So today I went shopping for "professional" clothes. I need to look the part on Monday.
Jason dropped me and Bart off at Water Tower Place this afternoon. They have a big Macy's, Filene's Basement, Barns & Noble, and a mall all really close together. Anyway, I tried out Filene's Basement first, but got completely overwhelmed the second I walked in. I HATE stores that aren't organized at all, especially if they are also packed with people.
At this point, Bart went to study at B&N and I moved on to H&M. I got two cute blouses (I would have had three, but they didn't have the other one I liked in my size), a tank top, and a really pretty sweater. And let me tell you, I HATE the sales tax in Chicago!
After that, I went to Macy's and the mall, but found nothing that I liked or that looked appropriate for work. I might have to go to the Express down the road from us tomorrow to get a couple more things. It doesn't hurt to be prepared and look nice!
Once I was finished shopping, Bart met me in the mall and we got Wow Bao for dinner. It's basically a fast-food Asian place that only makes dumplings, called Bao. It was really good, but REALLY filling. I feel like I am going to explode.
And, once again, I brought my camera with me and failed to take pictures of the city. I swear I'll take some at one point or another. I'm so bad about that.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Currently Employed
Well folks (by "folks" I mean Alyssa and Branyn), I got the Legal Assistant job that I vented about yesterday.
The Senior Partner called last night to offer me the position along with a two week trial period. I wish I could say that I was excited, but I wasn't. As it happened, I had been complaining to Bart about the fact that they made me hang around all day, so I wasn't really in a celebratory mood. Bart was absolutely thrilled, as were my dad and Grammie. I start Monday at 9am.
In other news, I have a very busy weekend ahead of me. I need to go out and buy at least 4 more blouses to wear to my new job (I only have one as of now and I wore it to the interview), I need to buy a date book so that I can work my schedule around Bart's and the lawyers', and I NEED to get a bus/train card so that I can commute alone on the days Jason and Bart can't drop me off. I probably ought to get a lunch box or something, too, but I'll just use paper for now. I hate the way lunch boxes tend to stink like whatever food was kept in them. And, unfortunately, I like stinky food.
Anyway, I have decided that when Bart and I get out this weekend, I am going to bring my camera and take pictures of the city and of us so that I can post them here. Pictures always make things more interesting.
No news yet on the wedding/honeymoon debacle, but I had a great talk with my Aunt Jayne about everything, which helped A LOT. I really do need to start realizing that these things aren't the end of the world and just DEAL.
The Senior Partner called last night to offer me the position along with a two week trial period. I wish I could say that I was excited, but I wasn't. As it happened, I had been complaining to Bart about the fact that they made me hang around all day, so I wasn't really in a celebratory mood. Bart was absolutely thrilled, as were my dad and Grammie. I start Monday at 9am.
In other news, I have a very busy weekend ahead of me. I need to go out and buy at least 4 more blouses to wear to my new job (I only have one as of now and I wore it to the interview), I need to buy a date book so that I can work my schedule around Bart's and the lawyers', and I NEED to get a bus/train card so that I can commute alone on the days Jason and Bart can't drop me off. I probably ought to get a lunch box or something, too, but I'll just use paper for now. I hate the way lunch boxes tend to stink like whatever food was kept in them. And, unfortunately, I like stinky food.
Anyway, I have decided that when Bart and I get out this weekend, I am going to bring my camera and take pictures of the city and of us so that I can post them here. Pictures always make things more interesting.
No news yet on the wedding/honeymoon debacle, but I had a great talk with my Aunt Jayne about everything, which helped A LOT. I really do need to start realizing that these things aren't the end of the world and just DEAL.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
I Shouldn't Blame Bart
I feel bad about being so mad at Bart. I guess I needed to vent my anger and frustration and he was fresh in my mind. I SHOULD write about how wonderful he was to me last night when I (finally) got home.
Bart, after hearing about my horrendous day, went to Chipotle--my new favorite place to eat (gross, I know)--and got me a fajita. I like the burritos best, but lets not focus on that. Anyway, he even brought home some of the green Tabasco sauce in a little container for me! I was so THRILLED that I didn't have to make dinner and that I got to eat something much more delicious than a crummy frozen pizza. Bart set the table and even cleaned up all of the dishes AND the entire kitchen for me while I sat on the couch and cried a little because I was so exhausted and pissed from my day.
He really is fantastic and I shouldn't be mad at him. He just wants our wedding experience to be special and everything that it is "supposed" to be. And his aunt and grandparents have worked so hard to give us a very generous and wonderful gift. It isn't their fault that it happens to be coming at a bad time.
Bart, after hearing about my horrendous day, went to Chipotle--my new favorite place to eat (gross, I know)--and got me a fajita. I like the burritos best, but lets not focus on that. Anyway, he even brought home some of the green Tabasco sauce in a little container for me! I was so THRILLED that I didn't have to make dinner and that I got to eat something much more delicious than a crummy frozen pizza. Bart set the table and even cleaned up all of the dishes AND the entire kitchen for me while I sat on the couch and cried a little because I was so exhausted and pissed from my day.
He really is fantastic and I shouldn't be mad at him. He just wants our wedding experience to be special and everything that it is "supposed" to be. And his aunt and grandparents have worked so hard to give us a very generous and wonderful gift. It isn't their fault that it happens to be coming at a bad time.
Horribly Confused...
So yesterday I had my Legal Assistant interview in downtown Chicago. It was the single worst interview experience I've had in my entire life.
I arrived at the Law Office at 12pm and didn't leave until 7:30pm. I'm not kidding. The worst part of the whole day was that at least 4 of those hours were spent waiting. I waiting to be seen by the first person to interview me. I waited for the second person to interview me. I waited for the tour of the office. I had to wait for the fourth person to interview me. When I finally got the chance to meet the senior partner, I sat in front of his desk and waited for 45 minutes while he talked on the phone to clients and finally sent me out. Then, I waited a total of 2 and a half hours in the lobby waiting to talk to him again while he met with clients. I have never felt so worthless in my entire life.
In total, I met with 7--that's right, 7--employees yesterday. Three of those people had nothing to do with hiring me. I was just pawned off onto them because they had nowhere else to put me.
To make matters worse (and I'll get to my point, I promise) they actually liked me. I was told that, if I get this job, I won't get any vacation time until August for my "honeymoon." This means that I won't get to go to Maria's wedding (in which I am a bridesmaid and have already bought my dress), I won't be able to get my expensive wedding dress fitted so that I can even wear it, and I won't get a bridal shower or get to be involved in making centerpieces for my own wedding. On top of all of that, Bart and I had a fight this morning about the "surprise honeymoon" his aunt and grandparents are planning for us. I am not a person who likes surprises (they make me very nervous) and he has refused to tell me anything at all about it. He refused the other night to call his mom and find out if it was a definite--I wanted to know because one of my best friends wants me to be in her wedding the weekend after mine. Now he's acting like I should have expected this to happen. I didn't! No one clued me in. And, just because my life is so great, I need to decide whether or not to accept this honeymoon and this job.
Right now, everything is riding on this dress. It was super expensive and there is no way that it can be returned. There is also no way that I can wear it unless I fly out to NY to have it fitted. Apparently I need a total of 3! fittings before the wedding day to make sure that it is perfect. I don't know what to do.
This is what it all boils down to:
1. I NEED the job, but will I even be able to be happy there after the way I was treated?
2. I NEED the wedding dress. No two ways about it.
3. I NEED three fittings for the wedding dress.
4. I WANT to enjoy my wedding day and not arrive in NY late the night before the big day.
5. I WANT to have a bridal shower. I've been gypped out of enough wedding fun as it is already.
6. I WOULD LIKE to have the honeymoon, for Bart's sake, if it is possible.
Is it horrible of me to be annoyed with Bart's aunt and grandparents for making this so difficult? I feel that because I wasn't included in ANY of this (I have no idea where we are going or if it is even going to happen) I am being left in a really bad position. I understand that they wanted to give us a special gift, but they never asked us what we wanted to do (as in have the honeymoon now or next year like we had planned). I am going to look ungrateful if I have to give back the honeymoon--but isn't the day of the wedding more important??
Bart and I had originally planned on having our honeymoon on our first wedding anniversary. This wedding has been so expensive and it would give us a whole year to save up money for a really nice trip. All he seems to care about is that we have a honeymoon. It's been a constant battle. We had a disagreement a few nights ago because I told him that I wanted to oversee the decorating of the Four Chimneys the day of our wedding. I don't HAVE to do it, I WANT to! He just has crazy, preconceived ideas about how our wedding is going to play out.
I think if I had all of this to do over again, I would have stayed in NY. I had a good job and made decent money. I would be completely involved in my wedding and I would be able to take off whatever time I needed. I'd be home for the dress fittings, home to make the centerpieces, home to have my bridal shower. I guess I just make bad decisions.
I arrived at the Law Office at 12pm and didn't leave until 7:30pm. I'm not kidding. The worst part of the whole day was that at least 4 of those hours were spent waiting. I waiting to be seen by the first person to interview me. I waited for the second person to interview me. I waited for the tour of the office. I had to wait for the fourth person to interview me. When I finally got the chance to meet the senior partner, I sat in front of his desk and waited for 45 minutes while he talked on the phone to clients and finally sent me out. Then, I waited a total of 2 and a half hours in the lobby waiting to talk to him again while he met with clients. I have never felt so worthless in my entire life.
In total, I met with 7--that's right, 7--employees yesterday. Three of those people had nothing to do with hiring me. I was just pawned off onto them because they had nowhere else to put me.
To make matters worse (and I'll get to my point, I promise) they actually liked me. I was told that, if I get this job, I won't get any vacation time until August for my "honeymoon." This means that I won't get to go to Maria's wedding (in which I am a bridesmaid and have already bought my dress), I won't be able to get my expensive wedding dress fitted so that I can even wear it, and I won't get a bridal shower or get to be involved in making centerpieces for my own wedding. On top of all of that, Bart and I had a fight this morning about the "surprise honeymoon" his aunt and grandparents are planning for us. I am not a person who likes surprises (they make me very nervous) and he has refused to tell me anything at all about it. He refused the other night to call his mom and find out if it was a definite--I wanted to know because one of my best friends wants me to be in her wedding the weekend after mine. Now he's acting like I should have expected this to happen. I didn't! No one clued me in. And, just because my life is so great, I need to decide whether or not to accept this honeymoon and this job.
Right now, everything is riding on this dress. It was super expensive and there is no way that it can be returned. There is also no way that I can wear it unless I fly out to NY to have it fitted. Apparently I need a total of 3! fittings before the wedding day to make sure that it is perfect. I don't know what to do.
This is what it all boils down to:
1. I NEED the job, but will I even be able to be happy there after the way I was treated?
2. I NEED the wedding dress. No two ways about it.
3. I NEED three fittings for the wedding dress.
4. I WANT to enjoy my wedding day and not arrive in NY late the night before the big day.
5. I WANT to have a bridal shower. I've been gypped out of enough wedding fun as it is already.
6. I WOULD LIKE to have the honeymoon, for Bart's sake, if it is possible.
Is it horrible of me to be annoyed with Bart's aunt and grandparents for making this so difficult? I feel that because I wasn't included in ANY of this (I have no idea where we are going or if it is even going to happen) I am being left in a really bad position. I understand that they wanted to give us a special gift, but they never asked us what we wanted to do (as in have the honeymoon now or next year like we had planned). I am going to look ungrateful if I have to give back the honeymoon--but isn't the day of the wedding more important??
Bart and I had originally planned on having our honeymoon on our first wedding anniversary. This wedding has been so expensive and it would give us a whole year to save up money for a really nice trip. All he seems to care about is that we have a honeymoon. It's been a constant battle. We had a disagreement a few nights ago because I told him that I wanted to oversee the decorating of the Four Chimneys the day of our wedding. I don't HAVE to do it, I WANT to! He just has crazy, preconceived ideas about how our wedding is going to play out.
I think if I had all of this to do over again, I would have stayed in NY. I had a good job and made decent money. I would be completely involved in my wedding and I would be able to take off whatever time I needed. I'd be home for the dress fittings, home to make the centerpieces, home to have my bridal shower. I guess I just make bad decisions.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Interview Tomorrow!!!
So I have a real-life interview tomorrow!!!
I applied, by phone, to this law firm yesterday as a Legal Assistant and, to be honest, I wasn't really expecting much. I got a call back within an hour! A very nice woman named Barbara asked me to send her my resume, which I did immediately. She said that I should hear back from them by Monday.
So, today I was just sitting around surfing the net when my phone rang. It was a woman named Brenda from the same law firm! We spoke for about 10 minutes about my work history, etc. and then she asked if I could come in for a face-to-face interview TOMORROW at noon! I really hate to get my hopes up, but it seems like maybe this will be the job since I got a call-back immediately!
Anyway, I did have another interview at another business tomorrow at noon, but it is a job I am a little sketched out about. I think I am going to call and see if I can reschedule that one. This Legal Assistant job is something that I really think I'd like. And, seeing as how I know next to nothing about the other job, the law one wins out!
It was be so nice to get a job and start earning money and benefits. I could begin saving and paying for the last few things I need for the wedding. See how I get my hopes up?
Pray for me!
I applied, by phone, to this law firm yesterday as a Legal Assistant and, to be honest, I wasn't really expecting much. I got a call back within an hour! A very nice woman named Barbara asked me to send her my resume, which I did immediately. She said that I should hear back from them by Monday.
So, today I was just sitting around surfing the net when my phone rang. It was a woman named Brenda from the same law firm! We spoke for about 10 minutes about my work history, etc. and then she asked if I could come in for a face-to-face interview TOMORROW at noon! I really hate to get my hopes up, but it seems like maybe this will be the job since I got a call-back immediately!
Anyway, I did have another interview at another business tomorrow at noon, but it is a job I am a little sketched out about. I think I am going to call and see if I can reschedule that one. This Legal Assistant job is something that I really think I'd like. And, seeing as how I know next to nothing about the other job, the law one wins out!
It was be so nice to get a job and start earning money and benefits. I could begin saving and paying for the last few things I need for the wedding. See how I get my hopes up?
Pray for me!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Busy!
Things have been so busy around here!
I've been cleaning like a mad-woman (don't ask me why) and spending tons of time online applying for jobs, Bart has been studying his brains out for tests, working at the IEI cornea clinic, and trying to get in the odd Racquetball workout. We went to something like a conference to learn more about a possible job for me and then spent Saturday evening playing games with our roommate Jason and friend Tommy.
This past week just completely breezed right by. I think it has a lot to do with how busy everyone is--except me. I haven't been able to really enjoy Bart in nearly three weeks because of the tests he's been having and because he studies so much. On Saturday we went all the way to Oakbrook to go to a convention in the hopes of learning more about a potential job for me. We were up at 6:30am, left here at 8am and were at the convention until about 11:30. When we got home, we were so exhausted that we took a nap. I woke up first and kind of puttered around the apartment while Bart studied. He promised that we'd do something--just the two of us--that night when he was finished. Unfortunately, Tommy called and asked if he could come over and spend some time with us. Now, I love Tommy--he's wonderful, it's just that I wanted to snuggle up with Bart and watch a movie and talk. I hate saying "no" to Tommy because I don't like to think that he's alone. He is the friend of Bart's who recently broke up with his long-time girlfriend.
Anyway, the four of us (and Roscoe) had a really great time playing games all night. We played Taboo for quite a while and laughed at how funny we were trying to describe the word on the card. After that, we played Scattegories, which is a favorite of mine. Everyone seemed to really like it, and we were hysterical over some of Bart and Jason's answers.
Even though I didn't get to spend alone time with Bart, I'm happy that I got to spend quality time with a small group of great people!
I've been cleaning like a mad-woman (don't ask me why) and spending tons of time online applying for jobs, Bart has been studying his brains out for tests, working at the IEI cornea clinic, and trying to get in the odd Racquetball workout. We went to something like a conference to learn more about a possible job for me and then spent Saturday evening playing games with our roommate Jason and friend Tommy.
This past week just completely breezed right by. I think it has a lot to do with how busy everyone is--except me. I haven't been able to really enjoy Bart in nearly three weeks because of the tests he's been having and because he studies so much. On Saturday we went all the way to Oakbrook to go to a convention in the hopes of learning more about a potential job for me. We were up at 6:30am, left here at 8am and were at the convention until about 11:30. When we got home, we were so exhausted that we took a nap. I woke up first and kind of puttered around the apartment while Bart studied. He promised that we'd do something--just the two of us--that night when he was finished. Unfortunately, Tommy called and asked if he could come over and spend some time with us. Now, I love Tommy--he's wonderful, it's just that I wanted to snuggle up with Bart and watch a movie and talk. I hate saying "no" to Tommy because I don't like to think that he's alone. He is the friend of Bart's who recently broke up with his long-time girlfriend.
Anyway, the four of us (and Roscoe) had a really great time playing games all night. We played Taboo for quite a while and laughed at how funny we were trying to describe the word on the card. After that, we played Scattegories, which is a favorite of mine. Everyone seemed to really like it, and we were hysterical over some of Bart and Jason's answers.
Even though I didn't get to spend alone time with Bart, I'm happy that I got to spend quality time with a small group of great people!
Friday, January 22, 2010
I'VE GOT A JOB INTERVIEW!!!--and creole seasoning!
First thing first--I got an actual call-back from a job that I applied to! I was so excited that I literally almost shouted and danced around the living room while I spoke to the HR guy. Anyway, I guess (hope!) he must have liked me on the phone, because after a 10 min. talk about my working experience, he told me that he'd like to do an interview in person THIS WEDNESDAY!!! YESSSSSSSS! And the best part is that this company is in Lincoln Part, which is basically right outside my door! I don't want to post the name of the company or anything else about it because I've heard that it is very unprofessional to do so, especially when I haven't even had a proper interview yet. I'm just so thrilled that someone responded to my resume! I called Dad right away to tell him (he was excited, too) and the first thing he wanted to know was whether or not I had professional clothes. I guess he forgot that he bought me two nice pairs of trouser pants and a pretty blouse for Christmas! Maybe my luck is turning around--and I'm sure the constant prayers haven't hurt, either!
In other news--Bart's two Southern friends, Tara and Jeff, gave me a gift! It is this fantastic stuff called Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning. Bart pulled it out of his school bag Wednesday night and it was such a nice surprise! I am new to Southern food and just love Tara's cooking. Apparently this stuff is her secret! All day yesterday I poked around the kitchen trying to figure out what I could make that would taste good with this seasoning in it. Bart texted me at around noon to tell me that he didn't think he did too well on his last test and that he had had an awful week. (He was traveling this past weekend, so he technically hasn't had a break from school/work in almost two weeks straight). Of course, hearing that, I had to make him one of his favorite meals: Chicken and Dumplings.
Long story short, I dumped some Tony's into the pot and let it all (chicken, flour, milk, onion, broth, seasonings) cook for about an hour before I added the veggies. It ended up being the BEST pot of Chicken and Dumplings that I have ever made! I thought Bart would never stop eating it--haha! So we had that for dinner, with one glass of wine and pistachio pudding for dessert. I am having the same meal all over again--minus the wine--for my lunch!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)