I was born about three years after my older brother, and my sister was born about three years after me. When I was about five, I asked my mom why I didn't have another sibling born three years after my sister, and my mom told me she and dad did not have the egg fertilized. So I pictured my mom and dad going to a hardware store to pick up so baby-fertilizer. Then I wondered how babies were made in caveman days, before there were hardware stores. I didn't ask my mom any more questions, though, as I figured I would understand all this fertilizing stuff when I was older.

And now you know it involves vans and parking lots!

So I've moved on to telling some of my internal "clients" that I'm leaving, and they've started sending me random job announcements. Which is really nice, except they're in Seattle, and for jobs for which I'm not qualified, and are only available to "status candidates" (i.e., people who are already federal employees). It's endearing but dorky and useless.

And now you know it involves vans and parking lots!

Yep.

I'm listening to a phone interview, and I have to wonder why some questions even get asked. "I see you have had jobs that are not like the job I'm interviewing you for. How do you feel about doing the job you applied for?"

I wonder how many people ever fuck up on that.

Why have I set up a day with half-hour gaps between meetings? Really optimistic about that lunch thing, but I have a doctor's appointment at 4, so perhaps this is for the best.

What am I thinking? This is never for the best. I'm just dumb today.

Today is business formal again, and that one guy again isn't dressed to code, and I really wish there were a management stance on this. He thinks I'm both an ass-kisser and a rabble rouser on this topic, but seriously...ties are not shackles. Get over it.

"I see you have had jobs that are not like the job I'm interviewing you for. How do you feel about doing the job you applied for?"

I wonder how many people ever fuck up on that.

You would be surprised. This is the kind of question where people who either have barely really thought about the position (beyond, I need and job and this has some key words!) or who are really trying to find a route in to the company to then look for something else tend to expose themselves.

My poor coworker whose last day was supposed to be Friday is here today packing up, but his party was not rescheduled! Poor thing. And he's been here 18 years in a variety of roles, so a lot of people are sad to see him go. (Unlike when my last day at a job was supposed to be 9/12/01.)

Poor ex coworker.

One of my project managers just announced that she was taking 3 months paternity leave for a new 4 footed addition to her family. I.... I don't know what my response is.

Um, what? The apparent gender confusion notwithstanding.

suzi,

how can that occur? there is no mandated leave for pets (I assume we are talking about a pet and not a new human hybrid).