See how responsive I am?
Fell into a food coma yesterday after eating the world most unhealthy dinner: double cheeseburger, chili-cheese fries, and a root beer float. Went to my room that evening to read; fell asleep before 8 p.m.; woke up at 12:30 a.m. for a couple of hours; regained full consciousness after a chocolate cake jump start at 9 a.m.
Today I received three rejection letters: two of which I expected - Maricopa County (AZ) never even bothered to tell me they'd received the two applications - and one for a 15 hour a week job at my freakin' alma mater. When having an MLS they don't require, knowing the campus from your days as an undergrad there, having worked for a year doing exactly what they're asking you to do, and being the daughter of the director of their law library aren't enough to get you a less than half-time job with no benefits. . .well, let's just say I'm pissed. Mom and Dad think they were worried I'd get a full-time offer as soon as they'd hired me, but there hasn't been an offer for four %$*@&# months, so I don't know why the *$%&#* they'd be concerned. I applied for their full-time opening, too. We'll see if they'll interview me for that. I also got a rejection from a local public library after a face to face interview a couple of weeks ago.
Mom came home from work today and began gathering up household supplies. One of the elderly aids at the library didn't show up for work a couple of days ago and, since he has no phone service, a crew of librarians went over to check on him. He was alive and well, but his apartment was absolutely bare, no bed or anything. Apparently, the man had had serious problems with drugs and alcohol, as had his only son whom he hasn't spoken to in years, and he lived on the street for six years. He, not terribly surprisingly, has diminished physical and mental capacity and could probably get no job other than the one he has now. Anyway, when his boss gave him a bed and dresser the boss's friend didn't need, he lit up like a kid at Christmas. Mom scoured the house and came up with a comforter, some dishes, dishtowels and potholders, a couple of lamps, and my microwave. It was funny: she wanted to give him my microwave so it looked like it was just an extra we had lying around - helping out instead of charity - but she was absolutely obsessive about getting a couple of unobtrusive stains out of the comforter and nearly didn't send along a perfectly good lamp because it had a three-way switch with only a single intensity bulb! I told her, "The man has nothing! He's not going to care that he has to click the switch twice to get the lamp to turn on!"
I've been spending my time in between applying and being rejected for every job under the sun sleeping, reading, shopping on Mom's tab (two shirts and two pair of shoes last week), biking, and, recently, playing PS2. I've been going to bed later and later, but still getting up at noon. I guess the only way to keep me from taking more than eight hours of sleep is by going to bed at 4 a.m. I've been reading a lot of Pratchett and just started an 800 page book on the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. I'm not sure I'll be able to tough it out. The author's not bad, but, at 100 pages in, I just want to hop a plane to the Middle East and slap everybody around. The last deal that was made was extremely sweet for the Palestinians and still Arafat "equivocated." I get the feeling even if you could magically hand both sides exactly what they wanted, they still wouldn't accept it because they couldn't handle the change.
Primal, the PS2 game I've just about beaten is kinda cathartic. There's a lot of strategy, but also some nice blood-splattering fights. I got really bored one weekend and recast the remains of a pillar candle for Mom. Last week, Dad and I went to Columbus on Monday and Friday to see a couple of prelim World Cup of Hockey games. Team USA beat Canada 3-1 and Russia 2-0. The place was pretty packed both nights. Since the NHL might not have a season, I think all the Columbus Bluejackets fans turned out for what will probably be the only hockey this year. Bad points of the games: our immediate neighbors during the Russia game and 'shake it for a couch.' Uncouth imbeciles couldn't stop screaming about 'the Commie bastards.' Embarrassing to even be associated with them. 'Shake it for a couch' was a lovely little filler in which they'd split screen two girls and have them do the twist to win a couch. Might have been OK except they decided by audience applause. To no one's surprise, the scrawny, skimpily dressed blondes who, according to Dad, "looked used to selling it" (ha!) won both times. :-/
This weekend, Grandpa's coming to visit us. (Sorry, SPK! No Game Night for me.) It will be weird because this is the weekend when Dad, Gramps, Little Brother, and I typically go to a Reds game to celebrate Little Brother's birthday. Little Brother, however, doesn't have enough leave saved up to be here until November. I'm sure he'll have fun celebrating with his 32 year-old, two-kid-having (the oldest of which is 13) girlfriend, though. (Little Brother will be turning 24.) She's probably a perfectly lovely person, but unless they get married, I may never meet her. Hell, he won't even send us a picture!
Mom redid their bedroom. She got the inspiration from a rich black and gold/tan bedspread. The walls are now somewhat khaki, there's an accessorizing pillow to go with the bedding, and the decorative lamp has a beaded, leopard print shade. Our tortoiseshell cat, however, is the ultimate furry little accent piece. When the two of them entered the room to find Patches curled up in the middle of the bed, Dad commented, "I see what you did now. You redecorated the room to match the cat."
Dad's been having a great deal of fun with our newest technological advance: satellite TV. It means we now have two DVR capable televisions and the TV in my room gets more than just ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox. I've been fighting the urge to constantly check whether Queer Eye for the Straight Guy or What Not to Wear are on. The hundred or so satellite radio stations are a great alternative to the local channels. There's even an all Elvis station! Dad's been having a grand old time pausing and rewinding "live" TV. He also spent a lot of time on Sunday super surge protecting the house. The new protectors have spaces for co-ax cables and phone lines. The satellite, which I've always seen before under the eaves of people's houses, is sitting on the apex of our roof. It was the only way they could get a clear line of sight what with all the trees in our yard. I hope they grounded it properly!
Finally, to end on a bizarre note: for those of you concerned about publishing for tenure in academia, I submit Marian Symbols in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Television Series on the WB. I know I feel a little better about my chances for advancement. :-)