(no subject)

[katallison]

I decided to burn a sick day today and stay home -- partly because I have the distinct sense of cold germs at the gates (raw trachea, scratchy throat, crushing fatigue) and want to knock them down fast, and partly because ... well, one week from today I will be out in Far-off City to Which I'd Love to Relocate, doing the full-day interview for Big Scary Exciting Job Prospect, and I need to do some power-prepping.

Initial prep, of course, focused on the oh my god I have nothing to WEAR dilemma, but thanks to immense good fortune at Opitz Outlet (designer stuff offloaded at 70% off, usually either a goldmine or a crapfest) I now have three, count 'em three blazers that actually make me look like a professional grown-up-type person. There's the statutory dignified black jacket, in which I look rather like Bob From AccountTemps, but whatever; and a very well-cut shawl-collared one in a subdued beige-brown-black tweedy pattern, which gives me my usual unease about "oh god I'm wearing patterns aaaiieeee!" but is really fairly discreet; and then a marvellously wacky *long* one, cut like a ladies' riding jacket, nipped at the waist and with long flapping tails, which, when donned, makes me want to stride about and bark orders. I'd've given my eyeteeth if they had it in black in my size, but they did not, so I got it in a kind of bone-colored cotton, and while it's not at all interview-appropriate, I'll enjoy wearing it at other times. So, with these and my beloved well-cut Brooks Brothers black trousers, I should be set. (I'm not going to wear a skirt, because I have absolutely no skirt-appropriate footwear, and shoe shopping is something to which I am wholly unequal at present.)

Then, of course, I have to do something with my godawful hair, and I am resigned to going to High-Bucks Salon and paying through the nose to have someone who knows what they're doing give me a presentable cut, and maybe some clues about keeping the damn stuff out of my face. (If I do land this job, I am by god going for the one-inch buzzcut, but now is probably not the time for it.)

And finally, of course, I should start cogitating about my presentation, for which I just discovered I'm only allotted 15 minutes, barely time to get the crowd warmed up, so I need to focus compress focus, and tighten up all my good material, reminding myself that in the course of a full-day 8:00-5:00 interview marathon, I'll probably get a chance to talk myself silly.

I'd been wanly contemplating using this occasion (and of course the impending cold germs) as a good pretext to launch the quit-smoking-dammit project, on the grounds that ducking out every hour or so for a restorative cig is not going to come across as Professional Responsible Behavior. But then a friend reminded me that snapping everyone's heads off and gnawing on the furniture would fall even lower on the P.R.B. scale, and so that particular life challenge remains in abeyance for the time being.

And now I am going to go lie down with the zinc tablets and hot tea, mentally reviewing all my Why I Would Be Perfect For This Job! talking points.

Comments

[brynwulf]

I am sending you so many vibes, you should be...well, vibrating. Good luck!!

Is this wonderful town you'd like to relocate to in the west by any chance? If it's the town I'm thinking it is, Wolfie is also going to be interviewing there next week. :)

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

I know you will get the job, because cream rises to the top.
Well, except for that pesky Peter Principle thingy.

That being said, maybe think about something bold hairwise? A new color? A zippy short cut? I only suggest this because it always makes me feel Powerful with a capital P when I make a bold choice.

Of course, maybe I am hopelessly psychotic. ::shrugs::

[wickdzoot.livejournal.com]

While I'd ordinarily cheer on the Stop Smoking project, I must point out that every time I've quit, and this last time included, I've ended up stressing my immune system enough that I get horribly ill almost immediately, and since you're already fighting off a virus, I'd ix-nay the good intentions and wait until later.

I will think positive thoughts for you, even though I feel sort of sad at the thought of you not being here so we can fail to connect locally. :g:

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Dearheart - Zenny and I are talking about our Fall Trip to Kat's Place - what is your flying-to-Seattle schedule looking like?

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Departure this coming Thursday a.m., and return midday Sunday. I should, as far as I know now, be around for all ensuing October weekends. If by wild chance a job offer should develop out of this, I'm going to push hard for not starting until New Year's, because it's really going to take some significant time to get this place cleared out and packed up, so this fall is actually probably very feasible. Let me know what dates are looking good to you guys, though.

[beledibabe.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow! Sending get-healthy vibes, and will schedule yes-by-God-hire-this-woman! vibes for next week.

Very, very best of luck!!!

[rosawestphalen.livejournal.com]

I'll be sending you good thoughts for your interview. You'll wow them because you are amazing and they will recognize how lucky they will be to have one such as you working with them!

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

Wow, you sound like you have everything in order. (: You sound halfway out the door, in fact, which I think is just great. I salute your shopping karma and your dedication to the buzzcut, and especially your smoking-related project.

Please feel free to call me if you need to talk about any of the implications of all of this. I'm home pretty much all weekend, doing homework and vidstuff.

I'm glad you're taking care of yourself today. I hope this turns out to be nothing more than a warning tickle and not full-blown germageddon.

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

Oh, those jackets sound very good indeed!

Would a nicotine patch help with surviving the long meetings? Even if you cut down the cig breaks to once every two or three hours, that would be something.

Here's hoping the cold passes swiftly so that you will be in prime Kat-form for the interview. You are a formidable, smart, together person, and if the interviewers don't see that, they aren't worthy of your employment.

It really helped me conceptually to realize that when =I'm= being interviewed for a job, I'm =also= interviewing the position / bosses /company for whether they're good enough for me. At least that way I can't say I didn't have my eyes wide open to what I was walking into if I took the job, if it was indeed offered.

Tips and Tricks for Pro Smoking

[norah.livejournal.com]

Pack your cigarettes and lighter in a ziploc bag - or two, if you're anal-retentive. Otherwise, people can smell them, even if you're not using your regular purse. When smoking, make sure that the smoke has gone downwind. After smoking, wash your hands (and face, if you're not wearing makeup you'd have to reapply) thoroughly. Brush your teeth. This will minimize the smell of smoke, and if you have an extra 5-10 minutes, it may dissipate entirely (presuming you're smoking outside and there is ANY breeze).

As a 13-yr 2-pack-a-day former smoker, one thing that shocked me when I quit was how long the smell lingers; and at least where I live (West Coast), it can fuck with your pro cred. So, that's the best solution I've got (not that I've ever relapsed...*koff*oops*koff*. And if you can use the gum to stretch your intervals, even better - you don't chew it like normal gum, you tuck it in your cheek like dip, so it won't look unprofessional to use it, and one square of it packs as much slow-release nicotine as 2 cigarettes.

Professionally and sartiorially, it sounds like you've got it down, so I'll just wish you good luck, apologize for unsolicited advice-giving, and keep my fingers crossed for you.

[the-star-fish.livejournal.com]

You know, I've only seen you in informal circumstances (i.e. cons), but I've always been impressed by how put-together and cool you look.

No, really.

(Also, buzz cut? Really? Neat-o. But yeah, after they hire you. *g*)

[twistedchick]

I am *so* jealous of that riding jacket; I've been looking for one for years that would fit me. And I like your hair, lady; I think it's wonderful in those bobs you get, and if you get a buzz cut you will not have it keeping the damp off the back of your neck.

(Or should I knit you a fuzzy handspun wool scarf?)

[miriam-heddy.livejournal.com]

Y'know, you are definitely one of those people who can pull off the one-inch buzz cut.

[jacquez.livejournal.com]

Try a patch or gum to help with the cravings during the interview procedure? (Hell, try TWO patches - this is my father's recommendation to patients who tell him they've had trouble quitting because the patch doesn't have enough nicotine to stop the cravings.)

[rhi]

Wishing you all the best at getting the job you want, Kat. {{hugs}} Go, you!

[namastenancy.livejournal.com]

WOW! You really sound ready to go with the new clothes and the plans for a hair cut. Sorry for the crud; I know what that's like as I'm fighing Le Crud myself. And --- er--- yes on the stopping smoking. "WE" on the West Coast do tend to be a wee bit judgemental about smokers. It's not right (I know) but there it is.
But you can do it! I can hardly wait until you move to Seattle because then I'll have several people to visit when I go there. OR - even better - you can come and visit me in SF! The freeway from hell has turned out to be not as bad as I fearer (Or I'm just deaf from surviving years of construction in my back yard). But in any case, room, board and a personal guide await you when you chose to visit.
And good luck on the interviews and the presentations. It really suck what's happening at your current place of employement but I do understand university politics.

I may have said this before but your 50's are a really different kind of landscape -- not a bad one necessarily but one where "we" have to deal with all the sorts of issues that we assumed life would just automatically take care of.
namaste sf nancy

[kestrelsan.livejournal.com]

Good luck! I know you will do fabulously, and your new threads sound very spiffy.

I'll second jacquez's recommendation of buying some nicotine patches to tide you over through the interview process. The generic brands at Walmart (I know, it's evil) and Target are reasonably priced.

[aukestrel.livejournal.com]

I really liked your hair last time I saw you. :-) Wish I could send you my sister, who cuts my hair now. I never know what she's going to do but at least it's out of my face. (This time? Razor cut! Whee!)

[meri-oddities.livejournal.com]

Hey, Best of luck to you! I'm sure you'll be smashing -- what else could you be? No, don't answer that, just take it as the compliment I meant it as. :-)

[aerye.livejournal.com]

As I am utterly convinced that I've gotten all my jobs in spite of my interview prep, I have nothing to offer except heartfelt good luck vibes!

I am sending you healing brainwaves!

[kormantic.livejournal.com]

They smell like cherry PEZ, but they totally work!

I sense that the west coast is the best coast; you're gonna kick ass at that interview.