Rosh Hashanah Cannot Make Today's Meeting

Remember the good old days of dial-up America Online? Using the only phone line in the house to go into a Hanson chatroom and discuss whether Taylor's favorite color was blue or red (answer: red)? Sending an email to your crush in the 8th grade confessing your undying love for him, telling him he looks like Leo in Romeo and Juliette? Realizing you're about to make a complete fool of your 7th-grade self and quickly hitting the "unsend" button?

No? I was the only one utilizing the unsend button?

If only we had that for work. Well, some of us Working Girls do have the ability to retract an email depending on our email program. However, these programs give the recipient the option of letting the sender retract it or reading the email and then allowing the sender to retract, completely defeating the purpose or retracting the email.

Let's be honest, we've all addressed an email to the wrong person before. Or made an embarrassing typo. But nothing I've ever done beats this email that surfaced last week on Defamer: 

I bet Michelle wishes she could have retracted this email once she realized that Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish high holy day which many people take of to observe. What I'd like to know is have any of you sent out embarrassing emails or is it just me and Michelle, the Dreamworks employee?

Waiting is the Pits

I am officially in the limbo stage of trying to find a new job for my new life in Chicago (or rather old life that I'm trying to resurrect). I am in the Waiting Room - that little room that companies put you in after you interview and they are "thinking things over". It is pure torture.

I might pull out my hair from the sheer stress of waiting.

As you might be able to tell, I am finally back in New York after my four day trip back to Chicago for my interviews (yes, plural!). The first interview took place on Thursday afternoon and it was in the 'burbs. Which I discovered wouldn't be that rough to commute to everyday even though I had at one point last week referred to it as "reverse commute hell". The traffic getting out of the city wasn't too horrible. It was actually a breeze and I arrived an hour an a half early for my allotted time to interview. Whoops. Luckily for me this little 'burb had just built a new strip mall with all the stores a girl like me can entertain herself with (Ann Taylor, White House Black Market, Victoria's Secret). Ah, how I love Illinois and its large expanses of prairie that allow for large outdoor strip malls.

I think the interview went well. I hope. I pray. Fingers crossed that it went well. I say this because I feel like I was somewhat ambushed. Meaning when I arrived for my interview I was informed that I would be meeting with not just one friendly interviewer, I would need to meet with 5. It was a sort of round robin. All the interviewees came that day and we all got juggled between the 5 interviewers. It was intimidating and also weird that I had to see my competition. Not that I will ever know, but I'm pretty sure Nate will not get the job. He was a sweaty mess of nerves. Sorry kid, maybe next time.

There are some things I said that I wanted to pat myself on the back for, and there were some things I said that I instantly wished I could take back. I do this after every interview I've ever had though. Scrutinize my every move until it makes me sick with worry. Which is what I've been doing ever since I left that office 3 hours after I arrived (a very intense 3 hours). That kid Nate has nothing on my nerves now. I am a wreck.

Luckily, my second interview went very well. It was with a staffing agency so I was obviously less nervous. The girl I met with said she was going to recommend me to her supervisor who would then present my resume to the medical journal that is looking to hire a temporary editorial assistant. My gig would be a temp-to-hire one, which means if they so chose to the company I was working for could hire me full time after my three months were up. Unfortunately, this means I would be getting paid hourly. But on the other hand, if I didn't like it I wouldn't feel obligated to stay after those three months were up.

I also had the opportunity to meet with our family friend who also lives and works in the 'burbs for a small local magazine. She gave me some tips. I got to see her kids (who are as adorable as Suri Cruise). And she bought me some delicious cookies. Yum in my tum.

All in all, it was a very productive two days. I got a lot done. I met with a lot of people. And now I'm just stuck in the Waiting Room. Waiting, waiting, and waiting for some answers.

Meeting Notes

Notes From This Week's Meeting is a weekly feature. Here we will dish on tidbits, news, and important things we think you Working Girls should know. So scroll down to hear what we think you should glean from this work week.

• One of WG1 and mine's go-to sites for the job search is Ed2010. If you're looking for a job in the world of publishing or magazines, this is the place to hit up. Each semester Ed gives an unpaid intern working at a magazine in NYC the opportunity to win a cash prize of $1,000. Because Ed knows how ridiculously expensive NYC is. For rules and an application, click here. Fyi, deadline is September 30, 2008. So get a typing!



• It is officially official. Our favorite character on The Hills (which we are SO over btw), Whitney Port, is getting a spin-off. MTV will follow around the tall blonde while she works for Diane von Furstenburg and lives in the Big Apple. Look for the show to premiere in early 2009. This news is magic to my "I have fallen out of love with The Hills" ears.



• I am the first person to admit that I don't know how to walk in high heels. My feet cramp, bleed, get blisters. I whine. So I wear flats. But I might just bust out the $19.95 for the workout DVD LegWork. It promises to increase your sexiness and confidence, not to mention decreasing your pain while wearing five inch stilettos. I'll take one. Kthanksbye. 

• I stumbled upon a website a few weeks ago that I just had to share with the class. Damsels in Success is an oasis for women in the workplace. This website is all about providing a forum for women to discuss, rant, rave, and support each other with their working woes and triumphs. In other words, what we hope and aspire to be someday. And we so love the name of the company (and secretly wish we had thought of it ourselves). 

• Hopefully, you WG's all caught Project Runway last week (and if you didn't, I'm sure it will play five more times between now and Sunday) when the designers had to design for the Working Girl. Some ideas? So out-dated. I didn't hate Joe's outfit, but Suede and those sleeves! Lord almighty. Let's just say the right design won. And if you don't have time to catch the episode get the quick dish from Michael Kors' blog. 

We hope you have a good weekend Working Girls!

I'm a Fashionista

Or at least I pretended to be one today. 

At 7:00 AM this morning, I bored the Amtrak Acela Express from New York to Washington, D.C. for a magazine sponsored beauty event. 

The event was held at a certain beauty counter at a department store in the Metro D.C. area. The particular beauty company is a sponsor of a corporate program and today's event was part of their sponsorship. The beauty company wanted beauty or fashion editors to attend the event to give consumers tips for fall fashion and beauty advice, what they got was me. 

They didn't know I was just a marketing coordinator who hopes every morning that my make-up is close to flawless and that my outfit is somewhat put together, they thought I was an editor. So, I had to fake it. 

The most important part of this task was my outfit. At 5:45 AM I put on a pair of wide-leg dark-wash jeans, a tailored white shirt, purple cardigan, gold skinning belt and white ballet flats (for the train ride, there was no way I was putting my black pumps a second before I had to).

To prep, on the train I read September and October issues of fashion magazines and I learned that purple is in for fall.

So, I stood at the beauty counter for two hours and told virtually every women who sat down for a make-up touch-up or foundation consultation that she should try purple for the fall. I varied what she should try, of course, a purple scarf, purple eye shadow, purple accessories. Purple. Purple. Purple. 

That's what you get when you send the marketing coordinator to pretend she's a fashion editor. Good thing the beauty counter girls were loving on purple for the fall just as much as the fashion magazines.

I'll Give Myself an A- For Effort

About a month ago, I admitted that I'm not much of a weekday party animal (unlike my new roommate Natalie).

After I posted I got really motivated to make plans and be more proactive about living life on the weekdays and not letting my weekdays bring me down and subsequentially leave me a couch potato in front of shows like 90210 and Top Design (I don't even like them!).

WG1 had also expressed interest in doing more (because at this point in time she was still living with her dad and had no life - sorry WG1 but you know it's true). Anyway, WG1 suggested we attend a DailyCandy soiree after work one night. The party seemed promising. It was a summer "white party" with summery cocktails, light appetizers, and the first 50 guests were promised a new snazzy electric toothbrush (thrilling I know).

So WG1 and I decided since the party didn't start until 7 that we'd grab drinks beforehand at a bar down the street. But when we turned the corner we realized that the line was already at least 100 people deep. So we got in line. And waited. And waited. And waited some more. I think we waited an hour and half and when we finally entered the coveted DailyCandy party, we made a beeline for the bar.

"We'll have two of these special cocktails," I said pointing at the bar menu.

"Oh, we're all out."

"Out of alcohol?" WG1 asked in pure shock.

"Yep, sorry girls." The bartender then scuttled away from our angry eyes. I'm really good at angry eyes btw.

We both took one look at one another and without words exited the bar. So our big night out ended up being a bust. On a lighter note, we ended up finding a really cute little restaurant nearby where we enjoyed some really great artichoke dip and of course wine to wash it down with. We also made some new friends in line while waiting so we officially felt social and had a great meal to boot.

Moral of the story. I don't really have one. I think I just wanted to prove that I'm not always lame and do manage to get out after work.

And that do be a good Working Girl, you have to let off some steam every once in a while. And I'm trying my darndest to get out there more. For example, WG1 and I had drinks with our friend Hannah a few weeks ago, we had a amazing meal at Buddakan last week (where we saw Dale from Top Chef!), and next week my gay bff from work promised to take me on a date to bar Porkies where 12-Pack from I Love NY bartends once a week (I kid you not).

So I think I'm doing pretty well. I'm no party animal. But I'm no couch potato either.

Be Nice, (Potential) Intern

This semester, I have the world's best intern. She dresses appropriately for work and has phenomenal manners. She's even proactive, asks the right questions and seems genuinely interested in magazine marketing. My summer interns, with the exception of one, were horrible. But getting this great fall intern did not come easily. 

Each potential intern must fill out an application. One applicant answered the question "What books, magazines, etc. do you enjoy reading in your free time?" with "I only read what is required for class."

That application also asked if the applicant reads or subscribes to the magazine. This same application replied with "I sometimes subscribe." How, I wonder does one sometimes subscribe?

Based on these responses on her application, we decided not to interview her. However, having begun our intern search late in the summer when most students had already secured internships for the fall, we became desperate. We caved and asked her to come in and interview. 

In my e-mail correspondence to her I wrote the following e-mail:

Hi Potential Intern,

Thank you for your interest in interning at Working Girl Magazine.  We'd like to come in for an interview. Are you available Wednesday at 11AM?

Best,

Working Girl One

Her response:

12:30.

Seriously. That was all she wrote. Needless to say, the interview was abysmal and we did not offer her the job. After we left her a message informing her that we offered the internship to another candidate who was more professional, she called back and demanded we call her back the next day by 11AM. 

We didn't call.

Jinx, You Owe Me a Coke

I am highly superstitious. 'Things happen for a reason' is my mantra mainly because whenever I really, really want something to happen it never does. So the mantra helps me to believe that just because I didn't get what I want means I wasn't supposed to. That fate had something else in store.

Point being, I am leaving for Chicago again on Wednesday night for more interviews. I'll arrive around 7 p.m. central time, just in time to take a cab over to my dad's abode and watch ANTM (I am obsessed even though Tyra might have actually lost her mind last episode) and proceed to get a good night's rest. Because Thursday I have an interview. I have an interview with a legit awesome company for a job that on paper sounds like a dream come true...except for the fact that it's in the suburbs. 

But even though this job has 'reverse commute hell' stamped all over it, I can't help but want it. Badly. And I'm worried that by talking about, writing about, thinking about is going to jinx my chances of getting it (I am aware that blogging about it also lies in this realm of jinx). I'm sure I sound crazy. I sound crazy to myself. But I'm worried that if I want this job too badly that I'm going to jinx myself out of getting it. Jinx myself out of being able to move back to Chicago. 

I think my idea of fate is going to give me an early heart attack. 

So Working Girls, I'm hoping you can help ease my troubled mind (jinx is making the act of enjoying Gossip Girl very difficult - yes, it's that bad). Have you ever wanted a job so badly and gotten the job? And if you have, did you do anything special to snag it? I am enlisting your help. 

P.S. I just googled the word 'jinx' for an image to throw in here since this post was pretty bland in comparison to others and have found that the word 'jinx' is a popular name for goth girls and anime characters with pink hair. Which oddly helped calm my nerves. 

Working Girl Rents The Office (UK)

I really wanted to write a post today about my irrational fear of recessions which turn into the Great Depression 2008, but WG1 convinced me that was a really bad idea since I know nothing about finance or banking (aka why my fears are irrational). Just in case you wanted to know, I also have irrational fears of mice and Amy Winehouse (her beehive filled with crack really scares the shit out of me). 

Anyway, I decided to forgo my previous idea and instead write about my past weekend. While most 20-somethings were partying it up in the citay, I stayed home...in my bed...with ice cream...and watched the original version of The Office on DVD. 

As an avid fan of the American version of The Office, I expected great things and many laughs. What I did not expect was only 6 episodes. Yes, in the United Kingdom a "series" is only 6 episodes. A full season of episodes in the US is around 22 episodes. So I think you can see why I was disappointed. And color me surprised that The Office in the UK only lasted for two seasons. 6+6=12 (just in case you are mathematically challenged like myself). 

All right so despite my initial shock to learn that I could watch the entire two seasons in one day, I learned that I really love the original Office and that America completely and utterly stole the entire idea and story plots for their own. The American characters Pam & Jim -- yep, they were Tim & Dawn in the UK. Michael, Dwight, Kevin, Jan -- yes, they're all products of the original as well. And the entire first episode is almost exactly the same right down to the stapler in the JELL-O bit (minus the accents of course). 

After you see beyond the similarities of the two shows, you absolutely fall in love with The Office. Ricky Gervais is amazing at making you feel bad for his character socially awkward David Brent, but five seconds later he has the ability to make you want to jump into the TV to punch him for his sexist/racist remarks. His comedic timing is spot on. Which of course leads me to his supporting characters (which there are a lot less of). My favorites of course were Gareth (the Dwight of the show) and Tim (who is just so adorable that I want to eat his little face). Gareth is more weasel-like and smarmy, but a former soldier which makes for great jokes. Tim makes your heart melt. Swoon.

Unfortunately, I think I may be a bit prejudiced when it comes to which I enjoy more. I watched the American show first, and there are more episodes to keep me occupied. There were some things about this version however that I liked more. Overall, it seems more believable. And from watching the special behind-the-scenes featurette on disc 2 I found out that they really shot the show in a real office building (not a set!) and that they were so loud that they were asked to tone it down by the other offices in the building. I also felt like the characters are a tad more believable. Every single one of them seemed like they could work at my office. But I truly think that is the nature of British television - it's all shot in a way that makes it seem more real (unless it's East Enders, sorry but not real at all). 

Also, the whole premise of The Office is that it is being shot as a documentary. Sometimes when watching the American version you forget that, but with the UK version it's obvious because it's choppy and not all the scenes fit perfectly together. But that's the point! So I love that aspect. 

But as an American I am a lover of happy endings. The full circle is something I expect. And The Office in the UK could care less if we want Tim and Dawn to live happily ever after. 

My recommendation is to rent the entire 12 hours when you have a free Saturday lying around. It's a great substitute for bad Lifetime movies. 

Exhausted by the Whole Thing

This time last week I told you I was drained. Too drained to write a post. One of my roommate's token phrases as of late is "I'm just so exhausted by the whole thing." Last night, as I tried to determine what I should write about, she asked if that's how I was feeling about Working Girl. I realized, I'm just so exhausted by the whole work thing and therefore exhausted by Working Girl. Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything crazy and quit the blog or something. 

I'm still drained and exhausted and frustrated but it's about time I just sucked it up and gave you an update about what's going on a work that's draining me then hopefully my creative juices will start flowing again. I typically don't like to talk about things that are bothering me; I haven't even really explained to WG2 what's been going on. 

Three weeks ago our special events manager quit. Not only was she one of my good work friends, she was also my mentor. I've mentioned before that I am interested in working in events and she was helping me learn the business and gave me the opportunity to get more involved in our event planning for the magazine. I was upset that she was leaving but I also realized that perhaps this could mean something good for my career. I got her blessing and she helped me script a conversation with my boss to ask to be considered for her job. Now, as an assistant, going to manager is a big job and it's not one that happens often.

I spoke to my (female) boss. I told her that my interest is in events, that I'd like to be considered for this position even though I'm just an assistant. My biggest argument is that I've been doing coordinator work from day one and that I know for a fact that I've helped improve our department. We're a big magazine but at the end of the day, we just don't have that many events. I could handle it. She told me that my title would be changing to coordinator soon and that once they post the events position as open, we can discuss further.

Last week I met with both of my bosses for my newly implemented weekly meeting with them. They told me what a great job I have been doing and they said that they want to keep me at the magazine and keep me happy. Then they told me they were changing my title to marketing coordinator. They said this was a step in the direction I want to go and they are right. I was happy about this until I realized I want more. 

First, it would have been nice to also get a raise. Second, I want the events job. Third, I'm so over the work I've been doing. I manage monthly programs which was fun when I started because they were mine and I could see the finished product and be proud. Then they became a challenge (in a good way) to improve and master. Now, they are repetitive and boring. 

My "promotion" hasn't been announced and that's frustrating me too. Can a Working Girl get a little recognition? But the most frustrating thing about it is that nothing but my title is changing. My job description is the same as it was when I started; I don't even have new projects to get excited about. I'm ready for something new and I'm not getting that. I thought, for a few days, that I was just in a funk. Unfortunately, I can't chalk this up to a funk and hope to wake up feel better about the situation tomorrow. I'm truly frustrated, drained, bored and I don't know what to do about it...

I Don't Smoke...But I Do Read PerezHilton.com

I have noticed lately that a lot of my fellow employees are smokers.

How can I tell? Yellowed teeth? Check. Reeking of smoke? Check. Vacant from the office at inopportune times? Check and check.

For real, it doesn't bother me that my co-workers smoke. It's their prerogative and their addiction to face. But should their guilty pleasure come with 5 minutes away from the office throughout the day? Because that my friends, those 5 little minutes, make me jealous. And have on occasion made me want to start puffing (but cigarettes are expensive and I am poor).

Those 5 minutes are literally written into our company handbook. Something along the lines of all "employees are allowed five (5) minute cigarette breaks during the work day". Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating. So they probably are really only allotted two breaks per day and they have to be speedy quick. But again, I'm jealous. Very jealous in fact. Leading me to make my next statement. I feel it's somewhat unfair.

Just because I don't choose to fill my lungs with smoke a few times throughout the day doesn't mean that I shouldn't have a break for my own addiction/guilty pleasure. Yes, I think you all know where I'm going with this. Instead of getting a smoking break, I would like to institute company-wide Perez Hilton breaks. Or People.com. Or Pink is the New Blog. Whatever your Internet addiction, I think we non-smokers deserve our own little daily breaks.

I'll admit it. I have an addiction and it's to trashy celebrity gossip in the form of little nuggets of information that Perez Hilton dispenses (almost) on the hour. I keep my hand on the mouse to refresh almost every second of the day. It's pathetic and sad, but I own up to my disease.

Ultimately, I think it's the fair thing to do employers of the world. We gossip blog addicts should get our junkie on with just a little bit of silence just like our fellow smokers.

B.Y.O.T.

My office is now B.Y.O.T: Bring Your Own Tissues. 

Back in the good old days, a Working Girl could walk to the supply closet and grab a green box of Office Depot tissues. Not any longer. With the recession causing higher costs for everything from gas to paper, we are cutting costs. The first thing to go: tissues. Seriously. With cold and flu season upon us, this could be a bad choice. 

Upset by this new development, I ran to the supply closet to secure one of the last boxes of tissues for myself. When I left the office last Friday, my box was neatly sitting on my desk. Upon my return on Monday, the box was missing. Someone stole it. And that, my friends, was the beginning on my draining work week.

I Feel Guilty, Oh So Guilty

A few posts ago I had mentioned that the recent atmosphere at my place of work was making me want to to make some changes in my life. And I've been making a sincere effort on that front. And oddly enough my new job search has made me left with a bad taste in my mouth. I actually feel guilty. All the sneaking and lying to my bosses, oh lordy, it gives me ulcers just thinking about it. Not exactly the reaction you were expecting, huh? Nope, me either.

I guess my guilty feelings are leaking out from my recent glory. Ever since I got back from our big exhibition in Aspen I have been getting a lot of compliments on my work ethic. But while being appreciated is always a perk, I can't hide from the fact that I have horrible health benefits (no dental, i mean seriously??), I don't get paid enough, and I work myself to the bone. My new roommate Natalie had suggested talking the problems out with The Boss. I agree, something needs to be said for things to get better. And I have no doubt in my mind that if I told The Boss that I was thinking about quitting that she would offer me more money and maybe a promotion. But is that really what I want?

This has been my problem of late. What do I really want? Well, if we go back to the basics (bare bone basics if you will), I know I want to be happy. And I know that right now I am not happy. What will make me happier? This question poses more problems and many pros and cons lists. For a while now I have been trying to determine what will make me happy. I thought for a while moving into New York City would solve my problems. Or a new job - any job really. And when WG1 and I were shacking up in our shithole of an apartment, I thought the cure to my bad mood was a clean apartment with beautiful amenities.

I guess my recent unhappiness is really a combination of a few of these things. I truly hated my old apartment, I don't like a lot of things about my job (but do have to admit not all of it is so horrible), and maybe, just maybe I would feel better if I moved to New York City.

But I think deep down the root of my problem is loneliness. I miss the passion I used to have. I miss having a purpose in life. I miss having something to dream of. I feel like somehow I have lost all of that and it all makes me feel lonely. My last solution of applying to graduate school was more of a non-solution. I found out recently that I got wait-listed at my number one choice. And when I didn't get in, sure I was disappointed. But I think what I found I was most disappointed about was the fact that I wouldn't be able to move back to Chicago. For the first time in a long time, I am homesick.

I miss my dad, my sister, my friends from high school, and I miss the city of Chicago. Most of all, I miss the person I used to be when I lived there. Sure, I was wide-eyed and had my head in the clouds. But I feel like that is what I need right now - back to that feeling and to be surrounded by my family who love and can take care of me. It's just what I need right now. I need to get back to my roots - quite literally.

So my new goal is to make myself happy. Part one of that goal is to find a new job and not just any job. In my new job search in the Windy City I have only applied to jobs that seem like they interest me and challenge me - jobs that involve more writing. Even if these jobs might mainly be in marketing, I'm trying to apply for ones that seem more writing based. Making the jump from marketing to editorial isn't the easiest thing in the world so I'm not expecting miracles.

Part two is to move back to Chicago (and get myself a studio apartment). It's hard to believe that I haven't lived at home since I was 18 years old. And it's not like I make frequent visits back to the motherland often. Truly, I maybe get home for two holidays a year. And it hit me that I don't really have that close of a relationship with my dad and sister. Because a phone relationship just isn't cutting it. Family used to be so important to me and I miss being near that unconditional love and support. And that studio apartment. Let's just say I think it's time for some serious "me" time.

Speaking of "me" time, I'm thinking I should get back on the creative writing bandwagon which is going to be part three. Maybe take some classes at night and make an effort to get back to the WG2 that had passion. I used to have passion. And I used to have family. I want those back and this is my big decision in an effort to make myself the happy person I used to be.

Of course all of this lies with the hope that I will be able to find a job in Chicago. I think it would be silly to leave my paying job right now to just pick up and move home with no prospects. I don't want to end up in a new city with no job living with my father. It would be a small nightmare.

I have begun my job search and even went on a very, very last minute trip to Chicago this past weekend for an interview. It went terribly. The company was a joke and the position itself was not something I would be interested in. But the trip itself wasn't a bust. Without a doubt, I realized that I was making the right decision. Being back made me feel different - more light-hearted I suppose. It was also great to be back with my dad and my friends from home. We had a great time catching up (and getting drunk and watching pianists duel).

But for some reason even though this is what I know I want to do (finally after many months of confusion), I still feel guilty lying to The Boss. She thought I was in Chicago to look at more grad schools so I felt even more guilty when she asked me about my search this morning. Even though I don't love my job and my company isn't the best in the world, if I do end up leaving (because really you never know what will happen - I could be here for many more months) I will miss all the friends that I have made.

And yes, I will probably miss The Boss even if she is off her rocker.

WG1 is Drained

Last week was a rough work week and it was only four days long. It's only Tuesday and it seems like this week is going to be even more rough. The busy and rough days have drained all of my creativity therefore making it difficult for me to write a post. I promise to be back in full swing soon and WG2 will be back in action tomorrow. 

-WG1

WG2's Notes from This Week's Meeting

WG1 and I try our hardest to bring you the latest and greatest in news on the working world. Mainly though, that latest and greatest tends to be about us (aka our office gossip and why we don't like our interns). But we didn't start this blog just to moan and groan. We also started it to bring other Working Girls knowledge. 

Enter our new Friday feature: notes from this week's meeting. Here we will dish on tidbits, news, and important things we think you Working Girls should know. So scroll down to hear what we think you should glean from this work week. 

• It's that time of year again girlies (and we don't mean the fall TV season) - fall Fashion Week in New York City starts soon. So, New York Mag got everyone's favorite non-makeup wearing, black-clad boss from The Hills, Kelly Cutrone, to vlog about her day-t0-day grind. Click here to hear all about Kelly's Working Girl drama in trying to deliver invitations to foreign editors. All I know is I would not want to be Whitney right about now. 

• Want to know if you're being underpaid? My guess. Yes. This snazzy little site let's you enter your title and your zip code and gives you the dilly-o on whether or not you're making bank for your expertise. For more information on upping your salary, try checking out www.salary.com. 

• Women stepping over each other to get ahead at work? Sounds like 'Mean Girls Go to Work'. But I get what Hannah Seligson, a freelance journalist and author of New Girl on the Job: Advice from the Trenches is saying in her latest article in the New York Times. In college it felt like girls were all about lifting each other up (sorry did I get too girl power there?). But in our careers, women are more vicious and we also let our perfectionism get in the way. A lot to ponder, but a great read. 

• As I was eating lunch today in a cafe near work, I saw on TV that the unemployment rate jumped to 6.1% this past August. That's the highest it's been in 5 years. Which is why I'm thanking my lucky stars that I'm employed. (Wompppp wompppp, who brought the Debbie Downer?). 

• Word is that US Weekly lost 10,000-5,000 subscribers just for featuring Sarah Palin on the cover of their recent publication. So we're hoping we don't lose any of our loyal readers just by mentioning her name in this post. 

We hope you have a great weekend Working Girls! 

The Other Working Girl

Sex and blogging. What do you get when you put those two things together? You get Belle du Jour, a different kind of working girl. 

Belle du Jour is a nom de plume for a London call girl who began blogging daily about her work. Much like we do here on Working Girl, only we work in cubicles and she often works in hotels. And there's that whole getting paid to sleep with strangers thing, we don't do that.  

Her posts were made a book of the same name, although when a UK television show based on the book chose the title "Secret Diary of a London Call Girl" the book was re-released with the same name. 

Belle, like us Working Girls, deals with a boss (her agents), coworkers (other call girls that she runs in

to) and clients (the men paying for sex). Her boss is a former call girl who doesn't listen when she says that she just woke up and cannot meet a client in 15 minutes. The lucky girl that she is, she doesn't have to deal with coworkers all that often. And her clients, much like the ones we deal with, some of them know what they want and some don't. Some are submissive and some are aggressive. Some like to play games and some are to the point. Her experiences are everything from embarrassing to hysterical. 

"The Secret Diary of a London Call Girl" is a fun and candid view into a life most of us would never think to experience. Not all Working Girls are sitting at desks from 9 to 5 and Belle sure makes us aware of that.

So go indulge and lose yourself in a completely differently lifestyle by reading about Belle's unique lifestyle. But keep in mind this book is NSFC: Not Safe For Commuting. Fellow commuters may look over your shoulder and see the words "cock," "nipple," and "orgasm." That's just awkward. 

Drama, Drama, Drama

Today was one of those days. You know what I mean. The day when before you even walk in the front door you have a feeling that you should turn around and never come back. Yea, one of those. 

Turns out I was right. I spent my entire day burning DVD's with photos from our past event in Aspen for all our sponsors, exhibitors, and partners. This project required me to turn off all my other programs (aka I could not check my fave blogs or chat on Gmail). Leading me to a boring and also unproductive day. 

All together this week has been pretty insane. I got back from a glorious Labor Day weekend and found out two of my co-workers had gotten engaged over the weekend. Now the crazy part of this story isn't that two people got engaged. It's that one of the girls who got engaged over the holiday has only been dating her boyfriend (now fiancee) for four months. Yes, you heard me right. And her rock is ginormous (I can't even use a real adjective to describe this ring because it's that large). And get this...they met on Facebook. I don't even have a comment for this. 

The drama only begins there. Then today I find out that one of the managers at work is leaving the company. Amy is the Vice President of Online Marketing and also my idol. She is in her late 30s, successful, has a graduate degree from Stanford, and has worked at some major awesome companies (aka eBay). She also is from the Midwest, loves rare meat, and is huge into traveling. In short, we're alike and I love her. And I'm super, super, super upset that she is leaving. 

Now on to the big juice. My new roommate Natalie had confided in me when I first moved in that she was dating Drew. Drew just happens to be her boss. He also happens just to have gotten a separation from his wife. And his now ex-wife is also best friends with The CEO's daughter. Talk about drama. This secret has been so hard for me to keep. It's juicy and I want to scream it from the mountaintops. But Natalie asked me to keep it mum. So I haven't said anything. But I think my co-worker Small Fry is catching on, which makes me a Nervous Nelly. I would rather be left out of the drama surrounding my roommate's scandalous love affair. 

The Boss has also been a huge pain in my ass lately. Our marketing department keeps taking on more and more projects. Have I mentioned that our marketing department is 2 people? Yep. Just me and the VP of Marketing. So it's been a challenge. We have another event coming up in October that is sure to be a disaster. And it has just involved so much planning and I feel like I don't have enough time in the day to get it all done. But The Boss thinks I could use a few more projects to keep me busy. Thanks. Once again, I am feeling under-appreciated and under-paid. 

My big personal news of the week. I found out that I got wait-listed for the grad school of my dreams. And while I'm still a tiny bit hopeful that I'll make it through, I'm not banking on it. So I have a new plan in the works. 

All these changes in the atmosphere at work are making me think it's time for a move. More updates on my new job search are to come. 

Hello Upper East Siders

Spotted: Working Girl One bumping into a coworker in her new stomping ground less than 24 hours after she moved in. Watch out WG1, the Upper East Side is full of people you work with. Good luck avoiding them.

XOXO, 

Gossip Girl

Yes, Working Girls, I've become an Upper East Sider. Ok, so my street number is a little bit higher than the Waldorfs and Van der Woodsens of the world and perhaps also a little more east but it's not like I'm in South Harlem (close, but not in).

I moved in to an apartment where two friends from college were already residing on Saturday morning. Less than 24-hours later, I had my first New York out-of-the-office coworker run in. It was 10am on Sunday and I was with my Working Boy at Starbucks. After deluding my iced coffee with plenty of milk and Splenda, I turned around to see our version of Michael Scott with his 4-year-old ordering coffee. 

To say hello or duck out quickly? If I ducked out he was bound to see me so I sucked it up and said hello. A decision I regretted the moment the words "Hi, Michael Scott" came out of my mouth. We made small talk for a moment, I introduced him to Working Boy and we went on our merry way. It was awkward. He lives exactly three blocks and on avenue away from me.

I have since realized that approximately 7 coworkers live on the UES. One comfort of living across the Hudson was that only a few coworkers were close by and I never once saw them. 

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day to all our beautiful Working Girl readers! This is one holiday we truly endorse. Technically, it came about to celebrate the strength and spirit of America's trade and labor organizations. Since we labor with the best of them, we think this is a great day to celebrate being a Working Girl. 

We hope that you are not chained to a desk or answering your e-mails today. I, for one, am out enjoying this long weekend by getting tan (but really some awkward reddish color) at the Jersey Shore. 

So have a happy, happy Labor Day! And put the Blackberry down. Now.