August in review

I know I said I'd blog more this month but I just haven't had the time. That means another bullet point post. Next month will be better. It has to get better.

• Four year anniversary. Miss R has been putting up with me for quite some time. In fact, this is now the longest relationship I've been in. Not always perfect, but we haven't killed each other in our sleep. Though she has been tempted to kill one or two others ...

• Spent 45 minutes explaining to a library patron why librarians study to do our job. I don't think she realised that she was being offensive, but telling a librarian that anyone could do their job is like waving a red flag at a bull.* I managed to make sure she was fully informed and she left in awe of librarians everywhere. She also came back to let me know about a better job going at different library. There was much rejoicing in the workroom too.

• Scared the girls at the blood bank by having an ectopic heartbeat. Every fourth beat was doing a twostep. I felt fine, but it made them nervous so I have a chat with my Doc. ECG says I’m fine, according to the technician. Was a moment where it looked like she was going to have to shave my chest to get the pads to stick, but we managed to part the fur.

• After much consultation I decided to withdraw from one of my masters subjects. I’m just not getting enough out of it by doing it online, so I’ll do it face to face next semester. I’ve kept all the notes so I’ll be better prepared. My sanity is worth more, so if it takes an extra semester to finish so be it.

That’s about it for the time being. Slightly less uni work for now, but more time to put into the subject I’m still in. Off to the Melbourne Writers Festival next weekend. I’ve got tickets for a few events so it should be fun. I may even treat myself to dinner at The Chocolate Buddha. I’ll be the one in the corner watching the big screen. 

Tonight I’m off to dinner with Miss R and her family. Let’s see if I can get to the end of the meal without trying to kill myself with my chopsticks. **

*For the record, yes I know bulls are colour-blind, but the saying conveys a point rather than factual information. For more information on cows please take yourself to 636, or ask your librarian for assistance.

**Miss R’s family aren’t really that bad. Her father and I just have different politics. If he starts on about climate change and global warming being a myth again ...

falling off the face of the earth ...

Is it really possible that I didn't blog at all during July? See what happens when I have uni break and can step away from the laptop. Shouldn't be a problem again for a while. Already week 3 and the assignments are coming thick and fast.

I will mention this #TweetAugust. Haven't managed to take part yet, but probably will at some point. For now sleep.

mini post

Two quick things to share. Actually more like three.

1. I'm finding I have a slight addiction to playing WordFeud on my smartphone (scrabble type game). I've anyone cares to join me just search for Hawm. My spelling may be atrocious, but my vocabulary (and multitude of dictionaries) make up for it.
2. I just read The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss in 3 days. Get yourself a copy of The Name of the Wind first, and then read them both.
3. This is an example of why Miss R and I are well suited. I'd still rather have my own castle (and not live in an earthquake prone area), but still very cool.

That is all :)

Uni break

I have done very little this past week. Other than work I’ve left the house to go out to dinner a few times (once with the in-laws, and the other to a friend’s place), to the blood bank (got my special 100 donations pin last time), and to the book sale at the showgrounds. 

Not terribly riveting stuff, but that’s the speed I’m happy with for the moment. There have been the extra shifts at work, which are always nice. There have been more resignations at work too, so I imagine that will also mean more work. Ms M got the uni job we both interviewed for. I haven’t seen her, or had a chance to congratulate her yet. I’m glad she got it, even though it means I have to keep job hunting.

Now that I no longer have assignments I’ve been spending less time on my laptop. The few times I do get on I play Oblivion for a few hours and then turn it off. As much as I love my laptop I’m enjoying not being tethered to it.

While I hate the idea of any bookstore closing (even as much as I have good reason to hate A&R), I will admit that I profited from their death throes sale. Twenty books later and I’ve got plenty to read. When you include in the last lot of items I liberated from the withdrawn bin I’ve got a lot of cataloguing to do.

Most importantly I have time for baking again. I’m thinking about a chocolate brownie cheesecake on Monday. Will have to see how I feel after we’ve hit the art galleries. Heide have an exhibition of Albert Tucker’s Images of Modern Evil series, and Miss R has been bugging me about their Colour Bazaar since February. Fingers crossed it won’t rain on us while we are outside. I can live with the cold, but cold and wet is rarely fun :)

Interview post-mortem

Got the phone call today. I did not get the job. They loved my application, and I (apparently) interviewed very well, I just didn’t sell myself as strongly as the person who got the job. That was the extent of the feedback. 

I’ll check in with Ms M tomorrow. She had an interview for the same position. I hope she  at least got it. I can live with that. :)

interviews suck

Even when you think they went well, they still suck. Being the first interview of the day doesn't help either. Two of them liked me, but the third didn't seem to. To be fair I did correct him after he said my name wrong, but that's no reason to be unprofessional. Can't say I'm overly impressed by how they advertise the position salary. The starting rate on the ad is $6k above what it actually pays. Very sneaky that they include what they pay in super as part of the "salary." If I get the job it will mean a pay cut, but the extra hours will balance it out.

They'll be calling the refs in the next few days. I know the girls will say nice things about me.

Until then it's back to the assignments. Almost done.

They want me bad

Just had a call about a job I applied for around easter. Yes, that is some time ago, but when someone calls wanting you to come in for an interview you don’t make a big deal about the wait. In fact, you don’t mention it. Instead you focus on what’s important. I have an interview. That’s what’s important. Good thing I keep a record of everything I apply for. I’ve got under a week to get up to speed before the interview. Should bail up all my referees too. And get a haircut.

Busy, busy, busy. 

Good thing I’m on top of my assignments.