Everyone must know - it was 76 degrees today.
I sat outside on the deck, listening to the birds, squirrels, and rabbits in the little ravine behind our house. It was surreal - I was warm and I was outside.
It was about 5-10 degrees colder in the house, so I opened the doors and let the breeze warm it up. What is wrong with that picture?
I already feel better - shaking off these winter doldrums. I love it!
And I had the most wonderful afternoon with a new friend (new as in since moving to Bloomington).
30 March 2006
Beautiful Kitchen
Tuesday a few fellow librarians-in-training and I went to a homeless shelter in town to help serve dinner.
I did it last semester and found it so fulfilling and for once in my life, I felt like I was giving something back, making a difference. There's nothing like serving when you can get nothing in return. Put's life in perspective, if no more than just a bit.
As soon as we walked in, I wished Elaine was with us. The supervisor last night, his name was Adam, he had longish hair, a beard, the most kind eyes I've seen on a living person (though I'd like to think Paddy was a true living, breathing man - wouldn't we all be happier?), and he was so sweet. Soft-spoken, but with a great sense of humor. He and Lance would have been best friends with Elaine instantly, and she'd be hanging out with them right now.
Oh, Friend. Only you would understand.
I did it last semester and found it so fulfilling and for once in my life, I felt like I was giving something back, making a difference. There's nothing like serving when you can get nothing in return. Put's life in perspective, if no more than just a bit.
As soon as we walked in, I wished Elaine was with us. The supervisor last night, his name was Adam, he had longish hair, a beard, the most kind eyes I've seen on a living person (though I'd like to think Paddy was a true living, breathing man - wouldn't we all be happier?), and he was so sweet. Soft-spoken, but with a great sense of humor. He and Lance would have been best friends with Elaine instantly, and she'd be hanging out with them right now.
Oh, Friend. Only you would understand.
26 March 2006
I'm about to be honest...so deal with it.
I'm a middle-class kid who's never really had to struggle with much in life and has lived in a ridiculously sheltered world surrounded by people a lot like me for the past 23 years.
I get frustrated with myself sometimes because I am who I am. And while I'll acknowledge that we are partly products of our environments, I believe people make choices, and they must be responsible for those choices.
To put a context around this strange, yet true, declaration, let me explain. I finished watching A Time to Kill a bit ago, and every time, I walk away thinking - is this war still raging in America, the one Carl Lee talks about, where race is pitted against race, and am I participating?
Growing up, all my friends, and nearly everyone in my town, were white. I went to a college with such a small minority population that it was almost impossible to meet people with different backgrounds. I look at myself and my profession, and all I see are white women everywhere.
Is this happenstance? Am I choosing a path that leads towards more people like myself? Because in my mind, that's not what I'm doing.
Why, then, at every stage in life, do I find myself in the same place, surrounded by the same people, saying and doing the same things?
I get frustrated with myself sometimes because I am who I am. And while I'll acknowledge that we are partly products of our environments, I believe people make choices, and they must be responsible for those choices.
To put a context around this strange, yet true, declaration, let me explain. I finished watching A Time to Kill a bit ago, and every time, I walk away thinking - is this war still raging in America, the one Carl Lee talks about, where race is pitted against race, and am I participating?
Growing up, all my friends, and nearly everyone in my town, were white. I went to a college with such a small minority population that it was almost impossible to meet people with different backgrounds. I look at myself and my profession, and all I see are white women everywhere.
Is this happenstance? Am I choosing a path that leads towards more people like myself? Because in my mind, that's not what I'm doing.
Why, then, at every stage in life, do I find myself in the same place, surrounded by the same people, saying and doing the same things?
21 March 2006
Neglecting to wash one's hands in a public restroom (or any restroom at that) is simply unacceptable. And I reserve the right to scowl at you when you do this unspeakable thing.
Twice today while I was at school, I witnessed a woman leave the bathroom without even pretending to wash her hands. Stall to outside door, just like that she was gone with her dirty hands.
Even if you are a clean person, think of all the other unclean people who go in and out of a public restroom all day long. They bring germs; they leave germs. It's that simple.
Wash Thy Hands.
Isn't it part of the 10 Commandments?
Twice today while I was at school, I witnessed a woman leave the bathroom without even pretending to wash her hands. Stall to outside door, just like that she was gone with her dirty hands.
Even if you are a clean person, think of all the other unclean people who go in and out of a public restroom all day long. They bring germs; they leave germs. It's that simple.
Wash Thy Hands.
Isn't it part of the 10 Commandments?
I woke up sweating because I left the heat vent open in my room over night - big mistake.
It was so bright out, so on my way to the bathroom, I glanced outside...and seared my eyeballs on the glaring white snow.
4 inches, currently, and counting.
Someone told me yesterday that we were under a winter storm advisory for the next few days. I blew it off, knowing that it's the first day of Spring (thereabouts) and therefore that blizzard is not in the vocabulary of Springtime.
Trudging through the snow in my old Doc Martens, slipping more than gripping the road, I passed by a pine tree and smiled as the wind whistled through the needles; it sounded much colder than it actually felt. The falling snowflakes were so large that when one would fall into my mouth, it quenched my thirst.
Ridiculous.
It was so bright out, so on my way to the bathroom, I glanced outside...and seared my eyeballs on the glaring white snow.
4 inches, currently, and counting.
Someone told me yesterday that we were under a winter storm advisory for the next few days. I blew it off, knowing that it's the first day of Spring (thereabouts) and therefore that blizzard is not in the vocabulary of Springtime.
Trudging through the snow in my old Doc Martens, slipping more than gripping the road, I passed by a pine tree and smiled as the wind whistled through the needles; it sounded much colder than it actually felt. The falling snowflakes were so large that when one would fall into my mouth, it quenched my thirst.
Ridiculous.
20 March 2006
Here's my day
6-ish am: wake up to an alarm clock (not my own) getting louder and louder with each snooze. Goes on for..e...ver.
6:30 am: decide I won't get up because I planned to sleep until 7:15.
9:57 am: wake up to noise from the bathroom. Utterly confused...feel so well-rested...too light outside.
Class had started 30 minutes before.
10:30 am: catch bus in to school.
11 am: slip into class unnoticed as mid-class break ends.
(Lots of uninteresting things happened between 11 and 4 pm)
4 pm: almost miss the bus at Third & Jordan because it isn't my bus, it's the Handicapper Bus- the really short, added height bus - indicating it's #7 with a computer printed single sheet of paper in the tiny unnoticeable window to the right of the handicapper doors.
the seats are much more comfortable on this bus, cushy, even.
What a fabulous way to start out the last half of the worst semester ever...late to class and riding the short bus. Ah, Life! You are so funny!
6:30 am: decide I won't get up because I planned to sleep until 7:15.
9:57 am: wake up to noise from the bathroom. Utterly confused...feel so well-rested...too light outside.
Class had started 30 minutes before.
10:30 am: catch bus in to school.
11 am: slip into class unnoticed as mid-class break ends.
(Lots of uninteresting things happened between 11 and 4 pm)
4 pm: almost miss the bus at Third & Jordan because it isn't my bus, it's the Handicapper Bus- the really short, added height bus - indicating it's #7 with a computer printed single sheet of paper in the tiny unnoticeable window to the right of the handicapper doors.
the seats are much more comfortable on this bus, cushy, even.
What a fabulous way to start out the last half of the worst semester ever...late to class and riding the short bus. Ah, Life! You are so funny!
19 March 2006
One night (Friday) with 12 hours of sleep - ah, heaven - and now it's back to the grind.
I've been sitting in front of my computer trying desperately to finish one of my term projects - an extensive paper on selecting American history reference resources for a library of my choice (the topic was my choice, too) with a budget of $1200.
Thank God, I'm almost done. But I did all the easy parts first - that was dumb.
I did get some Starbucks to get me through the night, however (or at least a few hours).
A celebration is in order when I finish this semester. Making it through has been such a chore, something I never thought possible. All I need is an Indiana summer to cleanse all this filth away (as if it could...as if I like Indiana summers.).
I've been sitting in front of my computer trying desperately to finish one of my term projects - an extensive paper on selecting American history reference resources for a library of my choice (the topic was my choice, too) with a budget of $1200.
Thank God, I'm almost done. But I did all the easy parts first - that was dumb.
I did get some Starbucks to get me through the night, however (or at least a few hours).
A celebration is in order when I finish this semester. Making it through has been such a chore, something I never thought possible. All I need is an Indiana summer to cleanse all this filth away (as if it could...as if I like Indiana summers.).
17 March 2006
Pictures from Sisters' Week
Half of the week the girls (maddie and katie) were with us at my house, the second half they were terrorizing their grandma at her house, while the big girls played games and relaxed.
Maddie could find something to dress up in anywhere, although she did bring her own princess high heels from Arizona. This boa belongs to someone in my house, and Maddie had a blast with it.
Maddie & Katie at the Children's Museum in Indy - Pioneer Babies
Katie Elyse
Emily at the Indiana University Memorial Union/Hotel in the heart of campus
Emily, me and Leslie
Maddie could find something to dress up in anywhere, although she did bring her own princess high heels from Arizona. This boa belongs to someone in my house, and Maddie had a blast with it.
Maddie & Katie at the Children's Museum in Indy - Pioneer Babies
Katie Elyse
Emily at the Indiana University Memorial Union/Hotel in the heart of campus
Emily, me and Leslie
Only a few months late
I've been wanting to post pictures of my new-ish computer since I got it in January, but no one around here had a digimon (aka digital camera).
Because it was Sisters' Week, there were digital cameras abounding. Here are the pictures:
This is the monitor, speakers and keyboard, as you can see. Katie's adorableness is decorating my desktop for now. Also note how organized my binders are...only because I had company, I promise.
The computer tower - how interesting can it be, you ask? Well, note these 2 things. First, it's beautiful. Silver, white and black. Classy. Second, it has USB ports everywhere, which my laptop did not even have at all. And yes, that is a woofer in the background. Absolutely.
Because it was Sisters' Week, there were digital cameras abounding. Here are the pictures:
This is the monitor, speakers and keyboard, as you can see. Katie's adorableness is decorating my desktop for now. Also note how organized my binders are...only because I had company, I promise.
The computer tower - how interesting can it be, you ask? Well, note these 2 things. First, it's beautiful. Silver, white and black. Classy. Second, it has USB ports everywhere, which my laptop did not even have at all. And yes, that is a woofer in the background. Absolutely.
16 March 2006
Seestars' Week
I'm not much of an entertainer. Nor hostess. It's actually super stressful to me, having to be in charge and make sure everyone has a great time.
Luckily for me, my sisters are easily entertained, like I am, so I didn't have to plan much of anything. We figured it out as the opportunities came.
Events of Sisters' Week:
- Indy Children's Museum with parents and our brother
- 16 Blocks at Showplace 16 (entertaining, though we missed the first 5-10 minutes)
- Dinner at Vito Provolone's, my favorite restaurant in Indy
- 7 bottles of wine
- Gaming, all night long, every night and sometimes during the day
- IU campus tour
- Kahlua cake
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Mexican Beef Stew
- Chocolate Raspberry coffee
- Oliver Winery
Spring Break was fabulous this year, even if a bit short. Only 2 1/2 more semesters to go!
Luckily for me, my sisters are easily entertained, like I am, so I didn't have to plan much of anything. We figured it out as the opportunities came.
Events of Sisters' Week:
- Indy Children's Museum with parents and our brother
- 16 Blocks at Showplace 16 (entertaining, though we missed the first 5-10 minutes)
- Dinner at Vito Provolone's, my favorite restaurant in Indy
- 7 bottles of wine
- Gaming, all night long, every night and sometimes during the day
- IU campus tour
- Kahlua cake
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Mexican Beef Stew
- Chocolate Raspberry coffee
- Oliver Winery
Spring Break was fabulous this year, even if a bit short. Only 2 1/2 more semesters to go!
11 March 2006
the good things in life
Even in the midst of a crazy week while wrapping up projects and cleaning the house and trying to mentally prepare for the rush of madness when classes start up again in a week, I experienced something wonderful in the form of the best massage ever.
I'm very particular about my massages - and so far, while the massage therapists have relieved some tension, they haven't been able to rid me of it. Perhaps I'm asking too much - I do carry a great deal of tension in my shoulders - but it's their job, right?
Random person who gives massages out of her home, turns out to be my new favorite masseuse ever. I've never been so relaxed in my life.
Great way to start the break...unfortunately, I had house chores to finish up afterwards. But it actually energized me, so much so that I mopped the entryway and a bathroom, vacuumed the entire first floor (including moving furniture that hasn't been moved in at least a year from the looks of what was hiding underneath), and then finished up the first season of Lost and began the first season of Grey's Anatomy. Both are highly recommended.
I'm very particular about my massages - and so far, while the massage therapists have relieved some tension, they haven't been able to rid me of it. Perhaps I'm asking too much - I do carry a great deal of tension in my shoulders - but it's their job, right?
Random person who gives massages out of her home, turns out to be my new favorite masseuse ever. I've never been so relaxed in my life.
Great way to start the break...unfortunately, I had house chores to finish up afterwards. But it actually energized me, so much so that I mopped the entryway and a bathroom, vacuumed the entire first floor (including moving furniture that hasn't been moved in at least a year from the looks of what was hiding underneath), and then finished up the first season of Lost and began the first season of Grey's Anatomy. Both are highly recommended.
09 March 2006
Closure
In life, I need closure.
Everywhere and for anything - coversations, failed love affairs, ends of semesters, terminated work groups, whatever - I must have closure.
Everywhere and for anything - coversations, failed love affairs, ends of semesters, terminated work groups, whatever - I must have closure.
Caffeine-jacked
For some reason, I'm hyper-sensitive to caffeine. If I have a caffeinated beverage, and am subsequently put in a social situation, inevitably, I'll start talking incessantly. Today, I noted that it's almost as if I'm drunk - only in the sense that I laugh more and talk louder.
I work Thursday nights, and instead of my usual bleary-eyed, silent self, because of a mid-afternoon double latte, I was rather talkative with my fellow worker, Jordan. He's a very nice person, and very interesting to talk to, incidentally. Had I ever been more awake on a Thursday night, or more social, I may have discovered that prior to the mid-point in the semester.
Jordan is into preservation of library materials and works in the rare books library here on campus - the Lilly. As we spoke about a mocumentary that my family made this past Christmas and how during the taping process onto regular VHS tapes sound and visual quality were completely lost - in the middle of all of that, Jordan blurts out:
"I hate magnetic tape. I feel very passionately about this. I hate the magnetic medium as a whole."
I'd never met someone so passionate in their detesting of tapes and any and all other magnetic storage devices.
I work Thursday nights, and instead of my usual bleary-eyed, silent self, because of a mid-afternoon double latte, I was rather talkative with my fellow worker, Jordan. He's a very nice person, and very interesting to talk to, incidentally. Had I ever been more awake on a Thursday night, or more social, I may have discovered that prior to the mid-point in the semester.
Jordan is into preservation of library materials and works in the rare books library here on campus - the Lilly. As we spoke about a mocumentary that my family made this past Christmas and how during the taping process onto regular VHS tapes sound and visual quality were completely lost - in the middle of all of that, Jordan blurts out:
"I hate magnetic tape. I feel very passionately about this. I hate the magnetic medium as a whole."
I'd never met someone so passionate in their detesting of tapes and any and all other magnetic storage devices.
Losing my mind
Every week there are a number of new reasons I'm convinced I'm losing my mind. During stressful times of the semester, such as before Spring Break, I find myself fast approaching the edge of sanity.
Today I missed the bus by 1.5 minutes. I spent the next 30 minutes walking the sidewalks in a definite figure-8 pattern, at times talking out loud to myself.
As if that weren't enough...
My biceps have been killing me for 24 hours. I have spent a great deal of time scraping the corners of my mind to find a reason for this (wonderful, yet painful) anomoly. Ever since I gave up weight-lifting after my freshman year of college, I haven't felt this soreness. Did I do Tae-Bo? no. Did I spend too much time holding my phone to my ear? no, and that certainly wouldn't account for the equal pain in each arm as I tend to favor the left ear and therefore left arm for phone conversations.
Then it came to me when I saw my professor tonight...before class last night, I carried a really heavy box full of manila file folders from my car in the parking lot behind the library to his office (he being said professor). And that must be how weak I am. I was completely embarrassed and probably blushed at the mere thought of being that weak when I realized that it was. Oh me. To be strong again!
I got a message on my phone when I came home tonight that went something like this:
[Southern Indiana-hick accent] "Yeah, hello, Paul. I just got your message and am returning your call here about 6 o'clock. Talk to you later, Buddy.]
Not only was it a wrong number, it was to Paul folks - could it have been any more perfect?!
I rest my case for the night, for the week, and for the first half of the semester.
Today I missed the bus by 1.5 minutes. I spent the next 30 minutes walking the sidewalks in a definite figure-8 pattern, at times talking out loud to myself.
As if that weren't enough...
My biceps have been killing me for 24 hours. I have spent a great deal of time scraping the corners of my mind to find a reason for this (wonderful, yet painful) anomoly. Ever since I gave up weight-lifting after my freshman year of college, I haven't felt this soreness. Did I do Tae-Bo? no. Did I spend too much time holding my phone to my ear? no, and that certainly wouldn't account for the equal pain in each arm as I tend to favor the left ear and therefore left arm for phone conversations.
Then it came to me when I saw my professor tonight...before class last night, I carried a really heavy box full of manila file folders from my car in the parking lot behind the library to his office (he being said professor). And that must be how weak I am. I was completely embarrassed and probably blushed at the mere thought of being that weak when I realized that it was. Oh me. To be strong again!
I got a message on my phone when I came home tonight that went something like this:
[Southern Indiana-hick accent] "Yeah, hello, Paul. I just got your message and am returning your call here about 6 o'clock. Talk to you later, Buddy.]
Not only was it a wrong number, it was to Paul folks - could it have been any more perfect?!
I rest my case for the night, for the week, and for the first half of the semester.
08 March 2006
Maddie
Not only does she leave adorable messages on my phone: "Hi, Lana. Thanks for the call. I was hoping to talk to you. Okay, talk to you later, Bye." but she also simply is adorable.
She looks so grown up in this picture, granted it's been four months since I've seen her. Since then, she's started pre-school, been kissed on the lips by a boy, and left about 8 messages on my phone. We decided yesterday that when I come out in August, we'll both get our ears pierced. When asked if she could handle the poke in one ear enough to get the other one done directly thereafter, she answered, "Well, I think I could do it. I think I can handle another poke."
By the way, she's dressed up for a princess birthday party in this picture. Though she wanted to throw her grandpa a similar princess party, she decided that maybe a Strawberry Shortcake party would be more appropriate for him. There must be birthday hats. Those she insisted upon.
05 March 2006
A ridiculous holiday, but a necessary celebration in mid-winter
Today is March 5th, which is my half-birthday. Shout out to ME!
24, here I come!
It is also the half-birthday of Sarah Shivler and David Hartman. So Happy Half-Birthdays to you two, as well! Hope it was a good day.
24, here I come!
It is also the half-birthday of Sarah Shivler and David Hartman. So Happy Half-Birthdays to you two, as well! Hope it was a good day.
04 March 2006
An Ambush Friending
This is what Bird did to me. Out of all of her friends, this year she chose me as the object for her ambush friending.
Instead of the blindfold, handcuffs and loud music, which usually accompany such a shindig, she actually asked me if I was free Friday night for 4 hours, and if I wouldn't be willing to go somewhere with her.
She ended up telling me what the plan was, and we changed it a bit, but it was so much fun. First, Brokeback Mountain...for which I have no words. Second, Irish Lion for a Guinness, which was lovely, and much fanatical conversation. And I discovered how much I love Owen for loving Ireland so much. We definitely discussed it for at least 30 minutes, which is mild, considering he was just there over the weekend (jerk!).
I hope that I can plan ambush friendings for people in years to come. It was so lovely and I was so relaxed...after two months of unending tension, it was a welcome relief.
Thanks, Bird!
Instead of the blindfold, handcuffs and loud music, which usually accompany such a shindig, she actually asked me if I was free Friday night for 4 hours, and if I wouldn't be willing to go somewhere with her.
She ended up telling me what the plan was, and we changed it a bit, but it was so much fun. First, Brokeback Mountain...for which I have no words. Second, Irish Lion for a Guinness, which was lovely, and much fanatical conversation. And I discovered how much I love Owen for loving Ireland so much. We definitely discussed it for at least 30 minutes, which is mild, considering he was just there over the weekend (jerk!).
I hope that I can plan ambush friendings for people in years to come. It was so lovely and I was so relaxed...after two months of unending tension, it was a welcome relief.
Thanks, Bird!
02 March 2006
Intruder
I'm sitting at my desk right now, working on my project/presentation/paper for tomorrow. Two minutes ago, I suddenly heard scratching at the glass door to my left, which leads out to the driveway.
Looking towards the door, I found a man in paint-splattered clothes with a cigarette dangling precariously from his lips, shoving a key into the lock, scraping it around, and then trying to rip my door down when it would not open. Completely caught off guard, I sat staring at him try to break into my house. I was confused because he had a key, I was sitting 10 feet away, and he had not knocked.
The week before I moved in, my landlord had workmen coming and going around here trying to fix the leak in the master bathroom. They had the floor, walls, etc. ripped up in the bathroom, and despite the fact it was a royal mess, Bird was sleeping in the attached room. One night, in the middle of the night, a workman walks into the bedroom in which she's sleeping and starts working. Should I reiterate it's the middle of the night. Bird was the only one here.
Knowing that story, I was assuming this would-be robber was someone sent by the landlord, but, I figured he would have called to warn us.
He was pissed after about four go-rounds with the key and tramped back toward his car, which was sitting in our driveway. I got up, opened the door, and hollered, "Hello??" But there was no one around his car, meaning he was now at the front door. Brilliant.
By the time I ran upstairs, he was trying the front lock and yanking the door around.
So, I opened it. "Can I help you?" I said, with my classic - what the hell are you doing? - look.
Visibly shocked that someone was home, he stuttered and stammered around a bit, eventually saying, "Is this 1021?"
"Yep." I was glaring at this point. I have no tolerance for people attempting a break-in when I'm sitting at my desk.
He started reading something off of the flourescent orange keychain in his hand, "1021...Chris... Lane...This isn't Chris Lane, is it?"
"Nope. It's one street over," I said, pointing. He began apologizing profusely, and I nodded as I shut the door in his face.
Looking towards the door, I found a man in paint-splattered clothes with a cigarette dangling precariously from his lips, shoving a key into the lock, scraping it around, and then trying to rip my door down when it would not open. Completely caught off guard, I sat staring at him try to break into my house. I was confused because he had a key, I was sitting 10 feet away, and he had not knocked.
The week before I moved in, my landlord had workmen coming and going around here trying to fix the leak in the master bathroom. They had the floor, walls, etc. ripped up in the bathroom, and despite the fact it was a royal mess, Bird was sleeping in the attached room. One night, in the middle of the night, a workman walks into the bedroom in which she's sleeping and starts working. Should I reiterate it's the middle of the night. Bird was the only one here.
Knowing that story, I was assuming this would-be robber was someone sent by the landlord, but, I figured he would have called to warn us.
He was pissed after about four go-rounds with the key and tramped back toward his car, which was sitting in our driveway. I got up, opened the door, and hollered, "Hello??" But there was no one around his car, meaning he was now at the front door. Brilliant.
By the time I ran upstairs, he was trying the front lock and yanking the door around.
So, I opened it. "Can I help you?" I said, with my classic - what the hell are you doing? - look.
Visibly shocked that someone was home, he stuttered and stammered around a bit, eventually saying, "Is this 1021?"
"Yep." I was glaring at this point. I have no tolerance for people attempting a break-in when I'm sitting at my desk.
He started reading something off of the flourescent orange keychain in his hand, "1021...Chris... Lane...This isn't Chris Lane, is it?"
"Nope. It's one street over," I said, pointing. He began apologizing profusely, and I nodded as I shut the door in his face.
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