A little of this, a little of that.

It feels like it was just February, now it's almost April. I feel like I blinked and I missed March... but I didn't.

I went to Vieques, Puerto Rico to vist a favorite friend with another favorite friend and we had an amazing time.

(How could you not have a good time with this view?!)

My friend, Janna, is the proud owner of the Bravo Beach Hotel , if you're looking for an island escape, go stay there! 

I got promoted last week to the fancy new title of Senior Brand Sociologist. I also moved departments from Consumer Engagement to Brand Planning. 

I've also been reconnected with some old friends, and it didn't happen through social media! It happened the "old fashioned way", via conversation. As it turns out, my childhood best friend and a college roommate both work together across the street from me, and they just discovered that they both know me. I'm looking forward to the in-person reunion to take place soon and the small world feels just that much smaller this week. 

Internet Stalker.

I took the bus into work today and a girl that sat next to me looked just like a girl that I met ten years ago. We actually met in Mankato at MSU-M dance team tryouts. I was already on the cheer team, but since dance was more of my passion, I had to try to see if I could make the team. We hit it off at tryouts and talked most of the day. She made the team, I didn't and I never really thought about her again, until I showed up at the University of MN. I walked into a big lecture classroom and sat right next to her. During the class break, we both confided that we thought each other looked familiar and realized that we actually met before in Mankato. We hit it off again as transfer students not knowing a lot of other people. We didn't keep in touch much after graduation and the last time I saw her was October 2006 when we ran into each other at the CC Club. All morning I was wondering "what happened to her?", "Was that her on the bus?". I had to know. 

After the usual go of internet searching, (google, facebook) the only potential match is a linkedin profile without much information. Alas, I think this missing friend will remain missing. I've gotten so used to being able to find people so quickly and reconnect on a whim, that when it doesn't happen, it's a little frustrating. On the flip side, it gives me some hope that if you don't want to be found you don't have to be.

Friends.

I've been thinking a lot about friendships lately. I'm guessing the best friendships, like marriages, are when everyone has the same idea about what it takes to be a friend or a spouse. In most relationships, there seems to be a giver and a taker. For some, that's going to work out perfectly, for others not at all. Whenever my birthday rolls around and I try to decide what to do, I'm generally at a loss. A birthday two days before the 4th of July in a state where everyone runs off to a cabin, I have to admit, gets very depressing. I'm probably a rarity in the fact that I'm okay getting older. I'm turning 29 tomorrow, yet I got carded for a rated R movie a few months ago. Yes, that was a bit extreme, but it's also a rare day that I don't get carded at all. 2 years ago in Vegas, the bouncers were taking bets as to how young I was before they carded me. As per usual, I was much older than they were expecting. I'll probably have an issue aging once I get to the point when I look my age, or worse, people think I'm older. In the meantime, aging is fine with me. My problem always lies in trying to get others to celebrate my aging. Most of my high school friends have moved out of state. Transferring colleges left me with out a big group of college friends. I became friends with a lot of my co-workers after college, but many of them have moved to other cities now. So, I'm left trying to gather those that I can over a long holiday weekend when everyone would prefer to be at a cabin. I try not to dwell on the fact that my in-town friend group is dwindling, but on days like my birthday, it gets a little hard to forget it.

I know the job market sucks right now...

Just because I have a job, it does not mean that I can help you get a job. If I suddenly hear about something (which since I'm not actually looking will probably be unlikely) I will tell you about it. The last couple of days I have gotten a few random "job help" requests and over the last month about 6 requests total. Guess what, you all will probably qualify for the same jobs! Guess what else? I will give some of you more help than others! Why?

For starters, if we are actually friends, as in we've made an effort to hang out sometime in the past 6ish months, we talk on a semi-regular basis, I invited you to my wedding. And you actually are currently unemployed. Yes- you will be getting the most help from me.

Who are the people that I will "do what I can" for? People I haven't actually met before (friends of friends) and those that have a job, but just want something else (and we don't actually talk outside of a social network). If you are contacting me via a social network for a job, you probably also have my email. Use it.

I'm all about helping people get jobs, however, I'm sorry, but I can't help ALL of you get jobs. I know the job market sucks, but I am so not a miracle job finder.

Just needed a little mid-day venting.