Day 39 - Oh the weather outside is frightful...

Rain, rain, go away, don't let that snow come any day!!

Weather conditions in Chicago as of 11:21 CST: 51 Degrees and Rain

Chances of going outside before the concert at the Elbo Room tonight: 0%

Chances of the weather to warm up before getting colder: -43%

As I sit and ponder what to eat for lunch, I sit on the three big "job sites" (i.e. Monster, CareerBuilder and Linkedin) and pump away resumes into the lengthy redirected websites. Days like today are good for two things when you are unemployed... submitting resumes and "other" (Use your imagination on "other", I know I like to experiment, yow!)

I did make my way outside already as I had to return a Netflix DVD to the box and the hit up the local Dunkin Donuts in search of that hot, black stuff that keeps me awake for the remainder of the morning. I am going to tell you right now that DD coffee is infinitely better than the crap that they serve at Starbucks or Caribou. Not only is it a matter of taste, but also a matter of, well, taste really. Many of you may not know this, but DD coffee is actually made by Sara Lee. Yes, the same Sara Lee that I worked at for two years right here in Illinois right off of 88 in the burbs of Chicago. When I started working at the Lee (yeah slanging it up boyeee) I was a tea drinker, but when I realized that I could have unlimited Douwe Egberts coffee (do you see the theme of this blog? Mention places when you blog/tweet/facebook update and you may get comped). My choice every morning was a medium cup of coffee in my coffee mug with a shot of espresso. It's called many things at various coffee shops, but I called it the "Get your ass up" cup of coffee. That helped considering I had to take a bus to the Metra to a shuttle to the office every day and vice versa. Otherwise, I drove and that wasn't so much fun. Chicago is a perpetual traffic jam and that is never so evident than at 5:00 PM on any day of the week. In fact, unless you are driving in or out of the city from 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM, you will be waiting. Seriously. Seriously.

But I don't do that anymore, nor do I want to ever do that. I know that all of the good "jobs" are out in the burbs because of office space (ha!) costs, but Chicago traffic just puts me and the rest of the world in a pissy mood. How did I combat this? I would crank some Kenny G, roll down the windows and let the good times roll. Or roll in first gear as I moved at a pace of 2 MPH.

I might have two blogs today, I'm feeling frisky! I guess I'm not ending these with a proper ending, but that just keeps you reading, right?

Deep Thoughts for Friday (Part I):

It's not that you're sick with a cold or flu, it's just that everybody else is WAY too healthy.

Day 37 - Professional MegaMillions Player?

Day 37? Ooh boy, what a crazy ride it has been. I started out on Day 1 and was loving life because it was still warm out and I could go to the beach and then go out that night with some friends. Oh how the seasons change in this Midwest Urban Jungle.

I will still go out during the nights and you know how I do this? I have given up drinking during the week and I don't drink that much during the weekend. Now you should question yourself. Can I give us something like alcohol living in a city such as Chicago? I guarantee you can but perhaps you feel the pressure of your friends. Hey, I used to be the go to guy to do a shot or buy the next rounds. However, when you don't have what seems like an endless bank account or the American Express Black Card (I have two, cause one wasn't enough), then you scale back. And you know what happened? I realized that I drank to catch a buzz but was drinking so much that I was not remembering what happened the night before (passed out in the bushes?) and not moving very fast the next day. Considering I am a workoutaholic, I decided that I could get that last "cut" from cutting out the main contributor to many an individuals last "love humps". My drink of choice was always a vodka martini with three olives, but that has gone by the wayside. Now, I drink a lot of red wine and straight water on the rocks.

Some of you may feel the pressure to drink and a funny thing happens when you tell them you don't. They look at you like you are crazy. Really?! Why is not drinking considered crazy? I can have just as good a time without the Bells, Miller Lite, Vodka Soda's, Jager Bombs, and Martinis as long as there are good looking girls there. haha. Just kidding?

As a major holiday is coming up, I would like to offer you a bit of wisdom. The best part of the night is always from 2:00 AM - 5:00 AM. That is where all of the stories actually happen. When is the last time you had an awesome story from the night before that was before midnight? I prove my point.

Okay, in all seriousness, here is the information for today.

I applied for a few jobs and am collecting those emails that say I have submitted a resume. When people say that applying for a job is a job itself, they weren't kidding... I should be getting paid $80,000 a year to do this for people. Wait a minute! There I go! I will be the official "enter your profile information into those ridiculously long online company applications" guy. Since I will charge by the hour, let's do the math:

52 Weeks in a Year

40 Hours in a Week (Well, for Americans, it's more like at least 50)

52*40 = 2080 Hours

$80,000 a year / 2080 Hours = $38.46 an hour

That's not bad at all. Any takers out there? I know it could be a lucrative career as the unemployment rate is reaching 10% and that's not including all of the people that consider working at Street Wise as a real job.

As always, remember to smile, laugh and be confident. The dream job (rock star that is also on the Travel Channel) is right around the corner.

Deep Thoughts for Wednesday:

Don't know what to be for Halloween? Here's an idea... how about a Patron Shot Giver Outer. You will be the most popular person all night!

Day 36 - A Little Freedom Perhaps?

To whom it may concern:

Aaron lived a good life

At the age 0f 28 he was rich in life and not so much in the pocketbook

Thailand, Cambodia, Mexico (is that really another country) is where he traveled.

Cultured, Ridiculous, Sometimes way too outgoing (I've been told that I love to talk)

A life of not knowing exactly where to go, but smiling to others along the way.

No, I'm not going anywhere. However, do you remember making up your eulogy at some point in your grade-High School era? Now that we think about that, wasn't it kind of strange perhaps? What do I want to be known for? President of the Fan Club for Matthew McConaughey? You betcha!!! Alright, Alright, Alright...

Deep Thoughts for Tuesday:

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas". However, if you have an outstanding warrant in Illinois and you get arrested in Vegas, the new slogan is... "What happens in Vegas will send you back to Illinois in a prison plane to be arraigned". Not quite the same effect.

Day 35 - Recovery

Hello All!

I am back from my vacation in Wine Country (aka Sonoma) and I am feeling a little sluggish. What would you expect from a crazy weekend filled with waking up early on Friday, connecting flights, Friday night at the winery, Saturday pool day, Saturday evening on top of a mountain, Saturday night having dinner by the pool while freezing my tush off and then the hot tub... Oh the hot tub...

And now it's Monday. I have come back to limited sleep, still a little hungover and definitely ready to start my main move to making my second million.

I've been contacted by some interesting positions over the past few days. Voicemails from so calleed "sales jobs" that are actually just door to door sales. During my stint at MSU, I fell for one of these traps. They stuck us in a car with the "sales consultant" and proceeded to tell us that the company dealt with the Lansing Lugnuts, MSU and some other big name companies. Perhaps you have even seen one of these "dream" jobs in the newspaper and got excited. Well, if you are excited about doing door to door sales, then maybe it is your dream job. At the meeting in the morning, they never informed us what they exactly do. We found out pretty quick. A group of four of us (including the one salesman) piled into a car and went to our first "meeting". Um... the first meeting was the first house on a piece of paper of addresses. We were selling coupon books door to door! Ugh, I thought. My good friend who was stuck in another car actually informed the salesman to let him out on the side of the road because he was so disgusted. At the end of the day, we sat outside of the office of some 28 year old "manager". I then walked in and they said I was just the caliber they were looking for. I thanked them and said I would be in the office the next morning. Yeah, I never went in to that office.

That brings me back to this job in Austin, TX. One of my tips when doing a job search is to check out the reviews on job postings to see what the job really is. You may get some disgruntled employees or interviewees but for the most part, the review will be spot on.

Now, I have received some calls/emails from legitimate companies which I have followed up on. I will look in to those and let you know how they turn out.

October 5th... already started to get cold here in the city... MUST GET OUT!!!

Deep Thoughts for Monday:

If one glass of Vino is good for your heart, then fifty glasses a day this past weekend keeps me going through my birthday and possibly to New Years Eve. Thank you Deb and Matt for an awesome time in Sonoma!

Day 31 - Self Help is Great!

So, I'm headed to Sonoma tomorrow. I am going to relax, I am going to unwind and I am going to have a fantastic time.

To all my friends, have a safe, happy, and totally off the chains weekend.

Salute!!

Your friend,

Aaron

Deep Thoughts for Thursday:

So I read a self help book and at the end it said, "Um, you know what, forget everything I just wrote. You're screwed!" Not sure what lesson to take from that paragraph but I'm sure it has something to do with eating better.

Day 30 - Travel? Yes Please!

I saw a job posting today that was for a position with 100% travel to various countries for various parts of the year. Was this a job posting for James Bond, a Hotel.com travel consultant, a teacher or a international man of mystery? No... it was for an ad salesman. Really?! Somebody who sells ad space in a newspaper gets to travel the world and all expenses paid? There must be a stipulation, I thought. And that stipulation was the fact that all of your money was commission and you better speak more than ten languages. I only speak nine languages so that put me out of the running. Oh well, craigslist does it to me again.

I am getting the denial emails pretty quickly these days. I guess the recruiting/HR departments at these companies aren't suffering any layoffs'. Well, good for them I say.

I'm not going to lie and say that I don't want to help people and have a job that actually contributes to the quality of human life, but... a man's gotta eat, ya know? And I love surf and turf.

A while back, I lived in Thailand (study abroad for Michigan State), and it was the greatest time of my life. I was thinking of going back there and living in a bungalow for $1 a night like I did at Ko Pha Ngan island. Want a picture of the good life? Ever think that when you get laid off/fired/quit you don't have time or money to go anywhere. Well, $1 a night! For that, you can cash in your 401K and live for like a hundred days (Well what's your 401K worth?). Here's a picture of the view (and yes, I actually took this picture from a 35MM camera):

So, book your tickets now and live the good life for awhile.

Alas, I cannot. Or can I? I have no car (Chicago livin), no mortgage, and am livin with a free flowing attitude. Perhaps I have already left and am writing this from Thailand. Or not. I mean, why would you ever be on a computer at a place like this?

Happy Wednesday all! Hope your Thursday is the best day of the past 2 days for you.

Deep Thoughts for Wednesday:

Do you remember the show/computer game "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego"? Unfortunate news kids. Carmen started to abuse drugs and alcohol and is now selling Street Wise. However, she plans on making a comeback in a new show called "Where in the Sewers is Carmen Sandiego"

Day 29 - Smiling Eyes

I promised you all some details, and what better way to provide details than with bullet points? Here you are:

• Let go August 31st
• Went over to Amanda's that night to have a couple of beers
• Filed for unemployment over at her place because the unemployment site hates MAC's and I am typing on my MacBook Pro.
• Went to Kirkwood's for some beers. In attendance: Meredith, Ash, Amanda and Raj. Some people didn't even know I was let go until last night!
• Woke up the next day and checked out some jobs and then went to the gym.
• Next day, next day, next day all seemed the same.
• However, the first two weeks of September provided some nice 78 degree days. After my usual mornings, I headed to Oak St. Beach. There is nothing more relaxing for me than sitting under a transplanted palm tree with the waves of Lake Michigan and all of it's bacteria filled glory crashing in. Some days I would stop and get Jimmy Johns for lunch. Other times, I just didn't eat.
• On those days I went to the beach, I would just get on the Clark St. Bus at the corner of Clark/Division to Chicago Ave. and go from there to the gym.
• This went on for the first two weeks and the past two weeks have been spend applying for jobs that I may or may not ever ever be happy at and relaxing!
• That brings me up to the day # that I started.

Whew!! Don't you just love lists? They are needed all the time in PowerPoint Presentations and what better way to be professional on today's blog than those above?

Are you jealous of my past four weeks? Should I be sitting in front of my computer for 10 hours a day applying for jobs like some would think? Perhaps. Perhaps I should go to the corner and ask for money like some of the "fake" homeless around here. Or, perhaps I should let karma take over and show me the way. Option #3 wins!!

I believe in Karma. When I have been screwed over in my personal and professional life, I KNOW that those individuals will get it in the end. And you know, they have. Oooohhh, so don't mess with me!! Haha, just kidding... or am I?

Done for the night. It's 7:48 PM CST. How about some of you out there in "Holy Crap! I don't have a job and I can't pay for my house/apartment/car/bills/sex toys/gambling/candy/Patron/plastic surgery/smokes"? Are you doing okay? Do you need a hug? I hear there is an opening.

Deep Thoughts:

What's the deal with spaceships? I mean, they aren't really in water, so how can they be ships?