FRIENDS! Tomorrow, Sunday, May 19, I will celebrate my four year anniversary as a college graduate. In even bigger news, I AM RUNNING MY FIRST HALF MARATHON IN THE MORNING.
I'm carbed up, hydrated, and ready to go. And it certainly helps that I've received an insane amount of will wishes from friends and family this week. So thank you! Oh, and did I mention that my parents are here to cheer me on?! Well, they are. And I couldn't be happier.
So here we go, kids. If you happen to be up around 7 am CST tomorrow and you'd like to follow my race progress, check me out on Twitter or on Facebook. If this crazy world works the way I think it does, every time I pass a mile on the course, my bib should tweet where I am...
I am not the most tech savvy person you've ever met. I know my way around basic computer stuffs, I can effectively stalk anyone on Facebook, and I can usually figure out small issues on my own without calling a help line. I'm also easily confused by the iphone, don't really understand how to use shortcuts on my computer, and PLEASE DON'T EVER ASK ME TO TYPE ANYTHING ON A TABLET. (That shiz is hard.)
So yesterday, you can imagine my chagrin when, while using my computer normally, I discovered my trackpad would no longer "click." My mouse worked but I could not select anything on my computer. I did some research from my phone and found that this is an insanely common problem with MacBook Pro once they hit a certain age. (Mine is about 3 years old.) It's often caused when the battery, which is located directly below the trackpad, swells, rendering the trackpad immobile.
So naturally, the first thing I did was call Apple to get a quote. Let me tell you something about Apple. They are certainly a well structured company when it comes to making their consumers completely reliant on them when it comes to help... and making sure they are charged every step of the way. But apparently, they don't put a huge emphasis on customer service. Here's the conversation I had with the "Genius" (read: asshat) that I spoke with at the Lincoln Park Apple Store yesterday.
Me: Hi, I'm calling to get a quote on a repair.
Genius: We don't give quotes over the phone.
Me: Okay, well if I describe the problem to you, can you tell me if you think you'll be able to fix the problem in store?
Genius: No.
[Silence.]
Okay, I know what you're thinking. I probably should have given up at this point but I wanted some answers! Obviously he can't promise me anything without seeing the computer, but he could have at least tried to be helpful. Or at the very least, polite. THAT IS WHAT HE IS PAID TO DO. Here's how the conversation continued:
Me: Okay, um, well let me ask you one more question [insert part of story where I describe the problem here]. Am I right in saying that this is a pretty common problem with these computers?
Genius: I don't know.
Me: Well, do you see this type of thing a lot with the MacBook Pro?
Genius: Yeah, all of the time.
Me: Okay, so... you would say yes, this is a common problem. Can you usually fix it in store?
Genius: I don't know.
Me: Well, thanks for your lack of help.
And I hung up. SERIOUSLY APPLE STORE?! He didn't even try to be professional let alone helpful. If I'm going to shell out some money for this, I want to be spoken to respectfully. You know who spoke to me respectfully yesterday? The internet. I found this video -- which detailed the exact problem I was having with my computer.
So, here was my next problem. I didn't have QUITE the right screwdrivers to complete this task. I went to the hardware store but the guy that works there said that they are definitely a special order type tool. Well played, Apple. Well played. BUT... if you think that was going to stop me you would be sadly mistaken. I did a little MacGuyvering with the screwdrivers I did have and FIXED MY TRACKPAD.
I'll be taking the credit for this one. Absolutely. Special shout out to GoGeeks. Thanks for giving me the tutorial. Not bad for a Friday, folks. Not bad at all.
Thinking you want to use your computer skills to make yourself feel good today? You should probably give a vote for Sixth and I synagogue before midnight tonight. Click here. I did it. BECAUSE MY TRACKPAD ONCE AGAIN CLICKS. Yeah, I won't be letting this one go for awhile. Thanks, interwebs.
As per my usual naptime routine, I'm cruising FBook (like the cool kids), so I can get my news fix (like the cool kids), and I discovered that I am not, in fact, one of the cool kids. At first I wanted to cry. When I was in high school, I had a couple of weird haircuts, some clothes that didn't really fit me right, and a little bit of pudge on me in undesirable places. Plus I was a theatre kid. Definitely not one of the cool kids.
Then I went to college (in a city -- cool things happen in cities!) and things got a little better. I dressed a little cooler. I had a larger group of friends. Except for that time I gained the freshman fifteen (fine -- twenty), things seemed to be going well. Then I realized that on the weekends most college kids did things like this:
instead of things like this:
and I realized once I again that I must not be cool.
Fast forward to 2013, I am a fully grown adult. I've been told I'm kind of cute. I have a lot of friends. I have multiple jobs. I have a closet full of great clothes. For the first time in my life, I had reached the status where I knew I MUST BE COOL. And then today happened. And I read this an article where Mike Jeffries, the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch publicly proclaimed that I was not cool. How do I know? Because he said this:
“In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids... Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely. Those companies that are in trouble are trying to target everybody: young, old, fat, skinny. But then you become totally vanilla. You don’t alienate anybody, but you don’t excite anybody, either."
Because as we all know -- the way to be cool is to wear exactly the same clothes and to exclude those who can't afford a $50 tshirt, nor can they fit into it. GUYS -- I DON'T OWN ANYTHING FROM ABERCROMBIE AND FITCH. And since (I assume) I do not fit into Abercrombie's elite line of spaghetti strap tank tops and pre-shredded short shorts I MUST BE FAT AND UNCOOL. I even made one of these doodads to double check (I mean, I did well on my SATs and I went to a study-college -- remember?!)
Owning Abercrombie : Cool :: Not owning Abercrombie : Not Cool
OMG I AM SO EFFING UNCOOL. And since Mike Jeffries is telling me I am not cool, then he must be the COOLEST of the cool. He must either look like this:
Or This:
Or This:
So I googled him to see what the god of skinny popular teenagers must look like...
And good for you, Mark Jeffries. I was worried when you told me I was uncool. But now I see, that you're just re-branding cool. Because 2013's cool is just a creepy looking middle aged man marketing teeny tops to underage girls. I get it now...
You know what else I hear is cool? Being a dick. A exclusionary moron completely obsessed with physical appearance, with limited vocabulary, and ridiculous friends. Unless it lands you on reality television. Then it's a whole different situation.
Before we get started... please click this link. I'm in the mood to give this blog a soundtrack today.
Feeling good? Alright, let's start. With 17 days left til the race, I've got a lot to catch up on. Here was Week 8 in numbers.
2.5 with a stroller.
3 on a treadmill with wet feet.
6.5 in the rain.
8 in the snow.
4 out of anger and confusion.
All 18 miles out of choice.
I
think I'm officially a runner. I signed up for this marathon out of a
desire to do something for me. All 18 of those miles were for me. Week 8
happened to be the week of the Boston bombing. That week, Monday's
miles were to cope with the shock. Friday wasn't much different. I've
been tossing ideas around in my head in regards to my feelings about the
event, and frankly, many other people have put my thoughts into words
in a prettier fashion and you should probably read this, this, or this. (Okay, that last one is just hilarious.)
Dealing
with the one year anniversary of a friend's passing, plus Boston, plus
the normal turbulent tumult of my ever transient twenties has made the
last few weeks less than excellent. But instead of bringing everyone
down further, I've made a small departure from my usual blogging style
and compiled a list of ten things that made me feel better over the last
few weeks -- hopefully some of them will lift your spirits as well.
1.
RUNNING. On Monday, April 15, I ran through Diversey Harbor. Nay,
sprinted. I was angry at the news and I couldn't slow myself down until
after mile two. I was missing the Boston skyline and instead had this
insane view of Chicago midstorm. Boston in my heart, Chicago on the
horizon. And I felt better.
2. THIS LINK came
to me from my good friend Dani. As someone who is paid to look after a
tiny person, I can say that I have multiple experiences like this every
day. Henry is a fan of shutting himself in his dog's kennel. Why? I do
not know. But it makes me laugh each and every time.
3. TURTLE RACING.
What's that you may ask? Exactly what it sounds like. Go to the bar.
Buy beer. Get tickets. If your ticket gets pulled you choose a turtle.
If that turtle wins the race, you get a free drink or a tshirt. We
didn't actually get to race a turtle but I'm 100% going back. It was
100% hilarious and 100% worth the beer I drank out of a solo cup. I
recommend this wholeheartedly. 100%.
5.
EATING STUFF. Making good use of all of the food Chicago has to offer
also helped out over the last few weeks. Right now I'm trying to decide
which was better. Eating this Chi Dog Pizza at Dimo's or getting free rhubarb pie last week at Bang Bang.
(Side note: Free pie officially makes us regulars! I've always wanted
to be a regular somewhere. Couldn't have picked a better spot to make
our own.) Shout out to Leor for being present on both food-tastic
occasions.
SERIOUSLY THOUGH GUYS. THAT'S CHICAGO DOG PIZZA.
6.
LOVE. Phone calls and texts with my loved ones. I spent so much time on
the phone during the week of the bombing. I talked to my parents,
my friends in Boston and beyond. And I was overwhelmed at the number of
texts I received asking if my family and friends in Boston were okay.
Thank you to everyone who looked out for me. I appreciate the gesture
more than you know. (Except I just told you, so now you know.)
7. SARA BAREILLES released a new single. Which means a new CD and another tour. Gosh this girl is incredible.
8. THIS ARTICLE.
Please tell me these are real comments and not something made up by a
comedian. Please, please, please. Not sure you want to click one more
thing? This is a preview:
HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
- Derrick, age 8
HILARIOUS RIGHT!??! Get reading.
9.
CULOTTES. I'm happy to report that I've gotten a lot better at biking
since last year. But one thing that drives me crazy is always having to
wear shorts under my dresses and skirts while I bike. Well, thanks to
Target, my problem is solved! Check out these babies, you only THINK
they're a skirt. THEY'RE ACTUALLY SHORTS. Mine are adorable like this:
10.
PRIDE. I've run with this hat a lot during the past few weeks, and all I
can say is, I'm so proud to be from Massachusetts. Proud, proud, proud.
And that's helped me getting through. (And yeah, that's Ollie the Owl
and me showing some Boston/Brandeis pride. And maybe a little sadness.)
PS - That's me trying to look disheartened. I realize now that I kind of
look like I'm saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Deal with it.
Well, Erika, (you might be saying), that certainly was random. It sure was, dear readers. But here's what I've got. Messy things are going to happen every day. Sad things are going to happen every day. But so are the happy and the silly. So all I've got for now is -- just keep running.
