Hee. Jack Russells are fun. The neighbor dog is a Jack Russell, and he's been coming over to check on the progress of the house. If the door is open, he just runs in and checks out all the rooms. Makes sure things are going okay, checks to see if he's going to be fed scraps by the workers, then takes off. When we put him out because of the wet tile, he was mightily offended. Can't imagine what Seabiscuit's going to think when he gets to the house.

Man, Liese, I can't believe you threw out the superintendent!

I got to visit with Great Danes and an Australian Shepherd on Sunday. (Oh, yeah - there were people there too.) It was fun to see how very typey they were in personality. The Danes were rather reserved but then when they warmed up to you would calmly stand next to you to be petted. The Aussie was quite bossy and would bark if you weren't doing what she wanted. The Danes are pretty much non-barky and non-licky. Although, of course, they drool.

The Aussie was quite bossy and would bark if you weren't doing what she wanted.

Ha! So. Very. Aussie. (I love the herding breeds with a mad insane passion. But, yeah, a little opinionated.)

::crosses Jack Russells off the list of dogs to ever be considered in her house::

Nora, I agree with vw. Especially if you didn't put it in writing anywhere for them to refresh their memories. It's easy at that point to bump it up 2K or 5K, whatever you feel a more accurate range is.

Especially if you didn't put it in writing anywhere for them to refresh their memories.

Well, *she* wrote it down. I will just need to steel myself to not accept the offer immediately until thinking it over and figuring out if I should negotiate.

Absolutely negotiate. Especially if you have new information about what the job would entail.

I will just need to steel myself to not accept the offer immediately until thinking it over and figuring out if I should negotiate.

Definitely. And remember that you may be able to negotiate for things besides money -- benefits and perks.

Thanks for asking the question Nora. I'm waiting to see what I am offered for my new job. I haven't been asked what I want, and there are some other issues at play - so it will be interesting to see what they offer. But I'm ready to negotiate if it does not meet my current expectations.

It is nice to read everyone's support of waiting for the offer and then negotiating from there.

Yup, this. Lots of things are negotiable, and employers sometimes like doing those because it gives them more invisible latitude with the overall compensation package.

Man, Liese, I can't believe you threw out the superintendent!

Ha. So wrong. He came back, though. He wasn't offended for long.

So. Very. Aussie.

The Biscuit is mainly Australian Shepherd, and he's totally like this although we're trying to work out some of the more annoying behaviors. (You may ask nicely to be petted. You may not charge into the room demanding instant pettification.)

Are Aussies generally barky? Ours never used to bark at all, in the desert, but he sure barks a lot here in the neighborhood. I'm hoping it calms down when we get to the new house, but sheesh, dog.

I bet the Biscuit is barking more because there is more to bark about.