Over the last two days I have had a number of interviews at work for a position in the research department that I bid on a couple months ago. I became a supervisor just after New Year's this year and have never been really happy about that, but I was probably going to bid out sooner or later anyway just because I've been in the same place at the company since I hired on. So, I bid on the job, even though I nearly backed out when I first heard I needed to do a half-hour technical presentation before the interviews. The HR rep that told me about it said it could be about anything...research I've done recently (there hasn't been any), or a presentation I've already given recently (Nope), or any topic I feel comfortable presenting. And have it ready to present to a bunch of Ph.D.'s by next week. So, I picked nuclear power to present, since I felt it likely that I know more about it than anyone who was going to show up. It wasn't as polished as it may have been (I never actually rehearsed it start to finish) but I think it went fairly well. I also made sure to verify that everything I presented was public domain information available on the internet, since back in the day, I couldn't even write V=IR on a piece of paper without stamping it confidential. I still have some more interviews next week, but so far things look good. This is also the only time I've been looking for a job when I could just shrug and carry on if I don't get it. Here's the thing: I have no idea how many people are being interviewed for this job.

I've been continuing work on the small room downstairs; today I finished all the wiring. One recurring theme I've discovered when pulling down the paneling and ceiling tiles is mice...this house must have been infested. They're definitely gone now, but the ceiling tiles look like at some point every mouse in the state was relieving himself on them, and I found the remains of at least 8 very dead mice trapped in the walls. Some were skeletal, some were not. All were gross. I'm making slow progress on the room; about two-thirds of the drywall is up.