What a week.
Like many of you, I sat in front of my TV on Wednesday, completely unable to tear my eyes away from the unthinkable. Four days later, I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that a large group of Americans broke into the Capitol Building, let alone the Senate Chamber. That they used flag poles like weapons, beat a cop, erected a gallows complete with a noose, peed on the Capitol Building, looted and destroyed property, and did it because the President of the United States told them to do it. We definitely haven’t heard the last of this. While we might not see more insurrections, this week has all the potential to be wild.
On Friday, I went to my first interview in months. I think it went well. The idea of going back to work, even in a pared-down, part-time role, scares me, and my heart starts racing at the thought. But, even I will admit it would be nice to get out of the house for a few hours every day. I hope to hear something back this week.
Friday was also Jim’s final interview. He thought it went well, only to check his email on Saturday to find out that they went with a different candidate. It is definitely frustrating as this is the third time this has happened to him. I know he is beginning to take it personally. All he can do is keep on applying for jobs and hope that something sticks eventually. Sooner rather than later.
On a positive note, Jim finally finished my bookshelves and I was able to unpack 86 boxes and almost 800 books. I did a major purge while unboxing and culled my collection to bring my collection down to 644 print books. It was a long day but it was so much fun to see my books again and know that I can read a print book again since I now have access once more. The pictures are all on IG if you missed the fun.
The rest of the week is a bit of a blur. I didn’t do anything fancy in the kitchen. No new music or fun, new-to-me playlists. All we have been watching on TV is football and CBS News. Nothing exciting with Holly. For now, given everything that happened in DC, I’ll take that as a good thing.
Anything new for you? Did you make anything delicious this week? What are you reading? What have you been listening to? Tell me how your week was!

The Capitol debacle is like bad TV. I have a hard time believing so many got away with it. I keep watching and reading the news to see updates on which terrorists have been caught. Now they are saying there is planned violence at all 50 state Capitols ahead of the inauguration. Not good. When is enough, enough?
I am sorry to hear about Jim’s job news. What do you think it comes down to? Salary? Experience?
It will be enough when we finally have leadership telling them to stop and when there is a full accounting of their lawlessness.
We know one job was due to salary. He came in high and the owner didn’t bother to negotiate. One also was due to the fact that it was a Canadian company, and the company eventually chose someone from Canada. The others? We don’t know. He has the experience and he is now asking for compensation that is within range for his experience and roles. I think the online/Zoom interviews aren’t helping him. He has a very dynamic personality that I don’t think comes across well in such a stagnant setting.
Wednesday was devastating but not at all surprising. The worst part for me was knowing that my brother works in one of those government buildings – I don’t know which one – and because of the sensitive nature of his job, he doesn’t have any access to the outside world while working. My family was unable to get ahold of him to make sure he was safe for hours after this all began. When he was finally able to reach out, he told us that they were so isolated that they didnt’ even know what was happening for almost an hour! But he got home safe, and I really hope he’s not set to work the 17th-20th when it’s pretty sure there’ll be more riots and insurrection going on.
I absolutely adore your bookshelves! They are amazing!
Let’s hope the government can get its act together to prevent a disaster on inauguration day!
I don’t know if this counts as making something but I did throw together a sour cream cilantro lime sauce to eat on my freezer breakfast burritos, and it came out pretty good! I also started several cross-stitching projects, spent two hours on one of them, then realized I had oriented the fabric the wrong way and was going to have to unpick all my work. A classic cross-stitching experience! Alas!
I’ll be keeping a good thought for you and Jim with your interviews!
That sour cream cilantro lime sauce sounds like it would be delicious, especially on a burrito bowl!
I have done that. I have also messed up a project so badly that I had to start all over again. It was one of those multi-page projects, and I found the error when I was almost done with the first page. Ugh!