karma rules.

Here's some advice:

When you go to a Cubs game, or any game for that matter, don't be the LOUD MOUTH annoying guy that everyone is staring down as you yell about plays that show you obviously don't know what you're talking about or swearing every other word and craving so desperately for any attention at all.

The reason being:

You'll get hit by a foul ball and have to move seats because when you try to finagle better seats due to being "hit" the workers at Wrigley, who are questioning you about your pinky finger injury, will ask for your tickets that show you're in the wrong seats.

Moral of the story:

Sometimes karma rules.

slacker sunday: postcrossing

My roommates in college used to make fun of me because of the amount of mail I received.
I love snail mail.
Now Postcrossing lets me love it even more.
International mail?
Sign me up!
(I already did)
I received this one from Germany.
Love.

eclectik design

As some of you know I currently am working two jobs right now. I don't talk about them often because a. I don't want to jeopardize myself b. there's a time and a place for that and this blog is neither here nor there for me. But. (You knew there was a but, right?) I'm making an exception today.

I just opened an Etsy shop for my sister's greeting cards. (Yes, this is shameless self-promotion. Shameless sister-promotion is more like it though.) And you know what? I want you to see it! Lucky you!

She and my dad create the artwork for the cards by using collage - mostly ripped up magazines - and then they are scanned and printed and all that good stuff.

Plus, the holidays are coming up. Yeah, I can't believe it either. So if you like to send holiday cards, this is a great way to do it in a cute and fun way.

So please check it out HERE. And thanks!

i will find a job.

I spent my day as a Betty. Did laundry, went to grocery store, cooked a spinach quiche from scratch, did dishes, paid bills. Not too exciting, but really I think I'm craving routine and stability so much that it was actually relaxing. To have stuff I needed to get done and know exactly what I needed to do, what a novel idea.

Many of my days usually consist of a balancing act in my head. Some days I'm fine with it while other days it knocks me right over. Balancing two jobs while looking for full-time work is challenging to say the least. I started a new blog for my professional life. I ignored this one. Found more books I want to read. Fell behind on my reader. Spent time with friends and family.

The thing is I love all this stuff. I want to do it all. But I think I've finally come to terms with the fact that I just can't.

I can't do it all right now. I need to be okay with that. Oh yes, there will be a time when I can do it all. (I see all you ambitious types out there nodding along) I'm not giving up. It's just the reality of it is that I haven't had a full-time job in over one year. That is a long time. Long time. Even if it was my choice. And I would make the same choice again. But it's time for me to go into full force showwhatIcando professional mode. Not only do I need a job, but I really want one. I'm so excited about how much I have to offer the field, but in order to land something, I must create my opportunities, try new avenues, meet with colleagues and learn as much as possible. That's exactly what I've been doing while working two PT jobs (you got that, right?) and honestly I love this stuff, but it's starting to take its toll on me. So it's time to focus and cut back a little on other parts of my life. Not ignore. Just tweak a little. I'm all for balancing work and play, I actually believe it's necessary for a healthy life, but right now work must come first.

I will find a job. I will find a job. I will find a job. And when that day comes, all this confusion and struggle will be well worth it. It better be.

slacker sunday: change

Contemplating change.
It's never easy, but always welcome.

the muppet movie.

(Photo from Music Box Theatre)

Talk about nostalgia. I went to a midnight showing of The Muppet Movie last night and laughed harder than I have at any movie in a long time. Seriously. If you loved the muppets when you were younger, I highly suggest seeing the movies as an adult.

Fozzie's killer one liners alone are worth it.

slacker sunday: u2

(Photo from www.u2.com)

U2 was in Chicago this weekend.
One of my friends had an extra ticket.
The set design was AWESOME.

Don't you think?

eleanor rigby.

I woke up at 4am to someone screaming at the top of their lungs: "Someone please help me!" Over and over and over again. This was a startling way to wake up. Not only was I thoroughly confused, but I then started to wonder if someone really did need help. So I peeked out my window with eyes half shut for a little while, and then I saw a police car by the person. That made me feel better because I was seriously considering dialing 911.

It happens every now and then that homeless people wake me up with their screaming, but this just seemed so desperate; it was heart breaking. This man or woman stopped screaming and walked away after the police car drove off. Maybe they just wanted some attention. Or maybe they were mentally ill. Or maybe it was a little bit of both.

On the corner this afternoon, while waiting to cross the street, I saw a younger man, probably in his mid-twenties talking to a police officer. It wasn't confrontational. It actually looked like the police officer was patting the guy on the shoulder, as if to say, go along, it'll be okay. He then started walking towards me. I could tell his was under some type of influence. Then he said: "my brother was identified today." Once again I was startled. In my head I'm thinking what does this even mean. So I just said, I'm sorry to hear that and pretty much walked away.

As I walked away, I was considering what he meant. His brother's dead body was identified? Was his brother identified in a line-up? What else could this statement possibly mean? He was obviously distraught about something and his pain was visible, and this broke my heart, too.

It reminded me of that feeling when something awful happens to you or someone you love and you're just amazed that the rest of the world hasn't stopped. Today could've been the day that this guy's life changed forever. The marker of that before and after event. But what can you do except keep moving?

These incidents remind me of how there are so many people in this world who have noone. I can't imagine having no family or friends. Or noone to care for me. But it is so many people's reality. Whenever I'm confronted by unwanted attention, or just by anyone in general, I always try to put myself in their shoes. Some days that's easy, other days it's hard.

But it brings me back to something I think about quite often: you can't help who you were born to and where you born. It defines so much of your core, your life, even though you have no control over how you're going to enter this world. Even if you make the most of your circumstances, people's battles are all so different. It's like Eleanor Rigby. All the lonely people, where do they all come from?

labor day highlights.

I am such a homebody.*

Don't get me wrong. I love going out with friends and being adventurous and traveling. These really are all passions of mine, but when it comes to relaxing, there is nothing that I love more than just sitting or taking my time to do what I want to do.

So. On that note. Reasons my Labor Day was wonderful:

• Ate bagels (yes, more than one) and drank coffee in my pjs
• Found flats while shoe shopping with my mom (Although the actual shopping wasn't fun. I'm one of those girls who hates shopping.)
• Baked chocolate chip cookies from scratch at my parent's house
• Played Quiddler while switching batches of cookies
• NO TRAFFIC while driving back into the city
• Gorgeous weather

*I'm fun. I swear.

slacker sunday: what?

"What are you looking at?"
My sentiments exactly some days.

list.

Overhearing a guy say "I don't like her; I just want to add her to my list" is a bit disheartening.

While at the gym last week, I was on a machine and next to me were two guys. They were blabbing like girls about their current girl problems. At first I was totally amused and entertained. This was great! I was getting to hear what guys think when a girl doesn't text back right away, about first date expectations and just regular guy stuff (I guess).

When I heard this last line of adding this girl to his list though, it made my heart sink a little. Don't get me wrong. I know there are plenty of girls out there with their own list. But this made me wonder why it upset me so much, especially since this guy was so transparently insecure.

Obviously it lines up well with the fact that I'd like to be in a relationship, but even more obvious than that is the generalization I was making about guys by listening to the two next to me. This wasn't news to me. I know guys can be vulgar when talking about girls. Girls can be quite vulgar themselves.

But it still upset me.

It's easy to chalk it up to my own insecurities, which, let's face it, everyone deals with this issue on some level. But I guess it made me think even more so about dating and meeting someone I'd like to date. I usually try to just live my life, be proactive and see what happens, but it's at times like these that I feel little bits of hope seep out of me. I'll get them back I know. I am the eternal optimist.

But those days. Those days are the worst.