I leave tomorrow. I'm not sure what I think about it. I'll let you know how it goes when I get back.

All right. Let's see. Last time I posted was Wednesday morning.

Wednesday at 2 p.m. I went to see the Special Collections Librarian here at the uni. Figured I'd get a bit of an insight into this librarianship/conservation thing, feel out the job market, sniff out funding bodies. While she was lovely, the propects presented to me weren't that great. The Uni's conservator retired four years ago and they haven't been able to secure approval to post the position. The funding isn't there. The U of T is in the same spot. Lovely. So there's demand, but there's no money to hire conservators in this country. Great.

I also went to see an interesting presentation by EPS - about their Hate and Bias Crimes unit. I think I was hoping for more "suggestions on how to be proactive in your community", and it ended up being more of a "this is what a hate crime is and this is who you report it to". Nonetheless an interesting presentation.

Thursday was yoga. New instructor (our usual one is out on holiday). More of an aerobic workout, and, to be honest, it was nice. Worked at The Body Shop during the evening, leaving me stupid tired. I also called my landlady-to-be. I'm leaving the country in two days, I need to get that lease signed, dammit! So I'm going in this morning to do it. It was a bit weird, though, as they have an answering service. I was totally expecting to get her answering machine, but nope, I got this random person. It was weird.

Friday was, well, it was Friday. It was pizza and beer night in our house. Works for me!

Saturday... Worked during the day at TBS. Wasn't as killer as the Saturday before, but it was still good. We're on track to make the quarter, so we're excited about that. I don't know that we'll be sending our manager to Paris, though (there's a bit of a contest going on...)

Sunday. Went and had my eyebrows waxed. I must just be weird, but even when the esthetician is ripping out my hair by the roots, it's still kinda relaxing lying there on that table with the low light and the Enya playing. Then I went for pizza at a friend's place. Pharo's spinach pizza on whole wheat crust is so unbelievably excellent... Makes me sad they don't deliver.

My shoulder has been twinging off and on. It's the same one that started to hurt after the self-defence course, the one the 5-0 guy was wailing on with the red pads. It's like I'm on the edge of dislocating it or something. It's really obnoxious.

Anyway, woke up this morning in a pissy mood. Don't really know why. I just felt like snapping at everyone. Swearing at the phone and just letting it ring...

I went and signed my lease today. I may need a teeny bit of help moving after all... It's not so much heavy stuff as just lots of little pieces. Although my piano is a bit heavy (it's a digital, not an actual piano by any means, but still heavier than most pieces of furniture it's size). I'm not sure when I'm going to do it, though... I don't know what my work hours are like for Easter weekend yet, and I'm meeting my voice teacher (yup! I'm starting again!) on Good Friday afternoon/evening...

Ah well, things will work out. And they're looking pretty up.

So I decided I owed it to my boss to tell her that I applied for the other jobs. She did, after all, hold this position specially for me when she saw that I'd applied, which is part of what would make it hard to leave here. I wandered into her office today and basically told her which positions I'd applied for and why (namely immediate benefits, better pay, and permanence).

She was remarkably understanding, which makes it just that much more painful - knowing I might end up leaving this super-awesome boss for someone that's not so super-awesome... She was an absolute sweetheart and said that in all honesty she didn't figure I'd be here long. I'm still sort of hoping that a position will open up over on this side of things so that I don't have to leave here, but it's not looking all that great at the mo. I _DID_ know the people here before I started working here, which was one of the reasons I took the job instead of holding out for somewhere or something better - it would be difficult to leave such an excellent bunch of people. Especially since I've since heard some not-so-great things about the maturity level of the folks in the office I'd be heading to if I took that other University job in the meantime, and another person I spoke to waxed positive about the job itself, but not the people, office or environment.

So now my fingers are sort of half-assedly crossed that one of the other jobs works out. I don't want to leave the people here, but I know it would be better for me in the long run. Does someone want to tell my why it is that all the jobs that I want or like or have an interest in are the ones that I can't really or can onely barely live off?

Lord, that'll teach me to whine about not being busy.

I haven't had 5 minutes since 3 pm rolled around without a student coming in to drop off an application/confirmation package/extension form or a phone call or email to answer.

Of course, the deadline for the applications for this particular position is in 10 minutes, so of course I'll be getting the majority of them now.

Students. Geesh.

I did it. I applied for the job. I also applied for a federal government job in an office I've worked at before... Not that I want the job, but again, the pay is good and the benefits would be immediate... It would mean working in the same office as my mother again *shudder* but at least we wouldn't be living AND working together. I think I could maybe handle that.

I went to see 300 last night. I can see why the Iranians might be a bit upset - one of the greatest leaders they've had in all history is portrayed as a bit of a femme, and quite frankly, I don't think the Persians had Samurai warriors, but what do I know? - but folks really need to lighten up. It's a story that historically we only know the bare bones of, from some ancient Greek dude, so a little creative license has to be allowed. Lots of blood, lots of gore, lots of well-built nearly-naked men. My kind of movie.

Went dress shopping on the weekend. I have ranted about my hatred of shopping before. I will spare you the details this time. Let's just say that it's stupid difficult to find a nice dress to wear to a co-worker's wedding when you're low-waisted and would rather not wear something that looked like it stepped straight out of the 70s or 80s. My mood was not helped by that.

Found a super-excellent duvet cover at The Bay. Now I just need a duvet to go with it. Not to mention a bed.

Getting frustrated about the whole moving process, as my parents have re-arranged everything that was in their basement being stored while I was away. Do you think I have ANY clue where ANY of my stuff is any more? And do you think they seem even remotely willing to help sort through it all? Not until after they get back from England, anyway, and that'll be halfway through April. Want to go buy stuff at Ikea, but there's no point until _I_ get back from England and have the keys to the apartment and such either. I just want to get the hell out of their house and into a place of my own. At this rate I won't be moved until my lease is fucking up. Sorry. Just frustrated.

Ok, should go answer email. Or not, since we don't have any. Maybe having a job where I actually got to do work _would_ be a good thing.

So I've got a bit of a dilemma. There's a position as a recruiter that's opened up over at the Registrar's Office...

As excerpted from the job posting (is excerpted a word? ah well, it is now)...

This position has a comprehensive benefits program. (Oooh, nice, better than I've got now!)

Duties

• Coordinates the processes of application, selection and distribution of entrance, undergraduate, convocation, and postgraduate awards under the control of the ... Office (Ok, I can handle that)
• Maintains awards records and statistical analysis of awards information using a stand-alone system used only by the ... Office (Ok, I can probably handle that too)
• Prepares information to be uploaded into ... systems (Sounds boring, but do-able)
• Performs financial activities, including deposit of funds and reconciling accounts for all awards endowments and for those funded on an annual basis (Ewwwwwww....)
• Advises and counsels students, University departments, high schools and donors, and is a key player in the efforts to recruit new students to the University (Now that's more like it, although this could be ridiculously frustrating dealing with students and bureaucracy and that...)
• Provides service to scholarship committees (define service...)
• Coordinates and organizes special entrance and undergraduate awards events (oooh, party planner!)
• Provides liaison with granting agencies and transfers information received to students and departments (I can do that!)
• Assists with the training of new staff members within the ... Office (when I'm new, that's ironic)
• Performs other related duties as necessary (I hate this phrase, it could mean anything!)

Qualifications

High School diploma; post-secondary diploma in a related field preferred - check

Considerable years of related office experience; previous experience in a post-secondary environment an asset - check

Computer proficiency using MS Office applications (Word, Excel and Outlook) on Macintosh an asset; knowledge of OMNIS database an asset - check, well, except OMNIS

Knowledge of PeopleSoft Financials, Student Administration and Human Resources modules desireable - ok, not so check, but I learn quickly

Excellent communication (oral and written), interpersonal, organizational and problem solving skills - check

Fast and accurate keyboarding skills (minimum 45 wpm) - check. I can do 90 on a good day

Knowledge of current policies, procedures and environment an asset - check

So I guess what it boils down to is that I don't know if I'd be happy over there, I don't know if I'd like the work, but I imagine there's actually work to do (unlike here right now), it's an indeterminate position with immediate start to my benefits and about $1000 more per month, although they can probably keep me on here after my contract's up. I don't know any of the people over there, and I love my coworkers here and would feel guilty leaving them before my contract is actually up (in September).

Input, please.

So, I'll probably just add the "currently reading" tail back on to my posts from now on, but since the topic has come up....

Europe: A History, by Norman Davies. I'm only 30 pages in to the introduction, 'cuz it's a bit of a slog. I don't doubt that it's a well put-together book, once you get into it, but I was never a fan of historiography to begin with, and you get three guesses as to what the introduction is (as the introduction to all good histories really should be). Fingers crossed that it gets better as I get into the actual history bit.

I've had it recommended to me before, I've seen it in Chapters every time I walk though to get to The Body Shop, so when Lamb: The Gospel According to Bif, Christ's Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore also came up on the Book Bonobo list, it was time to splurge and buy this book. It's good. It isn't as laugh-out-loud uproariously funny as I thought it would be, but it's definitely giggle-worthy and also very poignant.

And now I need to reprint letters that the folding machine shredded.

So, inspired by a few people around me, like Magnolia and the Book Bonobo, I have realized I need to work on a few things.

1. I've forgotten how to read. Not literally of course, but the days when I would simply devour a novel or a book of fiction are long gone. I've spent so much time critically analyzing historical documents and centuries-old English literature that I forget what reading for pleasure is like. Having said that, I'm glad I have the skills to analyze, but when was the last time I spent a Saturday curled up in an armchair with hot chocolate and a good/trashy/silly/involving book?
2. I need to diversify. I look at the books on the Book Bonobo list for this year and realize I've read next to none of them, and have heard so much good about a lot of the other books on the list. I think it's 'cuz I tend to stick to the tried and true (which for me tends to be historical fiction). In the spirit of experimentation and such, I have borrowed A Complicated Kindness from the little lending library we set up in the office here. We'll see how that goes.
3. My Old English! Magnolia posed a question regarding Old English, I went to look up the answer by consulting the said Old English texts online... and my Old English SUCKS now! Holy crap! I took a full year of the stuff (yes, I read ALL of Beowulf in the original, thanks!), and I can only remember the odd word here and there. Having said that, my grasp of prose is a lot better than that of poetry, so maybe it's mostly just poetic conventions that I need to get my head around again.
4. My Middle English could probably use a bit of work, too.
5. I still have books on my bookshelf that I bought or was given more than 2 years ago that I haven't read. Need to get around to those.
6. I want to catalogue my books. When I get my apartment and have the ability to sort of display a lot of them again, then maybe I'll have some grasp on just how many books I've got, which I can maybe sort of get rid of (heartbreaking, that thought!) and give some old favourites another glance.

I saw this on her blog and felt the compulsion to try it out myself.

I'm having a superhuge overwhelming rush of sentimentality at the moment.

I mean, seriously... within three hours of my posting the news that I got the apartment, y'all knew, congratulated me, and have even offered to help me move! This is unbelievable, especially considering I don't/barely know the lot of you... I am so grateful for your friendship and support over the last couple of months...

As for the nitty gritty... I'll probably move in gradually over April. I'm in England again until the 2nd, so will probably get keys to the place on the third... and I'm not sure when I'm going to manage to do any moving - at this point the only furniture I've got left from the old apartment is a couple of lamps, my TV/stand/DVD player, my desk, my digital piano and... yup, that'd be about it. It was cheaper to sell off most of my stuff than to put it in storage for a year. So there will be much spending at IKEA in the next couple of months. And the family does have a minivan...

So, yeah, hopefully I'll be in in time to have belated birthday celebrations... 'twill be great!

I got it!

I got it!

I got it!

I got it!

I got it!

That is all.

I went... I saw... I liked... I put down a deposit and filled out an application... The place is nice - bright, fairly large, it even has a dishwasher! The balcony is HUGE! I could amost have a party on it alone... and it looks right out over the Legislature building... It's on the end of the building so there's a pretty unobstructed view to the southeast... Lots of storage, kitchen with more counter space than my old one, there's CUPBOARDS in the bathroom (this is a huge improvement over the last place)... and I'm already mentally figuring out where to put all my furniture! (It's hard when you've really just got one big room and need to fit dining, office, living and music rooms in it... but I think I've got it figured out. Bookcases may need to be in the bedroom, however. The building is also a sort of EPS experiment - I had to sign a contract saying I wouldn't do anything illegal while I was living there (no drugs, no trafficking in humans, no weapons, etc.). It's brightly lit, there's a security guard on when the office is closed... For the price, I can't beat it in terms of location and amenities. I'm so excited!!

I was even offered a part-time job while I was there. "If your hours at the university are ever reduced, we could use someone over here with experience in running housing..." Ha! Hilarious!

I'll probably find out later today or tomorrow whether I've got the place, just based on some credit and background checks, so I'll let y'all know.

So the apartment building called again... New vacancy... about $50/month more than the other place, but still within my budget (just... )... Going to see the place tomorrow after work... Keep your fingers crossed for me.

On a completely different note, tomorrow it's "Victory Over Violence", some random training session where they want us to wear "loose, comfortable clothing" with long sleeves to "prevent fluid transfer". Our 5-0 officer says it's not that bad, and that people rarely get cut, but to expect some bruising. Should be fun... looking forward to beating up my boss (in a fun way - I really rather like my boss...)

I got a new mobile phone... It's red and it's shiny... So of course, that means new phone number (I switched companies... *sigh*).

Should you like to have my new phone number, you can contact me via some medium that does not involve me posting my new phone number all over the internet. :)

Nothing like retail therapy to counteract your disappointment, eh?

Didn't get the apartment. That's the way the market is these days, though, I guess... You get a phone call on Tuesday, and by Thursday the place is gone...

Still on the list for May, but we'll see...