Alright, I’m back and ready to gripe.

As most of the self-absorbed snob-culture noticed back in March, Starbucks launched their new instant sensation, Starbucks VIA Instant ReadyBrew – pardon me if my semantic organization is a bit off.

I was fairly enthused about the prospect from a sales standpoint when it launched here in Chicago.  It was fairly innovative and effectively marketed, although as someone who uses Metra and CTA daily, I’ve yet to notice a single VIA travel mug or anyone busting open VIA packets at all on either train.  Overall, sales within my district were good, as a matter of fact, the reception of VIA was well-absorbed by customers nationwide through the magic of online shopping.

Fast-forward to mid-September and VIA has obviously lost some of its luster.  Maybe because Starbucks only offers the product in Italian Roast and Columbian.  Maybe because it isn’t offered in decaf like Nescafe’s new instant ready-brew.  Whatever the reason, you would expect corporate to develop the VIA brand before re-launching it.  Clearly, this didn’t seem to be considered. 

My boyfriend dressed for the VIA re-launch.

Today, Starbucks is holding the nationwide launch of VIA, which is all fine and good on it’s own.  However, store sales expectations are somewhat ridiculous and the strategy is misguided.  Although cute and a nice break from the norm, partners are required today to dress as their ideal representation of someone who would benefit from VIA.  Now from a partner perspective, yes, the idea of dressing up is fun, however, as someone studying PR and brand image, etc, I don’t see this as an effective strategy to boost sales.  Chicago has been oversaturated with VIA and its competitors since March and it’s going to be difficult to boost sales with tastings and costume parties in Starbucks stores that have been on the VIA train since it debuted. 

Then again, what do I know?  Those of us at store-level are the only ones that will directly take the brunt of customer (dis)satisfaction if there is any to be had.  I get to avoid the costume party, but we’ll see how the Taste Challenge Weekend pans out.

To be continued..

Alright, whoa…going well over two months without blogging is far too long.  My apologies, but it’s been a rough couple months.  Long story short, on June 6th, I found out my dad had committed suicide; hanging himself in his apartment.  Now, not to get into any detail about the strained relationship I had with my dad for the past three years since my parents divorced, I’m mad at myself because I saw the signs but I didn’t know what to do about it or how to act considering that my dad’s eccentricities would be brushed off by others saying, “Well, that’s just Bob”.  That being said, yes I’m angry, yes I’ve blamed myself plenty, but I’ve got too much in my life to achieve to just completely shut down; just needed a break from everything for a while.

On a lighter note, the relationship with my boyfriend is great; he’s awesome…way more than I deserve.  Looking forward to school starting so it can end and I can graduate and get a “real” job.  Starbucks is, well…Starbucks.  Definitely a new set of customer courtesy rules to come out of that one very soon.  Expect actual posts again very soon if not by the end of the day.

Generally speaking, I don’t normally plug albums, especially compilations.  Neither do I truly endorse Starbucks products and services in the broad sense; more or less the finer attributes of my store and coworkers and some enjoyable customers.

My store manager had brought back a dvd with a single song on it upon her return from the Manager’s Conference in NOLA this past winter and I was intrigued by itk after hearing and watching the “Stand By Me” video of different local musicians from areas around the world heavily affected by socio-economic upheaval.  Generally, I’d plug this as an activist but I find myself doing so more as a musician.  “Songs For Change“…get this if you enjoy eclectic/political musical forms in a giant mashup of awesomeness.

Oy, so I use it all the time as the usual excuse for failing to blog as regularly as I used to, but this time it’s fairly legitimate to say that I’ve been so busy with school and work and other “things” that I’ve had little time to account for blogging/tweeting.  Yes, I’ve even fallen horribly behind on my tweets; a travesty, I know.

So what’s new?  Well, considering that I have a full class load, work, and PRSSA, not a whole lot.  Very much enjoying being the VP of our PRSSA chapter; so far, next year’s shaping up well. 

Got myself a boyfriend…Hell itself must’ve frozen over. 

Otherwise – and so as to cut this lame post short – I’ve been incredibly busy and I want out of college.  Expect regularly scheduled pro-blogging from now on.

Fin.

So I chose last week to completely omit the fact that I have indeed acquired two tickets for U2’s show at Soldier Field here in Chicago on Sept. 12.

I can remain silent no longer…after 18 long, impatient years of waiting, my U2 tickets have arrived.  Behold, the most beautiful thing I’ve witnessed to date:

So unless you’re a Chicagoan of Irish heritage or simply a resident of the South Side in the Beverly/Morgan Park area – as well as the other South Side neighborhoods densely populated with the Irish - you may not have heard the news that the South Side Irish Parade, which has been a neighborhood tradition for over 30 years and a Chicago landmark in and of itself since, has been canceled…indefinitely.  Here’s a press release from the South Side Irish Parade Committee dated Mar. 25, 2009:

For Immediate Release 25 Mar 2009

For confirmation contact Mary Beth Sheehan (773-393-8687)

RE: SOUTH SIDE IRISH ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE PLANS FOR 2010

Let this release serve as notice that the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee is not planning to stage a parade in its present form in March of 2010.

This decision was not arrived at lightly. For 31 years, this parade was a staple of the Beverly/Morgan Park and Mt. Greenwood communities – a celebration of faith, family and heritage that was cherished by thousands. Founded in 1979 by the Hendry and Coakley families, it was intended to instill in this community an appreciation for the Irish heritage that so many of its residents share.

This parade was an eagerly anticipated annual event which celebrated families, many of whom have created decades long traditions that we hope will endure. But what began as a neighborhood parade is now an event of international proportions. More than 300,000 people typically flock to the Beverly area each year, and the sheer volume has become more than the neighborhood can reasonably accommodate. With these numbers comes a collection of issues that strain both the host community and those individuals charged with effectively managing the crowds. Additionally, the amount of resources required to launch the event has become overwhelming to the community.

The Committee would like to thank the tens of thousands of parade faithful who supported this event for more than 30 years. The multigenerational families who turned out along Western Avenue each year, along with the fine organizations featured in the Line of March, were the essence of what made this parade so special. We would also like to thank the Chicago Police Department for the effort they put into managing the ever-growing crowd while working to maintain the dignity of the event.

While we regret the need to alter such a fine tradition, the Committee feels that suspending the South Side Irish Parade in its present form is the just and responsible thing to do. It is our hope, however, that this will not mean an end to the neighborhood’s annual celebration. The Committee will work to create a series of alternate events that will return us to what the parade’s founders had in mind – a neighborhood-friendly celebration of Irish heritage. Please look for news of our plans later this year.

Thank you for your support,

The South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee

Now, I understand full-well that the parade has become a huge party over the years and an international attraction, but when you watch or read the reports about arrests made, it’s generally out-of-towners who are the perpetrators.  When I say “out-of-towners” I don’t mean people from surrounding suburbs, but from places as far as Arkansas as well as other regions in the Midwest.  So that’s how it’s playing out?  The out-of-towners are what’s contributing to the cancellation?  Supplementing reports also suggest that underage drinking at the event is an issue.  Tell me, where isn’t underage drinking an issue?

I do believe that the neighborhood’s integrity should be maintained in the sense of quelling vandalism where it may occur and stepping up police presence, but canceling the event altogether is a mistake.  The event began as a community event, and I have no doubt that it will be put on next year, perhaps illegally.  If it does, I guarantee there will not only be Chicagoans from the South Side, but all over the Chicagoland area to protest the decision.

Considering the volume of public outcry already, I have no doubt the issue

SSIP 25th Anniv. Poster

will continue a year from now.  It may fade with the onset of summer and the other festivities around the city, but I’m hoping the issue makes a resurgence during the summer Celtic Fest at Grant Park as well as the Irish Fest at Gaelic Park.  There’s already a Facebook group up and running – yes, of which I am a part – protesting and writing to city officials as well as committee heads to bring the parade back to Chicago.

So it’s been a bit much to fully absorb the events in Nothern Ireland in the past few days.  On Sunday, the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the murder of two British Soldiers at their barracks in Massereene in Co. Antrim; they also seriously injured two pizza deliverymen when they opened fire at the gates.

Last night, to my horrified surprise as I was writing my paper about the role of  “ancestral voices” as fuel for sectarian violence in Northern Ireland since 1966, I was perusing through the Irish Times and AP and stumbled across a breaking story that a PSNI officer was shot in the head while responding to an alleged disturbance in a Catholic neighborhood in Craigavon, Co. Armagh.  Just heard this morning that the Continuity IRA – whom I’ve never heard of – have claimed responsibility for that one.

All I can say, is that I hope this doesn’t derail the Good Friday Agreement; I honestly don’t believe it will, but I don’t doubt it might cause further dissidence between Catholics and Protestants, nationalists and unionists.  However, if handled like the Omagh Bombing, there’s a shred of hope that the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA will back off and stand trial.  I’m in no way whatsoever condoning the three murders that were inflicted on servicemen and law enforcement, but – with the exception of the two men wounded that were delivering pizzas – I’m glad to see there hasn’t been a calculated attack on civilians.  Generally, not to suggest the IRA of any faction exclusively set out to attack civilians, but they’re always caught in the crosshairs no matter what…

Enough is enough.

Well, tonight is just an eve of excitement now isn’t it?  I’m supposed to technically keep my mouth shut about a particular event that happened today…at least until tomorrow.  I promised my boss I wouldn’t blog or tweet about it until after the fact, so I’ll keep my word as intended, but expect more tomorrow.

already satirizing our sweet VIA display

In other news, VIVA LA VIA!  Yeah, I said it.  I helped to a very minor degree on our store set for  tomorrow’s launch of Starbucks VIA Ready Brew instant coffee.  I honestly hate to admit, Howie was right, it’s relatively delicious.  Generally speaking, instant coffee is absolutely awful, unless you get the good stuff from Europa; considering we’re Americans, we have little to no concept of how to properly enjoy coffee.  At any rate, the convenience and surprisingly palatable flavor of VIA has led me to keep my mouth shut and my criticisms to a bare minimum…it’s good stuff, and I’m quite thrilled to have Chicago as one of only three test markets for the product, with Seattle and London being the only others.

Also, I got my hot little hands on the new U2 album; no worries to my

happiness is new U2

managers who read this blog, I promise you I did NOT take a copy tonight.  Besides, we’re not selling the $100 deluxe version, so no worries there…just took shameless photos of myself practically eating the packaging.  I’ve got a bit of a rebuttal to make against the New York Times regarding the loss of U2’s relevance in the world.  Look for that tomorrow or Wednesday.  I was, however, very pleased to see that $1 from the sale of each copy of “No Line On the Horizon” would be donated to the Global Fund.  Not an incredibly huge donation, but pending the response from customers, it could lead to something. 

Enough Starbucks news, I’ve got some sad personal affairs that I’d very much like to address for the sake of my distress and discontent and the illusion that my posts are actively read by the world.  As I may have mentioned not too long ago, I received the CEIA National Two-Year Student Internship Award.  The award presentation is going to be – as it always is – at CEIA’s National Conference, which happens to be in Portland, OR this year.  Originally, I was supposed to attend the event.  Obviously, the economy keeps spiraling further into the abysmal depths of depression, there was the slim chance I wouldn’t be able to attend.

karole, casey, and myself in the ad the CEIP dept. took out in the feb. 20 edition of the courier

Well, that slim chance became far more likely when I went for the SFE Award as presented by COD.  Today, I got a very apologetic email from the Co-op director.  In very few words, she regretfully announced to me that the school wouldn’t cover the expenses to send me to Portland even for a day to just fly in, accept my award, and go home.  Now to me, there’s something incredibly wrong with this. 

I understand the slump we’re all in, but when the institution boasts about the amount of awards its students receive, how much attendance is up, and all the grants and scholarships that are being given out to students, departments, and just to the institution itself, I begin to wonder what the real reason is.  So, instead of accepting my award in person, I have to wait until May to attend the Board of Trustees meeting and accept it there, where I know no one, no one knows me, and where all relevance will have been stripped from the original significance.

I’m incredibly disappointed, but I’m still the national winner in my category, however, by matters of principle, I’m very surprised that this was the road the institution preferred to travel.  Again, I’m not ungrateful, just surprised, but what can you do?  My Manifest Destiny’s just gonna have to wait.  Besides, the Co-op department took out that nifty ad in the Feb. 20 issue of the Courier, so I can’t gripe too much.

At any rate, it’s been an interesting day.  This week’s going to be absolutely insane with PRSSA elections coming up fast, four papers and a speech due by Thursday as well as my obligation to play my horn for a Taize prayer service at St. Vincent DePaul, I’m guaranteed to be a ball of nerves.  Spring break, get here a bit faster please…

So the City of Chicago wants to potentially paint the Sears Tower silver…I vote ‘no’, thank you.

I had an English teacher in high school who I’d gone to for the better part of at least three years for help and advice.  Although, I’d hardly had enough life-experience (in other words, enough chances to fuck things up) to really gain from his insight.  However, being that he was my AP English teacher for two years and someone from home to hold onto when I went to DePaul, I heeded one piece of valuable advice: whenever I hit a wall or just need to vent, write.

And so, here I sit, uncharacteristically unnerved and incredibly insecure after a string of successful events that have occurred in a very short amount of time.  The conference went incredibly well, I’ve won two internship awards, all the nonsense with my records, major, and standing are in order, and I’m looking down the barrel of an internship with a large PR firm…what more could I ask for? 

Aside from the incredibly empty feeling dictating my daily routine, things, by all accounts, are finally going the way I want them to.  Yet, at the same time, I’m more terrified than I was exactly a year ago.  I’ve even gone to my first Sunday Mass in over four years at the behest of a mentor as well as for research for a Liturgy & Music class I’m in this quarter.  Maybe because I literally felt nothing but the urge to scream at the top of my lungs when I was sitting among the congregation, reciting the prayers I’ve managed to remember for so long, greeting people I’ve never met, kneeling in prayer while unable to actually pray, rather have an intellectual sparring match with God;whether in St. Vincent DePaul or St. Francis Xavier, I’ll challenge Him anywhere for either a rightful smiting or continue to be ignored.

Today’s Ash Wednesday.  I knocked on Casey’s office door  just to say ‘hi’ since I was already on campus for a newspaper ad I’m in, and I saw the ashes on his forehead, and he clearly saw mine with the complete lack of.  After being asked why I didn’t get myself to a service, I could only manage a pitiful response in the form of a shrug and an “I don’t think I’m going to get mine”…trying to come up with a “logical” reason as to why I ignored my “responsibility” was a matter of not wanting to disrespect a tradition I’ve known all my life by going through the motions without really believing in it anymore. 

Now, that situation, though occurring over four hours ago, is bothering me to the same degree it did at the moment of inquisition.  The debate has since crossed my mind, not what to give up for Lent, but what to give another chance.  After a heated debate with a coworker this weekend on the issue, he said, “you sound like you believe in something.”  True, but whether or not a deity fits my ideology is another matter.  I’m not content being just another among His flock, I damn well exercise my “free will” to the fullest…but there in-lies another contradiction to me.  If given the reasons to believe in my religion and a God again, I’d surely welcome the opportunity.  But for now, it doesn’t suit…

And if you know something that I don’t, then you must know more about me than I’d initially thought, and maybe that’s where your impatience with this resistance comes as so uncharacteristic.  Tell me then…what should I know?