I’ve gotten a job somewhat relative to my field, I’m engaged, I’m moving out, and I’m going to grad school in the fall. What else could I possibly want, right?

I don’t know, but it gnaws at me more and more everyday. Just got to find something to occupy my mind ’til I can have it. I think I know what at least one of those “things” is and it’s something I’ll truly never have.

So begins the quarterlife crisis and the dissatisfaction that just makes you want to jump out of your already crawling skin.

I should be ecstatic…right?

So far, not so much.  Been hard with job-hunting, and it’s not as though companies aren’t interested, but I can’t seem to get past the first interview.  For someone that’s been told by each employer, including internships and colleges, I interview incredibly well.  It’s been a hard pill to swallow, but I keep reminding myself that I’m not the only one out there desperate for a better job, it just gets daunting considering how badly I want to get out of Starbucks.

Well, let’s hope today’s applications to Google Chicago, Suburban Life, and Moore & Scarry are the big break I need.

Hopefully I’ll be a bit more enthusiastic once commencement comes along in June and find out whether I got accepted into DePaul’s graduate program for the fall.

Cheers all.

In short, a lot has changed since September. I’ve since parted ways with PRSSA completely – no hard feelings, but by no means was it working out nor yielding any benefits – and I’m officially done with my PR undergrad. Now, I’m just waiting impatiently to finish my math requirements so I can get my damn degree…yep, math has come back to haunt me. Trying in vain to look for a suitable internship and it seems that each one I find blows me off and claims that their position has been filled even though their listing is active for another month after my initial inquiry, so, overall, just a lot of unnecessary frustrations.

On a positive note, I was finally able to take a vacation down South to New Orleans last week. I was hoping to be posting actively as I traveled but, not surprisingly, there weren’t many opportunities to connect to the internet let alone get adequate cell service. Conversely, the brief disconnection from the world was kind of nice considering I didn’t stress out about something I couldn’t change for once…it was a rare occurrence, don’t expect it to happen again soon.

Just wanted to take the time to post since this space has been so bare lately. I started another blog for fun and games on Blogger and I’m going to try my damndest to keep up with all my social networking habits that I’ve since abandoned in the past few months. At any rate, ’til later…

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..

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.