It’s a no

It is done, I did not get the job, and I am kind of relieved. Putting that whole thing to rest for a while and focusing on the holidays, the gallery reception, the new book contract, and the ALA conference. Not giving up, just taking a break until the right thing comes along.

endless waiting

Tension is very high over here as the end of the week rolls by with no rejection or offer from prospective employers. My feelings about this whole thing are changing from "this was a great idea" to "this was a terrible idea" every hour or two. Maybe that hesitation is the answer I need. Or maybe I shouldn't let fear make decisions for me. I DON'T KNOW. Our tentative agreement is that if I get the offer, I go visit the place and see how it feels before accepting anything. I can always say no.

In the meantime, I have been selected to attend a library conference in Baltimore in January, and I've been going ahead with planning that, even knowing I might have to throw a wrench in the gears and make life hard for the admin who chose me for the trip. Until I hear otherwise, I am just going to live my life as usual. I bought some cute snow boots, and I'm looking at parkas online (surprise - we don't have any here). If anyone has a favorite coat that keeps them warm in a blizzard, please drop it in the comments.

Also, my 7-11 painting made it through two rounds of jurying and the award ceremony at the gallery is next Saturday. Fingers crossed that it places in the top 5. 

that tracks

No time to post lately, deeply in the midst of fckin up my job interview. Waited with presentation at appointed day and time; no Teams meeting link was sent. Emailed them before the meeting, no reply. Double-checked all my notifications from them - no link. Interview time came and went. Sent an email, apologized, asked if I had misunderstood. Sat in front of computer for another hour. Decided I had been stood up. Went to bed. Woke up next morning to reply emails, saying there had been a formatting problem and I should have been sent a link a week ago. They had rescheduled me for new interview time: half an hour before I woke up. Panicked, threw on clothes, ran to computer, tried to join meeting late. Nobody there. Sent humble apology, said technology and time difference had won that day, and I was still interested if they'd be willing to give it one last try. They replied and pointed out that the new link was for Wednesday. Tomorrow. I had the time right, but not the day.

 

At least I am distinguishing myself among the field of applicants.

Update: Interview went well! If I don't get it, I'm satisfied that it's not because I embarrassed myself. Results in a week.

Pickle Chips

Old man Pickle Chips came to the end of his journey this week. He was a scabby stray cat who haunted our back yard for years before finally adopting us, staring through our window at dinner one day while sitting in an empty pickle chips box. For the last few years he came and went, played with toys, slept on our beds, and accepted medical care when he got into scraps with other strays. He fathered little orange kittens all over the neighborhood, probably including Droopy, before the Humane Society's neuter scooter finally caught him. This week he wasn't feeling well and hid under our bed to die, so we pulled him out and tried to help him, but it didn't do any good - his body was on its way out, his kidneys were shutting down. He passed on gently with the help of our vet.

 

One time I found where he originally lived; I was taking an evening jog and ran past a house with junk in the driveway and saw him laying there with kittens all around him. He looked up at me with more guilt on a cat than I have ever seen, as if I had caught him with his secret second family. I don’t think the people who live there will care that he’s gone. I’m not knocking on their busted door to tell them.

I’m sorry you had such a hard life, Pickle Chips. I hope the food and tummy rubs made up for some of it.

Finally getting some results around here

My 7-11 painting made it through the first round of judging and still has a shot at winning some cash.

I successfully renegotiated a book contract, which was hard because I don’t like making people unhappy with me.

Got a JOB INTERVIEW. And it’s a good one to start off with because I’m not over-eager about it; it’s admin for multiple libraries, with lots of payroll, paperwork, and problems. Beautiful buildings, though. If it turns out to be a good fit then that would be great, but I won’t be too let down if they don’t think I’m the right person. Hoping it’s great, of course.

Simplicity lost our patterns in the mail, so I painted in my sketchbook instead of sewing on my day off. Time is ticking, Simplicity.

The new Brother machine is really beautiful to use, though. We took it for a test drive on a scrap of fabric and Zenny loves how smooth and quiet it is, and that it has a slow setting for beginners. I know computerized machines only last years instead of decades, but hopefully it will last through her teens and she’ll sew lots of cool stuff.

Making doll clothes

Time to shop for an interview outfit, even though they’ll only see me from the chest up on Zoom. Need to look like someone who can do admin and run staff meetings.