Vacation all I ever wanted, time to get away

Returned from Okoboji on Tuesday night with an injured passenger :( but I think we had a good time overall. Tried some waterskiing, had a baby shower for a cousin once removed (but not quite removed from the womb yet) nutty bars, night boat rides, a little air hockey (one of the best comebacks in a long time!) swimming and sleep.
We also went to Pirates of Penzance on Friday night which was so much fun! It's a good funny musical/opera. We also joined some friends at the campground to hang out for a bit, which was also fun. The new bikini fit well, and the stomach rash has gone away. So the outlook is good at the moment. Still working on the full time job front (the CPL is only part time) ACT has apparently started interviewing for the Information Resource Specialist position, but they haven't called me yet...
Had a good swim in the North Liberty pool today also.
Allrighty, that is all.
Congrats to Trac on the job!

HeritageCelebrity

While this is something I would have expected to find on Andrew's blog (ala dog curling) as a fun way to waste some time in the SLIS lab as an attendant...it's actually from Traci. This is no way makes it less valuable as a mechanism to eat up your time :)

http://www.myheritage.com/FP/Company/tryFaceRecognition.php

Lamenting the Sick and other odds and ends

This may be the only post you guys get from me for awhile. Awhile being at least until i get my desktop hooked up to IU's network...stupid Get Connected CDs and RITS not being open over the weekend...I know I know, everybody needs weekends off. fair enough. I have just realized how dependant I am on the Internet for my news, reviews and updates from friends. How much I am dependant on email to communicate far and wide, and hello ---who needs access to ELLA to fix their earlier website constructions...I Do! I Do!
So, guess why i'm complaining. My Sony Viao laptop - my gorgeous little baby - being one of 2 children I have - the second being Bessie, my fantastic 2004 Civic - is in computer hospital. or rather, being shipped today to the Best Buy corporate service center. God Speed Viao. May you return to my home in Iowa city in one piece, and working. SOOO very nervous letting them send her away AND send her back to me in Iowa in three weeks or so...but what can I do? I won't be in Bloomington past May 21st, (except for one weekend in july) so ack!
This means I'll probably have to borrow a laptop from the family reserve --or rather, mom's old one which was my old one before I got Viao. at least I am fortunate enough to have a laptop to begin with, and one to use for backup to boot. (haha, okay, insert joke about "re"boot here if you so desire.) So, perhaps my desktop will work for the next few days - until the 8th when i return to IC. I hope so!

Other odds and ends:
Fixing pathfinders/syllabus has been halted due to lack of internet.

Thanks to Jill for hosting a great condo-warming in Verona. I had a fantastic time, and was so happy I was only minimally allergic to her wonderful kitties. One of which, Rayden (raven?) I didn't ask for clarification on that one-whoops cuddled up with me at night. Oh yea, she's awesome. Kept my feet warm and everything. Made me miss my kitty Scotty, who went to kitty heaven (or purgatory, I'm not sure which) September of 2004.

I find that I am cold a lot lately. Goosebumps seem to be permanent additions to my arms and legs these past months. Since I lost about 10 lbs in February. I guess what they say about fat as insulation is really true. (Don't to worry folks. The weight has stayed off due to healthy eating habbits and little exercies ---can't get the muscle back which weighs more...that will be remedied soon...)

My computer desk/shelf/stereo have found themselves a new home. YAY. Really nice girl as well.

Happy Birthday to Rena! Your fruit tart and spinach artichoke dip await.

Oh, and on the AFI front- watched Mr. Smith Goes to Washington last night (#29), and will be watching On the Waterfront (#8) with Traci tonight. Wells Media Services is kind to me.

That is all.

Multitasking My Life

OKay, so I'm posting this during the Superbowl, because I don't actually care about NFL, give me college football anyday. But, I am, however, like most people in America, intrigued by the commercials, because companies pay so much money to get those spots. I'm also reading about frames for my Info Architecture class, and chatting with folks online, so multitasking is definately the word of the evening.

For more interesting points. I saw The Island this weekend, not a bad movie, esp cause I think Ewan McGregor is a decent actor and Scarlet Jo did a good job also. This was thanks to the IU Movie Channel. As I pointed out to Rena Friday night while getting food at Saraga, I've only been 2 two movies at the Showplace here in B-town, those being Garden State (which is one of my all time FAV movies) and Phantom of the Opera. I have seen another movie in B-town though - and that was Harry Potter with Erik and Trac and Philip, which was a fun time. I saw Capote also, while in Naperville last weekend. It was well done, and well acted, though I found myself somewhat squemish, which is odd, cause I'm usually not that way during movies. I think it was the graphic nature of the killings/hangings and perhaps that I knew it was based on a true story that Capote wrote In Cold Blood about. That was probably what made it more realistic to me, and caused the reaction. Kill Bill is so obviously hyper-realistic violence that they could spurt blood from just about any body part and it wouldn't make me look away, but Capote accomplished that action. I actually had to look away from the screen a few times. But, it was a good show.

Another good show was the Lifehouse concert. Highlights included: Erik tryin to explain how to use chopsticks to me, while demonstrating with my So Co and Cranberry drinking straws. Another highlight, Lifehouse begins to play the opening cords to Hanging by a Moment, stop, and turn to the audience to say "Well, you've heard enough of that bleeping song now haven't you?" Wade grabs another guitar and starts playing one of the songs off the newest album instead. That was also pretty funny. And afterwards, Erik went to get something to drink at the gas station, and settled on some ginseng filled tea. As we were leaving the gas station and walking to the car, a random guy talked to us and said "Hey you can't drink beer outside, they'll catch you." To which Erik replied, "It's tea, but thanks." And that made me laugh.

So I conclude this post by saying my multitasking ability also proves the theory that multitasking means you don't do any one thing really well, because I haven't read my chapter very closely, nor have I seen many of the commercials in detail, the online chatting is smooth but monosyllabic, and this post is rather lacking in a significant point. But then, I guess, that's my life and I mostly enjoy it.

You HAVEN"T read the book!?!

Dear Indiana, Mom/Dad, Tina's, Waitress, PF. Chang's, Little Tibet, IMA, Residence Inn, B-town Theater, Trac, Erik, Rena, Jon, Steve, Becks, Misa, Aaron, Lenny's, Circle Center Mall,

Thanks for a nice drive to/from Indianapolis on Wednesday to pick up "Alaskaboy." Thanks also for a fine and somewhat windy drive to Indianapolis on Thursday for Thanksgiving festivies with my folks. Thanks also for not being too annoying with traffic or weather and delivering the other travelers safely to your state. Thanks also for not having the police decide that 10 miles over the speed limit was worthy of pulling over the blond in the civic...

Thanks to mom and dad for driving Thanksgiving food across three "I" states and sending me home with ALL of the leftovers. Thanks to Tina's in Bloomington for delivering a scrumptous pie. Thanks to the waitress at the Hilton hotel resturaunt for carding me and taking a long time to find my date of birth. Serves her right, haha. No thanks to P.F. Chang's mushrooms, though depositing them on other people's plates was a tad entertaining and the pin noddle soup made up for this slight problem with fungus. Thanks to Little Tibet for still serving their Iced Thai tea..sooo yummy.

Thanks to the IMA for having a real Norman Rockwell painting, which my dad found worthwhile and interesting to see (as so often I feel I drag him to art museums and subject him to lots of cultural things he could care less about.)

Thanks to the Residence Inn for having a hot tub! SCORE! :)

Thanks to the B-town theater for hosting a lovely and interesting affair called a matinee of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Thanks to Trac for pointing out things that are different between the movie and the book, since no, I HAVEN"T actually read this one (grad school got in the way). Thanks to Erik AND Trac for the combined effort to engrain the words "It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time" in my brain probably until I die. Thanks to Erik for attending some after movie dinner beer time at Lenny's. Thanks to Rena for letting us bug her afterwards.

Thanks to those I talked to on the phone: Jon, Steve, Becks, Misa, Aaron

No thanks are in order for Lenny's being out of my newly discovered Ruby beer. No thanks are allowed for the Friday morning 6 am wake up call for Circle Center Mall shopping, and no thanks for the fact that it was the record low for the past 16 or some odd years at 17 degrees upon the 4
block walk to said venue.

But THANKS overall for a good break.

Signed,
one of your visiting students from Iowa


PS: According to Trac - I should also thank Martha and her Baking Handbook something. :)

PPS: Faraji wants me to thank him also, even though I technically didn't talk to him over Thanksgiving weekend, but this evening - so thanks Faraji 11/30/05

Exploding Eyes and Pumpkins

Location: apartment
Listening to: Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Mood: Owww! (Is that passable as a mood?)

Mommy, my head hurts. Blast this darn storm front moving through today. My sinuses are going crazy! all this pressure built up behind my eyes. stupid headaches, and darnit modern medicine hasn't fixed this one yet.

On a brighter note. Food for the next two weeks has been bought, and that includes potattos, so I can try to make dad's famous mashed potattos. And Rena is going to make me dinner tomorrow night, so yummy and hooray for friends feeding me! (especially friends like Rena and Traci who can really cook!) I will treat them to my lasagne soon. Nobody died from eating it at my dinner party this summer...the boys even went back for second helpings, so I'm pretty confident I can recreate the experience here at IU (though the stores here are significantly lacking compared to Hy-Vee.)

Oh, for those interested, that both read this blog and have a desire for some adventurous behavior, PUMPKIN CARVING!!! We'll be doing it again this year, some afternoon, at my apartment here on campus...invitations extended via this blog (if you read it, you're invited) just tell me you are interested in joining the fun.

all right that's it. I must go now, before my eyes explode all over the screen.

Coming to you Live...

Location: Reference Room - Wells library
Listening to: Lauryn Hill, Miseducation Of,
Why?: Testing out the wireless card, AND working on my philosophy resources guide for class Wednesday.

Props to my friends for joining the blogger bandwagon. I must also give props to Faraji for having a blog that actually keeps up with current events and isn't just a rambling mass like mine. Go you Scandalous sexy almost "21" year old.

This weekend was an entire blast. I have to say, after the blah week I had, Friday night was just what was needed. I did my first client interview for L570 at noon, and the woman is really nice and very energetic and fun, so I think this project is off on the correct foot. Then Traci and I worked on Dialog almost all afternoon (due to her cataloging class being cancelled) We also attended a very short ALA-SC meeting, where candy was involved. We headed back to my apartment and got ready for the shin-dig. Neither of us went last year, and we didn't know we were goin to this year until Suzanne mentioned it the other day, and i'm really glad we decided to go. it was a total blast. the food was good, the socializing was actually a lot of fun...normally I'm not too big on huge group affairs where I know only a couple people and feel like small talk is the order of the day, but this event came off surprisingly well. After the reception a group of us, a LARGE and massive group at that, went to the vid. (one of the local bars) Traci got to let her hair down a bit, so to speak, and we had a really good time. I played some crappy pool, but more, it was just about getting to know people in my program that I've always thought would be fun to get to know, but haven't had the chance. It was also fun to see the professors in another environment besides the classroom.

I must apologize to Erik for essentially falling asleep while talkin to him online when I got home...ya know when you think you were just blinking, and then you realize it's two and half hours later? Oh ya, I know I'm just a rock star.

Saturday was spent with my nose in the books, and dishes, and laundry. Well not actually having my nose in the dishes...ewww, but you get the idea. I also have started investigating possible halloween costumes...

Sunday, well this is Sunday, and I'm doing homework in the reference room, then going to work in like ten minutes from now, then it's home to watch Family Guy and surprise...do more homework...

at least I got out on Friday night. That was fantastic, oh, and traci might say we "broke in" to Woodburn house after ten minutes of waiting outside...I prefer the term "snuck in" afterall, we future librarian types are not heathens, drinkers, or pool players, no sir-e.

Listening to: Counting Crows - August and Everything After
Oh ya, so this is a huge record, three entries in one day - well technically one day/evening. I forgot to mention in the earlier entries how totally stoaked I was that traci and I went to see David Sedaris at the IU Auditorium the other week. Can I just say that if I wind up with even a small amount of his enormous wit/abilities by the time I'm 50, i'll be pretty happy (also wouldn't mind being considered a "successful" writer- because let's face it that's a pretty huge feat in itself.) I really enjoyed it, so I"m also really glad that Traci and I actually became friends, because well, it was a leap of faith that I asked if she'd like to go and hear him way back when we purchased the tickets in september and we barely knew each other. :) Good thing we click so well. I must take a moment to thank these great friends here at IU that are my new found support system. I love you all dearly and just wanted to say so again, especially for all your help in the past couple of months. It has in fact been a very rough end to the semester here at IU, and I look forward to the end of the academia for a few.
I hope that aunt mary is recovering from the surgery and can continue her life as normally as possible. I know it may seem very "high and mighty" or whatever to say that I am really truly blessed in many ways, and that I'm glad I stop to take the moments to remember that. For a switch to introspection: On a personal level I am too hard on myself when it comes to the potential for failure. I'm not sure where i picked up this trait along the way in my life, it's totally self-inflicted, and also detremental. It's not as if I haven't flunked things in my life time, and survived. It's not as if I haven't had disappointments academically, I'm not a straight A student. I never got a 4 pt in undergrad. I was an honors student, sure, but I didn't belong to many extracuriculars, so I wasn't an "overachiever" or anything, and I enjoyed learning. But I can't lie to myself that I garner a certain satisfaction from getting A's. It's weird to, because I know that B's are good, and that if I get B's I most likely deserve them, and I"m not one to argue for more points or anything, and especially in grad school. But for some realize I have a parallizing fear of failure that is self-imposed. It's not an outside pressure on me to be outstanding, it's only my own want and desire for that. Really, it's stupid and I need to learn to cope with this better. It is something I will be working on over the summer I hope. Obviously it will be on my mind some, as this summer I won't have a class that is based on "grades" but rather on learning on the job. So hopefully that will help me out there.
I am going to miss you IU and the stempel crew. at least some of them will be returning next year, and I will still keep in touch with the others -
there is already talk of a cocktail party at my new apartment for those returning to IU, slis folks and others :) so keep that in mind all you returning folks.
okay, enough for tonight. my brain is fried from all this analyzation. Reading back over some of the first entries I wrote, I was alot more clear, had better word choices, tighter essays with some good punchlines, closing sentences...and now...well now...I firmily believe my writing style has reverted back to the 3rd grade.

Back to the Grind

Well, Spring Break was a welcome change from IUB and the humdrum life of sus the grad student. Instead I was Sus the traveler, Sus the MLS student with librarians to interview, Sus the friend back from out of town (this last one I find especially appealing).
So the first is great because well, let's face it, I LOVE to travel, and also, I'm fortunate enough that for xmas my parents bought me a ticket to visit Steve in San Fran (and they came along which meant things got paid for not out of my own pocket...hooray) Can I just say how great my parents are? I love them so much, and not because they pay for me to take exciting vacations, but because they are actually *gasp* quite cool to hang out with and converse with. I think even if I had to pay for my own ticket i would have jumped at the chance to spend some quality time with the rents. For that matter, I'd say the same about Steve now to. We've worked hard on our relationship over the past years, alot of growing up and communication, and now I"m happy to say I would even enjoy spending time visiting him regardless of the parents being along, or probably even the awesome locations he seems to pick to live in :) And let me say San Fran was an awesome choice for living - Well done Steve :) I had a BLAST out there...and enjoyed pretty much every minute of my journey out there. (plane flights not withstanding) Saw the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay, the SFMOMA (see below), Yeurba Buena Gardens (our hotel was right near it), the SF Aquarium, Hard Rock Cafe, tall ships, Monteray Bay, the M. Bay Aquarium, Seaside, Calif., Carmel, Calif, San Jose, some of Stanford Campus, Sunnyvale (and YES< it made me think of Sunnydale and Buffy the V.Slayer.) and the PACIFIC Ocean - both in San Fran side, and also from the 17 mile drive - which kicked, and also means I saw spy glass, pebble beach and some other golf courses, and houses I can hope to dream to own someday!
The SFMOMA provided me the op to be studious and a good student and inquisitive and interview the librarian at the SFMOMA about her position, library etc etc, it was well worth the time and will hopefully also help w. the paper i'm writing (ACK!) Plus the exhibitions were way cool,a nd I felt all professional and grown-up for setting up the tour/interview and exploring.
But, let me tell you why this last is the best. Now that I am no longer in Iowa City, I have gained this awesome status as the out-of-town friend that all of the IC friends should make it a priority to see while she's back. This is a great thing to me. Because I absolutely adore my friends back home, and love them to death, so it is only natural that when I am back in town I want to see all of them that I can and spend as much time as possible hanging out with them. I am happy to report that it was reciprical in most cases. Dude, totally just spelled that wrong - spell check didn't rescue me there. So first, thanks to all of you who made yourselves available to me, even for the smallest amount of time, it was much appreciated and I will see you all again soon (ACK!!! not much time left before I finish the first year of grad school - well hopefully finish)
Speaking of friends....secondly, SOOO many upcoming birthdays to send shout outs. Christa and Traci, this month, Rena, Q and Becks next month...happy birthdays folks!
all right, that said, I really should get a move on...I am wet from soaking rain, and soaked from wet rain..(and kickboxing) so must dry off and begin the process of trying to get ALL these things done...ACK! (back to the stress!)

Turkey Break

So, now that my paper is finished, and all stappled and read to turn in, I have to do a few more homework assignments tonight, and attend class in the morning, and THEN, fun coffee time with Traci and THEN, driving back to Iowa City. I wantedt og et home earlier, so I'm missing class on monday, mostly cause mom was in a car accident - though she's okay, i feel like i should go a bit earlier if i can to make sure she's REALLY okay, and not just saying so, so that i"ll stay for class like I'm posed to. I'm looking forward to partying with the iowa city folks again for an extended weekend instead of the rushed visit last time - though mostly Im looking forward to a break from grad school life and the chance to actually relax and watch amovie or two and visit and chill and so forth and so on. I"m hoping that everyone else has a great holiday too!

Um, I Still Exist

watching: LOTR -Fellowship Network Premier on WB
Hey Everybody, I haven't quite dropped off the face of the Earth. I had a weekend full of interesting events :) Including the "not so official weekend" start on Thursday night with drinks and karaoke at Bear's and dancing and drinks at Axis with Tanya and some of her friends. Had a BLAST...then of course, got home at 4 am, still feeling the buzz, and chatted online until the sun came up. Fabulous. Course, I had to shower to get rid of the smoke smell...slept for about half an hour, then went to my 9:30 class - leaving the dorm at 9:20 - and arriving just in time. Class was a blur, by nature of my distracted personality at that point, but I still took very good notes (surprisingly). Then I spent the next massive amount of hours in the library doing research for a collection development project. Came home and slept for god knows how long, until waking up on Sat and doing the SAME thing, more collection development project ALL day. Heh, the relief and break came when Traci and I joined one of her friends for Indian food. I'd never had it before and it was really really good. Not too spicy(heh, we had the recommendations of the native to help for that) and quite tasty. We also went to Nick's for a bit to converse. Her friend really likes brain teasers and was trying out a few on us. I was close to both of the right answers in my logical thinking process, but not quite there. Course, my first instinct, as always, is to problem solve by going outside the parameters of the given situation. i.e. in the case where you have a light bulb upstairs, and three light switches, and you want to know how many times you would have to go upstairs to determine which lightswitch turns on the bulb - I first decided, i wouldn't have to go up at all. I'd make one of my friends do it as a favor :) hhaha, can't let it be said that I don't think outside the box right? - the answer in reality, is 1 time. which was my inital guess, though I couldn't totally back up why....turns out, lightbulbs get hot, if lit...which I knew, so I was trying to guess how many times you'd go up to know that the bulb was hot...if you go up after you've flipped the second switch on and off, then you know...because you can feel the bulb...if the bulb is hot, it's the second, if it's warm, it was the first, and if neither, then it's the third switch...so the initial choice of ONE time is correct...but ya, was kinda a fun lill test of analytical thinking skills. Other than that, I haven't done much else besides homework all weekend, and won't do much else for the rest of the week either. I'm getting excited to go home again over thanksgiving and see all the IC crew, and my parentals. I do miss them. It was nice that my mom actually called me the other night, complaining that she wanted to hear the sound of my voice, rather than just doing the AIM chatting that we have been doing mostly so far...they are somewhat tech savy...I'm very proud of that fact ;) but was nice to know they wanted to hear from me. Anyways, back to the studies now

Happy Halloween

Hey Everyone,
Happy Halloween! I hope you all had/have great days/evenings tonight and last night. For my part, everything was tons of fun. We went over to Traci's and carved pumpkins, then went out for Thai food at Esan Thai, SOOO good. yummy. Traci's friend Greg joined us as well, so the five of us went to dinner and then came back to the dorms to have some fun. We changed into costume (those of us who had them) and socialized, till going downtown. Traci and Greg headed home, cause Trac had been up until 5 am working on her paper, so I totally didn't blame her for going home. Greg seemed like a very nice guy too. Tom, Tanya and I hit the bar scene, for some dancing and fun. It was a great evening overall. Came back home around 2 am, and watched episodes of Family Guy on DVD and ate pad thai leftovers until we all pretty much crashed. Tons of fun. Happy 21st Birthday to Heathersissy as well! yay!

All Hallows Pre-Eve

So, I'm excited for today's festivities. Heading over to Traci's around 2:30 to carve pumpkins...hooray! and then out on the town to wander around in costume and join in the festivities of the evening, wherever that happens to land us! :) Tom is on his way down from South Bend as well, yay for guy friends that are making the trip to see me, and as he says 'the main IU campus', since he has his comp sci degree from IU South Bend...haha. Yesterday I spent most of the day reading and finishing the book I mentioned the other day. Was very funny. I stayed in last night and watched t.v. and read, a good way to spend a night before crazy activites commence. Anyways, short entry today...and those of you with blogs that haven't updated in awhile, shame shame! you know who you are :)

Mechanism to Cope over the Summer

Listening to: Dare You To Move (acoustic)- Switchfoot
Looking forward to tonight. The two girl revolution. Traci and I will eventually change the world, I promise. And, if we don't, then at least we dare to dream big.
I was trying to figure out my classes for Spring semester, and decide which of the electives I can take and should take (12 hours total, with core and electives). That's the funny thing about "electives" because when you are paying out of state tuition, you really want to make sure that they are relevant towards your career path. Well, I wonder what sort of career path I'm truly on these days anyways. My former boss was able to help me possibly score an internship this summer in the Art Library back on UI's campus (because this way, I can make money at a random job, do the internship and also live for free in the basement at my parent's again), and I think that is what I really want to do with my life. Work in an art library.
Regardless, even though I really don't want to be back in Iowa City this summer, because I've just finally gotten OUT of that town, the fact of the matter remains, sometimes you have to take what seems like a step backward in order to leap ahead. At least I've never felt like I needed to rebel against my parents, in fact I consider my relationship with my folks to be quite a lucky one. I think of my mom as a wealth of advice given in the kind and generous manner she has about her. I think of her as my "older" best friend even. There are few things I won't tell her and few things I would want to keep from her, so I cherish the bond we have. My dad and I bond over traveling, tech savy new toys (he's always got SOMETHING new it seems) and our passion for watching t.v. in the downtime. So, another summer spent at home to save money isn't so horrible, plus the experience at the library will make it worthwhile I think. I'll get to spend more time with my boys and gals in IC too, as they continue to grow up and make their own life decisions. (Hard to believe the younger set are finally turning 21 this year!) And, I must keep in mind, that some of the friends from Bloomington won't be far away...Trac will be in Quincy, IL doing her own internship and I'd LOVE to introduce her to the crazy IC folks. Oh ya, Roadtrips baby!
And perhaps I"ll go out to Cali and visit Steve at some point to, when the scenary of Iowa City gets to be hum drum as it often does. And when I get an actual job, it'll be farther from home, in a great city where all of the friends will want to come and visit ME instead of me always visiting them, and I can pay them back with hospitality and a fun city full of cultural treats to explore.
ya, that would be cool. I can see it now. Dreaming big is a valuable coping mechanism.