This is where I bitch.

Harry Potter 7.2 was good. I liked it. My only complaint was that Harry seemed to have a varying amount of stubble from scene to scene, even in the same sequence. But that is a minor point. Dan was great, I love Maggie and Alan. It had a slightly slower/sadder feel than 7.1, which is good for the end of a series like this.

We went to the 3:15am showing at the IMAX to see it in 3D. I napped from 11ish to 1:30, then we went to stand in line for an hour, and we were not early at all. But we got OK seats and the crowd was not annoying. The 3D was well done, used in a good amount. It added to the experience, it was rarely used just 'cause it was cool.

We got home at 6am, I napped again until 9am, and was into work by 10. It was a lot busier than I expected, mostly because one of the projects I had was a lot more complicated than I had expected. Plus both projects I had to do today were due at 3pm, not 5 like I planned (but only because the project managers needed to leave). So I skipped lunch, which is very rare for me. Now I'm at the mall, and will enjoy Covert Affairs soon. Tomorrow is more mall work and mowing if it's not too hot. And Sunday I'm taking off, except for going to volleyball.

Oh yeah, I start full time work on Monday. The temping span is over, and I accepted the job offer they gave me. It's a little lower than what I was making at Laserwords, but more than when I was on furlough days. Two weeks vacation starting out and a week of sick time. And if I don't use the sick time, it gets paid out to me. I'm looking forward to more normal paychecks again.

I had a good last day of work at the post office. Everyone from my area brought in treats (cookies, brownies, soda, chips, etc.) and they all wished me good luck. I even got a card signed by everyone. it was really nice, I've never gotten a send off from a job like that before. Makes me feel wanted.

Did not get anything similar from Laserwords, though everyone did ask me to keep a look out for job openings at Omnipress for them.

Been a decent day so far, even with the kicky weather. Looking forward to 2 days of sleeping in this weekend.

Wow, I have zero intrest in working at the post office this week. I will. of course, my work ethic is too high to skip out. But no staying late (plus I still have free lancing at Laserwords this week). All I am hearing is how much I will be missed. Especially since next week is the big tax week, one of the heaviest weeks for mail volume all year. I feel a little bad, but not too much.

I picked up a XML and XSLT book today. It sounds like one of the draws to hiring me was my experience with that. So I think I should brush up this week, since I haven't used it in like six years. It shouldn't be a problem, but they did say they'd like me to teach it to other people, and I need to firm up my knowledge before that happens.

We had celebratory dinner at the Tornado Room last night. Yummy as ever. Steak is good.

Next Monday can not come soon enough.

I slept for like 11 hours last night. I've been working 10-12 hour days for over two weeks now, between the post office and Laserwords. I guess my body needed the rest. I'm feeling better. Not "rested", but better. We didn't get out to pick up the few items of clothes I'll need for my new job (I don't have a full 'work casual' wardrobe), but it's not like we have to get them before I start. Just soonish.

I'm a bit jealous of the kids that will be learning form the books I'm working on now at Laserwords. They are science books for grades 6, 7 and 8. Some of the topics covered are predicting weather, genetics, and space travel. Either I just don't remember that type of thing when I was in school, or they are moving these more complicated topics earlier in the curriculum. Some of the stuff covered I still don't know about it. Gives me hope for Jack and his generation.

Laura, Jack and co. are still having fun in Thailand, it seems. She was telling me about a restaurant they went to, called Cabbages & Condoms.

"[It} was started by a guy who is trying to fight AIDS and poverty (caused by too many kids in a poor family) by teaching about sex ed. He is trying to make family planning as normal and common as vegetables (hence the name). Anyway, it was really cool and was decorated with condom art. Instead of mints they handed out condoms after dinner, and Jack played with his condom package and kept telling me it had gum inside," said Laura.

Sounds like something that should be wider spread.

I have a job! Omnipress is hiring me as a production technician making web site and CD-ROMs for conferences (they mostly design and print the hard copy items for conferences--I'll be working on the digital stuff). It's a little bit of a pay cut from Laserwords, but will be just fine. Especially since I don't have any real experience with that. I start a week from Monday. So I only have one more week of waking up at 4:30am for the post office, and working part time at Laserwords.

Paul didn't want me talking about these interviews, he said I'd jinx myself if I did. I don't believe him, but I didn't talk about the last two days and now I have a job. Take that as you will.

I've unlocked two previous posts about my last interview.

*dances like a (employed) crazy person*

Locking this for a few days, since somebody thinks that it'll jinx my chances to post about it. I really don't believe that, I consider this journal a diary of my life, something to help me look back and remember some day--not as a place to brag.

The second on-site interview at OmniPress went well, I think. I met with the guy that would be my manager, a future coworker and the guy I'll be replacing (he's moving laterally to another department). They asked a lot of job related and (my) history questions. Nothing odd or wired like Cathy told me to watch for. One of the guys worked at Impressions before I did, so we could talk about mutual ex-coworkers. I think they will suggest to HR that they hire me. So now I have to wait for them to talk to HR, HR to call Areoteck and confirm it, and then Areoteck to call me. I'm hoping I'll hear today, but it might be another day or two. I'm a bit worried about how much they will offer to pay me. It'll be enough to pay bills and save a bit, but I think it will be a pay cut from Laserwords.

This working 10-12 hours (between the post office and Laserwords), not getting a nap and then sleeping only 4-5 hours is wearing me out. I want a normal life again.

The on site interview at Omnipress went well. I was supposed to meet with the hiring manager first, then the team. It seems the team was mostly gone since it was Friday. So I am going back tomorrow to meet with them (third interview). It sounds like they are leaning towards to offering me the production position over the project manager one. I'd prefer the project manager, just because I think it's a new direction and would be more fun and challenging. But I can start in production (mostly web stuff) and move on from there. Not that I have a job offer yet.

I played volleyball on Sunday, my team needed a sub. It was the last games of this season, so I made one week all season. Not a bad thing, the break was fine. And I played fine, I didn't seem to forget anything and played well. And didn't hurt myself, though I'm a little sore.

It's a rough week at the post office, since the two main organizer people that work in my area are gone this week. So we have slower and/or less confident people instead. And I just need to not stress about it. cause clearly management doesn't, so why should I?

I continue to work at Laserwords. On to my second project, as the one I had been helping with is on the way to the printer. No idea when that job will end, yet.

The phone interviews went well. Weather Central sounds like an interesting place to work, at least what they do (i.e. they provide images and graphics of weather for newspapers, TV stations and websites). Omnipress sounds cool too. After talking for about 15 minutes the interviewer said that they'd like to consider me for two open positions (as I've got skills for both) and I'll be going in on Friday for an on site interview. Good things.

Tonight I need to go and sign Paul and me up for softball. Since I'm a coach and all I suppose that's a good idea.

Working late at Laserwords today though, since I don't think I can come in on Friday now. Our deadline is Friday, but we might end up working the weekend to finish up some last minute things. I've no idea if there will be another project after this for me or I'll be done. I'll talk to the manager about that tomorrow.

Today was a long day. Six hours at the post office, then 4 hours at Laserwords. Then I got called into work at the mall because someone was sick. So I worked like 13 hours. Looog day.

Glee was fun (I know, took me forever to watch it). Loved Kathy, she was just awesome. It was great hearing Kurt/Chris sing again. Good duets by the boys. "Yeah" for the kiss, subtle, less fan fair than expected. But done as just another event in the show, which is even better, IMO. Though with New Directions winning, means we won't hear much from Kurt of Blaine again, I'd hazard a guess. Unless Kurt goes back to McKinnely or something. Maybe they both will transfer, one can hope.

In other news, crazy week. With the possible change in my job at the post office and the part-time gig at Laserwords (which looks like I can do and still go to school, as long as I'm done before classes start--which is the plan), it'd have been weird enough. But I interviewed with another techy temp company on Thursday, at almost no notice, because they have a position they want me to interview with at Omnipress as a web application project manager. I should have that phone interview next week. And another application I sent in paid off in an interview next Tuesday with Springs Window Fashions as a web designer. Plus I have another phone interview with Weather Central for a Web Designer next Wednesday, time to be determined. Oh, and Quad called me back, saying they might be hiring even more people than they thought, and they will call me back if that happens. Probably no news on that for a few months, so I might have something else by then, but it's nice to know that they did like me, just not as much as someone else.

When it rains it pours, you know?