At Long Last

It's official. After nearly a year and a half (and 109 blog posts) toiling at internships and scouring classifieds, I have landed a permanent position. Put simply: I GOT A JOB!

I will start in January and will be part of the creative team. My duties will include copywriting, design and media planning. There is talk that I'll have these things called "benefits."

This blog was started as a way to keep sane while looking for a job. I had no inkling that the hunt would take this long, but am relieved it is over. Now, as I assemble my wish list of consumer goods to purchase (a car is high on the list), I renounce my monastic, frugal ways.

To those still fighting the good fight:

Network--even if it doesn't lead to a job, it helps to have people to converse with and get advice from. Having a strong social network consisting of friends and family, as well as alumni helps support you and prevent you from hitting the bottom of the pool. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to alumni. You will be surprised at how many people are willing to offer you their advice and share their path to their current job.

Setup search agents to do the work for you. I used indeed.com, which searches several sites.

Find a way to be creative. For me, this blog served as a forum to write about the news and the plight of the recent graduate.

Volunteer--Whenever you feel that your life is horrible, you need to realize that it is always worse for someone else. Volunteering enables you to get out of the house and give some of your time to help others. An added bonus is you may make some connections.

Faith--Probably the biggest thing that got me through this period beside my mom and sister was having faith that I would end up wherever I was meant to be. Pouring on the prayers didn't hurt either.

I will continue to post about stories that catch my eye and working always provides stories. Thanks for reading.

[Bleepin'] Blago

If 24/7 coverage isn’t enough to satiate your hunger pangs:

* http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/12/ongoing_investigation.php
* http://www.chicagotribune.com/
* http://www.wttw.com/res/pdf/Blagojevich-Harris-CriminalComplaint.pdf

There is talk on the blogs of an insanity defense.

Beyond Illinois, the Wildcats took a big hit with these arrests. Blago and his Chief of Staff, John Harris, both went to NU. Guess they missed the course on ethics. Can't wait to see these updates in the alumni newsletter.

It is interesting to see how media handled the expletives. Some opted for f*****, while others left a bit more to the imagination with [expletive]. Sadly, I didn't see any cartoonish #(*%^(@^!.

Airport Blues

From the Tribune news service:

Bush International Airport will have karaoke booths installed for fliers just in time for the holidays.

Just when you thought airports couldn't get any more annoying. So now as you page through New Yorker for the second time or ponder if you can make a functioning noose out of single-ply toilet paper you can relax to the sultry sounds of intoxicated travelers singing out their pain.

Expect such holiday favorites as:

"O Come Connecting Flight"

"It's the Most Horrible Time of the Year"

"I Won't Be Home for Christmas"

This effort to provide some entertainment--even if it is amateurs--is a step in the right direction. The move makes sense for airports. Having karaoke provides entertainment beyond the ever-cheerful CNN feed at a minimal expense. There will be prizes. Would a "Go to the front of the line" pass be out of the question?

Whatever happened to the lounge bands? Airports need a resurgence of groups like Murph and the MagicTones to soother our travel blues.

I'll be staying away from the airports this holiday season and singing my Christmas tunes like everyone else. Alone in the shower.

Crafty

As an added motivation to find employment, I swore off using Facebook. (Sadly it has been replaced with online dating sites.) My logic was based in the fact that Facebook is especially depressing after you graduate. Pictures of parties you weren't at, notifications of who's now in a relationshit and the always inspiring wall posts with the insipid LOL. It has been two weeks since I last touched the sweet nectar. And then tonight, I got this email:

Unfortunately, the settings that control which email notifications get sent to you were lost. We're sorry for the inconvenience.

To reset your email notification settings, go to:

http://www.facebook.com/editaccount.php?notifications

Thanks,
The Facebook Team

Just when you think you're out, they pull you back in. Lost? Really? You lost my settings. I expected more from you Mark Zuckerberg.

I am staying strong. The next step is removing the bookmark.

I'm also working on a video to combat the other posts on Facebook. It'll be huge if I actually make it.

Tentative title: F Facebook.

'Tis the Season for Pardons

As President Bush's tenure draws to a close, the requests for pardons and clemency start trickling into the White House.

Today, Conrad Black's lawyers submitted legal papers to President Bush seeking clemency for his conviction for defrauding shareholders of Hollinger International. He was sentenced to six and a half years.

Dick Cheney was indicted Tuesday for "conspiring to block an investigation into abuse at privately run prisons."

I think I know what Cheney will be getting for Christmas.