Job-hunting stuff, and a few birds

The tide was very high two hours ago, and still coming in, and I saw five mallards swimming happily on the edge of the soccer field. This would be called "minor coastal flooding," I suppose, but it's utterly routine: that's landfill, and probably about a centimeter above sea level. I also heard and then saw a kingfisher, flying over the water next to the Columbia boat house.

I'd gone outside partly to get some salami for lunch, and partly to break in a pair of somewhat respectable-looking shoes. I was reminded very quickly that they don't need breaking in as usually defined: they get along fine with my feet, and don't need stretching. The difficulty, and why I've not been wearing them, is that they have about an inch of heel, enough that the muscles in the backs of my calves and thighs notice and don't like it.

I was wondering about interview clothing, and adrian_turtle reminded me [over IM] of a pair of trousers I'd not thought of in this context. No, not the jeans she gave me. We're entangled enough that she knows at least some of what's in my closet. I find that soothing.

I'm wondering whether it makes sense to wear my usual gym shoes downtown, stash them and a bag in a gym locker, wear either the shoes from earlier today or [less appealing] the much more "feminine"-styled and differently uncomfortable shoes a few blocks to the interview, do that, walk back, change, and exercise. Or, for that matter, use the gym entirely as a staging area, on the theory that walking from there to the interview will be easier on my feet than walking from home to the subway in the same iffy shoes.

Someone who would otherwise be an obvious reference for me, and liked my work, said that it's against corporate policy for her to give references for anyone who worked for her at $corporation. *sigh* I suspect it is not against corporate policy for them to ask applicants for references.

Job-hunting stuff, and a few birds

The tide was very high two hours ago, and still coming in, and I saw five mallards swimming happily on the edge of the soccer field. This would be called "minor coastal flooding," I suppose, but it's utterly routine: that's landfill, and probably about a centimeter above sea level. I also heard and then saw a kingfisher, flying over the water next to the Columbia boat house.

I'd gone outside partly to get some salami for lunch, and partly to break in a pair of somewhat respectable-looking shoes. I was reminded very quickly that they don't need breaking in as usually defined: they get along fine with my feet, and don't need stretching. The difficulty, and why I've not been wearing them, is that they have about an inch of heel, enough that the muscles in the backs of my calves and thighs notice and don't like it.

I was wondering about interview clothing, and adrian_turtle reminded me [over IM] of a pair of trousers I'd not thought of in this context. No, not the jeans she gave me. We're entangled enough that she knows at least some of what's in my closet. I find that soothing.

I'm wondering whether it makes sense to wear my usual gym shoes downtown, stash them and a bag in a gym locker, wear either the shoes from earlier today or [less appealing] the much more "feminine"-styled and differently uncomfortable shoes a few blocks to the interview, do that, walk back, change, and exercise. Or, for that matter, use the gym entirely as a staging area, on the theory that walking from there to the interview will be easier on my feet than walking from home to the subway in the same iffy shoes.

Someone who would otherwise be an obvious reference for me, and liked my work, said that it's against corporate policy for her to give references for anyone who worked for her at $corporation. *sigh* I suspect it is not against corporate policy for them to ask applicants for references.

Oh, the humanity!

I just commented to paidmembers asking bradfitz to translate his post into English, or if that was too difficult French or Spanish. SMS abbrevs are all very well in their place, I suppose—though I manage to convey the necessary information to adrian_turtle without them—but they're annoying when one doesn't actually have a 160-character limit. They're doubly so when, having so limited zirself, the poster is then sending me to a separate URL to find out what's actually being offered/promoted.

Oh, the humanity!

I just commented to paidmembers asking bradfitz to translate his post into English, or if that was too difficult French or Spanish. SMS abbrevs are all very well in their place, I suppose—though I manage to convey the necessary information to adrian_turtle without them—but they're annoying when one doesn't actually have a 160-character limit. They're doubly so when, having so limited zirself, the poster is then sending me to a separate URL to find out what's actually being offered/promoted.

Nice try

I inquired about buying a mattress and box spring some months ago. We've not followed up for a variety of reasons.

A salesbeing just called, and I admitted to being here, and asked what it was. He said "we're just calling to see when you want a mattress to be delivered."

I explained "We have not yet selected or paid for a mattress, so we can't schedule a delivery. When we're ready, we'll let you know." I don't know if he's just trying to pressure me into making a purchase, or whether he's hoping that I'd be confused enough to say something like "Saturday" and they could claim they had a contract. Probably the former, given that it would be illegal to be recording the call without telling me, but mattress stores aren't known for high ethical standards.

(The two previous calls had been from cattitude and adrian_turtle, and when it rang this time I thought "It's not going to be Q," because zie basically never calls me.)

Nice try

I inquired about buying a mattress and box spring some months ago. We've not followed up for a variety of reasons.

A salesbeing just called, and I admitted to being here, and asked what it was. He said "we're just calling to see when you want a mattress to be delivered."

I explained "We have not yet selected or paid for a mattress, so we can't schedule a delivery. When we're ready, we'll let you know." I don't know if he's just trying to pressure me into making a purchase, or whether he's hoping that I'd be confused enough to say something like "Saturday" and they could claim they had a contract. Probably the former, given that it would be illegal to be recording the call without telling me, but mattress stores aren't known for high ethical standards.

(The two previous calls had been from cattitude and adrian_turtle, and when it rang this time I thought "It's not going to be Q," because zie basically never calls me.)

Incentives and translation

I had already decided to donate to the Minneapolis Public Library's John M. Ford Book Endowment, because it's something beneficial I can do in Mike's memory now (I signed my organ donor card, but hope that won't be relevant any time soon, and by definition I won't be around to know about it). Then papersky offered, among other incentives, that for a donation of $100 or more she'd put the donor's name into a book:

If your name works as Greek, Latin, Carthaginian or Lizardman, then into Our Sea, otherwise into Half A Crown.

Or, if you prefer, I can translate your name into Greek, Latin, Carthaginian or Lizardman.

I asked her to translate my name, and noted that while "Vicki" is Latinate, I had a preference for Greek. She noted that the Romans wouldn't have used "Victoria" as a name for a human, but the Greeks did use Nike. The name Jo came up with is, she says, not an actual Greek name, but it sounds entirely plausible: Rhodonike, Victory of Roses.

[I don't know if Jo's offer is still open: her most recent auction update post said at least through this past Monday. But the library will still be happy to accept donations.]

Incentives and translation

I had already decided to donate to the Minneapolis Public Library's John M. Ford Book Endowment, because it's something beneficial I can do in Mike's memory now (I signed my organ donor card, but hope that won't be relevant any time soon, and by definition I won't be around to know about it). Then papersky offered, among other incentives, that for a donation of $100 or more she'd put the donor's name into a book:

If your name works as Greek, Latin, Carthaginian or Lizardman, then into Our Sea, otherwise into Half A Crown.

Or, if you prefer, I can translate your name into Greek, Latin, Carthaginian or Lizardman.

I asked her to translate my name, and noted that while "Vicki" is Latinate, I had a preference for Greek. She noted that the Romans wouldn't have used "Victoria" as a name for a human, but the Greeks did use Nike. The name Jo came up with is, she says, not an actual Greek name, but it sounds entirely plausible: Rhodonike, Victory of Roses.

[I don't know if Jo's offer is still open: her most recent auction update post said at least through this past Monday. But the library will still be happy to accept donations.]

Personal to mrissa

A lot of people have that problem with epsilon-delta proofs, you know.

Personal to mrissa

A lot of people have that problem with epsilon-delta proofs, you know.