Job, Housing, onwards and upwards!

[mijan]

At the risk of jinxing myself, I'm going to tell everyone my latest news.  Earlier this week, I interviewed with Novartis, in Cambridge, MA, with its Oncology research team.  Well, the interview went extremely well, the boss likes me, and he told me that the only reason he's not telling me for 110% certain that I have the job is because technically he still has to interview someone.  I looked at him and said that because I live outside of Boston, before I can start working, I'd need to move closer.  So, I asked, should I start appartment hunting.  And he replied with a sheepish sort of grin, "Yeah, you really should."  Essentially, he pretty much told me that I have the job.

So, I needed to find an appartment.  I hit Craig's List, and found this: Three Openings in Cool Creative Shared House.
In other words:  Real house!  Nifty roommates!  Affordable rent!  Nice neighbourhood!  I already talked to the guy who's screening new people, and we really seemed to hit it off.  He also told me that he's screened dozens of people, and most of them, he told them within the first couple of minutes on the phone, or from the first e-mail, "Sorry, but you're not what I'm looking for."  In other words, he's being *very* careful about screening people, which makes me happy.  I'm heading out there today to scope out the place.  There are a couple of other options I'm looking at, but I'm *really* excited about this one, even sight-unseen.

Of course, if anyone here lives near Cambridge, MA, and has a spare room... *wink*  Let me know!

Now, if only I can find my pocket-knife, which I misplaced the day before yesterday, I'll be very happy!  I was using it to carve some wands... I made three really beautiful ones... and I put it down, and now I can't find it!  Bugger!  And when I went to look under my bed, I sliced my elbow open on the bedframe.  It's really quite bloody.  All that, and I still can't find it!

By the way, is anyone interested in ordering a hand-carved wand?  I'm still making them.

*huggles*
~P

Comments

[phoenixw.livejournal.com]

Cool! Good luck on the job, the housing and the pocket knife recovery!

What kind of wands do you carve? I was thinking of getting a piece of corkscrew willow, because don't you know I have to be different. ;-)

[mijan.livejournal.com]

I generally carve straightforward wands in a style that I imagine wands in the Potterverse would look like, although I sometimes do different sorts of handles. All kinds of woods, all sizes, all colours of stains, etc. I kinda custom-tailor each wand to the recipient. Interested? :D

[phoenixw.livejournal.com]

Yes indeed, I'd be interested. Not sure what composition I would like, though. I'd have to do some thinking about that. Birch is the tree I feel closest to.

At one of the local Ren-faire events, there was a fellow selling wands that he had drilled out the center - the grip of the wand fitted over it like a cap. So the buyer could use whatever they fancy for a core. I thought that was a cool idea.

~E

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've seen wands with drilled-out cores. The thing is, I don't use machines... everything is hand-done. It's impossible to whittle out a hollow center with a pocket knife.

And I could definitely work with birch. White birch, yellow birch, black birch, river birch, or grey birch?

[phoenixw.livejournal.com]

White birch would be perfect. It's part of a name that I took for myself many years ago.

I can see why you wouldn't want to hand-whittle a hole in the center. lol! But you know there are hand-powered drills? I inherited one that belonged to my grandfather. On the other hand, I'm sure they're rare and hard to find. And you'd have to clamp the wand... ergh. Anyhow, hand-carved is lovely.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'd have to clamp the wood while drilling, PLUS because I take them from branches I harvest myself, the grain isn't always perfect. I can just see myself having an almost-complete wand, and then trying to drill a core and ruining the wand.

There are some white birches right near where I live... I should be able to find a suitable piece. The only problem that arises with birch is that branches of the right size usually have a lot of knots. They can be hard to carve. I'll let you know what I find though!

[phoenixw.livejournal.com]

Oh, and given that the traditional length of a wand is from the inside of the elbow to the tip of the longest finger, would 15 inches be too long?

[mijan.livejournal.com]

15 inches isn't too long at all! Here's how I do the length:

The handle is custom-designed to your actual grip. In fact, if you want to be REALLY precise, here's what I want you to do: Take a pencil, wrap it in a thin layer of clay or other impressible material, and grip it with your natural grip that you'd use for a wand. Now, measure the distance from the furthest part of the thumb-print and index-finger-print to the pinky-print. The thumb should extend just a little bit past the index-finger, if you use a traditional grip.

Then in addition to the grip-part, I put some design-work onto the handle. That usually adds about an inch and a half to the overall handle portion.

The length of the shaft is as-requested. The shortest I've done have been about 7.5 inches, and the longest has been just over 13. So, add up the length of the handle for your hand, and then figure out how long you want the shaft to be, if you want the overall length of the wand to be the same as your forearm.

Actually, the new wand I just carved for myself is just a bit longer than from the tip of my finger to the *outside* of the tip of my elbow.

[phoenixw.livejournal.com]

And finally, best of luck on your move! I'd come help you but, y'know, I'm on the other coast. ;-)

[eleal.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the job! I really hope you get it. :) Oh, and check in some drawers in the kitchen for your pocket knife.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie, but I've already tried the kitchen drawers. All of them. Any other ideas? *cries*

[miraba.livejournal.com]

Holy shit! If you get that, let me know. I'm currently living with my parents in Newtonville.
And congrats on the job. *crosses fingers for you* I'm currently looking, and it's horrible.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Sweetness! Friends in the area! *tackle-glomps* Any chance that you could help me move in next week? I met the guy at the house today, and I've got my pick of the rooms there. Personally, I'm aiming for the largest bedroom, even though it's the most expensive... but for $400 a month... having plenty of space is crucial. *grins* And we could hang out perhaps? It would be nice to know that I'm not going to an area where I don't know anyone.

[miraba.livejournal.com]

What day are you moving in? My schedule is starting to fill up (quasi-interview, car trip), and at this point Wednesday and early Thursday are the most open for me.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Actually, it might be on Wednesday or Thursday that I move in. :D
*bouncebouncebounce*
I hope this all works out.

[fiona-fawkes.livejournal.com]

Kudos to you. What kind of work would you be doing?

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Working as a lab assistant in a cancer research lab. :)

[fiona-fawkes.livejournal.com]

Yeah for lab geeks!

[mijan.livejournal.com]

WOOHOO! I wonder if they'll let me wear the funky lab coat that I coloured with fabric markers...

[fiona-fawkes.livejournal.com]

That sounds cool. I miss my scrub pants that I tie dyed with colors from the gram stains in micro (crystal violet, iodine, saffranin). Oh dear, I really am that dorky.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Oooh, those would make some pretty colour combinations! I'll have to consider doing that!
*joins in the geekiness*

[kriken.livejournal.com]

Meant to ask you this the other night on the phone, but of course I forgot.

If you've the time and the inclination, I think I know some people who would love to find a wand in their stocking come Christmas morn :) What kind of specs do you want?

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... as for specs...
Type of wood (if it matters), colour of stain, width of grip (related to the size of the hand AND how they intend to hold the wand), length of shaft, and overall thickness.
They take quite a while each, so I really can't do them for free... but for friends, a special rate seems appropriate, perhaps?

[kriken.livejournal.com]

Oh, you were getting paid whether you wanted it or not ;)

I'll have to think about the specs. Maybe aurreptiously ask a few questions to the intended receivers... We'll talk :)

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Cool! And you *know* that I would eventually make *you* a wand for free because you're my darlingest dearest Kriket, but as far as the others... that's cool. *grins* It'll help me pay the rent... *is broke*

As for figuring out their hand size... you know how people will randomly hold up one hand and ask a friend to compare their hand-span? Totally casual thing to do, and then you can get a very good idea of how big their hands are. Pay attention to width and thickness of the palm, thickness of the fingers, and length of the fingers. From there, I can generally figure out a handle size. Maybe call me later?

Oh, and I was in the Boston area yesterday, but busy... however, I'll be around Boston a LOT more soon, if everything works out. Coffee? *grins*

[lunalovegoddess.livejournal.com]

I checked out the ad and it's down the street from where I used to live. Go figure. At first I thought it was my old house (since we sold it last year), but it sounds like it runs alongside the train tracks. Good location for commuter rail into Boston; also on Commonwealth Ave. near the Star Market is the bus directly into Boston. Basically, picture a perpendicular line where Comm Ave. runs west to east and Lexington Ave. runs north to south. To get to the Green Line (Riverside) go south on Lexington.
sounds like a fair price, since Auburndale is pricey, and good location. We loved living there but decided to look for a bigger house in a warmer climate. There's canoeing on the Charles River and lots of hiking and fun outdoorsy stuff for you to do, and easy to get around if you don't drive.

[lunalovegoddess.livejournal.com]

As far as Novartis goes, it's not far from the Arsenal Mall. I used to take a bus from Auburndale to Central Square, Waltham and then connect to the Arsenal Mall bus (#70 if I recall.) If you get the apartment and the job, feel free to ask me about the area.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Cool! I know some about Boston, but as for the Auburndale area itself, I only did a little bit of exploring today. I made it down to Newton Center, and some other places. I found the Breuggers Bagels place... mmm... bagels...
*grins*
I'll be sure to ask for advice! First off... where's the best grocery store? Also, is there a "Goodwill" store in the area? I need cheap furniture fast!

[lunalovegoddess.livejournal.com]

520 Mass. Ave. in Cambridge is the closest Goodwill store.
The closest grocery store is Star Market on Comm. Ave. right up the street from the train station. Shaw's bought it out last year, so they may have renamed it. In the same plaza is Bruegger's Bagels. (heaven!) My one complaint about living in Florida is that I have not found a Bruegger's down here yet. The best bagel, IMO, is the asiago bagel. I used to buy that and smear some bacon scallion cream cheese on it, every morning after dropping the kids of at school. Also, there is a Supercuts and dry cleaners, and Eastern Bank. In the next "village" West Newton, there is a great sushi place as well.
Pretty much almost making me homesick... ;)

[mijan.livejournal.com]

SQUEE! Lotsa stuff! I've got my work cut out for me.
Oh, and the Supercuts sounds like a good idea. I need a haircut. :p

[miraba.livejournal.com]

Breuggers? Noooooooo. You must go to Rosenfeld's.
The best produce store in the area is Russo's (it's right by a Stop & Shop). I'll go with you some time, since it can be tricky to get there if you don't know the area. There's also a Trader Joe's on Washington St. I hit the Whole Foods for my spices and grains.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Dang, you *are* going to have to show me around! I also need to know where the best "hang-out-and-write/do-art" coffee houses are. And no, Starbucks does NOT qualify. *shudders*

[miraba.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I know of few independant coffee houses in Newton. There used to be more, but then Starbucks bought them.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

*growls* I hate Starbucks. Evil, I tell you.

[lunalovegoddess.livejournal.com]

I love Trader Joe's! (Just at the time I had no license, so I would only buy what I could carry from Star Market since it was across the street practically!) Good suggestion! :)

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Trader Joes... are those the types of places that have all sorts of neat foods and stuff at reasonable prices? Or am I mixing it up with something else?

[lunalovegoddess.livejournal.com]

They have a wide selection of items, and if you have food allergies, it is easy to find alternatives. Some of the major supermarket chains do not carry much soy products, for example, but Trader Joe's has great variety.
Example: last year I was celebrating Thanksgiving with the kids before moving (their dad had already moved down to Florida). I found a small turkey breast stuffed with dried fruit, sage, and nuts, a pumpkin cheesecake, a 6 inch non-dairy pumpkin pie, and asparagus w/ Hollandaise sauce. I wanted to plan a unique dinner because my mom was coming. (She backed out at the last minute.)The food was great, and the preparation minimal. Including carrots and potatoes, I spent just over $20. The most expensive item? The cheesecake, at $10.99.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... I'll have to check out the place! *grins*

[http://users.livejournal.com/__babbes__/]

OMG, if you move to Cambridge we should chill!

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Well, not to Cambridge, but within commuting distance. I'd be working in Cambridge. And we should definitely hang out!

[naadi.livejournal.com]

Good luck with all of it! ::hugs:: I'm really interested in your wand-making - I was thinking of trying my hand at it and would love to know if you have any advice. :)

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... best advice would be to start with really simple designs. In fact, a good exercise is to take a stick that is NOT straight and to carve a perfectly straight and smooth stick *from* that stick. Then, start practicing patterns, rings, ridges, indentations, and whatnot on a stick that you don't plan to make into a wand. Once you've got a feel for working the wood, start on a simple wand design. Mine have become more and more complex, intricate, detailed, and elegant with each try.

[canellaphile.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the almost-job! Great news. And on the housing too!

I'd be v. interested in looking at your wands. Do you usually sell them?

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Yes, I sell them. I'll be posting some pics soon, I hope. :)

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

am v. v. pleased to hear about the job and housing sitch. i knew the universe was just waiting to shower you with the goodness you so deserve. [*smooches*] hope everything is continuing to go smoothly and that it all comes together in the best possible way.

am curious about your wands, do you have pics of them (i mean a desription is somewhat pointless as imagine they are long and thin and made of wood [*smirk*]) and what would you charge? and would you even ship me one clear to nz (i'd certainly want to defray the cost of that. i know it is outrageous to ship things over here).

bugger, i still haven't sent you the pictures and the links [*kicks self*] am a bit swamped today but promise to get to it. really. (((hugs)))

[mijan.livejournal.com]

As soon as I finish this batch, I'll take some photos and post them. Depending on quality, type of wood, effort, etc., the wands cost between $35 and $50. They take a lot of time and effort to make, but if you ask anyone who was with me at The Witching Hour, they saw what I had to offer, and they'll tell you that I do indeed make quality wands. They're honestly hand-carved, not wood-turned, and while the straightness, balance, and craftsmanship is near-perfect, you can tell that they weren't made on a machine... which I actually prefer. I also make them to personal specifications, including the size of the grip, the length of the shaft, the colour of the stain, the thickness, the type of wood, etc. Totally unique and personalized.

And don't worry about the pics... I hardly have time to breathe right now, so I can totally understand what it's like to be swamped. :)

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

i have to admit i liked what you had to offer at twh, oh, wait, you were talking about the wands. [*smirk*] i saw a partially finished one in your hands once i think, but you were on your way somewhere else. course i saw you with yours all the time, did you make that one? anyway i can wait for some pics. and i don't want a machine made one or i would have gotten one, i'm interested in these because you made them. not sure i'd know what i wanted if i had to give specs, but if you have some waiting for an owner, maybe one of them wants to come tbe with me.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Hmm, the one I was carrying around all the time was indeed one of my own carvings. It was one of the less fancy ones actually, but it fit my hand really well and I liked it. It was 11.5 inches, maple, with a medium-light golden-brown stain. Basic handle-style. And actually, the basic carving style is very good for showing off the natural grain and beauty of the wood when I stain it. :)

[imperial-dragon.livejournal.com]

sounds great! don't think you need luck getting the job :P

the wands sound great!