Monday, June 21, 2010

2010 Men's World Cup

10 am and I' watching the Chile/Switzerland soccer match, the second of three games each team plays before countries are eliminated from the month-long competition. I love this game, for many reasons Here's a short list:

1. It's not your typical American sport
2. How many things can you NOT use your hands for?
3. The televised games only have commercials at halftime.
4. Each team is from another part of the World
5. Virtually every emotion is packed into a 90 minute window

Watching the teams play, I'm reminded of my own experience at grad school, and then also looking for jobs. There are moments of players really pushing themselves to run JUST A LITTLE FASTER, to try JUST A BIT HARDER. This is physically amazing. There is a strict protocol to play without cursing at the referee or fighting with the other players. The teams have to respect each other. There is extreme joy at a goal made, ESPECIALLY if is done in a clever, skin-of-your-teeth kind of way. There is extreme disappointment when a goal is ALMOST made, but perhaps not because a foot wasn't angled right or a teammate wasn't there to see something through. There is extreme pride when a goalkeeper does his job well, acting as an iron wall that cannot be crossed. It breaks my heart to see a team lose, yet I feel ecstatic for the teams that win. My least favorite teams are the ones that don't play aggressively. I don't mean dirty, I mean sharp and on point. In this game you HAVE to use your teammates. Sure, there are key players, but ultimately the ball has to work its way through the constantly changing set up of players. I think of it as high speed chess!

Can't wait until next year - the WOMEN'S World Cup!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Italy


Last week I was in Italy for a lighting workshop at the Targetti Lighting Academy. It was great, although I had jetlag for like three days and was simply tired from working very hard all week. But Florence is very beautiful. Adorable, in fact. I'm currently trying to write an article reviewing the whole experience, to submit to AL magazine, so be on the look out!

New nephew!


Supposed to be born today, little Tristan, the first child of my brother, Chris, and his beautiful wife, Thom!

I'm so excited! This is truly a blessing.

Life after graduation


Well, here it is. School is over and the job market is a blood bath. Competing against your good friends for the same job is NOT my idea of a good time. Still, while making follow-up calls today, expecting everyone to simply say "No, we're not hiring" I had one woman say "Well, we're not hiring, but we received your resume and will keep it on file. You just gotta keep pushing ahead, you've got a great degree and you just gotta keep your head up, now be sure to check this website and this one too......" I was laughing on the phone and thanked her for her advice.

Tomorrow I drive to Washington Depot, CT to interview with a firm that has been pursuing me. (Probably they have called everyone in my class). It's a tiny town but a woman owned business, that might provide a great opportunity to work as a designer straight out of school! We'll see. Connecticut living might provide the kind of home life that's conducive to having a puppy!