1 of 7 (or maybe 7 of 9?)

I walked into town to take my written test for the energy job yesterday. Even though I brought my camera I didn't take any pictures. I didn't want to stick out. But I'll suck it up and get it done soon.

Anyway, the walk in from my Aunt's place took like 30 minutes. The walking was slow because the way was super treacherous. It's been so warm here that everything is slick ice with a coating of lubricating water. The walk was so beautiful. Snow covered escarpment, lodge pole pine forest and the river. I fell a little bit in love with the place on this walk.

I made it mishap-free to town and had some time to kill. I went to the bank, and went to the shoppers. I looked at people. There were fancy older women in designer duds and hippies and funky kids with all the layers and leg warmers (you know who I mean?), and then people like me. Generic office people :-)

I sent off a fax at Mailboxes Etc ($5! What!) which should be the last thing the school needs from me with regards to my thesis.

The, it was time to go write. It wasn't in the office I'm applying to work at, but at the federal building in the HR office. I was put into an empty office with a computer and handed a page with 2 questions on it. I had 1.5 hours to work, and would I please save my work on the desktop? Yes, I would.

The first question was broad, asking me to discuss how the Government of Yukon would best influence energy efficiency and renewable resource use. I think I did a good job on this question. The second question was to write a memorandum to the Deputy Minister of Energy Mines and Resources (who is that again? oops!) basically pitching a rebate program for energy efficient appliances, as though it didn't already exist. Who knows, I think that went fine too. I had a two page limit on each question. I wrote about 3 total, single spaced.

I think I represented myself and my capabilities well. The questions were pretty general and vague, and written on a tight timeline, so I was lucky not having to fake my way through technical questions about pv arrays or something. The interesting bit for me came when I was ready to sve my work. You know when you are saving a document that has been modified before but saved as something else, the drop down list comes listing them all?

Well, that happened. Suddenly I had, I think, everyone else who wrote this test's papers at my finger tips. I don't know if they were removed from the computer or not, obviously I never opened the docs, BUT I did count up the number of files in the drop down list. Although they all didn't have a title that clearly placed them in my competition (some were just names) I think they were. Same room, same computer, same week. If that's true then I am one of 7.

7 is a deep field. It's tough to come first in a field of 7. I know that I'm the last interview on Friday morning. I'm glad for that because there will be no confusion of whether they want me or not. They can score me as high or as low as they need to to keep me or not. Based on the written test, they are keeping things subjective.

Bring on the interview! Overall, I feel great about how I did, in terms of feeling good about what I wrote. They just have to decide whether the way I think will fit in with them or not.

In the meantime, I'm gonna prepare my application for the other job I have to apply for, and then start compiling a list of people to contact in town, and start sending resumes fishing for contracts and work. I have a huge list of government (federal/territorial/municipal), NGO (conservation etc) and private (consultants) people to look up and start harassing. I can do that.

Then: a house. Then: my boyfriend will be back! And there's gonna be trouble! CAN'T WAIT.