Life as a lounger

Life certainly has been different. It's so relaxing nowadays. I really don't have much to update you on. I've been enjoying my part-time lifestyle that I've been missing since I was a senior in High School. I only have to work 30 hours a week. That's it. That's ALL of my obligations, right there. It's nuts.

I've been doing a few administrative tasks lately though. For example, today I put my resume on monster.com. I figure I better start getting in contact with some people if I legitimately want to move to NYC. Lisa (what a surprise this is) has kicked into planner mode. She has been sending me apartment listings, U-Haul quotes, etc. It's actually quite exciting. Am I really going to move to NYC?! I hope so. I'm going full time in July, I think, to help save more money. As of right now, I am kind of banking on early September for the move. That will give me two and a half months to save, save, save so I will have a little bit of a cushion when I get there. Lisa and I have also been looking at 3 bedroom apartments for my friend Katy to join us. It would be SO awesome if we three lived together. All we would need would be a Miranda and we would be SATC. Lisa and I have already discussed who is who. I am proud to say I'm Carrie. Yeah, I like nice shoes.

I've also been making all the medical appointments I need to get taken care of before I get booted off my parents insurance! I am lucky that Verizon provides health insurance. If I don't move to NYC, come August, I will be covered by VZW.

OH! I do have a little bit to update you on. I've been working with the Marketing Team and it's so fun. I've been corresponding with people in the Governor's office. They are in charge of the Fiesta Mexicana in Topeka, and that is the event I am helping facilitate. I am really enjoying it. I am looking forward to assisting with other projects, which I think will be soon!

I went to the lake this weekend. Let's just say I cannot wakeboard. I can hardly drive my car my arms are so sore. On the other hand, I'm a decent tuber. But, let's be honest, how hard is tubing? We also took the 4-Wheelers out. That was fun, but scary. Blake is not a safe driver. And speaking of what Blake isn't, he's not a good co-pilot either! I had to drive down Saturday morning because Blake bartended Friday night. I was fine with it, no problem. Blake got the directions from Jimmy and just said head to 71 South. So I did, and I stayed on 71 South until Blake woke up. Here's how it went:

Me: Good morning. Nice nap?
Blake: (mumble, mumble, rubs the eyes) Where are we?
Me: Like 40 miles outside of Joplin.
Blake: We aren't going through Joplin.
Me: Uhhh, I think we are.
Blake: Well, did we pass Harrisonville?
Me: Yeah, like an hour or so ago.
Blake: Well, did you get off of 7 Highway?
Me: No! Was I supposed to? Why didn't you tell me?
Blake: Oh, hmm. I didn't think I was going to sleep that long.

So we decided I'm the navigator and Blake is the driver from now on, which still gets me a little nervous.

Well the sun just came out, and I am going to go for a walk with my dauger. Macy girl is a full-blown dog now. It is so nice to know that I took this dog out of a bad home, gave her lots of lovin' and turned her into a real dog! I wish I could do it more often, but one dog is really quite enough for me right now. Maybe later in life....

DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE

Oh, I cannot even put into words how I am feeling right now. I am excited, relieved, proud, happy, sad, stressed, etc. Mostly, I'm happy and proud. OK, and excited. More than anything, I'M DONE!

I am officially done with all of my college work. I only have graduation and celebration left. Wow, I can't believe it. I did my final presentation today about the plan for the rest of my life. That was the last thing I did in college. It was a great kick-off to my life as a young professional.

OK, let's take a step back. Back to what seems like years ago.... CAMPAIGNS. Yeah, I'm all done. That's right. It is so great to be done. The Pink Team, or should I say The Revel Group, rocked the presentation. We got to go first, which means that the client could leave after our presentation and feel like they had all that they needed. It was an honor. We really wrapped up our campaign nicely. It got a little stressful, but we finished with ZERO all-nighters. On the Friday after our presentation, the university held a summit regarding our final campaigns. The university wants our logo! We are so proud. I am now ready to get out do it all again, only this time I hope I'll be paid for my work.

Graduation is this weekend. As of Saturday afternoon, I will be an official graduate of the University of Kansas J-School. woooooo-hoooooo! I'll update you on the festivities after they happen.

Jobs, jobs, jobs.....? I am excited that now I am going to have time to apply for jobs. That is literally what I am excited for. I'm excited for that. I am also excited to have more time to volunteer, to learn more about graphic design and to read more. Oh, I guess I'm excited for a little pool time, too.

I am ending a huge chapter in my life. A new one is beginning. I can't wait to get my career started. I will update you all soon. I promise I'll be a better blogger.

It's been a while...

But more has happened than you think.

I've been a super busy bee for the last month. I went on my final Spring Break, my dauger ran away and was hit by a car, I worked my tail off for campaigns, I spoke with HR at VZW about potential jobs, and I did my normal routine.

I'll start with what was most devastating. Macy dog got hit by a car! No worries, she's OK (otherwise I'd still be in mourning), but it was scary. Let me backtrack a bit... On Friday, March 26th, I had plans to go out with my BFFs from HS Amanda and Nicci. However, those plans were cut awfully short when I got a call that said Macy had ran away. I sped to Blake's apartment as fast as I could just hoping not to see Macy injured on the way, and was informed upon my arrival that she had darted so fast no one had any idea where she had gone. So I drove around for an hour or so but to no avail. I finally retired and attempted to get a little rest.

In the A.M., I decided I'd check the Lawrence Humane Society. I called, and they checked the found reports and told me they thought they had her. Sure enough, it was Macy. She ran to the Beverely Hills of Lawrence, Kan. (Did I just write in AP style on my blog? I'm such a journalist) A kid in HS had seen Macy in the street, and he and his family took her in for the night. I'm so thankful! OK, so that was great.... but that's not the end.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention earlier that I got sick last month, too. So I went to work the following Monday, but I wasn't feelin' so hot. Well maybe I should say I was feelin' reallly hot, like fever hot. So my manager told me I needed to go to the Dr. to see what was wrong. While in the waiting room, I got the call of doooooom. That's the call that said Macy had been hit by a car and that she was peeing blood. I damn near had a heart attack. I thought for sure she was a goner. Little ol' Macy dog gettin' hit by a car doing 40.

After I saw the Doc, I was told to go home and rest. When I got home, Macy was all swollen and covered in blood, which reinforced my negative attitude. Lucky for me, I have a fantastic bf that makes me feel better when I'm sad. Blake came home and told me that everything was going to be OK and that Macy was a tough girl. After I spoke with the vet, I decided to take his advice and wait until the A.M. to take her in. That evening she stopped peeing blood and the swelling went down, so I didn't take her to the vet the next day, but I assure you, she was treated like a queen on her deathbed. It was the next day that the sad news came. Wednesday morning she couldn't walk. Well, her front legs did but her back legs, not so much. I had to take her home that day anyways as I was leaving for CO the next day (oh yeah, I was also on a national no-fly list last month) so I took her to my mom's and she took her to our vet for me while I was at work and school. Turns out, Macy is abnormal and has something weird goin on with her spine. In the end, she had to get doggie accupuncture and she's all better now.

OK, sorry about the detail. I know no one cares about Macy girl like I do, but keep in mind she is my dauger.

Now for the fun stuff. I WENT ON SPRING BREAK TO PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL AND HAD SO MUCH FUN! I went with my friend Katy Saunders, her friend from VA, my roomates and our friends. Katy and I drove down with Glenda, the GPS. It was an awesome trip. We had sooo much fun driving, stopping in local businesses and searching for locally brewed beers for Katy's bottle cap map. We also had a little troubs in PCB. The booking agency we used, which I will not name, did not reserve our rooms with the hotel. So, when we arrived, we were told we had no place to stay. After several hours of being jostled around, they found us a place to stay, but we had to split up into two rooms. I'd say we went from Hilton-esque to Super 8. The girls we were with complained a lot about it, but Katy, Alex (her friend) and I just laughed it off and headed to Coyote Ugly. Our hotel ended up being awesome for SB. Everyone there was so much fun, and we had free beer from 12-2 and a liquor store in the lobby. While I was there, I couldn't help but watch the way people were drinking. I was inherently doing ethnographic research for campaigns... It has fully consumed me! Well, I have lots of other funny things to say about the trip, but no one seems to think they're quite as funny as those of us that were on the trip. Oh, I will say I can cross being buried in the sand off my Bucket List.

On to the next thing... CAMPAIGNS! Well, my team is phenomenal to say the least. Pink Team fo' life, baby! We all work so well together, I couldn't ask for a better team. I'd say we are really fortunate seeing as how we didn't all know each other coming into the class. Everyone is a team player and a hard worker. We've been busting our tails trying to avoid the week full of all-nighters that seems to be inevitable. We present on 5/5 so it's quickly coming to an end. I'm sure my next post will be all about campaigns, seeing as that's what my life's all about these days, so I'll leave this here.

HR. Well I spoke with HR at VZW and didn't get good news. I basically heard that it would be possible to get into Marketing there, but it would take a few more years at my current location. I have decided that is not the route I want to take, so I have been exploring other career options. I have an interview with SPM Communications in Dallas, TX, for a 3-6 month internship on Friday. I am really excited about it. I've read about them before, but I am reading more and more about the company and I really like what they do. I mean, they do PR for food. I'm perfect, right? My family and close friends know the answer to that question.

OK, I am going to hit the sack. Long day tomorrow. I'll post more often, I promise.

Doin' Big Things

If there is anyone that makes me more excited about who I am, it's Diane O'Byrne. She is my professional presentation skills professor, and every time I talk to her, she makes me feel so much better about my job search. She reminds me that I do have real-world experience, which can be far more relevant than internships, and that I am basically a highly-desirable employee for any company. WOO HOO! Someone else thinks I am as awesome as I do. Just kidding, sort of. Such s relief.

I just gave a 10 minute presentation about... ME! It was basically a brief history of Val Gunn. I used Keynote (basically PPT for Macs) for the first time, and I liked it a lot! Diane mentioned to me a few opportunities she thinks I would be good for, and I am going to get more info from her. She also asked me to introduce our guest speaker for next week's class because she will not be there. She said she really wants me to meet him because he is a great contact. She warned me that he will probably try to hire me. HELLO?! Please do! I'll keep you posted.

Let me tell you about Campaigns. PINK TEAM FO' LIFE, BABY! I really like my team. We work so well together, and I am soooooo grateful for that. We have just been generating more and more ideas and building off of each others' ideas. I am so excited. Like you said Drea, it really is kind of an internship in and of itself. I feel like I am really getting prepared for real work, which I love. Today we are meeting with Kerry Benson! And for those of you that know her, exciting, right?! BTW, she follows me on Twitter. How bomb is that? BOMB!

Okay, I have to do some message delivery research. Adios Amigos.

Graduation... Good? Yes? No? IDK!

Kyle Hoedl just spoke to my Professional Presentation Skills class on ow to use social media to market yourself to potential employers. While he provided some great information, he stressed me out! I know that internships are great, and I know that they provide real world experience, which is what employers are looking for. I get it. But what about those of us that have actually worked to put ourselves through school? I haven't had an internship, but I do have 3 years of hard work in the real world. Where does that put me in the job search? It is so disheartening to hear that not only do you have to have an internship to get a job, but now you have to have an internship to get an internship! How do you start any more? Well I'm starting by working hard in school and at my job. I am applying for several Marketing positions within Verizon so wish me luck! They are both great opportunities. I am qualified for both, and I know the industry well. I'm looking forward to a response.

As for the rest of my day, I have another campaigns meeting. I filled in for Bre today and met with the Planning Directors today to compile research into our Fact Books. That was fun to see what the other functional groups are doing. We have a lot of research. I am excited about our final product. Tonight I am meeting with the Pink Team for the first time. We're meeting at my place so I have to run and get some juice/pop/cookies so I can be a good hostess. I am excited to start working as a team.

This semester is lots of work but so much fun at the same time. I know I am getting prepared for the real world, and that's why I am enjoying it! I also encourage everyone to get a Twitter. I love social media.