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.