Month: February 2009

A Potluck Entry (Pictures)

/ authors, books, living in chicago, pictures

Saturday, I got the pleasure of meeting Meg Cabot, NYT Bestselling author of The Princess Diaries and 4935843954987 other books. It was lucky for me that during the author table chat, my table didn’t have an author so I ventured over to Meg’s table. I was shaking because I was so nervous! She was absolutely sweet and gracious and adorable, and she told me that I was gorgeous! Here we are!

Seventh Annual Children's Literature Breakfast
Meg and me! ♥

The breakfast was a lot of fun. The last time I went to one was in 2007. One of the best things was running into Laura Ruby (didn’t get a pic with her, unfortunately, although she is awesome!!) and Cynthea Liu!!!! Cynthea is just as energetic and adorable as she comes across on her Web site and on her Live Journal. ♥

Seventh Annual Children's Literature Breakfast
Cynthea & me!!!!

My guess is that we’ll be heading to this breakfast every year from now on. :) And 2009 makes the fourth year in a row that I got the chance to meet a NYT best-selling author!

(I’m thinking that black was THE color for the breakfast. Adam wore black, too.)

I’ve been working some crazy hours. Last Tuesday, I popped in at 10am and ended up working until 2:30 the next morning. They bought me dinner and paid for me to take a cab home. I didn’t go in until 2pm the next day, I stayed until about 5:30pm, and I got paid for the whole day. Today I went in at 9am and stayed until 7pm. Tomorrow, I am going in at noon and I plan to be there until about 4 o’clock Thursday morning. But then I get Thursday off with pay. It’s going to be crazy, but I’m taking some comfortable clothes! On a “normal” day (’cause face it, there are no normal days at Ogilvy), I’d work from 10-6 or something like that. I love those hours.

Books! I’ve acquired many books. I bought Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (OMG amazing book!!), an autographed copy of The Giver by Lois Lowry, an autographed copy of Forever Princess by Meg Cabot, and a copy of Copper Sun by Sharon Draper, which she autographed for me on Saturday. (She has the best autograph ever, by the way). Mandy sent me the ARC of Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen. I’ve been in BOOK HEAVEN.

I also did my yearly “What’s In My Bag” photo. I’m late this year–I usually do it in January. Anyway, here’s what was in my bag last night:

What's In My Bag - February 23, 2009

That’s about all for now. I’m pretty tired, so I’m going to play a few games of Word Twist on Facebook and then go read. I get to really sleep in tomorrow, but the night will be rough. I’m a trooper, though, so I’m mentally ready for it. ‘Til next time!

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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Work It!

/ living in chicago, work

It’s very nice to be called into the boss’s office and told that you’re doing a great job and they want to keep you around. :)

My trial period at Ogilvy was supposed to end tomorrow, and I was to learn the fate of my freelance status. On Tuesday, I was kind of a wreck because well, I need this job, you know? And even though I’d been getting kudos, I still sometimes self-doubt because as a new person, I wasn’t working up to my own standards. Of course, I am new, so I’m not going to be an expert right away on things, but still. I’m hard on myself that way. Anyway, I came in Wednesday morning to find a note from Gail (the lead proofreader and the person who is training me), and she told me I was doing fine. That made me smile. Later that day, the recruiter who initially found me called and asked if I’d be interested in staying on. “Absolutely,” I said. She then began to relay to me all the complimentary things that Gail and Sean (my boss) had said about me. Then, last evening, Sean pulled Gail and me into his office where they told me lots of nice things about my work and said they were happy to have me there!

I’m happy to *be* there. It’s such a great company. Last night, I worked kinda late, and they ordered dinner from this awesome Greek place. I got grilled chicken spanaka and IT WAS OUTSTANDING! I’d never had it before, and I certainly couldn’t finish it all (there was a ton!), but my Adam was able to polish off the rest for me when I brought him the leftovers.

I am learning so much and I love everything I’m learning. There is so much to absorb, so many different products and styles to learn. I’ve proofed presentations, coupons, displays, banners. I was the girl who wondered “who gets to proofread these things?” Now, I’m the girl doing it! I’m excited to come into work every morning.

The days can be long, but the 10am start time is perfect for me. There is the ice cream, the game tables (which I haven’t even played yet), the breakfast foods on Mondays. I love wearing jeans to work every day, listening to my music while I proofread all sorts of projects. I like the dark Studio, no bright glaring lights. Just desk lights and the glowing of computer monitors. Speaking of monitors, I love my HUGE monitor, and the Mac that is updated with new software. I like sharing iTunes libraries. I know that there are going to be some insanely busy times coming up (next week, for instance), and people have been known to sleep there overnight. But I am getting good money to do what I love, and I get to work in an atmosphere that makes me feel trusted and comfortable and pushes me to do better every single day.

I feel very lucky and grateful.

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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A Potluck Entry

/ life

Friday, Jen, Adam and I went to May Street Market for dinner. It was outstanding. I had steak frites for my meal and well, I can’t even describe my dessert properly without getting all gooey inside. It was so good I wanted to cry. A blondie with chocolate chips, lavender vanilla ice cream, and toffee crumbled all over it from Terry’s Toffees. Divine. There are pictures, but the cable to get them out of the camera and onto the computer is not easily accessible at the moment. I’ll try to post them soon.

Work was fun again. Busy–I had a lot to do–but fun. I really enjoy the work, and I am excited to learn more and more. Today, someone brought in champagne. I had one glass–that was enough for me. I’m such a lightweight. I have never worked at a place that is so awesome. I plan to stay for a LONG time. Wednesday night, I was so excited about going to work that I couldn’t sleep. Man, I’m such a nerd. :wink:

Helena is peeing in naughty places again. I don’t get it. Unless she’s mad that I’m out of the house all day again. However, Helenboo told me to spray lemon juice around–cats apparently hate that–so maybe that’ll keep her from doing it.

Have I ever mentioned that I HATE hearing other people’s loud music? It drives me insane.

Our DVD player is just about on the brink. The cats kept knocking it over so it doesn’t work too well, and it’s unstable. I guess it’s time for a new one, and hopefully a decent one. I might drive over to Target tomorrow and see if they have anything good for not too expensive.

I did Wii Fit again today. I really need to use that thing more regularly. Like, at least three times a week. I really desperately need to get in shape. I’m a mess. Very few of my clothes fit right anymore and I just feel like a frump. My hair is too short, my face feels fat, and I feel like a big dork. I am looking forward to warmer weather so I can walk from work some evenings.

Speaking of weather, it’s been warming up! :D Thursday, the temperature climbed to the mid-20s which felt positively BALMY. Friday, it went up to 41! Saturday, it’s supposed to be 51 (albeit rainy). Thank GOD for mild(er) temperatures and melting snow! I am tired of wearing big, bulky sweaters and a billion layers and feeling like everything’s too tight. Hmm, maybe feeling like everything is too tight isn’t because of the layers. *sigh* I have 9.5 pounds to lose to get to my goal on the Wii Fit. *double sigh*

I did my taxes and for the first time since 2007, I do not owe! I’m actually getting a nice refund, which I will put toward paying off my car and building my savings up again.

I’m reading another Sharon Draper book and that woman is an amazing writer. I am excited that I get to meet her in a few weeks, along with Meg Cabot! YAY authors!

I’m getting sleepy, so I’m gonna go for now. Until next time….

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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Ice Cream at Work (Pictures)

/ pictures, work

One of the perks of working where I am is that there is a cooler stocked with ice cream. When I stopped by yesterday, it was pretty well cleaned out. But I stopped by today after lunch and HOLY ICE CREAM!!

Ice Cream Cooler Ice Cream Cooler

Did I mention that this ice cream is free?

But you know, even if that cooler wasn’t there, I really like it there. :) I’ve worked two days and immediately felt at home. The projects I worked on–I really enjoyed them. I am eager to be really up to speed so that I can take on more work.

Today, when I got home, Adam had a cup of tea waiting for me. :)

Yay.

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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Working Girl

/ living in chicago, ronni, work, yay

Tomorrow, I start freelance proofreading for Ogilvy, an ad agency. It was just one of those things–walking in for the interview, I felt like I belonged there. The commute is easy, the place is neat, they supply ICE CREAM, there are game tables and updated software and computers, and I can wear jeans and listen to headphones while I work.

But best of all, I get to do what I love!

I have never been so excited about starting a new position before.

YAY!!!

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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