Lunch Tomorrow

Tomorrow I am having lunch with Darcy Winslow, who is basically my business mentor. I have been working with her since 2005, when I started interning for her in Nike's Global Women's Fitness. She has been an awesome friend of mine. Hopefully some job leads will come from this. Nike isn't currently hiring anyone that fits my talents. But I would love to work there. Since I grew up in the Nike Tyke culture and working for the Nike Foundation is my ultimate dream job.

Side comment - tomorrow is the Cheesecake Factory's $1.50 per slice celebration? Anyone down?

Intel Job Shadow

Today I got the opportunity to job shadow a family friend, Jan Ohman, who is the Editorial Director of Employee Communications at Intel. Basically she is in charge of a team who produces Circuit, Intel's intranet for their 82,000 employees with news stories, corporate videos, and other content.

Some highlights I learned while at Intel:

• Intel offers it's employees free coffee and soda!
  
• Intel Twitters
• Intel is the #1 2008 Corporate Citizen
• Intel has accounts with Facebook and Dreamworks
• Intel is very pro-diversity and ergonomics focused

I got to sit in on a Circuit meeting with Jeremy Schultz, David Spencer, Krista Vasquez and Philip Davis. Some things in the meeting that sparked my attention:

• Focus Group Research Break Downs (I felt like I was back in GB301)
• Discussions about Intel's plasma TVs (they are attempting to go paperless - Bentley is the same way) and how to improve their effectiveness
• Local news
• Placement
• Internal news
• Emergency information
• TV/Gaming
  
• Discussions about Intel's Press Releases (and how blogging has become almost more effective - reminded me of Isreal's book - Naked Conversations)

Did I mention I got a sneak peek at Intel's Q3 video?

All in all an awesome experience. I got to meet a ton of people and had the chance to network. Hopefully something will come out of today!

Eyebrows

Tomorrow I am having coffee and then shadowing a family friend at Intel. She works with a team that produces Intel's intra social media marketing program, Circuit. I am super excited for this opportunity. This is a great networking opportunity and hopefully an awesome job will come out of this. Intel is #1 Best Corporate Citizens and it would truly be an honor to work at such an amazing company.

However, the downside of having this awesome experience, was I attempted to fix my eyebrows after living 10 days on a houseboat and failed miserably...

HELP!?!

Thoughts on Heaven

I was fortunate enough to get a copy of Randy Alcorn's 50 Days of Heaven: Reflections That Bring Eternity to Light, while I was working as a lifeguard at First Call's Family Retreat at Wildhorse Canyon a couple of weeks ago. So far I have loved reading it and gaining more perspective on Heaven and what happens after I die. Something I hardly ever give any thought too.

Last night while I was reading Day 20: Christ's Resurrection Body: The Model For Ours, which focuses on Philippians 3:20-21, "The Lord Jesus Christ...will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." I learned that our bodies will be resurrected in new and improved physical forms. Not just ghostly forms, glittering around Heaven. This was exciting to think about. But I did have one question floating around my head.

Will we still have scars in Heaven?

I know when Jesus was resurrected He showed His hands and feet which bared the scars of His crucifiction on them to His apostles. But will we?

The reason why I'm pondering this is because, when I was 13 I was in a ski accident and had a titanium rod inserted into my left femur bone. With this came a huge scar that runs down the entire length of my thigh. This scar plays a huge part in my identity, something I cherish and reminds me constantly that certain luxuries (like walking) shouldn't be taken for granted.

Now, I'm stuck wondering if in Heaven will I still have my titanium rod? I don't think so, I trust that God will return me to my original form. However, my scar I would like to keep. And I also look forward to living in a body where my shoulders don't hurt constantly from overuse from years of water polo and swimming.

Oh glorious day.

I'm Back

From Houseboat Camp 2008!

I stole this picture from Tres via Janet Fraiser.

Some highlights of camp were:

• Watching Sam just off the platform
• Laughing so hard with Jenni, Laurie, Janette that Jenni had contractions
• Watching Frank do a front flip off the party barge to school his son, Cass
• Listening to an amazing speaker, Nick L, talking about the book of Jonah and asking "What's your gourd?" about 10 times
• Learning how to wakesurf
• Catching up with past students, I can't believe I have girls who are going to be juniors and seniors in high school
• Having an outstanding replacement BK What?!? in Jen G.
• Finishing up Eragon and starting the 2nd book of the Inheritance Trilogy

I'm leaving on a ski boat...

Just wanted to let you all know I won't be blogging for the next 10 days or so. I'll be helping out at Sunset Presbyterian's Houseboat Camp! Hope you guys have a wonderful couple of days. And keep us all in your prayers, safety and open hearts, and TONS of energy. Thank you so much!

Here is a picture from Houseboat Camp two years ago. We were tied to a tree and there was a big gust of wind and we ripped the tree out and ended up pulling it onto on of the freshman girl's boats. Oh fun adventures!

Shh! It's a secret...

...I'm dying my hair pink for Houseboat Camp! I can't keep it a secret any longer and since not a ton of people read my blog I figured I could tell the world without actually telling the world.

The last time I dyed my hair was Spring Break sophomore year of college so like 2.5 years ago. And for those of you who knew me in middle and high school that is a LONG time for me. It is about time for a new color.

Plus it is only for this week, the 10 days I'm at camp and then when ever I get time to dye it back to a regular color for job interviews.

As for the job interview front. Not going as well as I though. I'm personally blaming the economy! I spend time hunting online on monster, careerbuilder, and craigslist and after an hour I decide that a nap seems more productive. Every job wants more experience (like 5-10 years). Oh well, I got a second round interview with a marketing firm when I get back from camp. Also, I am meeting a family friend to shadow her at Intel for the the morning and get coffee with her after camp. Plus the week after camp I'm having coffee with my mentor at Nike. So maybe something fruitful will come from those meetings.

Plus, I applied for this kick ass job at the Portland Art Museum. And I'm totally mentally glamorizing it in my mind, all while trying not to get my hopes up.

Anyways, PINK HAIR! If you could have any hair color what would it be and why?

Below

Below this post you will see two other posts. One has a post card that was sent to PostSecret.com and the other is a video. Both pretty much summarize my life goals. And since it has been awhile since I last posted. I've been pretty much in a non-blogging mood/been camping for the 4th of July and haven't had access to internet. I thought I would share some of my current inspiration. Enjoy!

Now, what inspires you?

I hope it never changes either!

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008)

What's Your Junk?

My Junk is a song in the Broadway hit Spring Awakening. But I'm not talking about that kind of junk. This week I had to clean some space by the side of my house to allow the cable get to get to part of the wall and I removed:

• 2 wooden ladders
• 2 crab pots
• 2 lobster pots
• an old bicycle
• an old motorcycle
• various pieces of wood, pipe and terra cotta pots

Then today I had to help my brother clear at the garage a bit so we could get our camper out for our weekend camping trip next weekend for 4th of July and we removed:

• a bag full of roller blades
• various old back packs
• old projects from my mom's old business
• my dad's old weight set

Minus the roller blades which I was pretty excited to find. I'm pretty sure we are never going to use any of these things ever again. And I find myself wondering...why are they still here?

So my question to you is, what's your junk? And why do you still keep it?

1st Real Interview!

Tomorrow I have my first real interview for my post-college marketing career search. Super excited but a little nervous. I called the schedule my interview today and was expecting to say they were busy for two weeks or something and instead I got, "can you come in tomorrow at 1:30?" I'm super excited about having the chance to interview at this company. So wish me luck!

Things To Do:

1. Print out a couple copies of my resume
2. Print out my emails about the job
3. Print out a couple copies of my list of references
4. Find my Bentley Alumni notebook
5. Find my portfolio
6. Figure out/lay out my outfit for tomorrow
   

Swim Suit Stress

Sometimes I amaze myself about how stressed out I get over little things.

My current stressor is finding swim suits for lifeguarding this summer and Houseboat Camp. After investigating my current stock of swim suits I realized I need about three new swim suits. 1 more for work and 2 for Houseboat camp.

Today my mom and I went to Nordstrom Rack and the Nike Employee store. Neither of them have decent swim suits. I'm starting to stress out about spending roughly $90 for three swimsuits.

Here is what I'm looking for:

• One piece
• Competition cut
• Size 30
• Non-polyester
• Swim suit
• With no color preference

That is all. I think I feel better getting that off my chest.

The Tides Have Turned

Tomorrow my best friend, Beckie Kruse, is leaving Oregon to go to Auburn for graduate school. For four years I have been leaving her to fly to the East Coast for school and today for the first time I said good-bye to her as she gets ready to fly to the South for school. I know she will have an awesome experience there and she will be in good hands. But as selfish as it sounds: I DON'T WANT HER TO GO! Here are my reasons why:

1. She has been my Houseboat bunk buddy for the past 3 years.


2. We both worked at THPRD during the summers/holidays.


3. We are wakeboard buddies.


4. Sunset Presbyterian attenders.


5. She is my "what not to wear"/how to do make up/be a girl go to person.


6. She gets my sense of humor and understands my thought process.


7. She orders my Starbucks for me.


8. Did I mention she was my best friend.

How am I going to survive this summer with out her?

Please pray as she moves, registers for classes, gets settled into work and school. And pray for me as I let go of her. Also, if you want to be my friend and fill my Beckie-less void please let me know. Thanks!

Back to Blogging

My best friend from Bentley, Jade, came to visit me for the past week. Which explains my lack of blogging. We did some pretty cool stuff:

• Both Seaside and Cannon Beach (including a trip to Mo's for a cup of clam chowder - not as good as New England's but good enough).
• Wakeboarded - my first time since September and Jade's first time ever & she got up!
• Checked out two graduation parties, McMenamins and Dixie on Saturday night.
  
• Hiked Multnomah Falls and checked out Rogue Brewery
• Had sushi at Sushi Town and went to the Rose Garden and Washington Park Zoo
• Took Max downtown and did some window shopping and stopped at Rock Bottom Brewery for happy hour
• Watched the Celtics beat the Lakers to be become the 2008 NBA World Champions!

All in all a super busy week! I had a good time showing my friend around town. But I'm ready to get back into the groove of things, working, looking for a "real" job and saving some money!

"Unemployed" College Graduate

So I'm not really unemployed. I'm currently working as a Head Guard at THPRD. A place I have worked on and off for the past six years. I'm not using my hard earned college degree but I am making more than minimum wage. The good thing is I work mornings and nights which gives me 6 hours (12PM-6PM) to look for, apply and interview for "real" post-college jobs. This morning was our first day of summer inservice (so my 6th summer inservice). And as I layed down to fall asleep I had a bit of a mental freak out.

a. I'm a college graduate and I'm still doing the same thing I was doing when I was 15

b. All my friends graduated and got "real" jobs and aren't going to be there.

c. I'm too old to be still doing this.

e. Who am I going to hang out with at work.

d. Etc.

On the plus side:

a. I get way more flexibility with work than anyone else I know.

b. Who wouldn't want to spend their final summer being a super cool lifeguard?

c. Who really needs a "real" job when the economy is so bad? I should be thankful to at least be employed and making $$$.

Playing Hide and Seek with God

During my down time at Wildhorse Canyon this weekend (aka not lifeguarding during free time) I got the chance to listen to an awesome speaker, Bill Paige. Who gave a great example of God. Paige talked about how since he is a grandfather his grandson loves to play hide-and-seek. So while his grandson is counting, Paige hides behind a curtain. And when his grandson comes looking for him, he wants his grandson to find him because that would make his grandson so happy. God is the same way, He wants us to find Him. There is nothing separating us from God but a curtain. But that those who actively seek Him will find Him. And this finding of God is so special. It really brings joy to God heart as well as to the person seeking Him. Just like when Paige's grandson finds him.

I was at Wildhorse lifeguarding for an awesome ministry called First Call Family Ministries. Which supports first responders (firefighters, police, and EMS professionals and their families), while showing them God's love. Here are some statistics about these professionals:

• Divorce rates as high as 84%
• Suicide rates can be as high as 6X the national average (there is also a correlation between children of first responders and suicide)
• Significantly higher levels of alcohol, substance abuse and domestic violence
• Cynicism, hyper-vigilance, and isolationism become their world
• On top of putting their own personal safety on the line every day in order to protect and serve our communities

Makes you want to hug the next police officer, firefighter or EMS personal right?

Wildhorse Weekend

This weekend I will be traveling with Dr. Janette Green to Young Life's Wildhorse camp in Antelope, Oregon to work as a lifeguard for a weekend retreat for paramedics, police, firefighters, and various military people. I'll be back Sunday night (hopefully before 5:30PM to watch the Celtics dominate the Lakers in game two of the NBA Championships). Please pray for safe travels and an awesome weekend. I'm really hoping to reconnect with God since things have been a little chaotic with finals, Bahamas, graduation, cross-country roadtrip, and reorganization of my life. Need to get in a new groove and hopefully this weekend will help kick that off.

An Apology Letter

Dear Box of Nail Polish Under my Bathroom Sink,

I am sorry for letting you go to waste. But it is time for me to grow up and realize that it is time to throw you away. Your colors have separated. Your gloppy and dry. Let's be honest. Many of you cost 99 cents when I was in middle school and you chipped away cheaply then. Now 10 years later, you don't have a chance in hell.

My love for you started at an early age. From my mom painting my nails (and my younger brothers, until the other 5 year old boys on his t-ball team made fun of him) to bicycle rides up to the Bethany ACE Hardware store when it was built when I was in 6th grade before it became a Walgreens to buy a new color of Wet-n-Wild every week with my limited savings. Some of you arrived in my box before middle school, hand me downs from my mother in an attempt to keep me out of her own nail polish bag of goodies. Some of you came from presents of family friends who had know idea what to get a crazy tomboy or from close friends who truely understood my passion for nail polish.

I can honestly say I changed the color of my nails more times than the color of my hair in middle school and high school. Which is truely saying somethign. You shined through my odd and ever changing fashion statements. I'm pretty sure I went an entire year in 7th grade with my thumbs always a different shade than the rest of my other fingernails. I will always remember you amazing box of colors.

As I admire each of you individually and remember for the most part the moods and reasons for purchasing each shade. I'm pleading with you to forgive me for letting you all good rotten. I'm still the same girl. I still will have crazy electric colors when I walk into a business meeting. I will still repaint my nails on a monthly if not weekly basis. I still am attracted like a raven to shiny things including glitter nail polish - I swear half of the 50 or so bottles that now sit in the trash had glitter in them. Please forgive me. I had so many plans for us.

But I'm a grow up now. I need nail polish that will withstand the test of time. They can't chip when I'm opening a soda can or impatiently tapping my fingers on a desk. I need strong polish the like woman I am. Yes, the new polish can be blue, or green, or purple. But strong and 99 cent Wet-n-Wild, you can't be that polish to me anymore. Once again, I'm sorry. I truely loved you all. Thank you so much for helping me express my individual personality during middle school. You were such a cheap little blessing to me. And for that I am truely thankful.

Love Always,

jenna

Sex and the City

This afternoon my mom and I went to see Sex and the City. Really good movie for a chick flick only if you watched and enjoyed the TV series. (That is my review) Is someone who has seen a couple of episodes (not enough to be a fanatic or anything). I did like the throw backs to the TV series. For example (don't worry this isn't a spoiler) when Carrie is trying on old clothes while she is packing she wears the skirt from the opening scenes of the TV show. Stuff like that - I'm sure I missed a whole lot more. But whatever.

The more interesting part (could be seen as more depressing maybe) is that while I was watching the movie I realized how few real good girl friends I actually have. Girls that would drop everything they are doing to help me. I'm super appreciative of the ones I have don't get me wrong. But maybe because we are all graduating from college (or recently been out of college) and are still confused about our own lives or in my case I have good friends here on the West Coast and good friends on the East Coast that aren't connected. I feel a little lost when it comes to girl friends. Kind of sad I know. But when I look at my mom she has had a great group of ladies, who have supported one another through marriages, divorces, pregnancies and teenagers. Some from college and some from when we moved to Oregon and I feel like I don't have that and I wish I did.

Maybe that is my own fault for being a tough, independent, tomboy (probably). But I hope someday, when I'm older I will be able to look back and say "wow, I am lucky."

Going along with this I would like to point out I have amazing guy friends. But it's not the same. And over last summer, Thanksgiving and Christmas, I went through a whole re-evaluation of my friendships and only wanted to surround myself with those positive people what really wanted what was best for me and not just kids I grew up with. A decision I still stand by.

So my question to all of you is, do you have a Miranda, Samatha, and Charlette? If so, who and how do you support one another?