Happiness is…

Nine years ago tonight, Scott and I stood under a chuppah, surrounded by the people most important to us, and were married. Here’s a not-very-good photo of that event (one of these days I’ll scan & upload some better ones…)

Happy anniversary, honey. I love you more than words can easily express. But then, I think you already know that.

“I’ve Read Your Blog”

I finally got a good night’s sleep and am feeing a bit better today, but still not feeling very bloggy.

Part of this, I know, is directly related to the fact that I had a job interview Tuesday and almost the first thing out of the hiring manager’s mouth as the interview started was, “I’ve read your blog”.

That was the first time I’d encountered that phrase in an interview. It seems to me that when someone starts an interview off like that, the person in question probably has some ideas already set about you, and that has the potential to be either very good or very bad. Luckily for me, it was good, and I have already accepted a verbal job offer from the company (hard copy is being FedExed). It’s only an internship, but it’s also the first non-survival job I’ve gotten since 2002, and I’m very pleased about the whole thing.

It’s also making me think really hard about this blog and what I can “safely” say here.

Despite the economic recovery of the last several years, this is still a tight job market, and doubly so for people like me who are, in essence, re-entering the workforce. I worry that personal details could be used against me in hiring decisions. A casual Google search on my name will bring this blog up in short order. I have to assume that anything I say here will be read, and potentially used in a hiring decision.

I don’t really care if an employer knows what my politics are. If someone felt so strongly about my opinions on world events that they felt they couldn’t hire me, well, I probably wouldn’t have been happy working for that person anyway. I’m concerned about the personal stuff though. And thus we go full-circle to this week.

As mentioned, I’ve not been feeling very well this week. But if I start to blog about why, I find myself thinking, is this something I really want an employer to know? It’s none of their business. And so the blog post doesn’t get written.

Feeling that I have to self-censor in order to be employable is no fun. Now, maybe I’m being paranoid. After all, I got the job. But that’s how I’m feeling.

And yes, I know there’s a ton of other stuff I could be blogging about right now. Sorry, but I’m not feeling very inspired. Cruise my blogroll; the usual suspects are all kicking ass and taking names. If past history is a guide, I should be feeling more bloggy in a day or two.

Home Sweet Home

Not enough sleep due to some questionable takeout food for dinner is makin me bleary today. So instead of more on the latest Bush shenanigans, here’s a cute quiz I found today: The Where You Should Live Test

Here’s how I did.

Rowhouse ‘Hood
You scored 29 out of 40 on urban-rural and 25 out of 40 land intensity.
People know you as: The Bohemian Gentrifier
Quote: “That crack house just needed a little paint.”

Your score indicates that you are a city-dweller of the old-school. You like a dense, finely grained neighborhood with restaurants, churches and brothels all on the same block. Although you’ve never spoken to him personally, you know that guy Eddie down the street is a pimp and you’re sure to tell your lame suburban friends about him at every opportunity, just to freak them out.

The bad news is that as more and more people like you move into your neighborhood it gradually becomes less cool and more expensive. Enjoy things while you can, because in 5 years you’re going to have to move to the next ‘hood uptown.

Examples of places you should live: Baltimore, Philadelphia

All Categories
Secluded Hideaway / Farm or Ranch / Small Town / Little City / Suburb / Streetcar Suburb / Rowhouse ‘Hood / Downtown Loft