At the one-week mark at my contract job, a few thoughts…

I managed to get the flu over the weekend. I don't think I've been that sick since I got an ear, eye and sinus infection two years ago. Feverish and freezing at the same time, I reached a point on Saturday night where I couldn't actually remember what it was like to feel good. Now, I have a runny nose, sore throat and might've torn a stomach muscle sneezing, and I feel great! Also, shout-out to the Editor for taking a Nyquil-addled elbow while we were sleeping on Saturday. Sorry, again.

More fun with my new co-workers. I had lunch with the soft-spoken fellow and, after some conversation, he told me that he'd been rejected by eHarmony.com. Me, being gullible, responded, "Oh, just like those commercials!"

"Commercials? What commercials?"

"Match.com has commercials advertising to people who've been rejected by eHarmony."

Once I returned to my desk, I reflected on our conversation. The reason he said he was rejected was that he'd rather stay in and watch TV than go out. Is it possible that any person who watches a lot of TV hasn't seen one of those Match.com commercials? No. No, it isn't possible.

So he either was trying to make a joke, I misunderstood, and once he realized how stupid I am he decided to keep going with it, or he was just flat-out lying to mess with me. Either way I think I like him more for it.

I started my contracting job today. After some debate I've decided to keep writing — I have a job now, but who knows for how long?

My first surprise of the day: I realized that I'd missed working in an office. Rolling out of bed and working in my pajamas was nice, but there's something to be said for cube farming. However, I did not miss driving to work. More than two hours of driving, in rain, sleet and snow, is not time well-spent.

I have two contracting co-workers, one on each side.

To my left, a soft-spoken fellow who appears to hate all products Apple. To my right, a leprechaun-sized chap who has decorated his cubicle with photos of his cat and husband. Both were very helpful throughout the day, and I'm anticipating a fruitful one- to two-month relationship with both of them.

Best of all, at the beginning of the day I was given an ID badge with one of those stretchy lines that I clipped to my belt loop so I could pull it out and swipe it (that's what she said!) whenever entering the building. I've never had one of those before, so that was cool.

Miracle of miracles, it finally happened!

I interviewed for a contract position on Monday, took a skills test on Tuesday, and received an offer for the position on Thursday. It was difficult not kissing my cellphone when the offer came through.

I start the job next Wednesday, after I get back from my out-of-state interview. I also had an interview yesterday — one for a permanent position that would eventually require a move. One thing my job search has made me realize is that, while my current living situation worked perfectly for my previous job, just about anything I find for my new job will either mean a ridiculous commute or finding a new place to live. I'm not particularly enthusiastic about this prospect, but having a job will make up for it.

With my applications starting to receive responses, and the interviews going well, I've encountered a new problem: how do I deal with prosperity?

I've got three interviews next week, and one I'm traveling for the following week. I'm fairly confident (and yes, I know I'm jinxing myself) that at least one of these interviews will result in an offer. So what do I do now?

The Editor says I should continue on as though there aren't any prospects — scour the job boards every day and continue applying. I understand the logic, because there aren't any guarantees with these interviews, but I know what I'd like to do. I'd like to get the two month contract I'm interviewing for on Monday, and then get the job I'd have to move for the following week (giving me some income while we find a place to live and get ready to move).

With that in mind, how do I deal with my other interviews, and how do I proceed with my job search outside of these interviews? Obviously I go to the interviews, but if I get an offer (a big assumption) how do I put them off until I've had my other interviews? For some reason I don't think they'd appreciate me saying "I need to wait until I've interviewed for a job I want more than this one," so how would I deal with this (admittedly unlikely) scenario?

Regarding the search outside of the interviews I already have scheduled, should I continue on as though nothing is different or put all of my energy into preparing for these interviews and then resume the search after?

I realize I'm getting a bit ahead of myself with these interviews, but the Editor is currently finding places for us to live if I get the job that would require a move, so can you really blame me?

I gotta say it was a good day.

Two face-to-face interviews today, and one by phone.

I started out by amazing myself with my ability to use my Magellan navigator. The lady in that box doesn't always give me directions when I need them, but she always gets me there in the end.

The first interview went well. Met with two people at a staffing agency. We reviewed my resume and discussed my qualifications. They indicated that they had a contract job for me and scheduled an interview with the client tomorrow (tentatively).

The second interview also went well. Met with a lady at another staffing agency. We reviewed my resume and discussed my qualifications. In the end we decided that the contract she was trying to fill wasn't for me, but I actually came out of this feeling better than I did after the first one. While I got along fine with the people at the first interview, at the second I had a better rapport with my interviewer. The Editor will claim that I'm a flirt, but my response is that I'm simply doing a good job of marketing myself. If one of my strengths is that I work well with others, shouldn't I show that off?

Finally, after finishing up the interviews and driving home, I called in for my final interview of the day.

This one went better than the other two combined.

Again, my interviewer and I had an instant rapport but this time I was a fit for the position — I described myself as a wagon-puller and she said that was exactly what they were looking for — so we scheduled a second interview where I'd meet her staff. This job would require that the Editor and I move, but we're too busy being happy about me having prospects to care (well, she's actually already looking at houses in the area in case I get the job, but I'm happy enough for the both of us).

Things are starting to look up.

I've been a bit depressed of late. For those reading the blog, the posts have been fewer and farther between. For the Editor and our small army of animals, I've been (putting it mildly) grouchy. I hadn't been getting many responses on my applications and, when I had heard back, the interviews didn't go well. This week has been a different story.

I had an interview on Monday that appears to be a solid lead. From the way it ended I should be called in for a face-to-face. Today I got a call on a contract job and will be interviewing with them in person tomorrow.

Even if they don't pan out these leads have me feeling a lot better.