Migraine

Yesterday, I woke up with a migraine and it continued throughout the day and night. I even left work early yesterday, which I rarely do. I hope I have a better day today.

A Lot on My Mind

One of those things is: I still haven't heard from Chicago about my travel arrangements. It seems to be taking them longer than I had anticipated. I realize the head of HR has more to do than worry about my travel plans but when it's a new job on the line, I'm awfully anxious.

No Moore

I'm embarrassed. I can't believe that there are still people in this country who believe Roy Moore is innocent. There is too much evidence to the contrary. The man is guilty. He's the lowest form of human. He's a pedophile. If it hadn't happened so long ago, he should be going to jail. Instead, he has a base of religious nut jobs and Republican idiots who will still vote for him. Instead of jail, he'll go to the Senate. And do you know why? It's because of two things. One, he's pro-life, and his opponent Doug Jones is pro-choice. Two, the African-American population of Alabama is behind his opponent. We are talking about a part of the country where "Democrat" is code word for an African-American. The white people of Alabama would rather vote for a pedophile than to support someone who has an African-American base. It's a truly sad state of affairs. Religious nut jobs, anti-Democrats, and racism will rule the day in Alabama. The people of Alabama have no illusion that Roy Moore is innocent, but they will still vote for him because he's a Republican. I'm embarrassed that my former state is such an abomination. I hope I never have to live there again. It's a cesspool of Republicans. Let them look like fools and drown in their own muck. If Roy Moore is elected, and I think he will be, I hope the Republican leadership in the Senate refuses to let him on major committees, refuses to give him time on the floor, and refuses him the time of day. They will only be embarrassed if they don't refuse him. Roy Moore will do more to elect Democrats into Congress than the idiot in the White House.

Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea (Sonnet 65)

Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea (Sonnet 65)
by William Shakespeare

Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea
But sad mortality o’er-sways their power,
How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea,
Whose action is no stronger than a flower?
O, how shall summer’s honey breath hold out
Against the wreckful siege of battering days,
When rocks impregnable are not so stout,
Nor gates of steel so strong, but time decays?
O fearful meditation! where, alack,
Shall time’s best jewel from time’s chest lie hid?
Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back?
Or who his spoil of beauty can forbid?
O, none, unless this miracle have might,
That in black ink my love may still shine bright.

Today

I was already in bed preparing to go to sleep when I realized I had not written a post for today. Currently, there isn't much to say. I bought a new suit for my trip to Chicago, and I should learn today when I will be going  there. At least, I hope I'll find out today. The HR woman said early this week, but she's usually quick with things so I suspect it will be today.

Pascal’s Wager

Pascal's Wager is an argument in philosophy devised by the seventeenth-century French philosopher, mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal (1623–62). It posits that humans bet with their lives that God either exists or does not.

Pascal argues that a rational person should live as though God exists and seek to believe in God. If God does not actually exist, such a person will have only a finite loss (some pleasures, luxury, etc.), whereas they stand to receive infinite gains (as represented by eternity in Heaven) and avoid infinite losses (eternity in Hell).

Pascal's Wager was based on the idea of the Christian God, though similar arguments have occurred in other religious traditions. The original wager was set out in section 233 of Pascal's posthumously published Pensées ("Thoughts"). These previously unpublished notes were assembled to form an incomplete treatise on Christian apologetics.

Historically, Pascal's Wager was groundbreaking because it charted new territory in probability theory, marked the first formal use of decision theory, and anticipated future philosophies such as existentialism, pragmatism and voluntarism.

Source: Wikipedia 

Moment of Zen: Shower

Interview Review

The interview went great, though it got off to a rocky start. It was supposed to be on Skype but they never called. I waited and waited, but no call came. So, I sent an email asking what was wrong. According to HR, the chief librarian did try to call but I was never there. I assured her that I was there the whole time. We never did figure out the problem, but we decided to do the interview over the phone.

Once the interview started, it went very well. She was a very nice lady, and I answered her questions truthfully. She seemed quite impressed. She asked me some standard interview questions, and then asked me a few historical questions. Then it was my turn to ask questions. One of the questions I asked was "Is there anything in my qualifications you would like me to clarify?" Her answer kind of floored me. She said, "No, I think you are highly qualified." I couldn't believe it. I only had a few more questions and then the interview was over. She also told me that the next step would be to bring the top candidate to Chicago to meet with the CEO and the rest of the staff. When this would happen she did not know.

Thirty minutes later, I received an email from HR asking when I can come to Chicago. They needed some dates and then she would take care of it on their end. So it looks I am the top candidate and I'll be going to Chicago in the next few weeks. The trip will have to be scheduled around Thanksgiving, so we shall see when. It may be December before I am able to fly out there. 

The Interview

Today is the day. My big interview with Chicago. It will be done over Skype, which makes me nervous. Does anyone actually look good over Skype? I hope I at least look presentable. I will be wearing a light blue oxford shirt, with a navy and light blue striped tie, and a navy blue coat. I will also be wearing gray pants but no one will see them.

I am so very nervous. I know the job description backwards and forwards. I have a list of questions to ask them. I’m as prepared as I can be. I just pray that everything goes smoothly. I believe this job would be a major advancement for my career. I want the added responsibility. Most days in my job, I have nothing to do, but with this job, I’d be a lot busier. I like being busy. It makes the day go by faster. 

Plus with this job, I’d be living in a major city. No more Hicksville, Vermont. I think I’d have really liked New England if I’d been in a major area, but I grew up in rural Alabama and wanted to escape. I ended up escaping to rural Vermont. There are charms to Vermont, but I’ve found more aggravation here than satisfaction.

It’s quite possible I might not get this job, but I’m going to do my best. At this point all I can hope to do is to do my best.

How Much She’s Grown

From a feisty little kitten who liked to hide, to a grown cat who loves everybody, Isabella has come a long way. She loves to take my place on the couch, and she gets jealous when I sit in “her” chair. She loves to bite my toes when I’m on the phone; I guess she wants all attention on her. She also loves to lay on top of me whether I’m in the bed or on the couch. She knows where her toys are hidden and when that drawer opens she’s always right there to try and fish them out. If I can’t find her, I know that all I have to do is add food to her bowl or shake her favorite toy. Thankfully her true favorite toy, an ugly little bird with feathers that chirped, had the battery finally die. She used to shake it in the middle of the night and wake me up. She also likes to play fetch. If I throw one or her mice, she fetches it and brings it back for me to throw again.

Most of all though, she is a wonderful companion. Nearly two years ago, I lost one of my best friends and spiraled into a deep depression. While medicine and friends have helped, she is my constant companion. She waits for me at the door everyday when I come home, and she gets terribly upset if I don’t tell her goodbye in the morning. I am thankful to have a cat as loving as Isabella.