i'm a pixel here, myself

Flist, I need your help.

I just got a call from the woman at the place I interviewed last Monday; they want to offer me the job. But I'd just finished and sent off that test to the other company on Friday, and they're the company I'd prefer to work for, of the two.

Upsides to taking the job just offered: security, not-bad salary, having this whole process OVER, working at cool company
Downsides: contract position (though contract-to-hire), benefits run through contractor (meaning less comprehensive), not working at the company I would prefer

Upsides to turning this job down: ability to wait for other company to call me back
Downsides: back with the uncertainty, financial disadvantage, etc.

The real gist of all this is that I'd really prefer the company that I sent the test back to, but the chances of getting through their HR process in time to give the first company an answer is slim. I've sent them an email saying basically "are you bringing me in for an interview or not?" (though less rudely) and I'm hoping their answer is "yes, tomorrow!" and not "yes, three weeks from now!" or "no!" so I can stall the first job effectively ("I'm sorry, but I have an interview and I'll have to get back to you later") and hopefully wrangle a job out of the company I prefer. But would it be stupid to take the contract job? Argh. Leveraging people against one another is hard work.

ETA: Aaaaaaaaaaaaand, my choice is made for me. The second company said I "didn't pass the test", which is stupid because I totally did, but it means they're not bringing me in for an interview, so that's that. Now to go work out, get some endorphins flowing, and start getting happy about the job I *did* get.

Meme, from cathybites:

One question.
One answer.
That's all you get.

You get to ask me one question in comments.
Any one question, no matter how crazy it is (unless it's "what's your name and address?").
Any topic, anything you want to know.

Conditions: All questions and answers are screened.