HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!
Friday, December 31, 2004
Statistics
Items added in December = 852
November = 552
October = 699
September=986
August = 589
July = 501
June = 571
May = 635
April = 845
which means the actual total for those months is 6,230.
Extrapolate that and I cataloged something like 8,300 items this year, or almost 700 per month.
Figuring I actually am head-down and focused on moving the new stuff through the pipeline for about 1,000 hours a year--I work 30ish hours a week, but I don't spend all day every day cataloging, not by any means!--that averages about 8.3 items per hour. Which may or may not be a good number. I'm not sure.
November = 552
October = 699
September=986
August = 589
July = 501
June = 571
May = 635
April = 845
which means the actual total for those months is 6,230.
Extrapolate that and I cataloged something like 8,300 items this year, or almost 700 per month.
Figuring I actually am head-down and focused on moving the new stuff through the pipeline for about 1,000 hours a year--I work 30ish hours a week, but I don't spend all day every day cataloging, not by any means!--that averages about 8.3 items per hour. Which may or may not be a good number. I'm not sure.
2004 in review: the books
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Books. Yup. Books.
Weather: 55 degrees (feels like 55); WINDY and potentially rainy
Mood: OK
Hair: Clean! Conditioned. Blown out.
Listening to: nothing in here; the boys (including one extra doing the overnight thing with Sparky) have Star Wars Episode IV or whatever on in the living room so I'm occasionally bombarded with spaceships and space weaponry in surround sound
While that all is going on, I'm also baking cookies and doing dishes. And blogging. Multitasking is us.
I'm thieving again, this time from Amanda and Jessamyn. This is a substantially less intense way of looking back over the year, but it suits my record-keeping nuttiness. On my book blog, I'm doing more of a "best of" listing. And I've modified this a bit in the interest of time: mine, as in I'm outta...
number of books read in 2004: 102
number of books read in 2003: 100
number of books read in 2002: 118
number of books read in 2001: 83
number of books read in 2000: 128
average read per month: 8.5 (over five years: 8.85)
average read per week: 1.96 (over five years: 2.04)
number read in worst month: 0 (July)
number read in best month: 12 (June)
number by male authors: 66
number by female authors: 36
number of fiction: 61
number of non-fiction: 41
What I find remarkable is how consistent this is. The blips are explainable--
It's very disappointing, however, to see that I read so many more male authors. Must try to do better on this. The first half of the year I was doing fabulous; I actually read more by women than by men (24 men, 32 women) through June. Weird. I don't actually pay a lot of attention to gender of author usually. It's actually the book I'm more interested in than the writer... ahem.
So.
I need to finish the dishes. Han and Leia are fighting with each other, there are multiple booms coming from the living room, and the kids are giggling. They are sated on video games, DVDs and pizza. J had three pieces of za, Sparky only one. There are cookies galore. I'm tired. Don't think I'll be going to sleep if they decide to watch the next episode (The Beast got the trilogy for Xmas), since my bedroom is right over the Home Theater. The upside is that I don't have to work tomorrow. Woohoo. The downside is that I've lost continuity.
Good night.
Mood: OK
Hair: Clean! Conditioned. Blown out.
Listening to: nothing in here; the boys (including one extra doing the overnight thing with Sparky) have Star Wars Episode IV or whatever on in the living room so I'm occasionally bombarded with spaceships and space weaponry in surround sound
While that all is going on, I'm also baking cookies and doing dishes. And blogging. Multitasking is us.
I'm thieving again, this time from Amanda and Jessamyn. This is a substantially less intense way of looking back over the year, but it suits my record-keeping nuttiness. On my book blog, I'm doing more of a "best of" listing. And I've modified this a bit in the interest of time: mine, as in I'm outta...
number of books read in 2004: 102
number of books read in 2003: 100
number of books read in 2002: 118
number of books read in 2001: 83
number of books read in 2000: 128
average read per month: 8.5 (over five years: 8.85)
average read per week: 1.96 (over five years: 2.04)
number read in worst month: 0 (July)
number read in best month: 12 (June)
number by male authors: 66
number by female authors: 36
number of fiction: 61
number of non-fiction: 41
What I find remarkable is how consistent this is. The blips are explainable--
In December of 2002 I took on more hours at work, which brought the consequent drop in number of hours available for reading in the most recent two years.(And yes, I have this back further, all the way to 1993. Because I'm clearly insane.)
In 2001, we took a major two-week trip to Europe, which involved a great deal of planning ahead of time. It also brought the need to get all the scrapbooks sorted out after returning, and I was much more dutiful about that it then compared to the past 16 months or so. I also brought home a large number of brochures to read which I don't normally write down as books.
In 2000, I think I was reading a lot more YA novels because I was either actively running that department or gearing up for it. YA books take lots less time, obviously. And I had a reading vacation that year--spent hours on the porch or on the rocks at the edge of Moosehead Lake reading and reading.
It's very disappointing, however, to see that I read so many more male authors. Must try to do better on this. The first half of the year I was doing fabulous; I actually read more by women than by men (24 men, 32 women) through June. Weird. I don't actually pay a lot of attention to gender of author usually. It's actually the book I'm more interested in than the writer... ahem.
So.
I need to finish the dishes. Han and Leia are fighting with each other, there are multiple booms coming from the living room, and the kids are giggling. They are sated on video games, DVDs and pizza. J had three pieces of za, Sparky only one. There are cookies galore. I'm tired. Don't think I'll be going to sleep if they decide to watch the next episode (The Beast got the trilogy for Xmas), since my bedroom is right over the Home Theater. The upside is that I don't have to work tomorrow. Woohoo. The downside is that I've lost continuity.
Good night.
Books books books
Weather: 41 degrees (feels like 35); still foggy
Mood: Tired, and hungry; can't seem to get enough to eat... grrr...
Hair: braid, falling out
Listening to: [My] Mix
My book pile, post-lunch, is:
Mood: Tired, and hungry; can't seem to get enough to eat... grrr...
Hair: braid, falling out
Listening to: [My] Mix
[Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris"]
My book pile, post-lunch, is:
- Beautiful botanicals
- 21st century military helicopters (color photos and spec boxes)
- Arms and equipment of the Civil War (line drawings and lots of text)
- Electronic gadgets for the evil genius (containing instructions on building, among other things, antigravity devices, a low-power electrokinetic gun, a mass accelerator and a pain field property-protection guard--I'm afraid of this book)
- Breaking bad habits in dogs
- A splendid madness
[Andrew Strong "Try a Little Tenderness"]
Christmas wrap
Weather: 36 degrees (feels like 36); foggy
Mood: OK, kind of headachy
Hair: braid (too lazy to do anything)
Listening to: the blowers
I'm supposed to be working (duh!), but instead I'm starting a list of gifts. Or at least categorizing some of them. This is not at all to be meant as insulting to the giver, by the way. Everyone has some stuff that's puzzling when it's first opened.
Mood: OK, kind of headachy
Hair: braid (too lazy to do anything)
Listening to: the blowers
I'm supposed to be working (duh!), but instead I'm starting a list of gifts. Or at least categorizing some of them. This is not at all to be meant as insulting to the giver, by the way. Everyone has some stuff that's puzzling when it's first opened.
Weirdest ('What Were They Thinking?' Dept.): Barbara Bush bio -- although I do have a great deal of respect for her...I'll probably read itI should have posted this in my memes blog. Anyway: you're turn. What strange / cool / goofy / perfect gifts arrived this year for you?
Weirdest ('But I'll Use It' Dept.): Honey soaps
Most Grownup: Absolutely lovely Mikasa crystal vase (vaaazzz)
Funniest: [tie] Anne Robinson bio / Men Exposed book
Coolest: A rhinestone-studded Paris T-shirt
Most Useful: [tie] A really lovely magnetic bookmark / Cash, and lots of it
Most Useless (In a Good Way): Christmas Potpourri
What I Asked For ... PLUS: U2's new CD, packaged with a DVD of videos and a book of notes/lyrics (I think)
Most Traditional: Sourpatch Kids candy. Every year, in my stocking.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Afternoon
Weather: 32 degrees (feels like 32); clear, sunny sky
Mood: Tired
Hair: Big barrette
Listening to: the crunch of Frosted Flakes (a.k.a. lunch) ; probably will turn on Rattle and Hum (U2) after lunch.
I'm caught up with all the new stuff. I spent the morning weeding, and now I have only goofy stuff to do this afternoon: messed-up records, items that need original cataloging (or do they?), a small stack of gift books. Never fear, more skinny books are on the horizon, if the person who has to source and security strip them can get away from circ. I'm in no rush!
This is technically my lunch hour. So I'm browsing. I know I'm a couple of days late linking to this Christmas story, but I keep finding it from different sources, so I'm going to do it anyway. Perhaps, if Sparky ever gets cranky about what he did or didn't get for birthday/Christmas, I'll remember to pull it out and remind him of the possibilities. Better yet, I'll just skip the middle man and go right to donation-land. {thanks lalcorn}
I have to get myself reregistered to be a voter registrar this afternoon. This will be my third try this month at doing this. County court clerks everywhere would be mortified at the runaround I've gotten trying to do them a service. My mother was one of clerk, so I know the pain from the inside, but really, three times and no "thank you" or "sorry" or anything.
First, they send a letter reminding me that my term expires at the end of the year, so I call. They can't find me; I need a letter from my boss.
Then, since it's the end of the month and the letter has been sent, I go over yesterday to do the paperwork. They can't find me; I didn't call AFTER the letter was received to tell them to type up my stuff.
Today should be the Big Day. What a bunch of dorks.
Mood: Tired
Hair: Big barrette
Listening to: the crunch of Frosted Flakes (a.k.a. lunch) ; probably will turn on Rattle and Hum (U2) after lunch.
I'm caught up with all the new stuff. I spent the morning weeding, and now I have only goofy stuff to do this afternoon: messed-up records, items that need original cataloging (or do they?), a small stack of gift books. Never fear, more skinny books are on the horizon, if the person who has to source and security strip them can get away from circ. I'm in no rush!
This is technically my lunch hour. So I'm browsing. I know I'm a couple of days late linking to this Christmas story, but I keep finding it from different sources, so I'm going to do it anyway. Perhaps, if Sparky ever gets cranky about what he did or didn't get for birthday/Christmas, I'll remember to pull it out and remind him of the possibilities. Better yet, I'll just skip the middle man and go right to donation-land. {thanks lalcorn}
I have to get myself reregistered to be a voter registrar this afternoon. This will be my third try this month at doing this. County court clerks everywhere would be mortified at the runaround I've gotten trying to do them a service. My mother was one of clerk, so I know the pain from the inside, but really, three times and no "thank you" or "sorry" or anything.
First, they send a letter reminding me that my term expires at the end of the year, so I call. They can't find me; I need a letter from my boss.
Then, since it's the end of the month and the letter has been sent, I go over yesterday to do the paperwork. They can't find me; I didn't call AFTER the letter was received to tell them to type up my stuff.
Today should be the Big Day. What a bunch of dorks.
Wednesday
Weather: 27 degrees (feels like 27); dark morning, no stars; one patch of ground fog on the way into town
Listening to: the blowers at work, the janitor emptying the recycling bins
As I left our subdivision this morning, I could see the tower light on the airport near us turning and turning, like a lighthouse. It was eerie and comforting. It just keeps going, calmly and with no concern for any events beyond a burnt-out bulb or power outage.
Last night on CNN someone said that water is supposed to be friendly and cleansing and good, whereas this week in the Indian Ocean it was pure destruction.
Water is not friendly, in my experience. I like baths, am uncomfortable in pools, boats scare me, a lot. Water is not my friend, in spite of Bible Study members talking about "living water" and how that really connects for them. It doesn't connect for me in any way. Not this week, especially. Not really ever.
I'm tired. Long day ahead. It's 6:30 a.m. and I want to get so much done today. I probably won't get halfway there...because I set too many tasks for myself. It's discouraging. Tcha.
So, prosit (with Dr. Pepper). Wish me luck.
Listening to: the blowers at work, the janitor emptying the recycling bins
As I left our subdivision this morning, I could see the tower light on the airport near us turning and turning, like a lighthouse. It was eerie and comforting. It just keeps going, calmly and with no concern for any events beyond a burnt-out bulb or power outage.
Last night on CNN someone said that water is supposed to be friendly and cleansing and good, whereas this week in the Indian Ocean it was pure destruction.
Water is not friendly, in my experience. I like baths, am uncomfortable in pools, boats scare me, a lot. Water is not my friend, in spite of Bible Study members talking about "living water" and how that really connects for them. It doesn't connect for me in any way. Not this week, especially. Not really ever.
I'm tired. Long day ahead. It's 6:30 a.m. and I want to get so much done today. I probably won't get halfway there...because I set too many tasks for myself. It's discouraging. Tcha.
So, prosit (with Dr. Pepper). Wish me luck.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Post Xmas
Weather: 39 degrees (feels like 32); clear sky
Mood: OK
Hair: Blownout
Listening to: Everlast, Eat at Whitey's
Today is a weird day. Just...weird. I'm finally, at 2:30, getting some cataloging done, after spending lots of time Reference-ing and Circ-ing this morning.
Sparky spent the morning with me until Beast could pick him up after his 1/2 day. I got him to do a bunch of my preliminary wedding that's been waiting around for awhile. That helps, or it will down the road. Caught up on some blogs.
Don't ask me what Sparky's blog means. I'm clueless. Which is probably good, right? I hope he isn't actually bilking his classmates with home-drawn comics. Not going to stress about it though.
I'm cold, and I took my sweater home last week to wash. So I'll just sit here with blue fingers, typing till 5:00. drag...
It's good to see everyone slowly headed back to blogs, though. Last week was ... sparse. ;-)
[Deadly Assassins]
Mood: OK
Hair: Blownout
Listening to: Everlast, Eat at Whitey's
[Black Coffee]
Today is a weird day. Just...weird. I'm finally, at 2:30, getting some cataloging done, after spending lots of time Reference-ing and Circ-ing this morning.
[Babylon Feeling]
Sparky spent the morning with me until Beast could pick him up after his 1/2 day. I got him to do a bunch of my preliminary wedding that's been waiting around for awhile. That helps, or it will down the road. Caught up on some blogs.
Don't ask me what Sparky's blog means. I'm clueless. Which is probably good, right? I hope he isn't actually bilking his classmates with home-drawn comics. Not going to stress about it though.
I'm cold, and I took my sweater home last week to wash. So I'll just sit here with blue fingers, typing till 5:00. drag...
It's good to see everyone slowly headed back to blogs, though. Last week was ... sparse. ;-)
[Deadly Assassins]
Friday, December 24, 2004
HTML confusion
OK. So I posted that picture yesterday. Looked fine when I viewed the blog at work.
Now, at home, it's balled up the sidebar so the whole thing is now a "bottom-bar" (footnote?). WTF?
Whatever. I'll deal with it after the weekend at this point.
...and I was so proud of myself too....
Now, at home, it's balled up the sidebar so the whole thing is now a "bottom-bar" (footnote?). WTF?
Whatever. I'll deal with it after the weekend at this point.
...and I was so proud of myself too....
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Ribbons
Mood: OK, plowing through books like nobody's business!
Hair: Same. Only maybe moreso.
Listening to: Jamiroquai "Synkronized" [Butterfly]
The fake ribbons sprouting everywhere on people's cars alternately annoy me and make me roll my eyes. They remind me of the "Baby on Board" trend of the late 80s. It's cool and interesting when one person does it; when every car has one, the overall effect is quite diminished. And like Lady Crumpet, I question those I see on SUVs: "Support Our Troops While I Drive a Gas Guzzler, Which, By the Way, is the REAL Reason We Went to War in Iraq." Mostly, I just don't like being a sheep.
[Yeah, I know, so why do I have a blog?]
But the Lady found a website where you can design your own ribbon. Not only that, you can elect to have it made for indoor OR outdoor use. There are some other fun things on the site, too.
Note to self: this CD is pretty good white-Brit funk/disco/soul/jazz. Probably wouldn't be a bad one to actually buy...
Hair: Same. Only maybe moreso.
Listening to: Jamiroquai "Synkronized" [Butterfly]
The fake ribbons sprouting everywhere on people's cars alternately annoy me and make me roll my eyes. They remind me of the "Baby on Board" trend of the late 80s. It's cool and interesting when one person does it; when every car has one, the overall effect is quite diminished. And like Lady Crumpet, I question those I see on SUVs: "Support Our Troops While I Drive a Gas Guzzler, Which, By the Way, is the REAL Reason We Went to War in Iraq." Mostly, I just don't like being a sheep.
[Yeah, I know, so why do I have a blog?]
But the Lady found a website where you can design your own ribbon. Not only that, you can elect to have it made for indoor OR outdoor use. There are some other fun things on the site, too.
[Where Do We Go From Here]
Note to self: this CD is pretty good white-Brit funk/disco/soul/jazz. Probably wouldn't be a bad one to actually buy...
Lunchtime fun
Mood: Good
Hair: Clean. Uhm, probably that's the best thing I can say about it.
Listening to: The Clash, "London Calling" [Koka Kola]
This is possibly the most post-modern Christmas card ever. All about those 'guys in the traffic lights.' Enjoy. (Warning: this takes a bit of time to get all the way through. It's worth it--stay with it.)
via The Cataloguer
In Other News: Hey, y'all, I figured out posting photos! This is a stock one at the top of the sidebar right now. Eventualy, I'll upload one of my Ouray photos, which (I humbly say) are better than this.
Hair: Clean. Uhm, probably that's the best thing I can say about it.
Listening to: The Clash, "London Calling" [Koka Kola]
This is possibly the most post-modern Christmas card ever. All about those 'guys in the traffic lights.' Enjoy. (Warning: this takes a bit of time to get all the way through. It's worth it--stay with it.)
via The Cataloguer
[The Card Cheat]
In Other News: Hey, y'all, I figured out posting photos! This is a stock one at the top of the sidebar right now. Eventualy, I'll upload one of my Ouray photos, which (I humbly say) are better than this.
Reactive Attachment Disorder
1. This isn't about Sparky.
2. This is a placeholder for information sources I've located. Totally a journal/citation list. Pay no attention if it doesn't concern or motivate you.
3. Hey, JT--what do I know? My apologies for preaching last month.
2. This is a placeholder for information sources I've located. Totally a journal/citation list. Pay no attention if it doesn't concern or motivate you.
3. Hey, JT--what do I know? My apologies for preaching last month.
- National Youth Network contains information on boarding schools and residential treatment centers
- Amherst H. Wilder Foundation basic info
- Older Child Adoption: Attachment and Bonding Issues good tips for channeling behavior
- Older Child Adoption: Attachment and Bonding Issues, Personal Story Hannah; also tips for helping the family
- RAD Consultancy Team sponsored link at Amazon
- Dr. Buenning sponsored link at Amazon
- When Love is Not Enough
- Handbook for Treatment of Attachment - Trauma Problems in Children
- Attachment, Trauma, and Healing: Understanding and Treating Attachment Disorder in Children and Families
- Treating Attachment Disorders
- More Than Love
- Healing Trust
- The Back-To-Front Boy: A True Story of Adopting a Boy with Attachment Disorder
- How can schools help students that are diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder?
...to be appended
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Update
Mood: Mmmm, still here
Hair: Yep, still here
Listening to: Warren Zevon “Mr Bad Example” CD [Finishing Touches]
I haven’t done an update on Mom lately.
My oldest sister put a deposit on the assisted-living apartment last week, with the plan of moving Mom in on Monday, or whenever she was discharged from the hospital. Apparently, one of the factors in that decision was the lack of availability of nursing home beds in the area. Marie found out that their church keeps a hospital bed for rent (?) for members who need to use it temporarily. So Mom would have a better bed, one that will help her get up, and one that will fit better than a queen-size mattress in her very small room.
[Suzie Lightning]
On their way to pick up my oldest niece, Elizabeth, at the airport Monday, Marie and Jan got a call from the doctor saying that he was going to discharge Mom. Oh, and that there was a bed available at the nursing home. String-pulling? Anyway, Marie made a snap decision: Mom’s at the nursing home, where Medicare will pay the full ride, and where Mom can get physical therapy.
We are living in hope that said therapy will include convincing her that she actually CAN get herself out of chairs and beds; she doesn’t really need someone to help her. Mom has reached the point where she really wants people to do stuff for her all the time. Whine-whine, martyrdom, etc. I don’t think she’ll get away with that at the nursing home, and definitely not in assisted living.
[Model Citizen]
So Mom’s been in the nursing home since Monday afternoon. I haven’t talked to her, because I’m a bad daughter. And because I haven’t been home in the evenings this week. I have to call her this afternoon when I get home.
I keep hearing her words from my childhood, when both of my grandmas were in the same home: "Don’t ever put me in a nursing home." Great. Thanks for that heaping helping of guilt, Mom.
[Angel Dressed in Black]
Marie is getting slightly wacky-crackers about the situation, so I’ve put Elizabeth on guard that I’m going to ask her to tell me if she (Elizabeth) thinks I really should come and help out soon. Marie will say she’s fine, so I need a slightly impartial observer. I may be flying next week. Yecchhhh.
So that about sums up what’s going on.
Meanwhile, Jean (my other sister) is in denial about how serious this is. She’s making me almost as crazy as Mom is.
Tolstoy’s aphorism about families is entirely appropriate here.
****Time to put away the frosted flakes, i.e. lunch. I need to get to work.*****
Hair: Yep, still here
Listening to: Warren Zevon “Mr Bad Example” CD [Finishing Touches]
I haven’t done an update on Mom lately.
My oldest sister put a deposit on the assisted-living apartment last week, with the plan of moving Mom in on Monday, or whenever she was discharged from the hospital. Apparently, one of the factors in that decision was the lack of availability of nursing home beds in the area. Marie found out that their church keeps a hospital bed for rent (?) for members who need to use it temporarily. So Mom would have a better bed, one that will help her get up, and one that will fit better than a queen-size mattress in her very small room.
[Suzie Lightning]
On their way to pick up my oldest niece, Elizabeth, at the airport Monday, Marie and Jan got a call from the doctor saying that he was going to discharge Mom. Oh, and that there was a bed available at the nursing home. String-pulling? Anyway, Marie made a snap decision: Mom’s at the nursing home, where Medicare will pay the full ride, and where Mom can get physical therapy.
We are living in hope that said therapy will include convincing her that she actually CAN get herself out of chairs and beds; she doesn’t really need someone to help her. Mom has reached the point where she really wants people to do stuff for her all the time. Whine-whine, martyrdom, etc. I don’t think she’ll get away with that at the nursing home, and definitely not in assisted living.
[Model Citizen]
So Mom’s been in the nursing home since Monday afternoon. I haven’t talked to her, because I’m a bad daughter. And because I haven’t been home in the evenings this week. I have to call her this afternoon when I get home.
I keep hearing her words from my childhood, when both of my grandmas were in the same home: "Don’t ever put me in a nursing home." Great. Thanks for that heaping helping of guilt, Mom.
[Angel Dressed in Black]
Marie is getting slightly wacky-crackers about the situation, so I’ve put Elizabeth on guard that I’m going to ask her to tell me if she (Elizabeth) thinks I really should come and help out soon. Marie will say she’s fine, so I need a slightly impartial observer. I may be flying next week. Yecchhhh.
So that about sums up what’s going on.
Meanwhile, Jean (my other sister) is in denial about how serious this is. She’s making me almost as crazy as Mom is.
Tolstoy’s aphorism about families is entirely appropriate here.
****Time to put away the frosted flakes, i.e. lunch. I need to get to work.*****
Work. Where else?
Mood: OK
Hair: Curled. It's too cold to pull it up in a braid!
Listening to: Shakira's CD "Dónde Están los Ladrones?" [and that song, actually, too right now]
OK, so Shakira's not exactly a quiet singer, right? And I've got noise-suppressing headphones on, right? So how come I can hear people talking and laughing across the room?
Oh. Could it be that they are freaking LOUD??
Yeah, that would be it. Unreal
...sigh
Hair: Curled. It's too cold to pull it up in a braid!
Listening to: Shakira's CD "Dónde Están los Ladrones?" [and that song, actually, too right now]
OK, so Shakira's not exactly a quiet singer, right? And I've got noise-suppressing headphones on, right? So how come I can hear people talking and laughing across the room?
Oh. Could it be that they are freaking LOUD??
Yeah, that would be it. Unreal
...sigh
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Hmmm....
Isn't V.C. Andrews dead?
Then how can she be writing a "new" series?? Check the cover sticker... Oh, I get it, she's been trademarked (in very small print next to her name).
Sigh.
I'm going to heat up my potato soup. I need some comfort food at this point.
[hint: V.C. is not my favorite author. Read that with dripping irony, please.]
Then how can she be writing a "new" series?? Check the cover sticker... Oh, I get it, she's been trademarked (in very small print next to her name).
Sigh.
I'm going to heat up my potato soup. I need some comfort food at this point.
[hint: V.C. is not my favorite author. Read that with dripping irony, please.]
Fascinating
Mood: OK, but I really want to go home.
Hair: Blown out.
Listening to: Midnight Oil "Scream in Blue Live" CD [currently on track 12: Powderworks]
I'm on Amazon! Uncle Jazz mentioned that he is too!
Are you?
[Weird question: who is this and why me? If it's you, 'fess up; I'd love to know why you're reading me and them! Mostly because I can't read Persian...]
Hair: Blown out.
Listening to: Midnight Oil "Scream in Blue Live" CD [currently on track 12: Powderworks]
I'm on Amazon! Uncle Jazz mentioned that he is too!
Are you?
[Weird question: who is this and why me? If it's you, 'fess up; I'd love to know why you're reading me and them! Mostly because I can't read Persian...]
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Sunday
Mood: Good
Hair: Probably better not to ask; be glad you aren't here!
Just found this salary clock via Librarian in Black.
In the time it takes me to earn a dollar, Oprah has earned $2015. Sigh... I bet she's got someone to wrap her presents for her, too.
Which is what I should be doing right now. Or at least watching the Packer game.
So, bye.
Hair: Probably better not to ask; be glad you aren't here!
Just found this salary clock via Librarian in Black.
In the time it takes me to earn a dollar, Oprah has earned $2015. Sigh... I bet she's got someone to wrap her presents for her, too.
Which is what I should be doing right now. Or at least watching the Packer game.
So, bye.
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Time again for Weird Blog Searches (with stoppers)
Yes, indeedy, you people out there are some strange folks....
- I can’t promise to love you for the rest of your life but I’ll love you till the end of mine ~ AND ~
- many breathalyzers in cars as of today ~ AND ~
- lyrics / quotes with the word good night or sweet dreams ~ AND ~
- jody powerchurch (People, people: you really need to use quotes on something like this!)
- "caves of illinois" (I’m listed first!?-- which proves that quote marks don't always work either)
- the ever-popular a*a n*lons ~ AND ~
- M*ndy is in the garden in her beige ff n*lons (Oooo-kay)
- v*y*rism
- sweet young f*rm g*rls f***ing (why you shouldn’t swear in your blog…)
- kitchen cabinet radio (And I’m one of two hits...weird)
- “first they came for the nurses no one was left to notice when” (Nurses? No, this can't be right!)
- m*ssge for birthday to someone (Memo to self: find error and correct it)
- "carl honore"
- pictures of emmitt till in a coffin
- hoe does reflexology work (Nice spelling, dude)
- photos of colin farrells marriage (Huh?? I don’t even like this guy!)
- pictures pregnant guinea pigs and delivering (WHOA!)
- Indians dreams wallpaper (Nope sorry, nothing like that here; move along now)
- local jobs with good pay for age13 (local where???? {groan})
- program turbro c (I'm thrilled to know that my site is one of the options for those searching in Arabic for programming tips!)
- women's hairstyle photos cut above the ear (Don't do it!!)
Sat aft
Mood: OK
Hair: Pony (but the band matches my sweater...heyhey)
So, yeah, my mom is going into an assisted living (I think she'll be in Unit B--she's not allowed to cook) on Monday, five days before Christmas, a week before her 83rd birthday. And she keeps saying she wants to die. Oy.
At some point, I'm going to have to go help my sister sort all the stuff from Mom's 2-bedroom apartment. There are actually fares under $350 for January, but I'm not sure I want to fly over the mountains, unless I have to.
So, this is a weird weekend. I'm cranky and short-tempered about stuff, but in a generally good mood. I guess the key is don't cross me right now.
Christmas cards are almost done. Our gifts are wrapped. I need to wrap some for our friends (where we spend Christmas day). And I think I need to still get a couple of things for a couple of difficult-to-buy-for people.
The Beast is still coughing, has been sleeping in the recliner for the last few nights. There's not enough stress in our lives.
I really need to get some cataloging done. So back to that.
Hair: Pony (but the band matches my sweater...heyhey)
So, yeah, my mom is going into an assisted living (I think she'll be in Unit B--she's not allowed to cook) on Monday, five days before Christmas, a week before her 83rd birthday. And she keeps saying she wants to die. Oy.
At some point, I'm going to have to go help my sister sort all the stuff from Mom's 2-bedroom apartment. There are actually fares under $350 for January, but I'm not sure I want to fly over the mountains, unless I have to.
So, this is a weird weekend. I'm cranky and short-tempered about stuff, but in a generally good mood. I guess the key is don't cross me right now.
Christmas cards are almost done. Our gifts are wrapped. I need to wrap some for our friends (where we spend Christmas day). And I think I need to still get a couple of things for a couple of difficult-to-buy-for people.
The Beast is still coughing, has been sleeping in the recliner for the last few nights. There's not enough stress in our lives.
I really need to get some cataloging done. So back to that.
Thursday, December 16, 2004
On the way to work
Mood: Good
Hair: Clean, blown-out...scary: twice in a week!
So, bad news first: if you mailed your Christmas package(s) earlier this week with UPS, find that tracking number and go to UPS.com to check on it. There was a fire overnight. Mine were supposed to be shipped, but they aren't yet. whew
In better news, today is Beethoven's birthday. Perhaps I'll go find a CD of his to listen to while I work today.
In other news, my mom definitely has had some kind of stroke, or stroke-like episode. She's mushy-mouthed, and I made her cry last night by telling her I'd like to give her a hug, at which point she basically hung up on me so she wouldn't 'waste money' crying on the phone. She's so miserable.
This led me to the brain wave that I'm now equidistant from my 16th birthday and my 65th. I realized that in the car during a lull in the news, whereupon NPR Googled my brain and did a story on how Bush wants to fuck up Social Security.
And finally, I passed two high school kids waiting for different school busses (buses?) today... actually, there were about 30, but I'm only going to mention these two.... They were wearing T-shirts with no coats/scarves/hats/gloves. It is about 30 degrees today, with the requisite wind. The question is, are they:
Time to do some work: demand order, continuations, miscellany, and GIFT CART! Those are my goals anyway.
Hair: Clean, blown-out...scary: twice in a week!
So, bad news first: if you mailed your Christmas package(s) earlier this week with UPS, find that tracking number and go to UPS.com to check on it. There was a fire overnight. Mine were supposed to be shipped, but they aren't yet. whew
In better news, today is Beethoven's birthday. Perhaps I'll go find a CD of his to listen to while I work today.
In other news, my mom definitely has had some kind of stroke, or stroke-like episode. She's mushy-mouthed, and I made her cry last night by telling her I'd like to give her a hug, at which point she basically hung up on me so she wouldn't 'waste money' crying on the phone. She's so miserable.
This led me to the brain wave that I'm now equidistant from my 16th birthday and my 65th. I realized that in the car during a lull in the news, whereupon NPR Googled my brain and did a story on how Bush wants to fuck up Social Security.
And finally, I passed two high school kids waiting for different school busses (buses?) today... actually, there were about 30, but I'm only going to mention these two.... They were wearing T-shirts with no coats/scarves/hats/gloves. It is about 30 degrees today, with the requisite wind. The question is, are they:
a) stupid
b) high
c) poor
d) parentless
e) some combination of above.
Time to do some work: demand order, continuations, miscellany, and GIFT CART! Those are my goals anyway.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
It's official: a weird day today
I don't tune into this often enough. But today I noticed, probably because of the first one on the list, the titles of what I was cataloging:The Irritable Male Syndrome (it's a serious book, but that title….)
The Chaplin Collection (DVDs)
All Fishermen are Liars
Breast Cancer Husband
Road to Purgatory
Life Expectancy
Living with the Devil
The Unquiet Dead
Till the End of Tom (hee hee hee hee hee)
Coyote
Wolf Stalker
Curious Minds
A Place Between the Tides
High Tide
A Natural History of Ferns
Lovelock Gaia
I couldn’t make this up if I tried!
{In the interest of fairness, I did omit some titles that were just generic and didn't flow with these. But only about eight.}
Yesterday’s tempest in a teapot, or, What catalogers and directors argue about
I'm changing the names and omitting other pertinent info, but this email exchange has got to be in here. Neither of these people work in my building, for which I say a regular prayer of thanksgiving; apparently my karma isn't as bad as I sometimes think.
From Director K:
All of which goes some distance in explaining several things:
From Director K:
“…Most of the libraries are using the open entry version [of serials], but the book jacket is wrong or not there. I think this example could serve as a good learning tool for the cataloging certification process in serials. It’s either that, or a pain in the neck!! …[W]e have the same problem with travel books. OCLC has their standards, but using the open entry method messes up the Syndetics display, as well as confuses the patrons. …[T]his problem…needs attention at the OCLC national level.”From PonyTail: [I can't edit, there's simply too much in here.]
“[name], this rant is simply out of line.K.: [I'd edit this but I can't resist pointing out the horrific writing/editing skills on display.]Syndetics works based on ISBN. Serial records do not have ISBNs, they have ISSNs. That's the way the world works. You should be complaining to Syndetics and not here.
The reason the monograph record, which we aren't supposed to use (and that decision was made by the directors, not necessarily by cataloging alone) seems to display the correct picture (why is a picture so important anyway?) is that it refers only to a single title, for a single year, and contains an ISBN.
Note too that the three libraries who are attached to the monographic record are the three least experience in cataloging and with the least knowledge of the standards and rules.
No, this does not need attention at the OCLC or national level. It needs attention by
Syndetics so that they handle the ISSN, which they could do. However, if they did, then what year would you have them display? The latest, even though your library only owns last year's edition? The first, even though the serial started in 1950 (or 1890?)”
“I wasn't ranting, [name]. If there is other info attached to Syndetics, that is wrong, too. And if we use the correct record (open ended), then which cover image and which info is the record supposed to link to - the point that you also see.Ponytail:
I don't like the library to look as if we don't know what we are doing. The implications for incorrect annual serials or incorrect linking information display is cross the board, for [other OPACs in our consortium] aren't immune. And I still feel that it is an important issue that can be resolved, but involves OCLC cataloguing higher-ups, major automation vendors, and image display vendors because it is interlinking. My feeling is that the ease of access and correct information is about the patron who pays the taxes, and we should always be concerned with that fact. ”
“But the information is correct, and is correctly linked. Your complaint appears to be just about the picture, which I think is mostly irrelevant frippery.Voice of Reason (a.k.a Tech Svc. Director for consortium):
Everyone knows what Guinness is, and they choose to use it or not without any concern about the color of this year's cover.
If you were to change to monographic cataloging for these annual serials, it would be
substantially more cataloging effort for your staff, and patrons who are confused would remain confused. Then you would have a dozen records (or more) on the display, for each year held by any library in the system. Which is more confusing?
OCLC does not enter into this, so do not blame them. They support both methods of entry. Their standards do not require us to use one or the other.”
“This will always be a problem with annuals, or any item that is published serially. You will not get any content for these items since most if not all content is based on the ISBN. While the book jackets etc are very nice for the patrons, we must also consider that having multiple monographic entries for the various years can be a problem for our patrons. Even if they are searching your scoped catalog, what if you only buy every two years, the patron doesn't see the 2005 and decides you don't have anything, when maybe the 2004 that you have will work. Or if the patron is searching the whole catalog, as many of our patrons in Quad-LINC do, instead of 1 bibliographic record they get 15 or 20 or worse.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
There are pros and cons on every issue and this is no different. …
As for the cataloging certification, this is a policy issue, not a cataloging issue and I do not believe it will be part of the certification testing.”
All of which goes some distance in explaining several things:
- Why a certain person in Potsdam is in hysterics.
- Why all catalogers are slightly insane.
- Why directors are not catalogers
- Why directors with frizzy blonde hair are certifiable.
- Why our cataloging meetings are so annoying.
- Why I hate PM from RPL...she nominated Ponytail to run for chair of the committee two years ago.
- Why tact is important, even for catalogers.
Midweek review
Mood: OK, surprisingly
Hair: Barrette, 40s-style
Listening to: the blowers; anticipating fireworks when Migraine Librarian gets here...
Addendum: Best part of yesterday was lunch after the consortial cataloging meeting, with Amy. We had bagel sandwiches--she at least had breakfast at 10:30, I had lunch--at a place that always reminds me that I'm not in my hometown. It's very 'eastern U.S.' in a totally undefinable way. Or possibly it's just that it's so entirely 'not-Western U.S.' Plus, the women's restroom cracks me up: lovely stock 'Greek atmosphere' photos in cheap black frames, with plumbing fixtures from the 70s.
Anyway, the discussion was, as usual, lively, entertaining, jaw-dropping (are you doing that part on purpose, A??), and fun. And she looked good. We didn't talk about the Ponytailed One at all, but Cute-Eyes was discussed, so see it is germane that she looked good. ;-)
So that's the news from Lake Wobegon....not. Not a Lutheran in sight, methinks.
Hair: Barrette, 40s-style
Listening to: the blowers; anticipating fireworks when Migraine Librarian gets here...
- ...because the city has granted us the day off on 12/27 "for travel." Which is oh-so-generous, since normally we are open even when the city has declared a holiday. This time it applies to the entire roster of city employees except (of course) fire and police. The letter very specifically says that.
Migraine Woman isn't on the schedule on Mondays. Therefore, she always takes off the Tuesday after a Monday holiday, i.e. she calls the last Tuesday in May her Memorial Day and takes it off. She's salaried; we aren't unionized. Can you say "Double-Dipping?" She's been off for the last week, but we got the 12/27 letter the week before she left and she announced that she wouldn't be here on 12/28. Today's the first day she'll be back now that the city manager has definitively said that the day is 'non-transferrable.'
[By the way, I don't work Mondays, so I don't get the day off either.]
I can't wait to hear her ranting today. I don't even want to wear headphones. {evil chuckle}
- My oldest sister called last night. Mom's in the hospital. Again. (She was there Saturday morning after calling Lifeline both Friday and Saturday mornings because "she couldn't get out of bed.")
The doctors say it's either mini-strokes (TIAs) or dementia. I think it's because her glucose level has been out of whack for so long that it's started to affect her cognitive skills. I'm hoping once she gets stabilized in that area some of her (limited) skills will return. But we are looking at assisted living almost certainly.
So that means I'll probably have to head to Colorado soon. For how long? Who knows. If she's not going back to her apartment, we have a LOT of ... stuff ... to get sorted out.
Let the arguing over the possessions begin...
- I still haven't sent Xmas cards, or mailed packages. I can't seem to get moving this year. I'm feeling like a deer in headlights. I have all kinds of fabulous excuses; for instance, last night was Star Lab at Sparky's school. V. cool: an inflatable mini-planetarium with star charts, astrological cylinders for several cultures...but we didn't get home till 9. The Beast was at church--his last Session meeting, woohoo!--from 6 until 9, so we didn't see each other yesterday much. Our lives are pure chaos.
- On the other hand, my head doesn't hurt, I'm not dizzy, and I think I may actually get some work done today! So, here I go, to find out.
Addendum: Best part of yesterday was lunch after the consortial cataloging meeting, with Amy. We had bagel sandwiches--she at least had breakfast at 10:30, I had lunch--at a place that always reminds me that I'm not in my hometown. It's very 'eastern U.S.' in a totally undefinable way. Or possibly it's just that it's so entirely 'not-Western U.S.' Plus, the women's restroom cracks me up: lovely stock 'Greek atmosphere' photos in cheap black frames, with plumbing fixtures from the 70s.
Anyway, the discussion was, as usual, lively, entertaining, jaw-dropping (are you doing that part on purpose, A??), and fun. And she looked good. We didn't talk about the Ponytailed One at all, but Cute-Eyes was discussed, so see it is germane that she looked good. ;-)
So that's the news from Lake Wobegon....not. Not a Lutheran in sight, methinks.
Friday, December 10, 2004
Evening in ... well, not Paris
What I've done today, work version:
What I've done today, home version:
Thoughts: Pear juice reminds me of Irkutsk. It was the only juice my shopping group could find to buy in the state store the day we boarded the train to Beijing. We'd been warned that there was no guarantee of either the presence or edibility of food on the train, so we were all out shopping for foodstuffs that would stay 'good' for 2-3 days. All I could find was pear juice, in bottles like orange squash or wine, and sweetish yeast bread. The juice was NOT depulped. I kind of don't think anyone drank much of it; it was pretty disgusting-looking. It definitely tasted all right, though. Other groups found proper water and regular juices, and the train ended up having somewhat decent food. Except they ran out of non-alcoholic beverages in the dining car as we crossing Mongolia, which meant I had to drink Chinese beer with my Mongolia stew. Anyway, that was the "Chinese train:" we had hot thermoses in our compartments every morning, a really hard-working steward who cleaned the bathroom and kept the heat going for the duration, and apparently a crew of cooks who actually cooked. Not so on the train back to Irkutsk, when we had a babushka, no thermos, scudgy compartments that might have been clean sometime in Brezhnev's term of office, questionable food (even fewer beverage choices), no heat and positively disgusting bathroom facilities. Our rebellion? A church service in one of the compartments: about 18 people crammed onto the four bunks and Doug (shoot, what was his name??) doing a 5-minute sermon followed by two or three songs. Then we went and played poker.
Which is where The Beast is tonight: playing poker for God. Heh. {wave at Dad} It's a $30 per stake game, probably about 10 guys, with the top three taking home $30, $20, and $10 (or something like that). The rest of the money in the pot goes to the church building fund. Do the ends justify the means? I don't know--don't honestly care tonight--the one definite positive is that The Beast is having fun doing guy stuff. He doesn't get time enough to do that normally, so I'm all for it. I'm supposed to be sorting Christmas presents. Obviously not happening. (Doubly so since I reread that 'graph and it asked if the ends justified the end--brain rot)
Time to go make the donu....er, bread. I probably won't be back here till Tuesday, or possibly Wednesday.
{shrug}
- Cataloged 5 books on CD.
- Demand order cards are filed.
- Rested my head on my desk about 12 times.
- Answered about 3 dozen reference questions.
- Complained. A lot.
- Filled out my timesheet. Incorrectly, as it turns out.
- Organized myself for next week's marathon trip to the system HQ: Mon.=cat. training, Tues. a.m.=cat. meeting
- Left early (2:15ish). Without fixing my timesheet.
What I've done today, home version:
- Dozed. Before I left for work a little; more in the afternoon.
- Felt sorry for myself. How I know: my eyes leaked while I was trying to sleep off my "weird head." When I stopped dozing, I had sore, damp eye creases. Great.
- Organized Sparky's sleepover for tomorrow night.
- Read. Too much.
- Did dishes.
- Baked sweetbread.
- Reminded Sparky to clean the guinea pig cage. He was supposed to do it last night, but...well that's another story.
- Vacated the immediate area while Sparky practiced his clarinet. The best choice I made all day, so far.
- Ate Del Monte jarred Bartlett pears, because I'm sick. But they taste like they've been soaking in alcohol. Odd.
- Updated my book blog, and tweaked it.
- Updated this blog.
- Tried, cursorily, to figure out why my memes blog is laid out so funky on my home computer when it looks fine everywhere else I see it. Gave up, after some desultory swearing. Can't be bothered.
- Missed the library Xmas party at the boss' house. Thank God.
- More sweetbread baking.
- More dishes.
- Long bath.
- Bed, possibly by 10?
Thoughts: Pear juice reminds me of Irkutsk. It was the only juice my shopping group could find to buy in the state store the day we boarded the train to Beijing. We'd been warned that there was no guarantee of either the presence or edibility of food on the train, so we were all out shopping for foodstuffs that would stay 'good' for 2-3 days. All I could find was pear juice, in bottles like orange squash or wine, and sweetish yeast bread. The juice was NOT depulped. I kind of don't think anyone drank much of it; it was pretty disgusting-looking. It definitely tasted all right, though. Other groups found proper water and regular juices, and the train ended up having somewhat decent food. Except they ran out of non-alcoholic beverages in the dining car as we crossing Mongolia, which meant I had to drink Chinese beer with my Mongolia stew. Anyway, that was the "Chinese train:" we had hot thermoses in our compartments every morning, a really hard-working steward who cleaned the bathroom and kept the heat going for the duration, and apparently a crew of cooks who actually cooked. Not so on the train back to Irkutsk, when we had a babushka, no thermos, scudgy compartments that might have been clean sometime in Brezhnev's term of office, questionable food (even fewer beverage choices), no heat and positively disgusting bathroom facilities. Our rebellion? A church service in one of the compartments: about 18 people crammed onto the four bunks and Doug (shoot, what was his name??) doing a 5-minute sermon followed by two or three songs. Then we went and played poker.
Which is where The Beast is tonight: playing poker for God. Heh. {wave at Dad} It's a $30 per stake game, probably about 10 guys, with the top three taking home $30, $20, and $10 (or something like that). The rest of the money in the pot goes to the church building fund. Do the ends justify the means? I don't know--don't honestly care tonight--the one definite positive is that The Beast is having fun doing guy stuff. He doesn't get time enough to do that normally, so I'm all for it. I'm supposed to be sorting Christmas presents. Obviously not happening. (Doubly so since I reread that 'graph and it asked if the ends justified the end--brain rot)
Time to go make the donu....er, bread. I probably won't be back here till Tuesday, or possibly Wednesday.
{shrug}
The world is weird
Mood: The top of my head is loose and floaty
Hair: Braided
For the catalogers among us, AT&T has come up with a new big money-making device, useful ONLY if you don't have access to a) the big red books, or b) the Internet/LC website (which--yoohoo, LC--isn't "NEW!" anymore). Thanks to the Ponytailed One-We-Love-To-Hate for this. V. amusing.
Our 'net connection this morning was phfhphpttttt at 9:00. Luckily, Sleek is here. Luckily, he fixed it all up for us. None of that really matters, except that in the process of getting us back together, I came up with the location of a minuscule technical solution that he didn't have right to hand (he SAYS he knew, but couldn't remember what it was called0--PID. Yeah, ok. hee). It's a sure sign of the apocalypse!
I want to go home now. OK? What, I'm on Ref for two more hours. All right....[shamble to the appropriate (I think) locale...]
Hair: Braided
For the catalogers among us, AT&T has come up with a new big money-making device, useful ONLY if you don't have access to a) the big red books, or b) the Internet/LC website (which--yoohoo, LC--isn't "NEW!" anymore). Thanks to the Ponytailed One-We-Love-To-Hate for this. V. amusing.
Our 'net connection this morning was phfhphpttttt at 9:00. Luckily, Sleek is here. Luckily, he fixed it all up for us. None of that really matters, except that in the process of getting us back together, I came up with the location of a minuscule technical solution that he didn't have right to hand (he SAYS he knew, but couldn't remember what it was called0--PID. Yeah, ok. hee). It's a sure sign of the apocalypse!
I want to go home now. OK? What, I'm on Ref for two more hours. All right....[shamble to the appropriate (I think) locale...]
10 minutes later: I'm going home. Dizzy. Feverish?
ugh.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Afternoon
Mood: Improving
Hair: Blown out and kinda curled (I need to have the {ahem} color touched up thought...)
The fly lady hit on Librarian N yesterday, because she found a dead one (probably the same one). She made him come look at it. And she wanted books about "Ants. .... No, I mean flies." {insert Twilight Zone music here} No report on whether she had white flecks on her face.
In other news, Cranky Tech is p.o.'d at me today. I'm being punished in the usual way: she's ostentatiously not speaking to me, making a big point of having "intellectual conversations" with others just loud enough for me to hear how smart and popular she is. My crime? I told the person I know used her typewriter earlier this week that Cranky Tech wants another typewriter so everyone else won't use "hers." To type three labels. Per month.
The vote, then, is between the Crazy Fly Lady and the Cranky Label Tech: who's nuts-er? Who should we send as Bush's new secretary of whichever-rat-left-the-ship-of-state-this-week?
Hair: Blown out and kinda curled (I need to have the {ahem} color touched up thought...)
The fly lady hit on Librarian N yesterday, because she found a dead one (probably the same one). She made him come look at it. And she wanted books about "Ants. .... No, I mean flies." {insert Twilight Zone music here} No report on whether she had white flecks on her face.
In other news, Cranky Tech is p.o.'d at me today. I'm being punished in the usual way: she's ostentatiously not speaking to me, making a big point of having "intellectual conversations" with others just loud enough for me to hear how smart and popular she is. My crime? I told the person I know used her typewriter earlier this week that Cranky Tech wants another typewriter so everyone else won't use "hers." To type three labels. Per month.
The vote, then, is between the Crazy Fly Lady and the Cranky Label Tech: who's nuts-er? Who should we send as Bush's new secretary of whichever-rat-left-the-ship-of-state-this-week?
For the Austen fans
scribbling woman found this Guardian article, which makes me think I should once again make an attempt to scale the heights of P&P. The really amazing thing is that I've read the rest of the top five!
Radio 4 makes me laugh. So thanks, scribble.
Radio 4 makes me laugh. So thanks, scribble.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Logan's Run, Cataloger version
When do I want to die?
Before I start saying things to my children (and/or grandchildren et al.) like "I may not be around next spring" when they tell me they are going to try to come see me.
I was going to make a list of some other 'before' and 'after' stuff, but my heart's not in it. I had to verbally hold my mom's hand last night on the phone as she wept over her life ending, and the last ten years' of depression ("I haven't been taking anti-depressants"--oh yes you have, Mom), and well, stuff.
As crazy as she drives me, she's my mom. It sucks. I hate being the youngest. I wouldn't want to be the oldest. I don't want to be the only boy, nor the one in the middle with Parkinson's.
I just really don't like being in my family at all right now.
Yo, Dad, could use a little help here.... {Papa, are you listening?}
Before I start saying things to my children (and/or grandchildren et al.) like "I may not be around next spring" when they tell me they are going to try to come see me.
I was going to make a list of some other 'before' and 'after' stuff, but my heart's not in it. I had to verbally hold my mom's hand last night on the phone as she wept over her life ending, and the last ten years' of depression ("I haven't been taking anti-depressants"--oh yes you have, Mom), and well, stuff.
As crazy as she drives me, she's my mom. It sucks. I hate being the youngest. I wouldn't want to be the oldest. I don't want to be the only boy, nor the one in the middle with Parkinson's.
I just really don't like being in my family at all right now.
Yo, Dad, could use a little help here.... {Papa, are you listening?}
Bleak library
Mood: Fair
Hair: Little barrettes, shades of January 1985
Listening to: John Mayer, "Room for Squares"
"There's no such thing as the real world / Just a lie you got to rise above"
OK, so I did my annual early-December-meltdown-everyone-feel-sorry-for-me-outburst last night. Not sure I feel better.
"I am invincible ... as long as I'm alive"
Well there you go.
Anyway. I bagged cataloging completely yesterday after doing Ref for awhile yesterday morning. Instead, I spent the day reading reviews and writing order cards. Which is surprisingly therapeutic because I'm so anal about how I do it. The order comes up to less than $900. I still have $2300 to blow before April. Plus my $300 of "fun money" which I can spend on ANYthing--we all get this much to buy our own personal goodie-bag. One year I bought musicals on DVD, one year I think I bought scrapbooking stuff. Not sure what to buy this year... How about some blog books!?
As as result of yesterday's shirking, I have to -- HAVE TO -- get stuff pushed through today. But first I'm going back over yesterday's list to mark off the improvements. Maybe that will cheer me as well.
Prosit.
Hair: Little barrettes, shades of January 1985
Listening to: John Mayer, "Room for Squares"
"There's no such thing as the real world / Just a lie you got to rise above"
OK, so I did my annual early-December-meltdown-everyone-feel-sorry-for-me-outburst last night. Not sure I feel better.
"I am invincible ... as long as I'm alive"
Well there you go.
Anyway. I bagged cataloging completely yesterday after doing Ref for awhile yesterday morning. Instead, I spent the day reading reviews and writing order cards. Which is surprisingly therapeutic because I'm so anal about how I do it. The order comes up to less than $900. I still have $2300 to blow before April. Plus my $300 of "fun money" which I can spend on ANYthing--we all get this much to buy our own personal goodie-bag. One year I bought musicals on DVD, one year I think I bought scrapbooking stuff. Not sure what to buy this year... How about some blog books!?
As as result of yesterday's shirking, I have to -- HAVE TO -- get stuff pushed through today. But first I'm going back over yesterday's list to mark off the improvements. Maybe that will cheer me as well.
Prosit.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Whiney Post Alert
(so don't read any further if you don't want boring old whiney-ness) Skip to the next post; I'm sure I'll feel better.
Why I'm cranky:
Couldn't.
It took me almost an hour after the alarm went off before I forced the blankets off me, time enough for The Beast to shower, dress, and get ready to leave.
Now I just feel like crying.
Picture PMS. Unending. Imagine my boys dealing with me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OKAY, WHINGING OVER!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later:
Creme brulee cheesecake. For lunch. And Diet Dr. Pepper.
What can I say? It seems to be helping!
That and the fly lady.
Edited 12/8, 8:30 a.m.
Why I'm cranky:
Sinus headache(going on two full days) [edited: I think it's gone...]- NO SUNSHINE IN DAYS
- Christmas is coming (like a train):
- gifts need mailing
- Christmas letter needs to be written
- cards need to be labeled and sent
- I'm sure I've missed SOMEone on the gift list...
Reports to do for church[edited: about 2/3 of them]Reports to do for work[edited: for now, anyway]- Yesterday was my sister's 58th birthday. Except she died before she turned 48.
The house is trashed[edited: all cleaned up while I was at last night's meeting!]- I have something going on every evening this week
My head hurts (did I mention that?)- I have to bake something for Friday's party, but I'm not sure when that's going to happen.
Couldn't.
It took me almost an hour after the alarm went off before I forced the blankets off me, time enough for The Beast to shower, dress, and get ready to leave.
Now I just feel like crying.
Picture PMS. Unending. Imagine my boys dealing with me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OKAY, WHINGING OVER!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later:
Creme brulee cheesecake. For lunch. And Diet Dr. Pepper.
What can I say? It seems to be helping!
That and the fly lady.
Edited 12/8, 8:30 a.m.
Saturday, December 04, 2004
In an updatey mood
So I added a sidebar list of books read this year. Also added it to my books blog.
Depressing. I've read a lot. There's a lot more to read.
Oh, well. I guess I can't die yet. Not that I was planning on it...
Depressing. I've read a lot. There's a lot more to read.
Oh, well. I guess I can't die yet. Not that I was planning on it...
Good words
Mood: Hmm, ok, I guess
Hair: Clean, gelled, blown out
During my drive-around yesterday--allergy shots, grocery store, Xmas shopping--I had time to think about words that I like hearing. Yes, it's that 'old thing' again. Here's my list, as much as I can remember from yesterday. They are in no particular order....
Hair: Clean, gelled, blown out
During my drive-around yesterday--allergy shots, grocery store, Xmas shopping--I had time to think about words that I like hearing. Yes, it's that 'old thing' again. Here's my list, as much as I can remember from yesterday. They are in no particular order....
- Breathe
- Strength
- Love
- Deer
- Faithful
- Mommy / Daddy
- Adagio
- Yahweh
- Free (as in "freedom")
- Sleep
Thursday, December 02, 2004
End o' the day
Mood: OK, but fading
Add John Mellencamp's self-titled Columbia/1998 CD to the list. And along come these lyrics:
Anyway. We'll carry on with John and then Bach and some Baroque music (read: no lyrics) on Saturday when next I'm here. Who knows what will have happened by then.
Now I have must pick up Sparky from school, where he has spent the last hour or so building a robot for a competition a week from Saturday. Very nerdy, eh? This year, because of extra donors, all the kids are able to actually compete, not just half of them. Sometimes it's good to ask the parents if they are willing to fork over a little extra for something specific.
I have recovered from the hysterics suffered earlier while picturing two people wearing the same shirt. But NOT the same pants. Oh my.
I have recovered from Cranky Tech's tantrum today, spurred by the reference to a front-page picture in yesterday's paper of a woman who looks remarkably like Cranky Tech. Except it's not her. Whatever. Another case of Thank God she's not talking to me! In this case, she's not talking to ANYone....
Life is good. Life is bad. Life is.
Add John Mellencamp's self-titled Columbia/1998 CD to the list. And along come these lyrics:
Eden is burningSo that makes it a trifecta. If it were a horse, that would be good. If it weren't a relationship...
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
...
You and me in the sunshine
How could have I been wrong about you?
How could I have been so wrong about you?
Anyway. We'll carry on with John and then Bach and some Baroque music (read: no lyrics) on Saturday when next I'm here. Who knows what will have happened by then.
Now I have must pick up Sparky from school, where he has spent the last hour or so building a robot for a competition a week from Saturday. Very nerdy, eh? This year, because of extra donors, all the kids are able to actually compete, not just half of them. Sometimes it's good to ask the parents if they are willing to fork over a little extra for something specific.
I have recovered from the hysterics suffered earlier while picturing two people wearing the same shirt. But NOT the same pants. Oh my.
I have recovered from Cranky Tech's tantrum today, spurred by the reference to a front-page picture in yesterday's paper of a woman who looks remarkably like Cranky Tech. Except it's not her. Whatever. Another case of Thank God she's not talking to me! In this case, she's not talking to ANYone....
Life is good. Life is bad. Life is.
It's just one of those existential days
There seems to be a theme here. And not just musically, but I swear I didn't pick these for their content beyond vocal talent:
Exhibit A Ana Gabriel: smiling on the cover of her CD. Ana Gabriel: having a really sad day in nearly every song! She has a fabulous voice, but she’s all about lágrimas, faltaras and obsessión. Even her chipper tunes have sad lyrics. Wonder if she can sing happy songs. Honestly, “Lo Sé” will make you tear up whether or you know what she’s saying:
I'm waiting for a call-back from a friend who called me/us in dire straits last night. See above, exhibits A & B. Which brings to mind that song by the Rolling Stones:
The Beast is healing up just fine, is at work for part of the day, and even is looking human again. He’s a sweetie. Too bad his job sucks.
Exhibit A Ana Gabriel: smiling on the cover of her CD. Ana Gabriel: having a really sad day in nearly every song! She has a fabulous voice, but she’s all about lágrimas, faltaras and obsessión. Even her chipper tunes have sad lyrics. Wonder if she can sing happy songs. Honestly, “Lo Sé” will make you tear up whether or you know what she’s saying:
Sé que es mejor que no insistaExhibit B Dixie Chicks: about idiot guys they are dating or have dated/married. But funny, not sad like Ana.
y alejar mis locuras
para siempre de mi
Sé que no tengo salida
que mi amor te lastima
no eres para mi
Sé tanto lo sé
pero que puedo hacer
Si te llevo conmigo
I'm waiting for a call-back from a friend who called me/us in dire straits last night. See above, exhibits A & B. Which brings to mind that song by the Rolling Stones:
I’m just trying to make some senseNot exactly apropos, but the feeling is right.
Out of these girls go passing by
The tales they tell of men
I’m not waiting on a lady
I’m just waiting on a friend
The Beast is healing up just fine, is at work for part of the day, and even is looking human again. He’s a sweetie. Too bad his job sucks.
Tap-tap-tap go my fingernails.
Thoughts at Stop signs
Mood: Good
Hair: Clean, blown-out AND curled (the Apocalypse is sure to begin today)
Today's musical lineup: "Best of Ladysmith Black Mambazo;" "Wide Open Spaces" (Dixie Chicks); "Soy, Como Soy" (Ana Gabriel) [I'm not scheduled on desk duty at all today!!!]
My drive to work takes me to at least four intersections with 3- or 4-way stops. There is just one traffic light. So I guess I'm in a small town, eh? ;-)
I spent several minutes today in the left-turn lane at one of the unsignalled intersections. I love 4-way stop signs. They always cheer me up. As Shakespeare said about something entirely different, there can be a lot of
The reason I like these interchanges is the sheer absurdity of people stopping and following the rules. Even when we're in a hurry, even in bad traffic, even when everyone else on the road is an idiot, there is almost always a moment of unconscious courtesy as we wait our turn to go through the intersection, or wave someone else through first.
I like that people can be nice. I also think it shows the herd instinct, but that's ok. Sometimes we need to be herd.
Ahem.
Hair: Clean, blown-out AND curled (the Apocalypse is sure to begin today)
Today's musical lineup: "Best of Ladysmith Black Mambazo;" "Wide Open Spaces" (Dixie Chicks); "Soy, Como Soy" (Ana Gabriel) [I'm not scheduled on desk duty at all today!!!]
My drive to work takes me to at least four intersections with 3- or 4-way stops. There is just one traffic light. So I guess I'm in a small town, eh? ;-)
I spent several minutes today in the left-turn lane at one of the unsignalled intersections. I love 4-way stop signs. They always cheer me up. As Shakespeare said about something entirely different, there can be a lot of
"...tale[s]...people swearing and gesticulating at each other in annoyance. That makes me laugh, sometimes even at myself while doing it. This, by the way, was not happening this morning; today was a clockwork day.
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing"
The reason I like these interchanges is the sheer absurdity of people stopping and following the rules. Even when we're in a hurry, even in bad traffic, even when everyone else on the road is an idiot, there is almost always a moment of unconscious courtesy as we wait our turn to go through the intersection, or wave someone else through first.
I like that people can be nice. I also think it shows the herd instinct, but that's ok. Sometimes we need to be herd.
Ahem.
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Full count
Items added in November = 552
October = 699
September=986
August = 589
July = 501
June = 571
May = 635
April = 845
October = 699
September=986
August = 589
July = 501
June = 571
May = 635
April = 845
Wednesday Wonderland
Mood: OK now that my sinuses have stopped aching
Hair: Big barrette, AND curled (fake it till you make it)
Pretty snow last night. It was even pretty as I struggled to drive home--it took about twice as long.
It's still pretty today. The sun is shining, and I'm in the kids' room so I can actually see out a window. Most of the white is gone from the streets, but it looks so pretty on the pine trees and dormers across the street.
Winter is ok.
(Ask me in March if I feel the same!)
Hair: Big barrette, AND curled (fake it till you make it)
Pretty snow last night. It was even pretty as I struggled to drive home--it took about twice as long.
It's still pretty today. The sun is shining, and I'm in the kids' room so I can actually see out a window. Most of the white is gone from the streets, but it looks so pretty on the pine trees and dormers across the street.
Winter is ok.
(Ask me in March if I feel the same!)
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