Interview #3 and a renewed hope

Well, since this was only my third interview in nearly 6 months, I've now gone completely superstitious and refused to announce to the internetz that I actually went on an interview. So now I feel I can actually talk about it since I don't think any bad juju can fall onto the prospect (I hope, *pulls out beads for St. Jude*).

I received a call last Saturday, on my birthday no less, from this company out of East Hartford. The pre-interview went well, even though this is a bit out of my driving range I figured, what the hell, they sound like a good place and do everything from HVAC to architectural goodies as well as structural stuff. So I agreed to an interview on Thursday at 2.

I checked the place out and tried to figure out where they got my info. from (I didn't want to be rude and ask "so where did you get my resume from??" I felt that may be too desperate even for me). Turns out I didn't apply for them, they must have found me from somewhere. So, since I know nothing besides what was said over the phone, I find them on good old Google.

Turns out they are a great mid size company: they actually are in a real office building (that they designed no less, the showoffs...hehehe), they have a cool young dude in control and an even cooler old dude that started the firm who is one of those eccentric engineers birthed from MIT (I see a good relationship that could form as I myself am just a wee bit eccentric too ;-) ) and they have a great website. Plus they have a broad design portfolio that is pretty decent (I would link to it, but as normal superstitious behavior dictates, I can't as that would bring m bad juju.)

So it is a bit of a drive into foreign territory, East Hartford. Around 50-60 minute commute one way taking I-91 (another foreign land filled with traffic patterns I am not at all used to). However, it's in a officey area with all types of fooderies and even a couple parks, so that's pretty cool.

The interview went well, I would say. We stayed there about an hour and a half gabbing about our experiences, the architects we loved and hated as well as our favorite structural engineers that we went all starry eyed over (I have a crush on Cecil Balmond, he uses chaos theory shapes as structures, *swoons*). And more importantly, I didn't feel a pit of dread in my stomach as I left the interview. Unlike the place in Chelsea, he didn't mention to me the epic battle over the position and they didn't make me feel bad for causing them stress in making a decision. Hence, these guys are pros.

So they said they'd get back to me in a few weeks and we'll go from there. At this point, I was just happy to get called for an interview. I would love to work with them however, I know how many people are probably vying for this position, so I will keep my hopes low and keep my bridges open and running for the other options that may be presented to me.

But c'mon, it's a crazy MIT guy, who wouldn't like him as your boss?! Especially in an engineering office!? OMG the antics that we could get away with...I would have to introduce him to the whole Cube Warfare division of Thinkgeek. ;-)

*fingers crosses and prayers for St. Jude (yes, that's the Patron Saint of Lost Causes, I know what kind of economy we are in, get those hands up and praying!)*
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

"You say it's your birthday..."

It's my birthday too--yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you."

:-)

Happy Father's Day/Anniversary!

Yesterday was my parent's 28th anniversary (yeah, I don't how they stayed married this long either) and today of course is Father's Day. So in a while I'll be marching over to my parent's with both kinds of presents and cards in tow. :-)

I love my parents and appreciate all the sacrifices they made in raising our family. I think they're both unique, good hearted people that made my sister and me the people we are today. I love them both so much. <3

Also Happy Father's Day to all the Daddies out there as well!

Taking Emotional Stock

Things are going well and I'm in a much better mood. My sister spent the night last night and we caught up and gabbed properly. Things are good with her and her new boyfriend (Yay! My sister's dating someone!), things are going well at her job and life is treating her well. To be honest, hearing all these good things about my sister totally brightened my mood, I'm still the big sister after all and want the best for my little sis. So when she's happy, I am happy. :-)

On the job front, as some people know already, someone may make an honest woman out of me. ;-) We touched on the subject since he brought it up first, so we'll see what happens next.

Money-wise, meh. It could be better, but I'm slowly getting things balanced and organized. There was an annual fee on one of my credit cards that came up unexpectedly, but it will get paid like normal soon, just need to wait a little while longer. #1 order of business when I get settled is to pay off my little credit cards. I'm sick and tired of having them and having weird fees and shenanigans get tacked on unexpectedly. *grumble*

Relationship front, :-). Friends front, yay varily!

So overall, things are good; definitely above "meh," but not exactly "yay" and definitely not "YAY!" So I am happy.

Grinding My Gears

I'm having major focusing problems today. I can tell because when I was getting down to work yesterday I was sailing through it like old times and wasn't even getting distracted by Twitter or Facebook shenanigans. I know what the difference is today though as I sit at my kitchen table and eat a toasted PB&J while I reflect on why my mind keeps going over certain things. I'm becoming an "adult" and it's kind of freaking me out a little.

What I mean is that it's not necessarily stuff going on in me that somehow makes me an "adult" now that's making me unsettled, it's seeing how other people react to me and treat me that is causing me to feel a little weird. It could be that since I'm getting back on my feet again and am rejoining the economy in a way that maybe I'm losing that youthful vulnerability I had gained when I got laid off. And by that I mean getting laid off knocked me down a couple pegs and back down to the mentality and demeanor of a struggling college kid again.

People were really nice to me wherever I went without knowing anything about me, people were a bit more helpful and open (maybe the whiff of defeat mixed with new ambition helped out with that, who knows), but now things have started to drop off a little and two particular things are really kind of messing with me a little.

I went to this festival today for lunch where I met up with a friend of mine. We were standing in line to get some pizza and one of the pizza staff was handing out paper plates to all the people waiting in line. Now, I overheard the guy ahead of me request a bunch of plates and the pizza staff guy said "how many, 6, 7...what?" He then handed him his plates. It's my turn next and I said nicely "oh, just one for me." As I make a grab for the plate he's giving me, he continues to hold it and tugs back a little and then says "well that's all I was going to give you anyway, I don't know what you were thinking."

Now you can say that that was the guy messing with me a little or flirting maybe, but that kind of hurt a little. I laughed it off at the time, but in my head I was like "f*ck you dude, I was just trying to be cordial, and if that was your attempt at becoming a comedian I suggest you keep your pizza day job." *grumble*

The second thing that's still rattling around in my head is what happened last night when I went to go visit a friend's studio. His studio is in a building with other artists and they were having an open house, so you can mill around, have a drink or two and get to expose yourself to different types of artwork. Everyone was pretty cool, but I did notice everyone started out very standoffish to me. Not making any eye contact, not responding to anything I asked or said, even after offering praise to one of them concerning their artwork I just got blank stares. I guess saying "wow, I really like your stuff" was not the "cool" thing to say. *grumble*

Then, one artist started playing The Downward Spiral which honestly did go along well with his type of deconstructionist art even though it did seem a bit odd to start playing it at that moment of time. I guess they are just THAT angsty and rebellious, so angsty and rebellious that when I asked them about their interest in NIN, they were just too cool for school to answer me and actually made fun of me that I knew some things about the music and the band. I apparently was "kind of creepy." I'm sorry if it's "creepy" to try to start a conversation with people that may have a shared interest in something with me. I guess all conversations should start with praise to you followed immediately by how awesome I think you are, then followed by if you would like some beer or weed or something like that. I guess I did not get the new hipsters memo in the mail regarding how to properly greet an "artist."

Listen, I think your art is fabulous, I really do. But boyo, you need to get just a little bit more exposure first before you start playing the celebrity card. And even then, what is it to be cordial to people looking at your art for the first time? I know Andy Warhol and Keith Harring weren't exactly PC, but they were at least cordial to people visiting their studios. Basquiat used to sell his work in order to pay rent for Christ's sake, so don't get too holier than though newbie.

So yeah, I'm a little raw as to how I'm getting treated by some people. It could be just me, maybe I'm cranky today and giving off a weird vibe of "please treat me like an asshole," but it still hurts. Especially when you appreciate art and new artists in general and were just trying to get exposed to new things in order to spawn some creativity on your end.

I am not your emotional punching bag, OK. Don't project your feelings of inadequacy and mediocraty onto me just because you see me as a "square" or someone that just wouldn't understand. Never judge a book by it's cover; you have no idea of my struggles and abilities or interests so instead of putting me down because it makes you feel better or cooler, maybe we can talk and get to know one another and broaden each other's horizons a little.

Epic PA Roadtrip: 6/9-6/11

All I can say to sum up is I now know why people accuse the tri-state area of having crazy drivers because after I slipped back into my neck of the woods I had to get reacquainted to speeding, passing people at top speed and crazy exits that are 4 lanes away at a distance of 100 feet.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike was such an experience in itself, it really became a main part of my vacation. Even though some portions were heavily monitored by speed cops, most of it is not and that is a very cool thing when the speed limit is set at a nice 65 mph. The turnpike is nice and wide open, you have the beautiful mountain views of Pennsylvania in the distance and, most importantly and why it took some reacclimation getting back home, the drivers are SO nice out there! Everyone followed the Audubon rules of driving, pass on the left, drive on the right. Way was always given to faster drivers and there was no such thing as stop and go traffic. The most that happened was that as you approach Pittsburg, there was some congestion getting down the hill, but they had a sign that told you about it! OMG a congestion sign! Really?!

Another great amenity, besides smooth driving, were the epic roadside service plazas. They were all recently constructed and impeccably designed and maintained. The bathrooms were clean, the food was great and they even had little doggie parks around so that your dogs could stretch their legs. :-)

So on to the main reason for the trip: visiting with friends from Buffalo and seeing my last NIN concert ever. We all met at a great hotel in Coraopolis, PA (somewhere just outside of the Post Gazette Pavilion in Burgettstown). We meet, we get acquainted again, we hug, then it was off to the venue for NIN shenanigans and such. Really dug Street Sweeper Social Club, featuring Tom Morello on guitars. NIN was awesome as usual and this concert was a fitting end to my touring rein, well done. Then Jane's Addiction ended the night with an epic set that reminded me of my youth growing up in the 90's. It was great to hear them play songs I had only heard on the radio or seen videos of, a really nice feeling.

Since we all ended up meeting in PA, there was no sojourn to Buffalo or the Adirondacks. That will be for another time and another road trip in the future. But it did make my trip back even easier and nicer since I was able to visit people and see things that I didn't have time for while driving out the first time, so it was all good. I got to meet up with my friends dotted throughout PA, Lorena in Philly, Mel and Matt kayaking somewhere on the Towpath Park.

Also, while in Pittsburgh I made it a point to check out the Warhol museum. Growing up, I never really "got" what he was trying to convey, but in my 20's I had a breakthrough and I now enjoy his art and others like his immensely. I think you need to do some living first and need to be exposed to the plastic parts of society first before you get what Andy is conveying/making fun of/commenting on/playing around with.

The later part of his life, he became great friends/art partners with Jean-Michel Basquiat, who is another absolute favorite of mine. A great feature of this museum is that it featured their joint works together which I believe is something Andy would have wanted. It was a pleasure seeing their work together and you can see how well they collaborated on a shared vision. Such a great time and worth the price of admission ($15, grumble grumble).

Potential Road Trip!

I preface with "potential" because I may end up taking a train, but I think for my sanity I will just try to enjoy this time that I've been given and use it for good things like a massive PA road trip to Burgettstown, PA. Why you ask would I drive 8 hours away and through the most boring highway system ever, well the answer is NIN of course and if you didn't know that, shame on you. You should know that even casual NIN fans are willing to travel half way across the globe for a NIN show and to also meet up with their fellow NINnies for some NINtastic bar and club gatherings.

Also, I'm being called over by some awesome people that I haven't seen in almost a year and they're going to put me up for the night, so what the hell. It's NIN time and NIN time spent with NIN friends, YAY! (And how many times can I use NIN as an adjective? Hmm...)

So to break up the 8 hours I think I'll have a stop over in the capital of Harrisburg and soak up some of the local goodies that are there. I really love checking out antique stores, so I must hit up this place I found on Google Maps, Atomic Warehouse. It looks like a good spread of retro toys and clothing as well as some funky things in general. Perhaps I can expand on my cigar box collection, muahahahaa! I'm not above haggling with my local smoke shoppe for their left over empty cigar boxes and leaving with a whole bag full, so this should be no problem at all. :-)

Also, I found a really funky coffee shop called Cafe di Luna that I must check out as well and maybe have a bite to eat before I leave for Burgettstown. I mean it has the number one quality for a funky coffee shop, a cheesily designed website with a cute musak song in the background. It may as well be a beacon in the distance for me.

So yeah, once I decide and actually commit to the road trip, you guys will definitely get a telling of the whole experience. I have my Blogger linked with my Twitter and everyone plays nice now, so let the road trip blogging commence! This comes out of my disappointment at not keeping travel logs when I went to the UK a couple years back. I had such tremendous experiences and just no time to actually blog about it, let alone a computer connection to let that blogging happen, so some of the memories have been dulled over time. However, now with the acquisition of my Crackberry and all the blogging sites under creation at my disposal, it is on like Donkey Kong, as they say.

Meh...

The place in Queens turned out to be a complete crap hole and had an equally disappointing guy in charge who said I would make a good wife and that I shouldn't bother taking the PE exam because women don't do too well on the exam. So hence, I am not working there. And yeah, he actually said all of that.

I guess I've been very sheltered from all that misogyny. I went to college from '00-'04 and had about a decent 60-40 ratio in my classes, the later representing the females. I had mostly guy friends and there was no "well I have a penis so I'm better than you at math," in fact everything was so not an issue that when other girls would come up to me and say I was "doing something groundbreaking" I got angry at them because I didn't understand what they meant. Even out of college, in the scary professional world filled with cavemen and ex-football players, really wasn't that much of a problem.

My first boss, even though by the end I think his lyme disease was slowly making him crazy, he was still OK. I did get some sporadic female hits at my latest place, but nothing in that realm of "you can't possibly know how to do this since you're a woman." They were mostly flirting hits or from the caveman ex-marketing guy who was later fired and that doesn't count. He was kind of like a big fly on it's last legs buzzing around the office annoying everyone, finally my boss did the right thing and cornered him in the back office and splatted him with his newspaper.

So, I'm never really prepared when it comes to situations like this. I grin and bare it, and if anything make the person feel dumb by saying, "well of course I'm going to take my PE exam since you only have your PE Civil and don't have your PE Structural." That's code for "you wimped out and took the easier civil exam you waste of space, so go f*ck yourself." But then later on I feel icky about even stepping into an office like that and need to shower. Then I question my outfit, maybe I shouldn't have worn heels, maybe I should have worn my hair up, but then ultimately, nothing I could have done would make some guy like that take me more seriously. Hence why I'm not going to work for him.

So the plugging away with my resume continues, finding new leads from Google Maps and friends of mine. I have been getting some hits to my supersecret professional blog, so that makes me happy, since anything I've been sending out recently includes that address so it must be one of those people. The search continues...