I can't believe that i've been in chicago for 8 months already because it has flown by. If ya'll remember, my contract with the Field Museum is only for a year, so come the end of may (a short 4 months away), I'm done. When I accepted the job, I thought, yeah, a year...that's a good amount of time to be in chicago and a good length of time to have my first job. Well, like I said, it's absolutley FLOWN by and now I'm faced with a dilema that I'm not ready to face: Should I stay or should I go??
I've been thinking about this decision for a long time, I dream about it, I pray about it, and I definetely cry about it. Why does this job that I love more than I can express have to be so far from home?
I had a really good convo with a friend last night about growing up. She says there comes a point in your life when you realize that you're your own person, your own little life, and you can make decisions that are yours alone to make. Before you get to this point, all your decisions are affected by how your parents, siblings and others think you should live your life. It's a part of growing up that hopefully everyone is faced with at some point...if not, are we really growing up?
I think I'm facing that point in my life right now. I'm trying to decide where I should be right now, with a strong arguement for me to move home and a very strong arguement for me to stay in Chicago. My family has always been and will always be influential in my decision making process, but I need to make decisions that I can live with myself, and even though I LOVE my family more than anything, my decision may not be what they're hoping I decide.
That being said....I'm staying in Chicago. My boss is going to hire me as a permanent employee as soon as this exhibit is finished. I'm going to be in chicago until God tells me to re-think this decision. Isn't that awesome?! God is allowing me to make this decision for myself...and I know he'll be with me the whole time.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
you can't kill soul
Yeah, so, it turns out I didn't have time to think, (see previous post) as I'm just now getting a chance to update my blog. Work has been a whirlwind the past 2 weeks, but things just started to settle down today. I worked 121 hours in 2 weeks when I normally work 70. The amount of graphics my team has sent to the printer is staggering, i don't even know how many, but for sure more than 2,000. That's probably a very modest guess, but whatever.
Time for some serious R&R. I'm sleeping in tomorrow, babysitting tomorrow night and relaxing on Sunday afternoon. I hope to read an entire book this weekend.
I've been in a funk these past 2 weeks due to the stress at work, but I think i'm finally out of it. I began thinking creatively again on my commute to work today, rather than just blanking out for the hour and 15 minutes it takes me to get to work. I like thinking creatively, and i'm very excited to know that I still know how too....work hasn't completely exhausted my creative spirit. When i fully regain my creative story telling, i'll be sure to post something of some interest. but for now...time for bed!
Time for some serious R&R. I'm sleeping in tomorrow, babysitting tomorrow night and relaxing on Sunday afternoon. I hope to read an entire book this weekend.
I've been in a funk these past 2 weeks due to the stress at work, but I think i'm finally out of it. I began thinking creatively again on my commute to work today, rather than just blanking out for the hour and 15 minutes it takes me to get to work. I like thinking creatively, and i'm very excited to know that I still know how too....work hasn't completely exhausted my creative spirit. When i fully regain my creative story telling, i'll be sure to post something of some interest. but for now...time for bed!
Saturday, January 13, 2007
wide awake it's morning
I can't sleep. I've been up for over 2 hours now and it's only 8:30 on a Saturday morning! I have no where to be, no reason for being up this early...I just can't sleep and it sucks.
Well, I guess I do have somewhere to be today, I have to go into work, but not til 1 this afternoon. I know, what the heck am I doing going into work on a Saturday?? Let me just TRY to tell you how crazy busy things are at work:
• In a mere 12 days (including the weekends), we have to have ALL remaining graphics ready to be sent to the printer. This may mean nothing to you, but there are a lot of things that have to be taken care of by then. Whole components of the exhibit are in flux right now as we work to finalize sizes, colors, materials, images, copy, etc.
• Even though the exhibit doesn't open to the public until March 9, we have to have it finished by the 1st. Thats when the VIPs (the directors, board members, president, and the press) all get to walk through and do whatever it is they have to do...critique it, film it, write about it, I don't know. Whatever it is, we have to have the exhibit finished by then.
• Proofing/printing of graphics takes upwards of 3 weeks, installing the graphics into the exhibit takes an additional 2 weeks, which puts us right at March 1.
• Artifacts can't be installed in the cases until all graphics for that case are finished and installed. This puts a time crunch on the production crew who have to pull all nighters to get the cases installed and closed up.
• I've already worked 55 hours this week, not counting what I'll work today.
Needless to say, the next 7 weeks will be interesting, tiring, and stress filled as we wrap up the Ancient Americas. I'll try keep you posted if I have time to think...
Well, I guess I do have somewhere to be today, I have to go into work, but not til 1 this afternoon. I know, what the heck am I doing going into work on a Saturday?? Let me just TRY to tell you how crazy busy things are at work:
• In a mere 12 days (including the weekends), we have to have ALL remaining graphics ready to be sent to the printer. This may mean nothing to you, but there are a lot of things that have to be taken care of by then. Whole components of the exhibit are in flux right now as we work to finalize sizes, colors, materials, images, copy, etc.
• Even though the exhibit doesn't open to the public until March 9, we have to have it finished by the 1st. Thats when the VIPs (the directors, board members, president, and the press) all get to walk through and do whatever it is they have to do...critique it, film it, write about it, I don't know. Whatever it is, we have to have the exhibit finished by then.
• Proofing/printing of graphics takes upwards of 3 weeks, installing the graphics into the exhibit takes an additional 2 weeks, which puts us right at March 1.
• Artifacts can't be installed in the cases until all graphics for that case are finished and installed. This puts a time crunch on the production crew who have to pull all nighters to get the cases installed and closed up.
• I've already worked 55 hours this week, not counting what I'll work today.
Needless to say, the next 7 weeks will be interesting, tiring, and stress filled as we wrap up the Ancient Americas. I'll try keep you posted if I have time to think...
Sunday, January 7, 2007
The year of james bond...007
Good things are in store for 2007 if New Year's eve was any indication. I went out with Jen and Becky to ring in the new year at a favorite bar of ours. here are a few pics.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
all these places feel like home
So, I'm back in Chicago, have been for exactly 24 hours now. It felt weird leaving iowa, it felt weird coming back, and it still feels a bit weird being back.
It was good to be home and see everyone again. I realized how much I miss people, and coming back to Chicago wasn't easy. I think the hardest part of leaving was not knowing when I'll be back. Every other time that I've left, I've known specifically when I'd be visiting again, but not this time. That made this trip seem more final.
I was in a grouchy mood when my flight took off from Omaha at 7:20pm Wednesday night. I spent most of the flight reading and day dreaming about things I don't remember, reading some more, reminiscing in my mind about the weekend, feeling homesick and daydreaming some more.
Then we got in-range of Chicago.
The street lights lined the earth in a grid-like pattern, with the occasional diagonal street slicing through the squares. As we got closer to the ground, I began noticing Christmas lights on the houses in suburbia. This made me smile. I love the patterns and shapes streets, houses, trees, lawns, and railroad tracks make that you can only see from a plane. I feel privileged, like I have a single use ticket to an ever-changing art gallery, the earth the canvas. So I plaster my face to the window (if I'm lucky enough to get a window seat) so as not to miss a second of the show or a square inch of the view. Especially at night. Night shows are the best. And then the plane turned and out on the horizon i could see downtown, the tall structures amongst the glowing grid like monolithic boulders. It was a spectacular sight, and I was again excited to be back in the city.
have you ever woken up in the morning, and before you can fully wake up, everything starts running through your mind? Events from the day or week before, big decisions you've made or big purchases you've made come flooding into your mind and you're not quite awake enough to logically think about such things? I have this frequently. This morning it happened again. I think because of the whole 'leaving home again' situation. I woke up this morning and felt overwhelmingly trapped. It was a strange feeling. I don't have a car here and I don't know when I'll be flying home again. I felt helpless, and suffocated. And now I'm mad at myself for thinking that because I really do love it here. But if that's true and I really DO love it here why would I have those thoughts? Is my subconsciousness trying to tell me something? Is God trying to tell me something? Why do I feel trapped and suffocated here when I have more opportunity than I could imagine??
the airplane was a good place to be. I was up away from everything, but could still see everything. The biggest decision I had to make was choosing a soda and did I want peanuts or pretzels? For that hour and twenty minutes I hung between the two worlds that is my life. Behind me, home and my past. Ahead of me, my future.
It was good to be home and see everyone again. I realized how much I miss people, and coming back to Chicago wasn't easy. I think the hardest part of leaving was not knowing when I'll be back. Every other time that I've left, I've known specifically when I'd be visiting again, but not this time. That made this trip seem more final.
I was in a grouchy mood when my flight took off from Omaha at 7:20pm Wednesday night. I spent most of the flight reading and day dreaming about things I don't remember, reading some more, reminiscing in my mind about the weekend, feeling homesick and daydreaming some more.
Then we got in-range of Chicago.
The street lights lined the earth in a grid-like pattern, with the occasional diagonal street slicing through the squares. As we got closer to the ground, I began noticing Christmas lights on the houses in suburbia. This made me smile. I love the patterns and shapes streets, houses, trees, lawns, and railroad tracks make that you can only see from a plane. I feel privileged, like I have a single use ticket to an ever-changing art gallery, the earth the canvas. So I plaster my face to the window (if I'm lucky enough to get a window seat) so as not to miss a second of the show or a square inch of the view. Especially at night. Night shows are the best. And then the plane turned and out on the horizon i could see downtown, the tall structures amongst the glowing grid like monolithic boulders. It was a spectacular sight, and I was again excited to be back in the city.
have you ever woken up in the morning, and before you can fully wake up, everything starts running through your mind? Events from the day or week before, big decisions you've made or big purchases you've made come flooding into your mind and you're not quite awake enough to logically think about such things? I have this frequently. This morning it happened again. I think because of the whole 'leaving home again' situation. I woke up this morning and felt overwhelmingly trapped. It was a strange feeling. I don't have a car here and I don't know when I'll be flying home again. I felt helpless, and suffocated. And now I'm mad at myself for thinking that because I really do love it here. But if that's true and I really DO love it here why would I have those thoughts? Is my subconsciousness trying to tell me something? Is God trying to tell me something? Why do I feel trapped and suffocated here when I have more opportunity than I could imagine??
the airplane was a good place to be. I was up away from everything, but could still see everything. The biggest decision I had to make was choosing a soda and did I want peanuts or pretzels? For that hour and twenty minutes I hung between the two worlds that is my life. Behind me, home and my past. Ahead of me, my future.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
a few things
I'm going home tomorrow night! yea! I should be packing right now since I haven't yet started. ah well, it'll get done.
Tara W, my college roomate is engaged!! She's getting married in July in Washington, and I'm a bridesmaid :) I'm excited for it, plus cuz I'll get to visit my other friend, Rachel who lives in Seattle at the same time. very good news.
Threadless is opening a brick and mortar store right down the street. I'm excited about this as well.
I saw Massive Change at the MCA tonight. It was very interesting, but very information-heavy. I think I'll go back to absorb some more knowledge after i get back from my christmas break. It was very interesting though, so if you're in the area before the 31st, I'd recommend you check it out.
I rode Santa's Christmas train on the way home tonight. haha. the whole thing was decked out with christmas lights and tinsel, and santa's sleigh even took the place of one of the train cars, AND he was in it! that means he was riding the train, OUTSIDE of the train....in the tunnel. Crazy. The elves on the train gave me a candy cane.
So much excitement...I can barely contain myself.
Tara W, my college roomate is engaged!! She's getting married in July in Washington, and I'm a bridesmaid :) I'm excited for it, plus cuz I'll get to visit my other friend, Rachel who lives in Seattle at the same time. very good news.
Threadless is opening a brick and mortar store right down the street. I'm excited about this as well.
I saw Massive Change at the MCA tonight. It was very interesting, but very information-heavy. I think I'll go back to absorb some more knowledge after i get back from my christmas break. It was very interesting though, so if you're in the area before the 31st, I'd recommend you check it out.
I rode Santa's Christmas train on the way home tonight. haha. the whole thing was decked out with christmas lights and tinsel, and santa's sleigh even took the place of one of the train cars, AND he was in it! that means he was riding the train, OUTSIDE of the train....in the tunnel. Crazy. The elves on the train gave me a candy cane.
So much excitement...I can barely contain myself.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
whoop whoop, who needs an update?
So, a couple updates about the past week. Ahem.
Wednesday: Field Museum Christmas party following an announcement to beat all announcements: Christmas bonuses for all full time employees (myself included) to the amount almost equivelent to my monthly rent. That's something to celebrate considering extra cash is always welcome as far as I'm concerned and the last time FM employees got a cash bonus was over 10 years ago.
Friday: Exhibit designers christmas party at a tapas restaurant. Plenty of laughs and sangria, not to mention some memorable gag-gift exchanges. I actually ended up with a fantastic book that I've been meaning to buy.
That's Thomas on the left, david in the middle and my boss on the right. They're arguing about the rules of our gift exchange game. Hot item: movie tickets and a $20 bill.
Saturday: Volunteering at a children's holiday party for members of the Chicago Athletic Association. I was supposed to be the face painter, but the face paints and the face paint director never arrived. So instead I helped kids make ornaments. It was a fun but very interesting way to spend a Saturday morning and afternoon. It was completely different than I was expecting because it was completely up-scale. Even though it was a carnival with messy crafts and arcade games (including a money booth with real money!) the kids were dressed in their sunday-best, their parents were in suits and dresses and sipping bloody marys and mimosas. There was a huge buffet lunch with salmon and crab cakes, eggs benedict and spinach and cheese stuffed tortellini, not to mention the array of desserts. Gave me a brief glimpse of the way the other half lives and I'm sure glad I didn't grow up with all that.
Wednesday: Field Museum Christmas party following an announcement to beat all announcements: Christmas bonuses for all full time employees (myself included) to the amount almost equivelent to my monthly rent. That's something to celebrate considering extra cash is always welcome as far as I'm concerned and the last time FM employees got a cash bonus was over 10 years ago.
Friday: Exhibit designers christmas party at a tapas restaurant. Plenty of laughs and sangria, not to mention some memorable gag-gift exchanges. I actually ended up with a fantastic book that I've been meaning to buy.
That's Thomas on the left, david in the middle and my boss on the right. They're arguing about the rules of our gift exchange game. Hot item: movie tickets and a $20 bill.
Saturday: Volunteering at a children's holiday party for members of the Chicago Athletic Association. I was supposed to be the face painter, but the face paints and the face paint director never arrived. So instead I helped kids make ornaments. It was a fun but very interesting way to spend a Saturday morning and afternoon. It was completely different than I was expecting because it was completely up-scale. Even though it was a carnival with messy crafts and arcade games (including a money booth with real money!) the kids were dressed in their sunday-best, their parents were in suits and dresses and sipping bloody marys and mimosas. There was a huge buffet lunch with salmon and crab cakes, eggs benedict and spinach and cheese stuffed tortellini, not to mention the array of desserts. Gave me a brief glimpse of the way the other half lives and I'm sure glad I didn't grow up with all that.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
things i want to do before I die
I decided to make a list of things I want to do before I die...not that I'm chronically ill or anything, it's just a way to give myself some concrete, written goals, things to aim for. So, here it goes, in no particular order:
• Travel...to many places: stonehenge, Chichen Itza (again), New Zealand, the Andes Mountains, St. Peter's Basilica, Taj Mahal, London, the colesseum, caves of lascaux, Venice, palace of versailles....the list goes on! (i better get moving)
• Sky Dive or bungee jump (or both)
• snorkel
• run a marathon or half marathon
• get married
• start my own business
• have kids
• go to grad school
• teach (in some fashion...design, art history, sunday school even!)
• pay off school loans
• buy a house
• be the sole designer of an exhibit at the field
• get my christmas shopping done on time
• inspire kids (and adults) to love art
• buy a boat
• learn how to tango, salsa, swing dance, ballroom dance...anything
list to be continued as I dream up more dreams...
• Travel...to many places: stonehenge, Chichen Itza (again), New Zealand, the Andes Mountains, St. Peter's Basilica, Taj Mahal, London, the colesseum, caves of lascaux, Venice, palace of versailles....the list goes on! (i better get moving)
• Sky Dive or bungee jump (or both)
• snorkel
• run a marathon or half marathon
• get married
• start my own business
• have kids
• go to grad school
• teach (in some fashion...design, art history, sunday school even!)
• pay off school loans
• buy a house
• be the sole designer of an exhibit at the field
• get my christmas shopping done on time
• inspire kids (and adults) to love art
• buy a boat
• learn how to tango, salsa, swing dance, ballroom dance...anything
list to be continued as I dream up more dreams...
Monday, December 11, 2006
i heard a man preaching on the bus
How should one respond to this? Yesterday on my way to church of all places, the man sitting behind me on the bus started preaching. Well, I don't know if it can be called preaching, though he did quote Revelations and Ezekiel several times. But mostly he kept saying, "my name is Wesley Curry, George Bush saw the vision." He never explained this statement and I was too afraid to question it.
In other news, my supervisor turned down my request for an extended Christmas vacation. I had asked to take off work through New Years Day, but aparently it's not going to happen. I'm kinda bummed about it, but I still get to be home for almost a week!
In even OTHER news, I got a brand new computer at work! It's pretty flashy and suped up with so much ram and memory it could quite possibly fly to the moon. A much needed improvement from the little Mac mini I was working on. Anything you can put in your pocket should not be used for the kind of designing I was doing.
In other news, my supervisor turned down my request for an extended Christmas vacation. I had asked to take off work through New Years Day, but aparently it's not going to happen. I'm kinda bummed about it, but I still get to be home for almost a week!
In even OTHER news, I got a brand new computer at work! It's pretty flashy and suped up with so much ram and memory it could quite possibly fly to the moon. A much needed improvement from the little Mac mini I was working on. Anything you can put in your pocket should not be used for the kind of designing I was doing.
Sunday, December 3, 2006
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)