As ever, I made a list of things I wanted to get accomplished during my time inbetween jobs. And, just like normal, I’ve done less than a third of that. In my defense, the amount of time I had off was shorter than I expected - I was planning on a week; I got two days. But still, there’s a sense of ‘I should be doing more!’ nagging at the back of my mind.

Having said that, aside from getting things organized for the housewarming party on Saturday (are you coming? You should! Email for details if you haven’t got them yet), I have finally, finally managed to make a set of gummies that I didn’t want to throw away in the dustbin five minutes after finishing them. They’re chewy and shiny, and with the help of the confectionery funnel that my sister bought me for Christmas a couple of years ago, they were pretty easy to deposit into their molds. What I need now is a 3D printer to make custom starch-imprint molds, and a room dedicated to storing cornstarch-filled frames. The former might end up being an easier accomplishment than the latter, I think.

(I have idly thought that the back of the garden has promise for a multi-level kitchen / library outhouse. When I say ‘outhouse’, though, I mean something like this, which is somewhat more grandiose than your usual outhouse. So if somebody would like to give me all the monies to start building that, I’ll get right on it, but for now, it’s strictly living in my head. The library has a great view of the warehouse chimneys of Durham, I assure you)

Anyway, today has been mostly spent on going to USCIS to get my biometrics taken. A twenty-minute visit that sucked up pretty much my whole day. A visit to the DMV was also on the agenda today, but Google Maps lied to me, and I won’t be able to make it to either of the ones that do exist before they shut. So the learner’s permit renewal is still some time off. While I’ve been living here for two years now and have survived without a car, it’s clear I am going to need to do something about that. Or get an ELF.

(Yes, in Durham, they’ve rediscovered the Sinclair C5. And they’re serious about it. Sir Clive would be proud. And then try and flog them the back stock of Hoover motors he probably has squirreled away in a warehouse in Essex)

Quiet evening ahead, and then a new day, a new job, tomorrow. But with familiar faces, which makes things easier.