In which I partied Friday night and was useless the whole rest of the weekend ’cause I ain’t no spring chicken.

Friday night I went out and had drinks with dot-com and Widget. Eventually, I got really quite drunk. Later I ended up at an after-hours party and crashed on someone’s couch with a blanket and their dog. I didn’t make it home until the next afternoon.

Today I’m being lazy. I ate some of the chili I made last night. My laundry’s done. Right now I’m watching a show on Iptv about segregation. Truck’s about to go out with some guys and see a movie in Srottumwa; I think AmmZon’s probably gonna lie on the couch and be lazy too.

I’m so glad my new job starts tomorrow because I really need money. I have less than $5. Bindu really needs to be wormed and Frontlined, and I think she might need something for her left ear because she keeps scratching it. I’m not even going to mention all the bills I haven’t paid for months because what’s the fucking point of that?

Keef sent me some fantastic sci-fi last week, so I think I’ll go stick my head in a book.

In which it’s all just SUCH a pain in the ASS.

So I was gonna use a variation on this color scheme to redo goblinbox’s theme for fall.

I had to download an FTP client to backup the existing theme files, because there wasn’t one on Truck’s laptop.

Then I realized I wouldn’t be able to change the bkg color without editing the header image… but I can’t do that without some graphics software… which is in my warez folder out at the farm. And the original .png files for the header and other miscellaneous buttons and shit? On Bread’s laptop!

Probably. Or on a CD or thumbdrive somewhere.

Fuck, I hate having my data spread out all over the damn world like this! I’m keeping it all on the Internet from now on. Hurumph.

In which my birthday was pretty cool, and I have good news!

I partied my ass off all weekend, and I managed it on about $5. I went out both Friday and Saturday nights, and people bought me drinks and I stayed out crazy late and got lots of hugs and kisses and attention because it was my birthday weekend. I also read two pretty fab sci-fi books and gave myself a haircut. Sunday afternoon AmmZon made a delicious dinner — linguini, marinara, meatballs, garlic bread and a huge salad — and a friend of hers came over and we all ate and lounged around watching football. I went to bed early that night because I had an interview on Monday that I wanted to be fresh for.

My brother sent me a totally bitchin’ phone. It’s pink, has a really nice display, and unlike my other two phones it actually works! I love having a phone again. I LOVE MY BROTHER.

My interview got pushed to Tuesday. It was 96 degrees and I had no decent summer-weight clothes, so I drove out to the interview in a t-shirt and changed into a long-sleeved tailored dress shirt while sitting in my jeep in the parking lot. The interview was fun and I liked the people, but they didn’t really ask me very many of those legit interview questions I’d been prepared for, like, “What do you think your strengths and weaknesses are?” They didn’t make me an offer on the spot (even thought they’d sent me an email that made it sound like they were going to), but they did give me a 4-page NDA to read over and said they’d call me early next week when the finance guy was back in town and could be present for any hiring. They asked me if I could do payroll and A/P. I mean, they implied that they’d hire me next week, but it wasn’t openly said. I still don’t know what their product is because they don’t reveal that info until they hire someone and get a signed NDA. It’s a start-up; it had that new company buzz. One of the two men that interviewed me said he’d been involved in several start-ups over the years and that this one was the one that was going to break through.

After the interview, I changed back into my t-shirt, drove to AmmZon’s and took an afternoon nap. I woke up all logy because it was so freaking unseasonably hot and I’d been passed out upstairs, sweating and drooling, for a couple of hours. I went downstairs where it was cooler and got on the laptop. Network Redux IMed me and asked me to come over for a 15-20 minute interview at 5 o’clock.

I drove over and the 15 minute interview took over an hour; dot-com and I rapped and geeked out and had a great time. The job sounded even better than I’d originally thought. Dot-com is smart and laid back and really knows his shit, his company is solvent and growing, and if I worked there I’d get to enjoy a nice steep learning curve in a pleasant little office with a fast Internet connection and a window! Again I thought I was going to get an offer on the spot, but he walked me out and said he’d call me the next day. So sneaky. At the door we switched gears to social concerns. He asked if I was planning to go out and see Rockstar play at the Hideaway that night and suggested that if I was, I might call his wife and get her to go since he didn’t think she would go out without some female persuasion.

I went back to AmmZon’s and sat on the porch and texted Widget and read for awhile. I nagged her via texts until she agreed to go out, even though it was a Tuesday. I met her and dot-com at the bar at eight and we three sat and chatted. I hadn’t seen them socially since we met a few weeks before and I really like them a lot. Dot-com and I quickly fell into geek, and Widget, who was sitting between us, slowly started leaning back and grinning her “you guys are totally fucking geeking out” grin. “Ah, shit,” I laughed. “We’re dorking out on you! Let’s talk about something else!” She laughed and said it was okay, but we did eventually manage to change the subject. Rockstar arrived and started playing. Gorgeous and Baby Girl sat on the other side of dot-com. Eventually dot-com turned to Widget and said, “Do you think I can tell her now, or should I wait until tomorrow?”

Widget said, “She’s sitting right here you know, she can hear you!” We all laughed, and then he offered me a job on the spot. I accepted. I’m employed! I start Monday morning because that’s when the new computer he ordered for me will be there. I’m so excited! OMG, I have A JOB. With a brand new Mac mini to play with!

Throughout the evening, dot-com and I talked more and I think I’m really going to totally fucking dig this job. You’ve got to love a man who strives to provide excellent support but admits to occasionally “firing” evil customers who are impossible to support and who malign his employees on his support forums. He’s also got a full disclosure policy; I’m not only welcome to but practically encouraged to blog about my job. OMGWTFBBQ!!!

We closed the bar, stopped en masse at someone’s house, then left there and ended up at a cozy little after-hours at chez dot-com and Widget. They’ve got pugs and cats and a really cute house, and Rockstar brought his guitar and we all sat around and talked and sang and giggled and in general had a really groovy time. On a Tuesday! (I felt zero guilt because, hey! I’m still technically unemployed until Monday, so I figured I could rock out for no reason, since I won’t be doing it when I have to start actually waking up in the morning and doing things for a living.)

Did I mention that I HAVE A JOB???!??!??!?!?

In which my baby bother is the best baby brother ever!

So my brother told my mom that he wanted to help me out but I was too stubborn to tell him what he could do for me, so she emailed me and told me I was too stubborn and that I should let my brother help since I’m broke and homeless and jobless fer crying out loud, so I emailed her back and CC’d him and said, “Stubborn??!??! Fine! He can buy me a fucking cell phone then!”

So he did. My new Sprint Katana arrives tomorrow. I’ll post the number when I know what it is and then, and then, and then? Then you can all call me and, like, say stuff!

I love my baby bother.

In other news, when LISCO laid me off I put my iTunes library onto Bread’s laptop. This means I haven’t been able to manipulate the content on my iPod for a month now. However, the last version of SharePod not only lets you get content off of your iPod but to put content onto it as well. Yay!

In which there’s a whole lotta fun in Fairfield, and I’m gonna get me some.

I missed it when KRUU 100.1 FM went live today at noon. Rockstar played with his band, the JCGB, and then E.d. did a funk show that I missed most of even though I’ve been discussing it with him for a couple of weeks in great detail because WHO DOESN’T LOVE THE FUNK?!

There was a radio in the kitchen here the other day but now it’s gone and I don’t know what happened to it so I had to go listen in my car, which was fine because I needed a 7-layer burrito from Taco Bell anyway.

Anyway, the point is, Fairfield’s new community station is live and on the air and you can listen to the stream here. I’m thinking about doing a show, but I still can’t decide what I want to do.

Update: It’s official. I’m obsessed with KRUU! It’s a freakin’ riot to hear your friends on the air! Chuckee’s on right now, and if you know Chuckee you know that’s a Very Good Thing. So far everyone I’ve spoken to today has their car radio tuned to 100.1 FM, too. It so fucking rocks when good things happen in small towns!

In which NLW spoils me rotten. Totally rotten. And I’ve got interviews next week!

When I got up this morning I checked my email; it’s totally my birthday. I’ve got interviews next week with two companies! Two!

NLW bought me a coffee at Revelations before taking me to Iowa City. The guys were there; BoSe waved and smiled but Bread of course didn’t turn around or acknowledge me in any way whatsoever, and I guess that’s fine. I “dumped” him, so he doesn’t want to see me. Okay. I need to get over it.

In Iowa City we went shopping at a consignment store where NLW spoiled me rotten. She bought me a floor length velvet coat! It’s like something you might wear to the opera: it’s tailored, split lapel, almost tails. It’s dark, dark, dark blue with a red silk liner. It fucking ROCKS, people. ROCKS. I love it.

She took me to lunch, then a movie, and then we came home. (Little Miss Sunshine, btw, is good, but not that good.) The woman’s been spoiling me rotten all month and I adore her for it.

AND I HAVE A FLOOR LENGTH VELVET FUCKING COAT!

Now I’m back on AmmZon’s living room floor; Truck and AmmZon are cuddled on the couch watching Arrested Development and Bindu’s got her chin on my thigh.

In which it is returned to me.

I found my wallet.

I tore the house apart. I tore my jeep apart. I called the bar twice, and stopped by once, and they told me three times it wasn’t there. But tonight I went in, and it was there.

The $20 was gone, of course, and the change that had been loose inside it too. But I got my credit cards, license, and library card back.

Sigh.

In other news, I’m this close –> <-- to becoming gainfully employed!

In which it’s up. Then down. Then up. (But not in the fun way you’re thinkin’ of, perverts.)

Last night I caught Jack loose on the street and walked him home. Then I hung out with his person, the Sexy Lab-rarian, until two in the morning, talking. (She works swing shift so she keeps weird hours.) It was awesome to see her and catch up; we haven’t hung out in years and I love that woman.

Had a phone interview today. I liked the guy; he said my favorite words about schedule/punctuality: “We’re fairly flexible about that.” There was laughing, too, which is always a great sign in my book. It appears I may even be qualified for the job I applied for. So I’d say it went well. They asked for references and everything.

I finally made it to that town-killing gash of a store we all love to hate and bought the contact lens solution and cheap conditioner I’ve been needing for days. Was thinking about the marriage as I was driving, about the somehow epic span of the thing juxtaposed with the brutal pedestrianism of the words I hear myself using to describe my experience (it’s all just so common; I feel like a Cosmo article), and I managed to work myself right into a panic attack in the HABA aisle. Gave myself a pep talk on the drive back to AmmZon’s house but I feel like an asshole and I can’t seem to shake it.

The truth is, I’ve already paid this fucking bill and I need to get over it.

I had a couple of wonderful IM sessions with an old friend today. I sat in front of Truck’s laptop and giggled like a fiend for hours; I love that motherfucker so much. It was really good for me. Then I got an email — with great grammar and spelling, and you know how I love that shit — this afternoon from a guy with the company I’d spoken with in the morning; he told me they thought I may just possibly be the person they’re looking for and that they wanna meet me next week. And with good grammar! Boo yah!

Up and down and up. Ah, the rollercoaster. Means you’re alive, yes?

In other news, you know what’s hot? I’ll tell you what’s hot. Wirelessness, that’s what. I’m sitting on the porch with Truck’s laptop in my lap. Can you dig it!

In which I’m totally excited and geeked out and giddy about hopefully getting a way cool job in the near future!

Yesterday, I applied for three jobs. (Specifically: one of these and also one of these.)

I’ve had two responses already! I AM SO EXCITED. I was beginning to fear that I’d lost my ability to find a job that I actually want to do and that I’d stupidly entrench myself in some soulless drudgery with zero opportunity to actually learn anything ever again. Which is, like, totally fucking scary, my babies. I love learning. I hate not learning. Being a secretary would kill me absolutely dead, dead, dead.

I remember my first several years at the ISP as being some of the happiest work experiences I’d ever had. I was learning new stuff all the time; I was reading articles on DNS and TCP/IP in my free time. I taught myself HTML and CSS while working there because HELLO! OC-motherfucking-3 PIPE! FAST FAST FAST!

I realize that I may get none of these jobs; personality conflicts, start dates, etc. There are always factors beyond merely being qualified. I’m mostly excited by the fact that I’m finding jobs like these to apply for — the last six jobs I applied for were awful: P/T secretary, phones, filing, $6-$9 an hour. *bangs head on desk* F/T secretary, phones, filing, $8 an hour. *bangs head on desk* I mean, at this point I’d take $8 an hour, but it would be soooo much better if I’d get to learn something while doing it!

In other news, my cell phone has been, ahem, “temporarily suspended due to a past due balance!” Which means the other two people on the contract also cannot afford to pay the bill. So I probably won’t be calling you any time soon, and I’ll need to drive somewhere tomorrow to borrow someone’s phone to do my phone interview. *sigh*

At least I’m back on the ‘net, that’s some small consolation.

In which you mark your calendars… or not.

My birthday is on Friday. I will turn thirty-eight, fer chrissakes. HOW HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ME?

I sent out three resumes today. For jobs I actually want. Go me. Let the employment commence!

In other news, I can’t find my fucking wallet. It has a bunch of non-functioning credit cards in it, my driver license, and a $20 bill (which is/was all the money I currently possess). *bangs head on desk*

Update: Matthew Perry just said “Drudge Report” on tonight’s Studio 60. For some reason, I find that to be unbearably hip.