A different job, a hectic pace, a new team—same ole’ me

So… I survived my first two weeks at the new job. If it isn’t obvious already, it has been a bit of a struggle to prioritize my life balanced against my new job. Thanks for all of your patience and understanding that a) my career is number one right now, b) my friends, family and boyfriend are squeezed in every spare moment and c) my blog(zzz) aren’t fitting in too well at the moment. It’s been one thing to spend my paid work hours, blogging, (sad to admit, but true), and a whole nother to now fit it all into spare moments of my personal life. It is as sad for me as it might be for you, but I’m sure I’ll be back up to speed soon, as life is a constant ebb and flow. As are the thoughts and stories I find necessary to share here with everyone…

The new gig, 9-to-5, grindstone, etc. is nothing short of very different. If there is one word to describe the area I feel the most changed it is: PACE. These last two weeks have felt like the quickest two weeks of my entire lifetime. I felt like I blinked, and it was the beginning of the third. Coming from a job where I was unchallenged and unmotivated (in other words, bored to tears), it’s just the change I needed and was hoping for. My new project list is always growing…I’ve learned that it’s not so much as checking the things off at my own pace and according to my own schedule—it’s a practice of prioritizing according to what my boss finds most important and jumping frantically from one project to the next, with some sitting for days on end, driving me crazy on that little To-Do list. It’s weird to feel like I have three days of work to do during one every day. But I’m learning so much and have so much potential to grow at my company, hopefully and possibly into an overseas position within five years. I’m most excited about working on some of our internal and external marketing and communication pieces, researching and rolling out advertising and a media kit for our company magazine, initiating a public relations process for our North American market and planning client events, including one I am planning and attending in Miami this September. (I’ve never been.)

Aside from actual work, I’m most excited about my change in TEAM. At my previous place of employment, I felt like I just could not fit in. It was a religious company that literally discriminated hiring those who were not Christian. While I’ll avoid religious talk, I’m not what they wanted. I managed to fly under the radar for three years, but never felt like I fit in, could ever talk much about my “real” at-home life or just be myself. It bothered me because I always wanted to be part of a team that consisted of genuine friendships with my coworkers. My new team is awesome—it’s comprised of six females for our corporate marketing team. My boss and three of us are involved in all marketing and communications for our North American offices, and my boss’s boss and another woman are involved in global marketing and communication initiatives. Go ladies! And everyone is young, hip, vi-vi-a-vib-a-rant. We are all lovers and watchers of Sex and the City. (We’re actually holding a team event day on the movie premiere day where we will be getting a spa treatment of our choice at Gene Juarez’ downtown spa, happy hour at Amber, then off to the earliest showing of “Sex and the City: The Movie”) Tell me, if you know me well, could this team be a better fit?

So, I’m starting to feel a little more situated. I’ve adjusted quite quickly to taking the bus to work every day. While I’m not on the lazy schedule I was every morning where I could roll into work at 9:30 in the morning (it’s now 8 a.m and a bus to catch at 7:30. Luckily I have a very patient boyfriend who will rub my feet while I lie in a zombified silence in front of the TV at night. I’m that fun during these days of adjustment.) The bus is a place like no else. The people watching, the conversations and the general atmosphere—it’s all so strange and interesting. I’ve enjoyed squeezing a lot more reading into my days now that I have book time during my ride to and from work every day. And, because it’s me and I’ll always spend money in the most ridiculous ways, I found a Ross right next to my bus stop. In my reckless search through their chaotic racks, I missed every bus that needed to take me home one night last week, had to hike six blocks home barefooted cause my feet hurt so bad (Note to self: Must buy bus shoes), and showed up an hour and 15 minutes late for a dinner date with a friend. (So unlike me.) BUT, I did score the best fitting and most flattering work pants in black AND brown for $14.99 apiece, so sometimes we have to make sacrifices in life.

So, the new job hasn’t changed me that much. I might be a little absent on the blog front, but I’ll still irrationally sacrifice all common sense and good reasoning for the perfect pair of pants, on sale.

Currently Feeling: Like I could do without the office vibe today—everyone is SO frantic and hectic.
Currently Anticipating: Haley picking me up and dying my long-over-due locks this evening.
Currently Loving: Seeing sunshine and water from my desk.

Movin’ on up, Movin’ on up!

During my first four days of the new grindstone (full color update coming soon), I have discovered something that tickles my fancy…

I love getting in the elevator and having the highest floor to go to than all the other business-suited men who are old and distinguished looking. This morning I stepped into the elevator with five of them, and while they were going to 40, 43 and 48, I was going to FIFTY-THREE!!

It’s like by pushing that button for the top floor, I’m pushing my way past all the higher-paid testosterone I’ll encounter in my career.

Glass ceiling, my ass. I’m higher than all of you! Boo yeow!

Currently Feeling: Overwhelmingly busy. I’m currently downsizing. My how times have changed.
Currently Anticipating: My marketing team dinner tonight at Wild Ginger. Never been.
Currently Loving: Learning, expanding, growing and changing.

Big News…buh buh buh BIG NEWS

I finally got a new job.

Those of you on a regular talking basis with me know that job searching has been a source of strife, exhaustion and heartache for me lately. I’ve been discouraged, in tears over my current job and just plain fed-up. Finding a new job—and sending out three resumes a week to do so—was my New Year’s Resolution for 2008. It’s all I’ve been able to think about, obsess about and talk about. It’s a wonder I’ve been able to keep it separate from the blog for so long.

But, I finally did it. Whew.

Slightly steering one’s self into a different career path is extremely hard. Everyone is always more qualified and a better fit for the job, and the competition out there is tough. I knew changing my career path was something I had to do, however, before I found myself 10 years down the road and still working in the nonprofit sector. No thanks. I have been hunting for a way out of the Jesus Factory off and on now for nine months. I’ve sent out more than 40 resume and cover letters, 14 in February alone. I’ve interviewed in-person and over the phone approximately 10 times. I’ve been one of 60 applicants chosen and one in 100. I’ve been down to the bottom two twice, but wasn’t the one who got the job. I’ve researched, created flashcards, practiced and repeated answers to the top 100 interview questions. I’ve rearranged my schedule, feigned doctors and dentist appointments and sat in rush hour traffic to the eastside in order to make it to interviews. I’ve fantasized for months about what it would be like to have a job downtown, vacation days, sick pay, bonuses, regular raises and awesome benefits. (All that I’ve been lacking while in a contract position.)

And it’s finally come together for me. I feel like I should pinch myself.

Starting April 7th, I will be a Marketing Project Liaison in the Marketing and Communications Department at one of the top three global commercial real estate firms. Commercial real estate? Meh. But marketing. Yessss. I’ve wanted to steer my career into either marketing or advertising. It’s where I envision myself being successful and happy, and where I can combine my two passions—writing and design. What I love most about the position I accepted is the ability to dip my hands in a bunch of different buckets. My department houses the company’s magazine, which I will be able to work on. (Still keeping editorial work in focus, just in case.) I will also be working on inside and outside communication pieces, marketing collateral such as brochures and ads, event planning, etc. I will be on a team of five women, and me—the sixth—who are in charge of all marketing and communication for the U.S., Canada and our global offices. It’s a big job. And I can’t wait to finally work somewhere that I can stay busy, busy, busy, throw myself in with all I have, feel challenged and renewed. I’ve seriously been lacking the aforementioned list at my current job.

Even better—it’s downtown! No more commuting a half an hour each way to work, and just in time for the gas increase to $3.70. I will soon be a bus rider, which from what I heard, will only add to the great stories I can share here for you. Oh, and I am receiving a 10-percent raise and awesome benefit package. That didn’t hurt either.

My mom says, “You better keep your feet on the ground cause you’re likely to float away.”

Floating, yes I am.

Currently Feeling: Slightly embarrassed and concerned.
Currently Anticipating: Everything getting back to normal with Mike now that he’s home.
Currently Loving: 2008. This is my year.

For love of the job

Two questions I was asked in my interview this morning:

1. If you were in a boat with four people, and it started to sink, what would you do?

2. If you could be any appliance, which would you be and why?

And I thought I was only in competition with other candidates over my professional skills and experiences…now I have appliances dictating my hiring capabilities. Awesome.

How would you have answered?

For the record, I said I’d take off an article of clothing and stop up the hole. And that I’d want to be a refrigerator so I’d always have people around me and never be bored… Why, Hello Mr. Pickles. How do you like my shirtless boobies? …

This is just getting weird.

Currently Feeling: Hopeful and antsy.
Currently Anticipating: Oh glorious weekend, why are you still a day away?
Currently Loving: Feeling on top of my bills right now.

How a Fashionista Keeps Her Books

Oh yeah baby. I finally did it:

In last Friday’s aftermath of one of the most stressful and crappy days in my professional career to date, (will explain when it’s safe to talk about the enemy), I decided to come home, turn off my phone, put on a little bit of “Burn One Down” by Ben Harper and color-coordinate my bookshelf. [Yes. Sometimes I'm a little bit crazy. Hence the whole label reserved for this.] There’s nothing that says calm like a little bit of order and semblance to my life when other parts seem to be falling apart.

And there’s something about these lyrics that have always spoken volumes to me. Since I was a 19-year-old college freshman, unsure about my path in life and how people view me, till now—a 26-year-old, sometimes still unsure about my path in life and how people view me:

“My choice is what I choose to do;
And if I’m causin’ no harm,
It shouldn’t bother you.
Your choice is who you choose to be;
And if you’re causin’ no harm,
Then you’re alright with me.”

If only I had something I could turn into a rainbow every time there was a bad moment…life would be a little bit easier. And brighter.

Currently Feeling: Rejuvenated.
Currently Anticipating: 10 days from today.
Currently Hating: 250-foot Jesus. I’ll stick with the 8-pound baby, thanks.

I feel driven, hear me roar

I’ve never been able to deal well with being bored. In fact, it’s safe to say that boredom is one of my least favorite human emotions. I think I used to (probably still do) drive my biological father crazy when I visited him in the Podunk town he lives in. One pizza parlor, one grocery store, one bowling alley and one theater that boasts documentaries on the Mt. St. Helen’s eruption every hour, were never my idea of a good time. “Can’t you just relax?!” he’d say when I wanted to go to dinner, shopping “in town,” or anything that got me out of the trailer he lived in on three acres in the middle of nowhere. Collecting caterpillars in a jar grew old after age 10. Life at my mom’s and life at my dad’s were always night and day.

Perhaps I learned it at a young age, but when I start to feel a little bored, I think about all the things I can do or change so I DON’T feel bored. This last part of winter has been so mundane, so I started searching for anything and everything to keep me busy. Now, I’ve suddenly found myself with quite the list:

• Teaching myself Adobe GoLive via two tutorial books that I bought off Amazon.com, so I can design my own portfolio Web site
• Assembling a portfolio to apply to the Academy of Art in San Francisco
• Beginning a pro bono copywriting project through the Taproot Foundation, where I will be copywriting a brochure project for Page Ahead—a local nonprofit advocating child literacy
• Two job interviews this week and continuously trying to push out three resumes and cover letters a week
• Staying after hours at work to spend a couple hours trying to finish Vanessa and Larisa’s uber-late, two-year birthday project I’ve been designing (it’s a surprise)

I feel DRIVEN to SUCCEED right now.

Currently Feeling: Nervous about all this WV application stuff coming through.
Currently Anticipating: The interview I have with a rad ad agency on Thursday.
Currently Worrying About: My boyfriend. I haven’t heard from him in nearly two weeks! Yikes.

I’d like to think this will all pay off someday…

I’m whoring myself out.

That’s right.

You knew it was only a matter of time.

I’m offering my writing skills up for free to the masses!!

I’ve been contacted to be a volunteer for the Taproot Foundation. I found a posting they had on Monster.com for a copywriting position they needed–volunteer only. In my obsession with breaking into the copywriting world, I applied to work for them for free. The commitment will only be three to five hours a week (supposedly), and I will be working on projects that will include copywriting for brochures, Web sites, reports and perhaps product copywriting. This will hopefully end up being the chance to gain copywriting experience that I’ve been waiting for…too bad it’s for zero income. I seem to be a magnet for nonprofit work. But, such is life.

This will either provide excellent clips for the online portfolio I’m creating to apply for the MAF in Advertising program at the Academy of Art in San Fransisco, or it will allow me to skip that 45K grad degree all together. (Although I’m still leaning toward the degree.)

I’m attending an orientation next week, and then will be able to start working on some projects. Hopefully this little volunteer endeavor I’m embarking on won’t include any more underage teenagers and strippers. I’m not sure that will do much for my portfolio…

Currently Feeling: Productive for the first time in months. Terrible.
Currently Anticipating: Tanning, pilates and Cashmere Mafia. It’s a low-key Wednesday.
Currently Loving: My plans for VDay tomorrow! But, I hope I get to hear from my boy too!

I want to be smart and successful, or something

I’m thinking about pursuing a Masters Degree in Advertising with an emphasis in copywriting.

I don’t know where I’m going to go with this, and if it’ll actually come to fruition. But, I will say that I’m extremely interested in the Advertising industry. It’s always seemed so glamorous and swanky. I think I fit right in…artistic positions in artistic offices. And, the salary options aren’t bad either. I would love to be able to qualify now for copywriting positions. The trouble is, they all want you to have copywriting experience and a copywriting portfolio. Where does one gain this said experience if no one is willing to give it to you?

That being said, I’ve researched a M.F.A. in Advertising and there’s basically one expensive school in San Francisco that offers the degree… but online! So, I don’t necessarily have to choose to move away just yet. The little packet of information is on its way to me in the mail right now.

Who knows. This is me thinking about being 26, getting a new job and wanting a grad degree.

I guess it’s always good to have goals…

Currently Feeling: Starvin Marvin.
Currently Anticipating: Vanessa and Larisa’s birthday weekend at a cabin in Leavenworth.
Currently Wondering: When that tax return is going to magically appear in my bank account, so I can pay off some bills!

Toilet Talk

Growing up, my dad used to get all in a huff over the amount of toilet paper our household went through.

“You only need two or three squares!” he’d exclaim.

Two or three squares?! I’d think to myself. Two or three squares is most definitely not enough toilet paper. So, I went merrily on my six-to-10 square way. After all, it’s not like he could really monitor my toilet paper consumption.

I have come to the conclusion, however, that my dad is totally right. Women use faaaarrrr too much toilet paper. It takes 71.48 people to completely utilize a single roll of toilet paper. (#) I’m assuming, if the sample pool was just women, it’d take four.

In the bathroom at work, I always hear women in the stall next to doing the following:

Rustle, rustle, unravel.

Tear.

Rustle, rustle, unravel.

Tear.

Rustle, rustle, unravel.

Tear.

Tear.

Unravel.

Tear.

Rustle.

Tear.

SIX?! SIX lengths of toilet paper is what you really need to go to the bathroom? I mean sheesh. I’d think by that time you’d have a bowling ball-sized mound of toilet paper to wipe with. Clearly unnecessary.

Perhaps tomorrow I’ll shout over the stall, “You only need two or three squares! Two. Or. Three!”

Currently Feeling: Like it’s not Friday. But it is. Yippee!
Currently Anticipating: Project Red Dress tonight with Sarah and her coworkers.
Currently Loving: Broccoli with chopped walnuts and Parmesan cheese.

Double "Fuck Yeah"s

Woah. Halt. Looks like I won’t be making any plans in my near future to move to California. Seattle, I regret to inform you, I believe I’ll be around another year.

This morning I received a visit from my boss to discuss growth of my current position and how we wanted to move forward with a few ideas we’ve been discussing. I’ll spare you the details because they aren’t something anyone would understand unless one was familiar with working within the World Vision framework. However, I’ll say that I’ve been building my new position since I started it in March, and it involves taking over tasks that have been housed in other departments of World Vision.

Long story short, by boss basically verbally offered me to have my position become permanent, which would therefore involve be becoming a “real” World Vision employee, vs. a contract employee. I’m not sure if this includes a raise, but it does mean that I’ll be getting sick pay and vacation days. In addition, she talked to me about the possibility of becoming a world communicator for World Vision. This means I would write articles, press releases, etc. (more of my journalism vision) from a different country. She mentioned Afghanistan, and while that scares me, there are possibilities to do this position in other countries as well. She told me that if this is something that I would be interested in, she’d help me move forward with this as well. I’m so excited because becoming an actual World Vision employee means more job security, an opportunity to move-up in the company or to a position more in line with where I see my future and an opportunity to travel. It also means that I get to continue living life with my current salary and flexible schedule, two things I think I’d have a hard time living without. Fuck yeah.

Alongside this good news, I bought a ticket yesterday to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It looks like me, Larisa, Vanessa, Shannon and two of Shannon’s friends will be spending the third week of June basking in the hot-hot sun. Double Fuck yeah.

I guess this is just my week.