I've been thinking about what happens after the 31st October. In the best case scenario, I would have a job lined up and not need to worry about anything, but considering the unpredictable nature of the future, it's good to plan ahead.
After the 31st October I have 30 days in which to pack up and leave the US, and since I wish to remain on the good side of the immigration authorities I will be complying with this. I might fly to Vancouver and spend some time with Illara if she is still there. The last week in November is Thanksgiving in the US so I am sure all the flights will be very crowded. If I go to Canada, I can spend some time enjoying the cold winter weather, hang out and then reenter the US with a tourist visa. I could drive down to LA and spend time with Allison before we both travel up to Portland and spend Xmas and New Year with her parents there. If there is still no sign of a job by mid-January I might have to think about flying back to Australia before my money runs out.
Because November is the last month of my lease I get two benefits. First my rent is already paid up for that month, and second I should get my bond back once the place has passed inspection. I suppose on a third note I will be able to use the reference when applying (hopefully) for another place.
The last few days have been relatively unexciting for me. Mostly I've just been going to work and then coming home. Allison had a bad phone call with her parents on Sunday night and I was doing my best to help her. Last night was gaming, and since I got home from work all sweaty I took a shower and quickly shaved my legs. Figuring that I would take advantage of my hair-free status and hoping to catch a few compliments I wore my little blue slip-dress. Because Anthony had been away we had not gamed the previous week and so I hadn't seen some of the guys since the end of June. Still, we had a pretty good time all round and I enjoyed the new found freedom of being able to show my cleavage without fear. :)
On Sunday afternoon I was feeling a bit out of sorts, and so to cheer myself up I went to the local bookstore and bought myself a big Atlas of the USA. I have a continuing passion for maps, and this was no exception. Apart from investigating all the places and towns that I'd heard of through friends I traced routes of where I'd like to drive and visit. At the moment I'm hoping that a few days before Xmas Allison and I can take a slow drive up the Californian coast through San Francisco to Portland Oregon.
What amazes me about the US is that people live pretty much everywhere on the continent. In Australia, the population is clustered on the coast and is 1/12th the size because most of the country is arid desert. I am certain that this leads to Australians having a much different "state of mind" to Americans. In the US everyone can have their own space, whereas in Australia you can't help but have to stick together because of droughts, bushfires and floods (usually in that order). Hence the strong ideal of "mateship" which is contrasted with American "individualism".
This week has been fairly quiet, today I ran the usual experiments and little else. On a good note, Brookhaven Labs advertised another position which I think I would be great for. I gave my resume a working over and sent it out. I wouldn't mind living out on Long Island New York, I guess I just have to keep my fingers crossed. Tomorrow will be the usual working day, but late in the afternoon I have agreed to pick up a friend of mine. She's having some liposuction done with the same surgeon I went to. I've agreed to stay with her for the first day or so to make sure she recovers ok and can get back for the follow up visits. On my own surgery-related front I'm doing pretty well. They look quite good, and I am doing my own massaging on a regular basis to prevent any hardening.