Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Diddly-Squat

That's what i did yesterday. Well, not entirely. I mean, i still did stuff -- i finished a scarf for a friend, i started on some Christmas presents, i made some headway on a big old scarf i'm making for myself, and i also did some laundry and went to the library. But all in all, i sat around in a comfy chair most of the day. It was magnificent. The only time i really left the vicinity was for the yoga class at Mass BJJ, which, since the school year started, has had a dwindled attendance. For a while there it was around 6 people every week (which is a great number for a new program at any studio), it has fallen to two every week, and yesterday there was only one. That's OK, though, because it's my last class there unless i go in once a month for a class there. I already told the studio owner, and he understood. I got a very sweet email from him about it in which he informed me that i am "a wonderful teacher, and everyone who takes the class has nothing but the best to say about it. But [he] certainly understand[s] the need for a full time job." Yep. Boy, don't i know it! And more than i thought i would!

Oh -- the other updates i promised:

1. The Weekend -- it was lovely! On Saturday, i did yoga in the morning, taught a class at the Athletic Center at Harvard University (for which i received a round of applause afterward! They really liked it!), and then daN and i met up at Razz's house to see off Ana, who is going to London. She had to postpone her flight because her visa hadn't shown up yet, and it was just as well, because we were all happy to have a couple more social occassions with her. Her flight was at 8pm on Saturday, so we all gathered to help her pack (and i love packing -- very good at it) and provide moral support, and hug her every now and then when we all got sad about not seeing her for three years. I AM going to visit her though. She took off, and daN and i walked home and domesticized. We had dinner and watched the recent 2005 Focus Features release of "Pride and Prejudice" starring Kiera Knightly. We both really enjoyed it -- i thought it was overall quite well done, and that Kiera Knightly did a fair job delivering the slighting quips of Elizabeth Bennet, and the actor who portrayed Mr. Bingley did a particulary good job of seeming awkward and unapproachable. However, my favorite version of the book (aside from the book itself) remains the six hour PBS version. It was long enough to put in EVERYTHING. I found the newer version more sentimental and less satirical than Austin's written text, but when narrowing a book down to a two hour summary, one must choose one's approach. And it was still a nice way to spend a Saturday evening.

Sunday, daN disappeared to hang out with some college friends, and i went to yoga at a studio down the street, and spent the rest of the day with Q. We hadn't done that for a long time, and i had a blast! We went shopping, which i desperately needed to do, since i really needed new workclothes. Not that i have a job yet, but i'll need them, and i had the time to do it. And a little money. Q didn't make out too badly either: as she said herself, "I meant to just go amd be moral support... I ended up with a new sweater, a winter jacket, and a bunch of other stuff." IT happens :) Eventually, we came back home, and i made some brownies to eat while we watched the Pats game and drank beer. The Pats lost horribly, but it was wonderful to spend so much time with a dear longtime friend of mine. Especially since she might be moving soon.

2. Job prospects:
  • I'm fairly certain that the position in the Grad School of Education at Harvard isn't going to pan out. According to my sources, it was a personality match thing. They are actually going to do another round of interviews to try to find just the right person for their office. At first, i was saddened, but then i thought, "well, if they weren't comfortable with me, then chances are that i wouldn't be happy with them either."
  • Boldened by my newfound something-or-other, i had an interview at an architectural firm on Monday in the Fort Point area of Boston. Global Protection is in that general neck of the woods, though deeper in. This firm was much closer to South Station, and yet just far enough out for me to experience the salty air of the ocean, watch the seagulls flock around, and notice how much it has changed out there with all the new buildings and roads being developed in the up-and-coming "Seaport" district. It felt indescribably comfortable there. There were real people, old buildings, history, and grit. The office itself was very open and light -- well laid out -- as i would expect an architectural firm to be, and i really sincerely liked all the people, the way they were interacting with each other, and the person i interviewed with. We chuckled together and had, i thought, a good raport. I'll keep you posted. There is a part of me that REALLY wants this one to work out, even though it would still be quite a commute from Somerville. But it's still on the Redline (as is Somerville) so that would make a difference -- wouldn't have to transfer train lines. It just felt.... right somehow.
  • In the meantime, i remain open to temping through the Harvard temping agency, and we'll see if anything comes of that.
  • I also got an email back from a land use policy educational institute in Harvard Square, and i hopefully get to interview with them soon. I should call them in a few minutes, actually.

3. What else? I might walk to Target today -- it's about 45 minutes and should get some more exercise into my system. And grab a couple things -- a plain necklace to provide accent with black clothing, a package of underwear for daN, and generally, get out of the house. I should also handwash some delicate clothing. Not a bad day. And more knitting!

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