In case there was any doubt as to how much of an English nerd I am...

I just got back from applying for this job at a greenhouse. As I had already learned from the internet ad that prompted me to go in, it was through a personnel service, and I have to say, I was quite intrigued by the whole process. I went in dressed in khakis and a nice short-sleeved dress shirt, which I had taken the time to iron, and I made sure to write down on a cheat sheet of sorts all of the phone and address information of my employment history, as well as references. I needn't have bothered on pretty much all accounts. The only information I didn't have memorized, since they didn't actually as for addresses, was the phone number for the TRU in Kalamazoo. I didn't even need references. And judging by the assortment of people also there, I could have gone in wearing jeans and a t-shirt or something. But I didn't know, and I'm not necessarily sad at the whole thing. I at least get the honor of walking around looking nice the rest of the day (though, obviously, I could change if I really wanted to).
One of the fun parts of this whole experience was this little test they had us take. One of the questions, question 11, was titled "Pronouns." With that title in mind I began to wonder at the choices for answers, given that the one that fit was "the," which is a definite article. The next choice was "it's" which is of course a contraction for "it is" and not the possessive pronoun "its." I began to wonder in my head if they had a typo and were really trying to have "its" be the answer, especially because it would have fit in the sentence in question. But after a bit of pondering whether or not I should bring it to the attention of the employees, I realized that if a choice had been "its" it would have conflicted with "the" and have made it much more difficult to answer the question, especially for an English nerd like me. I figured what they were really trying to test was to make sure that people realized that "it's" and "its" are not the same thing, and that "it's" would not work in the sentence, thereby making "the" the correct choice no matter what. The thought process has me a bit tickled. I am such a huge English nerd, because grammar debates, even ones in my own head, fill me with such happiness and energy that I want to burst and dance in the streets.
I had a little interview after filling out the application and the test. I would say that it went pretty well, and that there is promise getting into the greenhouse. Of course, a lot of people have applied, so there might be problems on that front. There are orientations to get people to see if they would like to do the work, and there is one on Thursday, but it is hard to tell if I will be able to fit into it (though I will know today if I have a shot). If not this week, I will be notified on Monday or so when the next orientation will be held. Not that I'm holding my breath, but I would really love it if I could get the orientation this week, since it would mean I could see if I wanted this job and that I could take it if it does work out, and then I would be able to presumably start really soon instead of having to go back to TRU, which is my prospect if this job, or any of the others I have applied to online, doesn't bite. Although there is always hope if Jon's cousin can get me in at K-10. Not that I should hold my breath for that one, either.
I don't know if it was the application, the interview, or something else, but on my drive home, my eyes were more open and I saw architectural nuances I had never noticed before, and that added a nice touch to the day. Of course now, after getting back home and settling back into my chair, I am feeling the effects of not sleeping well, or maybe of needing lunch, so I not nearly as energetic. Alas.