Feet Schmeet

I was looking through some pics tonight and I can see how different I look, even from December. I need to get my foot healed up and get back to working out again. I feel like I am gaining weight back I miss my Turbo Kick classes...I miss feeling good and enjoying working out.

I don't think I ever posted about my foot but basically I've been dealing with this horrific pain in my foot for over a year. It would come and go but it would really KILL me after I worked out or after a long day on my feet. I just ignored it forever, but finally it got so bad I had to go to the doc again. I found a new (better) foot doctor and he diagnosed me with a cuboid sublex. Basically a major bone in my foot was rotated or dislocated out of place causing the sharp pain all over my lateral foot. Awesome. I was glad to finally get a proper diagnosis, but I didn't realize it would take so long to "heal".

So, I've been doing physical therapy for about 5 weeks now per my doctors orders and have not been doing any of my high impact turbo kick classes or anything. I feel like blah. The foot seems to be getting better, but it's off and on. It mainly feels better when its taped up tight by my PT (I am loving the taping she does, it's such a relief). Without the tape I feel like it just gets worse. I have been wearing my running shoes (new ones) everywhere and it feels better usually with those. However, as soon as I wear normal shoes or dress shoes or try to do any major activity it usually hurts again. I hope it gets better 'cause I need to get back to the gym, STAT. 

I just hate my feet. I have the worst feet ever, always have. Structurally they are just jacked up. It's a hereditary thing they said, nothing that I did that caused it, they are just that way and it makes everything a problem. Lucky me! During PT we have been working on strengthening the muscles in my feet with all these exercises to try to create some support that my feet don't naturally have. Its getting better but I feel like an old lady with feet like these and I shouldn't!

Hope all goes well and I can get back to normal soon.

Today was one of those nice days. It's was like my Sunday. I was home all day today, didn't have any tutoring or work or anything major to do today. I just enjoyed the day.

The sun streaming into the apartment is making me have spring fever, even though it's only like 30 degrees here. I spent the day walking the dogs at the park (twice), catching up on emails, running errands and making dinner for tonight...oh, and of course searching for jobs.

I am anxious for spring to really get here....ok, I know it is officially spring, but here in Chicago we have only had a couple spring-like days. It's still not quite warm enough for me to want to hang around outside with the dogs or just be outside. I see the signs that spring is coming though and that makes me happy. The sun is out and the new baby green grass is just starting to pop through. I see buds on the trees and the guys at the park are raking dirt in the baseball fields with their little mower machines. Spring is almost here...I can feel it! Spring and Fall are my favorite seasons, but of course they are the shortest seasons here in Chicago.

Tonight I am making pulled BBQ chicken sandwiches. I've had it cooking in the crock pot all day and it smells super yummy in here! I got the recipe from my new(ish) friend, Manuel. I had dinner over at his house last week and he made this. It was so good I had to make it for me and Joe.

I hate cars

So, we heard about our car and the news is not good. The "main bearing" int he engine is bad and we need a new engine... $3,800 OR we need a new car. :-(  We can't decide what to do because we don't have the money to put toward the new engine OR toward a new car. The plan was that we would sell our car eventually and use that as a down-payment on a new car...well, now if we sell it we will only get a couple hundred bucks for it without a working engine. ugh. Even if we do put the new engine in, with the high miles I doubt we can sell it for more than what the engine would cost, so we take a loss either way.

We cannot decide what we want to do. To me it seems stupid to put $3,800 into a 9 year old car with over 167,000 miles on it. I would rather get a new (used) car and hopefully it will last much longer than a new engine would in this old car. However, the thought of buying a car without much of a down payment sickens me because our monthly payment will be so high.

This all could not come at a worse time. It's just one thing after another for us. It's so frustrating. I just need a break. If I got a job everything would be so much easier. Right now it just feels like we are in limbo and I hate that.

For now I guess Joe is going to drive it home from the shop and let it sit on the street until we decide what to do. It still runs for now, but it could die at any minute. My biggest fear is that if we get the new engine something else will go out, like the transmission or radiator, and those things aren't cheap either. I don't want this car to be a money pit, but I have never known a car that isn't once they get this old. I hate cars! They are the worst investments EVER. We'll see what happens.

The good thing is Joe and I can both get around by train/bus if we have to since we are in the city. I mainly take the train anyway. We don't have to have a car except for getting groceries and taking the dogs places and getting to places that are hard to get to by train.

Oh...almost forgot. I have another interview tomorrow with yet another firm! Not sure what they are looking for, but I hope one of these interviews turns into something!

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's a warm (in the 40's) and melty Valentine's Day here in Chicago. We still have lots of snow on the ground, but at least it's melting! I can see grass in some spots, although it's muddy, it's grass nonetheless. However, we still have several spots with a good foot or two of snow.

Walking the dogs this morning was interesting. We had to traverse several small lakes (ok, some really big puddles) to get our walk in. Louie wades right on through them. Chloe, on the other hand, usually tries to avoid walking in them if possible, but if she has to walk through them, she goes.... really....slooow....I think to avoid splashing water on herself. She's such a girl.

We are staying home for dinner tonight. I am making homemade lasagna, with homemade sauce. Yum! I got a bottle of wine and we should be good to go.

In other, less exciting news...our stupid car is acting up again. We are taking it in today to see what the damage is and I am scared to find out. We have been putting a lot of money (that we don't have) into our car over the past year or so. It has 167,000+ miles on it, so it's had a good run, but I think it's getting to the end of it's life. Even though it's a 2002, it still runs well and had been a good car. It's just the basic maintenance stuff and things going wrong now that are making it a pain because it has so many miles on it. We will see what they say. As much as I'd love a new car, we really want to wait until I get a new job and we get back on our feet before we buy a new one. Cars always have the worst timing. Hmph.

Everyone enjoy your day!

February

We made it through the snow and then the awful arctic blast of the past couple weeks. Starting today the temp is supposed to get better and better through next week, 30's and even 40 sometime next week. It's sad that even 20 degrees feels warm at this point! I am excited for 32+ temps because I want some of this stupid snow to melt! The snow really makes parking hard because there are SO many huge piles taking up precious parking spots on the street. Walking is a nightmare because there are so many piles to navigate. It will sure be a mess when it all melts, but I don't care...Bring on the "heat wave"!

On the job front, it seems like things have been picking up more and more. I had about a week between my last bunch of interviews and then I have 2 interviews this week. Both are actually at architecture and design firms! Woo! I have one today and I had the other one on Wednesday.

The interview I had Wednesday was...pretty much my dream job. I didn't know that going in, but when they described the work that they do, the kind of business they run, the way they work, I was amazed and instantly wanted to work there. Here are a few highlights:
They do primarily corporate interiors and architecture. (Which is what I want to continue to do)
They pride themselves on not working overtime. (In this industry, that is unheard of!)
They work 8-6 Monday-Thursday and 8-Noon on Friday, year round. (Sweet!)
They have a small, close-knit team that works well together. (Good)
They want someone who is willing to learn and be involved in every part of the design process. (That's TOTALLY me!)
They want someone to stay there long term. (Sounds good to me!)
They don't have titles. (cool)
They are super nice. (yay)

During the interview I was thinking, is this too good to be true? I don't think it is. I am really trying hard not to get my hopes up, but it's hard when you feel like it's the perfect job. I just hope they liked me as much as I liked them. I never know in interviews...it's so hard to know what they are thinking. I know there are lots of people looking and they will probably find someone with more experience than me, so I have to hope that they see something in me and are willing to give me a chance. We'll see. If I don't get it, I will be very upset because it seems so ideal. They are going to call one or two people back to come in and chat with their whole team before they make a decision. I hope I get called back. Please. Please. Please!!!! 

The job I am interviewing for today is also with a A+D firm. I heard they are looking to bring someone on part-time and "on the cheap", so we'll see what that's all about. I am OK with it (as long as it's not $10/hr) because it could lead to full-time work eventually. Any way I can get my foot in the door is fine with me.

All I hope is that I get something soon or keep getting lots of interviews as things pick up. It is still pretty slow, but I have heard about more jobs in the past month then I have over the past 6 months. Let's keep this up, Chicago.

Another Interview, Weekend, and Janet!!

I have another interview this Wednesday with a different company. I just found out about it today from a former classmate of mine. They called right away for an interview after I sent my resume. I'm not really sure what it is exactly, but I will find out more when I talk to her tonight. It's a project management company  of some sort located downtown, they are looking for a project assistant. It's good to see that there is some activity as far as jobs go, seems like I have heard about a lot of potential openings lately, but not really within the architecture and design firms themselves. At least its something...

We had a nice weekend. We went over to our friends Megan and Scudder's new condo out in the suburbs to watch the big Bears/Packers game on Sunday. Too bad the Bears lost. :-(  

They recently bought  a new place and it was nice to see it. The condo was really nice and we had a nice time over there. I took a big crock pot full of yummy nacho cheese dip (Cathy's famous recipe) and they had lots of other game day food. We also played that Just Dance game on the wii. Only a couple songs, but man, I was addicted! I want that game! I got the highest score on the two songs we played. Go me!

In other news (I cannot believe I forgot to post this earlier)....I am going to see JANET JACKSON in concert on March 8th! WOOO! I am so excited! She is going on tour, it's called her Up Close and Personal Tour. The tour will be smaller venues and she will sing all of her hits. I am so pumped! She is playing at the Chicago Theatre, which will be really cool. Its smaller and I have never seen a show there, so it should be so fun! I am going with my friends Kameko and Megan. I CANNOT wait. I have always been a fan of Janet and I will probably get emotional seeing her live, since I never have. Her music has always inspired me and a lot of it reminds me of being a kid.  I never got to see Michael, so I couldn't pass up the chance to see Janet, another one of my favorite singers/performers, live and in concert. I am SO excited!!!

http://www.janetjackson.com/index 

Random Thoughts

I'm on the way home from PiYo class right now (pilates/yoga). It was harder than I thought, but a nice change from Turbokick (no jumping around)... I'll definitely be sore tomorrow.
I feel fat and old today. I noticed wrinkles under my eyes last night. Boo!
It was really cold today and I have decided its time to bust out the heavy winter coat.

Busy Boring Life

Ugh, I have nothing to write about. My life is pretty boring right now I guess. I have been SO busy lately between working at Harrington, private tutoring and never ending alumni board meetings that I haven’t had time to breathe, let alone think of something cool to write about on my blog. I don’t even know who reads this blog, so maybe this is more for me anyway…ha-ha.

I am in class right now, (the one that I am the teaching assistant in), and I actually have a time to think and collect my thoughts. Seems like I’d be super busy in here, but aside from the occasional question, the students generally know what they are doing and they come to class, listen to the quick lecture, and then get busy with their work. I am enjoying this “quiet” time because my shifts in the computer labs are INSANE compared to the classroom shifts. In lab I literally jump from student to student solving their problems and helping them with every issue under the sun. The students range from beginning to about to graduate, so it’s a wide range of help that I provide. It’s crazy right now because final projects/presentations are next week and this week is crunch time, so the labs are packed and the students are in freak-out mode. When I leave the lab after a shift my brain is fried from solving problems the entire time. I need a massage or something! Whew!

I will be glad when next week is over and I can take a break and focus on re-doing MY portfolio and trying to get my stuff out there again.

Moving, Blog and Jobs (what else is new?)

Update on moving....
Joe and I decided to stay our current apartment for one more year. Even though we really wanted to move to a better place I think it will work out for the best and we will hopefully be back on track by next year so that we can move into a better place and get on with our lives. We do like our area and the apartment isn't the worst, so it wont be that bad to stick it out for one more year. Plus, moving right now would have been nearly impossible with our financial situation...not to mention finding a new place would be such an added stress that we don't need right now.

A note about my blog...
Obviously I know that this situation is not unique to Joe and me. I know there are SO many people/families/couples out there who are going through or have gone through the same thing that we are now. Lay-offs, hard times, and other troubles happen along the way in everyone's marriage/life....and if they don't you must be one really lucky person. I don't want anyone to think that I don't realize that. Our life together so far has been great, but I know its far from perfect. I know there will always be bumps in the road. What we are going through now is just one really large and long bump (more like mountain) that we are trying to get over. I know we can handle what comes our way, it may not be easy, but we can handle it.  So I guess what I am saying is, please know that when I write about the hard times, the frustrations, etc, I am not looking for pity, I am merely writing to get some of the thoughts out of my head and onto this 'paper'. I am not writing this to get attention or to make others feel sorry for me. To me it's the same as writing about the good times.  Right now there is an abundance of bad times, but I know eventually it will get better. Writing my feelings down has always helped me feel better, or at least get a grip on what I am feeling. And now, come to think of it, maybe several years from now I will look back and read these posts when things are better, or when they are even worse, who knows, but either way I will remember and learn from it.

Recent developments...
Until recently I was somewhat hopeful that I would be able to get back into design when things started picking up. Now, things are getting to the point where it's time to make a decision to get a job regardless of what it is. I am beginning to think that getting back into a firm anytime in the near future is pretty bleak. I need to get back to work, regardless of what it is. As much as it pains me to leave design behind and get another job, it is time.
Recently I started looking into other jobs online. I found one of interest with a Real Estate company who also has a leasing office/division. I interviewed on Monday but may have to go back for another interview. It definitely sounds like something I could do and may even be good at, but there is some negatives, like: commission only pay, lots of hours and working both Saturday and Sunday, possibly not being able to work out at my current place, which I LOVE.  As much as this sounds sort of bad I am hoping that they call me back for the second interview and I can get started working. I realize it will take time to start making any money, but the potential earnings (especially in the summer) are great (hopefully).
Also, just to preface this, I recently heard about a part-time design job that will be opening up because some women in the office are going on maternity leave. I called to inquire when I received the lead from a contact of mine and the woman explained that I would need to send in a TON of work samples along with my resume and cover letter and they would get back to me. I am going to do it, but this is the kind of thing I am talking about....due to the economy and probably hundreds of people applying for one job in design, it has become lots of jumping through hoops for only semi-decent jobs. I mean, this is a part-time job, probably paying next to nothing and they want me to send in practically my whole portfolio before they will consider me? Come on! One or two work samples is normal for a full-time job with a huge firm, but this is ridiculous. However, I am going to do it anyway, but it all just doesn't seem worth it to me anymore. Sad but true.

Anyway, I guess this is all for now. Today is a tough day because I am unsure of what will be happening with my unemployment benefits. This is why I am in a rush to get a  job now. I heard from my friend that due to working part-time during unemployment we are going to be essentially punished for it with lower unemployment checks....its a long story and I'm not sure exactly what's going to happen yet, but either way, it's time to move on.

Vet and Valentines

It's a nice sunny (but chilly) day in Chicago today. I got up and went to my usual Saturday morning work-out class called Cardio Sweatshop. It was fun as usual.

Afterwards (after I got home and showered of course) we took the dogs to the vet for their annual appointments, shots, tests, the whole nine. They are so funny at the vet. They are nervous but they are so excited at the same time. They run around the room once we get in there waiting for the Dr. to come in. Louie doesn't mind it because he knows the Dr. gives him treats all the time when he's good. Chloe does OK too and also likes the treats. They are pooped out right now from their eventful morning! Louie was just snoring a moment ago in his little bed in our office. That's a lot of excitement compared to their normal Saturday morning! :-)

They told us today that they heard a slight murmur in Chloe's heart, but she said it's nothing to be worried about yet. We haven't seen this Dr. since the first time we went to this vet place, she told us about the murmur she heard the first time we saw her, about 4 or 5 years ago and every Dr. we have seen since (every year) has never even mentioned it. I think thats kind of odd, but anyway, it always makes me worried to hear things like this. She said they (murmurs) can come and go and it may be nothing, but just something to keep an eye on as she gets older. She always acts normal and plays well and is pretty spunky, so we'll just hope nothing comes of it at all or at least until she's older. :-)

Joe and I are going out for Valentines day tonight, just can't see going out tomorrow, on a Sunday for V-Day, just weird to us because Sundays are always our hang out, store, cleaning days, so we are going tonight instead.  We are going out to a restaurant in the burbs, originally because we were going to go see a movie afterwards (dinner and a movie is just easier in the burbs).  So we were going to see that Valentines Day movie that just came out, but I think now we might just come home and watch the Netflix DVD that just came in the mail, Couples Retreat. Not sure how good that one will be, but Vince Vaughn is usually hilarious, so we'll just have to wait and see.
Hope everyone has a nice Valentines Day!

Laid Off but Keeping Busy

I don't have much to write about today. Of course once I start a blog I cant think of anything cool or interesting to write about!! Before I actually committed to this thing I had TONS of ideas! Arg...writers block I guess. ;-)
SO, I can write about some general stuff that I've been up to.... so here comes long boring stories....watch out people, I'm reeeally good at typing looong stories. ;-)

As many of you know I was laid off from my job back in February. I can't believe its been this long already...it really is too bad. I have gotten to the point where I am OK with it and I don't feel sorry for myself because it has become all to common around here. Unfortunately, people are STILL getting laid off in my industry. Anything related to building and construction and architecture is pretty much in the crapper right now.

The Chicago architecture and design industry is HUGE, there is a great network of professionals here and SO many people are out of work, its crazy. The architecture firm that I worked for is down to a pretty small group of people now. The interiors group that I was in within the firm is pretty much non-existent. Its crazy to have so many of my friends unemployed. People keep saying that this happens a lot in my industry and it always bounces back...but it sure it taking a while!! I guess its good that it happened early in my career because I will be "more prepared" when it happens again (right?!)... ha-ha....I don't know if one is ever prepared for getting laid off. Even though I knew it was coming eventually I was still shocked. I must say now that the experience I got there was good and I am glad I got the chance to work in a firm and get my foot in the door! Even though I wasn't the happiest there and it sort of was a blessing in disguise to be laid off, I sure wish I had another firm to go to! Too bad no one is hiring. :-(

All I have to say is thank god for unemployment and thank god that Joe still has a job that doesn't seem to be in jeopardy at this point! Whew! Not that things have been easy for us though...living on one income, especially here in a pretty expensive city, is not easy to say the least.

I have been able to earn some extra cash by doing private tutoring at my Alma-mater, Harrington College of Design. I pretty much started tutoring on the side soon after I graduated in 2007. I am hired privately by students to tutor them in Auto CAD, Photoshop, and other courses that they take for interior design degree. Its a good gig because it keeps my skills up to date and its pretty good money.

So, I was doing the tutoring privately, but recently I was hired on part-time at school as a Teaching Assistant in the classrooms and a tutor/learning assistant in the computer labs where students go to work on their projects. Luckily that is giving us some extra income for now that's a little more steady. Its pretty fun, the only thing is that I am gone for long hours on Wed and Thurs nights.... until like 10pm....darn those long night classes! Sure makes me miss regular work days! Poor Joe has to fend for himself with dinner those nights. You don't even want to know what he has called "dinner" for the past few weeks! Someday he will learn to cook something other than mac 'n' cheese! ha-ha.

Along with TA-ing and tutoring, I am also keeping busy serving as the board Secretary/Treasurer for my school's Alumni Association. Seems like I always have a meeting of some sort to attend. I go to the regular board meetings, plus two different committee meetings, PLUS the executive committee meetings since I am part of that as well. It keeps me very busy and the experience and contacts I get are great! Our board is really gearing back up again after some time of having no active alumni board. We are going to get some neat things done for the alumni and the school. Looking forward to what we have coming up.
Below is a link to the last newsletter that we created. Alumni newsletters are a semi-new thing for our school, so please ignore the awkward formatting, we have students working on it! ;-) It still looks pretty nice.
I wrote the article about Kickball and organized that event, it was fun! http://www.fathompbm.com/CEC/Harrington_College_of_Design/200908-HCD-Alumni-Newsletter.pdf

I also serve on the Membership Committee for the Chicago Chapter of IIDA (International Interior Design Association). Those meetings are only once a month, but with all of my other meetings, it sure seems like they are all the time! http://www.iida.org/

So needless to say, I am definitely keeping myself busy...more busy now than I was when I was first laid off which is good because at times I was getting stir-crazy just being home all the time! Luckily, during the summer I was able to get out and walk the dogs a lot and try to enjoy it. Now that Fall has arrived I am definitely going to be more of a homebody when I am not working at school or at meetings! Brrr!

So that's my life right now, or most of it anyway...more to come....
Time to relax now and watch the news, I had a long day of tutoring and meetings (shocker!).
Good night for now!

Number 1

So, after much contemplation and thought I've decided to start a new blog...(I think I've been writing them in my head for several months now and now I can finally put them down on "paper").

I had another blog going a while ago when we first moved to Chicago, but it quit working well and I sort of forgot about it. It has been like 3 years since I last "blogged" I think and a lot has happened in those 3 years!! So I took a look at the old one and decided I wanted a different format for my new blog. This style seems simple enough and easy... AND lots of my friends and family have these, so why not?!

I'm sure this blog will simply be a random posting of some of my thoughts (and hopes and dreams) and our adventures (the good, the bad, the ugly) here in Chicago.... probably not many people will read it (I hope)....I want to keep it to just family and good friends. So hopefully this will keep some people up to date, entertain others and maybe even bore some people to sleep....so here it goes...