This episode of Job Search Diary actually contains two separate stories.  The first one is about the training one receives if the Census Bureau (Dep't of Commerce) hires him as an "enumerator". I can't tell too much because I had to sign this paper saying I would not reveal information, etc. etc. But I will note that I observed a few things about some of my co-enumerators. There was the woman who didn't know and couldn't understand where Turk Street was even though the address of the building we were in is on Turk Street. The guy who was hoarding a various miscellanea... like when I saw him in the building cafeteria emptying the mustard packet container into his pockets. But the real pearl, the star, was this girl who looked like she could be on one of those confrontational talk shows and be able to pull it off. She was telling these stories about working at Stowe Lake in Golden Gate Park. Like the evolution of aquatic fauna: "There were these two eels and they didn't do anything together but they became this other thing..." and animal sacrifice: "I didn't want to do it but I lost this bet and I had to do it or this other thing..."

Those are some highlights, but like I said, I'm not supposed to talk about it.

The second story is about this middle aged speed queen who has put together one of those ubiquitous non-profit agencies funded by the city. I don't want to be too harsh because I suppose collectively and individually they do some good. However, sometimes they seem like the best argument against themselves. I found out about the position through a friend. She tells me to call and ask about the job. I do and he invites me to come in and check it out. He tells me about the place and what I would be doing. It seems very low key and laid back. He sets me up for an interview which goes quite well and he says he'll call back within a week to announce his decision. Through the grapevine I hear my chances are good. Several weeks pass and I hear nothing. The place itself is supposed to be a resource center for "consumers" (read outpatients) who are "dual diagnosis" (drug addicted with mental health problems). The only thing that ever seems to happen there is at 3PM, five days a week, where they play a bland movie on a large screen TV and about five to ten "consumers" watch it. So it seems clear that qualifications for the position are secondary. What counts is how I get along with Rod, the boss.

Finally, he does call me back and tells me there will be a SECOND interview. I hear through the grapevine that it would be in my interest if I too were a consumer. Since I had not heard from him for so long I had written the whole thing off anyhow, so I decide to go along with the consumer bit to see what happens. My guess was that he was either playing speed freak games or, more likely for a speed queen, simply couldn't make up his mind. During the interview I get a weird vibe from him and I can't specify it. I follow through with my spiel... "I support and actively promote the use of medicinal marijuana, drugs should be legalized, I've had psychological problems in the past, I used to do heroin, etc."

I try to lay it on thick but not too thick. By the end of the interview I'm getting a neither here nor there impression and my impatience grows. When he says he'll be doing call backs on the weekend I tell him I won't be home because I'm working a temp job. I don't care what he decides anymore and above all I don't want to leave him with the satisfaction of believing I'm going to be waiting by the phone. Secondly, I'm really wondering how I could stand working for this guy and if he does offer the job will it be easier to ignore a phone message than tell him directly. To my relief when I come home Monday I have a message from Rod that says they've chosen another candidate.