Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

We had dept. meeting Part 2 today as we had more information on the candidates and interview process to replace our excellent ex-boss. We found out some pretty appalling information. Basically, the reason they are only interviewing ONE person is b/c psycho jerk director has already predetermined that that's who we'll hire. Never mind that there was a much better candidate whose resume we all saw, and the candidate that they're bringing in is simply not qualified for the position! According to her own resume, she has minimal experience supervising librarians , none managing an entire department, and no experience writing grants--3 allegedly REQUIRED qualifications for this position that is an Associate Director position and will pay $65K-$75K/year. However, she is friends with a$$hole Deb. H. and she works at our "rival" health library in San Antonio so it would be a fun coup for jerk director to "get" her away from the rival library and rub their nose in it. That is really, truly what's going on here! Appalling.

When we hired Dell, my wonderful ex-boss, we interviewed 4 candidates and had lunch with each of them. Pre-hiring someone like this, for a high ranking position like this, is unprecedented. But here's the possible (oh please, Lord!) good news: I made the comment today that I'm amazed that administration here is not even interested in making the appearance that they're taking the recruitment process for this position even remotely seriously. I also wondered, jokingly but not really at all, when jerk director might retire and spare us from her idiocy and jerk-ness forever. My coworker said that she suspects the director, who is age 65-ish but who got married right before I did, might actually retire once the house she and her husband are building is finished!!! Also, that maybe that's why she's not interested in keeping up decent appearances anymore, b/c she's planning on being gone soon. Can it be??? Oh, man... Dare I hope???????????????????

Talked to M., last night, who I have decided is my BFF. Actually, this came up in a conversation a few months ago when I was talking to S about someone who used to be my BFF, and S wondered who my new BFF is. I ran down the list of possible suspects, and realized it was M.!!! Last night just exemplified this. He was asking me how my job troubles were going and I said that I was thinking about taking the civil service exam at a certain local police department, but that the next testing is not until July. He said that if I decided to go and take the test, he would come with me! I asked what if we got accepted, what would he do? And he said he would definitely consider it, that he can always do what he does now (computer/IT stuff) later on in life! I believe him too, he keeps flirting openly and vocally with the idea of being a cop full-time. Well, let's see what happens between now and July.

Life insurance note: I got my policy in the mail finally after 3 months. The only glitch is they want their year's payment in full now! It's really not that much, b/c I'm young, healthy, and only insured myself with a term policy for a low 6 figures for 15 years, but I'm currently trying to save up for the $700 tax bill we will owe soon. (I just don't want to deplete the emergency fund any more than I have to.) I insured myself for just enough money that if something happens to me, S will not be set for life but rather, will have just enough to get a fresh start somehow somewhere. Then S went and got in to see the eye Dr. today since his last right contact ripped, so that's $95 I wasn't planning on spending this week. But since I'm so amazingly frugal (got over $4 taken off the grocery bill last night w/coupons!), I can cover all these unexpected expenses. And that's the trick to a financially secure life, it seems. S is so funny. He was complaining about when they blow air into your eye and how much he dreads it and hates it. I said, "But it's over like that! POOF!" He said his eyes are incredibly sensitive and he hates it anyway. I said then he won't like getting Lasik surgery if he ever decides to do that. I told him how they draw on your eye while you watch! He doesn't think he wants Lasik after all. I can't imagine why not, it's some of the best money I have ever spent in my entire life!

Speaking of groceries, I was going to attempt to make salmon patties for S last night, but his stomach was bothering him, so here's what I made for dinner: grilled cheese sandwich for S, toasted turkey/cheese sandwich for me, Doritos, and chocolate milk drunk from our crystal glasses that were a wedding present! Later, I made walnut brownies but I used the wrong size pan so they took longer than they should've. I can't imagine a more newlywed kind of dinner to have!

S gift note: Last night he gave me a gift, a cute little purse made out of denim shorts. I actually used to have a purse like that when I was a kid/teen. The only thing wrong with it is no holster! But a sweet thought nonetheless.