Meeting Notes is a weekly feature. Here we will dish on tidbits, news, and important things we think you Working Girls should know. So scroll down to hear what we think you should glean from this work week.

• Interns: Pay up! – Not only are parents paying for college, they are now paying for internships. According to the Wall Street Journal, a number of parents have resorted to internship placement programs and charity programs to help their college-aged children find internships. These programs cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. One charity received $12,000 in exchange for a one week internship at a music production company. It may sound like something for rich kids but many of the people quoted say that’s not true.

• The City 2 – Season one is barely underway and MTV has already renewed the series for a second season. Looks like we’ll have a lot more Whitney to look forward to. Any by Whitney, I mean Duncan. (Editor’s Note: this week’s The City recap will be posted this weekend.)

• Corporate Attire – WG2 and I cried ourselves to sleep when we noticed we were nominated for any Bloggies (just kidding!). But we did find some new blogs that we love! One of them is Corporette – “a fashion and lifestyle blog for overachieving chicks.” In the few days I’ve been following these Working Girls, they’ve had some great workplace fashion finds and I love it!

• You Deserve it! – Your job that is. Some women in the workplace think that someone else may deserve their job more than they do. For women who have a hard time promoting themselves, Shelly Banjo of the Wall Street Journal put together some useful advice.

I am not a phone person.

I was the girl who when I babysat would call my mom and ask her to call Papa John’s and order pizza for the kids. I was the sibling who ran away from the phone when it rang rather than run towards it. The first time I called my now boyfriend I tried to find a way to leave a voicemail without his cell phone ringing. (It didn’t work.)

On my first day of my first internship my new boss told me I had to called 150 women and schedule make-overs for them. I was terrified. I sat in my cubicle and talked as quietly as I could but that’s hard when you have a high-pitched phone voice like mine. My usual alto voice shoots right up to a high soprano when I’m on the phone with someone I don’t know. I hate it but I don’t know how to stop it.

That project and sitting in a very open office have helped me with my phone fear but that doesn’t mean I enjoy the phone. Especially at the office.

I am an email person. An email, instant message, text-message person. When my guy boss says “WG1, call so-and-so about that promotion,” I email so-and-so about that promotion. I’m all about the email. But he is more about the phone call. Sometimes I think his mentality is that a phone call will make whatever needs to happen, happen faster. In today’s world, I think an email is more efficient.

It may be a difference is working generations or just a personal preference. Either way, I’m sticking to email.

I make fun of WG1 a lot for being one of those girls who is just too nice. You know, the girl in the bar who will talk to a guy for an hour because she feels guilty saying she’s not interested. However, I have to counter that with the fact that some nights she is the exact opposite of that girl. Oh, WG1, she is such a conundrum. Point being, I am not that girl. If I don’t like you, I will tell you (at least when I’ve had one too many tequila shots). 

It used to be that after meetings when it was time for the business card exchange, I would lie and say that I just ran out of my business cards and my new cards were on the way. And during interviews for interns, I would do the same thing. When I was traveling and someone asked for my card, I used a different excuse: I forgot them.

The truth is that assistants and coordinators aren’t supposed to get business card.

And what was I supposed to these people? “Oh, I’m sorry Mr. Important Businessman, I’m not important enough to be given business cards” or “I’ll write my info down on this paper for you, Ms. Potential Intern.” I definitely don’t want my interns thinking I’m not important.

Shortly before the new year, I built up the courage to ask my boss if I could have business cards. I walked into her office with my serious Working Girl face and said I had a few things to talk to her about. The first was that I wanted to work on a specific project (which is not TBD because the project may or may be happening) the second and third that were that I wanted business cards and a Blackberry.

Today, I got the business cards. When I asked for them my boss said “Just order them. You should have them.” Now, I feel so legit. They are cute and colorful with my name on them and I love them. It’s amazing that a little card can make me a little bit more important. Now, instead of running as fast and my heels can take me out of the conference room, I’ll trade business cards with the rest of ‘em. 

…I’m still waiting on the Blackberry.

(not what my business cards look like, just a fun example I found here)

All offices have their own quirks. 

I’ve worked in four offices (well five if you count that one internship where I worked in my pj’s from my bed) in my short work life and all of them have had their oddities. 

I once worked out of my employer’s apartment since it was a start-up company and she couldn’t afford an office – the kitchen table was my desk and her dog was my foot warmer. The office I worked in last had a theme to it (not one that I can reveal because it would reveal my former company). And my newest office is pretty bland compared to the lavish NYC offices I’ve seen in the past. 

But as bland as it is, I like it because I have more room than I’m used to. More space to move around, more space to store files, more space to hang pictures of vineyards and beaches and more places of where I wished I was instead of stuck behind a cubicle. 

My walk down memory lane was brought on by an article I read in Gawker today, about how Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is pretty anal about how they let their employees set up their desks. So much so that they have an “approved office supplies” list. Does that mean I can’t bring my pack of Disney princess pens and multi-colored Gelli Roll pens? Just kidding, I left those in my high school locker. The Martha Stewart employees are also kept white, stark, and they are told to keep their office spaces devoid of personal photos. 

All of this reminded me of an office space I worked in once. Where the walls were white, the dividers see-through and all supplies (bought by yours truly) black. This meant no blue pens, no yellow legal pads, and definitely no multi-colored Sharpies. 

And since I was only a little bitty intern, it didn’t really bother me that I couldn’t have personal pictures of my family and friends up on my desk but it did bother some of the other employees. I remember when a newbie had started and she had put up pictures of her and her Jersey Shore girls on the wall by her desk. The next day we had all come to work and her pictures had been taken down and an e-mail was circulated stating that we were to keep the walls clean and pristine with no clutter. 

Now that I have my own desk at a company, I have pictures up of my friends that I left behind in New York and my girlfriends from Chicago and of course the pre-requisite picture of me and my family. And while I still don’t think I would freak out if I was told to take my personal mementos home, I do think they make my work space just a little bit cheerier. They remind me that there is life beyond my Outlook. 

And someday, when I’m rich and own my own company (hey, a girl can dream can’t she?), I’m thinking that my office will look something like this: 

Because who wouldn’t want a professional office space that was originally designed for a teenager (image stolen from PB Teen)?

I need a haircut in a MAJOR way. I haven’t had a haircut since July and it’s approximately 18 inches long at it’s longest point. I know, I’m turing in “Horse Girl” from grade school.

Meeting Notes is a weekly feature. Here we will dish on tidbits, news, and important things we think you Working Girls should know. So scroll down to hear what we think you should glean from this work week.

In this episode we get to know Allie. I guess she’s a model and is getting kind of naked for a Diesel shoot. She’s worried that while she’s away, Adam will play. 

Olivia and Nevan are looking for artwork because Olivia could not make it the Christie’s auction. Poor Olivia. While shopping, Nevan explains to Olivia that he needs to find a nine to five job. It sounds like his daddy was taking care of him for a while and then cut him off. But, if he gets a job, he might get his rent paid for again? 

“As long as is doesn’t involve me boozing six nights a week at some watering hole in the east village, he’s happy.” – Nevan. Just what every parent wants for their child.

The boys [Jay and Adam] go out. And I’m bored. Dear MTV, the audience for The City does not want to girls dancing on poles. Love, Working Girl. 

Jay seems seriously annoying when he’s drunk. Total chatty Cathy. 

Another breakfast for Whitney and Erin. This time Whitney’s friend Samantha from Bergdorf’s joins them. Based on what they are wearing, I think it’s a Saturday or Sunday. Some girl named Cat made out Adam. Didn’t see that coming. 

Okay, Jay and Whitney are a little bit cute sitting in Madison Square Park.

Jay confronts Adam about the alleged make-out. Adam decided to tell Allie. He does, and spins the story.

Nevan is staying with Olivia. Apparently he’s homeless.

“Try to find a job, please.” – Olivia to Nevan.

“Not gonna happen.” – Nevan to Olivia

The girls, including Samantha, have lunch with Allie and talk about Adam. Typical girl “We’re just looking out for you”convo. Allie looks upset. 

Allie and Adam fight. I don’t like watching other couples fight. It’s just weird and they sound annoying but then i think “do I sound that annoying when I fight with my boyfriend?”

And that’s the end. Lame episode.

Best quote:

“Who has drinks at two in the afternoon on a Friday?” -Nevan

Yesterday, America’s 44th President, Barack Obama, was inaugurated. 

I have been at my new job in Chicago for over a month now (almost two months, which is so weird to say because the time literally flew by).

I’m not gonna lie, this whole new job thing was a huge adjustment. Despite the fact that I grew up in Illinois, moving back and adjusting to the new(ish) lifestyle here has been hard. I still don’t have a clue where I’m going…ever (north, south, east, west, WHAT?!). The L confuses me to no end, and I make a silent prayer every night that I will wake up and the straight lines of the NYC subway will have replaced those loops and turns. And sometimes, I even miss hearing the incessant police car sirens (I can’t believe I just said that).

And adjusting to a new company is difficult. You have to learn the lingo and jargon. You have to memorize names and complicated webs of who manages who. And worst of all, you have to make all new friends.

Friends. Ugh. I forgot how much work is involved in this task. I mean, at my old job, I think it took me a good 6 months to make actual work friends. And while it did take me a while, I did manage to finagle myself a great core group. We ate lunch together almost everyday (except during Biggest Loser at work when I practically starved myself so I could win a spa trip…which I didn’t end up winning womp womp). We would whine and complain about work. We would share useless information with each other throughout the day (and inapporiate work humor of course).

I still miss my old work friends every day. Especially since I’ve been eating alone at my desk everyday since I started this job back in December. But I knew I had to muddle through and make some new friends.

And by George, I think I did it.

Last week, while at the event I put on in Atlanta, I had to spend a considerable amount of time sitting at a registration desk. Mainly the desk was open for anyone who had a question during the event (you know – room issues, food issues, lost alarm clock issues), but the desk was only open during breaks so during the “off” time when I wasn’t running around like a chicken with my head cut off, I got to spend some time hanging out with my co-workers who were also working the event. I also got to try out Wii Fit, which told me that I am off balance and that I need to go the gym. Tell me something I don’t know Wii Fit! 

I met two people who I really hit it off with – and they share my love for cheesy reality TV (like The Bachelor). That’s when you know it’s true friendship by the way, when they love the same TV as you. 

And while I still haven’t sat down and had lunch with either of the girls I met at the event, I do know that I’m on my way to having real work friends again.

I also learned of a clique within our company. A new friend and I have nicknamed them the High School Musical clique since they are all relatively young and of course they also love to break out into song intermittently throughout the day so the nickname was obvious. They love to eat lunch together in our little cafeteria (if you can call it that) and go to meetings in a foursome pod. 

So far I’ve gotten along with a majority of the HSMusical clique, but I think for now I’m going to stick with establishing my new friendships with my reality TV bff’s. Because if you can’t form a solid relationship around your shared love of Rock of Love Bus then what can you form a relationship around? 

*Sidenote: Thanks to everyone who voted for us in the 20sb awards! Working Girl is the new “Best Career/Occupation Blog” of the 20sb! We are thrilled to say we are among the winners, because some of our serious blog crushes are on that list of winners (you know – the kind of blogs you are scared to comment on because they are like the cool, popular senior girl in high school that you worship from afar). So thank you readers!