Oh, well, I now see that I'm hopelessly behind in updating this journal! <g>

First of all, I'm no longer actually working in my new job, but rather attending a seminar that's supposed to prepare me for said job. It's in the same building, so I'm not really complaining. Evidently, the head of the office himself made the rather abrupt decision that I should participate in the seminar which meant that I only learned about it three hours after it had already started. I still hope that indicates that he considers me for the job in W.

Only disadvantage: Since the seminar consists of two courses (each runs for four weeks), my probation period will be prolonged accordingly. Which is so not fun -- my lease on the furnished room here runs out in the middle of May! And since my landlord (damn the man!) still isn't back from vacation (I now really wonder where he went?!), I don't know whether I'll be turned out onto the streets then or not. Or whether I needn't worry since by then, I'll be long looking for an apartment in W. Great. Uncertainty sucks.

In the seminar, we're eighteen male attendees and two female ones (me included). Looks like customs investigation is still a men's domain. <eg>

And I'm already kind of notorious there, wheeee! See, I have this problem that my eyes just kind of... slip shut... whenever I'm bored. And monologues by the teacher aren't exactly thrilling. Whenever the windows are open (cold seems to help!) or we can do some work/research/whatever on our own, I'm fine. But the rest of the time... I'm embarrassed, but I remember that problem from four years ago. And no, enough sleep doesn't help. <sigh>

And I got 'volunteered' to play a customs investigator who's questioned at court today. Afterwards, everyone complained that the German legal system aided and abetted the accused and offered next to no protection for witnesses. After all, a defendant has the right to face the witnesses against him in the courtroom. Which might make Joe Public and his elderly mother think twice about the whole thing -- for who wants to face organized crime and fear for his/her life, should the attorney not be able to keep their names out of the files? Sure, it's tough to do that, but it's still possible. And after watching 'Oz', I can see both sides; a witness has to be up for cross-examination in court, or false testimonies would soon become the norm.

Whoa. Heavy stuff.

On the plus side, my burner seems to work just fine! By now, it's the third one. Yeah. The THIRD. I can fit in the thing into the computer casing in my sleep now, with my eyes closed, thank you very much.

AND -- my brother and his fiancée are going to get married in two week's time! The preparations at home are already running at full steam. I designed the wedding guestbook on Friday. Not being there at the moment, though, makes it all seem so unreal. They're getting married. <gulp> Strange thing, that. Marriage. But as far as I know, they want to wait a bit with having kids. thank God. That would be even stranger. Hey, my brother's a year younger than me! Should I feel threatened?! <g>

Hmmpf. I guess I should think about that a bit more.