KJ

I finally got around to taking my collection of work decorations into the office, and yesterday I put most of them up in my cube. I guess that means this is my job now.

I've talked about this position a little bit under lock, but not generally and not in any detail. About a year ago, I was working on contract for a tech company, but the work was wrapping up (actually, it wrapped up about a month before the contract officially ended). When I mentioned this to my friend D, she asked if I would be interested in taking on some part-time work for her organization, a social science research non-profit. It took a few weeks of back and forth and wrangling with the main office, but I came on at about half time to work on two projects. Those projects ended, and then other ones came along, and it's been going on like that ever since. I recently signed on with a project that includes hours at least through the end of the year, and I took that as a sign that I should start thinking more-long term.

At the moment I'm an hourly employee, working on projects as they come up. My title is Research Associate, which in this organization can also mean secretary, but so far I've managed to focus mostly on projects that use my librarian talents: literature reviews, constructing search terms, reviewing documents for relevance and categorizing them, even a bit of writing. I've talked with HR and my manager from time to time about formalizing my position, but I suspect that would mean taking on more of the grunt-level administrative tasks. Also, I like the flexibility of being able to work more when there's more work to do, and less if things or slow and/or there are other things going on in my life (travel, vet appointments, etc.). Going permanent also probably mean giving up on finding librarian work, at least for now. I haven't actually applied for a librarian position in awhile, so I suppose that's just a formality, but I want to preserve the option.

So, that's the status. Even if not my dream job, it's interesting work, and I'm hoping I get the opportunity to learn more about the social sciences and non-profit land. In particular, I'd like to get some experience with grant writing, since that's one of the easiest ways to make money as a freelance writer, and I continue to think about moving more in that direction. It's pretty good, and if it ever stops being so, it will be easy enough to move on. I've also continued doing personal assistant work for another friend (I recently finished cataloging his library!), generally one day a week. So it all chugs along. Maybe someday I'll want to kick the career back up a notch, but for now I'm fine for that to take a back seat to other things in my life.

I've sent a couple more job apps out, and I'm mulling over another that might be more work than it's worth. We'll see.

Today was mostly laundry and writing silly prompt fics, which has been quite fun so far. It occurs to me that maybe I should link prompt memes here when I post them on Tumblr. On the other hand, I think most of you who would be interested are following me in both places. But anyway, feel free to play along. :) My askbox is open to anons if you don't have an account. I'll crosspost the results when they're finished regardless.

I also watched a couple episodes of Scandal -- I'm intrigued by Kerry Washington, I like political shows, and a gifset from the most recent season really caught my eye. So I figured I'd check it out. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, but Kerry Washington really is fantastic. But I need another currently airing show like I need a hole in my head. ;) Maybe I can just keep behind on this one.

Then I had chorus. Concert is next week. Our usual conductor is on sabbatical this year, so we've been working with a guest conductor whose style is very different. I don't mind him so much, but let's just say he's not generally popular. So I'm glad it's almost over, if only because the stress of everyone else's unhappiness has really been getting to me.

Wow, have I really gone over a week without posting anything? I'm still around, I promise. Some quick updates:

1. Tori is better. ( Cut for medical details. )

2. I didn't get the job I interviewed for in May, but I'm okay with that, especially since the market seems to be picking up a little bit. I've applied for five jobs in the last few weeks and am looking at other options as well. Something has to come through eventually, right?

3. It has been a movie-filled summer: Iron Man 3, Star Trek: Into Darkness, Man of Steel, Pacific Rim. Enjoyed them all, though I didn't fall in love with any of them. I probably have the most complaints about Star Trek and the fewest about Man of Steel; maybe real posts on each will come later. It's been interesting to watch my Tumblr dash falling head-over-heels for Pacific Rim: I enjoyed watching it, I understand where the gushing praise is coming from, but my appreciation for it was more distant. But really, the best discovery of all is a podcast: Welcome to Night Vale, which suddenly appeared all over Tumblr about a month ago. It's a fun quirky little horror story about a community radio show in a town where lots of weird things happen, all treated as if they are regular everyday occurrences. That's a juxtaposition that often works well for me. liri sold me on trying it out by describing it as Lovecraftian horror as told by Chris in the Morning (from Northern Exposure), and then something that happened in the second episode hooked me forever. So consider this a somewhat rambling recommendation.

I had an interview yesterday, and it went pretty well! They said I should know by the end of next week.

Meanwhile, the units on either side of our place are both undergoing remodeling. :\ So that's a fun time for me to be home all day. I might need to start making more plans to get out of the house.

Also, it's a concert week. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, three nights in a row (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday -- I'd invite locals to check it out, but all three shows are sold out and have been for awhile; they even added an extra show on Sunday, and it sold out in only a few days). Plus tonight's dress rehearsal is being recorded, so we have to wear concert dress and be on our best behavior, so it's really more like an extra concert. Good times.

How is everyone?