But quite happy about it. I'm still thinking it's better to wait for the right job - and the last job is good evidence.

Had a couple of chats with a 'top shelf' kind of agency. More specialised than the regular specialists. So they have not blinked at the rate I am asking. Today they coped very well with a list of what I want and don't want. I guess one hiccup is that one of my dislikes wiped out a possible immediate job.

But this means I get to sleep in a little longer for a while, and maybe get through some more books. Except... I keep buying books whenever I get in to the CBD for an interview. Today I had an extra, EXTRA helpful guy. Turns out one of the books I found was by an author he is thinking of trying, so we had a good chat about hard SF. To the world in general - I recommend Alistair Reynolds there.

Not having to go to work is awesome. But it's better when you still have money, so the plan is to get another job.

I did explain to CD store guy that, if I get another job at the last rate, I would be happy to work three or four days a week. Then I bought a stack of CDs and a Skinny Puppy t-shirt.

Then I went and bought some books. And some expensive chocolate.  read more »

A short while ago, there was much parental shouting. Then Mum knocked just to let me know - she is going to buy rice.

I'm enjoying being unemployed so far, and today I feel like my brain is starting to spin up. I've also had this awesome realisation... with multiple desktops and imitation post-it-notes, I have a cool magnetic poetry equivalent.  read more »

Really, I just went a bought some books. In hindsight I realised that I can justify this by saying it's my patriotic duty, because I haven't worked right through my stimulus yet.

I got:
Endless Universe. I think it would count as 'popular physics'?
Toll The Hounds. Fantasy, very excited it is out, but won't read it for a while yet as I want to do all the series once it's out. Big long books, they are awesomely good.
The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao. Just fiction. Sounds interesting.
Little Brother. Also a novel.  read more »

I have been multiple kinds of sick. I think the oncoming 'flu is the absolute limit

I'll go work work early Tuesday, make sure basic training is clear. Then comes the stress test. That's the bit where I leave early, and people can work through the things usually left to me.

I just need to sleep until next week.

Got my cat a toy which she likes. !  read more »

There was an animated debate at lunch today. Lunch not seeming to involve food for anyone, so I call discussion time lunch. It was roughly a half hour

Mostly it was about the liver and bile. And animated was after this guy described his liver detox, and I responded "I think you've been had.". I think the animation was when I tried to explain that there is some research that the "placebo effect" is useful. You say placebo effect, and people don't think that... if it works then why is it bad? You could see it as a valid and useful tool to make people feel better

Fascinating.

Title will be last.

I am now certain the the mail room chick - she has an uncanny perceptiveness. We had a good chat today. If you met her, you would think, mail room chick, stereotypical accent (Footscray), doesn't talk in an "educated" way. She's not stupid. When I am at work, and in life in general, I like to carry myself with... dignity? So people don't notice when I am having a physically challenged day. Except this one chick. I can be acting totally normal, but she will give me a shrewd frown and really ask me how I'm going.  read more »