At the old, ball game...

As spring rolls around and Wrigleyville becomes crowded with out-of-town visitors and Chicagoans wearing red, white and blue, and sporting baseball gloves, I find myself wishing I had the dedication of a Cubs fan. The team has a less than stellar record and a small field, yet people from all over Chicago (well, it's probably safe to say not from the South Side) clamber to Addison Street to suffer through rain, snow and heat to watch their beloved Cubbies play (and most likely lose) another game.

According to legend, the Cubs' perpetually bad seasons are due to a curse that involves an annoyed tavern owner and his goat. It's obviously not a lack of support that causes the Cubs to do so poorly - so, I'm beginning to think this curse just might be true.

It seems as though Cubs fans have a perpetual optimism about their team. They could be facing imminent defeat in the bottom of the ninth inning, and still Wrigley Field and the rooftops of apartment complexes overlooking the field will be filled to capacity. Cubs fans wait outside in the freezing cold before the season even starts just for a chance to get a few season tickets - probably not even in seats worth the wait. Yet, like the devoted fans they are, they take the red line religiously to this northern neighborhood to feast on overpriced hotdogs, slightly warm beer and sit on rickety old chairs that have been around since the curse was initiated.

It's suffice to say that Cubs fans are a rare breed - they know the agony of defeat, yet still have complete faith in their team. So often we let defeat overcome us - we give up and simply believe that something can't be accomplished because of what often is only a minor setback. Perhaps if we took a little advice from the example Cub fans set (they are winning the pennant this year, right?), we can better achieve the goals we set for ourselves. And if not, there's always next season... right?

An ode to Google maps

I inherited many wonderful traits from my mom (quite a wonderful woman, I might add), but luckily one of them wasn't her sense of direction. She's known for getting us lost more than a time or two on the family camping trips we used to take when we were younger - so much to the point that my brother started navigating the map at a very early age. I was reminded again of this last week when she came to visit me over her spring break. After thoroughly explaining which stop she should get off at on the El and which direction she should head to meet me at my building downtown for lunch, I got a call about 10 minutes before we were supposed to meet. She explained which intersection she was at and wondered if she was heading in the right direction. I couldn't help but laugh when I realized that my mom - who has visited this city more times than I can count - had walked west instead of east.

Having lived in a few big cities, I've learned that you need to know your way around for a few key reasons:

• Native city dwellers have very little patience. If you're slow or act like you're lost, you're automatically branded as a tourist.
• One wrong turn can land you in a scary neighborhood.
• Having a general sense of what's around you impresses your non-native friends.
• It just makes life a whole hell of a lot easier.

So, even though I tend to learn cities fairly quickly by just walking, I've come to depend on Google maps. Although not always accurate, this little feature has saved my life on more than one occasion - and has helped me find an ever elusive Starbucks (who would have ever thought you wouldn't be able to find one close to your apartment?).

Now that I'm searching for an apartment in a city quite a few miles away from me, I've come to depend on these maps even more. In a city like Washington, D.C., knowing your streets is crucial - particularly because of one of the reasons I listed above. Some streets are meant to be avoided - and Google lets you know whether you're too close to a sketchy neighborhood - a nice little tidbit that saves you from wasting time looking at an apartment in a neighborhood you would never walk in alone. In daylight.

I often wish I could tap some people on the shoulder and offer this key advice to finding your way around the city. I like to think that I have a little more patience than most, but nothing ruins your day more than when you miss your train because someone stopped right in front of you because they weren't sure whether they should turn right or left at the intersection.

In general, Google maps are a great resource for acquainting you with the city. And, like I mentioned before, can really impress your out-of-state friends.

Bringing creativity to the cube

One of the things I love about working in public relations is the creative working environment. Not only does this produce some amazing interior decorating in the office, but it also allows some leeway for more inspired dressing.

I'm not exactly adventurous in my clothing choices - I love the look of freshly ironed black pants with the simplicity of a solid-color shirt and a pair of ballet flats. Like I've mentioned before, I'm a big fan of the old standbys and don't often venture outside that realm.

However, now that I've been working in a fairly large firm (completely unconnected to this blog - I work in corporate PR, which means I have little say on the consumer end) with an abundance of snazzy dressers, I've found that my wardrobe has expanded to include some items I probably wouldn't have dared to wear before. This isn't to say that it's work inappropriate - just a little trendier than my budget normally allows. I'm not ashamed to admit that I purchase most of trendier pieces from Target or Old Navy - I'm not all about splurging on an item that will be out of date before I've gotten a chance to wear it for a second time. So, after some of my coworkers provided some great inspiration for some accesories and great versatile pieces, my wardrobe has a few more exciting things in it.

For example:

This babydoll dress from Target is more work-appropriate than some of the tank-top versions. I'm not in any way, shape or form comfortable wearing this as a dress at work (or in general), but paired with a crisp pair of fitted khakis or some timeless capri-length pants or - if you look good in them - some of those footless tights, this dress adds a little sophistication to this popular trend. And for $18, it's a much more afforable option.

I love classic button-down shirts. Nothing makes you look like you know what you're doing more than a crisp, freshly ironed shirt. Yet, I find that they can be a little boring after a while. Old Navy offers an alternative to this old standby - minus the buttons - for only $18. I've hesitated buying shirts like this before because I feared they would make me look pregnant - fortunately, this style does no such thing.

Gap also offers a fresh take on the classic white shirt - Capitol Hill Barbie offers her perspective on the new designer collection.

So, while this is only a simple take on some of the trends (from my own closest, nonetheless!) I've been tempted to try, it just goes to show that you don't have to break the bank to explore some new creative threads.

Oh, this old thing?

Having friends all around the country definitely has its disadvantages. When your closest college friends live in Malibu, Kansas City, Seattle, Wilmington, Orlando and Washington, D.C. (just to name a few), it makes it difficult to keep in touch on a regular basis. (Is there such a thing as a cheap flight to L.A.?)

Luckily for me, a group of us keep up to date on each others lives through regular e-mail conversations and - despite a complete lack of funds - an occasional visit when our budgets allow. For me, this is the quickest way to get a "new" wardrobe without actually having to spend any money.

I tend to get in ruts where I turn to the same old standby outfits when I only have five minutes before I need to be out the door. So, even if I do get something cute and new, I either don't spend the time "developing" the outfit (figuring out what it looks best with, etc.) or wear it so often within the first month of getting it that it loses its charm. Despite this, I find myself excited to bring these items on trips because I'll finally get a chance to show them off in a brand new environment with a whole new audience.

As I'm getting ready to travel to Washington, D.C., to visit my closest and most trusted friend Cindy, I can't help but get excited about all of the fun new things I have to show her. Even though we talk everyday, there are just certain things you can't describe over the phone, in an e-mail or through a text message. Clothes happen to be one of them. Because I live on my own, I don't really have anyone to comment on my outfits in the morning, so I can't wait to gain her approval on some of my favorite things to wear that she hasn't seen yet.

So, while Cindy and I have a lot of catching up and apartment shopping to do for my latest adventure, perhaps some of the most fun we'll have is comparing the fun new things we've found in our vibrant cities.

Celebreality

I have always thought that I wouldn't be the type of person to get necessarily out of control if ever I were in the presence of someone of celebrity. Mostly because my idea of celebrity isn't the same as many others (I get chills thinking about meeting John Dingell, for goodness sake - but Brad Pitt? No thanks.) Yet, when I was in the presence of Mark Steyn today, I felt like a 12-year-old girl with a school yard crush.

Normally neo-conservatives don't get me all hot and bothered, but after I met him at an annual dinner my alma mater hosts in Washington, D.C., I couldn't help but admire the audacity he had to criticize and poke fun at certain situations - as Chris Patten, the European Union Commissioner for External Affairs, wrote, "It's wonderful to find a Canadian warmonger, isn't it?" Plus, any man who writes on a regular basis for The Atlantic Monthly automatically moves to the top of the "Totally Date-able" list (if only he weren't already married with three children).

So, now that my job requires me to sit through one of the most boring trials in the history of the judicial system at least once a week, I find work somewhat more intolerable than it was before (but that's a whole other post - believe me). However, I had a moment of delight two weeks ago when I finally managed to score a seat in the main courtoom rather than the media spillover room - to find a perfectly rugged looking Mark Steyn sitting on the bench across the aisle from me (complete with suit jacket and pocket square - sigh).

At first, I was nonchalant, not completely sure it was him. Then I pulled out my copy of The Atlantic Monthly (seriously - I don't leave home without it!), reread his March obit and - wait for it - swooned. So, today, after texting my closest friend about my second close encounter with Steyn, she told me to introduce myself. But I realized I wasn't keeping my cool like I thought I would - I was too nervous to even say "Hello."

And then I realized that I was a complete lush when we rode the elevator ALONE together and I couldn't even bring myself to tell him I admired his work.

After voicing my frustration about my lack of confidence to my friend, she suggested I try later. Unfortunately, I'm assuming Steyn had a deadline to make as he left before the final witness finished for the day.

This whole lesson reminded me just how important it is to network with those people you respect in your line of work. Who knows what could have come from me re-introducing myself? Probably not a job offer (my new dream at the moment) - but perhaps the ability to meet others through him, or through the story of how I met him.

So while my sense of celebrity isn't the same as others my age, I find I still have a reaction that causes me to be a little irrational. So, perhaps I will finally gain the courage to introduce myself when I'm in court next - and if not, he still provides a little entertainment for the brain-numbing testimonies I have to sit through. At least it's something!

It's the most wonderful time of the year

I was going to write how exciting it was for spring to finally be upon us, but as I drove through a snowstorm in Indiana on my way back to Michigan last night and suffered through another one while tooling around Toledo with my mom today, I realized that spring wasn't quite here yet. So disappointing.

Yet, as I walked through the mall today on a shopping trip I probably shouldn't have been on, I couldn't help but notice that it seems the seasons are all just relative in our minds. I saw young girls with their jeans rolled up to capri length, girls sporting colors I haven't seen since August, and, yes, even some people wearing flip-flops. It's almost as though spring doesn't arrive when temperatures finally hit sixty degrees, but rather when we want it to.

I've had my own bouts of wishful thinking - wearing a cute, spring denim dress paired with a shear cardigan when temperatures in Chicago hit 70 in mid-March, relegating my opaque tights to the back of my sock drawer not to be worn again til October, and hiding my snow/walking boots behind several pairs of flip-flops, hoping that will keep them from coming out again til December. In my mind, it's spring. And it appears from a few others I've seen, it's spring for them too.

Eventually, I think people will realize that flip-flops aren't appropriate in 20 degree weather even though it is April. But, for right now, it's a nice attempt to survive the disgusting weather that is upon us through a few little guilty pleasures (Like how I'm wearing bright yellow right now in order to brighten the mood).

For those of you enjoying cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., and warm weather to the south - consider me jealous!

A little common courtesy please.

I've been absent for a little while, but I finally found something worth writing about...

I've never been quite up on my etiquette - I know that saying "please" and "thank you" is absolutely necessary to everyday living. I know that if you're riding on the El and a pregnant woman, elderly man or otherwise handicapped person enters the train and no seats are available, you should gladly give up yours. Even with my limited amount of breeding, I know that there are certain things we must do in order to act like civilized human beings.

Yet, I've noticed of late that there are certain situations where people lose all sense of common courtesy. Especially men.

During the "rush hour" period for the El, most people lose all sense of awareness of the people around them. No longer do men let women go first, kindly hold the El door, or get up from their seats for a woman - rather, they're the ones pushing past you to get first dibs on the "prime" spot on the train (usually by the doors so you can lean against the glass partitions) or to get to a seat. Also worth noting is that I have given my seat up more times for someone who has needed it more than men I have traveled with on the train. I can't be completely biased against men because several have offered me seats and I have refused - but, overall, I have not been impressed.

Another frustration - I work on the 64th floor of the second tallest building in Chicago . The wait for the elevators is especially excruciating - particularly during the morning "rush hour" period I mentioned above. You often wait five minutes or more for an elevator to come - by which point quite a large crowd has gathered. Again, no one has common courtesy to allow women to board first - or the people who have been waiting there the longest. I've waited for several elevators to come and go before finally boarding because people merely kept rushing before me to get on, filling it to capacity. I understand the need to get to work - but that's no excuse to leave your manners at home.

Generally speaking, I believe we've all become a little self-absorbed. We block off communication from others by sporting ear plugs and i-Pods during our entire commute to and from work. We're in such a rush to get to and from places, we often forget to appreciate the little things in our everyday lives. I also think we tend to lose the capacity to appreciate the people around us and the need to show a little common respect in some of the easiest ways available.

Perhaps if we just took a step back to examine how we interact with those people we haven't yet met, we'll all be a little more aware of our everyday manners - with the hope that they might improve in even the slightest little bit.

Outwitting the cold

I had a thought as I was standing on the platform for the L on Monday, shivering in places I didn't think could shiver. The cold weather puts a damper on most people's moods. Not only had the Bears lost the day before, but the train we were waiting for on the red line took 30 minutes to arrive. By the time I got on my train, the only appendage I could really feel was my thumb on my left hand - and just barely.

After I had thawed out enough to think clearly, I looked around at the people on the train with me. What I saw was almost as depressing as the lunch I had made for the day. It's not that people were sad physically - they looked sad because of the coats they were wearing. Let's face it - winter is drab, drab, drab in the Midwest.

It seems people spend more time being "sensible" by purchasing winter coats that are sturdy rather than fashionable. It seems like black, beige, army green and dreary navy blue are the it colors for winter. It makes sense because who wants to ruin a gorgeous cream colored coat in a gross Midwest winter? Don't get me wrong - there are some fabulous coats out there. They just lack character. I can only take so many black coats paired with a cream colored scarf.

The other day at work, I spotted a colleague with an amazing blue coat. It wasn't a dark blue or a baby blue... but it was a rich color. She looked fabulous. I've never thought red coats were all that practical or unique, but I spotted a girl on the train with one - and it looked good with what she was wearing (she was dressed down a bit with a green hoodie underneath which contrasted perfectly with the red of the coat).

So, luckily there are a few people in the city who dare to wear something a little different. At least they won't be depressed the next time the CTA takes a billion years to actually come.

A pretty meaningless post

Given that I generally have quite a bit of time to think about and ponder things, I often find that it is the simple things in life that generally give me the most pleasure and comfort.

I've notcied of late that I do silly things and make habits of others - almost to the point where it's ritual.

With the colder weather, I get a rush stepping on little scraps of ice on the ground - merely because of the satisfying "crunch" they make underfoot. That is perhaps my favorite part of snow - something I haven't really liked since I started driving.

I'll notice too when ads pop up on certain Web sites where you have to "beat the other guy" at something to win five free ring tones or some other ridiculous prize that requires you sign over half of your personal information, that I can't resist in participating. Maybe I'm easily amused or just plain bored - either way, it's a sick habit. I don't even need those ring tones!

Perhaps living alone has brought out the weird quirks in me. I do something every night when I get home that I never did before. I have to pull back the shower curtain and my bathroom to assure that no one is there to pop out at me. I haven't yet figured out what I would do if someone were actually there. Screaming is a good bet...

I suppose before I've always had some weird traits - perhaps these are just more noticable to me now that I live on my own and have to entertain myself the majority of the time. Oh well - I suppose it's all a part of figuring out what makes us happy to sustain ourselves. Whatever the reason you can bet that I can't wait for the next batch of snow to crunch through - even if it does mean temperatures in the negatives!

Purposely purposeful...

As I was walking (meandering mostly) to get to my train after work today, I was struck by a man, probably in his mid- to late-twenties. I wasn't struck for the usual reasons, although it is worth noting that he was dressed impeccably well, but rather because he was in such a hurry to get somewhere. Balancing some books and papers in his left hand and dangling a soft drink in his right, he moved quicker than most people on this cold night.

But perhaps what made me think the most was that he looked like he had a purpose... he was hurrying to get somewhere - someone, maybe - and nothing was going to stop him.

I think at one point in my life I used to be like that - everything I did was towards a greater purpose, something worth striving for.

Lately I haven't felt much of a purpose. More of a standstill. It makes me sad to think about. At one point, I was traveling through life, hanging on to things of importance. Somewhere along the way I let a brick wall stop me.

The question is - how do I climb that wall now?

Frozen raindrops keep falling on my head...

It snowed on my way home from work today.

And I just had to wonder... wouldn't it be nice to just be so light and airy, without a care in the world?

Save a penny for a rainy day...

At the ripe old age of 14, I had far too many dreams I hoped to fulfill, a naïveté about how I was going to fulfill them, and a sense that I could do anything I set my mind to. That was, after all, what they taught us throughout my childhood, right?

Now, when I spend my days in my corner cubicle, staring at walls that serve as both a sound barrier and a cork board, I can't help but wonder what the hell happened to my dreams.

Somewhere along the way, I lost track of what I had hoped to become. I used to dream about creating layouts and writing articles for a big magazine... but the closest I get to that is monitoring the media for some obscure company.

Why is it that we're forced to compromise the goals we set for ourselves? I never dreamed of being a PR professional - I barely knew what that entailed eight months ago. The fact is, like so many of my peers, I had to settle because the industry today doesn't allow for us to reach our goals. Jobs have become far too specialized, competition has gotten out of control, and we're not given a chance to dream anymore. Perhaps that's what some real world experiences entail... but not for me. I refuse.

So, in an effort to get back on track, I'm re-examining some things a bit and taking some "me" time to figure out how to accomplish those goals I set for myself before I knew what billable hours were. Perhaps it's a childish excursion. Perhaps I should just learn to settle. But what's the fun in that?

Talkin' 'bout my generation...

The instant gratification generation. That's what I've been lumped into.

Supposedly, the recently employed members of the workforce expect for all the benefits of a career to be handed to them within the first year of employment. Forget hard work - we want to leave early, receive the same amount of vacation time as our elders and, worst of all, we want to be handed the big jobs as soon as we step foot into the office.

Shame on us. Where would we ever been given this idea?

The truth of the matter is that we are merely adjusting to an ever-changing workforce. We're required to have years of experience before we even take on an entry-level job. To gain this experience, many of us accept unpaid internships in expensive cities, futher adding to the massive debt we're incurring from rising college tuition. Adding to our misery, starting salaries are barely enough to pay our rent, let alone pay off our college debt. How can we be happy about our jobs, many of which could be completed by those with only high school diplomas, when the outlook for our future looks so bleak?

The state of employment in the United States is disheartening. When I look at my closest friends from school, none of them, including myself, were able to gain jobs in their home cities or states. Some might call it ambition, but I believe it has a lot more to do with where jobs are available. There are certain sacrifices people in my generation have had to make that might not have been there in the past.

Also, with the addition of hi-tech electronic equipment, such as BlackBerries, many in the instant gratification generation are making themselves available in ways that Baby Boomers never were in their day and age. Sure, they might have worked longer hours, but, in all reality, is it really a vacation if you're still checking your BlackBerry every five minutes?

Overall, our generation probably does expect more because the generations before us have provided us with so much. But, at the same time, we've made certain sacrifices and have prepared ourselves for a few years of hardship right out of college. Is it so wrong for us to want a better position with a little better pay simply to guarantee that we can provide a future for our own families? I think not.

Let's Get Serious...

So, with work I've been learning a great deal about something called serious gaming. I've had to learn an extensive amount about it because I'm tryingto convince reporters to write about it. Maybe I'm naive and just don't know a lot about it, but my reporter's instinct says that this is a genuinely good story idea. Seriously. And I'm not just saying that because I'm billing time to this company.

A lot of this technology is coming from a section of the United Kingdom known as the British Midlands. This area, north of London, has a wealth of people more than capable of producing and creating these seriously technical programs meant to train not only the military, but regular corporate blokes as well.

Yeah, this technology has been around for a while, but people and companies you never thought would take advantage of it are. Cold Stone Creamery had one of these gaming/virtual reality companies create a program for them that helped their employees to learn about portion control and proper customer service. When I started my first retail job, employee training consisted of being totally unprepared in front of a cash register while real-life customers were angry because of my inefficiencies. This type of technology is amazing.

On a higher level, Fakespace Systems, a U.S. company with a branch in the Midlands, uses virtual reality and serious games to help military medics train for service during combat. This is actually kind of awesome if you ask me.

The problem is that reporters can become jerks. I understand that they receive dozens and dozens of pitches a week... and that they think they know all there is to know about their beat (I've been there, the latter part). But, honestly... if the New York Times and the Washington Post (not to mention the BBC) are writing about it, why aren't you doing something? Within a two week span, two articles were written about serious gaming, with a tremendously long drought before them.

This type of technology is becoming accesible to people virtual reality companies never thought possible. We can experience this type of virtual education on rides in amusement parks (Let's think about Disney Land... right?), but now we have the potential to experience it in our living rooms.

As a member of the newspaper audience, it frustrates me to know that perfectly good story ideas are being ignored. Again, I understand the overabundance of crap information that reporters receive and how annoying it is... but, just listen to me for TWO SECONDS.

And... that was today's frustration.

Seriously. Check out serious gaming - you'll have to do the research yourself because you probably won't find it in the newspaper.