a few thoughts about the burrow

Well, there is a downside to having an apartment half-sunk into the ground, and that downside is that the place is pretty damn cold in the winter and spring. I'm hoping that holds true in the summer as well, and since this place has a northern exposure I figure my chances of summer coolness are pretty good. Right now, though, I'm glad I found my old flannel shirt and Wells sweatshirt, because it's kind of hard to type with a death grip on the tea mug.

Unpacked some more boxes over the weekend, got the Lexmark printer unpacked and set up this morning so I could print the application forms wanted by my 1 PM interview. I may risk fiscal disaster and pick up one of the bookshelves from Target P has been raving about, if for no other reason than to clear the avalanche of books that's blocking access to the corner where my stereo speakers are hiding. I did finally find the Miho blanket I've been missing these last few months, along with a pitifully small fleece throw, my body pillow, and a metric assload of T-shirts. I think I may have more books than T-shirts, but it would be a close call either way.

Off to the interview, and possibly other adventures.

a few thoughts about the burrow

Well, there is a downside to having an apartment half-sunk into the ground, and that downside is that the place is pretty damn cold in the winter and spring. I'm hoping that holds true in the summer as well, and since this place has a northern exposure I figure my chances of summer coolness are pretty good. Right now, though, I'm glad I found my old flannel shirt and Wells sweatshirt, because it's kind of hard to type with a death grip on the tea mug.

Unpacked some more boxes over the weekend, got the Lexmark printer unpacked and set up this morning so I could print the application forms wanted by my 1 PM interview. I may risk fiscal disaster and pick up one of the bookshelves from Target P has been raving about, if for no other reason than to clear the avalanche of books that's blocking access to the corner where my stereo speakers are hiding. I did finally find the Miho blanket I've been missing these last few months, along with a pitifully small fleece throw, my body pillow, and a metric assload of T-shirts. I think I may have more books than T-shirts, but it would be a close call either way.

Off to the interview, and possibly other adventures.

Interviews (Part 1 of 2)

I never have any clue how I've done at interviews. After all these years, I think I really prefer to just go in, start working as a temp, and let the prospective employer decide whether they like my work and how I get along with the other accountants, because an interview is just so damn artificial. You can't possibly learn enough about the job to decide whether it's going to work out, and the interviewer can't possibly figure out what kind of person you are in a one-hour interview, unless you're the kind of idiot who does stupid things like eat lunch or trim one's toenails during the interview. So today I went in dressed as I normally am for work (business casual, no suit jacket or tie) and acted normal. I don't know if I got the job (there are apparently other candidates) but I do know I'm not nearly as stressed as I was the last time I had a FTF interview.

Interviews (Part 1 of 2)

I never have any clue how I've done at interviews. After all these years, I think I really prefer to just go in, start working as a temp, and let the prospective employer decide whether they like my work and how I get along with the other accountants, because an interview is just so damn artificial. You can't possibly learn enough about the job to decide whether it's going to work out, and the interviewer can't possibly figure out what kind of person you are in a one-hour interview, unless you're the kind of idiot who does stupid things like eat lunch or trim one's toenails during the interview. So today I went in dressed as I normally am for work (business casual, no suit jacket or tie) and acted normal. I don't know if I got the job (there are apparently other candidates) but I do know I'm not nearly as stressed as I was the last time I had a FTF interview.

Sunday at Roy's and elsewhere

Despite rising much later than I originally intended, I successfully did laundry before heading off to Dutch & Brenda's to meet with P, RS, and therevdrnye for dinner at Roy's. Much conversation and good food was had. P thinks the onion rings at Roy's are better than those at Wampach's in Shakopee, which used to be the family gold standard; I'd like to have another shot at Wampach's before deciding. Brenda also introduced us to eggs pickled in beet juice, which are surprisingly tasty. Don't let the purple color of the former egg whites put you off. Things broke up about 2130 because everybody else had work or school in the morning; therevdrnye and I went looking for someplace to have coffee, hang out, and discuss RPGs, specifically Twilight 2000 and Traveller. This we did until 0100.
( For the benefit of the other rabid RPGers... )

*Listed on page 5.

Sunday at Roy's and elsewhere

Despite rising much later than I originally intended, I successfully did laundry before heading off to Dutch & Brenda's to meet with P, RS, and therevdrnye for dinner at Roy's. Much conversation and good food was had. P thinks the onion rings at Roy's are better than those at Wampach's in Shakopee, which used to be the family gold standard; I'd like to have another shot at Wampach's before deciding. Brenda also introduced us to eggs pickled in beet juice, which are surprisingly tasty. Don't let the purple color of the former egg whites put you off. Things broke up about 2130 because everybody else had work or school in the morning; therevdrnye and I went looking for someplace to have coffee, hang out, and discuss RPGs, specifically Twilight 2000 and Traveller. This we did until 0100.
( For the benefit of the other rabid RPGers... )

*Listed on page 5.

a few words about Joe Jackson

He's one of those guys they used to call a "cult favorite" because his albums didn't sell the same way the big acts did and he didn't reel off a whole string of hot singles like some other bands. Still, somebody who wrote and performed "Is She Really Going Out With Him?", "Stepping Out", "Sunday Papers" and "Breaking Us In Two" deserves more than to be considered as one step up from a one-hit wonder. I really liked Night and Day, mainly because I was tipped to it by the bittersweet video for "Stepping Out" but also because I do like that style of music. This is all by way of saying that I finally got around to picking up the Night and Day CD; probably won't be playing the cuts for other people, but that's okay. I didn't buy it for them.

a few words about Joe Jackson

He's one of those guys they used to call a "cult favorite" because his albums didn't sell the same way the big acts did and he didn't reel off a whole string of hot singles like some other bands. Still, somebody who wrote and performed "Is She Really Going Out With Him?", "Stepping Out", "Sunday Papers" and "Breaking Us In Two" deserves more than to be considered as one step up from a one-hit wonder. I really liked Night and Day, mainly because I was tipped to it by the bittersweet video for "Stepping Out" but also because I do like that style of music. This is all by way of saying that I finally got around to picking up the Night and Day CD; probably won't be playing the cuts for other people, but that's okay. I didn't buy it for them.