iphone, or well ifired ;)

So the iphone has been in my possession for a short while, just 5 days. The problem with the iphone is that it's way more fun than working, doing school work, cleaning the house, potentially even hanging out with friends. This is a problem! Life can not simply be an iphone, right?! But the fact that I can battle it out against the computer with a game of Risk, listen to Christmas music, email my friends (since I'm clearly not hanging out with them) and receive phone calls all at the same time is really quite marvelous.

Thanks to all of the wonderfully free apps, it's amazing anyone gets anything done anymore. I discovered Jingle Jumble this morning. I'm almost on level 3 and frankly, this has become my new goal, well that and making sure all the christmas ornaments line up appropriately in Fuzzle or all the little fuzzy balls can be flung in the right direction for Fling. And if it's this or place orders and make travel arrangements for faculty, well they're just going to have to wait. Becuase if my hangman dies or my checkers aren't kinged, or even worse, pac-man doesn't survive the maze, well there's just no point in living.

You're gonna miss this....

So yesterday I was driving to dinner like I do every Wednesday for girl's night, and I started flipping through the radio stations. I flipped to the only one playing a song and started listening. It was a country song, and I probably came in as it was halfway done. It didn't matter though becauase I still managed to get the idea of the song. Before you know it, I was getting all teary. So along with the song playing in the background, I started thinking of the things I would miss about this time. They are too many to count for these are definitely some good times. I know the future is inevitable, and eventually I'll have the job I have been going to school to get and a house of my own and so many other things that I have wanted. Until then though, I want ever so much to appreciate the time I'm in right now and the things that are here, for when it is done...I'm gonna miss it.

You're Gonna Miss This
She was starin' out the window of that suv
Complainin' saying i cant wait to turn 18
I'll make my own money and I'll make my own rules
mama put the car in park out there in front of the school
and she kissed her head and said i was just like you

your gonna miss this
your gonna want this back
your gonna wish these days
hadn't gone by so fast
these are some good times
so take a good look around
you may not know it now
but your gonna miss this

before she knows it shes a brand new bride
in her one bedroom apartment and her daddy stops by
he tells her its a nice place, she says itll do for now
starts talkin bout babies and buyin a house
daddy shakes his head and says, baby slow down

cause your gonna miss this
your gonna want this back
your gonna wish these days
hadnt gone by so fast
these are some good times
so take a good look around
you may not know it now
but your gonna miss this

five years later theres a plumber workin on the water heater, dogs barkin, phones ringin, one kids crying
ones screamin and she keeps apoligizin

he says they dont bother me ive got 2 babies of my own
ones 36, ones 23, huh its hard to beleive

but your gonna miss this
your gonna want this back
your gonna wish these days
hadn't gone by so fast
these are some good times
so take a good look around
you may not know it now
but your gonna miss this

I must have a sexy voice....

I don't know what it is about placing orders with these fellas, but the following conversation was definitely a hoot!


Him: Where are you located?
Me: Florida
Him: Ohhhhh I love forida. Let me tell you...I was just recently in Florida, not but 10 minute drive from the ocean.
Me: Oh yes, the ocean is beautiful.
Him: Ohhh I was there, and as I was walking along the beach, I just said it couldn't get any prettier than this.
Me: Oh well you know, you do kind of get use to it after years of living here.
Him: Well, Babe, if I was there..we'd be going, you have got to do some fishing at night in Florida.
Me: Did you just call me Babe??

Latest developments with school work...

1. Was assigned an ILS product review
- I googled "ILS"

2. Was assigned a SWOT analysis of a current company
- I googled "SWOT"

3. Was told to post regarding Clarion's OPAC system, Pilot
- I googled "OPAC"

4. Was asked how my internet connection is created at home versus my local library
- I googled "proxy server", "IP address", and "Routers"

5. Was asked to define "Symbolic-interpretive" as an inspiration for organization theory
- I googled how to get an MS degree in two weeks by mailing a check for $5,000

a poem

Ode to a Yellow Jacket

There once was a yellow jacket, alive and well
Until that fateful day into my shower he fell

All pretty and yellow with rings of black
It's sad that for survival he has no knack

Round and round the water did swirl
"You've stung your last!", said one very sweet girl

Resistent til the end, this critter did struggle
His life in my hands, I carefully did juggle

All too soon it was over from one final crush
And into the toilet for a really quick flush

Really?

I can't help but chuckle as to the great lengths companies are going to these days to assist people in never learning how to cook. This is the latest and greatest development, microwaveable rice. Is it really so hard to put a scoop of rice in the rice cooker, add some water and turn it on? Is it because we are increasingly impatient? I believe this Uncle Ben's package is advertising that it can be "cooked" in 90 seconds. That's definitely quicker than my rice cooker, but seriously, is this as good as it gets?

What's so wrong with learning how to cook a couple dishes? I'm going to be old-school here and speak just to the ladies. I know you're busy managing everything from work to the house, but it really doesn't take that much to learn! Although I have to be honest, if the saying is true that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach then I do believe I'm beating out my competition hands down just by knowing how to boil water ;)

random insight into my mornings....

So every morning, my dear sweet kitty Shakespeare practically breaks down my bedroom door in order to be near me. He is not a very noisy kitty, but as if on cue with my alarm clock, he begins to meow so loud and so mournful that I always think something is wrong. Every single morning, I greet him with a little trepidation about what I might find to be the problem. He meets me right at my bedroom door, waits for my feet to be right next to him and then begins to take me on a journey through the house.

I always wonder if he's trying to show me something terrible or if he is desperately trying to alert me to something that's going on in the house. I treat him as if he's Lassie about to show me where Timmy is hiding in the well, or in this case if something has happened to Annabel. I follow him around as he keeps pace with my feet. Inevitably, every morning he leads me directly to the same spot...his favorite window. I lean over the table in front of it, pull the blinds up just enough so he can see outside. He settles in on his cozy blanket that sits on the table and curls up.

And yea, I'm starting to wonder if perhaps I'm the one who's Lassie ;) Maybe Shakespeare can train me to bring him treats on command next.

Life: the not-so-understandable part

It's an interesting thing trying to make sense of that which is difficult to understand. It can come in a myriad of forms from the jobs we lose, the people we love who die too early or our most heartfelt dreams being deferred. It leaves me with a yearning for life to be simple. If I could just make my life more simple, rather than dealing with all of these complications then surely these unplanned events won't happen. If I could just organize things a little more and have everything in its place then life will always continue on the track I want. It's even tougher to realize that no matter how organized, with it, put together and simple I try to keep things, that it is not chaos but God who reigns supreme.

It takes practically nothing to believe the Bible to be true when everything is going well, after all its a common thought that God is simply a god who blesses. To have faith, always believing God makes the most perfect of decisions for my life in order to cultivate me more like Himself, it almost hurts it's so difficult! In Jeremiah, God promises us that He has plans to prosper and not to harm us. It's a beautiful thing to know that God sees the beginning, middle and end of my life when He says that. He knows what direction to steer me in so that no matter what the circumstances, the best possible outcome can become...possible.

J-O-B

The good ole' J-O-B. I'm in a completely foul mood because of my job, which is ridiculous because the last time I checked a job is just suppose to be what you do for 40 hours a week in order to afford the rest of your living expenses. Those living expenses are what make up your real "life". It's dinners with friends, a house for your family and a car to drive on road trips or visiting relatives. It's THAT part of your life that determines the type of person you are, not what you do for work.

And yet, society never seems to agree with this attitude. Why is "what do you do?" one of the first questions we ask people? Why is "what do you want to be when you grow up" one of the first questions we ask children? Why can't they be questions about philosophy or religion or even the dreaded topic of politics. Why must it seem that so much weight is placed on the profession a person has rather than the charities they give to or the hobbies they cultivate in their spare time?!

It just so happens that your job can, and often does, affect the rest of your life. It keeps us from being able to suck the marrow out of life. And like any good torture tactic, it's a slow death.

Therefore, upon considering this topic, I have decided to change my answers to the following questions:
What do you do? "Anything and everything that brings me joy and is legal, responsible and affordable."
What do you want to be when you grow up? "It doesn't matter".

Not your Grandma's hubcaps

Recently I purchased four brand new beautiful tires for my vehicle. I actually love the feeling of new tires, not because I can tell a difference in the driving (although I'm sure I should be able to) but because it makes the car feel like it's ready for anything, a roadtrip at any moment. With new tires, an alignment AND an oil change, I'd say the sky's the limit for where it can go.

Just one thing was missing, hubcaps. Over the last six years of my car ownership, I've lost a couple hubcaps in the process. It didn't bother me too much because I know it's just cosmetic, but when I got the new tires somehow I felt like I should get new hubcaps too. I wanted the car to look complete. This brought me to the auto parts shop where I began browsing for hubcaps.

Auto Parts Worker: May I help you?
Me: Well I was wanting to get some new hubcaps.
APW: Let me show you our display, just let me know which ones you want and I'll get them out of the back for you.
Me: Thanks
(browsing)
Me: Um, Sir? These are some fancy hubcaps. I mean I think those right there are the type that still spin even though the car has stopped moving. Am I right?
APW: Yes, they're quite popular these days.
Me: (chuckling) wow, I just don't think I could do that.
APW: What kind of car do you have?
Me: (interally thinking "are you joking??") Oh it's a Saturn, a sedan.
APW: What about these?
Me: (chuckling again) yea, I'm just not sure you're understanding me. Those are really fancy hubcaps. I'm looking for something more like what your Grandma would have, on her Buick.
APW: (confused) So you want something more conservative?
Me: (what I should have said) Sir, you seem confused. Was it that I used the word Grandma or Buick that threw you off? I want something that's not so flashy, perhaps something that doesn't light up when I brake and doesn't keep spinning even though the car has stopped. When I see hubcaps like that in traffic, it annoys me. I'm not sure you're fully understanding my use of the word "fancy". You see, I'm trying to be polite. I really just want some hubcaps that people aren't going to try and steal should I be in the wrong neighborhood. I just want something to cover the tire.

Me: (what I really said) Yes, something more conservative would be good, thanks.

Just Add Color :)

It's been a really long time since I've done any coloring, but something about the school supply aisle at my local Target caused me to consider this age old treat. The deal was sealed when the dollar depot had Hello Kitty coloring books on sale for $1.00. Combined with my new 64 pack of Crayola crayons, complete with sharpener on the back, this creative activity was mine for a mere $3.64. I can't tell you how cathartic coloring can actually be. I flip through my coloring book, decide on a particular picture, and begin the process of choosing my favorite color scheme for that page. And then as the crayons brush over the picture, it's as if all the stress and responsibility of life seem to melt away leaving nothing but me and my (perhaps a bit too much at times) intense focus on the task at hand, coloring. I highly recommend it for anyone ages 3 to 99 :)

I'm in love!!

As many of my loved ones might know, I haven't always been a fan of driving or directions. I remember even when growing up if a friend asked me how to get to my house to pick me up, I wouldn't really know how to tell them the way. I think one of my most dreaded questions is, "Could you tell me how to get to _______?". I despise roadways, maps, interstates, and I especially disdain the green signs which are suppose to be telling me the way to my destination.

This use to be my attitude about driving, until I came face to face with gps navigation. It first happened on my trip to TN. This is what I like to call the testing period. I just wanted to see how it would do, can it be trusted and would it assist us in arriving to our destination with ease. I was not disappointed! Not only did it get us there, but it was accurate to the minute as far as how long it would take to get there. And then yesterday with driving to Sea World, it was my chance to really try it out as the driver. Let me just tell you, even navigating I-4 in darkness on the way home was positively a delight with the sweet voice of the gps navigator telling me that in 800 yards I would be exiting the interstate (ok the voice was british so it told me to exit the motorway, cute ;) and then staying in the left lane.

Where has this technology been all my life?! I feel as if I have a new lease on life and a new fondness for driving. So now when I ponder going somewhere or taking a trip, what use to be an overwhelming feeling of concern or uncertainty has been replaced with an exhilarating feeling of joy! When I'm asked to meet someone somewhere or take a little trip, all I have to do is say, "YES! Do you have an address?" And just as soon as I plug in that information into the navigator and adhere it to my windshield, I am on my way. It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "The world is my oyster!" :)

Student Accounts

4:10pm- Call Student Accounts on campus to find out information for a student on how to spend the money they received with a scholarship.
4:10pm- On hold, waiting for the next available representative.
4:15pm- Still on hold
4:20pm- Still on hold
4:25pm- A lovely voice answers "Student Accounts, may I help you?" only to immediately disconnect the call and hang up on me.
(A BRIEF MOMENT OF INTENSE FRUSTRATION)
4:26pm- Call Student Accounts
4:30pm- On hold, waiting for the next available representative.
4:35pm- Still on hold
4:40pm- Still on hold
4:45pm- Still on hold
4:46pm- (After listening to MANY minutes of cheesy, "hold" music) I hear a recorded message come on. It says only this.

"You have reached the Student Accounts office. Our office hours for Wednesday and Friday are 8am to 4:30pm. Please call our office again during our available hours. Thank you."

4:47pm- Speechless.

inspired reading...

There's nothing quite like enjoying some reading in the beauty of God's creation. In the vast openness, I can't help but have it make my sometimes limited thinking switch to the view that anything could be possible. I was reading Elizabeth Elliot's book, "Be Still My Soul". In it she quotes the poem below from an unknown author. Reading it with a prayerful heart caused me to look forward to the next stage of life, something different perhaps or move of the current...either way I am working to view it with excitement rather than fear. If God is always with us, there is nothing to fear in the uknown, nothing to fear in the future, for no matter what it holds, God is already in it.

From an old English parsonage, down by the sea
There came in the twilight a message to me,
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, as it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the hours the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration-
"DO THE NEXT THING"

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, guidance, are given.
Fear not tomorrows, Child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus,
"DO THE NEXT THING."

Do it immediately, do it with prayer,
Do it reliantly, casting all care,
Do it with reverence, tracing His Hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
Leave all resultings,
"DO THE NEXT THING."

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
(Working or suffering) be thy demeanor,
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing,
Then, as he beckons thee
"DO THE NEXT THING."

Class Schedule Blues

So I just received my schedule for Fall semester, and I have to say I'm a little disappointed. I knew I would be taking Integrated Technologies in Libraries and Administration and Management of Libraries, but I wasn't certain of who the professors would be. So when I checked, I hoped to see a new name, no dice. While part of me welcomes the fact that there won't be any new surprises, I know what they want and how to succeed in their class. The problem is... they're kinda lacking. Somewhere along the way, I stopped hoping for easy classes. Of course I still learn the necessary information, but not nearly the amount of information I learn when I'm having to work crazy hard! I mean sure my gpa might suffer from a truly difficult class, and I'd probably dislike every minute of it, but I'd come away with actual skill sets, the kind that can only be learned under that type of instruction. It's a beautiful thing really, actually learning. Until that day, I'll just get through this next semester with half-hearted delight. Who knows, maybe they'll surprise me.

Oh the joy of technology!

Safari 4.0- The greatness of this new development in technology really speaks for itself. It's amazing.

Note to Self

This is being written as a reminder of the following things if ever I get the idea that I want to eat in restaurants, shop in various stores, drink coffee at Starbucks, or even hang out with friends night after night.

1. I like being home.
2. I like eating dinner at home.
3. I like making my own coffee whenever I want it.
4. I like the quiet of being alone.
5. I like feeling productive by cleaning.

On a more interesting note, I frequently think that parents these days are too selfish. It's obvious, however, that if I stick to this list my life as a single girl is entirely focused on me. I'm not sure if that's best, but I happen to have plenty of time in the peaceful quietness of this evening to contemplate it while drinking some delicious coffee....that I made....when I wanted it.

I'd rather be...

I'd rather be the type of girl who drinks soy chai lattes and wears a daisy chain of flowers in her hair, but alas I'm the girl that drinks coffee first thing in the morning and only brushes her hair because she feels it's necessary for societal acceptance.

I'd rather be the type of girl who delights in the great novels of the past such as Shakespeare and Milton like they were as necessary as air, but alas I'm the girl who enjoys the ridiculously lame celebrity gossip magazines so I can find out what they're saying about "John and Kate plus Eight".

I'd rather by the type of girl who is so confident that the future never worries her, but alas I'm the girl who wonders what will happen to our economy, will I marry, what job will I have five years from now, and how long will I live.

I'd rather be the type of girl who is carefree, nonchallant, easy going and relaxed, but alas I'm the girl who frets over bills being paid, do my cats have enough food, did I leave the coffee pot on, is the house going to burn down on my watch and will I have enough money to pay my student loans when I'm done with school.

I'd rather be the type of girl who tries some exotic new recipe every evening because I'm a domestic goddess and everything I touch turns to success, but alas I'm the girl who likes beans and rice because I know I can't mess it up.

I'd rather be the type of girl who is adventurous, young at heart, spontaneous and in a moment's notice could be on a plane to some unknown destination, but alas I'm an old soul, the type of girl who enjoys quiet conversation over coffee and the comfort of routine.

I'd rather be the type of girl who really wants voluntary simplicity, living off the grid and compost toilets, but alas I'm the girl who thrives on electricity, modern conveniences and consumerism.

I'd rather be the type of girl who is sunshine and sweetness at every turn, finding the positive in life's greatest struggles and dishes out handfuls of joy to everyone she meets, but alas I'm the girl who enjoys sarcasm and sees humor in a slightly cynical view of the world.

I'd rather be.....but alas I'm just me :)

I wanna see a storehouse of snow :)

Many times I feel we become so scientifically minded towards nature and how it works that we forget just who is in control of it. Science is a beautiful description of the intricate details about the order of things. Hopefully it will always lead us back to the Creator of that order. I was reading in Job when God speaks to Job (chapter 38) and asks him many questions. It is a great picture as to the incredible power of God.

These are my favorites:

1. Have you ever in your life commanded the morning and caused the dawn to know its place;
2. Have you entered into the springs of the sea,
3. Or have you walked into the recesses of the deep?
4. Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
5. Who can count the clouds by wisdom, or tip the water jars of the heavens;

Assumptions

For all the people I work with throughout the day, please review the following list of assumptions. I assure you that you are responsible for one or all of them.

1. If I don't forward you order confirmations, you assume I haven't gotten them.
2. When I don't answer my phone, you assume I'm not in the office.
3. If I don't confirm receipt of your email, you assume I didn't receive it.
4. When I take a moment to compose myself so as not to say something I could be written up for, you assume I didn't hear you.
5. If I call to question an order you're placing, you assume I need a patronizing tone in order to work faster.
6. When you email me, you assume I need follow-up phone calls, emails and visits in order to process the paperwork.
7. If you give me work to do, you assume it's the only thing I have to do all day.
8. Whether or not I'm at my desk, you assume you can borrow my pens, pencils, stapler, paper, printer, phone, paper clips, stamps or calendar.
9. Because I smile politely when talking to you, you assume I'm a nice person.
10. And when I do forward you confirmations or processed work, you assume that that single-word email reply of "Thanks" is the only thing I need in order to make working here seem positively rewarding.

Consider yourself wrong, on all accounts.

A must read!

My mom wrote a positively hysterical blog recently about babies and baby gadgets! Enjoy by clicking here :)

Where I'd rather be...

A friend of mine posted about where she wishes she could be this morning instead of enjoying the routine of daily life. It got me thinking. Where would I rather be? What surprised me, as I clicked through memories and the places I feel most at home, is that rarely do I picture myself with people. Now I do tend to joke, perhaps too much, about disliking people and being anti-social. The truth is; I love people. I love sharing in laughter and swaping stories. It doesn't matter if the people are in my inner circle or just random folks who stop by my desk at work to ask a question. I thoroughly enjoy the art of conversation; it makes me happy.

Which has me wondering why it is that when I picture the times and places which make me the happiest, I'm alone. Whether waking up to a quiet house on saturday morning to enjoy a great cup of coffee, taking a walk when surrounded God's beautiful creation or sitting on a back porch listening to the calming sounds of a river, it is these quiet times alone that stir my heart and give me peace. So I guess for the question of where I'd rather be, anywhere I can be alone. Although now that I think about it, I believe that is the definition of anti-social. Huh.

Save some green by planting it....

By 1943, Americans planted more than 20 million victory gardens -- at homes and schools and in parks -- that were reported to produce 8 million tons of food that one old film called "America's hidden weapon."

From an article in the LA Times about new gardens springing up, for political reasons. I saw this mentioned on someone's facebook and just had to write about it. Just think of how little involvement we would have to have with countries we shouldn't be importing from if we just put some effort out on the home front! Think of how self-sufficient America could be if we just tried a little harder. America really is the greatest country in the world, even more so when we work together for a common goal. During the wartime, they worked together to avoid dependency on the transportation of food. Maybe the reasons behind it change with time, but the effort should still be there. Just think of what we could achieve...

You could use Ajax or Dawn as well...

So I realized this morning that I forgot to purchase soap at Target and, since the very last sliver of possible soap was used yesterday, I'm plumb out. I'd say after my day of shopping and yard work that I'm completely filthy so I did what every improvising and intelligent woman would do. I showered with Palmolive. I must say that it has left me feeling very antibacterial and smelling a hint of citrus orange. I'd say that's a win win right there.

the boring gets blogged too....

I know all of my faithful readers are dying for me to write a new post. It's just that nothing of interest has really happened lately. And so, consider this the post which lists all of the boring things as of late. Brace yourself, you might need some coffee to make it through.

1. The strap on my shoe has started to give, I think I have only a couple times more wearing them before I need to just chuck 'em.
2. I ran out of "sign here" stickers at work and had to order some new ones.
3. Last night, my kitties fought over who would get to sit closest to me.
4. I'm starting my research on metadata and AARC2 cataloging rules, big group presentation. I had to google "metadata".
5. I'm seeing how long I can go before I really do have to clean out a container in the back of my fridge. It's getting a little suspect.
6. I made a paper clip bracelet at work. I also cleaned my keyboard.
7. Yesterday I coded all of the exam answer sheets so they would be anonymous. That was 10 exams, 6 questions each, roughly 5 pages an answer which equals to 300 pieces of paper that needed a white label placed on it and a code given.
8. This morning I spent 20 or more minutes clearing the copy machine of a paper jam.

I know, you envy my life.

I totally belong

It's an interesting topic when you start to ponder where you really belong, where you feel most yourself and comfortable. Now I love my Starbucks lattes, my Apple products and Target shopping, but where I really feel most at ease and free to just kick back and relax have none of those things. Recently I had the opportunity to go to a local farmer's market and swap meet with some friends. We shopped around, checked out all the historical finds, the pyrex dishes and anything rusty. We snacked on cajun hot boiled peanuts and kettle corn and washed it down with cold lemonade. We purchased strawberries to make homemade strawberry jam, and while hanging out together, we did our hair on the front porch of the dome home. It was then that I realized, I belong here. I belong where the front porch is nearly the same size as the house, conversation is a little slower while enjoyed over a glass of sweet iced tea and dirt roads outnumber paved ones. I belong where the live music has a little bit of a twang and people take time to enjoy the simple things. So while I enjoy my mac computer and lattes, I feel most myself in the country.

Star Wars, really?

I have now heard it all. Upon asking my professor if he has received all of me and my group partner's search assignments, he responded with this:

I have them all in hand and am working to get them graded. Patience, my padawans.

If I wasn't worried about professor respect, I would have reminded him that the force is strong within me and my need for jedi training is nearing an end.

Ahhh retrospection....

I have to say it's an interesting thing to spend some time at an oncologist's office. It is a serious battleground between living in the moment and pondering over one's life. I sit here chilling, and while I have plenty of work to do, I can't help but listen to the woman sitting next to me talk to the nurse. The conversation vacillates between wanting to eat a piece of pizza for lunch and discussing how this is the time in life that it's beneficial to have a husband or someone to be with you. She discusses how she was completely awful to her ex-husband and especially his new wife. I can't help but wonder how life will be for me should I ever have to go through any of these things. There is so much uncertainty in life.

What I am certain about, and for sure the only thing I am certain about, is my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am certain of His constancy and continued presence in my life until I am with Him in eternity. I am certain of His great love for me even though I will never deserve it. I am certain that He alone is the keeper of justice and that my imperfect idea of what is just will probably never match His wisdom. I am certain that should I ever have to go through something so serious that I would not be alone for God himself has promised to never leave us. I cling to this truth as the only thing necessary for my joy. It is all I have sometimes, and that's ok.

So I've been thinking....

If I just got off the grid and pitched a tent somewhere, the following things would be possible:

1. I could forget this school business. I mean who really needs librarians ;)
2. I wouldn't have to go to work anymore.
3. I could stop brushing my hair entirely.
4. I wouldn't have to do laundry quite so much.
5. I could have some chickens, maybe a goat, and put in a garden!

Yea, I'm seeing this as a very real possibility. I just need to get over my Starbucks addiction, and I'll be good to go ;)

A Comparison

Getting upset over it being Valentine's Day and not being in a romantic relationship is similar to it being Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and being upset because you're not African-American.

Did he just wave at me?

So I pull myself off the couch and put on some shoes in order to make it to the CVS.

Description of appearance: fugly, as in the bangs were sort of smooshed to one side, the clothes were wrinkled and not matching. I had weird walmart cheap flip flops on and hadn't showered. I'm not being dramatic when I say fugly.

I took a sick day today, and am unfortunately actually sick. I needed to get to CVS in order to purchase my weight in over the counter drugs. I set my filled basket down at the register and the fella proceeds to ring up my goods. He says, "Wow, that's a lot of items to fight a cold." My response is, "Yes, well I was planning on taking them all at the same time. Do you think that will work? Cause I'm wondering if the Dayquil and the Nyquil will actually counteract each other if taken together".

I drag myself to my car, tissues and medicine in hand as I hear someone honking at me. I look up with a disgusted look on my face. He waves. Some random Joe in a scary white van waves at me. no no..HONKS and waves! This is not your ordinary "mom and three kids" kind of van, but a scary, commercial-size, no windows, straight out of a Lifetime movie type white van. He then pulls into the gas station next to the CVS. I get in my car and pull out towards the gas station. We make eye contact again. And would you believe it, AGAIN he waves! He's a little more hesitant this time like "hhhmm is that really the neighbor lady who sits on the back pew at church??" kind of wave. I sort of shrug my shoulders and mouth, "I don't know you dude".

Don't worry, I faked right and took the other exit, and then made sure no one was following me home. I know how those Lifetime movies end. Let's just say it ain't always feel good television.

Could you repeat the question?

The following are sentences from my textbook. I have no idea what they mean, which I think might be a bad sign for academic success.

"A frame is a receptacle for information about an entity or event. It contains slots to hold the attributes of the entity. As the text is parsed or the cues read, the slots are gradually filled in."

"This chapter looks at document and information resource representations and surrogates; that is a metadata that identifies and characterizes, and often serves as a key for retrieving the actual documents."

"The proliferation of metadata standards developed by different but often overlapping communities of interest is undermining the opportunities for exchange of metadata."

"Parity checking is based on the possibility that one of the bits in a character may get transformed, but it is unlikely that two bits in the same character will get changed."

Good to know.
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Resources:
Picture taken from Dr. Randy Ralph's tutorial on Boolean Logic
Organizing Knowledge by Jennifer Rowley and Richard Hartley
Online Retrieval: A Dialogue of Theory and Practice by Geraldene Walker and Joseph Janes

Ordering Fun

Ok so I'm placing this order with SPI supplies right, and the girl sounded completely automated.

"Hello, and thank you for calling Structure Probe Incorporated. How may I help you today?"

I pause and start talking, but it's as if the computer program, "Allison" is filtering through all of her possible answers to see what to say next cause there are these crazy awkward pauses. Well I then actually laugh and say "you kinda threw me there in the beginning because it was sounding a little automated, but I wasn't entirely sure". She just kind of paused and then said "I can start with the part number, whenever you are ready". Oh um.....

So then she is telling me about the shipping charges and says "We charge a flat rate whether or not you are using UPS or Federal Express. We can ship faster, but I can not give you a flat rate price for that at this time". I laugh again and say, "Well I like the UPS guy more than the FedEx guy, so do you think that would work?".

"I will make a note of your preference on the order".

A joke for my readers.....

So a man goes to a preacher and asks for him to give the eulogy for his brother's funeral. The brother says, "You can say whatever you want but at some point I want you to mention that my brother is a saint. Remember, say whatever you will, but I want you to say he is a saint during the eulogy."

The preacher gets up and begins the eulogy. He says, "Before you lies the worst possible excuse of a human. He was gambler, a drunk, a thieving, disgusting beast who never had any ounce of character. Compared to his brother, however he was a saint."

Valedictions

My professor for Online Databases signed his class-wide announcement as follows:

Make it so,
The Boss


I have nothing to add to that.

Continuing Saga

Mystery man returned. This time he wanted the room number for a particular course. I did not have the answer, DRAT! I do, however, have connections. You need not fear; I will be getting his name in no time. Let's hope it's not something like Bartholomew. That would somehow be disappointing.

Justice

Disclaimer: Because I have been raised by the mom that I have been truly blessed with, she has instilled in me the fear of "big brother". As in, don't say that "they" might hear you, or don't do that "they" might see you. Before you know it, you'll be on a list, you know, the list "they" monitor!! And because of this, I will be writing a post that is tame compared to my true ideas. Just take this post and multiply it by 100 so you know my true feelings.

Note to "THEM": If you find my post a problem, please let me know.

So we were sitting around our family's (grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins) lunch table discussing some of the local talk on individuals awaiting trial and other criminals (yes yes, innocent before proven guilty, I know!) in the area who are filling up our jails. Did you know that our taxes pay to PROTECT these criminals in prison?? It's called protective custody, and it was the first time I had actually thought this through. The really awful prisoners get special protection in prison so the other inmates don't "do away with them". Let me just say this..I think there should be a separate justice system for those people who are upstanding citizens and a different system for inside prisons. Can't the guards just turn a blind eye and what happens happens? I mean, wouldn't that in a sense cut down on the costs of prisons and the amount of funding it takes to take care of all the prisoners?? Just let them do what they're good at.....you know....criminal activity! Let them use their "skills" in order to weed out the really dangerous ones from the rest of the group. I don't see the problem with this!

Let justice be served.