Those who can, do

Normally I don’t join in bashing HR —jobs associated with my master’s degree are generally considered HR jobs even though I don’t work in recruiting or hiring. Also, I see the need for having a group dedicated to developing job requirements, screening applicants, and ensuring the hiring process stays legal. However last week I applied for a job and the difference in how that application has been handled has me rethinking my position.

I applied for a job by email on Monday and got an email back within two hours from the person who ended up being the hiring manager. That fast response is pretty amazing: if I even hear back from a recruiter, it’s usually days or weeks later. Usually I don't hear anything at all; it's as though my application disappears into the ether never to be heard from again. He asked if I were available for a 30 phone screen the next day and when I agreed that I was, he sent an agenda outlining what he wanted to cover in that 30 minutes. I’ve never gotten an agenda for a phone screen.

At the end of the phone screen on Tuesday, he asked if I would be available to come in later that week to their offices for a 90 minute interview with three of them—notice again the super fast decision-making process here. I was still interested in the job so I agreed. I got an agenda for the meeting on Thursday plus more detailed information about a presentation he’d asked me to prepare.

They will make their hiring decision by Wednesday (yes, the day after tomorrow). I’m not sure I want this job, and I’m not sure they will even make me an offer. But the way they’ve handled the process has been really refreshing—no lengthy delays, no pointless hoops to jump through, just clear expectations about what was going on. HR could learn something from these guys.

Feathers and catnip

We buy toys for the cats from time to time, although not as often as you might think. That's because they are very good at taking normal items and turning them into toys. For example, the cats play with the Velcro strips, cardboard boxes, milk carton rings and my make up sponge although the sponge generally doesn't survive being turned into a cat toy.

We'd gotten a feather toy with catnip in it about a month ago, and had saved it for a special occasion. Yesterday was that day and here's how Wally responded to the toy.

Blogger came back~

I oh so very briefly dabbled in Word Press. No thanks, you can keep it. I will stick to Blogger which I know and love so very much.

Just glad I didn't lose anything--sometimes it pays to have a slacking week.

Regional differences

I’ve just spent two of the last three weeks square in the middle of the country. The first week I was in Little Rock, Arkansas and this week I’ve been in Texas—far western Texas to be sure, but technically still in the Midwest. Just don’t tell any Texan that, I’m pretty sure most of them still believe Texas is a separate country.

What I realized over and over again is just how friendly Midwestern people tend to be toward everyone. I know surface friendliness isn’t the same as genuine friendships—but it’s really nice to be greeted by smiles by people who aren’t afraid of having a conversation with a stranger. I’ve missed that openness these last three years. I’ve missed it a lot.

This week I also got to enjoy something else that’s a rare commodity in Boston—sunshine. Lots and lots of sunshine. It’s cloudy this morning in San Antonio but the rest of the past week I enjoyed nothing but pure sun with hardly a puff of clouds in the sky. I’ve practically gorged myself on sunshine.

I’ve loved both of those things—sunny people and sunny weather. But this part of the country isn’t home any more, although truthfully Boston isn’t home in the sense that I love and miss the city. But it’s where Kent is and where the kitties are and that’s what makes a place a home for me these days. So back I go to joyless people and dreary weather which are more than made up for by an amazing man and three nutty cats.

Floors, part two

New floors. Big mess. Huge sigh and much pity for Kent.

Now I'm just glad I'm not home

We have mold under the wood floors so mold mitigation is underway. Kent said they've moved probably 90% of our furniture into the hallway and sealed the rest in plastic. They did whatever they do to eliminate the mold and Kent had to find a hotel last night. He took these pictures this morning.

I can't make this stuff up.

Poor kitties

And poor Kent, too.

Last week was tough on the cats because we had the drywall guys in and out all week. I say we but really Kent was the one there, not me. I was gallivanting around Wyoming and missed that bit of fun. Originally, the drywall repair was supposed to be completed by Friday but the mud isn't drying very quickly so it's still a work in progress.

Today the floors are scheduled to be demolished with the new floors going in over the course of the rest of the week. I'm missing this bit again, so poor Kent has to wrangle all three cats into their carriers and take them to the vet's to be boarded. He said it was really hard to keep Eddie in the house last week as the drywall guys kept coming in and out, and with the floors up next, the house will be too chaotic for kitty safety.

Wally hates the vet. He hates the smell and he will hiss at anything or anyone that smells like the vet, including himself. So this is not going to be a good week for him. Eddie dislikes the vet also, and the last time we had to board him, he lost weight. It takes a lot to put Eddie off his food. We both feel bad for the cats but know this is really the only way to handle the rest of this week.

And I feet just a tiny bit guilty that I'm missing all this--but not a lot. After all, I was home for both water events and got to enjoy all that excitement. When I get home Saturday, it should all be done with the possible exception of the drywall. We do live in a basement and it may not be dry by Friday. But the floors should be done and at least we won't have black plastic garbage bags taped to cover giant holes in our walls and ceilings.