Catch up

I know I've been bad about posting lately, but... that's because I got a job! That's right - I actually have a real job now. Despite how the whole interview process went, they hired me.

Let's back up a bit. Last Wednesday was the 4th of July. I had big New York plans to go out to a nice dinner and then go to the river to see the huge fireworks show. David and I met up with some people and had an amazing dinner at Pete's Diner (or Pete's something). Apparently, that's where "Gift of the Magi" was written. Anyway, it was really good.

Afterwards, we headed down to the water to see the show. There were so many people there it was rather ridiculous, but what was worse was the weather. It started to rain. Of course, everyone took out their umbrellas then, which totally defeats every reason in being there. Luckily, it stopped raining for the twenty minutes the fireworks went off.

Thursday, I started my job. It went fairly well. I did an interview and the doctor was much nicer than the other I spoke with. I was still really nervous, but much better. Friday I did almost nothing because the client wanted to listen to the interviews that day, and they didn't think I was quite ready for that. I don't blame them.

Tomorrow, Monday the 9th, you need to watch the Early Show on CBS. Or record it so you can fast forward to the Kelly parts. Watch it and look for me! There's almost no chance I won't be on there - I was pretty close to the stage, and I saw the camera pan across me multiple times. But even if I wasn't going to be on it, you should still watch just for Kelly.

Where my iPhone?

My tryout at the research company started and nine, and I assumed it would be over by around noon. I arrived early, of course, and actually had to wait about half an hour for some people to show up. They talked to me for awhile and then the first thing they had me do was listen to some recordings of interviews with doctors. Then they talked to me some more and set up an interview for me to conduct. Needless to say, I was incredibly nervous and it showed. The doctor could have been nicer, which would have helped a lot. Some of the questions I had to ask were a little repetitive, only requiring slightly different information, but when I would ask a similar question his response would be "Well, I already told you that." Blah.

After the actual interview (which was recorded), I had to go back and listen to it while writing up a report in Excel. My interview will be reviewed by people in the office and my report will be reviewed by the woman the owns and started the company. As I was writing my review, I was pulled back into the conference room where I had an "informal" interview with some of the other employees. They were actually really nice and that was my favorite part of the day.

I finally turned in the report and left around two. They actually gave me a little compensation for working so long, and I immediately went out and spent it (which, before you judge me, is something I rarely do and was very much needed).

Day Off

So it turns out the job I really wanted has been offered to the other guy. I'm not really surprised, though - it was a business job and he had his master's in business. It's sad, but I shouldn't worry about things I have no control over. However, I was their second choice out of all that applied, which is great and all but still doesn't get me a job.

The heat has been almost unbearable this week so I met David downtown to buy a new AC unit. When we got home, we attempted to install it and to do so we had to take out the broken one first. After checking, it was clear whoever installed it didn't put in supports so we got the super to help. He held it as David opened the window, but if you're familiar with window units at all then you'll know the majority of the weight is outside. Since there were no supports, you can guess what happened. The whole thing quickly fell out the window (7th floor) and smashed onto the pavement. It's just a miracle that no one was down there since it easily could have killed someone or totaled a car. Not only did the idiot that installed it not put in supports but didn't bolt the shell into the window frame like you're supposed to, either. Needless to say, we're going to hire someone to install the new one.

Tomorrow I go to work half a day at the research job. I'm kinda nervous, but we'll see how it goes. That's about it. Still have yet to hear about the third apartment we've applied to get.

Heat Wave

Between the outside temperature, the AC being broken in the living room, and the AC not working on the subway today I think I've lost five pounds of water weight. Nope - three pounds. Just weighed myself.

This morning was spent looking at apartments all over Washington Heights. Gone are the fabulous apartments in Inwood, but whatever these are closer and just as cute. There were three potential cute ones and one that needed new hardware and an entirely new paint job to be acceptable. One of the nice ones didn't accept out-of-state guarantors, another had already been applied for, and the third already approved us to apply. Obviously, the best choice here is to go for the one that already accepted our paperwork. It's owned by the same people that rented the other one we wanted that was taken by the people who were willing to pay more. That's why we don't need to go through the application process again. But that doesn't mean we'll get it for sure. And with the way luck's been going regarding apartments...

The nice lady from the temp agency called me today. She wanted to talk about the interview yesterday, which is something I wasn't too excited to discuss. I waited awhile to call her back, but when I did she made it seem as though the people that interviewed me liked me. I don't quite understand that, but she said maybe they were the type of people that didn't let on to how they liked their applicants. Whatever. I'm going to go in there on Friday to work half a day as a type of second interview.

It's so crazy hot here, I'm really ready to go down to the store right now to buy another window unit.

Hurry Up and Wait

After the fabulousness that was the Kelly concert, I headed back here to get ready for my interview with the medical research place. Luckily, I allotted myself enough time to get back here afterwards and get down to where I needed to be.

Whenever someone had asked me about a previous interview, I never really know what to say. I didn't know if it had gone well or not because I didn't really have a good sense of what a "bad" interview was like. Now I do.

I went in for my appointment at 3:30. I was a little early and got there about ten minutes before that. The person I was supposed to meet with was in a meeting so the interview didn't start until 4:00.

Before, I've never really been nervous about an interview. I mean, I've been a little nervous inside, but I don't think I've ever showed signs of it. I did today. I was actually interviewed by two people - both high ups in the company. We sat at a conference table in a secluded room with me at the helm.

They immediately started asking questions, which was fine except for one thing. One of the guys interviewing me, a native Italian, kept looking at me funny. I don't know if it was my weird tan line from missing a spot of sunscreen at pride, but he looked at me the entire time like I was a freak.

The same guy kept asking me the same questions over and over again, too. He wanted to know why I wasn't pursuing a job in the marine science field (a fair question). So I answered honestly. He kept looking at me funny - I don't know if he didn't like what I was saying, or if he didn't believe it, or if he just thought I was wrong for the job but it was really off-putting. Anyway, he would ask me a different question then go back to the marine science thing multiple times. Again, I don't know if my answer just wasn't satisfactory or if he was worried I'd leave this position as soon as I found a marine science job or what.

They also made a big deal out of the fact that I have never had a "real" job before. When it was finally over, I just had a bad feeling about the whole thing and left feeling like a loser.

What made it even worse was the voicemail I had on my phone after the interview. It was David saying we didn't get the other apartment we liked. Apparently, someone else just had to have it and even though they had worse credit than us and applied after we did they got it. They got it because they were willing to pay more than the asking price for rent per month.

So David went out today during my interview to look at more places with the broker. It sucks because today's the only day he could do it so if he finds something amazing I won't be able to see it until we move in. I trust him, of course, but I'd also like to know what's going on. But at this point, I just want a place. And a job.

My Kelly Experience

I'm not in a great mood now, but I'll do my best to re-create this morning happily since I was in a fine mood then. I woke up this morning at nine in order to make it down to the Early Show's plaza by 10:30. First thing I did after I forced myself out of bed was to quickly pull up iTunes and download My December (with pre-order bonus!). I listened to it while I got ready, of course.

In an attempt to go to the store before heading down to the studio, I ended up leaving at around 9:40. Sadly, there were no stores anywhere near where I would be. I was hoping to pick up a physical copy of the album just in case Kelly decided she wanted to sign things for fans afterwards.

Anyway, I arrived ten minutes early as did the person I was meeting, luckily. We promptly got in line and sat down. I read online that the concert started at noon, but a guy holding up a sign for the concert said 11:15. Half an hour later, everyone stood up and pushed toward the front of the gate (we were right by the stage but still not in the crowd area yet). So we stood. And waited. And waited.

Forty-five minutes later, a girl started giving out wristbands - of course everyone in the crowd went crazy trying to get one despite the poor girl's promise that everyone in the waiting area would get one. After everyone had wristbands, they started letting people in the crowd area. Not people from the waiting area, mind you, but other people from who knows where. I don't know why they got to go in first, but they did. Everyone in the waiting area booed them. Kelly fans are classy.

Finally, after two hours of waiting we were finally let into the stage area. Then there were, of course, lots of sound checks and false alarms. So thirty minutes later, one of the new correspondents for CBS came out and talked to us. She said the band was going to run through "Never Again" and then Kelly would come out for a sound check. Then she would go back in and come out to actually perform.

Despite having lots of people in front of us, we made it relatively close to the stage. Kelly finally came out and it was a little... surreal. I've never seen her so close in person. She did about thirty seconds of "Never Again" then went back inside. We were instructed to cheer like mad when she came out again (like we wouldn't have anyway!).

Kelly went on stage and performed "Never Again" for real this time. I was a little in awe and busy taking pictures and making videos on my phone so I didn't really get into it. Next, she did a short interview with the correspondent and performed "Sober."

Now, I really love "Sober." It's one of my favorite songs off My December. I made another quick video to remember it forever and started getting into the performance. And I swear - she winked at me. I was maybe ten feet away from her and she was looking directly at my and winked at me (me!) while singing. She actually winked twice during "Sober" - once at me and once at someone that doesn't really matter. So when you watch this performance (and you will!) watch for her to wink near the beginning of the song and know it was at me.

Next, she surprised the audience by performing another song off My December, "How I Feel" (we thought she was only going to do three song - I'll get into that in a second). By this point, I was really getting into it. I didn't know the lyrics so I just kinda bopped along. I don't know what I looked like in the crowd shots, but I'm sure it must have been entertaining to watch.

We were told before she even came on stage that she was going to sing "Since U Been Gone," which is why everyone thought that was going to be her third and final song. So after "How I Feel" she performed her Breakaway hit. Of course, loving this song, I sang along to it and made an attempt at jumping during the chorus without stepping on the little girl standing behind me.

Apparently, the first taping of "Never Again" wasn't satisfactory so they did it again. After just hearing "Since U Been Gone" I was all pumped up and feelin' it. I sang along to "Never Again" as well. So you have to watch, if just to laugh at how silly I look in the audience singing and bopping along. I'm close to the stage and pretty visible so I'd be really surprised if I wasn't on TV at least once. The concert airs on the 9th on July during the Early Show. Hopefully, they'll show the second performance of "Never Again."

Afterwards, it was almost 1:30 and time for me to go home to ready myself for my interview even though I wanted to go get coffee. Kelly signed things afterwards, which made me kinda sad I couldn't get a copy of the CD, but oh well. It was still an amazing experience.

In the picture, if you look at the tall, amazon girl with the pulled back hair you can see a shorter girl behind her. I was standing behind that girl, though my position changed a bit throughout the performance. If you look at the right side of the stage, you can see the CBS news correspondent - Hannah Storm, I believe. Click it to view the larger version.

Options

The weekend was good to me, albeit absent of any type of job or apartment news. Once again, all the paperwork is in for the other good apartment. Hopefully this time no one will be battling for it.

The gay pride parade marched down the streets here yesterday. Tons of homosexuals gathered at the corner of Christopher and Gay to watch the forever long line of floats, bikes, and whatever pass by them. Overall, it was really enjoyable despite the heat. I remembered to put on sunblock but didn't put any in my hair so the top of my head isn't too happy. Can't wait for that to peel.

So you know how when you see pictures of pride parades you see lots of almost naked, really hot boys doing sexually suggestive things? There was little of that. The first hour and a half of the parade (I kid not) were church floats. Church floats and AIDS awareness banners. Gay friendly churches, yes - but still not what I had in mind!

Later on, though, there were some, uh, more fun things to look at. Still nothing like what I had imagined but still. We left around 5:30-ish, and the parade was still going strong. And that's a long time considering we arrived before noon.

The temp agency called me today about the medical research job. The nice lady there said they were pleased (she used the word "impressed" but part of me believes they just say things to make me feel good. It's like when your mom tells you how awesome you are) with my personal statement and want to interview me tomorrow afternoon, which is all well and good but...

Tomorrow is Kelly day! I'm insanely excited. Kelly is performing on Good Morning America at Bryant Park (at 7am - I'm not going to that, though I did enter for VIP tickets anyway). What's even better is that she's also taping a mini-concert for the Early Show! It's first come first serve and free! I'll be there early so I can get close to the stage after getting ready while listening to My December, which comes out in like... three hours!! What's even better is that I'm having someone go with me. Excitement all around. I'll just have to rush to my interview.

Hopefully, it'll go well tomorrow - both the concert and the interview. Alas, I have yet to hear back from the job I really want. I'm slowly becoming more keen to the idea of working as a medical researcher, but it's not this job. And I know my chances for this one probably aren't so good, but it's nice to dream, right? Hah, if I actually did get this position...