I got out of bed at 7:40 AM in time to attend my French oral test, which I, of course, failed with flying colours. As I sat in the waiting room the receptionist handed me a basic information questionnaire to fill out in French, and I couldn't complete the thing. The lady who administered the test was friendly and encouraging, and let me attempt to speak for six minutes in conversation before stopping the test. My final French test results: AAX. Requirements for the job that forced me into taking French tests: AAB. By the time I got home I had received both the results and a "better luck next time" note from the Senate in my email inbox.

As I started to ponder what, exactly, I would have to do to keep from starving to death come February, I received a phone call from the woman who tested me at the House of Commons for the transediting job two weeks ago. She invited me back for an interview on Wednesday, so apparently I performed well enough in the first round.

Real rollercoaster of a morning. I'd like to get this job. I'm in the nice, comfortable spot just before the inevitable interview where I know they must think I have promise, and I'm going to coast on the feeling before Wednesday, making sure I go in armed with a CV, recommendations and a smile. Wish me luck.

I ended up organizing Janet Leigh's Bad Luck with Motels for the day after my birthday. Andrea arrives back in Ottawa tonight and I'm leaving in ten minutes to meet her at the train station.

I took a French reading/writing comprehension test yesterday morning and ended up guessing at quite a few. I don't imagine I'll make it too far into the oral test on Monday before the administrator gives up on me. At least I'll have a more official understanding of where my French skills are at. Dave said that French training is probably available through the Senate, with classes starting in January, so I might look into that.

I worked the bar for the Writers Festival last night during the open mic, talks on Afghanistan and talks from journalists correspondents working in China and Africa, including Patrick Brown, who was a very engaging speaker. I worked the box office for another talk of his this afternoon, so my duties with the Writers Festival are half over.

I'm feeling tired and a little directionless today. I need an afternoon to veg out, but I have too much to do.

Here's an interesting article from the Citizen about how desperately Canada is going to need profs over the next decade: Universities face double threat to top talent.

I've schedule two appointments to test my French capabilities for a position I applied for with the Senate after Andrea suggested that I might as well do it and find out exactly how proficient I am. Tomorrow morning is the reading/writing test, and next Monday is the oral test. I envision the oral test going horribly. I can't SPEAK FRENCH, and I told the woman on the phone, but she said that part of the test wasn't mandatory for the position. Whatever.

It's going to be a busy week. I'm volunteering for the Writers Festival for a few days starting tomorrow night. This morning I sent off a short story to The Antigonish Review, the first story I've ever sent away for publication outside Ottawa. Now I get to play the waiting game that all writers play, fully expecting a rejection, and maybe some comments if I'm lucky.

I met up with Ash and Jen at Mod Club last night for a pint and a little dancing. I feel like an emeritus in that environment these days. It was fun to just hang out.

I've started reading Headhunter by Timothy Findley. Pretty incredible so far.

My phone woke me up a little before ten thirty. I had opened it and was able to consciously grasp that someone had called me and was waiting for me to say "hello." It turned out to be a woman calling me about a transediting position at the House of Commons I had applied for a couple of weeks ago. I'm going in tomorrow to get "tested" for two hours.

I went to the grocery store and ran into Amanda Earl. Afterward I decided to head over to Future Shop where I picked up special editions of JFK, Psycho and Touch of Evil along with a gift certificate for my brother. I've been wanting to see JFK ever since I watched the Seinfeld episode that references it constantly awhile ago. Plus, W. is coming out on Friday and I haven't seen any of Stone's presidential biopics.

I voted at the Knox Presbyterian Church at Elgin and Lisgar just before I got home. I received an email about a Senate job I applied for asking me to take a French reading/writing comprehension test. I looked at some of the sample questions and I don't think I'll be able to get a good enough mark, but depending on how things go tomorrow I might try it out anyway. Couldn't hurt.

I'm worried that I might become addicted to Mythbusters.