Geology ROCKS!

We’ve al had to run work errands throughout our professional lives – quick trip to Kinko’s to oversee printing, sprint to FedEx to make the last shipment, and the mad dash to Starbucks before the bossman gets in. These errands are done so that you can personally ensure the quality of the work and confidently confirm that everything is correct. So when I was asked to take a road trip with my boss to look at a stone that we had selected for our project’s fountain, I assumed this would be a quick jaunt up the road and a nice way to get out of the office. I soon learned that this welcomed field trip was more like an obligatory odyssey – a TEN HOUR journey to Punxsutawney, PA (yes home to our country’s beloved groundhog) to visit a sandstone quarry to inspect the block or rock we purchased. No radio, minimal conversation, and an abundance of long silences. Just in case you were wondering – the stone looks just like you’d suspect a large hunk of sandstone to look like.

Big Girls DO Cry

Have you ever found yourself in your boss’s office attempting to problem solve and explain yourself? Usually this ends in some form of amicable and rational solution where a plan is devised but in my case today it ended in tears. This industry is one that will chew you up and spit you out if you let it so quick adaptation is crucial. As the only junior and female person in real estate development, I am learning how to have thick skin which I thought was a skill of mine prior to beginning this job. Despite my antibodies to harsh criticism, difficult decisions, and the occasional mistakes, the tears welled up inside of me and I couldn’t stop them if I tried. It was like trying to stop a runaway freight train – not happening. So I cried, got the issue off my chest, and then have been fretting about it for the rest of the day. Just thought I’d share.

My Fantasy Doesn't Involve Football

Tailgates. Crisp Fall Weather. Team Spirit and Smack Talk. That is what I think of when football season comes around. In my office, I learned a whole new kind of football; indoor, introverted, computer stalking football. In the Fall, Fantasy Football consumes most males I know both personally and professionally. The amount of time spent drafting, researching stats, injury reports, trading players has been an eye opening experience. Even my boyfriend is wrapped around the little finger of this cyber sports phenomenon [re: checking his iphone at dinner to see how his squad did]. When asked if I wanted to participate in Fantasy Football this year, I had no idea that my abstention would make me the social pariah of the office. Lesson Learned.

Male Motorists: Did You Miss the Memo?

Public Service Announcement:
Guys - Whistling, honking, and catcalling at girls while whizzing down a 45 mph road is not flattering and will not result in anything positive. Today I was on the construction site with three attractive female consultants to the project and in a period of 15 minutes, we experienced four different uncomfortable experiences. We even had a male motorist pull over and ask for directions when he clearly knew where he was going. "A" for creativity but "F" for execution. I am not a relationship blogger but I would suggest that the best way to meet someone does not involve a moving vehicle and a loud shout.

I am going to turn into a French Fry.

Lunch time in corporate America is the one acceptable break in the day. Whether you have to run an errand or need some fresh air, high noon is the time to act. With this being said, lunch time as a new employee is like third grade recess. I often think to myself, “Am I going to get invited to grab a bite with the boys?” “Will I be left eating alone and gchatting to have some social interaction?” Working with all men, I have found that the least awkward way to interact socially is to accept lunch invitations. I am not only the one female but also the youngest, I usually defer to the hankerings of the masses, which inevitably involves some form of fried food. I have tried to peel off, grab a salad, and join but I never escape the side comments of not being able to have a cheeseburger with the guys. My brilliant plan of seamless social immersion has only lead to tighter clothes and clogged arteries. And I only thought that you could leave the playground with a skinned knee…

Lollipop, Lollipop

Myth – men do not have a sweet tooth. Fact - the candy bowl is the new water cooler. Forget self control, deviate from the diet, screw cavities, and don’t be picky about the sweet treat selection. All the good stuff is said around the candy bowl.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

Email signatures in the workplace are something so trivial, yet so important. Often I find myself milling over whether I should take a hard tone with no signature or do the obligatory “thanks” when you aren’t really thanking anyone for anything. Sometimes I throw in a “kind regards”, “sincerely” and the ever-ambiguous “best” (what does that even mean?) but usually I don’t get too worked up about how I end my electronic note. That all changed the other day. I was typing furiously and trying to simultaneously respond to my associate colleague’s email while writing a quick note to my college roommate on my non-work email. I thought I was switching applications with care but when I checked my sent box I found myself cursing in a whisper. I quickly realized that I accidentally signed my colleagues email (which was in regards to concrete prices) XoXo. AWKWARD. Moral of the story – proofread.