Spring 2013.

As times moves on I have realized how much time has gone on since I paid attention to my blog. There has been many thoughts of:

• Renaming it
• Deleting it
• Starting it up again
• Selling it to some clueless person
• Making old posts into a book
• Creating a 5of9er app

Still trying to figure that out, but I have been enjoying see that some of my favorites are still going strong... that the design firm I work for has a fantastic blog that I often contribute to... and that I can always return.

Until then...

Good use of time.

I have enrolled in the Project Management certificate program at Loyola University Chicago.  Time to do more than just applying, networking and volunteering.  Adding education is the logical next step... and since I cannot start another degree program until after LP completes her Masters, I can at least do a certificate program.

It's been a while since I finished my degree.  I have plenty of work experience as a PM, but instead of getting rusty, I can put my brain to work and learn about some current concepts in the field.  I will get to share my ideas and receive feedback from other professionals in my class.  I will get to see how others function in their industries - maybe even make a few contacts.

It's a good feeling to look forward to something... something that might involve a lot of work, but will have a satisfaction payoff well worth it.

Get over it.

I am trying to learn a life lesson... Get over it.  We all know that hindsight is 20/20 (if you did not know that - well, it is), but reflecting on bad decisions is so easy to do.  Being unemployed, I have too much time to ponder.  And we all know unemployed pondering never leads to good things (if you did not know that - well, it doesn't).  

The past few days I have seen some updates by Facebook friends that let people know what they are doing in their careers.  Exciting things.  Creative things.  Things that probably make them a ton of money (which is not everything, but it helps with financial security).  It's hard to not think that I made some poor choices when it came to my career.  I have this great resume that no one seems to care about because the companies I have worked for were small, and the college I attended was a State school.

I need to get over it.  I need to focus on the positive.  I need to not reflect on other people's gains, and instead focus on the bright spots in my life.  I need to remember this.  But, it's so hard to do some days.

Stuck in the middle.

Yesterday I found out officially I did not get a job I was really hoping to land.  "Official" since waiting to hear something for two weeks after and interview you pretty much know they past on you.   Both interviews went well, and I knew I did my best - but that does not make things any easier.  With all of the experience I have as a project manager I do not seem to land many interviews... which I believe speaks to the horrible economy.  I've had many go over my resume and told me it is sharp.  I know it is all about networking, but I seem to have run cold on my network.

I am stuck in the middle.  I am not getting interviews for jobs that fit me, and I am not getting interviews for retail jobs since I am over-qualified.  I just want to work and the ball just does not seem to bounce my way.  I am running out of ideas on how to find a job.  All I am sure of is when you don't have a job it is harder to find a job.  There are job listings that clearly state not to apply if you are currently unemployed.  Ug.

I wish people would let you know you did not get the job and follow it with some reasons as to why... like: you are a terrible interviewee, your background really did not fit, we really wanted to hire a woman, you are too tall, you should of worn a suit, a suit was way too much for us...

Miss Eloise.

Last night I lost my best little furry friend.  She died in my arms on the way to the Vet Emergency and there was nothing I could do to help her.  Her vet thought she might have congestive heart failure, but that was just an educated guess since we could not afford the tests to figure it out. She laid on the vet's table with all of her life gone, and I knew apart of me was gone too. 

We adopted her in 2005 so our other cat could have a friend. She was the fat four year old cat named Cora that no one wanted. All of the other cats in the shelter were kittens or less than two years old. She was just so pathetic I had to take her home to meet our other cat.  The two never got along.  Cora, who we renamed Eloise, did not like to be held, and seemed to get freaked out so easily.  After time (years) she mellowed out, became a lap cat, liked to be held, and loved it when we added a baby to our family. 

Eloise snored - loudly.  She always ate. She ate everything. She begged for cereal milk and ice cream. She made a mess out of the litter box. She was always dirty, especially her eyes and claws. She clawed up most of our shoes. She was always needing to go to the vet for something. She was so picky. She loved thunderstorms. She always banged the front door. She stretched her front claws in a way that looked like she was waving.  She often got dreadlocks in her fur because she was too fat to clean her whole body. She was perfect.

Either you are an animal person or not, but if you are you understand the loss. Our furry friends are part of our every day. They give us love, and they drive us crazy.

She was my best furry friend, and I will miss her very much. Rest in peace Miss Eloise.

Not on the dole.

I've been thinking about writing a lot lately... but not doing it.  I've been thinking about doing a lot of things lately... but not really doing any of them well - a half-ass-ness approach.  The other night I could not sleep so I got on the world wide web and stumbled across and old friend's blog, and it sparked me to want to start posting again. 

Being unemployed again has surely played with my mind and my spirit.  Not being on the dole makes it that much worse... since my last employer never made me a W-2, I do not get unemployment payments/insurance.  I get to spend my savings.  I feel like I have applied for a million jobs - and almost all of them I am over-qualified for.  I have applied at Whole Foods, Jewel, Target - not to mention all of the jobs at marketing and ad agencies, design firms, non-profits, for-profits, and on and on and on.  I have networked.  I have had meetings with people who know people.  I have signed up with temp agencies and headhunters.  I have sold my CD and LP collection... which is a bit depressing, but at least I have something to sell.  And finally, I cashed in my 401k.

Maybe I'll get out of this funk and unemployment stretch by writing once again. My mind is constantly thinking of things to write about - it's just getting me to do it. Just like get exercise... my mind tells me to do it, but I have a hard time getting out the door.

Goal: be positive, think positive, write, run, bike, skateboard, find a job, smile, enjoy the things in life that are good... find happiness once again.

5of9er's Favorite Albums 1992 - 2009.

It's that time of the year... Top 10's from everyone on every subject. If you are not a avid follower of 5of9er, you might not know about my history of Top 10 albums. Before I post my Top 10 for 2010... here is a look back on the years past.

Note: I started the list in 1990, but I cannot find the first three years... and I do not want to go back and just make them up.
 

best of 2009
1. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart "s/t" (slumberland)
2. David Bazan "Curse Your Branches" (barsuk)
3. Shrinebuilder "Shrinebuilder" (neurot)
4. Passion Pit "Manners" (french kiss/columbia)
5. Tortoise "Beacons of Ancestorship" (thrill jockey)
6. Nomo "Invisible Cities" (ubiquity)
7. Method Man & Redman "Blackout 2" (def jam)
8. Phoenix "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenex" (loyauté/glassnote)
9. Lily Allen "It's Not Me, It's You" (capitol)
10. Rose Melberg "Homemade Ship" (k)

TRON Skateboarding?

Tron Legacy Premiere - A Light Session from ENESS on Vimeo.

A friend of mine from Chocolate Giant sent me this video. It's 50% really cool... and 50% really stupid. Not sure what else to say about it.

Veoba Post: RECORD REVIEW: OFF!’s The First Four EPs

Originally posted on Veoba.com:

I grew up a punk rock skateboarding child of the 80’s. I had an older brother that heavily influenced my life… I was completely his shadow. We spent free time skateboarding and listening to punk records, and once a week we tuned into Vinyl Rights – a radio show, which aired on KFJC, hosted by Alex Morgan. What Alex spun on his show was what became our “To Buy” list of records.

Veoba Post: 2nd Avenue Records, Portland OR

Posted originally on Veoba.com:
I spent two stints in Portland, OR and one of the constants during my time there was 2nd Avenue Records always getting a ton of my money. Like any junky needing a fix (which PDX has long been the place for that), I was in constant need of that new 7″ or 12″ and while Portland has seen many great shops come and go, 2nd Ave was always my go to. Mainly because it’s seemingly been around forever. I recently saw someone label 2nd Ave as the Toyota Camry of Portland record stores… which is not a bad reference. Now I’d never buy a Toyota (that’s for a different article), but just like 2nd Avenue Records the Camry’s reliable.

Veoba Post: Christmas Does Vinyl.

This post was originally was on Veoba.com:

This week I was intending to write about a record shop in St Louis since I just made my first ever trip to the Gateway City – but I never made it to any of my three destinations (Vintage Vinyl, Euclid, Apop). So instead of writing about how much of a disappointment this city was and how I lost my sunglasses there (because their record shops could have been the saving grace), I figured I would get into the Christmas spirit and do a little write up about a few notable Christmas albums in my collection (not a “Best of” list). All of these releases are on vinyl, so Faith Hill’s 2008 Christmas album was disqualified from making the list, but David Bazan Christmas 7” series on Suicide Squeeze could find a place. Ready?

1. Low Christmas (1999)
Finally released on vinyl this year by Kranky, this is my favorite Christmas album ever. Period. Instead of Low’s versions of the classics, Low mostly writes their own. Five of the eight tracks are original tunes which have somewhat become new standards. Their approach at keeping their sound without making Christmas song depressing, is pure genius. The added sleigh bells make “Just Like Christmas” more cheery than most Low songs. Their version of “Blue Christmas” makes a strong attempt of dethroning Elvis Presley, while adding noise to “Little Drummer Boy” works perfectly. A true Christmas album that the hippest of indie rock snobs could get into… and it’s not by the Danielson Famile.

Veoba Post: Reckless.

This was originally posted on Veoba.com:

Residing in Chicago I find myself surrounded by many amazing record stores. Most of which pop into my head now and then (all of which I hope to write about at some point). One record shop in Chicago is my steady go to: Reckless (on Broadway). Reckless seems to always fulfill my two needs when it comes to record searching: a good place to waste some time flipping through tons of vinyl, as well as a place that (usually) has what I am looking for. There are three locations in Chicago, all of which are great, but Broadway seems to have the largest selection.

Veoba Post: Laurie's Planet of Crap.

This was originally posted on Veoba.com:

There is a classic children’s story about the “Little Engine That Could,” who huffed and puffed and worked really hard and made it over the hill. Well, if Laurie’s Planet of Sound was that little engine… the hill would have won. That might sound a bit harsh, but when I walked into the shop on a Friday morning the girl behind the corner didn’t even acknowledge my existence – and I was the only customer in the shop. Seeing as they were missing the customer interaction part, I figured they might be missing some other things as well.

Park Conversation.

The conversation overheard at the park today between two four year old boys:

Boy #1: What did you bring?
Boy #2: Guns!
Boy #1: Awesome!
Boy #2: What did you bring?
Boy #1: An empty bag!
Boy #2: Awesome! Let's play!

Some days...

There are days like today when I think life would be so much easier just being a big fatty.

The Horse.

I keep telling myself to get back on the horse and write, write, write. But as you can see, no entries for a while now. I have had little free time lately, and when that free times comes I have been spending it in numerous ways... none of those have been writing (and very little reading as well).

I am in the spot where I am ready to start new... just delete this blog and start off fresh somewhere else. Maybe write about something else, not just my thoughts and my life... or maybe just one section of my life and my thoughts. Or maybe just slack off and do none of the above.

I am going to start writing a column for a new music blog in Chicago called VEOBA. My entries will be about record stores around the country I like... since I am a huge supporter of physical music. I will hopefully have my first post on there in the next week.

Whatsforbreakfast, 4.17.2010.

Sassy Eggs at one of my favorite breakfast places in Chicago... Over Easy Cafe. Yum!

Whatsfordinner, 4.9.2010.

You never can go wrong making Risotto with bacon and asparagus... plus plenty of herbs and garlic. Yum!

Sleepy.

Last night I went out to see a friend's band. I have not gone out to see a band since Miles was born (17 months ago). Sleep is too important these days, and most shows are so late that I just cannot gather the drive to get out the door to go. There were three major factors in deciding to go out last night:

1. The show was at Schuba's, which is my favorite venue in Chicago.
2. The band was playing the opening slot, which started at 8pm.
3. The rain looked like it was going to hold off so I could just skate over there.

I was pleasantly surprised when the band my friend is in was actually very good. It is always a challenge to spin constructive criticism to a friend that happens to be in a terrible band - but I was saved from all of that. Thankfully. They reminded me a bit of Tripping Daisy (or the Polyphonic Spree minus the twenty people in robes). I truly enjoyed myself and the beer I was drinking. I actually did not even mind that I was hanging out by myself at a show... something I usually dread.

Let's go back to the beer I was drinking... since after that beer I had another... and at home I had a beer. Three beers are not technically binge drinking to most. I somehow blocked out the fact that I just spent the 40 days of Lent giving up alcohol, which now makes me a lightweight. When I left Schuba's, after chatting with my friend for a little while, I got on my board and realized I was a little drunk. Wow. I sort of knew this was the case since I was being a Chatty-Kathy inside, but it really did not hit me until I hopped on that board.

So this morning I woke up with a tiredness that is a bit overwhelming. Not a hangover, but a reminder that I am not in my twenties any more.

Whatsfordinner, 3.31.2010.

Today Chicago saw it's first 70 degree temperature for 2010... which means the Webber grill gets pulled out. Hamburgers were consumed to celebrate Spring time! First I had to clean the grill... since I forgot to clean it before I put it away for the winter. Yep, there was some nasty food still stuck on it. Yuck.