Statement of Merit

My dear employer has a rather convoluted and drawn out hiring and promotion process. In a bid to reduce nepotism and increase fairness, there are tests, oral interviews with set questions, and even before you hit those, the dreaded statement of merit. With every job posting there is a set list of qualifications and skills that you have to state VERY clearly in your submission you fulfill before you had a hope of being screened in. There are days I wonder how I ever was hired as doing them now is often a daunting task.

However, as both a perfectionist and a Virgo, I do have to applaud the organization of this system and it recently inspired me and my dear Chantal (to the right though she never updates her blog). It is actually not a bad model for looking for a boyfriend.

I promise that I am not as relationship obsessed as I seem this weekend but during my walk home from my fabulous massage this morning (Ott peeps - To.ni at Kneaded.Touch West.boro is amaaaaaaazing) I was mulling over it again (perhaps due to me looking at actual competitions I may apply to just for the sake of practise) and would like to share with you the current requirements for being LadyLaptop's next boyfriend.

Essential Qualifications:
- Graduation with a degree from a recognized university
- Either holding a permanent job or being enrolled in further educational pursuits
- Extensive relationship experience (ie. I cannot be your first real girlfriend, engineers I'm looking at YOU)
- Knowledge of a wide variety of topics (politics, sports, etc.) while not being way too informed on one or argumentative on these topics
- Ability to be friends with my friends
- Ability to operate independently and in a team (you have your own life but are able to build a new one with me)
- A combination of: a) owning their own place (living alone or with a roommate) or b) renting (alone or with a roommate) but in either case if there are roommates (or option c) living with family), owning their own motor vehicle and saving for their own home are required
- Ability to organize and set priorities for your own life (ambition is not a dirty word!)
- Ability to communicate not too much or too little (I don't need to know what you had for lunch but touching base and being able to talk is nice)
- Excellent intimate interpersonal skills ;)
- At least 25 years of age, no more than 40 years of age
- At least 5'8, in good physical condition

Asset Qualifications:
- Graduation with an advanced or professional degree from a recognized university
- Graduation with a degree in psychology (to put up with my craziness - j/k.... or am I?)
- Knowledge of dorky subjects (Star Trek, Firefly) while not being addicted to video games/comics (engineers, I am again looking at you)
- Leadership abilities, able to boot me out of my routine
- Strong family relationships
- Ability to hold your drink and keep up with my family
- Strong faith based beliefs (don't care what the beliefs are, but you should know your mind about it)
- Interest in children (if children are already possessed, essential they are out of diapers)

Now this list could either mark me as being a complete lunatic who might as well give up and resign myself to a life as a cat lady or maybe someone out there has a candidate to suggest? Constructive criticism welcomed.

Single Saturday Night

So it is a Saturday night and I am sitting at home. Today I slept in, did a whole whack of laundry, got my dad come over to change the lightbulbs that were 10 feet up, then went to Canadian Tire looking for a lampshade and bought SmartFood instead. I am so, so single and have to admit, not really feeling it tonight.

I have sent a couple of odd texts to my friends today, including the fact that I seem to have cribbed the break up talk I gave to the very sweet but not suited for me boy about a month ago, directly from a Sex and the City episode. That was followed by more lessons learned, including that 20 something guys suck (Anyone know a cute 30 year old?) that I need to get away from 'perfect on paper' guys.... and that I am feeling a little sorry for myself. Hopefully this will pass, along with this crazy cold streak we are currently experiencing.

As I mentioned, it is my own fault that I am single at the moment. I stand behind my decision, it wasn't the relationship or guy for me, but there are times it would be nice to have someone to call for a Saturday night date. I have for the moment sworn off online dating, won't date guys from work - I think I need to take up a hobby. Pool sharking? I could get a dog, hit the parks, but as ever Carrie is looking askance at my preferred dog....


I'll keep you updated on the relationship front but next week have one of my favourite partners in crime (who plays 'haaaaaave you met Anna' with the best of them) to help me play the scene, with my bestie forever also about to return to town, to bear the brunt of my neuroses to spare you some of the brunt. Next post will be funnier/funner I swear!

Brief respite

I am home for approximately 36 hours in between the west and east coast swings of my trips. The west was absolutely fantastic, I loved Whitehorse and getting to spend some time in Vancouver again. I put up a few pictures on twitter (to the left, to the left) but more will come.

Travelling for work is totally different from pleasure, my day is not my own and often so jam packed that by the time evening rolls around I am exhuasted and all I see of my hotel room is my bed. It is great experience though and making me think I should consider living in another part of the country at some point. I continue to love the North and Whitehorse had an interesting northern/indie vibe going on (while also having a Starbucks) that rather appealed. We'll see.

Today was much fun, went to the Wed By Hand show with my dear A who is getting married in October, and got to spread the news about my dear L's engagement! So many people getting married, it's almost like we're grownups.

In the spirit of children getting to grow up and BECOME grownups, I just found this for the first time which is ABSOLUTELY amazing.



More stories to come soon, taking some time to watching 'Princess' with Gail Vaz Oxlade, which always inspires me to be good (and hopefully withstand the temptation of the $100 off coupon Coach just sent me, especially with the fact that I've managed to leave my iPod on a plane this week), soon to head back to A's to watch some Super Bowl (where I will cheer for the team with the fewest rapists, society is sad sometimes).