{{{smonster}}}

{{{P-C}}}

The cats put on a show for my entertainment a while ago. Harvey got under the comforter that serves as a cover for one of our sofas, and Sammie proceeded to attack him. When he finally crawled out, they wrestled hammer-and-tongs for about seven minutes.

So what does this magic necklace do again?

My grandmother consulted a psychic or priest or someone in India, and I have some bad juju related to Thursdays or something, so this magic locket is supposed to take it away. And then my perfect woman will arrive and everyone will be happy!

I've been looking at statistics for the math Employment Center, which is where I'll have my interviews next week. Last year, the average applicant had between 1 and 3 interviews. I have four scheduled. About 40% of applicants got at least one job offer from a place where they interviewed. At least two of the places where I'm interviewing are looking to hire more than one person. As far as qualifications go, I think I'm somewhat below average in research qualifications and somewhat above average in teaching qualifications, and all four places that want to interview me are jobs that put more emphasis on teaching than on research.

As far as location goes, there's one in a boring place near an exciting city, one in a cute small city that has a vegan grocery store, one in a warm climate right near the ocean, and one in the middle of some gorgeous scenery and not too far from a city I love.

I'm feeling relatively confident. Still preparing like hell, though. And this recurring dream where I sit down at an interview table and can't say anything because I get stuck in a stutter on the first word? That can stop any time now, please.

I think I've figured out my outfits. Outfit 1: black pants, black jacket, lavender fine-gauge sweater. Outfit 2: gray pants, black top with flowery detail thingy. Outfit 3: gray pants, white top, black jacket. Or possibly Outfit 3: black pants, red top with ribbon at neckline.

Only jewelry will be earrings, because I always start fiddling with a necklace if I'm wearing one. Wristwatch goes in my pocket during interviews, because I cannot stop myself from checking the time about every two minutes, even when I don't even care what time it is, and people tend to read that as me getting impatient.

Minimal makeup -- lip gloss, a little blush, a little eyeshadow. I'm going to be wearing glasses, not contacts, so any eye stuff will look magnified, and I'm crap at putting on eye makeup, anyway.

(Focusing on details helps me not be so nervous. If I make as many decisions as possible well ahead of time, then on the days of the interviews, the only things I'll have to think about are the interview questions.)

Lots of luck and ~ma to you, smonster.

And more to P-C. Everyone's already given out all the good advice, so I'll just nod and point.

ION, I feel like utter ass between a gigantic Nyquil hangover, a missed antidepressant dose this morning (and possibly yesterday too; too fuzzy to remember) and more money woes. Stupid company that administrates our FSAs had a windstorm over New Year's and basically hasn't been open for a week, so the $416 daycare reimbursement we need to pay the rent is in limbo until an unspecified date and time (for some reason, the entire year's medical FSA allowance, through the same company, is already available, but no go on the daycare allowance. WTF, windstorm company?).

Also, a co-worker just came in to meet up with my officemate for lunch and said, "Oh my god, your office stinks so bad!" And then wouldn't tell us what the office stank of, implying that it was so awful she couldn't bring herself to say. So, clearly, it's me.

I wish I could wear heels.

That all sounds really promising, Hil. Your outfits sound great, and the possible jobs sound like they have possibilities of being excellent. i hope the anxiety dream goes away.

{{JZ}}

(((((JZ)))))

Oh, whatever. My mom said my grandmother's friend lived in Oakland, but she lives in Union City. I'm not going to drive all the way down there just to pick up this stupid locket today. I have better things to do with my time.

{{JZ}}

Ooh, seventh call of the day.

P-C, there's this dandy service called FedEx ... or even USPS. They'll get the thing to you - no driving required. (of course, offer to pay shipping charges)