Update on the job front:

There IS no update. What a surprise. While the firm insists that it is because they still haven't made the decision, suspicions among students are high that they're actually just worried that our activity level will decrease exponentially once we know that we are definitely not hired (rather than being just 99% sure). They could be right. But with the summer students coming in soon anyway, not really sure why it would matter - it's not like we're going to stop doing work altogether! It's getting very frustrating, I would REALLY like to know where I'm going to be living in 2 months' time, but since the only thing I can do is keep on keeping on, I guess... that's what I'll do!

On a more positive note, Adam and Spice are really getting along well now. In fact, yesterday she climbed into his lap for a cuddle, without even being enticed by treats! This makes me verrrrrrrrrry happy!

Also, I ordered my robes for my Call to the Bar last week (I decided to buy on the off-chance that at some point I might actually get a law practice job). They should be in sometime in the next couple of weeks. It's definitely the most I've ever spent on an 'outfit', especially considering it's probably going to be hella unflattering, but the law profession seems to be big on this whole 'tradition' thing so I guess I'm along for the ride. Right now I'm just looking forward to a summer of UNemployment... at least I'll get a lot of reading done! :D

The times, they are a-changin'

I changed my display name for this post - for the first time since I started this sucker, I am no longer 'Dirty'. I know there are going to be people who still call me that, and I'm cool with it, but I realised that I no longer identify myself as 'Dirty' (the name, I never identified myself as 'dirty' the adjective!) so I might as well change up the name.

I also changed the template, thought this looks a little nicer (and more mature? lol) than the old one.

I had an absolutely great Easter/Passover weekend. Thursday night Adam and I went into Toronto for his family's seder, at his grandma's place. It was really nice to see everyone, although I have to confess that I don't super love most of the traditional seder dishes (um, gifelte fish? really? And matzo ball soup, no thanks!). But it was a good family dinner, as usual, at least in terms of company.

Friday Adam and I spent with Adam's cousin and his girlfriend, and Adam's two brothers and their significant others, and Adam's little niece. I think she finally likes me! She's only two and a few months, and in the past she's basically been indifferent towards me, particularly since she ADORES Adam and pays attention to him all the time if he's there. But on Friday I got to really spend some time with her, and we played, and it was lots of fun. So hopefully next time she'll actually remember me, and like me! :)

We had brought Spice with us for the weekend, because she travels so well in her carrier and it's way better for her than leaving her alone for the weekend with a sitter who's only there twice a day, or bringing her to a 'kennel'-type place which she just hates. On Friday when Adam's one brother and his fiancee came over, they brought their two dogs (one rottweiler x Belgian shepherd, and one rottweiler x american staffordshire terries - in other words, VERY big dogs!). I was worried that Spice would be terrified and wouldn't do well, so I initially had her in the basement with a baby gate preventing her from coming upstairs. But at one point I came around the corner, and she and Tia (one of the dogs) were rubbing noses. So I decided to give it a chance, and let her out. There was a little bit of hissing and swiping, mostly when the dogs' curiousity got the better of them and they got a bit too close (especially because the one had this fascination with licking Spice all over), but other than that they all got along pretty well - much better than I had expected! At the end of the night, we were all sitting in the living room watching a movie, with Spice curled up on the couch and the two dogs curled up on the floor in front of us. This makes me really, really happy, since I am much less worried now about what might happen when Adam and I get a dog - as long as we get one that's fairly chill, I'm not really worried anymore about it getting along with Spice, which is awesome.

Saturday and Sunday we just hung out and relaxed, Adam got to hang out with some of his friends which was good since he hardly ever gets to see them anymore. I realise now that I really, really want to move back to Toronto. I still hope that I get hired back here because I do still like the firm and the people and I do like Ottawa, but I miss Toronto and wouldn't mind at all moving back there either. I guess the firm will be making the decision for me, really!

Anyway, Adam and I drove back Monday (I love that my firm gave us both Friday and Monday off - yay for working in 'government town'!). And now I'm back at work, and ready for another 4-day week. ;)

Isn't that always the way?!

I was crazy sick the past 3 days. Not like anything serious, but one of the worst colds that I have ever had. It was unpleasant. What made it even more unpleasant than it otherwise would have been was the fact that I had to work. I could not call in sick, because I had a big, intense research project due on Tuesday, that I pretty much had to be at work to work on because I needed to be able to consult with the lawyer I was working for, and of course they won't let students have access to work email or other work software or anything at home. So instead of staying at home and resting and quarantining myself, I went into work each day and probably infected everyone around me - sorry fellow lackeys! I got the memo done (at 8 last night, about 5 hours after it was expected, and a day after it was actually originally supposed to be done). And that's over, which is great. What's also unfortunate about the situation is that the research was actually interesting, and I like working for this lawyer, so if I hadn't been sick it would have been interesting and challenging. Instead, it kind of ended up just being the bane of my existence.

The only thing that made being sick for the last (side note: at first I totally wrote 'law' instead of 'last' just there - I hate that I instinctively write law!) few days is that I had Adam to take care of me. Despite the fact that he HATES being around sick people and will avoid potential germ transfer at any cost, he was really nice and sweet and took care of me very well. And didn't even refuse to sleep in the same bed as me (probably only because we only have one bed, but still, the couch is a futon!). He bought me soup and made it for me, and brought me drinks and made me tea, and was generally pretty much the best boyfriend ever. I know I'm totally bragging here, but I'm still getting used to having someone around to really take care of me, after living on my own (I know I had roommates, but that's still not exactly the same thing) for the last 7 and a half years. It makes it a lot easier that my mum is 8 hours away, that's for sure!

Before my sicky mcsickyness, I had a fantastic weekend in Toronto with my mum, step-dad and sister. I flew in Thursday night on Porter Airlines, which is a completely amazing experience which I would highly recommend to anyone, because we had a concert that night at 8: Fleetwood Mac!!! We got it for Mikey, my step-dad, for Christmas, and the best part that it was with Stevie Nicks, which of course made it extra awesome. The show was incredible - that band is so ridiculously talented - and since they didn't have a new album to promote, they just played their favourite songs (which of course were often also their most popular ones), and that made it a lot of fun to just be able to enjoy all those songs I grew up listening to and loving. Mikey even got to his feet for one of the encore songs and was clapping along, which is very expressive for him! :D

Friday I spent with my mum, while my sister was at work and my step-dad went to a Home & Outdoor Show with my aunt (his sister). My mum and I cruised around my sister's neighbourhood (Queen and Dufferin, lots of cute little trendy shops), handed out some brochures for my the Art Escape weekend that my mum and her friends have organized (this is their 3rd or 4th, I believe - they really have created something quite impressive), and bought some nice wooden knitting needles for me as I have volunteered with a local charity (Bullies In Need - for rescued 'pitbull' type dogs) to knit some blankets to line doggy crates for the rescued puppies.

Friday night we had a nice family dinner at my sister's place, and spent the night just sitting around, talking, visiting, and making very funny videos and photos of us on my sister's Apple photoshop program - good times all around!

Saturday was spent at the ROM, looking at the dinosaur exhibit which is finally back up and running (located in the crystal), and the Book of the Dead exhibit that they are currently displaying. We then went grocery shopping (and to Wal-Mart for some cheap yarn and kitty toys for my cat and my sister's cat!) because my sister had invited our step-cousins and step-aunt over to her place for dinner, as well as one of our cousins (on my mom's side) who is living in Toronto. Then we went back to my sister's place and cooked supper and prepared for guests. The dinner was excellent, and the desserts that were brought by my step-aunt, step-cousin and cousin were sooooooooo yummy. And it was nice to sit around and visit with everyone, in my sister's beautiful and very trendy downtown house/apartment. My step-aunt and step-cousins left just before Earth Hour began, as they had to get back to Markham. My cousin and her boyfriend stayed with us for Earth Hour. I LOVE Earth Hour. It is so nice to sit around by candlelight and talk and visit and not be distracted by all those electronics. Don't get me wrong, I love love love electronics, but sometimes it really is nice to just enjoy each other without anything else. I definitely agree with Nuju on this one!

Sunday morning the parents left very early, and my sister and I hung out and watched some tv online (sshhhh... I am a bad IP law student!). We then met up with Janice for a couple of hours of shopping at the Eaton Centre (we had planned to hit up Queen Street but it was rainy and miserable, so that plan fell by the wayside). I bought some cute shirts at GAP, and got to hang out with Janice which was awesome. Then I headed up to Lawrence and Bathurst area to get a ride back to Ottawa with my friend and fellow articling student, which was WAY more fun and relaxing than having to take the train back! (I didn't want to fly because there weren't any cheap flights left for Sunday evening, surprise surprise!).

So it was a fantastic weekend, and I was so glad that I got to spend all that time with my family. And Adam and Spice got to spend some quality time together, they had a bit of a major incident (yes, Spice did poop on the carpet and Adam had to clean it up and then clean her up - he gave her a shower!), but I think that it might have actually been good for the two of them. She does sit on the couch beside him now, although a lot of the time she still acts afraid of him. I thinks he respects him now, though, and realises that she does have to obey him, which is very important. So things are looking somewhat up, and hopefully will continue to get better.

Well, now we're all updated, and you're in the know of my incredibly exciting life. Until my next fascinating entry!