Hilary Booth... of course!

To use the old Helene Hanff quote, "I write to say I have got work." To wit, as of today, I am no longer a temporary employee. My current assignment liked me so much they've been plotting behind the scenes a way for me to come aboard as full time permanent staff. So guess who starts on the 29th? I have to tell it was the most surreal moment when they tell you "you have to give notice". Bwahuh? I'm used to assignments coming to me on Friday and saying it's over, not saying farewell to the temp agency of 10+ years. It's hard to believe it's been *that* long. Today I actually received the offer sheet and hopefully once the background checks out, everything will be good to know. I'm still in a happy daze of "Is this really happening?"

My father is improving. He had another procedure yesterday, but he seems to be recovering nicely. I suspect the worrying will subside... oh who am I kidding? After a certain age, you always worry about your parents, don't you?

Nano is trundling along. Hopefully I should hit 40K tonight. I'm a little nervous about tomorrow's writing, since I'll be spending it out in the hinterlands of Fauquier County.

Not much to report on a personal front. The job situation has been dire. The only library assignments I've managed to get have been short term ones -- a few days here, a few days there. Two days I helped an association prepare a couple of scientific papers for publication. And for three days I've shelved in a massive genealogical/historical library. My body is taking a beating. I need to solve the shoe/orthotic dilemma soon. My feet and tendons can't take much more before I say "No more". I may simply have to start asking my agency if the job requires being on my feet a lot. I hate turning down opportunities, but killing myself for a paltry wage is not a good option either.

On the gaming front, I've discovered I'm a stereotypical girl gamer. I love the genre of "Hidden Object" games where you go through rooms and clutter and try to pick out items and solve the mystery. My favorite so far has been the "Margrave Manor" series, although I liked the second better than the first. Of course it's on a ship, so maybe that's not so surprising. I'm also liking the Samantha Swift: Hidden Roses of Athena one. I like the historical aspect. Of course I can't afford to buy the full versions of these games (yet), so I'm mostly playing the online or free demo and taking notes on which ones I like. If anyone has favorite games, I'll be happy to add them to the list of ones to try.

All the parts of the Book of Ink Circles have been released now. You can see completed versions of the project on the designer Tracy Horner's website, along with downloading all the constituent parts. I have fallen massively behind in my own version. Hopefully I'll get back into it soon.

Probably not this week, unless writing gets finished faster than I anticipated.

Otherwise things have been a little crazy around here. Last week I thought I frelled up my Virginia taxes, only to discover I'd left off the withholding. No wonder the tax people I thought I was trying to gip them. I am still working. As I've joked, Google's online translation page and I will be such good friends after this project that I'll want it to take me out to dinner. Or a movie, I'm not fussy.

The permanent crown was put in today. All was fairly painless this time. Not like the time they did my front teeth and nearly needed a pair of pliers to get the temps off. They took forever adjusting the fit and checking my bite though. It'll be a few days before it feels normal.

I hit Books a Million as a treat on the way home. Their shelving system really needs work. They've separated out the mass market from hardcover and trade paperbacks in two different parts of store, so you really have to look sometimes. I asked about Jo Graham's "Black Ships" since I'd heard it recommended by several friends. They were supposed to have a copy in SF/fantasy. I even asked if it was mass market or trade. The bookseller kept saying paperback, making me wonder if he even knew there were two types of paperbacks these days. He checked the regular mass markets and assumed it wasn't there. After making my other purchases, I went over to the other sf/fantasy section and found it on the first try. Things like that make me order online, I'm sorry to say. I'm all for supporting the lowly bookstores, I love having the book in my greedy hands, but I really hate sloppy bookselling like that. *shrugs* I'm sure someone will say "But you found your book". Yes, but only because I checked again, rather than my first impulse, which was to go out the door, assuming he was right and they really didn't have it!

On the bright side, I have a half day at work tomorrow. The full job doesn't start until the 5th. But I work again. This fills me with glee. And hopefully fills my bank account with lesser amounts of glee.

The new job is a job. My mother used to words "unchallenging". Not a good sign when my smart mouth wants to quote Missy in "Bring it On" -- "What about doing something that actually requires neurons?" I don't think that would be terribly popular. A lot of library tech work is just that, very basic day-to-day stuff, especially when you're moving/expanding/shifting a collection, existing or otherwise. If I had any good advice for people who want to work in libraries: infinite patience (in infinite possibilities), strong back, and good shoes. I'm grateful for the job, but lord is it going to be a long stretch until Columbus Day.

Security is a little tight, so sadly I haven't really enjoyed the nearby Ronald Reagan Building. I was however treated to a free concert at Woodrow Wilson Plaza. That was a weird twist on "name that tune" or as my mother and I used to call the game "But can you skate to that?" The performer was Chuck Brown, the so-called Godfather of Go-Go music, lots of loud heavy beats and rhythms combined with guitar and clarinet and maybe another instrument. They maxed out their decibels. They were performing a fairly bumping piece that had quite a few people swaying their hips. The melody was strangely familiar. I couldn't place it though. For a minute, I thought it was a classical music piece like "Bolero" or something like "Kismet". Then I closed my eyes and I could see Philippe Candeloro landing a jump at the end of a phrase. Yes, it was the "Love Theme" from the "Godfather". That I recognized it through skating and not from seeing the movie says something about me. Not sure what.

The laptop is still hosed. I tried replacing the a/c adapter and the connection is just too loose to hold. It's really frustrating. So I get to talk to tech support. This can only end in tears.

*thuds*

I am so tired. If I ever see another box, it will be too soon.

The project is nearing the end of line, so I'm seriously under the gun.

Unfortunately my birthday will land right before this insanity finally ends. I have no idea how I will celebrate it this year. But I will find a way.

So the first week of the new job went reasonably well. It's a tiny little library focusing on intellectual property. We're still trying to get my computer access, but hopefully when my background check goes through, everything will be better on that front. I wound up borrowing my boss' tiny Sony VAIO laptop to fill out the paperwork. I don't know how anyone types on that keyboard. So I spent most of the week on my feet shelving in some fashion. My boss is trying to declutter the library, so there's a lot of "Do we need this?" or "Where does this go?" type questions. So far, so good.

Their cafeteria is infinitely better than my last place, but that wouldn't be hard. The only minus is that it's in the basement level and it's *freezing* cold down there. The commute isn't bad. I have to change trains at Rosslyn, which is a pain, but otherwise it's a nice walk over. I'm waiting for the one morning or night that's a complete disaster.

Thursday I was off early so I rediscovered the local Aftertime Comics. Good for the occasional stop, but I don't think it beats the Big Planet stores for variety. It's a little more in the dark dingy cramped stereotype we hear about comics stores and there's usually a reason. After that, I had a lovely dinner catching up with pinkpolarity.

My first Friday off was eventful. The apartment building decided it was the perfect time to test the fire alarm. I guess they assumed no one would be in the building on a Friday at 9am.

So I had the interview today. I have no idea how it went. I'm still waiting to hear back from the agency for feedback. It's a short term assignment, fairly easy to do. It's just convincing people you're the right person for the job, not unlike elections.

Speaking of which, I stopped by the library to vote in the Virginia primary. They'd changed my precinct so I was a little nervous, but finally I was sent through to my touch screen. From the discussions around me, the lines were really long earlier, so I'm glad I waited. Then I wandered into the library and came back with a Modern Scholar on Iliad & archaeology and a book on priestesses in Ancient Greece.

So I came to the library to look at their resume writing books. My resume needs a massive overhaul to reflect more of my strengths. Their wireless connection is a little spotty. I'm beginning to wonder if it's my wireless card. How do I find out what type of card was installed in my laptop? It's several years old, so I'm suspecting the wireless world has surpassed my poor old Dell. Meanwhile I need to call their tech support about the monitor. It's the power cable. For some reason, it can't seem to stay connected for too long. One minute it'll be working fine and next it'll be blinking at me.

And I want to randomly strangle the web designer for a fashion designer's site. Forms should not be the only way to contact someone -- an actual email address would be nice! Right now, the form doesn't think there's an internet connection, even though there clearly is. Never mind they probably won't answer a peon like me, but when in doubt, ask the source.

Whew, that was a fun way to pass an hour. The power went out in the north and south buildings. It just came back on. I was in the bathroom when it happened. Everything went pitch black. I was utterly terrified. I didn't know whether it was just the bathroom or entire building or what. I'm nearsighted, so my depth perception is not the best anyway. Glad I wasn't wearing my reading glasses or I might as well have been blind. I managed to grope my way out to the door and the hallway where there were some lights. One of the researchers was downstairs in the movable shelves when it happened. That sounded even more terrifying.