the eye of Nova's mind

Went back to work today for a five-week project (if I make the cut).

One of the first things that happened to me today: I lost my favorite hat.

One of the last things: my former editor, at tonight's poetry meeting, accepted "Aftermath" for Third Wednesday.

Overall, leaning toward the good.

So the scoring facility called me about three weeks ago, offering me a position for the upcoming project as a scorer.

Then they called about a week & a half ago, requesting that I be a team leader. I would have accepted, but the bus would not get me there on time, as I'd have to arrive early. The extra week of work would have been nice, but I knew I could not accept. I asked them to keep me in mind for future projects.

Then just now I received a call, asking that I do a concurrent project beginning Nov. 6. It's a more specialized project that few folks get called for. It lasts just as long as the first, so I decided to accept. If I do well with this, I may get called in the future for similar projects that land between the major ones.

Ultimately, this is good news. :) They're thinking of my skills in broader terms & for broader applications. I know I can't stay with the scoring facility exclusively indefinitely--I simply do not make enough annually--but it's nice to be appreciated.

It really disturbs me to think that more than one Michigan sixth grader thinks that Martin Luther King freed the slaves.

In job interview, passion packs a punch: Care deeply, and you just might get the nod, says 'Parachute' author

Americans hate their jobs more than ever: Satisfaction level hits new low, especially among younger workers

Happiness is more than chasing pleasure: Psychiatrist Dr. Donald Rosen explains the science of satisfaction

Worldwide use of ADHD drugs nearly triples

New compound prevents alcoholic behavior, relapse in animals by blocking stress response: May have human use (thanks, dsgood)

Don't tell the interviewer how much you need a job because you're behind on your bills. This is a thought you should keep to yourself.

netmouse held a writer's workshop in her home on the Fourth, and I had a wonderful time with her, eposia, rikhei, and atdt1991. Later there was a huge dinner (a banquet, really). Also, matt_arnold introduced me to the first two episodes of Invader Zim.

Also, I've had some good games with dionysus1999, sarahmichigan and simianpower. Last night, chimalis dropped in, and she joined us for a star-formation game. As I've been telling myself for a month, I really need to build new decks, but I haven't gotten around to it.

Tonight is my monthly poetry meeting at Barnes & Noble in Ann Arbor. (If anyone in the area is interested in attending, the meeting starts at 7:30.)

And I've been fairly productive at work lately. I've transitioned from my boss' invitations to the work of hiring and firing. That's what HR is all about, right?

Yesterday was so slow, and today the phone has been off the hook! Jeez.

On the upside, I'm definitely more productive today than I had been yesterday. This is a Good Thing(tm).

FOX Poll: Gloomy Economic Views; Bush Approval at New Low

Today I went out to pick up lunch for a coworker and myself. As I got everything out of my car, a man was also getting out of his car. We greeted each other. He saw that I had my hands full, so he ran up from behind me and opened the door to my office building, which apparently he worked at, too. I thanked him and asked him how he was, and he said, "Better than you." I took this to mean my juggling a sack of food, a purse, and a drink carrier. Then he said, "You have on your car that you need a better president?" I laughed over my shoulder and said, "We all do."

"I think he's a great man," he said, still trailing after me.

"Well, we all have our differences of opinion," I said as we tromped up the staircase. "Most of us don't put them on bumper stickers," he said.

"I've had that since our last election." He made a gruff noise, and I continued, "I generally tend to vote... leaning that way."

"That's too bad."

"Again, we all have our differences of opinion," I said as I turned the corner toward my office.

(He works in the only other business on our floor. All I know about him, other than how he feels about my bumper sticker, is that he's probably an engineer, as the company is an engineering consulting firm, if I'm not mistaken.)

It disturbs me that all of the flowers that have been in the office have crinkled up in less than a week.

My supervisor thinks it's due to bad air, perhaps fumes from the new carpet. Formaldehyde and other such loveliness.

The hyacinth my boss moved into the receptionist area was bright purple and fragrant Thursday. Now its blooms have withered into dark stars with no scent.

We just lost our phones! I can't get an outside line.

My coworker thinks it's the wind.