Mindful Mindlessness

Today I sat at my computer and noticed that there are only 15 pages to go to meet the Script Frenzy goal. Unfortunately, "THE END" is somewhere further away. I stared at the screen for a few minutes. I looked out the window and noticed that the rain was turning to snow. So of course, I had to get up and take a photo. All these tulips are from a few bulbs that were transplanted by squirrels several years ago.
I sat back down at the computer and noticed a splashy sound. Looked up and noticed that there was water dripping down the chimney of the woodstove. Mopped up the water, put a bucket under the drip, and called the people who did the roof. Sat back down. Looked out the window and noticed that it's snowing much harder. Opened the backdoor and took more photos. Sat back down. Wondered why I haven't heard from my last interview, not even the standard rejection email that this company sends out. Called the store to follow up. No one I need to talk to is in yet.

Puppy started poking me with her nose, so I put her in her little raincoat (she hates getting wet unless it's her idea) and watched her step carefully through the slush. Notice that her tail is still sort of curled; she's not that upset.

After being outside, she gets towelled off, which she does like. Then I sat back down and finally started working. Got all the characters to a masqued ball. And that's where they'll stay, because I don't know what happens next.

Call the store again, speak with one of the people who interviewed me. The process is taking longer than they thought; I'm still in the running.

I wish there was a place I could call to find out what happens at the ball. Some mundane chores might help. Something about mindful mindlessness frees my creativity.

Tiny Bubbles

The weather report from NOAA predicted about an inch of snow for today. Our little microclimate seems to have missed the memo, as so far we have about four inches and the snow is still coming down. I wouldn't care if I didn't have to go out later. I'm going down to the shop to have a toast to the end of Wen Chocolates in Denver. We've been saving a bottle of really good champagne (a Veuve Cliquot I think) for a special occasion. Granted, closing the shop and kitchen isn't quite the occasion we'd envisioned, but Veuve Cliquot does lend a mad dash of frivolity to the wake.
I'm curious to try the champagne; it's on the pricey end. My taste buds are usually happy with the $10-20 dollar range. As John Cleese says, if you like it, it's good wine. My new favorite in the sparkling category is Astoria Sweet Lounge, a blend of proseco and muscatel. I confess. I bought it for the pretty label, but it turned out to be delightful, and it goes very well with chocolate.
A positive note, I won the monthly giveaway at Octoberfarm, one of my favorite blogs. A set of antique pressed-glass dishes. Lovely way to start off the Year of the Metal Tiger. Thanks, Jaz.
Between the closing and the flu, I haven't had the energy to keep up with everyone's blogs and postings. I apologize. I'll get back to it eventually. Right now, I need some breakfast and some Dayquil.

Pet Therapy & Whatever

This is Kitty's new favorite spot; as soon as I sit down at the computer, there he is. It's a new

behavior that started right about the time I knew for certain that I was going to be out of work. It's becoming more and more frequent; anytime I sit down, there he is. If I leave the bedroom door open at night, I wake to find myself squished between Kitty and Puppy. It's very sweet, in a smothering sort of way.

I've had one phone interview so far, out of I don't know how many applications. I didn't get a callback for the group interview. It was for the edibles division of a medical marijuana company. I'm thinking that my lack of drug use counted against me. I have all the skills they needed, I just don't use pot. It triggers a nearly suicidal depression in me, so I don't use it. No 'just say no' anti-drug stuff going on, I just react badly so it's not the thing for me. That should have made me an attractive prospect and a natural for inventory control, but no. The interviewer told me that they'd winnowed over a hundred resumes down to about 40 'awesome' candidates. After a phone interview, about 16 or so would be invited to the group interview and from that about 10 people would be hired. It seems I was not awesome enough.

Bevin told me that the last time her company posted a job on Craigslist they got about 700 responses. That doesn't cheer me up. Unless her boss needs someone to go through resumes...

I couldn't do Bevin's job (she's a funeral director). After 7 years in hospice care and 7 years in an animal shelter I can't do any more caretaking emotional trauma type jobs. I just can't.

I don't know what I want to do next. Something that pays well enough, that's interesting enough to keep me motivated, something that doesn't suck up all my energy so that I have nothing left for the things I really enjoy. The things that make life worth living but don't provide a living wage.

It's gloomy and gray and chilly. I should take Puppy to the park, but I don't feel like going. If it were sunny, it would seem warm enough, but under a cloudy sky it just feels cold and damp. Bleh. We're in between sun and snow. Everything is in between right now, the weather, jobs, me... Everything is in flux, waiting for whatever comes next.