Time Warp

What I hope is the very last installment of

A View from my Office

A little background information to set the scene... Part of my job has been to work with and staff our board of directors. It's not always fun but some of been some really amazing women so its been worthwhile. And while I understand that I know them better than they know me, there are 2 memories that are my favorite that sum up so much of what the work is like.

1) A past board member insisted on calling me Jennifer all day at an event, while I was wearing a name tag that clearly did not say Jennifer

2) I received an envelope that I had created and sent out which was pre-addressed to me with one of the letters in my last name crossed out and changed. Because ya know, after 30 years I'm still having trouble with all those M's and N's.

Which brings us to the final tale....

Today marks the day that I will send out my very last Board mailing. A Board mailing, for those not in this particular position, is what my organization sends each month before a Board meeting and contains all the hand outs, agenda, etc. A standard part of each mailing is the memo. This is where the Executive Director creates a letter that talks about what the meeting will be about and provides any short, necessary updates.

In today's memo there was a paragraph at the very end announcing my imminent departure. Excited to see what not just my boss, but THE boss, of our tiny little world would have to say about me and my dedication since that fateful summer in 2006 when I joined up with the gang, I eagerly read through it.

There it is...thanks for my outstanding service...aw, that's nice...for the past...wait, what...THREE YEARS.

Yup. After four years with this organization I have been kindly thanked for my three years of service. That boys and girls, is the sound of the bell indicating this game is officially over.

Are We Really Surprised?

So in case you've been living under a rock in Chicago these past few days, I'm sure you've heard about our good king Daley retiring. Or more specifically, simply choosing not to run again. The way the news sites and social networks were ablaze yesterday when the news was announced you'd think it was the second (third, fourth, whatever) coming of Christ here in the Windy City.

The two major papers here, the Chicago Tribune and The Sun-Times, both used the quote caption "It's Time" on their front page, full picture story, which leads me to believe the rest of the announcement either sucked or was so poorly written for our sound bite loving culture that "It's Time" was all they got. The internets are awash with headlines like "Decision Stuns Political World" and "Business Lament End of an Era", Facebook yesterday had posts from friends ranging the gamut from elation, to sadness, and queries of whether or not now that Daley was stepping down, could they run for mayor (this being from a friend who actually doesn't live in the city anymore, but in a close suburb, and I'd totally vote for him!).

But as I sit back and watch the news filter by and the accolades flow freely, I have to wonder, why the hell is everyone so surprised by this announcement? Taking a step back, lets look at 3 simple things that have happened in the past few years.

1) 8 Years ago his wife, the woman that has stood solidly at his side for 38 years was diagnosed with breast cancer. And just this past year a malignant bone tumor showed up. That's a hell of a lot to deal with, and maybe, just maybe, the man wants to spend some time with his family after 20+ years in office. Hey, stranger things have happened.

2) On a less family friendly note, remember this spectacular failure? After pouring millions into the Olympic bid, Chicago was booted in round one. Round one folks. The banners were barely up before the city was shot down. Not exactly a way you want to be remembered.

3) And finally, on a services note, there was this amazingly disastrous blunder. Nothing gets folks involved faster in politics than fucking with a day-to-day service that almost everyone encounters. Snow removal, garbage pick up, parking - you get the idea. And boy did Richie fuck up the parking system. To the little guy it felt like we traded our best and only cow for a handful of worthless beans. And then, when there was a glimmer of hope that maybe those beans were magic, the bully down the street stole them in the middle of the night and blamed your brother.

Just looking at those 3 things, I'm confused as to what the fuss is all about. He's a man. He had a job and has decided to not do that job anymore. End of story? Unfortunately not in Chicagoland it won't be.

Moving Day!

This moving thing in 158% humidity sucks. That plus the fact that I'm old, fat, and lazy probably doesn't help much.

After a long, stressful, drawn out process I finally got the keys to my new place at around 11 o'clock last night. A wonderful friend who was with me did a power move of about half the stuff in my back two rooms in about 15 minutes and we left the rest for today.

So I set my alarm for my usual work wake up time and by 7:30 I was hauling boxes. By 7:50 I was already sweaty and exhausted. This should be fun.

I've set the pace at about 15 minutes of moving and then sit for 5-10 to regain my breath. I really need to utilize this gym membership I keep paying for. I've got friends scheduled to come move the big stuff around noon and I'd really like to have most of everything else done by then. I even have a friend that offered to come over on his lunch break. Seriously, my friends kick ass.

I've already taken one break to cancel my internet (yay for free highjacked wi-fi to write this!), move my Com-Ed service, and change my address. Now I've used this break to write this. I guess it's back to the grind.

Would you like fries or a clean database with that?

As I mentioned in my last post, big changes are a coming to my little corner of the world, and the crucial folks in my real life have been told, so I can finally break the blog silence (but not the Facebook silence, I'm not ready for that yet!).

After 4 years in my current job, a job that made me some amazing friends, taught me that I love working with databases, and gave my liver a serious workout as of late, after 4 years with this I have finally decided to quit.

But before you break out the party horns and let those gasps of excitement pass your lips I must tell you I also don't have another job lined up. Well, I didn't when I actually put in place the plan to be done with the current gig, I might have a part time one now.

Here's how it all unraveled....

About 2 months ago I sat down behind closed doors to have my 4 year, annual review with my supervisor. Somehow, and I honestly don't know how it all started, instead of going through the rote motions of checking off accomplishments and things to learn and work on, we spent close to 2 hours talking about the fact that I wasn't happy anymore and what we could do about it. It was by far the most liberating, amazing review I've ever had. By the end I had received some really good constructive criticism that I hope will make me a better employee in the future and a plan had been sketched to work me out of the organization.

They would start working on re-writing my job description (as it had drastically changed since I started) and I would step up my job hunt (now no longer needing to hide in the shadows and fake appointments in case of interviews). We figured it would take about 2 months to post, interview, hire and replace me and I hoped I could find something along that same time frame as well. However, just in case this economy totally had it in for me, we worked out a slight extension plan as well.

Let me step back for a minute and tell you about my not so secret love of databases that this job has opened up for me. Turns out I love organizing, maintaining, and producing clean, reliable data and reports. And I have come to master the current fundraising database my organization utilizes in a way that sometimes even scares me. This is something I could see myself doing full time (and that is what I've been applying for), this is something I could see myself really enjoying. Raisers Edge watch out, I will find someone who uses you and come to master you! (Okay, geek aside now, sorry about that).

And while I love my current database, I also loathe it because it is totally out of shape. It needs a major ass-kicking clean up, and I am just the one to do it. See, that's the extension plan we've worked out. If I don't have a job by the time my replacement is here and ready to be set loose on their own, I will transfer over to a full time database clean up project. We expect that to last about 8 weeks so I will have employment (if this plan all goes accordingly) till about mid December. If I do get another job, the plan is to transition the database cleanup to a part time gig (nights/weekends) instead because no matter what, it needs to be done, and not to sound totally egotistical but no one here but me really can do it quickly and efficiently.

So that's my life. Since this has all been announced a possible part time job has come up starting in mid September that I am totally, ridiculously geeked about. It's not a database gig, but it's with a company that I adore and think that I could learn an amazing amount from. But since it's not even remotely settled yet I am keeping that one to myself for now. But if it does come through it will mean that once I've wrapped up all the work here I will still need to supplement my income with a second part time job - know anyone hiring? Need a database cleaned? How about a dog walked? I'm open to most ideas (except watching your kids, sorry, but no one really wants that to happen do they?).

To make this a little less scary when it comes to life and finances, I'm also moving in with someone so my rent will be cut in half which always helps. That in itself is a completely crazy, out of left field, mind twister, but it will have to be saved for another post.

A promise is a promise

So I know that I promised in my last post that I would attempt to update you and help wile away your hours with entertaining, non-ask related musings, so here we go. Actually this is not so much an update as a foreshadowing of an update.

There are some serious things afoot in JJ's World these days and I am bursting at the seems to share them with you. However, until I can actually iron out some details and spread the word in my actual, real life world, it's probably best to keep a lid on all secrets internet style.

With that said, keep on the look out for some possibly startling revelations to start poring out of this little blog I sorta keep up with here.

Cheers.

I help not because I know you, but because someone I know asked me to

People give of themselves for a lot of reasons. You may give of your time, money, or material possessions because you believe in the cause you are supporting. Maybe you give because you simply believe in giving, and where it goes (as long as it falls under a certain wide spectrum of your beliefs) doesn't really matter. For me, I mostly give to things my friends are associated with (and it helps that I pretty much totally believe 100% in what they are working for). I don't have a lot to give so I like to spread it around to those I can personally touch with my donation.

But every once in awhile I find a cause or an event that I'm not tied to by one degree of separation. Awhile ago I donated to this blogger because I was so moved by her post. Didn't know her personally,though I found her blog through an actual real life friend who knows her in actual real life, but still went ahead and dropped my few dollars in the hat.

And so I bring you the following story. If it moves you in any way and you find yourself with an extra $5 or more to share I encourage you to donate it. I don't know this person, probably never will, but I do personally know the man that wrote about it on his own blog and I trust his opinions on the matter (plus his own name was in the donor list, so I know it's worthwhile). You won't get a tax exempt letter. But you will get an awesome warm feeling and a great bit of karma.

Oh and just so you don't start to feel that all I do is ask my few readers out there to open their pocket books, I promise to make an effort to post many non-money related items in the next few weeks before I once again hit you up for my own birthday fundraising campaign to be announced shortly.

I don't know how to repost so that it will link back to where I found it so I'm simply cutting and pasting and hoping this works....(photo didn't copy so here is link to what I think is the original post)


atfrageelay:
Link to help a mama-to-be out is here.
Imagine you are about to lose everything you own. Not to a tornado, flood, or theft, but instead to the steady march of insidious intruders. These home invaders breed quickly and often, can survive up to 18 months when zipped up in an airtight container, feed off of the blood of humans and their pets, and are especially fond of nesting in mattresses and book bindings.

Itchy yet?

Now imagine you’re single, expecting your first child, self-employed, with family living several states away. And you’re living in a building full of these thieves of your every basic comfort, where several of your neighbors are similarly afflicted but it’s unknown whether they have any earthly idea how to properly rid their apartments of these pests. Maybe you can break your lease, and maybe you can’t, but even so it’s doubtful you’ll see your security deposit and first month’s rent any time soon. And you’ll have to take all of your less-infested items – including electronics – and store them somewhere unafflicted in airtight containers for 18 months.

This is life in the city with bedbugs. And it’s happening, right now, to one of our own – Alina Smith. And she needs our help. There have been a lot of hands out asking for help in our online community lately, and times are tough for many right now. But there are enough of us here that a per-person $10 donation (or whatever you can spare) would go a long way toward helping Alina get a security deposit together so she can live somewhere bedbug-free when her baby arrives this October/November, storage space for the few items she’s able to keep (including her professional photography equipment) but will have to store in airtight plastic for 18 months to ensure all the bugs die off, and disposal supplies (plastic mattress covers, plastic bags) so she can get rid of items responsibly without spreading the bedbugs anywhere else. Please help a mama-to-be get her life back and into a safe home.

Thanks. Questions? Comments? Write me at tonitravels at the gee mail.

Here’s a link to contribute. All donations go directly to Alina’s bank account. Please reblog.

Some weirdness to start your weekend

Before I share with you how my Friday morning started let me give you a few background details so the tale can truly be appreciated.

1) I. Hate. Pigeons. Completely, totally, and unrealistically I hate these birds. Everyone knows it. I'm not quiet about it. They are rats with wings and any argument that they are cousins of the dove and I should love them will quickly get you an icy glare of death.

2) Normally I change trains half way through my commute. It's faster but also more of a pain since I give up my guaranteed seat to stand on the smelly, dirty red line. But I do it because riding all the way around the loop on the Brown line seems silly when transferring means another 10 minutes of sleep.

3) Chicago has some cool ass art sometimes. And sometimes it's just weird.

Okay, got it? Here we go.

Today I woke up exceptionally early as I am leaving for a trip home at noon and found myself overcome with giddiness and unable to sleep. I decided that tossing and turning was doing no one any good so I got up, got going, and was on the train at least 20 minutes earlier than usual. This also means that I can stay on my train and read which always excites me. Plus, I'd heard about this new art instillation piece at the south end of the loop and staying on my train means I would get a chance to see it.

So I ride all the way around, check out the big eyeball, wonder at the concept of art and then eventually get off the train at Randolph and Wabash. For those of you that are Chicagoans, or more importantly, Loop workers, you may be familiar with this stop. Like it's neighbor Quincy across the loop it is home to a whole host of pigeons at the base of the stairs. Usually the roost a good span back (unlike Quincy where I think they are actually posted guard on that freaking station) and I can sneak along the wall and avoid them. But today, alas today, I would not be so lucky.

I come ambling off the steps and stop, just out of the way of others tumbling down behind me on their way to their own Friday plans, and light up my customary morning, post train - pre work cigarette. Yes, I have a scheduled, post train - pre work cigarette. What's life without some regularity?

Anyway, as I'm standing there this scene unfolds in front of me. A man, probably late 50's, maybe 60's, wearing somewhat business like attire and carrying a briefcase stops in front of the large writhing mass of birds. He sets down his briefcase and slowly starts to walk into the middle of the flock. At this point I already know he's crazy, and since I don't want to go anywhere near him, I hold back and wait to see what happens. Once in the middle of the mass, he slowly starts to crouch down. What the fuck is he doing? I begin to wonder (my coffee free brain is at this point still working kind of slow). Then, before I can even begin to comprehend he reaches out and grabs one of the birds. Yup. Grabs. A. Fucking. Pigeon. Stands up and calmly walks back to his briefcase, picks it up, and starts to head my direction.

At this point my brain is SCREAMING to get away from this guy. I mean who randomly catches a pigeon? Is he its leader? Is he going to kill it in some weird sacrifice? Is he going to eat it? Be friends with it? Give it to someone as a present or a death threat? WHAT? I start to back up as he heads my way and I duck around the corner hoping to avoid him.

But no. My life can never be that simple can it? A fun tale about a pigeon snatcher wouldn't be nearly enough. Instead the guy turns the same corner I have (where I'm now pressed against the window of a T-Mobile store), still carrying the writhing bird and nearly 3/4ths of the flock are frantically following him. At eye level. Wheeling and diving around him. And now, because I'm stuck there, they are dive bombing all around me.

I believe this is the point where I actually started muttering out loud. And maybe it was more than muttering. Maybe it was more like "OhMyGOD OhMYGOD OHMYGOD!" and maybe I was kind of frantically spinning around trying to wave the birds away from my face. And maybe I kind of looked like a crazy person. And maybe I don't care. Because having a few strangers wonder about my flailing in the midst of my own personal 7th layer of hell reenactment is not too much to be concerned about.

So that was the start to my weekend. Hope yours wasn't nearly as traumatizing.