May 2007 Archives

Less than earth-shattering

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Well, no news is good news currently. Job status remains unknown as I wait to hear back about the job. Just wanted to throw that out there before anything else.

On Sunday and Monday, I heard from two different recruiters/companies that I had contacted about employment. This reassured me greatly because it has lead me to believe that I am no longer sending my many, many cover letter/resume combos to a brick wall. I'd had this sinking feeling for a while now, wondering if career builder was really this elaborate cover to get personal information, professional qualifications (?) and the like for spammers, telemarketers, the army or whomever. So, anyway, I scheduled interviews on Wednesday and Thursday, and was asked back for a second on Friday after Thursday's interview.

Wednesday's job-in-question, I found out, was not the truest of employment situations. I was talking to a violin shop and they're willing to pay me for piece work, which means per piece, and they'll have me do scrolls, which is actually more interesting than bow rehairs and something that I've not done for a while, but they're not paying me hourly, nor would it be for any significant number of hours. I'm interested, but it won't pay the rent, only for the social life, or groceries, or for a trip to Cleveland each month. The rent is the issue.

Thursday's job-in-question is pretty darn ideal. The only catch would be that they seem to really want a commitment from me, which is hard to give, you know, seeing as I have no freaking clue of what our plans are for the next 8 years. They're not asking for a contract or anything, but it seems dishonest to imply that I'll be happily employed for at least 5 years when Mendon and I may want to take off in less. Ethics, blegh.

It was interesting, though, all around. I found that I am sort of (don't really want to admit this) tempted to give a less-than-honest answer to questions, if I can see the "right" answer and if I know the chasm of discrepancy between the two. This was particularly problematic when potential-boss, we'll call him R-, was asking about the breadth of my range of skills, with questions like "Do you do any networking?" "Accounting?" etc. I needed to respond negatively, because although I COULD do those things, I have not done them before, especially not in a professional setting, and it would be bad for the company to rely on my skills which are touch and go. It makes me think of The Squid and the Whale. The eldest son claims a Pink Floyd song as his own, is kicked out of the talent show, and his rationale for the whole thing is something like "yeah, but I could have written it, and that I wasn't the author just seemed like a small technicality." Hehehe. That would be me explaining myself when their accounting fell through the floor.

Regardless, the other important life lesson that I learned is that interviews exhaust me. Especially in the heat. Especially when I'm sleeping on an air mattress. Every day, I would come back to Andrew's flat (thank you, Andrew!), stare at Mendon for about 5 minutes, and the promptly fall over face first and pass out HARD.

Overall, the interviews were good. I'm waiting to hear back and I hope I do soon (some time this week is the time frame). Today is for more job applications, practicing, knitting, who knows. (I've started on a new sock, for myself, and I love it. I especially love it because we watched a lot of TeeVee shows while at Andrew's and it gave me lots of time to get through the leg of it. It's a top-down sock, which is a new technique for me, and I'm happy to be learning something). Anyways, updates when I get them and blog posts when I feel inspired.

Busy

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We'll be out for the next few days. I've gotten a second interview and I'm optimistic that it will be a really good match. I'll update you all once we have a plan beyond "show up and mind your manners." ;) Also, I managed to get this into the mail today. Hope you like it, Liam!

Feet. We loves feet.

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We has to if we knits socks?

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These are for Beth. I finished them a few days ago - FINALLY - and do not want to do another cable again on sock yarn for quite some time. Inner voice: Although, really, Kristen, let's be honest, your next sock project has cables, you just think that they're "different" and "exempt" and you're excited just like you were when you made up the last pattern that was a bit of an uphill battle right around the ankle of the first sock. Do you not LEARN from this? Is there some punishment-loving side of you that secretly craves making sock patterns that push you to tears? Although, in my defense, I did find a ready-made sock pattern for my next pair, and I have learned my lesson: a little bit of planning and consideration what kind of sock knitting I enjoy will go a long way for the next design work I do.

Beth has been a dear friend of mine through the past 3 1/2 years. She's another violinist in the music department, who now has a fantastic job in her hometown, and who has been dealing with chemo for lymphoma. You may have remembered the post that accompanied this news. I have this issue, I think it's an issue, that with the news of cancer in a loved one, I rush to knit stinking socks for them. For those who read YarnHarlot Maman and Mendon, it reminds me of the Yarn Harlot's feathers shawl. At any rate, I'm glad to know that she's doing well, that she's beautiful without her hair (gorgeous and bohemian, and to be honest, I agree with her middle school students that she should stay bald), and that she will have socks for next winter. Love that gal!

Also, along those feety lines:

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I did this last night and boy! did we stay up late for this decoration. I'm glad I did it, but uhm, would have been happier to have started it around 5 pm, rather than 10.

Posts to follow on the rest of the henna explosion, my blogging thoughts, and jewelry.