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 

If it seems too good to be true...

Sooo, I had my second interview this week and it went kind of....how do you say...BAD. At least that's what I thought. 

Compared to the nice woman who interviewed me the first time, this woman was horrible. Turns out she is the COO of the company...which I didn't know until about half way through the interview when she decided to tell me who she was. Yeah, it kind of went like this..."Do you know who I am?" and then she proceeded to apologize for not introducing herself at the beginning. Whatever. I had already formed my opinion of her, and lets just say, it was not a nice one. The entire time she grilled me with super vague questions and made me feel really stupid. I was so uncomfortable and I'm pretty sure my chest/neck were beat red. Yep, it was that bad. Probably one of the most awkward interviews I have ever been on and I am pretty sure I am getting close to receiving my professional interviewer badge.

Well, it got a little bit better as the interview went on, but as she asked questions and told me about the job, I began to feel worried about whether or not I am qualified for the position in the first place and if I really would want to do it. The way she talked about it, it sounded hellish. We'll see. She seemed pleased at the end of our interview, but that could have been her just trying to be pleasant. I really don't know. I left doubting I would be receiving an offer for this one, but you never know. However, I did hear from my friend yesterday (the one who originally told me about the position) and she said it was down to 3 people and I am one of them. Yikes. Lets just say, I'll be surprised if I get an offer and I will have to think about it long and hard if I do get one. The moral of this story is the old saying, "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is." This is usually my mantra, but I slipped and actually (accidentally) let myself get a teeny bit excited about this. I shouldn't have. I have officially, for the 100th time, learned not to get my hopes up about a job until I have an offer in my hand.

On a good note, that same day I heard about 3 other jobs from industry contacts, 2 actually at design firms, so I promptly sent my resume to all of them. Seems like things are picking up a tiny bit, but still, I am not holding my breath.

Birthday and More...

So I had a great Birthday evening and Birthday dinner the following night with a big group of friends! Not everyone made it who originally planned on it, but almost everyone! About 16 people total, we had a huge table and it was a fun night. Good food, good drinks, and good company! We had a nice dinner and then a few of us went to have a drink at a bar nearby.

On my Birthday Joe brought home dinner and a cake for me, which was a nice surprise! The cake was one of the best cakes we have ever had (that wasn't homemade). He got it from my favorite cupcake/cake place, Sweet Mandy B's!! YUM! Let's just say we had a slice of cake that weekend after every meal and that sucker was gone by Sunday. Oops! But really...Best. Cake. Ever. 
Joe also got me a book called DSLR Cameras and Photography for Dummies, which I am super excited to read to start to understand my new camera. He also got me a new duvet cover, which I am super excited about! Goodbye ugly floral comforter from 2001, you had a good run!

Also, in other news, I found out about a job (on my birthday) from a friend and I submitted my resume and was called right away for an interview. I interviewed on Monday and things went well. She acted like I would be hearing from her regarding a second interview and I did! I am going in for the second interview this Wednesday! I am trying not to get my hopes up, but I am hoping this is the one. Even though the position is not with a design firm, it is still within the industry and the pay is great, so that's all I can hope for. They are looking to start someone fairly soon, so it should work out great if I get it. Cross your fingers for me! 2011 is starting out pretty good!

Here are some photos from my birthday and birthday dinner. You know the drill, watch the slideshow here small or click on it to view it larger directly in Picasa.

Happy Birthday to...ME!

Today is my 31st Birthday!!!...gulp....31....

I've had a nice low-key b-day today so far.
I slept in, took the dogs for a walk (as usual), hung around the house, and then went and got my nails done downtown, which was a nice treat to myself. Probably the last time I'll be doing that for a while...

I also spent the day reading TONS of Facebook Happy Birthday messages, which was so nice. I feel so loved/popular! ha-ha. (Thanks to Facebook's automatic birthday reminders!) 



Mindy 3rd? B-day Party (Cathy on far left in high-chair)



It's a cold, windy, snowy day here in Chicago today, so I am glad we are staying in for the night. Joe is on the way home from work and is picking up something for dinner. We'll stay home tonight and then tomorrow night we are headed to Carmine's for dinner to celebrate my birthday with a big group of my friends! Should be fun! Several of my friends are coming and lots of them are bringing their spouses/significant others/partners, etc, so I made a reservation for 20! It will be a nice big group! I don't think I've ever had a big birthday celebration (as an adult), so this should be exciting!

Seems like a lifetime ago...

I opened my present from Cathy today and she got me the Philosophy face wash and exfoliating wash that I have been eyeing! YAY, can't wait to try it out! :-)

I was talking to Cathy tonight and saying that I can't believe I am THIRTY ONE years old. We both agree that it sure doesn't seem like that can be right. I always wonder when I will feel like a grown up?! HA! I guess I still feel young at heart! Maybe all of that will change when we have kids of our own, but for now, I am happy feeling like a 31 year old kid! :-)

And many mooooore....

Welcome 2011

Happy New Year!
I'm happy to welcome in 2011 because 2010 wasn't that great of a year for me. I mean, every year has it's good points, but overall, it was not a very memorable year in my life, that's for sure. I'm sure I will look back on it fondly in 20 years, but for now, I'm glad 2010 is OVER. I am just hoping that 2011 brings good things... changes, opportunities, economic growth, jobs, etc. Puh-lease!

Here at our house we had a pretty quiet NYE. I went to a 1-1/2 hour workout class yesterday afternoon (last workout of 2010 -woo!) and then we hung around until later when we went out to a little Italian/pizza place around 8:30 for dinner. We came home, watched Bravo (Andy's New Years Eve Party) and the other boring NYE shows until Midnight. We had some gross $5 champagne that I bought just because and then went to bed. By midnight we were both pretty tired. We've never really partied it up on New Year Eve, but you can tell we are getting old because it gets harder and harder to stay awake each year. Ha ha. Oh well!

Hope everyone has a great 2011!! It just has to be better than 2010, right?