Non, non, Monsieur le Président, c'était un bon discours

Last night I reassured French President Nicolas Sarkozy that his closed doors private meeting with me and a lot of people I know was a good solid speech. He shook his head and said that a lot of people were sleeping. It's ok, I continued, a lot of people in my circle of friends don't understand French and that's why they didn't appear to be paying much attention. You're a good president, don't worry. He smiled, and then my dream turned all Law and Order on me.

Super Mac it is.

76% John McCain
70% Bill Richardson
69% Mike Huckabee
66% Mitt Romney
64% Hillary Clinton
64% Barack Obama
62% John Edwards
61% Fred Thompson
57% Rudy Giuliani
56% Tom Tancredo
56% Chris Dodd
54% Joe Biden
43% Ron Paul
41% Mike Gravel
38% Dennis Kucinich

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

Huh.

Having been offered (and accepted!) a position at ATK Launch Systems, I'm now officially a rocket scientist.

Specifically I'm an instrumentation design engineer, but I'll be telling everyone else the former. I can hear the jokes now...

At home...
Me: I can't figure this out, honey. Do I add the baking soda in the mix before or after I add the eggs?
Mrs. Sixline: Oh come on, it's not rocket science. Figure it out.

At the movies...
Me: So, was that Mr. Sanders with the bad gang or was he an undercover cop?
Brother in Law: He was an undercover cop! Come on, it's not rocket science!

and so forth ad infinitum and ad nauseum.

Oh well. Two good things:

1.) We get to stay where we are. I like our little valley. Very beautiful sunsets in the summertime. Very tranquil, yet enough shopping for Mrs. Sixline.

2.) The money came in right where we needed it. We'll be buying a home a few miles up the road and we are EXCITED.

Of course this means I should be working on my research and thesis rather than blogging.

Mon rêve Français

When I listen to France Info for French radio news, I typically have a dream where I'm in France or speaking French. The French news radio is really a great way to keep up on it, and to learn new words. As a missionary, certain words just rarely make it into your lexicon. This is a great way to pick up on French geography, too, as news stories identify the setting of the story. It's also awesome to listen to them comment on our political process. No wonder they all know so much about what we're doing! I heard about Obama overtaking Hilary in Iowa before I saw it on our news. (In defense of our news, I don't typically watch or listen.)

Since it's news talk radio, the program resembles NPR a bit. The best part is when they get two guys to argue over a hot topic. Yesterday it was about a big car tax in Paris. Evidently the Mayor of Paris is green, and is trying to get rid of parking lots and car lanes in favor of bike lanes and buses. One guy was all for it, the other guy all against it. They were going at it, and I heard that SNOOTY tone of voice creep in with the jabs that still smart when I argued with people. They can be so condescending when they argue. Ecoutez-moi bien, je vais vous expliquer. Listen to me, I'll make it clear for you. Despite being so upset about how they argue, it is infinitely reassuring to know that that's just the way they do it. The guy who was against the car tax was being loud, talking over the moderator and the other guy, not listening, repeating himself with more and more intensity, and absolutely littering his comments with those snide remarks that set himself up as the authority and anyone who disagrees slaps logic in the face. In other words, he was your average Frenchman. I met so many of them and it was hard not to take it personally. Hearing them do it to each other just makes me roll my eyes.

Ah, the French. I love them anyway. :)

It's been a long time.

The posts are getting fewer and farther(further?) between because I approach my date with doom; the thesis defense. It happens the 29th. I'm worried and concerned-- not with the process of getting up in front of everyone, but the having things to say part. I feel like the advisor committee knows more than I do about the project. I'm also worried about the last leg of research that is currently synthesizing while I write this. I'm also concerned...

Well that list goes on for awhile. I'm just worried I won't get the fantastic wonderfullest job of instrumentations engineer with ATK. I had the long awaited on-site interview with them last Thursday where they actually had me go around the cube farm seeing what everyone on the team did as part of the interview. I was very happy to see that; it's so hard to figure out what you'll be doing full time from an interview. They look like a great place to work. If the pay comes through where Mrs. Sixline and I can afford housing in our current market, then we'd like to stay put. There's a home that's being built just a few minutes up the road that's very spacious and open and in a great neighborhood. We want it...

But...

It depends on whether or not I finish and whether or not the offer comes in enough to cover the cost. If it comes in below, we get to explore other options. However, my heart is set on staying put and purchasing that home. We'll see.

I'm concerned...