Sunday, March 4, 2012

Fun Video


   I keep forgetting to post this embarrassing video of my friend Ellen and I after a show at TheatreSquared. In our defense, we were coerced into doing it. (We show up around minute 1.)

The One In Which I Go To The Airport (And Don't Leave)


   So, as I mentioned last week, I had a trip Chicago Tuesday and Wednesday to see the Walgreen’s format, visit the Saatchi & Saatchi X office and United’s headquarters. But we had some trouble getting out of Fort Smith on Tuesday and missed the new Walgreen’s format and, well, most of Tuesday. We didn’t make it to the hotel until 11:30 pm. At breakfast on Wednesday, we found out that our flight out had been moved up 30 minutes, which meant that we had to leave United earlier than planned, but when we got to the airport our flight  had been moved back. Basically, we spent the majority of the trip in airports and didn’t see much of Chicago.
    
   But it was fun to get to visit Saatchi and United. They were such different workplaces but you could tell that everyone was passionate about was their job. It’s always a little inspiring to get to see people working at something they love. And the weather was actually really nice, so I didn’t freeze, which is always a good thing. Anyway, my new picture is one I took at the hotel at 11:30 when we were checking in.

               On the agenda for this week:
·        My project management course starts on Tuesday. I’ll now have class and work until 9pm on Mondays and Tuesdays.
·        I have a phone interview on Wednesday, wish me luck!
·        I have a test Thursday morning in Strategic Management. A class that always makes me think of this SNL skit
·        It feels like spring. That means skirts and, of course, new shoes. I’m open to suggestions. 

Friday, February 24, 2012

Deep(ish) Thoughts


               For my returning readers, sorry I didn’t post last week. I was in the hospital with, hopefully, a freak thing that resulted from some scar tissue from a gallbladder removal almost two years ago.[1] I know, I know. I’m being vague but it was nothing serious and I’d just like to move on now.
               Interestingly enough, I had decided last week that my blog post would be slightly serious and discuss how this semester has been one of change and figuring out where I’m going. I’ve never been good at having a defined plan for myself, even when I’ve had months to think about it, and starting this semester by dropping out of  the entrepreneurship program, losing my internship (and potential job) and the women’s shelter partnership falling apart hasn’t really helped matters. Not that spending a week in a hospital bed helped either. It wasn’t really a contemplative stay; rather, it  was a sleepy-time stay. What I’m saying is that somewhere between classes, work, group projects and sleeping I’m going to have to figure out some things:
                              1) How intense of a job do I want? I like to work hard but do I want a job that consumes my whole day?  Or have to travel a lot?
                              2) Nonprofit or profit?
                              3) How many Reese’s peanut butter eggs are too many? Seriously, I love them and it’s that time of year.
               Anyway, next week’s post should be more interesting because I’m to Chicago on Tuesday and Wednesday to see United Airlines’ headquarter and the Chicago Saatchi & Saatchi X office!


[1] Don’t worry. I won’t bore you with the details, which include a lot of sleeping and Jell-O eating. 

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Links and Footnotes


               As I write this I’m finishing the second season of Ugly Betty[1], it’s been a busy week so I’m a bit slow in watching it. (There haven’t even been any Daily Shows on Hulu to distract me.) We have two group projects that have gotten rolling this week and there’s definitely enough work for my fifteen hours at the library. Other highlights from this week:
               1) Never thought I’d say this, ERP simulation is fun. As one of my group members said, “This is like Lemonade stand on crack.”[2]
               2) My roommate distracted me from strategic management by showing me a video about Superman comics. (Warning: Cursing and Sarcasm is involved.)
               3) DinaHowell spoke about her career experience. It was insightful and one of the better speakers we’ve had. (Though, to be honest, anyone who speaks for a less than an hour is a contender for that spot with us.)
               4) I’m getting my stuff together for my big trip to Chicago in a couple of weeks. I’m visiting United Airlines headquarters and the Saatchi & Saatchi office there. Because I’m not a huge pantsuit person but Chicago is cold in February, I got fleece-lined tights to go with my gray suit (that I just bought because black tights and black suit is too funeral-y).
               5) I get to see Tigers Be Still tomorrow at TheatreSquared. As always, it should be good.
               6) I just realized that’s it’s gotten harder to find rolls of SweetTarts. They aren’t in the Wal-Mart or Target checkout aisles and only a few convenience stores have them.  I can find the boxes of them, but that’s too many SweetTarts[3]. It’s cramping my style.
               7) It got cold. Is it spring yet?


[1] I totally love how they’re always referring to it as “the Meade Empire”. I might have to use that in future endeavors.
[2] Lemonade Stand was an early internet game that was pretty much what the name says—a lemonade stand. http://lemonadestands.com/
[3] Yes, that is possible.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

It's February? Seriously?


               Well, another week down kiddos. I started my new internship at the library and I think I’m going to enjoy it. It looks like a lot of putting together resources for business students and analyzing how much current resources are used. Mainly, though, everybody at the library seems really cool and it’s going to be nice place to work.
               I also got work back rolling on our partnership with the women’s shelter. We’re finishing up our deliverable for the finance team and starting work on a fundraiser for the shelter. Graduate Women in Business is back, too. This semester we’re just concentrating on bringing some speakers and recruiting a new group of women for next year. GWIB’s been a real test of trying to find what works.
               Anyway, here’s a rundown for this week:
                              1) We’ve got the big ERP simulation competition this week. My team has been trying to work out our sale strategy, but, honestly, once the simulation gets going everything gets crazy.
                              2) Grant writing’s first assignment is due—60 pages of reading and a couple pages of writing. This is the easy one.
                              3) Dina Howell is coming to speak on Thursday. It’s a lunch and learn, hopefully we’ll have Qdoba…(They always get Qdoba for the big speakers.)
                              4) I’ve been re-watching Ugly Betty. The US version and I found the original Columbian version, Yo Soy Betty, la fea, subtitled in Spanish[1] online. I’d forgotten how awkward the comedy was on these shows. It’s almost unbearable sometimes. (I have the same trouble with 30 Rock. I thinks it's because I do the same things as Liz and Betty sometimes.)
                              5) I get to go to Chicago on the 28th and 29th to visit United Airlines headquarters and Saatchi & Saatchi offices. Hopefully, the unusually warm weather persists.
               That’s it for this week! I should get more exciting…eventually!


[1] I can read and speak Spanish, but my hearing skills have gone rusty on me. Plus the subtitles help me learn the accents faster. 

Friday, January 27, 2012

Yup, still posting!


               Has it been a week?[1] Anyway, I’ve been busy applying for jobs and going to class. I’ve applied to a couple of sales analyst positions in the area, associate spots at a couple of management consulting firms[2] and the MBA-specific programs at Sony and L’OrĂ©al. There’s an internship in Dublin this summer that I’m considering applying. It seems like a great opportunity but, to be honest, I worry a little about how expensive it will be to live there. The application is due this week, though, so I have to decide fast!
               Classes have been good. We’re doing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) simulation in my Enterprise Resource class and the software reminds me so much of how software used to look back in the day.[3] Still, the simulation is a good, interactive way to get experience with ERP. (Not that I would necessarily want to do ERP, but you get me.) This coming week I’ve got a bunch of meetings to bring the new students in on Graduate Women in Business and the Women’s Shelter project. I’m really trying to get something accomplished with both of these but I’m getting a little stressed about running out of time.
               On the good news front: 1) I found my old copy of Age of the Empires II, so I’ve been nerding out on that; and 2) I’m going to be working this semester for the Business Librarian and will hopefully get to make book-forts.[4]

Until next week!


[1] It must be. I’m watching a new Project Runway as we speak.
[3] My parents had a computer at home when I was little (think pre-school) that they got to do taxes. It ran Dos and used actual floppy disks.
[4] Exactly what it sounds like.  Preferably you get someone else to build one near you and can throw wads of paper at each other. Maybe play some bombastic symphonies while you’re at it.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Miss me?


               Well kids, I’m back. It’s been a bittersweet break for me. On the upside: I have an adorable new nephew (those are my parents and niece pictured with him), got my chairs repainted and some more house decorating done and got a brand new sewing machine for Christmas. I also made a couple of scarves, one for my roommate and one for my friend Thomas,[1] and read a couple of books.[2]
               On the downside: I am no longer doing the entrepreneurship project and the offices for my internship have been relocated and so I have no internship.  It’s like being back at square one with no plans and no fallback, right now. I’m just applying at everything that seems interesting or I think will get my resume in front of a company; circulating my resume and stalking company websites for jobs. However, it is exciting because I really have no idea where I’ll end up now.
               Classes this semester are shaping up to be interesting. I have strategic management, enterprise systems and grant writing for the social sciences. Strategic management will definitely be very useful and enterprise system should also be eye-opening because I don’t have a lot of experience with ERP. Grant Writing will, hopefully, open the door to some freelance opportunities and it’s also part of the Cross-Sector Certification program. If I get a job in Fayetteville, then I might be able to complete that certification, which would open up some opportunities in the public sector for me.
               Alright kiddos, that’s it for this week. Hopefully next week I’ll be all positives!




[1] Thomas’ is pictured. It’s a shorter version of the Doctor Who Scarf.