i had (most of) it read on sunday. however, the very ending is quite dramatic, and so i was kinda an ass on sunday because at the meeting i got up and went to the bathroom when they discussed the ending. i hope they don't decide they all hate me and kick me out!
anyway, the book was "life of pi" by yann martel. really good. read it. i kept reading sections of it to steve this weekend, which is a great sign because it not only means that i'm enjoying it, but also that i think he might, which is rare.
and i liked the group, which is awesome. which means i *really* don't want to get booted! it's about 10 women (so it's a bit large, but who knows if it will remain large). there's a bit of diversity, with people from all kinds of neighborhoods around the city and a couple of people from the 'burbs. we've got an af-am member and an asian member and a bunch o' different professions (lawyer, doctor, accountant). and it seems like a good mix of single and attached. it'll be interesting to see how we all "mesh" over time.
"you can't take that away from me" is playing on the business center radio. i think it's rod stewart singing. i had no idea he sang this. i guess you learn something new every day.
tomorrow is a big day for me: my first day driving in chicago. granted, i guess i did rent a car and drive out to mcdonald's a couple of weeks ago, but this will be with my own little yellow car. and i have no idea how to get there and won't have people riding with me like last time. it would be reallyreallyreally nice if it stopped raining freezing rain right about now.
(guy next to me just got a flutter of noisy IMs. grrrrr...)
steve's office is all set up. and we have the wireless network up and running. and i have my laptop. but i don't have a wireless network card. soon, very soon, we will be all set and mr. noisy IM won't be bugging me. grrr...
wow -- the two other people in here just left simultaneously. ooh! and one gave the IM guy a dirty look. i'm going to give him a dirty look and leave now too...
Thursday, January 29, 2004
things i'll miss about fort awesome:
the huge amount of bathroom storage
making mojitos with mint from our yard in the summer
the lilac bush in the backyard
the front porch swing
having friends just stop by
the party center
things i won't miss:
having my clothes in two different rooms (two closets and a dresser)
trying to get the garage door to close
the creepy area in the back of the garage where an animal was living
weeding
debates over mowing vs. hiring a lawn service
steve having to shovel snow
not being able to reach the mail in the mailbox because i'm too damn short
the huge amount of bathroom storage
making mojitos with mint from our yard in the summer
the lilac bush in the backyard
the front porch swing
having friends just stop by
the party center
things i won't miss:
having my clothes in two different rooms (two closets and a dresser)
trying to get the garage door to close
the creepy area in the back of the garage where an animal was living
weeding
debates over mowing vs. hiring a lawn service
steve having to shovel snow
not being able to reach the mail in the mailbox because i'm too damn short
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
dang nabbit! i must have been taking the boxes i'd broken down to the garbage area or something -- somehow i missed steve's call. i mean, sheesh, it sucks enough not having him here, but to also miss his call and not notice until 40 minutes after he's left a message saying "i'm going to bed" -- THAT SUCKS.
but things are looking up.
i started off today by going into work and finding out that they'd migrated my computer over to windows xp and that i'd lost all of my desktop documents. and that was a lot of things since i wasn't set up on the server right away and had basically saved everything for three weeks (including plans for the first half of 2004 plus a big strategic presentation and all of the background research) all on my desktop. well, i guess i learned. i'll never get in that habit again. i'll save to some sort of server environment, or to a yahoo briefcase or something. sheesh.
eventually our awesome IT guy (and i'm not being sarcastic, he IS awesome) came and restored my desktop and i was able to breathe again. i felt SO guilty asking him to help restore things since he probably thinks i'm a moron for saving things on my desktop. however, he acknowledged that my computer still isn't labeled as assigned to me since it's not my "final" computer (it's still a loaner of sorts, while i wait for my laptop) or my desktop would have been saved/migrated over. sheesh. so even though i was completely grateful, i had to ask: WHERE IN THE HELL IS MY DAMN LAPTOP.
and then i realized: i have always had bad days on thursdays, and this week it came early. and i took a deep breath and worked on something else for awhile.
eventually i was ready for more hassle and decided to start calling around to the remaining places where we hadn't changed our address/shut off service or autopay/moved our acct to Chicago.
and i have to say: i had an awesome experience talking to my helpful customer service rep at SBC. she was in a great mood and kept saying things like "i am SO jealous -- i LOVE Chicago." or "i'm completely sure i can help you with that. i can do that right now without putting you on hold." amazing! i completely regretted afterward that i couldn't remember her name, or else i would have submitted some sort of recommendation for her promotion or raise. maybe i'll call back tomorrow and ask whatever rep i get who i talked to the day before, and then ask to talk to a manager so i can leave some sort of praise. hmm... i mean, she went so beyond the call of duty it was really nice -- she told me how to keep a voicemail box without having local phone service, and was friendly and efficient. gotta love that.
so then i was in a great mood and thought "i can tackle one more personal thing without feeling like i'm completely behind at work" and decided to call about our mortgage. BIG mistake. not only did they have some sort of issue with changing our billing address (the call had taken 10 minutes at this point) but they couldn't verify whether or not our check for the february mortgage had cleared. steve had written a check and it had bounced since our money was all in our new account here in chicago and well, the mortgage customer service center had no idea that it had bounced in the first place (our bank had notified us) and they didn't even know if they'd resubmit it for payment or not. their lack of any sort of knowledge whatsover killed my mood.
which sucked, because then i called steve and pretty much took it out on him since he was the one that wrote the mortgage-paying check out in the first place. argh.
but that's all many hours ago. many long, frustrating hours ago.
moving is hassle, my friends. in the end it will be worth it. i keep telling myself that. when i first moved to nyc, i knew even less people there than i know here now. and i can't tell you how hard it was to leave. my a2 friends know that i'm always talking about how great nyc is, and it's definitely because of how well that move turned out in the end that i made this one. i just hope it's that "worth it" for steve as well...
.
.
.
i received my first evites here. :)
my a2 friends know i'm a huge evite fan.
i'm disappointed because one of the evites (from our only friends here, dave + erin) is for the weekend we're in las vegas with zac + penny. however, the other one i might actually be able to attend. i found this group called "meet in chicago" that's for 20-30somethings (and isn't billed as a "singles" group) and they're having a bowling night.
how positively midwestern!!!
they're playing some sort of awful phil collins mix here in the business center. it is frustrating the hell out of me. my first serious boyfriend and i used to argue about phil collins, and i stil feel as strongly about it as ever: HORRIBLE POP FELONIES! sheesh.
i'm sorry i missed steve's call tonight. i miss him and need him here. this is like my nyc move because i don't have my bearings here. what's different is that i know what 99.9% of my bearings are, and his name is steve and he's not here...
but things are looking up.
i started off today by going into work and finding out that they'd migrated my computer over to windows xp and that i'd lost all of my desktop documents. and that was a lot of things since i wasn't set up on the server right away and had basically saved everything for three weeks (including plans for the first half of 2004 plus a big strategic presentation and all of the background research) all on my desktop. well, i guess i learned. i'll never get in that habit again. i'll save to some sort of server environment, or to a yahoo briefcase or something. sheesh.
eventually our awesome IT guy (and i'm not being sarcastic, he IS awesome) came and restored my desktop and i was able to breathe again. i felt SO guilty asking him to help restore things since he probably thinks i'm a moron for saving things on my desktop. however, he acknowledged that my computer still isn't labeled as assigned to me since it's not my "final" computer (it's still a loaner of sorts, while i wait for my laptop) or my desktop would have been saved/migrated over. sheesh. so even though i was completely grateful, i had to ask: WHERE IN THE HELL IS MY DAMN LAPTOP.
and then i realized: i have always had bad days on thursdays, and this week it came early. and i took a deep breath and worked on something else for awhile.
eventually i was ready for more hassle and decided to start calling around to the remaining places where we hadn't changed our address/shut off service or autopay/moved our acct to Chicago.
and i have to say: i had an awesome experience talking to my helpful customer service rep at SBC. she was in a great mood and kept saying things like "i am SO jealous -- i LOVE Chicago." or "i'm completely sure i can help you with that. i can do that right now without putting you on hold." amazing! i completely regretted afterward that i couldn't remember her name, or else i would have submitted some sort of recommendation for her promotion or raise. maybe i'll call back tomorrow and ask whatever rep i get who i talked to the day before, and then ask to talk to a manager so i can leave some sort of praise. hmm... i mean, she went so beyond the call of duty it was really nice -- she told me how to keep a voicemail box without having local phone service, and was friendly and efficient. gotta love that.
so then i was in a great mood and thought "i can tackle one more personal thing without feeling like i'm completely behind at work" and decided to call about our mortgage. BIG mistake. not only did they have some sort of issue with changing our billing address (the call had taken 10 minutes at this point) but they couldn't verify whether or not our check for the february mortgage had cleared. steve had written a check and it had bounced since our money was all in our new account here in chicago and well, the mortgage customer service center had no idea that it had bounced in the first place (our bank had notified us) and they didn't even know if they'd resubmit it for payment or not. their lack of any sort of knowledge whatsover killed my mood.
which sucked, because then i called steve and pretty much took it out on him since he was the one that wrote the mortgage-paying check out in the first place. argh.
but that's all many hours ago. many long, frustrating hours ago.
moving is hassle, my friends. in the end it will be worth it. i keep telling myself that. when i first moved to nyc, i knew even less people there than i know here now. and i can't tell you how hard it was to leave. my a2 friends know that i'm always talking about how great nyc is, and it's definitely because of how well that move turned out in the end that i made this one. i just hope it's that "worth it" for steve as well...
.
.
.
i received my first evites here. :)
my a2 friends know i'm a huge evite fan.
i'm disappointed because one of the evites (from our only friends here, dave + erin) is for the weekend we're in las vegas with zac + penny. however, the other one i might actually be able to attend. i found this group called "meet in chicago" that's for 20-30somethings (and isn't billed as a "singles" group) and they're having a bowling night.
how positively midwestern!!!
they're playing some sort of awful phil collins mix here in the business center. it is frustrating the hell out of me. my first serious boyfriend and i used to argue about phil collins, and i stil feel as strongly about it as ever: HORRIBLE POP FELONIES! sheesh.
i'm sorry i missed steve's call tonight. i miss him and need him here. this is like my nyc move because i don't have my bearings here. what's different is that i know what 99.9% of my bearings are, and his name is steve and he's not here...
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
the presentation went well (thank you thank you thank you to those of you who wrote to ask!).
of course, there are several other fires that i need to put out before the client heads out of town tomorrow morning, but at least we're on the right track.
hopefully tonight i can either go home at a reasonable hour or join the younger members of our team for their scheduled happy hour. i think i deserve a drink!
of course, there are several other fires that i need to put out before the client heads out of town tomorrow morning, but at least we're on the right track.
hopefully tonight i can either go home at a reasonable hour or join the younger members of our team for their scheduled happy hour. i think i deserve a drink!
Friday, January 23, 2004
i cannot believe i am still at work.
color me pissed.
i would leave now, but that would mean i'd have to come in earlier than our meeting on sunday is scheduled for. and i don't want to do that if i don't have to, since steve will be here. plus, i have a beer from the departmental happy hour that i had to miss to keep working. so i guess i might as well work while i can drink.
he called me today and told me that uhaul had no record of his reservation and that he might get a truck. a lot of stress and hassle ensued. eventually he got a truck out in belleville, loaded it up, and just called to tell me that he will indeed be here tomorrow with a bunch of stuff to unload. yipee!!
color me pissed.
i would leave now, but that would mean i'd have to come in earlier than our meeting on sunday is scheduled for. and i don't want to do that if i don't have to, since steve will be here. plus, i have a beer from the departmental happy hour that i had to miss to keep working. so i guess i might as well work while i can drink.
he called me today and told me that uhaul had no record of his reservation and that he might get a truck. a lot of stress and hassle ensued. eventually he got a truck out in belleville, loaded it up, and just called to tell me that he will indeed be here tomorrow with a bunch of stuff to unload. yipee!!
argh! today has been crazy as well! i thought for sure we'd have a slam-dunk with the plans we presented to the client this morning, but instead i need to revise them before monday! argh! luckily the reps i've had to call are pretty much able to get me some revised plans, but still -- i hate to demand a same-day turnaround, especially on a friday!
!
!
!
i am using lots of exclamation points!
i had a weird dream last night -- the first dream i've remembered since i moved. this guy that i've never even talked to from work was in it. is that a sign that i'm at work too much? i mean sheesh, i ride in the elevator twice with this guy (NO idea who he is) and all of a sudden he's popping up randomly in my subconsious?!?
!
!
!
i am using lots of exclamation points!
i had a weird dream last night -- the first dream i've remembered since i moved. this guy that i've never even talked to from work was in it. is that a sign that i'm at work too much? i mean sheesh, i ride in the elevator twice with this guy (NO idea who he is) and all of a sudden he's popping up randomly in my subconsious?!?
Thursday, January 22, 2004
okay, so i wrote a veryvery abbreviated msg to rebekah. and i'm still angry, but at least i feel better about having expressed my appreciation to her for her nice email.
i found out about some more shake-ups at my previous employer. actually, not at the last actual employer of mine, but at their ad agency, which was my employer before that. a very nice man who'd worked on the business for a long time was -- how shall we say this? -- no longer someone that they needed on the team at the agency. and so he decided to retire.
and then i heard more about some of the sad, misunderstood programs that i used to work on that nobody else understood and how they've fallen into disrepair or might be discontinued. (sigh) i guess it's definitely good that i'm not there anymore, toiling without anyone appreciating or understanding my work. hell, if nascar (at 1/10th of the media budget) is more important than media, or more attention-getting, well, that's not the place for me.
okay, i really must go sit in a hot bath right now and think about absolutely nothing. or maybe look at a magazine with lots of ads for shoes...
i found out about some more shake-ups at my previous employer. actually, not at the last actual employer of mine, but at their ad agency, which was my employer before that. a very nice man who'd worked on the business for a long time was -- how shall we say this? -- no longer someone that they needed on the team at the agency. and so he decided to retire.
and then i heard more about some of the sad, misunderstood programs that i used to work on that nobody else understood and how they've fallen into disrepair or might be discontinued. (sigh) i guess it's definitely good that i'm not there anymore, toiling without anyone appreciating or understanding my work. hell, if nascar (at 1/10th of the media budget) is more important than media, or more attention-getting, well, that's not the place for me.
okay, i really must go sit in a hot bath right now and think about absolutely nothing. or maybe look at a magazine with lots of ads for shoes...
i just had a swearing fit at the stupid computer here in this stupid computer lab. i composed a message to rebekah in response to a very nice email she sent me a week ago and then somehow the screen refreshed and it was erased. so i wrote an abbreviated one, and then the screen refreshed (!!!!) and then i wrote a reallyreally f**king short one and then the screen refreshed. i have no idea if it's a hotmail issue or a browser issue, but i am done trying for tonight. seriously, i am near tears over this right now and that is not a good sign. i need a hot bath.
i worked until 11 pm tuesday night and 12:30 am last night, with only about 1/2 hour breaks for dinner each night. i can't wait until this presentation is done on monday so i can get a life!
i worked until 11 pm tuesday night and 12:30 am last night, with only about 1/2 hour breaks for dinner each night. i can't wait until this presentation is done on monday so i can get a life!
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
i got into work around 8 this morning because i couldn't sleep. i knew it was going to be a big, bad, long day. i was still waiting for a whole bunch of proposals/modified proposals for the next couple of marketing campaigns from vendors and i needed to tie everything up before tomorrow since i'm out at the client tomorrow and then we're presenting on thursday.
well, i just left work. i worked 15 hours today. yipes!
i feel good about the changes to the plan though. some things are pretty "out of the box" and i had a helluva time fitting them into our little planning-spreadsheet framework. i emailed the whole damn modified plan to the guy that's been training me, dropped him an IM (he logged on again from home around 10:45 pm) and told him i was giving up for the night.
i think he was astonished that i was still at work!
it probably wouldn't have taken him as long since he didn't have to keep referring back to what was bought before (he probably knows that offhand) and he knows how to massage proposals into the planning spreadsheet. ugh. maybe working a big fat day like that will further persuade them that i need a helper monkey and pronto!
at least i'm glad about how it turned out.
i should have also worked a ton on the big strategy presentation that i'm giving next week. i worked on that a lot last week while waiting for the Q1 + Q2 proposals. and i worked on it more on the train to and from michigan. and i worked on it so much that the stupid presentation grew to 55 slides, which is ridiculous and not even thinkable for a client presentation.
luckily i had a really good meeting with the rest of the team around 4 pm today about how we're going to tie everything we're doing in the strategy presentation together. i guess i get to work late tomorrow night on that. ugh.
and to top it off, one of the most friendly people i've dealt with so far (and my pseudo-boss) isn't going to be working with me anymore because we're apparently going to be structured a bit differently. i guess we find out more thursday.
ugh.
i wish this past weekend would have been less stressful. i would have to say that working a 15 hour day today was less stressful than going through my crap and trying to get rid of things. no fun. *plus* when you are supposed to be getting rid of your beloved possessions there is a feeling of guilt for having so many in the first place. (sigh). i am too nostalgic.
right now i'm nostalgic for my apartment. let's blow this pop stand!
well, i just left work. i worked 15 hours today. yipes!
i feel good about the changes to the plan though. some things are pretty "out of the box" and i had a helluva time fitting them into our little planning-spreadsheet framework. i emailed the whole damn modified plan to the guy that's been training me, dropped him an IM (he logged on again from home around 10:45 pm) and told him i was giving up for the night.
i think he was astonished that i was still at work!
it probably wouldn't have taken him as long since he didn't have to keep referring back to what was bought before (he probably knows that offhand) and he knows how to massage proposals into the planning spreadsheet. ugh. maybe working a big fat day like that will further persuade them that i need a helper monkey and pronto!
at least i'm glad about how it turned out.
i should have also worked a ton on the big strategy presentation that i'm giving next week. i worked on that a lot last week while waiting for the Q1 + Q2 proposals. and i worked on it more on the train to and from michigan. and i worked on it so much that the stupid presentation grew to 55 slides, which is ridiculous and not even thinkable for a client presentation.
luckily i had a really good meeting with the rest of the team around 4 pm today about how we're going to tie everything we're doing in the strategy presentation together. i guess i get to work late tomorrow night on that. ugh.
and to top it off, one of the most friendly people i've dealt with so far (and my pseudo-boss) isn't going to be working with me anymore because we're apparently going to be structured a bit differently. i guess we find out more thursday.
ugh.
i wish this past weekend would have been less stressful. i would have to say that working a 15 hour day today was less stressful than going through my crap and trying to get rid of things. no fun. *plus* when you are supposed to be getting rid of your beloved possessions there is a feeling of guilt for having so many in the first place. (sigh). i am too nostalgic.
right now i'm nostalgic for my apartment. let's blow this pop stand!
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