Mairin Gilmartin: Biggest Jerk in America

I've often made my severe distaste for candid photos known but a little work wide email with a certain photo of yours truly has brought me to loathe them even more. Last Thursday was my work's 75th anniversary party. We had celebrations all day and into the evening at the Field Museum. We started off the day by traveling to our main conference room in order to receive our anniversary gift. We were then encouraged to donate to several charities the company supports.

Cut to right before the moment of this picture. I'm just walking in with wide eyes and wonderment trying to decide which charity I'll give some money. I'm bombarded by adorable little children from "Off the Street Club" that are offering up enthusiastic high fives. At the moment of this picture in REALITY: I've just finished giving that little girl a sweet high five and have a little smile on my face in satisfaction. I plan to donate $25 to this worthy charity so she can continue to give people like me high fives.Now what can be misconstrued from this picture: I'm a total asshole who's afraid of inner city children. As this girl offers a gesture of companionship I return with a "talk to the hand" motion because I just don't care. I'm smirking because I totally just spited that girl AND her stupid charity and I'm about to go donate all my money to the Hamburgler because I totally think he's more deserving.

So I'm really glad that all of work now thinks I'm some kind of idiot jerk that hates kindness and charity.

I think I'll go hide under my complimentary 75th anniversary fleece blanket now.

Boston Terrier: Punk Rock Dog of Choice?

I started to notice this "preference" when I'd see the occasional dingy looking punk with an adorable looking Boston (saw another today!), then I noticed punk turned model Lauren from ANTM had the cutest BT equipped with a leather studded collar, and now my friend Jena is dating a rather "alternative" looking fellow who also owns an drop dead darlin' pooch too. Three loosely related instances doesn't make a trend but I still feel as if it's an interesting occurrence to note. I'm sure it's just an observation from my particular position (someone who has a keen eye for boston terriers AND punk looking folks) but I have to say I'd expect a more mangy looking mutt to romp beside a subcultural owner not the smooshed faced goodness of the tiny Boston Terrier.

Identity II

I got an offer for a show for the dance company I haven't even formed yet. My cousin who helps the event coordinator at the Irish Heritage Center has asked Identity to perform at Arthur Guinness Day 2010. The dancers must be 21+ and the dancing should be modern and mature. This sounds like a terrific opportunity for Identity II (the Chicago chapter) to take the stage. I've sent out the invitations to dancers and I'll be searching for a practice space but I hope this will be the beginning of a great sister company.