Friday, November 21, 2008

the big apple and other business

you may have noticed that i took down part of a post where i was talking about apple training. apparently everything mentioned in training or about the training falls under the confidentiality clause. to sum up the confidentiality clause, if it can’t find it on apple.com then employees cannot talk about it.

what i can say for sure is that apple is committed to its retail motto of “shop different.” i am excited to work in an environment where the customer is the priority. my first shift is this sunday. my fourth shift is black friday. this freaks me out quite a bit. this store, one of six flagship stores in the world, is already bustling on a day-to-day basis. on release days, the store is packed and lines are around the block. so i am interested to see if anything will roll out for holiday and what black friday will be like.

it’s nice to be in the working world again. freelance has come to a standstill but not because i’m working. the new client has a few week delay. i am supposed to have a conversation with a scgh staff member on saturday about a new project. i hope it starts immediately.

something i have not written about is my involvement with the chicago alternative policing strategy (caps). i got involved after i went on a ride about a month ago. the ride was supposed to go around a couple of beats on the north side of the 23rd precinct. it got rained out and we went for coffee instead. i have since plugged into my police beat. i went to the beat meeting last month and was very frustrated with the all-whine-no-action mentality of the residents. i am taking on a more active role in my beat. i’ve met with several officers and our beat facilitator. i designed a meeting flyer this morning and the beat facilitator and i are going to put them up on saturday. we also planned a few activities for the meeting. hopefully some people will show up. one of our activities is doing a walk through of the chicago police department’s recent upgrade to clearpath. it is a way to be involved with caps online. the revamping of the site was funded by the macarthur foundation. it is the only time the foundation has directly funded a police program. i am intrigued with how the public sector utilizes technology. it’s 2008, we should be able to fight crime online, right?

other than that i am just resting for the busy work week coming up and trying to figure out what i’m gonna cook for t-day. so far the menu only includes pie. 

Posted by tyrant at 04:10:09 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Friday, November 14, 2008

it’s my sunday

i start work tomorrow! with four full work days ahead of me today is my sunday. i’ve got all of the typical tasks to do to prepare for the work week. i’ve got to knock out some laundry today, clean the house, and figure out lunches for the week. there is also a design project to finish today for scgh.

i have some bike chores to do too. now that i’ll be riding for a more serious purpose, a paycheck, and longer distances, i need to be prepared for the unexpected. i need to get liners for my wheels and a mini air pump. i scored some free tube patch kits (and rear blinkies) at the beat ride i went to awhile back.

i noticed my chain squeaking last time i rode so it’s time for a lube job. the cheapest tune up i’ve seen around town is $60. while it’s worth it to have a healthy, non-death-trap bike that price tag has encouraged me to explore the do-it-yourself side of my bike. i was at the new rei store on halstead a couple weeks ago and they have an extensive do-it-yourself bike section. this is amazing because 10 feet from this section is the rei bike shop ($80 for a tune up if you are a member). most bike shops do not have do-it-yourself equipment because they make a good portion of their money doing tune ups. so mad props to rei. it seems for the price of a tune up in this town you can buy all of the supplies you need to do a tune up yourself. the bike stand is likely a bit more.

i’ve also got to check my route to the apple training facility. it seems my first day of work will be accompanied by our first snow of the season. i’ll plan a bike route but also write down bus info for the route in case the ride get dicy. the snow is supposed to start tonight so that should give the trucks time to salt before i ride. i’ve heard a saying here that there are seven salt trucks per every snow flake that hits the ground. 

this brings me to yet another bike issue: the lakefront trail. this trail is typically the best north/south path for me to travel. especially now that it cool outside the trail is empty excepted for bikers and runners (no more pesky pedestrians). i’d like to keep using it but do not know what it is like during the winter. at my first group ride here in chicago someone gave me info on chainlink. this is the best bike thing to ever happen to me. the site is a great way to find out about rides, get advice, and meet people who are down with my way of life. just today i posted about the trail asking if anyone knows if the trail is well kept in the winter and how safe it is during snow/ice conditions. by the end of the day there will likely be 3 to 5 replies.
Posted by tyrant at 16:32:40 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

sooooo sleepy

i have been sleeping more than usual. between 8-12 hours a night since this weekend. i assume it’s my body and mind relaxing because now that i have some consistent income i know i have a chance to make it here. with few exceptions, i have not slept through the night in the three months i have been here. that is rare for me. i’m a sleeper. i’m one of those people who is usually asleep five minutes after their head hits the pillow.

i have been pretty lethargic during the day too. i’ve done some sierra club work this week but other than that nothing. no resumes. no house cleaning. i have decided to embrace it. since i start work on saturday i’m going to veg out while i can.
Posted by tyrant at 15:10:44 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

TXGR, Inc: Quarterly Report

since i’ve been here for three months and life’s about to get a lot busier, i thought i’d post a quarterly report. for all of you out there who just moved, i encourage you to do the same thing. it’s a great opportunity to pat yourself on the back, solidify the changes within you that have transpired pre/post move, and place focus on the future.

the good stuff:

  • every other time i have made a long distance move i have started my job right away. i usually move over the weekend and start work on monday. i have always wished i had time to explore my new town before starting work. needless to say three months in chicago with little work has left ample time to explore the city. i have been to beaches, museums, movie nights, bike rides, and community events on every side of this city. most people i meet are impressed with how much i know about the city and how well i know my way around.

  • my frugal sensibilities have been refreshed. i have never been big spender but it seems when i have a steady paycheck coming in i tend to not ask about discounts and just get what i want and regret the bill when it arrives. can you believe i did a 4 pub ride on $25…that included food and riding home 7 hours later with a decent buzz.

  • i love this fucking city. i was first in chicago in the early 90s with my mom. i fell in love with this city right away. it was nothing like the mirrored skyscraper cities i had grown up around in texas. i remember wondering what it would be like to live in chicago. it never occurred to me, until this summer, that i would ever live here. i don’t know why yet, but i know i am supposed to be here. i have not felt so passionate about a city since 1993. that was the year i moved to austin. 

  • this move will always be credited as the catalyst that got me designing again. i am happy and grateful to be working successfully as a designer. i hoping for tremendous growth of my design mind over the next year. i was flattered when i saw my new client has me down in her email list as first name: tyra and last name: chi-town designer.

  • i know who my friends are. i need to give a special shout out to ryan and skippy. these two have been my rocks in this transition. i am so grateful for their honest support and feedback of my endeavors. they have recently transplanted to alaska so they have a mess of their own troubles to deal without me in the picture. i think the three of us are pretty good at sharing life’s ups and downs. i also want to thank michael. i have already mentioned his efforts moving me here. he also served a respectable tenure as my cover letter editor/coach and has been great support. sarah f. moved a carload full of stuff that would not fit into the uhaul and has given me regular phone calls to check in on me. maria was a critical part of getting me to chicago. she let me crash in her teeny apartment several times before i moved here. sarah s. and stephanie: these ladies have been so supportive of my move. they knew me pre-bloomington so they can provide a wonderful insight to my life. to everyone on the list i hope i can give back as much as you have given. 

the unexpected:

  • i have been one of about 19 million unemployed americans. the unemployment rate is the highest it’s been in 14 years. i have been thinking i did not have what it takes to make it here…in any type of job. people who know me well know i tend to fault myself first. i feel like i have grown out of that behavior in the last few years (that was my primary lesson of my relationship with jeff). in the past three weeks it has dawned on me that while the chicago market is going to be tough, the market is super saturated with highly skilled people. to sum it up: i got game, the game just got too many players.

  • not having consistent employment has shaken me at my foundation. i have never, EVER had a problem getting a job (or two). i have had back to back jobs since 1991. because i have moved so many times, i was mentally prepared for every scenario (loneliness, low paying job, having to work several jobs, getting lost, etc.) except for being unable to get a job. so the one consistency in my life for the last 17 years was taken away. how did i act: like a chicken with my head cut off. to put this in perspective my foundation has been shaken more than when my mom died. her death was more emotionally overwhelming of course but there were clear steps to take to process and resolve my issues. at the end of the day my livelihood was not threatened. not having a job is a threat to my existence. the only resolution for joblessness is a mother flippin’ job. you can focus and become a resume/application machine but it is not fruitful until you get a call or email. in three months i’ve applied for about 200 jobs (full and part time), had about 7 interviews, and been offered one part-time job. so my search has provided fruit, it just isn’t ripe. but when life gives you unripe fruit you eat it. it will taste like shit but you can live off of it until you find something better.

Posted by tyrant at 03:12:47 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Friday, November 7, 2008

the job front

so not a word from apple this week. the levelheaded side of me says the background check may take a couple of days and checking references may take a couple of days so i should freak out next week. the person who has not been able to find full-time work in three months (four months if you consider i started sending out resumes before i moved) is freaking out and assuming if i can’t get a job with apple retail (already having apple experience under my belt) then i should just go jump off a cliff because there is no hope.

sierra club work is slow now that the vendor brochure is done but i did manage to pick up about 7 hours this week. the new client i have has a delay so i am not sure when i’ll be able to start on her two projects. the only upside is that i have been able to increase the number of resumes i’ve gotten out of the door this week. these include a training and development manger position at apple retail, a job i had ten years ago when i lived in ann arbor (the nonprofit is moving to chicago), a hord of freelance positions through creative circle, and a gaggle of administrative positions. this weekend i’ll make rounds on the university sites.

i will update my portfolio this weekend. there is a photo job that is focused on portraits and architecture that i want to apply for. there is also a broadcast editing position i want to apply for. i am going to add more photos to my site. the photos i have up now were posted in spring when i was trying for newspaper photo internships. you have to have people shots up for newspaper jobs. i don’t have any decent people shots so most of those will come down. i spent a few hours yesterday pouring through my photos and found some fresh items to put up. i am also hoping to add a video page to my site with a few of the videos and flash animations i’ve made.

i do not seem to be qualified enough to get a job in my areas of expertise. i am too qualified to get a job that is not in my field (i.e. i can’t get a dog walking job because they are afraid i will quit when i get “real” work). 

UPDATE: apple called while i was writing this post. i was just offered a part-time specialist job! i figured i would not be offered the genius position walking in off the street. once you work for a bit at the store you can apply for a program to become a genius. the hr manager seems to be really excited about me both as an employee and as a person. the two mikes that interviewed me had great things to say about me. with their feedback and my resume she said she sees a lot of potential for me. at the end of the call she and i talked a bit about our lives. she also used to work in the nonprofit sector and never really envisioned working in corporate america. she has a computer science background and never thought she’d end up as an hr manager but loves the apple kool-aid as much as the rest of us. she compared her professional career to the price is right game plinko…oh so true. i go in monday for paperwork and the training starts on the 15th.

so i’m not out of the woods financially yet but i’m on my way! the part-time and freelance will hopefully be able to get me through each month. woot woot! i am still going to keep applying for full-time jobs until i get on board full-time at apple.
Posted by tyrant at 19:48:27 | Permalink | Comments (2)

photo action

you may have noticed that the post is down about the people who owed me money for wedding photos. on sunday, i decided to up the ante an email them to let them know the posts were up (i cc’d the email to two of our mutual friends). i told them i thought i was being fucked over and ryan and i decided to take matters into our own hands. i informed them in the email i would take my post down if i was paid within seven days. if paid after that time i would only post a correction in a separate post. if i was never paid it would escalate with me purchasing a web address and build a website dedicated to the matter.

i received two phone calls within an hour of the email which i did not answer. the first voicemail informed me that my actions were not cool, lowdown, and asked me how could i do that. the second voicemail was to let me know that the timing was unfortunate because they had actually put a check in the mail on saturday.

i got the check in wednesday’s mail and deposited the same day. the check was dated for october 31st and the post mark was november 3rd. ryan has posted a correction and will take down his post when the check clears. i assume all the folks who have supported us by posting on their blogs will at least update their posts.

something weird that happened early on wednesday before the mail arrived. i received an email from a friend of theirs saying she was just asking for my number because she needs some photo work done here in chicago when she learn of the “debacle.” she made me an offer of 3-4 hours work at $150/hour. she needed 3 shots for her clients in various parts of chicago but before she proceeded she wanted to know if everything was resolved: 

I cannot imagine how it got to the point it did with them? Did you communicate your concern with them before posting your blog and having other non-involved parties post blogs as well?

so let’s be serious, i need money…i love to take pictures. the reason i was shaking the bushes to get this photo money is because i am running out of options here. but the email seems to good to be true so i am assuming that it is a set up. i have not replied. i assume if it’s a legitimate offer and needs help she’ll email again but i’m assuming i’ll never hear from her or any of that crew again.


hopefully the check clears so ryan and i can finally get the money we earned into our pockets and everyone can move on.


thanks to everyone for their support, i needed it!



Posted by tyrant at 18:42:49 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Sunday, November 2, 2008

three months and counting

i moved to chicago three months and one day ago. this weighs heavily on me because of my job situation but i am trying to take each day as it comes. 

life update in bulleted list form:

  • picked up a new design client. she works with sierra club green home. she had me create mock ups for shirts and blazers for the peterson auto museum in los angeles. she has just contacted me with two additional projects: hard and soft promo package for some condos in vegas and building a website for a designer. 

  • speaking of sierra club green home …the site is up! well, in beta form. the main things i did on the site are layout and photo editing for the articles under educate, home health, and co2 center. i designed the logo for scgh green check and the “we need advertisers” ads. also the vendor brochure i’ve been working on is at press right now and scheduled to arrive in 20,000 mailboxes with in the next 8 to 10 days! i hope they ask me to do the customer brochure.

  • apple retail contacted me twice last week. first to fill out the official apple application and then a background check form. so i assume this is good news but it could be just for part-time holiday sales employment.

  • decided to participate in the chicago critical mass on friday. i have heard tons of buzz about the halloween mass so i thought i’d check it out. it was a ton of fun. i heard an estimate that 2300 cyclists rode. people were in costume. every type of bike and age group was represented. the cops were pretty cool and directed traffic along the way. they only seemed to pull over people who were drinking and smoking weed. i assumed the ride would break up and most people wouldn’t make it the whole ride. the ride went from downtown (daley plaza) to about 5000 north/3000 west then back over to the lake and then finished about 1000 north. but there was a solid group during the whole route. i’d say it was about 10-15 miles.

  • last night i went to the day of the dead community night at the national mexican art museum. it was a great exhibit. i am grateful to be in a city with such a strong latino culture. it is a piece of texas that i have missed living in other cities. the museum is in southwest chicago in a neighborhood called pilsen. so i got to explore a new neighborhood. i’ve heard good things about pilsen and it definitely has a great vibe. it is probably the only non-lakeside neighborhood i’ve been to so far that i’d consider moving to. a lot of murals and graffiti. there is no graffiti or murals in my neighborhood. i guess boaters, gays, and cubs fans have other night time activities.

  • my brother wrote me back. he said he would likely not reply right away because he gives his wife priority on the computer because she is in school (she is going for her cpa). i learned he has three kids and she has three kids. and…he is a grandpa. a 14-month old granddaughter. did i mention my brother is 37? there is a whirlwind of thoughts in my head as i reconnect with my brother that i will write about later after i stew on them a bit and learn more about him. he is surprised that i want to talk to him. i replied to him with some basic chitchat and then a couple of questions like “why are you surprised i want to talk to you?” and “what memories of us as kids do you have?”  

 

Posted by tyrant at 17:23:54 | Permalink | Comments (1) »