A Glimmer of Light at the End of the Tunnel

After much pondering and exploring new ways of thoughts/beliefs AND speaking with my guru (you know who you are :)), I've come to the somewhat of a new understanding of life and what it has to offer. Don't get me wrong, I don't have any answers yet but all I can do is try to understand and change my outlook on life. I've decided to be more positive about things and be in a good mood everyday. Not that I wasn't trying to do this before but I think before I would just go with the flow and everyday was the same old same old. I felt nothing.

Lately, I've been feeling an excitement inside of me. My heart beats faster as in anticipation for something great soon. I would like to start my day everyday excited, how great would that be? I'm going to do my best to start taking initiatives in my life and do things that will feed my excitement. Hopefully by doing all of this I will develop a passion that I am lacking in my life.

Maybe all of this positive thinking is because Spring is finally around the corner...
I do believe that does has some impact on my emotions for sure. And hopefully this will be just enough to get my act together and do something worthwhile.

Dead End

Lately, I've been feeling like I'm at a dead end. Is this an early quarter-life crisis??? I'm not sure. After college and finding a job there isn't much expected of you...besides getting married and having kids. But what else is there? I mean is that it? I think I just feel lost at what to do next.

I'm lacking motivation and inspiration to do something that will fulfill my life. I'm searching for a meaning, a purpose...happiness. I feel stuck, stagnant, and bored. I need a life worth living! I'm merely just existing.

Human Tetris

Human Tetris is a game show they play in Japan apparently. And I must say that is the is the BEST GAME EVER!!! They really need to bring this show to the U.S. However, it probably wouldn't be as funny. The determination in these men's faces is quite admirable, you must admit!

But, I will let you watch it for yourselves and make your own opinions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84_QL1kEmH4&feature=related

Christmas Presents

So every Christmas it seems as though all my cousins gather together and decide what they will get me that year. Not really, but it seems to be a theme every year. Two years ago I was getting stuffed animals, last year it was soaps and lotions, and this year, chocolates! I'm not complaining, all were very nice gifts and I enjoy them but don't be surprised if the next time you see me I'll be 100 pounds heavier!

Holiday Madness

I apologize for this crappy post, I haven't been sleeping or eating the sufficient amount that is needed this week...

Oh my gosh, so much to do before I go home for Christmas on Saturday!!!! So much to do TONIGHT! ACK! This whole week was busy. And I've been coming home at 10:30pm every night this week exhausted and ready to just go to bed. Not because of work mostly but because of holiday shopping, screen printing and such. I'm mostly glad that my holiday shopping is about over now, just one more thing to get...

Then it's off to do chores at home before sis and friend comes tomorrow night. Fun I know. Anyway, I'm glad to go home for a bit. Even though I will probably be busy then too. We're hosting my grandmother's birthday party at our house on Christmas night so there's tons to do at home. Oh gosh that reminds me...(ahhh! mental note, must stop at bank before going home.) Yeah, so that should be good times for sure. I haven't been home since last Christmas and even then it was only for a few days. So it'll be good to see everyone and catch up with them. Especially seeing all the little ones who probably aren't so little anymore. Which makes me feel old. ha.

But the best part of Christmas is giving out gifts and seeing the recipient's face light up! Oh the joy of Christmas! :D

Happy Holidays and Safe Travels to All!

Twenty-Freakin-Four

another year. another birthday. bah humbug.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

This marks the first Christmas tree I've ever put up! Yay!!! It may be small but it's perfect for me! Let the holiday cheer begin! :D

Ork Posters

Here's a great gift to give during the holiday season or maybe just something to have hanging on your bare walls. It does come very handy when you're not so familiar with all the different neighborhoods in Chicago. When moving here last year (I can't believe it's almost been a year since I have...) I was overwhelmed by the number of different neighborhoods here. People would tell me where they lived, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Oak Park, Linkin Park...etc. they all meshed together and I just stared blankly at them, pretending I knew exactly where that was as to not seem ignorant of my surroundings. All I knew was that I was in Chicago and what was the city and what was a suburb. But here to my rescue is this great friendly neighborhood poster that I can finally get a grasp of where everything lies.

This is typographic map project Jenny Beorkrem, my co-worker has been working on. Quite genius as she is getting quite the publicity now for it! Good work Jenny. These posters are a steal, only priced at $22 (w/o shipping or tax for IL residents). She also has a few more other cities (Brooklyn, Manhattan, San Francisco, Boston, and more to come) she's been working on that you can purchase too if interested.

Please check them out at: http://orkposters.com/

Chicken to Make Chicken

To celebrate Thanksgiving I decided to make a whole chicken. Chicken and not turkey because I'm not that big of a fan of turkey. It's usually too dry so why not make chicken instead? It tastes better. So thus, I made a chicken.

I could have sworn I've prepared whole chickens before and been grossed out but I eventually got over it. So this time when I decided to make a chicken I was weary about it but figured I would be able to think past it. When I took the chicken out of it's wrapping and held it while I washed it I kept thinking it weighed the same as a baby or a cat. Then cleaning the skin and touching it disgusted me even more. Then when it was time to cut it I couldn't help but think i was mutilating it. Now just wonder how I felt when it came time to eat...I was wincing and cringing while eating it. Luckily, I decided to cut it all off the bone at one time and store it so I wouldn't feel like I was dissecting a poor lab animal in biology class every time I wanted to eat.

So moral of the story is, I should never prepare whole birds or any animal for that matter...I get too grossed out. And this is also why I could never be a doctor. I probably should be a vegetarian but I think it might be too late for that.

Designer Talk

http://www.makemylogobiggercream.com

I think you'll enjoy this "mock-u-mercial", especially if you're a designer. I'm currently working on a project with an architecture firm and apparently they believe they are the top dogs of design and graphic designers are at the very bottom of the totem poll. So the architecture we are working with to create an email blast is very specific and if i do say so myself, his suggestions are...ahem, just watch the video. The florescent spray reminded me of the email he wanted me to initially create.

Here's another great one for all you design gangstas out thur. Respek!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbF-SiCktCg

Cute Baby

My Aunt Beryl and Uncle Victor are visiting with their little baby Maren. She's so darn cute! Possibly the cutest babies ever! I was so tired from just watching her crawl all over the house yesterday. :)

Another Favorite

Another dance that has sent chills down my spine. I love it, it's emotional and deep. And beautifully danced. The only awkward thing about it is that the music cuts short in the end.

Gen Y

Here's a great article I got from a friend...

What Gen Y Wants from Work
(from Ryan Healy's web worker daily)

As Generation Y or the Millennials leave their dorms behind and enter the real world, we are encountering a corporate world that is, for the most part, still stuck in its outdated ways. By the time my generation is given the reins, work will barely resemble today’s office environment. It’s not because we are special or better than any other generation. It’s because we are entering the work force at the time that the web is revolutionizing work.

What does Gen Y want from work? The same things many web workers look for: the ability to work wherever they like, an identity that isn’t defined by a particular profession, and flexible ways of experimenting with entrepreneurship even while benefiting from traditional employment.

Increased trust between employer and employee. Most people I know, myself included, truly believe they are more productive and happier when working from somewhere other than the standard workplace environment. Whether it’s home, Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, or the beach, as most of you know, there is something refreshing and relaxing about not being stuck in an office. Cubicle farms are a thing of the past, nobody likes them and thanks to new technologies the majority of companies don’t even need them.


These remote working arrangements will completely depend on trust between employer and employee. If I cannot be trusted to get things done without supervision, I do not deserve to have a job, and I will not have a job. Isn’t this what college is for though? We prove our ability to succeed on our own and it is reflected in our GPAs and non school activities. With the increased use of virtual offices, there is no need to be micromanaged at work any longer. Trust me!

Jobs no longer define who we are. “What do you do?” is often the first question people pose to one another during an introduction. Lately, I have had a hard time coming up with a straight answer to this question. I have my “real” career, but I spend a heck of a lot of time writing, networking and creating new plans for the future of my blog, Employee Evolution.

I now tell people I am a consultant, writer and aspiring entrepreneur. I consider myself all of these things. If I am comfortable enough to tell people this, then it must be true. Right?

Anyone can be whatever they want thanks to the power of the web. Creating a business, website or blog is so simple that we can all play multiple roles. As Gen Y continues to enter the workforce, our day jobs will no longer define who we are.

Entrepreneurship in the workplace. I don’t need a business plan and I don’t need millions or even hundreds of thousands to ditch the boring paychecks. I can even continue collecting a paycheck and make some extra money on the side. My very unscientific estimate of young people I know who plan to start a business at some point is eight out of ten. It’s no longer a risky dream. Starting a business is a reasonably cheap and attainable reality. The days of keeping top employees around with a 5% raise or a promotion to the corner office are dead.

To keep young workers around companies will have to compete with young people’s motivation and impatience. In other words, companies must feed our urge to jump ship and start a business, by giving us the opportunity to come up with an idea and have free rein over development, implementation and follow through. Logic tells us that companies should not “train” young employees to be entrepreneurs for fear of losing them. However, I can guarantee that retention rates will increase as employees no longer feel the need to leave a company that provides them with intrapreneurial opportunities. This is quite ironic when you think about it.

These are just a handful of the hundreds of differences between today’s work environment and the old days of 9 to 5 in a cube. As Gen Y continues to learn, grow and mature into executives and VPs I hope that we embrace the evolution and revolution.

Farewell

Last night Hok got voted out of "So you think you can dance". booooo!

So You Think You Can Dance?

Alright, this is kinda ultra nerdy, but I'm a fan of the tv show "So you think you can dance". I find it way better than "Dancing with the stars" because these people can actually dance! Not only that but they are crazy amazing at it! I love watching them every week, I'm rooting for Hok. He's got some crazy talent. This dance still gives me the chills every time I watch it...

For Hok's audition...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkD7HdO7qn0&mode=related&search=

So When You Thought It Couldn't Get Any Better...

Ladies and gentlemen, they've done it again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0mnrFqvKT0

Digi Cam

I'm finally going to retire my old school film camera and look into getting a new sleek digital camera in the very near future... Do you guys and gals have any suggestions as to what i should get or what I should be looking for as far as features and quality?

thanks much!

Dreaming of You

Have you had a strange dream about someone and then after you wake you're disturbed by it? You run around all day wondering, "what did it mean?", and all you can think about is the way you felt in your dream. Even though it never really happened and only occurred in your subconscious you can't help but feel awkward about it all. You'll never look at that person the same again. You may see this person and in the back of your mind be thinking of the dream you had of them.

Sometimes this feeling will go away, but sometimes it will stick with you.

Mysterious Bumper Sticker

I was wondering if anyone knows what a MW bumper sticker means or what it's from. I've been seeing it on a bunch of cars and it's always placed on the left side of the license plate. Not on the bumper but next to the license plate on the trunk. I wonder why it's always placed there, is there a reason or a mere coincidence? It seems too odd to a coincidence. I feel like it's some sort of cult or a secret that everyone knows about but me! It's driving me nuts, I'm almost tempted to roll down my window and ask the person who has it. This bumper stick is black and white/silver. It's a white/silver MW in black circle with a white/silver inner circle stroke. If anyone knows, please help!

Right & Left

I do not know my left from my right.

On another note, I am getting fat according to my family. perfect.