Chicago turns the big 1-7-7 today- fingers crossed it wishes for warm weather when it blows out the candles on its cake.
When No One is Watching
Last week, I read that a woman in Cleveland who was in charge of a job bank had sent a pretty wretched response to a young job seeker who requested her connection on LinkedIn. This woman persisted in her rudeness even after the young person tried to explain her desire to connect and after another nasty response, the emails hit the internet and went viral.
“I love the sense of entitlement in your generation,” she wrote, then continued. “You’re welcome for your humility lesson for the year. Don’t ever reach out to senior practitioners again and assume their carefully curated list of connections is available to you, just because you want to build your network. Don’t ever write me again.”
Another response of hers has since gone viral too and it was worse.
I thought about this article over the weekend. It irked me.
At first, I thought what bothered me was that this woman clearly doesn’t understand how LinkedIn works or that being an “award winning” communicator was ironic or that it was entirely unnecessary to send such a rude response.
No. What is upsetting about this situation is that this Ms. Blazek clearly did not see her behavior as being a problem until she got caught.
She sent emails like this to what we can guess is many people who were reaching out to her, a job assistance professional, to inquire about jobs. Instead of just declining the request or not responding at all, she made it her job to shame these individuals for their requests. Yes, after being on the national news for her lack of professionalism and decency, she has apologized to those who shared their emails with the press.
But what about those who didn’t?
You don’t go through your day not killing kittens or kicking homeless people because you’re afraid you’ll look bad if you do…you don’t do those things because you’re not an asshole. And because what you do when no one is watching defines your character.
A world where people like this alleged business professional exists is frightening. It’s a world where decisions about how we treat those around us are informed by whether or not we’ll “get in trouble”. This woman got in trouble, her behavior was made wildly public…and so she apologized. If no one but the recipients knew, would she have continued in her perceived position of power to verbally reprimand members of her community who were looking for assistance in employment?
“Looking good” be damned- when did we stop being good?
Yes, this is a story of a Cleveland woman having the lid blown off her heinousness and being sorry but really- it’s lesson to us all in what we do when no one is watching and how, god willing, we want to be and do good regardless.
This Week
It’s Monday and time to put noses back to the grindstone. Or, in Luna Bell’s case, nose to the iPad.
This week, I vow to:
-stop looking at the 10 day forecast. So depressing.
-tackle every item on my to-do list, not just the ones that I want to do.
-cancel our paper subscription to the Wall Street Journal. We only read it on our mobile apps and throwing away a paper every day is so wasteful.
-drink more water
-read for enjoyment
-see my grandmother
-take my mother to tea
What about you? Anything on your “I will” agenda this week?
TGIF
Luna Bell and her new best friend.
TGIF, folks- happy weekend!
TBT
It always comes back, it always comes back, it always comes back…
Zoodles and a Gluten-Free Update
When I decided in January to go gluten-free, it was to see if a change in my diet would have any affect on how I was feeling- lethargic after I ate, stomach pains and overall just not great.
And the answer is absolutely yes.
Now almost 2 months in, I am seeing the food I eat feel like actual fuel, I have noticeably more energy (which is saying something with this weather) and my stomach issues are all but gone.
Now, because I don’t have celiac disease/gluten won’t hurt me, hurt me, when I have wanted a piece of pizza or real pasta on weekends, I have gone for it. With the exception of the night of grilled cheese and craft beer (hello, middle of the night agony), it’s been fine and I’ve enjoy the balance.
However, because there are SO many options when going out and I have found new recipes I love, I am finding that choosing gluten-free is actually becoming my choice. It makes me feel good and I genuinely enjoy the foods I am eating. And it’s fun. Why?
Because zoodles.
Zucchini Noodles = Zoodles.
And I thought spaghetti squash was radical…now I have 2 options when I want g-free Italian goodness.
Step 1: spiral whole zucchini with a spiraler- mine is GEFU.
Step 2: season with salt and pepper; cook for 3-4 minutes, tossing until fully cooked.
Step 3: Top your zoodles with your topping of choice. For me, that meant steamed kale and marinara sauce.
Picture Wall Cool
2 things I am into right now: images of cool offices and career profiles of cool women. The Everygirl delivered both today.
Adding this to my archive of picture wall inspiration…I’m fairly convinced that despite all of the inspiration and how-to guides, my wall will end up looking more like Aunt Bethel’s staircase wall (you know what I’m talking about) and less like the effortlessly cool look I am going for.
Made Up Holidays for The Win
Kathie Lee and Hoda alerted me to the fact that it’s National Margarita Day so tonight is make your own taco salad and marg night at our house! It’s concerning how seriously I take the 3rd hour of the Today Show, I didn’t even fact check this holiday. But margaritas and Mexican food make me think of summer and this is a weekend of rut busting so…cheers and TGIF!
Rut Busting Weekend Plans
I need to level with you: this weekend ain’t lookin’ good. Below 20 degrees again, maybe snow and if that wind outside is any indication…yeah. No bueno. I cannot handle another weekend of hibernating (or questionable shoe choices in snow banks) so let’s brainstorm, bust out of our Chiberia weather ruts and make this weekend awesome, shall we?
–Eataly: just going to dinner isn’t going to cut it- you need food built into an activity to make it worth venturing out into the cold. Grab a glass of wine, peruse the cheese emporium, glass of wine, slice of focaccia pizza, glass of wine, salami section, Nutella bar, glass of wine. Double points for making friends at the communal tables while commiserating about the weather. Bottle of wine.
–Headquarters Beercade: Awesome selection of craft beer and free arcade games. Yes, the crowd is a little weird but throw people watching into the beer-game combo and you’re adding time to this activity. Extra point.
Cooking Class: learn something new this weekend and take a class at The Chopping Block or Cook Au Vin. I am about 29 years overdue for The Chopping Block’s knife skills class so I may be taking that this weekend so Ryan stops yelling “you’re going to lose a finger!” every time I go near a knife.
Fairways: 2 words: indoor golf & old fashioneds. Okay, 4 words. Tee times are booked for this weekend already but let’s be honest, next weekend is going to be freezing too and they book 7 days in advance so make a reservation to work on that golf swing.
Olympic Viewing Parties: basically every bar in Chicago has something going on but the tater tot eating competition at Olympwick’s (i.e. Sedgwick’s), the 10 Days of burgers at Kirkwood’s and Howells and Hood’s Winter Game Flight are piquing my interest. Also, wear something patriotic while you’re at it.
House of Cards: I know, this was probably your activity last weekend but if you really want to lay low this weekend, order some pizza and pop this on. I have never better spent $7.99 a month- season 2 of this series on Netflix is legit.