viking librarians

This is awesome:  librarians gone wild!

accepted

I received my official acceptance letter to the University of Missouri Graduate program this week, so phew, I'm in.  Not that I was worried, but...  You never know.  I generally just figure I can do anything, so one of these days, I'm sure I'll be unpleasantly surprised. :)  Hopefully not anytime soon.  Huh, I sound smug.  Oh, well.

Going a bit stir-crazy.  I've been home for 6 days now (well, 5 if you don't count the day in the hospital), and haven't done squat.  Today has been a bit more active - helped the hubby fix the gate on our fence, weeded my veggie garden, started some laundry.  Can't tell if the exhaustion I'm feeling right now is the result of exertion or lack of calories.  The DH says I've lost some weight already but I don't see it.  And I bet the scale wouldn't see it either - the weight has probably just shifted to my fat face.

I miss dancing.  I miss eating.  I miss smiling.  Not really missing work at all yet...doubt that will set in.  But still - I really dislike this break from life.  Obviously, I'm not missing whining, huh?  :P  I'll stop.  Need to clean up a room, or make something, or read, or prepare for my summer class that starts this weekend...

School's out!

I finished my first semester of library school today!  Woo-hoo!  Now a two week break before my summer class starts...  I got a letter in the mail week before last saying that I have been "recommended for admission" but that the official decision hadn't been handed down yet...  Pretty sure that means I'm in though. :) 
In other exciting news, I'm days away from being put under anesthesia and having my face sawed apart.  Fun!  My jaw surgery is Thursday, so I'm trying to wrap up as much work-wise, dance-wise, home/garden-wise and volunteer-wise as I can before then.  Tonight I'm going to set up my "command center" on the nightstand - move a power strip so I can have my laptop and cd player close by, stack my books and projects within reach, and see if we need more pillows.  I put a bunch of audio books on reserve at the library, so those will be picked up tomorrow night, including another David Sedaris... I bet my dear sweet husband will be thrilled!  (Last week before Ha Ha Tonka! I made him and my brother listed to part of "When You Are Engulfed In Flames" and I thought they were going to hurt me...but it's so funny!)
Better get moving - going to dance for a bit...while I still can.

really?

A tad ridiculous, if you ask me.  Child brings home Spiderman comic book.  Mother thinks it's too "sexual" and complains to school library.  School will form committee to evaluate complain.  Mother insists on holding onto book until complaint is resolved.  Um, why?  Why not give the book back so that the committee can examine it???  Ugh.  Seriously, lady, I highly doubt it's anything your kid hasn't seen before, and very likely does not understand or CARE!  And give the book back so that this can get done properly - unless there's another reason you insist on holding onto a sexually suggestive graphic novel...?

Update on those '09 resolutions

Just over halfway through Month 2 of 2009, how am I doing? 

• Half-mar trailing - this has been a challenge.  I've been faithfully doing the "long" runs on Saturdays (OK, they're not that long yet), but my jogging has been sporadic durin ghe week and I've developed some sort of hip issue that keeps me from moving very much after I run.  It's weird, scary, painful, and probably my own fault. 
• New camera - just hit "Place my order" on a new camera.  We'll see.  I did some research, tried a few out.  In the end, went with new, cheap-ish, and well-reviewed.
• Donate clothes - I dropped off over $300 in clothes during January at My Closet, so I'm off to a good start. 
  
• Belly dance - I've done a few dvds.  Not enough, but it's a start.  Definitely not dancing every day.  This is partially due to the aforementioned hip issue, and also to just be so freaking busy that I don't have time, but I do need to make this more of a priority. 
  
• Try new techniques - craft-wise, that is.  I made my own Valentines this year for all the Divas and for some other friends and family.  I'm not good with glue, so it was an adventure.  The cards were well-received, so I think I may have a future in paper.
• Quality time with the DH.  I'd definitely say this was going well.  We had an awesome Valentine's weekend, amongst many other awesome weekends together so far this year.
• MALS - as I posted earlier this week, I submitted my application to Mizzou's M.A. in Library Science program.  Cross your fingers! :)  If all goes well this semester, I'll have 6 hours under my belt by May 5, and if I get accepted to the program, can figure out my upcoming jaw surgery schedule, and get approval to take summer classes, I'll have another 6 knocked out by the end of June.  That's a lot of ifs.

So, yeah, there you have it.  Not bad for the first 47 days of the year, huh?

gulp!

It’s official – my application has been submitted to the University of Missouri’s Graduate Studies program.  Eek.

longest book ever

I'm "reading" Atlas Shrugged. "Reading" as in listening to the audio
book. I'm on Chapter 6 of Part 2. Disc 21. Of 45. Read outloud,
the entire work is over 55 hours. It's fabulous, but I do not have 55
hours to sit and stare at a book. I'm going to make a great
librarian, huh? :P

However, this book has totally changed my opinion on driving. I hate
being in the car...or hated it until I started listening to this
story. I could drive for hours now! (55 hours to be exact.)

Happy 2009...now let's get down to business...

Here's to a happy little new year...  In the spirit of always filling my plate and having eyes far bigger than my stomach (or calendar), here are (some) of my New Year's Resolutions for 2009.  I'm trying to be specific, because apparently those types of goals are easier to achieve.

• Smile even when I don't feel like it
• Train for Lincoln half-marathon w/ ML
• Limit myself to one pop (or less) per week
• Save enough cash for a new camera
• Donate or sell 25% of my clothing/fabric/shoes/etc
• Knit pedicure socks
• Crochet or knit 5 scarves and hats to donate to Salvation Army or other charity
• Choreograph 3 new solos and perfect 3 current solos
• Work dancing into my everyday routine
• Try out every single belly dance video that I own
• Spend more quality time with the DH
• Buy less crap
• Of the things I make, keep only those that are beautiful or useful
• Try new techniques and designs, with the goal of the above in mind
• Study for and obtain my CISSP certificate
• Apply and be accepted in the Masters of Arts in Library Sciences program at MU.
  
• Earn at least 12 credit hours toward my MALS
• Learn to prioritize more and procrastinate less so that all of the above becomes feasible!

Not too much, right? :)  Well, so far, so good anyway...  I ran a few miles today, and will run with the group tomorrow.  I have done 2 of my belly dance dvds so far this week - new ones, too!  I put my Christmas cash aside for the new camera.  I'm signed up for 6 hours in the MALS program at the University of Missouri, to start in the next few weeks.  I am slowly learning to knit, starting by reworking the scarf I did (horribly) last year - and I can purl now too!  Go me!  And I'm smiling right now, so that's good... ;) 

Happy New Year!  I hope this motivation lasts at least through February!