Happy birthday, birthday girls Cherie & Kelly!  I'm going to listen to "July, July" today and jump up and down in tribute to you.

• Ferris Bueller is on right now.
• Strawberry pie is delicious with in-season strawberries.
• "Up" is a fantastic movie.
• The hockey game last night was an outstanding beat-down.
• Dan is cuddly and warm.  He is also quite handy.  He rigged us some outdoor speakers recently. 
• We have finally triumphed over the squirrels who have been trying to get to our birdfeeder.
• When Cameron was in Egypt-land...
• Let my Cameron go.

( It was okay )

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates today!

This Lent is JERKS.

Seriously, why did no one ever tell me about this in Greek school!?

I had a strange dream last night about a man who murdered his wife, but was never convicted.  After the suspicions of the police had quieted down, he decided to write his wife's biography in order to make a ton of money (she was some kind of famous scientist).  However, by some sort of divine retribution, he came down with a crippling case of writer's block, and was completely unable to settle on a title for the book.  The last scene in the dream was the man, sweating and tortured, desperately writing out possible titles for the book and, over and over again, furiously striking them out.  I woke up actually feeling terrified for this man. 

Q: What smells better than (non-poopy) babies?

A: Babies and sandalwood incense. 

Everyone had better listen to "Alice's Restaurant" today.  Otherwise, it's just not Thanksgiving.  :)

Law-based religions like Judaism or Islam are great religions for the laity.  They have clear rules about how you live and what you do from day to day.  Follow the rules and you'll please God.  It's simple!  Christianity is a ridiculously hard religion for the laity.  "A new commandment I give to you: that you love one another."  It initially appears simple, but it's vague and non-specific.  Different people disagree on the best way to do it.  It asks that people throw their whole life into it, which is almost impossible for most of us (except the rare divinized person living in the midst of our societies, and monks who live outside of society).  It's not that surprising that some denominations in Christianity have constructed a more law-based approach in order to make it more concrete and feasible for the laity. 

Updates on the new jorb:

- Canadians are so freaking nice, and so far my coworkers are no exception. 
- We had a team meeting last Thursday at my coworker Janice's house, in which we did nothing all day but discuss the philosophical issues facing our program.  Also, there was a delicious potluck. 
- Also, there was a small gray bunny at Janice's house, who kept frolicking around the room as we talked.  It added a surreal and hilarious element to the day.
- Reading policies is boring.
- They made me get a flu shot yesterday.  My first one ever.

So far, so good!

So on Friday night, shortly after performing my getting-a-job dance, I got a call from the director at Halton Region stating that she had some questions about the wording on my work permit, and would need to postpone my start date.  The issue was that my work permit states that I'm not supposed to work in any child care facilities because I haven't had an official immigration medical exam.  Temporary residents like myself are not required to get a medical exam to enter Canada, and in fact Immigration tells you all over their website and offices NOT to get one unless it's necessary.  As a Developmental Consultant (my fancy pancy job title), I would need to observe children's social interactions from time to time, and this will sometimes mean entering a child care facility.  Does this constitute working at a child care facility in the sense indicated on my work permit?

After many phone calls, emails, faxing, and lots of jazzy hold music, the answer was "No".  So after a couple of days of being in limbo, I am happily reporting to work for real TOMORROW.  Thank God my supervisor and director were sympathetic and patient.  (My supervisor is an immigrant too, so that may have helped.) 

Argh, Canada!  Why are you so hard sometimes!? 

- get a haircut!
- go out now and then and not feel bad about it!
- get some new shirts for me and DO!
- today:  go out with DO and do something celebratory!
- and most importantly, MAKE THIS!  I had it once in Strasbourg and it was completely amazing.  It's basically layers of chocolate meringue and chocolate mousse arranged into a cake.... *drool*  I decided that I would make it if I got the job, although honestly I would have made it if I hadn't gotten the job, as a sort of consolation cake.  But now it will be a celebration cake! Hurrah!

HOLY COW, I GOT THE JOB!  

Something happened!

Around 6 today, I got a call from one of my interviewers at Halton.  The first question she asked was "Did you take that other job?"  I told her that I hadn't, since I didn't feel that it was a good fit for me, and I thought her position was a much better fit for my interests.  She told me that I was a strong candidate for the position and she wanted to let me know that she would be contacting my references tomorrow! yay!  She will call back on Friday to let me know whether or not she could get a hold of them and/or what her decision is.  EEEEEEP!

So, to update:  There is still no update from Halton Region.  : /  I'm having a hard time deciphering the meaning behind this time lapse (2 weeks today) between my interview and their hiring decision.  Yesterday I left a message for one of the interviewers letting them know that if they could use any further info to help them make their decision more easily, they can feel free to contact me.  I hope this sends the message that I am still very interested.  Which I am!  Very VERY interested!  I may call back today and see if I can reach someone.  

Oh damn.  I just got word from less lovable position (A) that they have offered the position to someone else because they really needed someone to start this week.  O.O  COME ON POSITION B, PLEEEEZ TO BE HIRING ME...