***After the Strike***

Friday I joined several of my ex-co-workers for lunch. The good news is that most had found jobs or continued to interview. The bad news were most would be either leaving Orange County (San Diego was the most popular destination) or the state. Neither was optimal for anyone. I told my story about the long-term, high-paying, temp position and everyone expressed sympathy.

Someone asked if anyone would be attending our (former) employer's company picnic. No one was going as you can imagine.

Afterwards I sequestered myself at the coffeeshop and tried to work on my works-in-progress (WIPs) but with little results. I was more rattled by losing the job opp than I thought.

So, while chatting over at Forward Motion, I looked for more job opps on-line. I didn't apply to any of them (it was Friday and I know, from experience, that no one would be lookin' at resumes) but noted them for next week.

I joined my friends in the evening in Long Beach until my spouse returned home.

NOTE: Finished the book, Dragon Precinct, in the afternoon.

***Strike Two***

The high-paying temp position fell through. I was a runner up, though: however, the selected person had previous experience with the company.

But I left a favorable impression with the hiring manager. Well, that's good to hear.

***Wednesday Workings***

I had an interview Wednesday morning. The job is a long-term temp position with an almost obscene pay. I had decidingly mixed feelings after the interview, though. The client will be making a decision within the next couple of weeks and both my agency and myself will be keeping a close on this opportunity.

Probably because of my feelings, I didn't do much afterwards. Just munched and hung out on the Internet until The Spouse arrived home. We went to The Block to see Madagascar but arrived to late. So we lazily walked about then headed home. I napped as R. worked. We ended the evening watching anime for the first time in months.

***Monday and Tuesday: Days in name only***

Extremely productive Monday. I attended a 0600 cardio/weight-training class and nearly had my arse handed to me. But I felt good, accomplishing one of my major tasks. This set the tone for the rest of the day. I finished up some bills, instructed one of our contractors, wrote (though very little), did the (food) shopping, and even some housework.

Tuesday proved to be the opposite. First, I should have crawled out of bed at 0800 to start some housework. Instead I lounged around until 1100 and would have stayed there except for some calls from one of my (job) recruiters and a company returning my call about my resume.

My original plan was to clean house until 1100, lunch, then head out to a job placement facility down in Irvine to research some jobs before writing later that afternoon. Well, I had lunch but spent the rest afternoon working on on prep work. Yeah, one can call it writing but I don't.

Hit the gym afterwards for a much needed relief. Is it mean, or is it getting harder to recover from workouts as one gets older? Afterwards I joined my friends for companionship and discussion of Harlan's Race. Ended the evening eating pie with the spouse.

Hmmmm. Pie.

***Weekend words***

The Spouse was on-call all weekend and spent Sunday up in the valley with relatives. Thus, much solo time for me:

• Hit the gym for cardio Saturday morning. I (re)learned two things: I'm in worse shape than I thought and I need coffee in the morning.
  
• Visited the Carfaire. Twice (once on Saturday and once on Sunday). Saw no less than three high-end Jags and lots of SUVs (I wonder why).
• I virtually knew no one at my favorite restaurant. This is sad.
• I've been trying to pick up the latest books from John Maddox Roberts, Holly Lisle, and Sheila Viehl but only found one (Afterburn.) All the rest were horribly (by my standards) mangled. Grrr.
  
• Finally bought new workout shoes. With the way I (used to) work out, you don't want to work out in shoes past their expiration date.
• Finished Harlan's Race.
• Never try to write while sitting at the same table with someone who's attractive enough to be a model. And it was worsened because another similar appearing individual sat nearby and right at the corner of my peripheral vision. (And, no, my writing session was not productive.)