Working 12+ hour Days

After working multiple 12+ hours multiple days in a row and your office is called the Annex (and it's under ground), the need to see the outside world grows stronger and stronger. At least mine is anyway.

Meet my little window. So far, it looks like nothing is happening and it's kind of gloomy. I feel a tincy bit better about working inside all day.

PS Yup it's selection Sunday and I am working, this window really does make me feel better about life.

Jon Bon Jovi

The last two nights I was stuck at work (and I mean that in a good way) for 12+ hours. The positive side of this? Jon Bon Jovi was involved.

I had never been to a Jovi concert and I never fully understood the screaming and crying women or how he could come to the same city multiple times in a year and sell out venues with seating capacities of over 17,000. After a Tuesday and Wednesday night performance, all I can say is I get it.

PS I've been living on a prayer all week, maybe it's time for some bad medicine? What evs, it's my life anyway. Oh and while I'm on a roll, blogger friends, I'll be there for you....

Bon Jovi at the UC

Oh look, Bon Jovi's stuff arrived to the UC and it's sitting right outside my office.

But wait... who's Skippy?

Date Night

The hubs and I received a very nice gift the other day, that's right, we got time to have a date. The first date night of 2011.

So what if it was a Wednesday or the fact that the date took place at my place of work. We got to "sit on the ice" and it was awesome. Here's a sneak peak of all our fun.



Oh and if you look hard you may spot my new hair. Thoughts?

CLICK THIS LINK (not spam I promise)

Click this link, go quickly, do it!

In the 80s I may or may not have had a crush on NKOTB and in the 90s I may or may not have had a crush on BSB. Whatever my story may be, work forces me to follow concert tours stopping at the UC. Today I found this link and I'm in love.

Why?

1.  It's a reminder that baseball season is around the corner (pitchers and catchers report in 18 days - true story)
2. I think the marketing displayed in this web form is just perfect, it captures the venue and the tour in a way that just makes sense (believe me I will be letting the promoters know how much I love this)
3. I sit in dark basement office with the tech guys (don't get me wrong, they are great guys) but the realism in the clouds make me think that I am somewhere else. AND I LOVE THAT.

Kudos NKOTBSB marketing team, Kudos.

PS if you click every link that I included, I am sorry to say I fooled you. Yup, every hyper link goes to this - http://nkotb.com/ GOTCHA!

Surprise Birthday Party

A little late but to end my husbands 30th Birthday weekend, I threw him a surprise Birthday at the United Center for a Blackhawks vs Predators game. Awesome right?!?

I booked the 40 person super suite at the Madhouse (which was freakin sweet BTW) and was able to get 40 of Landon's friends and relatives to travel to Chicago to join us on the hub's very special day. At first I was surprised about how much interest there was in coming out for Landons Birthday, but let's be honest, I have a pretty great husband so I wasn't that surprised.

our view from the suite, this taken post game, check out all the banners

the Birthday boy with all the girls in his life

the birthday boy with all the girls he wants in his life, go ice crew?

Happy Birthday lover!

Note to self: Read this when down

I probably don't say it enough but being 26 and having a job, better yet, a job I really like, makes me feel really happy. Sure I work some weird hours and have to give up long weekends but when pieces of your life all just start to fit together perfectly...you just have to go with it. I mean how many people get to see this on a daily basis? 

Great job, wonderful husband, healthy family, great friends... right now, I'm really happy. That needs to be recorded so the next time I am not, I can at least look back at this and smile.

Random Blackberry Photos Take 2

A few more Randoms to clean up before the new year. (Other's found here)

My daily view on my way to work. Love Chicago!

The 1tt tree we ever had that we didn't cut down. It's also our 1st ever Griswold tree, more here.

Our new house has really bare walls. Our tree was lacking presents since Landon and I decided our house was our Christmas. Most of these presents went to cousin Buddy.

Minne running away from the cold at our old apartment. You can tell my the door that it was ghetto.

My custom jersey that you'll see featured on our Holiday card that should arrive sometime in 2011.

Minne super pissed that I brought my work home with me.

The start of putting together our basement.

REMINDER: Need to update this hallway for work.

Minne making sure Buddy isn't doing anything bad.

"Can we sleep in a few more minutes mom?"

Classic Buddy, waiting for someone to feed him.

Where's the Level for Inappropriate?

Any one see anything inappropriate with this? Or do you think this is just awesome like my husband?

Please keep in mind that the United Center is my place of work.

Roger Waters The Wall



Last week I had the please of working/enjoying 3 out of 4 Roger Water performances. I knew nothing about Roger waters other than that he played with Pink Floyd and I grew up listening to my grandma and dad listening to them.

At the show I was pleasantly surprised that I knew every song. Although my grandma couldn't come up for the shows, it was great to be able to share the experience with my mom and dad.

Even if you weren't a Pink Floyd lover, even if you didn't completely understand the entire show, the props and the performance itself was something short of spectacular. I especially enjoyed the current day references to our current political war state.

If Roger Waters is coming to a theater any where near you, I highly recommend that you dish out the dough and see this show.

PS It's amazing that I get to work a show like The Wall and later that week prep for an on sale date for Lady Gaga Tickets. Life can be so good sometimes.

Princess

I grew up in a family surrounded by little girls, in my family we were all princesses, weren't you? So it should come as no surprise that when the Disney Princess on Ice show comes to the UC, I get really really pumped. Since my department is predominately male, I have to secretly contain all my excitement. Normally I am not shy about these things but I get made fun of enough as it is.

This week I am consumed with all things Princess. It's hard for me to share photos with you but if you want to see some cutie patooties you should for sure check out this link, it may even bring you back to your childhood days.

Happy feel like a princess day!

Email From The CIO

Reminder, tomorrow – Friday are event days, for dress code purposes. You can wear business attire, or dress as your favorite Disney Princess

To wear or not to wear a princess costume to work tomorrow....

Busted

Today one of my friends busted me at work...but luckily I was REALLY doing work. Yup I get paid to understand, know and work the social media system. Sometimes, life is awesome to you.

Chicago Free Agency Text

Image from ChicagoBulls.com

In text messages over thoughts about the craziness that the NBA free agency is bring to Chicago, the Bulls and my work the United Center, I get this from one of my besties:

"I hope you're doin ur part to bring these boys here--show some boob or something!"

If you follow the NBA or even just the Chicago Bulls, you know which "boys" she is refering to. Pretty sure if I showed by boobs today would probably be the last day of my job so I'll pass but I did get a good laugh at the text. Hope you do too, Happy Free Agency Thursday.

Day After Blackhawks Win

Driving into work this morning, I felt compelled to drive down Madison it was a Stanley Cup hot mess. Luckily for the city of Chicago, we have one of these.

I worked my way into the United Center and got to work. After cleaning up all the media monitors, the cables, and what not I was filthy and hungry.

Post lunch, there was rumor that the Stanley Cup was in the building. Crap, I look terrible but I needed the photo op. Wouldn't you? So I made my way to the room housing the cup.  As I walked in the Blackhawks staff was hoisting the Cup up in the window so the fans outside by the Jordan/Toews statue could take a peak!! Look at it shine!

I did get a photo with the cup, but I don't have an electric copy yet. So in the meantime, I thought I would sare this. In the locker room of the 2010 Stanley Cup winners. What's not to love about this place?

That's right, raise that cup!

More photos coming soon and perhaps some coverage of tomorrow's parade & festivites? See you here!

Text From the Hubs

Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals is going on at my work, the United Center right now and this is the text I get from my hubs...

"Who is the team in red, they're good! Too bad they didn't play for us in Philly"

I am guessing he think's that he is hilarious

Minne Blackhawks Monday

Happy Minne Monday, life for our family has been insane. This weekend I have spent a lot of hours at the United Center prepping for Game 1 and Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. So far the Blackhawks are up 1-0 as we enter game 2. Fingers crossed for another big win.

Meanwhile, Minne has been cheering the Blackhawks on from home since the UC has a strict “no pets” policy. She melts my heart with this little look of hers. Here she is resting her head on the hubs leg as she's watching some sports highlights.

Even though she can't be at the games, she has no problem routing on the Mighty Blackhawks. Here’s a photo taken at a parade with Minne, the hubs and the Blackhawk’s mascot Tommy the Hawk.

Fingers crossed for a big win for Game 2 tonight.

A Busy Busy Blackhawk Friday

So remember when I said I was going to be super busy? Well, here's a video snippet of what's been going on in the lives of every one at the United Center. Video courtesy of the United Center. Enjoy!

Blackhawks - One Goal

I just realized I do not have "attending a Stanley Cup Final" game on my 2010 To Do List. What is wrong with me?

Since the Finals start this weekend, bare with me if I am a little slow on postings. Between being a United Center employee and a Blackhawks fan I have some very strict priorities ahead of me.

#LetsGoHawks #LetsGoHawks #LetsGoHawks #LetsGoHawks #LetsGoHawks #OneGoal

Happy Friday!

Today is a huge day because my work, the United Center will be welcoming the Blackhawks home for game 3 of the conference finals. We're hoping for a big win today but an even bigger win on Sunday. With that said, I thought I would feature one of the songs that the hubs has been singing and blasting around the house. Lets hope we can sing this one in Chicago.