Short Takes

I have some good news. The rejection letter isn't completely dead. I got one this week from Charity House, well written, and signed by the actual hiring manager. I almost wanted to write back and say thank you for giving me notice that you have decided to go with someone else. (But I don't want to seem desperate.)

The bad news is that I've been sick this week with a stomach bug, which has only been exacerbated by the latest developments in the job search. I would compare this feeling with the experience of seeing the brass ring come up on the Flying Horses. The first time I had that opportunity, I wasn't big enough to really reach it, and I ended up letting it slip back into the dispenser for the person behind me to catch. The second time, on my honeymoon, years and years later, I caught it. Right now I'm reliving the first time, feeling like my arm just isn't going to be long enough.

I'm currently reading the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I'm not sure if I'm going to finish it, because a lot of it is nothing new to me, and I dislike Covey's personal habit of interjecting moments of his parenting skills as examples of what he's discussing. There are many incidents of what I would call "Five Alarm Smarm."

Nellie McKay's Obligatory Villagers came in for me from the library. It's less varied than Get Away From Me, and far too short (at only 9 tracks), but definitely worth listening to.