Maybe, maybe not

A new job has opened up at Texas A&M University - Central Texas. It isn't the big branch of the university in College Station, but a smaller, newer branch. They would like cataloging experience, which I have, and acquisitions experience, which I don't have, but would like to learn. However, their only strict requirement is a Master's Degree in Library Science and two years of library experience, which I have.

It's in Killeen, Texas. It's near Fort Hood, which might mean that I might have trouble fitting in. However, Killeen does have a yoga studio and rock climbing place, so maybe they have some support for more "alternative" lifestyles. Or maybe not.

The person who shot up the Luby's restaurant in Killeen years ago reportedly said, "This is what living in Bell County did to me." Quite a recommendation. The town does have a higher crime rate than the rest of Texas.

It's relatively close to Waco, which doesn't thrill me either.

However...it's also close to Austin. It's about an hour from the northern suburbs of Austin, which is probably a bit long for a commute. Also, I seem to remember that Round Rock (northern suburb of Austin) is pricey. But I really like Austin. I'd jump at a chance to work at the University of Texas - Austin. Not sure about this scenario though.

There might be an unwritten rule that everyone in academia has to work in Texas sometime due to the number of jobs.

Several years ago, I took a trip to Austin on the "nerd bird" between San Jose and Austin. Here's the links to my trip report:

http://days-unfolding.livejournal.com/172981.html
http://days-unfolding.livejournal.com/173469.html
http://days-unfolding.livejournal.com/173580.html
http://days-unfolding.livejournal.com/173973.html
http://days-unfolding.livejournal.com/174280.html

And I've heard that the Texas hill country is pretty in the Spring.

Warning - This Apartment is Covered by a Community Watch

Zara loves looking out the window. In fact, she likes it so much that I keep the blinds open all the time except when I'm taking a shower. One time I forgot to open them, and Zara promptly knocked down my orchids. (Little snot.)

When I rearranged the office, I turned the table under the window into a writing desk, and put my orchids on it. It makes it easy for a cat to climb onto the windowsill.

Harlee loves it. When she first went on there, she started chewing on the blinds, so I hastily opened them. She's now camped out on the windowsill watching the world go by. This surprises me because she doesn't like to look out the sliding glass door onto the balcony (although she probably can't see much there). She would occasionally look out the window in Michigan if she saw a squirrel, but didn't seem very interested. Now I feel a little bad that she's discovering the window when we're about to leave. (And yes, she very carefully steps around the orchids, unlike Zara.)