Comments (13)

By kilax, June 4, 2008 1:47 pm

You know when you are just starting a new job, and want to look your best? You wear all of your most professional clothes, and get up early each day to do your hair and/or makeup just perfect?

Ha.

Apparently, I am SO over that. I’ve worked at my job a little over a year. And I think I’ve become comfortable.

I’ve turned into a schlump. And if that isn’t a word, I mean I’ve turned a bit… sloppy? Casual? I’ve given up trying?

I still dress to impress when I’m meeting with clients. But I never wear heels to work anymore. I almost always wear my hair in a ponytail. I almost always wear some button-down shirt, untucked, with pants (never jeans).

I look unprofessional.

It’s time to start caring again.

I’m getting a haircut on Saturday, so that’s a start… but where do I go to buy professional clothes, for someone a bit “larger” and not break the bank?

Because when you look like crap, it affects your attitude too.

Comments (14)

By kilax, June 3, 2008 8:00 am

Don’t you hate it when you get to work and realize…

…you put your underwear on inside-out that morning?

…you forgot your cell phone?

…you didn’t put deodorant on while getting ready?

…it’s a paid holiday off?

…you left your umbrella on the train and it’s supposed to rain?

…you have two differently colored socks on?

…you have a stain on your shirt?

…you forgot your notes for your 8:30 presentation?

Well, only two of those things have actually happened to me; one of those times being today. Oops.

What can you add to the list?

Comments (10)

By kilax, April 24, 2008 8:04 am

Do you think some people consciously don’t respond to emails so they can’t be held liable for the email’s content?

I do.

Of course, I’m not talking about personal emails. And I’m not this skeptical about everyone I interact with.

But one person I send emails to consistently responds by phone, even when I request an email response.

I understand it’s much easier to respond by phone! It probably takes less time. And believe me, I hate feeling like I am being interrupted by Outlook all day, responding to emails, and searching for information.

But I do need some things in email form. Prices. Delivery Dates. Contract Agreements.

I’m not asking for this information so I can use it to pinpoint blame on someone, I just want a concrete record of the conversation. I don’t want to have to search for scribbled notes, or have to rack my brain to remember a credit that was quoted to me, or the delivery date of a crucial item.

It’s been a long work work. And guess what? I get to work on Saturday too. Yay.

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Today’s Idiom: Skid Row – disreputable part of town, inhabited by derelicts and people “on the skid.”

It’s hard to say exactly how many areas of Chicago could be described as being part of skid row.

Comments (7)

By kilax, April 7, 2008 6:04 am

Guess what? It’s Celebrate Architecture Week!

Officially, I don’t know what that means. I know it doesn’t mean we will be having a party in my office. Or getting any days of from work. Or really even discussing it.

I think it was created last year to celebrate (boast about *cough*) the 150-year anniversary of the American Institute of Architects (of which I am an Associate Member… under Steven’s last name. Oops, I’ve created a person who doesn’t legally exist!).

Unofficially, I am going to use this as an excuse to ask you what your favorite building is, and why. It could be a place you’ve lived in, went to school in, worked in, walked by, got arrested in… or never even seen! It could be existing, planned to be built, or demolished. If you can’t pick one, tell me about them all! If you don’t like any, tell me why! Believe me, whatever you say is going to interest me, because this is the dorky stuff I am in to (Hey, it’s my job to be a dork).

Since I am asking you, I must tell you what MY favorite building is – the Sagrada Família designed by Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona Spain. (See my personal photos of it here).

I love everything about the Sagrada Família, but especially it’s beauty and structural system. It is completely unconventional and creative. You are awestruck upon seeing it – whether or not you like it! I cant wait to see it completed someday. In person.

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Today’s Idiom: a flash in the pan – promising at the start but then disappointing

Kim was really excited after training her new coworker. She listened intently, asked a lot of great questions, and showed promise and dedication in her first days of work. Unfortunately, she turned out to be a flash in the pan – not a few days later and she was writing 30-minute personal emails, playing around on MySpace, and searching for a new home – while at work.

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By kilax, March 25, 2008 9:20 pm

One of my work contacts answered the phone today by saying “What’s up girl?”

It was very casual.

I’m not upset about it. I talk to this person a lot, and generally, when you talk to a person on the phone once, twice, or three times a day, you’re going to ask, “what’s up?” or “what’s going on?” because you want to know… why did they call me… again… today?

But I am thinking about all the comments left on my In Terms of Ten post about my young age. I am thinking about how a lot of my coworkers and work contacts have children my age. I am thinking about how establishing myself and my credibility at work while only being 23… is difficult.

I’m naturally, let’s say, chatty. And friendly (most of the time). It’s hard for me to play the corporate b.s. mind games with people when I know I don’t have to. It’s hard for me to be stern and bitchy when I need to, because I just want to play nice and get along.

Yes, I know this is unrealistic, and I had a very good tactic conversation with my boss regarding this. And it helps immensely to know they have faith in me.

But remember how hard it was starting off?

Comments (10)

By kilax, March 17, 2008 4:23 pm

This is the first job I’ve had with paid days off. All of my other work until now has been part-time, summer work, non-paid or McDonald’s.

Something inside of me (a conscience?) made me feel like I had to be careful and only ask for days off when I really needed them, so I took off the day before the wedding, six days for the trip to Aruba, and New Year’s Eve for visiting family in Kansas City. And since then, I’ve been slaving away at my desk everyday… because in my office, we recognize zero holidays between New Years Day and Memorial Day.

But oh, how I’ve been getting tense at work. Our secretary took a two-week vacation, during which my mentor found me in the copy room swearing at a printer because I couldn’t figure out how to get the ink in (something our secretary normally takes care of). A general contractor told me he was surprised when I didn’t answer my phone because I always seem to be at my desk. A lunch conversation with a coworker left me so fed-up with some things I felt like I had to have a one-on-one with my boss. A new coworker started, drove me nuts, and quit abruptly five weeks later. An engineer from a job left me so infuriated that I went into my boss’s office and was yelling about it. Multiple arguments with a general contractor that I had to ask my boss to join because I didn’t feel comfortable with on my own. Blah blah blah…

All normal stuff. All signs of needing a break.

But how do you just ask for a day off and say, “I need a break from work.” Does your boss understand that?

My sister and her boyfriend are here until tomorrow morning, so I used them as an excuse to take a much needed day off. And I am trying not to feel guilty about it.

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By kilax, February 13, 2008 7:53 pm

During the summer, I wrote a work-related post wondering when I would get to the point where I wasn’t relying on someone else to divvy out tasks to me. Basically, I was wondering “when will I have my own project to keep track of?”

Well, you know where this post is headed.

Things have changed a lot at my office since I wrote that post. The office has acquired a huge workload. We have hired 4 people since November. I have been given a lot of responsibility. I am the “project architect” on a few jobs.

It’s pretty exciting.

I had the project kickoff meeting for a 11,000 square foot (+ an additional 5,000 square feet of remodeling) commercial interior job today. My boss came with me for the kickoff, but I am on my own after today.

That means I will represent my firm at the weekly construction meetings. It means I will get to make the final construction decisions. It means I will have some authoritay (said in Eric Cartman voice).

This excitement will lose its charm, and there will be headaches, problems and disappointments… but for now, I am enjoying the novelty of the moment.

It’s also reassuring to know I enjoy my work and am in the right career field.

Comments (16)

By kilax, January 22, 2008 8:20 am

What’s the secret behind working from home?

Really, what’s the secret behind working from home and staying on task?

I don’t have a job that allows me to work from home. Frankly, there’s too much collaboration with other people in my office that it wouldn’t work.

But one semester in college, I did an individual studio where I “worked from home.”

Riiiiight.

I set up my spare bedroom with tables and all my architecture supplies. I put extra lighting in there and kept out all distractions.

Riiiiight.

I rarely used the space. When I did work from home, I ended up doing my work on my kitchen table. And even then it was difficult to get anything done.

To me, it felt wrong to mix “work” with “home.” I associate a strong sense of relaxation with being at home, and work doesn’t seem to fit into that picture.

But I know people who can do it! Steven works from home every once in a while. A few friends do it all the time.

What’s the secret? Is it some sort of discipline I am yet to learn? Or is it just a personality thing?

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By kilax, January 16, 2008 5:31 am

This is a real email string between me and Steven last Tuesday, posted without his permission. It was after I told him I thought I would be late getting home from work:

Steven wrote: Why don’t you ever try to catch the 5:20…whatever earlier train. The one that you would have to leave the office right at 5?

Kim wrote: Because I don’t want to get accused of leaving on time.

Steven wrote: Ha ha. But it is OK if you do it SOMETIMES.

What is sad is that I actually do feel guilty if I leave the office at 5:00. Even if I have worked a 9-hour day, and had lunch at my desk. And only gone to the bathroom three times. And not left the building.

Back in October, my boss told us we should all put in 48-hour work weeks. We were swamped with work (which is good) and short on staff, so it made sense.

Now, we have hired four more people, but are even more swamped. I like what I do, and don’t feel like I’m being forced to stay here, but I am someone who likes to FINISH things and leave work feeling accomplished.

It’s hard to do that, and still save yourself enough time to eat dinner and talk to your husband and cat when you get home. And maybe exercise, or write a blog post. Or even relax!

But I am going to see if I can rebel a bit… because on those days I do get home around 7:30, I feel like I have ALL THE TIME in the world before I go to bed at 10:00.

Comments (10)

By kilax, January 8, 2008 5:54 am

It seems like Steven and I get a lot of inquires about our commutes from our family and friends who don’t live in the Chicago suburbs.

With him, the question is “how many miles do you drive to work each day?” and “how long does that take you?” and “why do you live so far away from your office?”

With me, it’s “how long does the train ride take?” and “why do you live so far away from your office?”

We find ourselves answering these questions, but slipping our common justifiers in with our answers. Mine are “At least 100 other people get on the train stop with me in the morning to go all the way to the city!” (i.e. I am not the only crazy one), and “it would take me three hours to drive to the city!” and “I think I am only going to commute like this while I am young!”

His justifiers (which I usually provide to him) are, “when I bought my house I worked at an office that wasn’t so far away,” and “we could buy a house closer to the city, but it would be 1/10th of the size of ours now, and be in poor quality.”

I think it is funny that I feel like I have to justify commuting on the train to Chicago. When people ask me about it they are just curious, not mean or spiteful, but when I am talking about it, I realize how ridiculous it sounds, so I try to rationalize it.

The truth is, A LOT of people commute from the suburbs to Chicago. We live in the suburbs so we can have yards, and garages, and decent houses. But just because a lot of people do it, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck, and I don’t get to work each day thinking, “why the hell do I live so far away?” Because I do.