Archive for February 2008

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24 February 2008

All-day adventure

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, Friends

There are so many things to post about that happened today, but I’m going to take the lazy way out because it’s 11:51 p.m. on Saturday night and I can barely keep my eyes open (sad I know.) I blame this “older adult” behavior on the fact that my cough from my nasty cold last week has returned and I am wiped out again. Fingers crossed that the meds can still help since the doctor can’t/won’t.

Today I left my apartment at 11:07 a.m. and returned about 11:30 p.m. And during this period of time, I productively packed in the following adventures: hair cut/color (yay!), trip to the Art Institute during “February Free Days,” dinner, movie, drink and then home. Fortunately, I was not alone in these ventures as Liz and Anne were with me and had a good girl “freight,” aka “friend date.”

The oddest sight of the day had to be the impromptu fireworks that were shot off near the Michigan Avenue bridge around 6:30 p.m. A lot of people on the street stopped to watch this as a) there is nothing big going on in town this weekend, b) the three of us crossed that bridge just about 10 minutes before and no crowd was gathered to watch fireworks and c) there were a lot of fireworks and they were set off very low to the ground. Now I’m checking the Trib online to see what’s up. But the crowd response was very unnerving.

So tomorrow is one of my favorite days of the year, Oscar day, and Liz, Anne and I will again be celebrating this most wonderful day. I have pictures from the Art Institute that I will post shortly (yes you can take photos in the museum) of all the nice things we saw there today. The photography exhibit in particular was very intriguing/disturbing. Remind me to share. Until then, the heated mattress pad calls for me!

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22 February 2008

Resume/cover letter nightmare and a "mate"

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: shopping, work

To me, having confidence in yourself is a great thing, as long as it doesn’t turn into arrogance. I try to be outwardly confident in my professional and personal life, but I never morph into becoming arrogant about my abilities, except in sports, because I will crush you and make you cry all the way home from my wicked trash talking.

Anyhow, what brings up this topic today is an e-mail from a friend who posted an internship ad on Craigslist and from which he received this unique response from a candidate who has a name similar to Dwight on the Office. I absolutely love The Office, which is why I also feel compelled to share this story. This intern candidate either intentionally wrote his resume and cover letter to mock the Dwight character or thought that this kind of resume/cover letter would actually work! Both options are horrifying and I promise what you are going to read below is literally copied from the documents.

Below are “highlights” from the resume and cover letter:

  • “I have three middle names: Sterling, David, and Freeman. My favorite food is chili on rice. When I was 6 years old, I discovered at a Denny’s that I could say the alphabet backwards. I was grounded for being a ‘sass-mouth’ during the entire 8 th grade. Orienteering, backpacking, and skiing are my three favorite activities and they keep me anchored while afloat in the chaotic sea of life.”
  • “I currently reside in [state removed], however I have friends in [city removed] with whom I will be living and eagerly await my finding employment. Be it e-mail, phone, or carrier pigeon, I look forward to hearing from you. “
  • Cover letter is signed “Indubitably,” which does not mean “sincerely.”
  • “Objective: In short, material for the memoirs.”
  • Current employer: Baskin Robbins
  • “Skills: Wit, ingenuity, sense of humor; strong work ethic, commitment; amateur wordsmith; geniality; athletic ability (skiing, mountaineering, soccer, baseball, biking) Computer proficiency in MS Office Applications, Adobe Indesign, Photoshop.”

There are no words to explain the shock from all of us who received this. Again, I hope this was a joke because I’m tempted to write this guy and ask him, WTF? He even italicized Facebook in his cover letter. Wow.

Me-date/”mate”:
So after a long, short week of work, I took some quality time to stroll down Michigan Avenue, do some window shopping and “trying on” of items, while trying to maintain some self-control. Mentally though, I got awesome stuff and spent a fortune. In reality, I have items on hold, many of which I’ll change my mind on tonight. So the plastic is safe again.

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21 February 2008

The songs that you hear in your head

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: CTA, music, Wisconsin

First off, those are not bad things to hear. I have my iPod in my ears most of the time that I’m outside and I feel like I’m living my life to a great soundtrack. With the occasion of breaking out into song and bad dancing.

Because many of my high school and college friends have emerged from the woodwork on Facebook, I am reminded of a topic that was often a popular one amongst my friends in college – theme songs. And not television theme songs, but your own personal theme song that you feel best describes you and your personality. Ideally, it would play whenever you walked into a room to announce your presence (much like on WWE wrestling but smoke and fireworks with that music is optional.)

So what is your personal theme song? Please share the artist’s name and song title, but if you’re embarrassed, feel free to just put a music genre.

I rotate between two theme songs, “Big Pimpin’” and “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” both by Jay-Z. Maybe it’s because I was a gangster rapper in my previous life, pimped out with bling, Cristal and 22′s on my car. (Further evidence why I was a gangster rapper in a past life will come another time – sorry KMo.) In fact, one of my secret shames is that whenever I debut the Uggs for the upcoming fall/winter season, I also play a theme song for them, which is “These Boots are Made for Walkin’” by Nancy Sinatra. Can’t mess with a classic. Anyhow, I’m anxious to hear your responses.

Talking to yourself is healthy – unless it’s in public
I talk to myself – I openly admit it, except I don’t do it in public because that makes me look crazy. But in the comfort of my apartment, I will have rhetorical dialogues with myself about anything and everything. Fortunately me and inner monologue me get along, which is important to note! Maybe this is a sign that I need a pet to so that those dialogues are out in the open.

Anyhow, last night on the 146, which I nearly froze waiting for, there was a woman in a monster fur coat and more monsterous fur hat that was apparently arguing with herself on the bus. She was frantically shaking her head and looking angrily at the woman next to her (who she didn’t know) and giving her the “stink eye.” After doing this for a few minutes, she would give her a half-smile and shake her head, looking still pissed. Part of me wondered what she was arguing with herself about, but if I learned anything from waiting with Emily at the Miami airport security line, don’t ask. Just don’t.

Final note
Oh yeah! I’m going to see The Police with Elvis Costello in Milwaukee in July. While I don’t remember The Police as a full band (in my memory Sting has always been a solo artist) but I do love the song Message in a Bottle and I cannot wait to rock out to that song with my wine cooler along the Lake. Hey it’s Wisconsin, a little Bartels & James full of ice and crop tops it totally acceptable there.

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20 February 2008

Oscars, Google Maps and Reasons not to get married, oh my!

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Random, Relationships, television

As referenced in a previous post, I was sorely disappointed in the Golden Globes this year. My first award-season with HD and I was denied being able to criticize celebrities. Very disappointing.

But today is not only “hump day,” it’s when I really started to get excited for the Oscars, because it’s only a few days away! People criticize how “self congratulatory” awards are, but for some of us living in the tundra of the Midwest right now, it’s an escape to glamorous Hollywood with couture dresses and insane jewelry that we could only hope to wear one day. I like daydreaming that it’s me walking down the red carpet, getting mind-numbing questions from Ryan Seacrest and looking altogether fabulous. Jon Stewart is crashing to get ready for the big event, and I am beyond excited that he’s back and hosting. Now if only Stephen Colbert would make an appearance…red carpet perhaps?

Liz, Anne and I have started our Oscar plans, which will no doubt include food, wine, dessert and biting criticism. I cannot wait.

Big Brother on Google Maps?
Today Ryan shared with me a creepy, yet fascinating new feature on Google Maps. If you type in an address, the site now gives you a “street view” option, which provides a literal snapshot of the street, including the buildings, cars and people on them. It’s not done in real-time (so far all of the images are in spring/summer) but it’s fun to play with. I mapped my apartment and my parents house, which was the creepiest of all. The cars were on the street and the garage door was open. I would have had a stronger, “holy cow!” reaction if one of them was out there when the image was taken. Check it out!

Marriage? Maybe not
So tonight I’m watching “Rich Bride, Poor Bride” on We television and I was actually taken aback at what I saw. First off, this nightmare bride, whose fiance was Asian, decided they wanted an Asian theme for their wedding but just decided to blend Chinese, Japanese cultures, etc. together because why not? Plus she had the “princess mentality,” which had to inclue a tiara (gawdy and $550+) and cupcake dress (too puffy.) Then the final nail in the coffin had to be when her outside wedding setting threatened to put the sun in her guests face, so when the wedding planner informed her of this, she said that she “didn’t care” and that they would have to “deal with it.” Interesting. What’s worse is that her husband and mother enable her to be like this, similar to “Supernanny” and “My Super Sweet 16.” I shouldn’t judge, but their eventual divorce (because that is inevitable) should be rather eventful. I would watch that too, along with the moment that her husband grows a pair of balls and tells her to f*ck off.

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19 February 2008

Put your clothes back on

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Random, shopping

Tasteful photography is very subjective. For years, I thought Helmut Newton’s images of women were derogatory and degrading, until I read his obit in the New York Times and someone finally explained his rationale, which made my opinion on his work change (somewhat.) Annie Lebowitz and Mario Testino do amazing work in Vantiy Fair, which is why I have kept a subscription to that magazine for so long, and covet the book “Vanity Fair’s Hollywood.” This might not be the best example of “iconic images” but recently that word has come up again in relation to Bert Sterns final photoshoot of Marilyn Monroe, which Lindsay Lohan apparently felt the need to “recreate” for the latest issue of New York Magazine.

I am not a huge Marilyn Monroe fan, although I do see the iconic beauty and sex appeal that she may have had during her heyday. While looking at the photographs from the magazine (which are not work-appropriate at all), I was actually almost disgusted at Lohan’s embodiment of this sex symbol. First off, photographers should have covered the tramp stamp on Lohan’s right rear-cheek. Not classy at all. And looking at these images, it doesn’t have the same allure as Marilyn’s original photos, especially because of Lindsay’s personal lifed drama and Britney-esque attraction from photographers. Personally, New York Magazine could have done better and should have left well enough alone. I don’t need to see Lindsay naked and wish now that I missed out on it. But her mother has endorsed it and what a “voice of reason” she is.

Purse update
My Yahoo e-mail notified me today that 1154 Lill has released a new weekender bag, named Paula, which retails for $200. I have not been a fan of recent Lill releases, but there is something cute about this one. Good size and it looks to have good durability, minus the fact that it’s still just cloth. With my klutzy skills, I will spill soda or coffee on it and thus have a ruined, $200 bag. Plus, the last time I was in the store for the VIP event, one of the associates asked me honestly how I felt about another bag, which normally would have been my taste. I gave them my honest opinion and they seemed to appreciate it, which I think says a lot of any store who is trying to attract and maintain customers. Now we’ll just have to see if I get any more VIP invites based on that comment :)

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