see as i saw

Let's do a little SAT-style word association.  You know what, I'll even just go ahead an fill in the blank for you.  Yesterday : T-shirt :: Today : Snow.  Yes, I already went over this in the previous post.  But now I've actually witnessed Chicago's first snowfall, it's currently resting on my car.

In unrelated news, I watched an entire NBA game tonight.  Despite being an avid sports girl, the NBA doesn't really make my list, so it's been more than awhile since the last time I sat down to take in a game.  Actually, it was my first Bulls game and my first time ever visiting Chicago.  December 2005, the United Center hosted a sports career fair.

That was back in the day when I thought sports marketing was my career path.  It was also the weekend that I made up my mind to live in Chicago.   Although it wouldn't transpire until three years after that career fair, here I am seven years later.  In the snow.  Thinking about last year at this time, when I made life-altering decisions.  Refer back to the post from 11/05 for more on my affinity for year-end decision-making.

It can be frustrating and difficult when you catch yourself in a client-facing or independent situation  without answers.  Especially when you can remember knowing nearly every conceivable answer in your past position.

I always told trainees that they would pick it up quicker than they realized and shouldn't feel embarrassed to tell a client, "I don't know, I'll get back to you".  But admitting that you don't know has this way of planting a seed of doubt in your mind.  Will they think I'm unqualified?  Incompetent?  Just plain dumb?

Here's the thing that I have to remind myself, the people on the other end of the phone weren't born knowing everything either.  Some of them would like to think that they did, but most of them are completely open to a follow-up call or email.

Case in point, I was handling a rather technical call on my own today and quickly realized that while I understood his questions, I was oblivious to most of the correct answers.  I decided to own up and tell him that I would have to follow up, because I was only two months in and these details weren't things that came up in my daily routine.  Wouldn't you know it, he was in the same boat.  Trying to figure out the answers to things that are totally outside of his wheelhouse.

So, we had a good laugh about the blind leading the blind, came up with a list of follow-ups, and plans to sync up tomorrow.  And I didn't even have to spend the whole call feeling incompetent.

Wrigley Field is practically in my backyard (abstractly speaking), so I've been by it countless times.  During my years in Chicago, I've even "watched" games from four or five of the rooftops just beyond the outfield (those are more for eating and drinking than the game itself).  Somehow I had never managed to step foot inside that historic little ballpark though.  What better occasion to make my first visit than a visit from my hometown sluggers?

I think the baseball gods were in agreement with this last second plan hatched with my dad.  The weather was perfect: high 70s, sunny, nice lake breeze.  The game was sold out (scalpers were looking for $100-300 per ticket) and we managed to snag some seats for face value ($32.50).  Those seats were right behind home plate, but the view was slightly obstructed...so we upgraded ourselves about twenty rows closer during the third inning.  Verlander was pitching and the Tigers sealed the win with a homer in the 9th inning.  I couldn't have constructed the scene better myself.

Cubs games are so much better when I have a vested interest in one of the teams playing.  I don't think it will matter how long I live in Chicago, these teams will never really feel like mine.  It seems safe to assume that this extends to locales other than Chicago.  East Lansing and Detroit branded me for life; I feel that it would be difficult for any city/team to usurp or even join them.

Today's "yes" activity: judging figure skating.  Why do I call this a "yes" activity?  Because it's something completely unfamiliar to me, something you could feasibly assert that I'm unqualified to do (since I've never been a skater).  Instead of using this as rationale to practice avoidance and stay rooted to my comfortable, well-worn path, I said...yes.  Instead of stressing over the shift out of equilibrium, I'm figuring a lot of it out as I go.

During the course of my day, I had an interesting conversation with an older woman also taking part in the judging festivities.  She asked me about my job, so I unraveled the abridged version of my recent life story.  She brought it up again during our next break.  First, she said, "You're going to go back to Costa Rica; I know it.  And you'll go for at least six months.  I think you'll end up in a beach town and the opportunity you're looking for will be there waiting for you."  For good measure, she then informed me that she has some psychic abilities.  Odds are that I just have way more light in my eyes when I say "Costa Rica" than when I mention "cubicles".  But, hey, who am I to say that she didn't catch a glimpse of my future? :)

Also, I may have eaten about two tons of food, graciously provided by the lovely skater parents.  Unfortunately, that makes me ready to crawl into a food coma for the next three days.  Thus, I bid you adieu.

 I wouldn't say I'm necessarily a Cubs fan, nor am I a Cardinals fan.  I am, however, a sports fan.  Perhaps more importantly, I am a fan of situations that present me with an all-you-can-eat opportunity.  That is where a Cubs rooftop comes in handy.  It is obvious to me now, after experiencing my fourth rooftop establishment, that they are not all created equal.  Despite the cold rain precluding the game, we got in a whole nine innings.  Some highlights of the game included a pulled pork BBQ sandwich, Bavarian soft pretzel bites, a Chicago-style hot dog, chocolate chocolate chip cookies and Rice Krispies treats.  Oh, David Freese had a nice homerun in the sixth inning, too.

In March I decided to allow myself one entertainment splurge per month during my unemployment (it helps fend off complete submission to stir craziness).  I would say that this gluttonous indulgence in sport and food was well chosen for April's splurge.

Completely unrelated to baseball, House Hunters International completely blew my mind today.  There's a good chance that I've seen nearly every episode, but today was the first time I ever witnessed a house hunt in Colombia.  This couple purchased a six bedroom "fixer upper" with crazy mountain views in the clouds...for a grand total of $30,000.  That's equivalent to an entry level annual salary for many American professions, but it's a six bedroom house in Colombia.  I should mention that this episode was in stark contrast to the prior hunt in the heart of Paris.  Her two bedroom "fixer upper" went for a cool $1.3 million.  Insanity.  Vacation home in Colombia?

So, you're thinking to yourself, "This is clearly not Lauren's most awe-inspiring photo."  I'm agreeing with you.  However, it does properly convey how I spent my day.  There are some things that can come between me and prematurely beautiful spring weather; March Madness is one of those things.  My day was inspired by NCAA basketball, therefore my lens was too.

My afternoon was a pretty successful one, as brackets go.  I took my first hit tonight, due to a game where I ignored my gut.  I think there are a couple more still to come tonight.  At the end of the day, what it really boils down to is that Champion circle in the center.  Call me biased, but I have the Spartans taking it all the way to the end of the Big Dance.  I think they have a fighting chance to bring those New Orleans hardwoods back to East Lansing. Their journey begins at 8:20pm tomorrow; you'll find me talking back to the TV and biting my nails.  Who needs St. Patrick's Day drunk-fest when you can have a March Madness weekend.