Remember the good old days of dial-up America Online? Using the only phone line in the house to go into a Hanson chatroom and discuss whether Taylor’s favorite color was blue or red (answer: red)? Sending an email to your crush in the 8th grade confessing your undying love for him, telling him he looks like Leo in Romeo and Juliette? Realizing you’re about to make a complete fool of your 7th-grade self and quickly hitting the “unsend” button?

I am officially in the limbo stage of trying to find a new job for my new life in Chicago (or rather old life that I’m trying to resurrect). I am in the Waiting Room – that little room that companies put you in after you interview and they are “thinking things over”. It is pure torture.

I might pull out my hair from the sheer stress of waiting.

As you might be able to tell, I am finally back in New York after my four day trip back to Chicago for my interviews (yes, plural!). The first interview took place on Thursday afternoon and it was in the ‘burbs. Which I discovered wouldn’t be that rough to commute to everyday even though I had at one point last week referred to it as “reverse commute hell“. The traffic getting out of the city wasn’t too horrible. It was actually a breeze and I arrived an hour an a half early for my allotted time to interview. Whoops. Luckily for me this little ‘burb had just built a new strip mall with all the stores a girl like me can entertain herself with (Ann Taylor, White House Black Market, Victoria’s Secret). Ah, how I love Illinois and its large expanses of prairie that allow for large outdoor strip malls.

I think the interview went well. I hope. I pray. Fingers crossed that it went well. I say this because I feel like I was somewhat ambushed. Meaning when I arrived for my interview I was informed that I would be meeting with not just one friendly interviewer, I would need to meet with 5. It was a sort of round robin. All the interviewees came that day and we all got juggled between the 5 interviewers. It was intimidating and also weird that I had to see my competition. Not that I will ever know, but I’m pretty sure Nate will not get the job. He was a sweaty mess of nerves. Sorry kid, maybe next time.

There are some things I said that I wanted to pat myself on the back for, and there were some things I said that I instantly wished I could take back. I do this after every interview I’ve ever had though. Scrutinize my every move until it makes me sick with worry. Which is what I’ve been doing ever since I left that office 3 hours after I arrived (a very intense 3 hours). That kid Nate has nothing on my nerves now. I am a wreck.

Luckily, my second interview went very well. It was with a staffing agency so I was obviously less nervous. The girl I met with said she was going to recommend me to her supervisor who would then present my resume to the medical journal that is looking to hire a temporary editorial assistant. My gig would be a temp-to-hire one, which means if they so chose to the company I was working for could hire me full time after my three months were up. Unfortunately, this means I would be getting paid hourly. But on the other hand, if I didn’t like it I wouldn’t feel obligated to stay after those three months were up.

I also had the opportunity to meet with our family friend who also lives and works in the ‘burbs for a small local magazine. She gave me some tips. I got to see her kids (who are as adorable as Suri Cruise). And she bought me some delicious cookies. Yum in my tum.

All in all, it was a very productive two days. I got a lot done. I met with a lot of people. And now I’m just stuck in the Waiting Room. Waiting, waiting, and waiting for some answers.

• One of WG1 and mine’s go-to sites for the job search is Ed2010. If you’re looking for a job in the world of publishing or magazines, this is the place to hit up. Each semester Ed gives an unpaid intern working at a magazine in NYC the opportunity to win a cash prize of $1,000. Because Ed knows how ridiculously expensive NYC is. For rules and an application, click here. Fyi, deadline is September 30, 2008. So get a typing!



• It is officially official. Our favorite character on The Hills (which we are SO over btw), Whitney Port, is getting a spin-off. MTV will follow around the tall blonde while she works for Diane von Furstenburg and lives in the Big Apple. Look for the show to premiere in early 2009. This news is magic to my “I have fallen out of love with The Hills” ears.



• I am the first person to admit that I don’t know how to walk in high heels. My feet cramp, bleed, get blisters. I whine. So I wear flats. But I might just bust out the $19.95 for the workout DVD LegWork. It promises to increase your sexiness and confidence, not to mention decreasing your pain while wearing five inch stilettos. I’ll take one. Kthanksbye. 

• I stumbled upon a website a few weeks ago that I just had to share with the class. Damsels in Success is an oasis for women in the workplace. This website is all about providing a forum for women to discuss, rant, rave, and support each other with their working woes and triumphs. In other words, what we hope and aspire to be someday. And we so love the name of the company (and secretly wish we had thought of it ourselves). 

• Hopefully, you WG’s all caught Project Runway last week (and if you didn’t, I’m sure it will play five more times between now and Sunday) when the designers had to design for the Working Girl. Some ideas? So out-dated. I didn’t hate Joe’s outfit, but Suede and those sleeves! Lord almighty. Let’s just say the right design won. And if you don’t have time to catch the episode get the quick dish from Michael Kors’ blog. 

Or at least I pretended to be one today. 

About a month ago, I admitted that I’m not much of a weekday party animal (unlike my new roommate Natalie).

After I posted I got really motivated to make plans and be more proactive about living life on the weekdays and not letting my weekdays bring me down and subsequentially leave me a couch potato in front of shows like 90210 and Top Design (I don’t even like them!).

WG1 had also expressed interest in doing more (because at this point in time she was still living with her dad and had no life – sorry WG1 but you know it’s true). Anyway, WG1 suggested we attend a DailyCandy soiree after work one night. The party seemed promising. It was a summer “white party” with summery cocktails, light appetizers, and the first 50 guests were promised a new snazzy electric toothbrush (thrilling I know).

So WG1 and I decided since the party didn’t start until 7 that we’d grab drinks beforehand at a bar down the street. But when we turned the corner we realized that the line was already at least 100 people deep. So we got in line. And waited. And waited. And waited some more. I think we waited an hour and half and when we finally entered the coveted DailyCandy party, we made a beeline for the bar.

“We’ll have two of these special cocktails,” I said pointing at the bar menu.

“Oh, we’re all out.”

“Out of alcohol?” WG1 asked in pure shock.

“Yep, sorry girls.” The bartender then scuttled away from our angry eyes. I’m really good at angry eyes btw.

We both took one look at one another and without words exited the bar. So our big night out ended up being a bust. On a lighter note, we ended up finding a really cute little restaurant nearby where we enjoyed some really great artichoke dip and of course wine to wash it down with. We also made some new friends in line while waiting so we officially felt social and had a great meal to boot.

Moral of the story. I don’t really have one. I think I just wanted to prove that I’m not always lame and do manage to get out after work.

And that do be a good Working Girl, you have to let off some steam every once in a while. And I’m trying my darndest to get out there more. For example, WG1 and I had drinks with our friend Hannah a few weeks ago, we had a amazing meal at Buddakan last week (where we saw Dale from Top Chef!), and next week my gay bff from work promised to take me on a date to bar Porkies where 12-Pack from I Love NY bartends once a week (I kid you not).

So I think I’m doing pretty well. I’m no party animal. But I’m no couch potato either.

This semester, I have the world’s best intern. She dresses appropriately for work and has phenomenal manners. She’s even proactive, asks the right questions and seems genuinely interested in magazine marketing. My summer interns, with the exception of one, were horrible. But getting this great fall intern did not come easily. 

I am highly superstitious. ‘Things happen for a reason’ is my mantra mainly because whenever I really, really want something to happen it never does. So the mantra helps me to believe that just because I didn’t get what I want means I wasn’t supposed to. That fate had something else in store.

I really wanted to write a post today about my irrational fear of recessions which turn into the Great Depression 2008, but WG1 convinced me that was a really bad idea since I know nothing about finance or banking (aka why my fears are irrational). Just in case you wanted to know, I also have irrational fears of mice and Amy Winehouse (her beehive filled with crack really scares the shit out of me). 

Anyway, I decided to forgo my previous idea and instead write about my past weekend. While most 20-somethings were partying it up in the citay, I stayed home…in my bed…with ice cream…and watched the original version of The Office on DVD. 

As an avid fan of the American version of The Office, I expected great things and many laughs. What I did not expect was only 6 episodes. Yes, in the United Kingdom a “series” is only 6 episodes. A full season of episodes in the US is around 22 episodes. So I think you can see why I was disappointed. And color me surprised that The Office in the UK only lasted for two seasons. 6+6=12 (just in case you are mathematically challenged like myself). 

All right so despite my initial shock to learn that I could watch the entire two seasons in one day, I learned that I really love the original Office and that America completely and utterly stole the entire idea and story plots for their own. The American characters Pam & Jim — yep, they were Tim & Dawn in the UK. Michael, Dwight, Kevin, Jan — yes, they’re all products of the original as well. And the entire first episode is almost exactly the same right down to the stapler in the JELL-O bit (minus the accents of course). 

After you see beyond the similarities of the two shows, you absolutely fall in love with The Office. Ricky Gervais is amazing at making you feel bad for his character socially awkward David Brent, but five seconds later he has the ability to make you want to jump into the TV to punch him for his sexist/racist remarks. His comedic timing is spot on. Which of course leads me to his supporting characters (which there are a lot less of). My favorites of course were Gareth (the Dwight of the show) and Tim (who is just so adorable that I want to eat his little face). Gareth is more weasel-like and smarmy, but a former soldier which makes for great jokes. Tim makes your heart melt. Swoon.

Unfortunately, I think I may be a bit prejudiced when it comes to which I enjoy more. I watched the American show first, and there are more episodes to keep me occupied. There were some things about this version however that I liked more. Overall, it seems more believable. And from watching the special behind-the-scenes featurette on disc 2 I found out that they really shot the show in a real office building (not a set!) and that they were so loud that they were asked to tone it down by the other offices in the building. I also felt like the characters are a tad more believable. Every single one of them seemed like they could work at my office. But I truly think that is the nature of British television – it’s all shot in a way that makes it seem more real (unless it’s East Enders, sorry but not real at all). 

Also, the whole premise of The Office is that it is being shot as a documentary. Sometimes when watching the American version you forget that, but with the UK version it’s obvious because it’s choppy and not all the scenes fit perfectly together. But that’s the point! So I love that aspect. 

But as an American I am a lover of happy endings. The full circle is something I expect. And The Office in the UK could care less if we want Tim and Dawn to live happily ever after. 

My recommendation is to rent the entire 12 hours when you have a free Saturday lying around. It’s a great substitute for bad Lifetime movies. 

This time last week I told you I was drained. Too drained to write a post. One of my roommate’s token phrases as of late is “I’m just so exhausted by the whole thing.” Last night, as I tried to determine what I should write about, she asked if that’s how I was feeling about Working Girl. I realized, I’m just so exhausted by the whole work thing and therefore exhausted by Working Girl. Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything crazy and quit the blog or something. 

I have noticed lately that a lot of my fellow employees are smokers.

How can I tell? Yellowed teeth? Check. Reeking of smoke? Check. Vacant from the office at inopportune times? Check and check.

For real, it doesn’t bother me that my co-workers smoke. It’s their prerogative and their addiction to face. But should their guilty pleasure come with 5 minutes away from the office throughout the day? Because that my friends, those 5 little minutes, make me jealous. And have on occasion made me want to start puffing (but cigarettes are expensive and I am poor).

Those 5 minutes are literally written into our company handbook. Something along the lines of all “employees are allowed five (5) minute cigarette breaks during the work day”. Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating. So they probably are really only allotted two breaks per day and they have to be speedy quick. But again, I’m jealous. Very jealous in fact. Leading me to make my next statement. I feel it’s somewhat unfair.

Just because I don’t choose to fill my lungs with smoke a few times throughout the day doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t have a break for my own addiction/guilty pleasure. Yes, I think you all know where I’m going with this. Instead of getting a smoking break, I would like to institute company-wide Perez Hilton breaks. Or People.com. Or Pink is the New Blog. Whatever your Internet addiction, I think we non-smokers deserve our own little daily breaks.

I’ll admit it. I have an addiction and it’s to trashy celebrity gossip in the form of little nuggets of information that Perez Hilton dispenses (almost) on the hour. I keep my hand on the mouse to refresh almost every second of the day. It’s pathetic and sad, but I own up to my disease.

Ultimately, I think it’s the fair thing to do employers of the world. We gossip blog addicts should get our junkie on with just a little bit of silence just like our fellow smokers.