The Russian Man at the Chinese Buffet

On Easter Sunday Janette and I decided to have dinner at a Chinese buffet by my house. This was primarily because it was the only place still open. I am not a fan of the "buffet concept" but this place was really good. In fact, it was so good I might actually go back.

Well as we were nearing the end of our meal a Russian man came into the restaurant and attempted to pick Janette up! It was crazy...I mean, he was crazy. He came up to her and told her he drove a taxi full time and now owns 3 of his own taxis. When he is not driving his taxi he teaches SEVERAL martial arts. He named about 4 of them the only one of which I can spell is karate. Then he told us that he recently signed a contract to produce a nationwide television show and he thinks Janette's face would be perfect for it! I want to know how many girls might actually believe him. I laughed at him when he said it. I tried to be polite but he wasn't so I did not mind. Then he proceeded to say that he was not going to ask Janette if she had a boyfriend because all girls he talks to end up having boyfriends (you think??)

We left and dyed easter eggs.

Basketball and Karaoke

I decided to go out to sing last night. It's not unusual for me to go singing on a Thursday night but my plans of meeting a bunch of friends at Champp's fell through because of the NCAA playoffs and Champp's, being a sports bar, would be CROWDED to say the least.

When I left work I had the idea that I would go to Excueses and then the Reef. With this in mind I took 40 Join the Band bracelets to sell as I got up to sing. I got home and was suddenly unmotivated to go out to Excueses because I found out that the U of I game was going on in my neighborhood (the Allstate Arena). I knew traffic would be BAD and did not know if I wanted to fight it and I did have a lot of preparing to do for when Jannette arrives tonight. Like a good girl, I went ahead and started cleaning and ended up getting a lot accomplished by 8:00 and decided to get ready and go out to Excueses so that I could, in fact, sell some bracelets and then I could head to the Reef and sell the rest.

When I got to Excueses I found out there would be no karaoke that night so that everyone could watch basketball. So, I got in my car and went to the Reef earlier than anticipated. When I got there I was the only person I knew (except for Mikey the KJ). That is unusual because I know everyone. Okay. I recognized the owners but I never actually talked to them. Oh, and I knew Cathy the bartender and Shue, the weekend bartender who hangs out there during the week.

I sang one song and then my friend Nikki came in and sat with me. Then more people I knew started to come in. I ended up having a GREAT time. I was also in the mood to sing ballady type songs that had a lot of vocal dynamics so I sang "If My Heart Had Wings" and "Cry" by Faith Hill and "It's all Coming Back to Me Now" by Celine Dion. Then my friend Matt (I like to call him English Matt) asked me to sing "Like a Prayer" so I ended the night with that one.

Well, at one point a girl sitting at the table in front of me found a random $20 bill on the floor. Everyone checked their wallets and it did not belong to any of us (can you believe everyone was so honest?) so I said, "Well, since you just found that $20 you could buy a bracelet from me to support Cancer Research". She ended up buying 5 and others at her table bought some too. I then started going around to everyone I knew and told them about my bracelets and they all bought some. When it was my turn to sing I got up and sang "Cry" and when I finished I waited for applause to die down and said, "Okay. Now that I have your attention I want to tell you about my bracelets." I told them about them and how they fund cancer research then told them to come see me if they would like to buy one. A ton of people ended up coming back to me to buy them. Even more came back just to give me a couple dollars and did not take bracelets. One man handed me $4 and I tried to hand him 4 bracelets and he looked at me and said "No. I have cancer" then I noticed the hole in his throat. I made him take one. I then walked accross the bar to give some bracelets to some guys who were calling me over. I was so overwhelmed by the man I had just seen that I was shaking as I handed the wrist bands over and exchanged money.

By the next time I sang I had only 3 bracelets left so when I finished I made the anouncement that only three remained and reminded them that 99% goes directly to cancer research. As I walked back Lois stopped me and said she would take all three because she lost her dad to cancer. I went to grab the three and three others told me they wanted them but I had to tell them they were sold but that I would bring more tomorrow.

I came to work this morning and everyone was shocked that I sold all 40 wrist bands and came in with $49 in just one night. I am going to take 100 this weekend.

Join the Band

One of my favorite things about the organization for which I work is that 99% of all donations go DIRECTLY to cancer research! And, one of the ways we are raising money is by selling RED wrist bands that are similar to the yellow Live Strong Lance Armstrong bracelets. Now I do not want to say anything bad about the Live Strong campaign because they are doing a great job and have raised TONS of money for cancer but our bracelets also sell for $1 each but the difference is all but ONE PENNY goes directly to cancer research.

I would love to sell these bracelets to you because I know that all of us have been affected by cancer in one way or another and would like to see this terrible disease eliminated. If you want more information please visit our web site www.ctrf.org or just email me.

High School Friends

This weekend I got a call from a friend I went to school with in 9th and 10th grade. We lost touch for a while but caught up with eachother at our friend Emily's wedding 2 years ago(Jannette was a Bride's Maid and I sang and read). Well, Jannette (who still lives in Philadelphia) called me to say that she has a weeks vacation that she has to use up by the end of the month and decided she would like to visit me and Chicago and then swing by Emily (and Matt's) who live in Indianapolis.

Needless to say, I was very excited and told her that of course she could stay with me. It was perfect timing too because my roommate will be house sitting during the time Jannette wants to stay. I am excited for so many different reasons. First of all, Emily and I have been telling Jannette that Chicago is the perfect place she should move. I can now take her to the neighborhood that I KNOW will be perfect for her. We are also going to go to the aquarium and any other museum we can fit in. I have only been to one museum here so I am thrilled to have someone who actually told me that she intended to see museums and when I asked her about visiting the aquarium she told me that is her favorite thing to visit and goes to them any where she goes as the priority stop. I am DYING to go to the aquarium. I also intend to take her to Lou Malnotti's for the BEST deep dish pizza in Chicago. Jon (remember him) actually delivers pizza for one of their suburban locations. We won't be going there. But he wouldn't be there if we did because he just works 4 days a week during the day Monday-Friday not that that matters.

I talked to Jannette last night to give her directions and to find out when I should expect her. She will arrive on Friday night somewhere between 8 and 9. I think I will take her to Thornwood and then The Sponge Reef because she likes to sing karaoke too.

Revelation

I met Paul for dinner on Wednesday night. I was not really sure about it but we ended up having a very good time. He ended up taking me to Maggiano's because his first choice was very crowded (hour and 45 min wait). That was fine with me because Italian is my favorite anyway and Maggiano's is about the best in Chicago.

Anyway, I came to the conclussion that I do like him but I am not going to pursue anything seriously with him because he seems to be too busy for a serious relationship. I wanted to discuss it with him but it never came up and I just decided that it probably was not that important right now. He is obviously interested because he kept suggesting other things we could do in the future.

The point is, I decided that I like the guy but I am not going to worry about where I stand because we are not in am exclussive relationship.

It's been a while

So, I am working at Cancer Treatment Centers. I am in the fundraising/non-profit side called Cancer Treatment Research Foundation. I really like it. The ladies in the office are great! And they actually like eachother...that's uncommon in an office of women.

I was sick all weekend so I did not get to go out. Carol was a little mad at me because I did not want to go to check out a new place on Saturday but I just did not feel well. If I went to Excueses I could at least get home easier. But, I decided it was best for me to stay in. I'm glad I made that decision.

I am going out with Paul tonight. I'll be meeting him for dinner when I get off of work. I wish I could say I am excited about it but I just don't know. I think that tells me right there that he's not for me. I want to be excited about seeing someone not confused. I like him but I am just not sure because I never see him. I have not seen him in about a month because he's been out of town. He tells me that his schedule should be letting up soon but I'll believe it when I see it.

More Job Updates

Okay, I had two very very good interviews yesterday.

The Cancer Treatment Research Foundation wants me to start right away. I told them I am going ot have to think about it and will give them an answer at 4:00 today. The real reason for that is because I am waiting for a response from CitiBank because I know they can pay me more. I did not mention that reason when I said I needed to consider it. They will pay me the same as I got at the Board so I won't be starving, which is good.

On another note, I am doing a secret shopper thing at a nursing home in my area. I called the place twice to schedule something but the woman did not call me back until today. She told me I could not come in until tomorrow at noon so I planned that with her and as we hung up she said, "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow at 11" to which I responded "11???" and she said "Yes. 11. Goodbye." Let's just say they are so far not getting a good respose from me.

Paul is back from LA (that is where he was last). He says he won't be traveling for a while and wants to get together again. I'm still not sure but it must be a good sign if he is still making an effort to see me.

That's all I have for you for now.

Job Interviews

I have two promising interviews on Monday. One is in the legal department at Citibank (that's for Diner's Club and MasterCard) and the otehr is in the Grants department for Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

We'll see how they go.

Work Update

The interview with the insurance broker went well. Very well actually. He said he'll get back to me in a couple of weeks because 1) he was not expecting to interview anyone and he just didn't want to let me go without talking with me 2) he needs to talk to his partner and 3) The current person is leaving in 2 weeks.

In the meantime I have been very busy on Monster and interviewing at as many places as possible. I now have my name in with 4 staffing agencies! They are the best way to get a job...they seriously are. Then, since I worked in the whole "workforce" market I have a LOT of people helping me out from a couple agencies (not employment agencies they are agencies that network with employers and help match them with the right people... kind of like Monster).

I went to the unemployment office today and filed there and then got to visit all of the people that used to "work" for me over there. Most of them were surprised to see me because they didn't know I got laid off...some did. I really only told the Evanston office that I was getting laid off but that is because I saw them more often. Only a few in Arlington Heights knew my position was eliminated. It's kind of weird being on the opposite end and receiving services rather than overseeing them but it was good because they all know how hard it is to work for the board and encouraged me by telling me that since they worked with me they know they can help me find something new.

It was kind of fun seeing everyone today.

My Strange Weekend

Okay, here it goes....

This weekend I started Friday out by going to Thornwood. I even went by myself but ended up having a FABULOUS time. It was great. The regulars are such great singers and they are so entertaining! I learned that I do not give off enough confidence when I sing and that I need to work on it. I ended up staying there until 1:30! I've never been there that late. Well, I was really tired and drank AT LEAST 8 cups of coffee. I was going to go home afterward but thought that I had not seen Jenna in a while and ended up at the Reef.

I got to the Reef to find Johnny there. I was so not expecting to see him but it turned out fine. (He was there alone in case you are wondering). I ended up having a really in depth conversation about the existence of heaven and hell and the afterlife and the rapture. He really is an intelligent guy. One thing he had trouble understanding was the whole concept of faith and how I can believe without seeing. It was a really good conversation. Well, he ended coming back to my house and we watched "The Kids in the Hall". That was probably not my wisest decision because we ended up kissing but we stopped and talked things out. I told him that I heard he was dating someone and he told me he is but not exclusively and he asked if I was seeing anyone so I told him the same thing but then we both decided that we cannot be alone together any more if we want to remain just friends. Then we ended up talking all night and he went home at 6:30 or 7 that morning. Strange. Not at all what I anticipated...but then again, I can be a bit naive.

So, Saturday night I went to Carol's work party. It was actually a LOT of fun. We were just going to make an appearance but ended up staying for HOURS. Then we went and picked Amy up at Excueses and went to Famous Freddy's to see a cover band with my new friends from Thornwood. After Famous Freddy's the three of us ended up at The Sponge Reef. I'm not really into Foreigner cover bands but I really enjoyed myself because I saw Carol having such a great time.

Then on Sunday I actually went to Carol's house and joined her, Kate, Amy and another friend, Karen, in watching the Academy Awards. I've never watched before and never really expected to ever watch but I did and it was not as bad as I expected.

In all it was a good weekend.