Smatterings

• I had my first job interview upon coming back home yesterday, and my first rejection this morning. It was a case of other applicants having more experience specific to the job than I did. 
• I think I should drop some money for a bookshelf, but I don't know how I'd get it back to the apartment. May have to talk to the roommate about this.

This just isn't cutting it anymore.

• I think that this quarter, academically speaking, is going to be awesome. I'm finally taking archival classes for one, and will have an independent study in which I do nothing but study historic book making processes.
• I had my first encounter with with bookless library here on campus yesterday, and was pleasantly surprised at its efficiency. Sure, there is no browsing, but books requested actually do end up on hold within two hours, and I ended up biking home with a book bag so full my back was rather angry at me.
• There is still a lot I have to write about concerning my time at the Murie Center, but it will likely take a while for me to sit down a process. For now, here area few lingering photographs.

 One of my last projects involved assessing the condition of the film in the studio. We had about 16 reels, all in surprisingly good condition.

 Finally got a decent shot of a ground squirrel, since by the end of my time on the ranch they had become fat and lazy, and didn't mind being a foot away.

A box I found in Mardy's cabin turned out to be a portable film projector. It was a lot of fun to disassemble and to figure out what all of the little knobs and such did.

FUUUUUU

How fast can one learn French? 6 months?

Context: There's a paid summer internship at the National Gallery of Art for their rare books department, but "Advanced skills in a language other than English are essential."

Maybe I should have studied romantic languages. Maybe I should have concentrated on history. Maybe I should have picked up more area studies specialization.

There's too much to know and too little time to learn it!

Hnnnng

Nothing warms you up like trying to pedal a bike with a flat tire. I filled the tire with air (75c for air! What is the world coming to!) and it went flat again immediately, so it looks like I'm going to have to replace a tire.

I was doing a little RSS reading after coming home from class and came across a list of resources for job searches in the library field. The first link was for North Suburban Libray System. Their front page reads " On May 31, 2010, all NSLS full-time employees (except delivery staff) were laid off. The only member service NSLS will provide in the immediate future is van delivery. This scaled down version of the NSLS website will remain up until further notice."

FUUUUUUUUU

Well, here's hoping that in two years there will be employment prospects again. I should really get started on cultivating expertise somewhere to make myself more employable, but I find it difficult to find the time in between the classes I am taking, which are are as introductory as you can get (with the possible exception of Organization of Information, but that one drives me a bit nuts.)

I am still holding out judgement on this whole ten weeks a semester thing. Way too short in my opinion, but then again, I am looking forward to taking classes that are more relevant to my focus.

I am currently in the interview process for two different jobs. Both are full time and rather decent. What I -really- want is a call back from the libraries in Rangeview, but I'm not sure if that would happen. I turned in three separate applications to them on Monday, and because the computer was having a terrible time interpreting the file I had to go over every little check box individually and double check that it wasn't changed from the last time I loaded the file. I realized after I had printed that I was not thorough enough and one check had gotten through, and then, when I could not find any white out, decided to fix the issue when I got to the library I was submitting everything to. Of course by the time I got to the library I had forgotten about this, and so two applications say that I was previously an employee of Rangeview and one says correctly that I have not. I literally did not have a moment to do anything today, so I guess tomorrow I'll have to call them and set things right. Bleh.

So far I've gotten a whole sentence translated of the Japanese book I'm trying to go through. I don't think I'll get very far, but some Far East Language skills would really help, and I need to brush up VERY badly.

Oh man. I don't think I can recall any other week in my life where I have been this busy. On top of preparing for and attending my first classes, trying reel in all the lines I put out for work, familiarizing myself with the area and its grocery stores, trying to cook and failing, and otherwise putting all the disparate pieces involved with moving to a new city and starting a new life into place, I have had maybe one hour total with which to rest or fool around on the computer. My mind is so revved up that it's taking me three or more hours to fall asleep after I lay my head on the pillow, which is something I -really- hope changes once things get more settled.

I've had a two day grocery ordeal involving a Japanese food store near downtown and two meals that I managed to only buy half the ingredients for each. Today I resolved to pick up the missing stuff from a local store, and set about making spring rolls. I've had a real hankering for spring rolls since I mentioned them before, something like a week ago, and have not managed to scratch that particular itch since I was denied them. When I was in Japan I had made them with my host mother, so I though, hey, how hard could they be? You don't even have to cook anything but the shrimp.

Well... It turns out I didn't quite remember what went into them, so I forgot some of the flavoring, bought cabbage instead of lettuce (I guess I'm making a cabbage dish soon) had absolutely no idea how to prepare avocados and didn't know I didn't know until I had mangled one, and ended up buying shrimp that was too curled and too small to be laid out the traditional way. Youtube gave me a crash course on avocado slicing, and after some experimenting the shrimp worked anyway. What was irredeemable was the sauce. It was terrible and I ended up just throwing it out. Without the sauce spring rolls are really bland, and without the greens they're even blander. Good thing I don't mind tasteless food. Plus, by the time I was done making a dozen of them I was too hungry to care.

I've taken a picture of the results of my exploits, along with a few shots of the interior of the apartment, but my usb cord is (hopefully) still sitting in my trunk along with a few other excess effects that I have not bothered to move in yet, so all that will have to wait. I also noticed that the lens of my camera has managed to pick up even more black spots, even in the protection of its case. Somewhat annoying, that.

I've now taken two of the three classes, and predict a heavier workload than I expected initially. Since the school runs on quarters, each class is only 10 sessions long, which sounds a little crazy, and probably is. Within those 10 sessions we're expected to do a large paper, a group project, and a few other assignments. I'm thinking I will not be able to pull of the procrastination game this time around.

There's probably a lot more that I'm missing, but that will have to wait for another day, as I'm tired, and want to spend at least a minute of this day doing nothing (probably will work on my budget spreadsheet instead). So here's a quick list.

Stuff I like about Denver so far:

• The road I take to school has a bike path, so when I get a bike the commute will be perfect.


• Driving back from part time job 1 I saw an entire family of prairie dogs chilling by the road. I think that's the first time I've ever seen a live prairie dog, and there were more than a dozen. Unfortunately one was flat on the shoulder. =s


• The people in general are all pretty cool, and the drivers are pretty sane, even considerate sometimes.


• All the curbs are slanted, so that I can relearn my parallel parking and it's cool if I go a little too far.


• There's a Japanese food store in the city. It's not really that close, but it's there, and it has a lot of good stuff.

Stuff I don't like about Denver so far:

• It's almost all road related. For one, I can't seem to get onto I25 south without spending 10 minutes criscrossing the damn thing. Ironically, the one time I did get onto I25 S without a hitch I really wanted to go North.


• There is no parking anywhere at all. I hate city parking.


• The building where I have my classes is as far from my apartment as it can be without being off campus. Ok, that's not completely true, but it is on the wrong side.


• I still don't have a room of my own. I'm managing fine, but I am really looking forward to being able to have a real space, and be completely moved in.

Phew, 11PM already. I've got an interview and a class tomorrow, and then I think I will set off on another culinary adventure.

Dreams and Reality

The last few days have been on foot job canvasing days. Forty five minutes into the city, hours asking for applications from every store that I would possibly consider working for, and then the drive back. Today I turned in the applications I had collected in bulk, and tomorrow I track down the Barnes and Nobles stores I did not hit. I haven't turned in any online applications in a few days, even though I've still been collecting listings, so now there's 10+ e-mails to send out, cover letters to write, and tedious application forms to fill out that ask for all the things the resume has in it anyway. I'm considering not making a tailored resume for jobs with application forms, just because I feel like I'm doing the same thing twice every time, but even though the resume is optional I don't want to put myself at any disadvantage.

The job hunt today also included a trip to the library to take a test for a sorting position. I was given a sheet of ten problems, with ten items per problem, and asked to alphabetize everything. I got a 91%, which is as embarrassing as hell. Still passed, but it appears I need to retake kindergarten.

I have a guest blog up at the Private Library. I had been meaning to write the article ever since I had picked up a half dozen catalogs from the New York antiquarian book fair, but the thing that spurred me to finish it was the need for a writing sample in a job application. I've been wanting to write something on unconventional and 'exotic' binding practices too, but that will require more research and resources than I have time for at the moment. It's still in the back of my mind.

So far I have gotten two call backs for 'jobs'. One was for a speech recognition service. It isn't a job per se. When I fall into the right demographic range they give me a call and I read stuff for them in my East Coast accent. Given that I am constantly being told I don't have the Joisey accent I guess I won't provide them with the most stereotypical data, but whatevs. It's 40 bucks for a 45 minute session. The other job is as part time as it comes. Occasional yard work and mending for a doctor in the DU area. These things might provide for a little, but I'd still love for a JOB to call me back.

It's gotten to the point where I've had dreams where I'm asking some anonymous employer why they aren't contacting me and they're giving me some speech about 100 applicants yadda yadda yadda. Dreams are times for floating ships and pirate islands, not more job searching.

Anyway, to move away from the depressing, some quick notes:

• I still can't believe Denver spends money on buses that go up and down a single street and stop at every corner every minute.


• There are pianos standing along the 16th ave. mall for anyone to come bang on them for change. They are painted all sorts of gaudy colors and some people really can play.


• I had a real hankering for spring rolls and immediately ran into a Thai food cart selling spring rolls.


• I then waited 20 minutes to order said spring rolls only to be told they were out, so that part of the day wasn't as awesome as it could have been.


• My friend's grandma is essentially adopting me and is treating much better than I deserve.


• After living with 4 cats and 2 dogs for a week and a half I want one of my own. =x

Even though the job stress has been driving me a little nuts, I'm enjoying the freedom of exploring the city and chillaxing with Fides while I gear of for class. I'm crossing my fingers that the classes will be worth the move and the financial wager.

Ah, the job search. What an adventure. I'm looking for work at full speed now, and have been quickly reminded of how painful it really is.

The first job I applied to was fishy at the very beginning. There was 0 information about the business in the ad, and they had posted it on Craigslist. But at 16 bucks and hour full time I couldn't resist sending off a resume anyway. Today I got an e-mail back from them saying thanks, they really want to interview me but could I just sign up to this credit verification website that tricks people into paying monthly fees first?

Oh well.

I have not gotten anything back from the second job I applied to last night, so I figure that's probably a good thing. And while I would like to stop using Craigslist, I don't want to miss a thing. I'll be canvasing for jobs in person when I get to Denver, but the sort of job you get that way is usual retail or food.

The last piece of my university application puzzle was submitted two days ago, and now the ball is entirely in DU's court. Considering that there are only 3 weeks until the start of the semester, I don't have my hopes up too high, but considering that I haven't gotten a letter saying no yet, I'm still looking for a miracle. If I get in I may be able to find work on campus, which would be a double blessing.

It's about time I considered what I would be taking with me to Denver, but I haven't started bothering with that. I don't need much to live. The only minor challenge is making sure I have enough to keep from freezing to death in the coming winter. Not looking forward to that at all.

Guess what this post is about!

Employment!

For the last week I've sent in one submission a day. Hell I don't even remember where I submitted the last few days. Barnes and Noble (I ALWAYS write it Nobel), The Strand, Labyrinth Books, Oxford University Press, etc. The over/under qualified issue is still a big one. I either have to be a student or I have to have 4 years experience. Someone should have told me I'd need to be working full time as a student to get a job I was qualified for once I graduated. But whatever, I'm just going to keep applying. I cleaned my room a little more and am starting to consider selling off my high school manga. The ones I really liked I can keep, but for a spell there I was buying every title on the shelves. It got me a place as a columnest and bagged me preview swag, but not it's all taking up space and will never be reread. I figure I can try out the online book selling circut with my overstock (which, true to its name, is overflowing in this house)

So today I was doing my usual trolling for jobs and checked the Seattle Library system and suddenly there's a job availiable that pays 16-22hr and only requires a GED or higher. There were only two problems, it was a technical position that wanted previous experience troubleshooting electronics, which I only had informally, and the deadline for applications was in three hours.

So it turned out I was underqualified again, but this time in a different area, but with only three hours to decide if I was going to apply anyway I applied anyway.

There's really nothing hard about troubleshooting networks, and almost all of the hard crap about it has to do with the fact that computers are like babies, and the hard part about fixing them is figuring out what's wrong with them in the first place. I don't have formal experience with teaching people how to use computers, but I have a ton of informal experience? Doesn't that count for something?

I suppose I'll find out if it does in a few weeks. If I do get the job I'm moving to seattle and applying to to the MLIS program there. If I don't I just keep sending out my resume.