Thursday, April 19, 2007

Preface...

Sometimes, there just aren't words that you can say to make any situation better. Monday's events were handled enough by the media, and the grief of anybody associated with that campus was well recorded. At the risk of seeming repetitive, let me express my profound sorrow for the family and friends of the victims, and especially for the professors who sacrificed themselves for the sake of their students.

I have purposely chosen (after following the story closely for the past few days) to no longer dwell on the CNN.com stories. After viewing the video sent to NBC, I realized that the media is giving this shooter exactly what he wanted. After taking over 30 lives on a college campus (a general place that is dear to my heart for obvious reasons), he doesn't deserve to get what he wants.

I have more opinions, worries, and concerns, but will not express them here. I'll write something a bit more positive tonight.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Yeah...

I'm alive, but completely uninspired to write a life update, or even a reading update (even though I'm reading some cool stuff). Maybe I'll be back in a week or so with renewed vigor to write you readers some not-so-interesting stuff. For now though, nothing has changed (which is a very good thing, knock on wood) and I'll be working throughout the weekend both to make up for some time that I took off earlier in the week, and to gain some time in the future that I need off. Basically, I have a case of the blog blues and just need a little break.


Thursday, March 29, 2007

Mr. Sandman

Yes?

I've been off in La La Dream land for the past week or so. I can't seem to stay grounded. All I want to do is daydream or sleep to dream (I had a dream that I went to Italy last night--who could beat that), and it's kind of getting on my nerves. I have motivation, I like what I do (in and outside of work), but I can't seem to focus! Maybe it's the 80 degree weather (that is finally going down). Maybe it's the ridiculously high pollen count (the most in years) that we're having here in Georgia. Spring fever is a bitch.

Lately I've been reading and hanging out with friends. I just finished Eragon. I thought I wasn't into dragon fantasy, but I guess I am because I really liked it (am now reading Eldest). The movie that I saw in December definitely pales in comparison, although John Malkovich as Galbatorix has been the brunt of many jokes this week. I still don't understand why they got "ssssssuper" John Malkovich to play this amazingly evil character that has yet to have a speaking role in the books. He is perhaps one of the most confusing actors I have seen in my life.

Two of my aunts and my cousin are flying in today. They should be here until early Sunday morning. I won't get to spend much time with them as I work late tonight and all day tomorrow, but it will be nice seeing them again.

Sunday, my friends Adrian and Paige are throwing me a "surprise" birthday party (well, like 4 people, two of them being my parents, will be there, which is fine with me). I'm excited because I haven't had a birthday party since the beginning of college. I turn the good ol' quarter of a century on Monday, which is somewhat frightening, and somewhat exciting. The further away in age that I get from my college years (and grad. school), the better.

Alright, back to work I suppose...

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Lisssssten up PEEPle!

I figure that at least my library school/work friends will appreciate this fantastic introduction to research page. My personal favorite picture is where they get caught making out at the library. I've found that people either hate or love these fantastic confections (I obviously love them). There's something about colored sugar and marshmallow formed into a lovely bird or bunny shape that is just so good!

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

That's right folks, I'm in LOVE...

... with a metal dinosaur





... no wait, with Colorado!

My mom always says that when she travels to that area of the country, she feels like she's going home. She's from Nebraska, but traveled/lived in Colorado and surrounding states during summers, as my grandfather was a biology teacher/eventual professor. The west is an ideal place for summer science camps. I traveled in this area as a young child, but I have never lived out west. Whenever I visit though, I feel like I'm going home, much like my mom.

Jon lives in Ft. Collins, which is north of Denver. It is super accessible to many cool places. This visit, along with Jon's awesome best friend Ashley, we visited Rocky Mountain National Park (again), and drove thorough a minor snow storm to get to Vedauwoo Recreation area in Medicine Bow National Forrest, Wyoming. The park was even better this time than in February, mainly because everything is thawing out. We hiked around a frozen lake, saw more elk, climbed into the alluvial fan, and saw many scenic outlooks. Jon and I plan on hiking (an easy trail for my sake) next month in the park. I am luckily now well equipped now that I have a brand new pair of hiking shoes. I've never been to Vedauwoo in the winter before. Driving into the park was impossible, but we managed to walk over the snow drifts that were taller than us to enter. After a lot of memory jogging, I was finally able to find the picnic table where my mother celebrated her 9th birthday (the one under the huge rock up there). If you ever get the chance to travel through southern Wyoming, go to Vedauwoo. It will change your mind about Wyoming forever.

Sadly, Ashley had to leave us on Sunday (after a very nice visit with some puppies). On Monday, Jon and I ventured to a junk-turned-art farm called Swetsville Zoo in Ft. Collins. If you have facebook, see all of my pictures. The art is amazing, and I especially enjoyed getting fresh with a metal dinosaur/hungarian horntail. I also had fun meeting another of Jon's friends, Michael. I'm excited about getting to know him better as well as meeting his fiancé eventually.

I love being in a place where there is so much to see, so close. I'm not much of a bar/club person, so this outdoors stuff is quickly becoming an obsession of mine (don't worry, I'm too big of a wimp to take it too far). It's fair to say that I've officially fallen in love with Colorado though. It's no longer that place where I hiked a mountain at the age of 8. It's now another place to call home.

A year ago, heck six months ago, I would have never suspected that my life would be so different. On the surface it's the same, but my mentality is completely different. I feel truly blessed to be living my life.

On a bookish note, don't ever read cheesy teeny-bopper books about a girl who practices magic to solve murder and obsession in a prep school setting. I'm a huge YA fan and this was just rough.


Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Pink Elephants, Henry VIII, Jane Eyre, and Nerds

Sad, but true... my fuzzy pink elephant key chain (picture to come later) is more popular than me at work. My friend Paige gave a few of us different animal key chains for Valentines Day and I decided to separate my work keys from my car/home keys. I figured that a pink elephant would never allow me to lose/forget my work keys. Now he has a name (Rufus), a questionable sexuality, and romps around with various Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Nancy Pearl, and Scooby Doo toys around the technical services area (a lot of the employees here, myself included, have toys in their offices) and has been the brunt of many, um, jokes. At least we keep ourselves entertained here with more than work, policy, and meetings.

I've also been joking (with Amanda) a lot about Henry VIII lately. If you know me, you know that I like Tudor history. After reading Marie Antoinette: the journey in the fall, I fell in love with Antonia Fraser's style of writing. I decided on checking out The Six Wives of Henry VIII for my lunch reading here at work. I've been reading it since the beginning of the semester and I'm still not even half way through it. Apparently there's also a new TV show on Showtime called The Tudors. The guy who plays Henry VIII is really, I mean REALLY hot. For the standards of the time, young Henry VIII WAS "attractive" but he was much stockier (I have seen the armor from his youth) than the guy who plays him on TV. He was such a piece of work. It amazes me how passionate he was (quick to love and quick to hate).

Talk of strumpets and trumpets naturally led to tea talk (and consequential creation of Victorian era tea shop mystery novel names like "Sconed to Death"). Speaking of scones and Victorian tea shop mysteries, I have finally finished Jane Eyre. I already miss reading it and can't wait until I can begin a re-read. I fell in love (not like that) with the character of Jane, mainly because she sticks up for herself and is strong-willed. The male characters leave much to be desired in this book, but most men aren't ideal anyways (nor women). Having perfect men in the novel would have only made it boring and perhaps obsolete by now. There's Mr. Rochester who is WAY too passionate (kind of like Henry VIII) and St. John, who can't take no for an answer and is just a cold and jerky. The lunatic wife from the West Indies was a nice addition, as I like to be spooked in fiction novels, and you don't really understand what's going on with her until the latter half of the novel. Overall, Jane is the one who kept me reading and loving the book. It was a very good re-introduction to the classics.

Can somebody tell me the difference between "dork" and "nerd" or am I just both?

I'm off to Colorado tonight to see my equally, if not more nerdy boyfriend. I shall update when I get back!

Monday, February 26, 2007

Something Smells Fishy!

So I've been trying to write an entry for about 5 days now. I'd start and realize that I was revealing too much by going off on a tangent or talking about stupid boring things (some of you might say, "so what's new Traci"). Gosh darnit I'm going to write a post and you're going to like it, even if it's boring.

-So what's been going on in the life of Traci?

I've been adjusting to Lent life. I'm catholic, so I'm doing my best to not eat meat on Fridays (this is the tie-in to my title). I have been successful thus far (one week) and have managed to consume both a tuna fish sandwich and a McDonald's Filet o'Fish (God Bless). Yay Jesus!

I think my family (well, my parents and I) will be switching churches as well. We've been with good ol' Saint John Neuman since I was born, but never attend anymore, as my parents grew weary of the church when I was younger. I think they've found a place (St. Oliver's) they like now and are giving it a trial run, in hopes of making the switch. Jon's parents happen to go there as well, and I might have to start making appearances at the 8am mass to chaperon the parents.

-So what's going to happen in the life of Traci?

This weekend I will be making an appearance at the WGI Atlanta regional. My best friend and co-UGA-captain from college, Krista, will come with. I'm excited to see the few friends I have left in the activity perform and/or teach and am hoping to avoid drama, which shouldn't be difficult, but I wouldn't put it past color guard (I will be armed with a book--the ultimate escape). I'm mainly excited to hang out with Krista though, because that doesn't happen too often anymore because of schedules.

Next week is Brenau's spring break! Luckily, the president is giving faculty 2 days off, so I'll be getting on a plane once again to Colorado. Ashley K. from high school will also be visiting, and I'll get to meet his new roommate (his best friend who also went to high school with all of us) Mike. I'm happy to meet/reacquaint with his friends and I look forward to some more time in Rocky Mountain National Park. We're also planning on venturing into WYOMING (my favorite state) and will try to visit Vedauwoo, one of my favorite places in America. My mom had her 9th birthday party there at a picnic table under this gigantic rock. Every time we've visited the park since, we had take a picture there. I hope hope hope it isn't too snowy to get to that point in the park to take yet another picture.

-Moving on.

I've watched three movies over the course of the day. Beauty Academy of Kabul is an amazing documentary about women in Afghanistan. I highly recommend it, as I knew nothing of the situation. I watched it because Brenau is hosting an event with a panel to discuss the documentary next month. I also watched An Inconvenient Truth (the Al Gore documentary that just won an Oscar). While I'm not sure how much I buy global warming, I was very impressed by his research and dedication to what he calls the "climate crisis." It would have been much better without flashbacks of the 2000 election though. I hope that we get candidates for 2008 who have more genuine concern for the environment (like Gore), as it has been overwhelmingly neglected over the past 7 years. Moving on from the political ambiguity (PLEASE don't comment with a lecture on global warming), I watched Persuasion, an adaptation of the Jane Austen novel. Once I understood a. what they were saying and b. what was going on in the story (I have never read the novel), I really enjoyed it. I like the fact that the protagonist wasn't a ravishing beauty and it was a cute love story, although not as worthy as Pride and Prejudice.

Well that about wraps up current events, and for that matter February. I won't place any conclusions on the month as it is not officially over, but I have enjoyed it thus far for the first time in years. Hope all is well!

Friday, February 16, 2007

Easy on the Eyes





Colorado was beautiful (hence "easy on the eyes" title). I've been there twice before, but only in the summer. The sunny winter days are equally nice as the summer days though, and any place that can motivate me to want to snowshoe in the future is definitely right up my alley. I'm excited about exploring this place more over the next few months. More pictures to come.

Speaking of easy on the eyes...

So, I've finally started Jane Eyre. I LOVE it so far (only 5 chapters in). I have no initial weariness towards the content or characters, like I did with Pride and Prejudice (please note that P & P is NOW one of my favorite books... it just took a while for me to appreciate it). Perhaps it is the Victorian time period. Perhaps, I'm just older and able to understand what's going on better. There's something kick ass about a ten year old girl telling off her cruel aunt and sticking up for herself. A lot of full grown women can't do that TODAY. I'm looking forward to my first weekend home since January. Even while my grandparents are visiting, I can sit back, relax, and read (and eat ribs to celebrate my brother's 29th birthday). It's a beautiful thing.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

"The nights were long and cold and scary, can we live through February?"

-Dar Williams

I have some updates. Granted, they're nothing major, but it's something to occupy my time.

First of all February.... I have actually enjoyed the first 8 days. February 3rd and 8th (today) are usually the most difficult, as they are the birth and death days respectively of my Grandmother. She died very young (60) of a brain aneurysm (my youngest grandparent in fact) in 1993, and it still pains me that she is gone, especially considering that she lived a rough life. I'm sure she's chilling up in Heaven though, so I'm cool just being able to remember her.

This past weekend was the annual girls time in Chicago. My mom enjoyed her first time (not to Chicago, but on this particular trip). I spent $40 on chocolate for us, but overall, stayed well within my budget. The only downside to this trip was the COLD WEATHER. I completely forgot what it was like to be really cold. Taxis were taken all weekend, as even my weather savvy aunts could not handle it.

Work is starting to die down from the busyness that it was over the past week. Last Monday, one of the Academy (the boarding high school for girls) teachers called asking for some bibliographic instruction sessions (teaching library stuff) for four of her English classes. I spent two days preparing lesson plans for two U.S. Lit. classes, and two general literature classes. I did half of the classes last Wednesday. Thursday, there was ice on the roads. They canceled school (typical Georgia), but we had to come in for a few hours. I finally completed the other half of classes today. The scavenger hunts (for books) went over well... well, mainly because I gave them candy. I have a definite respect for Instruction Librarians though... with all of the potential technology failures and classroom reception... it's so stressful. I like my collection development bubble, but am glad to be getting the experience, and working with high schoolers again now that I don't teach color guard anymore (thank God).

This weekend, I'm boarding yet another plane... this time to Colorado. I'm excited to see Jon and Ft. Collins, which I haven't visited since I was 8. Far too many future plans are taking place between us... it's kind of scary, but in a good way.

Susan, my buddy from graduate school, is coming to town in April for the ARLIS/NA conference. I get to spend a day with her, so I am excited (plus a possible camping trip to Utah in August woo hoo).

Did you guys hear about Anna Nicole Smith? Very odd...

Oh and book updates (how could I forget). I am currently reading The Book Thief, which is VERY good. It's narrated by death and set during World War II, which is a perfectly dreary February book. Next up is The Illustrated Jane Eyre. I am a Jane Eyre virgin (I know, how did that happen), so I am very excited about beginning my classics promise to myself with this book. After Jane Eyre, I will FINALLY get to Eragon and Eldest (I even bought this limited edition)... I have to read some form of fantasy at least once a month.

Alright, that's all you're getting out of me for a while. Happy and hopefully healthy and safe Februarys.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

I'm working, really.

I always steal stuff from Amanda (she actually has an interesting blog).

Here is what I look like everyday in the library. I even have a dachshund following me around all the time...


Yahoo! Avatars

Sunday, January 28, 2007

On the Road Again...

Hello readers (I really hate the word blogosphere, or well, blog in general).

I hope everybody is surviving winter, from my friends in snowy Colorado and New Hampshire, to my friends in sunny Florida and Southern California.

Georgia has been quite agreeable. If we do ever get anything bad, it's usually an ice storm. Luckily the ice has avoided the area thus far, making me very happy. Humidity mixed in with cold temperatures, however, are not pleasant. People think that Indiana is humid, when I'd take 20 degree weather in Indiana over 40 degree weather in Georgia any day. Alright, enough about the weather.

I'm invading the mid west (it's been almost 7 months) this weekend. I know I talk/write about it wayyy too much, but I love the annual Chicago trip and hanging out with my aunts and cousin. My mom is joining us this year, so that should be a nice addition. I have to keep telling myself that I have way too many things to save for, and to NOT buy shoes and clothes. Only chocolate.

The weekend of the 10th, I'm going to Colorado to visit Jon. I haven't been to Colorado in 2 and 1/2 years, and never during the winter, so I am super excited (in addition to seeing Jon of course). I should be out there monthly from now on, and I'm looking forward to exploring the amazing nature (no mountain lions please) out there. I was so skeptical about the whole long distance thing because I've had really horrible experiences with guys in the past. Luckily, Jon lives somewhere really cool (not to mention that Jon is just a great guy in general), so I am enjoying the long distance much more than originally thought. Please don't snow!

My grandparents are coming to visit the weekend after that, mainly to see their great grandson, but to also see us. I love my grandparents, but it's difficult to watch them age. My grandmother just experienced some crazy eye surgery. She's lucky that she can still see. My grandfather got a case of gout a few years ago, and it's affecting his movement. Despite all of this, they are still very healthy (my grandmother is 81 and my grandfather turns 80 this year). I'm more worried about their minds (my grandmother has her master's in Education and my grandfather has his doctorate in biology) and dementia and such (particularly with my grandmother). That is far more heartbreaking than watching them physically degrade.

All of this is occurring in my least favorite month, February. I thought that I was going to beat February's ass last year, but it definitely took me down with vengeance mid-month. This year, I'm going to try to go with the flow and try not to remember that my only deceased grandparent died during this month, that any sort of break up, spat, whatever with a guy happened during this month, that multiple friends had different personal break-downs during this month, that it's so freaking cold and dreary during this month, etc. I hope to gain some sort of positive feeling towards February this year, not only for myself, but for others as well.

I've been reading a string of teen-y novels (besides the fact that I really like YA lit., we just moved our teen books out of the children's collection into a collection of it's own, so I've been doing "research") lately, only to start my classics promise when I finish the last traveling pants novel on which I am currently reading. More on that later.

It might be a while before I update again (maybe not), so everybody have a safe, and hopefully joyous start to February!

Monday, January 22, 2007

Choose Your Own Adventure

Does anybody remember those books as a kid? I used to read my brother's collection obsessively. My favorite book was one about Stonehenge. I think it was instrumental in launching my obsession with that place actually, so seeing it and actually being able to put my arms around the stone a couple of years ago was fantastic.

Anyways, I feel like my life is becoming one of those books... not that I'm going to die around the next corner (although I suppose that's always possible), but I get that same excited feeling about it as when I read the books as a kid. For once though, I feel like I am making good choices and not warping myself into something that I'm not to fit onto some other path. We are ultimately, the choices that we make, so why not make good ones (after you've learned from the bad of course).

With the exception of a brief trip in December, I really haven't left Georgia. This has felt incredibly confining as I am used to travel. Even as a college student, I would get away a lot for various color guard events. My last semester I drove/flew out of state every single weekend for four months. Even in graduate school, I would go visit my relatives in Illinois or travel again with color guard, or go home to Georgia. I love being home (I am a major homebody) but sometimes I need a change of scenery to appreciate home more. Luckily, I am out once a month, every month until August this year, starting in a couple of weeks. I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to it all.

So what have I been reading lately? Right now I'm into a book called The astonishing life of Octavian Nothing: traitor to the nation (young adult). It's a two volume series about this African American boy in the Revolutionary War period dealing with slavery and experimentation (experimentation at first meaning education on both his and his mother's parts, then cruelty). It's an interesting read because you can tell that the author is trying to incorporate key revolutionary events into the story. They also have an interesting thing called a Pox party, where guests come for weeks and they infect themselves with small pox and all get sick together. yum. It kind of reminds me of some Edgar Allan Poe story with colored rooms (okay it's been about ten years) and people being sick... anybody? Oh and as I was posting the link, I found out that this book won the National Book Award (EDIT: also named a Printz honor book today).

I'm so excited to hear about the Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz winners... coming soon!

Well, I am going to go enjoy sitting in bed (as my dog sleeps at its foot) for a few more minutes before getting ready to go out to lunch with friends. Have a great week!

Sunday, January 14, 2007

My Secret Life, Well, According to Jon...

I've been having trouble thinking of things to blog about as of late. There's really nothing to talk about except books (which is always a good subject for me, but I realize that 3 out of the 4 people who read this blog get bored with book talk) and where I'm going to travel. I refuse to get too involved in politics or issues that kind of matter because who knows who can actually read this thing and use it against me someday.

So I'm telling my boyfriend about this dilemma of mine. He's super creative and decided to write an entry for me, as if it was written by me. I must note that he loves to mock me for being a super dork (mainly because he's one too and can do that without it being demeaning). I must also note, and you should get this unless you're really stupid, that this story is COMPLETE fiction, and that some of the things that I say or do, I don't necessarily agree with in real life (ex. I don't catalog books and I don't database my kitchen utensils, and I would never call my dog a "rat dog", and I don't plan on leaving my job anytime soon for Colorado). Also note that the agency listed that I supposedly work for is very similar to a popular Harry Potter fan site. But here it is. I hope it is at least a bit more interesting than my previous entries.

I realize my life is not very interesting….in fact I know it is not. Why I write in this blog is beyond me. I guess it is habit, or maybe I want to believe that somebody out there actually cares about what I do with my life. Scratch that, I know there is somebody out there that cares. Unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury, the mean or the will to actually find out, say for those who comment on this blog. Is my life really worth dialogging on a monthly, no, weekly basis? I can hear my inner monologue as I write this. A witty voice inside my head reading what I write. I think I will make her British. Yeah, a cheeky Brit girl is my inner voice. I find that people respond more to elegant accents, especially one that uses fun words such as, arse and shag.


Dear god, I have just turned this entry into Bridget Jones’s diary. I am not some middle aged, lonely, British woman looking for a lover, I promise…... Where was I? Oh yes, my life. As you can imagine the life of a bibliophile, as exciting as it sounds, is not in the least exciting as I want to imagine it. As a librarian, I am limited to daily tasks such as cataloging and checking out books and the even more mundane, ordering books. If my love of books wasn’t so great, I would think that I’d hate my job. But being that my love for books is tremendous, I absolutely love what I do! I just wish I could have a change of venue, somewhere less like Georgia, and more like…let’s see…Colorado, yeah, Colorado!


I find that it is a rare thing that one actually enjoys what he does. When I am not ordering books for the small university library, I so HAPPILY work in; I spend my time reading young adult novels, and databasing my cooking utensils. Yes, I know what you are thinking how can anyone live like this? Well, unless they live with their parents, no one can live like this! As exciting as it sounds, that is my life… well until recently. What I am not telling my readers is my real life. Yes, you read correctly. Believe it or not, all this academic book-loving-bull-shite I so lovingly pretend to enjoy is nothing but a farce… A debauchery if you will. You see, I belong to a group so secret, so underground, that the secret government agencies don’t even know that we exist. Before I go, on I must warn you that what you are about to read, you will not remember once you are finished. In fact, it is impossible to remember this entry no matter how many times you read it. That is because this entry contains a higher power… This entry is enchanted. Those who look at it will remember the words when they are reading it, but as soon as they look away, they instantly forget its contents. It won’t even be a distant memory. It would be as if it never existed. I am sorry to disappoint you, but this enchantment is a must. My organization can not afford to be compromised. So enjoy this while you read it because you will never hear it again…


You are probably asking yourself why, and more importantly, how I became a part of an organization so secret that reading about it erase your memory, and why would I risk writing about it on the internet. I write about it for my protection. So, if I shall have my memory erased as well, my story will never be lost… So I can be assured that somewhere, someone, even if it is for a brief instant, will know who I am and what I was. Hell, I may even stumble across this and read about myself, a self that does not exist anymore. There may be some off chance that if this is the case this entry may jump start my mind allowing me to remember my alternative life.


Interestingly enough it was my love of books that brought me to this organization, collectively known as the Muggle Net. The Muggle Net is an organization dedicated to the survival and secrecy of witches and wizards. We are a liaison, between the world of magic and the world of humanity. We are the keepers of secrets that pre-date time. We have operatives in every branch of government and on every police force. The MugNet, works behind the scenes to protect a secret so immense that penetrates every part of life. That dĂ©jĂ -vous feeling you get…..that is a side-effect of coming in contact with a magical entity. The MugNet keeps tabs on the non magical folk that have in some way knowingly or unknowingly come in contact with it. You can imagine what hysteria there would be if everybody knew that magic was real. My job is dangerous. I, myself, have been on the receiving end of spells and charms dealt by those who worship the dark arts. If it was not for my protection charms, who knows what state I would be in.

As I have said before, it was my love of books that led me to join Muggle Net. One series of books in particular, the Harry Potter series is what lead me to the organization. You may think that Harry Potter is fiction. You’d be wrong. Harry is real and so are his adventures. I fact the whole cast is real. J.K. Rowling is a Muggle Net informant. Her mission is to write of wizards and witches and present them as fiction in order to help strengthen the Muggle Net cause. Her writings have helped Muggle Net bring only best brightest non magical folk to our organization. It is because of her that I believe and that I am part of MugNet. Let me explain my story.

The day that changed my life started as usual, my damn dog decided to annoy the crap out of me that morning until I woke up and put him on the bed. Then, after two minutes he decided to jump down, only to want to get back up two minutes later…….and so it went….That stupid little rat dog… all I wanted to do was sleep!!!!! I was dead tired from the day before. I had a hard day of ordering books at the library followed by a night of extensive databasing. I am proud to report that my spatulas have properly numbered and filed away. Needless to say the antics my dog was pulling that morning was undesirable. Unbeknownst to me there was a reason for his eccentric behavior. Dogs have been known to sense things that a person can not feel. Of course at the time I did not know this, I just thought He was being a pest. I finally managed to drag myself out of bed since my dog would not let me sleep. I wrapped my self in my lovely soft on sale for $7 robe, and made my way downstairs to see what the entire ruckus was about. I was startled to find that my parents had been what seemed to be frozen in time. As a matter of fact, the world around me seemed paused. My mother seemed to be in the middle of pouring herself a cup of coffee. The stream of liquid resembled a frozen brown waterfall with a billow of soft mist dead in midair. My father dressed for work was halfway out the door in mid-stride. My heart beat rapidly and I wiped my eyes hoping that when I removed my hands from my face I would wake up to find the normal routines of life moving again. But to no avail, my attempt to wake up was futile. I stood there mystified in my PJ’s. My dog came running up to me and bit the cuff of my pant leg, his attempt to pull me into the living room. Why had he not been frozen? I would soon find out.


One thing I did notice was the sweet smell of pipe tobacco. It permeated the entire house. My parents did not smoke a pipe. Where was it coming from? As soon as I noticed, a voice billowed out across the room and directly toward me.


“Are ya jist goin’ to stand there all day, or ya goin’ to come enjoy a wee bit of pumpkin juice with me?”


How did he know I was there? I had not made a noise. I cautiously made my way into the foyer adjacent to the living room. I poked my head around the door frame. On the sofa was a rather plump man with frizzy white hair and beard wearing very small round spectacles and reading a rather large dusty and worn out book. His clothes were as tattered and disheveled as his hair. He seemed fully engrossed with what ever he was reading. On the coffee table in front of him sat a rather large silver tray with a complete tea service. Interestingly enough, none of the pieces in the service matched. They weren’t even all silver. I stared inquisitively at the whole scene. Without breaking his concentration from his tome he said:


“Well, come on in lass. You got nottin’ to be afraid of.”


“Who are you? And what happened to my parents?” I asked


“Oh, I wooldn’t worry yer self aboot them. They’ll be ookay. Me name is Billings, Archibald Billings at your service. Now come here and talk wit me.”


For some strange reason I was not afraid. I actually felt like I could trust him. By this time my dog had made his way to the sofa and jumped right up on Billings’ lap. Amazingly he did not bark or growl at Billings. Those of you who know my dog know that he does not like anyone.


“Ya got ya self a mean little tike there.”


“Yeah, I am very surprised by his behavior. He never takes kindly to strangers.”


“Oh, I jist ave a way with animals, that’s all. Any way I bet your wonderin’ why I’m here. Am a right lass?”


“Are you a wizard?”


“Aye, you are a bright one. I am a wizard. In fact I lead a of a group a muggles that are very special. Like ya self lassy.”


“Muggles? For real?”


“Aye. Believe it or not thems story you read, they’re real.”


“Real!!! You mean………”


“Aye, every bit o them. And cause ya believe in them is why I’m here this morn. I want you ya to join me group. Will ya be a part of the Muggle Net?”


“Muggle Net, what is that?”

Billings poured me a cup of juice and explained to me the inner workings of magic and wizardry. He told that witches and wizards relied on muggles more times than not, especially when in trouble. He told me that from this point on, my life would change forever and the Muggle Net must never be talked about to any one.

“What ya say lass? Ya in?”

I thought about it for a moment. I don’t why I said yes. Maybe it was because I wanted to believe in something, I wanted to be special. All my life I dreamed of something better, something more. I knew there was more to this world and it had just come full force into my living room. I wanted to be part of something. Change my life? Yes it did. Do I regret my decision? Hell no. Sure dodging curses and always looking behind my back gets old, but so does databasing my cooking utensils. I am a part of Muggle Net. You know what that says? Elite! Life is more than just living…

Hold on………….Flash traffic on the Muggle Net Band. I gotta go! Official Hogwart’s business. Thank you for reading this. I am glad that you have gotten to know me. I am truly sorry that you will never remember me. Such is the life a Muggle Net agent. Maybe I’ll see you in the future… too bad you won’t know who I am…

Obliviate!

Sunday, January 07, 2007

WHY am I here???

Well, I'm in the blogosphere for a reason...

Anyways, I'm working on a Sunday. It kind of worked out well. It's one of the girl's, who typically works weekends, birthday today and the third person who used to work weekends no longer works here, and I need to make up for a day that I need off in early February (yay Chicago)... so it worked out. Very few people are here and I am advancing nicely on my prep work for the serials evaluation study that I will complete in March. I'm going to break some hearts with all of that information!

I'm actually okay with having such a flip-flop schedule at this time in my life. I have a "set" work schedule but it rarely works out that way with school holidays, times that I need to fill in for other workers, vice versa, etc. My commitments are minimal... travel dates are about it. I don't have a pet (well I do, but it's technically my parent's), my friends are usually working or available when I am, Jon lives about 1,800 miles away from me, etc. If there was ever a time to have a weird schedule, (besides college and graduate school) this is it and I'm glad to help people out when I can.

ANYWAYS, I don't really have much to update. I'm currently trying to finish up Inkspell (there really will be a third one of these... uggh) on work meal breaks, and reading Margaret Atwood's The Robber Bride. I had problems understanding her writing at first, but I am enjoying it now (I'm about 150 pages into it). The characters are all have really different personalities, but some of the same emotions. She also only gives out crucial information bits at a time, which is good because it makes me want to read more to figure it all out. I also acquired a lot of classics over the break and have decided to read them in between library-loaned current books of my liking. I think I will like the classics more this time around because a. I'm not reading them for school b. I'm not reading them in French and c. I'm older, and therefore, should be able to understand them a bit better (well, maybe). I'm pretty excited for my 2007 "read" list to start accumulating.

Well, that's about it. Besides some way-too-far-away-to-discuss-here travel plans for summer 2008, I've been pretty boring. Maybe I'll update later today with a fun quiz or something. For now, I'm back to the wonderful world of print serials.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Happy 2007!

I hope everybody's 2007 is off to a great start.

My break from work is coming to an end. Tomorrow I start back into the normal routine. Luckily it's only a three day week, so it won't be too depressing.

These past two weeks have been great. Christmas was wonderful, especially Christmas Eve dinner. The lobster was fantastic and the company, even more fantastic. For the first time this year, I also experienced Christmas dinner, which was equally as wonderful.

My parents fell ill with a stomach virus that is still affecting my father to this day. I have been able to avoid it somehow thus far (I'll get it on a work day and have to take time off, with my luck), but I think I have passed it on to others, so stay away from me if you can!

On the 28th, Jon and I went to North Carolina to visit Smoky Mountain National Park and Highlands. Despite a 5 hour detour on scary dark roads when they cut off the North Carolina route in the park, we had a lot of fun and saw a lot of waterfalls. It was SO nice to get away from Georgia for a couple of days.

New Years was fun too. I spent it at Paige's and hanging out with Jon, Adrian, etc. Did anybody else see Dick Clark? Perhaps last year should have been his last bash. It was depressing to watch.

Overall, I'm starting the year off on a good note. I'm looking forward to all of the travel and such!

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Break Break Break

Oh geez, less than 4 hours until I'm FREE for 2 weeks... I can hardly contain my excitement.

The break should be fun. We have an awesome Christmas Eve dinner planned (it's the usual, but anytime I get lobster tail is fantastic). My parents and I have 3 different shopping days planned. I'm also going on a quickie vacation to Highlands, NC a few days after Christmas (yay mountains). New Year's is still up in the air, but I would like something quiet after attending parties and bars for the past 4-5 years... yeah college, I'm finished with you. :)

I decided to treat myself to Starbucks this morning for the first time in months, since it is my last day and all. I have been super hyper ever since, mainly because I rarely drink caffeine (besides tea). I also received a Barnes and Noble gift certificate today, which is more than appropriate for me. Tonight, Adrian is coming over so we can make our annual puppy chow for her office (you know that chex mix with the chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar???). I also get to see Ashley and Krista for the first time in months, which is cool. My social life is looking up again without work "in the way"... haha.

I will update everybody in January... until then, everybody have a safe and happy holidays!!

Monday, December 18, 2006

2006 Favorites...

Here is my list of favorite things from 2006:

Favorite Movies: Note that I am no movie snob. I like what I like. Also note that none of these movies were released in 2006, I just saw them for the first time in 2006.
-The new Pride and Prejudice. I realize that this version was nowhere near as good as the A&E one made in the mid-1990s. However, and call me shallow if you want, the characters in the most recent (and much shortened) version were, well, prettier. I liked it for pure aesthetic and cinematographic reasons. It made me long once again, to go to England, especially to see the national parks.
-Amadeus. Yes, I realize that this movie was released in the 1980s and I haven't seen it yet. I LOVED it, even the extremely annoying Mozart laugh. I could watch this movie again and again.

Favorite Books:
- A Heartbreaking work of staggering genius, by Dave Eggers. This was a fantastic memoir, hands down.
-Running with scissors, by Augusten Burroughs. Another (bit more graphic) memoir, but a good read.
-The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova. I think this is my favorite of the year.
-The thirteenth tale, by Diane Setterfield. My second favorite... such a unique story.
-Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer. "Unputdownable" (even if I don't like the main character much).

I can't remember what I read early in the year (I don't think I did though because I was in grad school and all), so these I've all read since July or so.

Favorite TV:
-Gilmore girls. It's the only show that I will go out of my way to watch, although, it's not the same without the Palladinos writing. I'm actually hoping that this is the last season.
-Scrubs. I used to despise this show. Now that I've warmed up to Zach Braff, I find it very funny. J.D. and Turk remind me of male versions of Adrian and I.
-Sex and the city. I know, I am a girl, and now I own that damn pink monolith of a boxed set.

Favorite People:
-My parents. The most selfless people I know...
-My co-workers. They are super nice, and they have a sense of humor too (thank God). Plus, they read and stuff, like me.
-Christian Bale.
-My high school friends. It's funny how the people that I am closest to now are the ones I went to high school with (maybe it's because I live at home again???). I hated that place for years after I graduated, but I did meet some really good people in the 'ville.

Favorite Vacations
Oh wait, I didn't really go on vacation this year...

I'll update this more tomorrow... I'm trying to load this thing with updates before break when I will likely forget about this thing!

Friday, December 15, 2006

Never again will I...

shelve in the curriculum lab. I came out of there with 5 young adult novels to check out. In addition to the 9 I have already out on loan, and the 1 I have out from the public library, I am going to be reading forever. Why do I do this to myself?

I wonder why I like young adult fiction so much. I've come up with a few theories:

-I didn't really read in high school, so I'm making up for it now
-The literature has adult content, but is rarely so graphic that I can't handle it
-The fantasy literature isn't too "dungeons and dragons"-y (although I think there are a few out there)
-I feel that I am at the age where I can still relate to teenagers, but can look at them in an introspective way (basically I can laugh at how STUPID some of the characters are... hello Bella from Twilight, a book that I loved by the way)

Right now I am reading Fairest by Gail Carson Levine. It is set in Ella Enchanted's world, so I'm pretty psyched about reading it. My cousin, who is a bigger bookworm than I am, is obsessed with Ella Enchanted, to the point where she can recite the first chapter by heart. I'm going to be reading The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood next (my first).

I always apologize for my venture into nerddom when talking about books, but after all, as a librarian dealing with collection development, it is my job to read what's out there... I'm even considering some science books from Discover Magazine's Top 25 science books.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

You don't think I'm smart enough to work in your fucking library?

-Mary from Party Girl, and the following post has nothing to do with my heading

This week is S-L-O-W. At work, the college kids are gone, almost everybody who is employed here is gone, and an 8 hour work day seems to drag on and on and on... I was even willing to shelve today, as I'm not able to do any acquisitions work until January 10th. 30 hours and counting (until next Tuesday) until Christmas Break. I look forward to it.

I've been looking back on the year:

January: wonderful, in a new/old relationship, happy with my friends in Indiana, got a second job at IU libraries because of my kick ass boss, and only taking two classes at IU for my last semester

February: nice beginning, great trip to Chicago, mid-month 180 degree turn-around watching friends meltdown, having yet another guy "cheat"

March: php fiasco (I will never be a programmer--I spent so long on that assignment!), rough spring break at home for the second year in a row, blow out with one of my best friends (luckily we worked through that), shutting everybody out and concentrating only on school, working out a misunderstanding with yet another friend

April: another crappy birthday, continuing shut-out, working constantly on and finishing my Wyoming web site, getting good grades, a confession made to me

May: a blur, lots of working at IU, packing to leave, hanging out with Jeff and Allison, got an A in both classes that I took

June: move from Indiana to Georgia, move from 716 to 1690, my first drum corps show in 2 years (it was BORING), job interviews, feeling like a complete mess still

July: visit to Grandparents', second interview for job that I would eventually get, things finally looking up, hanging out with friends again, Read Heartbreaking work of staggering genius

August- present: band camp (my last), started job, construction projects on new house, met with my not so wonderful past one evening, watching my brother get fired, get hired, get fired again, and finally get hired (luckily he's not in the car industry at this point), seeing my cool nephew, made a new close male friend, laughed way too much for my own good, got many cases of book anxiety (still have them thanks to my coworker Amanda), becoming close again with my parents, hanging out with Adrian a lot, Midieval times, going away parties, etc.

I was quick to think that this was a good year, but looking back, it had some rough times. Graduate school was definitely not the best experience of my life (and it never really had anything to do with school, which is funny), but I am more than happy that I got through it.

I'm pretty happy with life right now... I'm starting to get somewhat smarter about the decisions that I am making. I've realized that looks aren't always going to be what attracts me to a man (looks will fade, but personality, wit, good conversation, and intelligence last quite a bit longer...), that I CAN say no to my friends, especially if involves color guard jobs, and not have to feel bad about it, and that my parents are right half of the time (as opposed to my former stance of never). I also like making money and being able to spend it on people that I care about this Christmas. I'm totally anticipating the new year, which is currently looking fantastic.

Friday, December 01, 2006

A Quiz Revisited

One year ago I took the following quiz...

Here is how I would answer it today:


1) My uncle once: Lived in Russia (he's getting ready to move there again too...)
2) Never in my life: would I be a chicken sexer ewwwww
3) When I was five: I wanted super long hair (I used to wear a purple skirt around my head and everything... my mom made me look like a boy)
4) High school was: a time when I had HORRIBLE taste in music
5) Fire is: a big element in The Thirteenth Tale
6) I once saw: Snow in June
7) There’s this woman I know who: is from Canada (eh?)
8) Once, at a bar: I saw a band play
9) By noon I’m usually: pretty damn hungry (I eat at 2pm)
10) Last night: I was super tired
11) If I only had: money (that I will keep the same...)
12) Next time I go to church: I will say the Apostles Creed
13) What worries me most: Right now? I guess doing well at my job.
14) When I turn my head left: I see a UGA print
15) When I turn my head right: I see an Olympics Poster advertising Mexico
16) You know I'm lying when: I blush...
17) What I miss most about the eighties: Neon colors... NOT!
18) If I were a character written by Shakespeare, I’d be: Lady Macbeth (that only applies to 5 days out of the month!)
19) By this time next year: I should have a new computer (I accomplished my last year's "by this time next year..."
20) I have a hard time understanding: Boys who are younger than me... glad I gave up on that one!
21) You know I like you if: I don't know?
22) If I won an award, the first person I’d thank would be: Yeah, both of my parents simultaneously
23) Darwin, Mozart, Slim Pickens & Geraldine Ferraro: yeah, still don't see the connection
24) Take my advice, never: read a Harlequin Romance Novel!
25) My ideal breakfast is: Oh there are too many good answers to this?
26) If you visit my hometown, I suggest you go to: wow, um, wow, um... Starbucks?
27) Why doesn't everyone: read more?
28) If you spend the night at my house: my dog might sleep with you!
29) I’d stop my wedding: if i found out: he cheated on me (keeping this one the same too...)
30) The world could do without: traffic!
31) My favorite blonde is: Paul Neuman (well, he's gray now, but you know what I mean...)
32) If I do anything well, it’s: baking?
33) And by the way: 24 days until XMAS!