A Weekend of Culture

It's been a full and stressful week, but the weekend is going wonderfully. Though I'm not getting any school work done, which is not good. I need to get my RBMS scholarship in and also fill out another application. I then need to do my homework for representation and organization and work on my research paper. I now have my own carrel in the library, which is exciting, though I'm not too fond of studying in a place without windows. I can check books out to my carrel, so if I have a lot of books, I won't have to lug them around, which is why I checked out the carrel in the first place. :-)

I went to a poetry night with a friend last night and then she and I hung out at a coffee shop and talked. It was a fun evening, and it was good to go to a poetry reading again. I haven't done that since undergrad. There were several different people who read, and it was all good, but I especially liked the last lady. Her poems were more like stories, and the first one was hilarious! I'm going to see Into the Woods tonight with the same friend and two other people, which should be fun. I haven't seen the whole play before, only some of the 2nd half. A weekend of culture: just what I need right now. :-)

I'm hoping I can go to my grandparents' house for Easter, but I'm not sure if I will be able to make it. It's a long drive, and I'm afraid that even if I vow to work over the weekend, there is no way it will happen. We'll have to see how much progress I make this week.

Happy Bibliomania Day

I found out, through the rare books listserv that today is the anniversary of the apprehension of Stephen Blumberg, one of the most famous book thieves. It is now (unofficially) dubbed Bibliomania Day.

Priorities

Well. I missed the bus and am currently stuck on campus for another hour. It came 7 minutes early. I had a tip from the bus driver as I rode in that I should get there about 5 minutes early, as the night driver is notoriously early. I thought I had given myself enough time, but as I headed toward the stop, I heard bus brakes. I ran down the steps and saw it pulling away. I was running and yelling "Wait, noooo," and there was one guy at the the stop to witness my plight/theatrics. Sigh. Oh well.

I've been trying to gather research for my paper due next month. I'm writing it on the use of objects/artifacts in special collections. I think it will be really interesting, but I'm having some trouble finding sources. Also, I've never written a paper like this before. I'm used to getting a ton of books, finding primary sources, a few articles, and amassing a huge stack of notecards with quotes and summaries. This, however, is not a history paper. It's mainly going to be all articles, as I don't think there are many books on the subject, and any primary sources will probably be from interviews. I really need to talk with my prof and the librarians at the special collections library to get some better direction.

This weather has been absolutely intoxicating, and I heard it's supposed to snow on Sunday! I hope not. They have planted pansies all around campus already, and I don't want the flowers, buds, and shoots to die. I'm ready for spring.

I do not particularly like working over spring break, and I'm starting to slightly freak out about stuff I need to do. I'm never as productive as I plan to be over break. I did have a good weekend with my family though. I also had a good time catching up with a friend. It was so nice to just hang out in a coffee shop and talk.

So many things to do. I really dislike being overwhelmed. Last year was so nice in that I didn't have to worry about as many things. I didn't have papers hanging over my head (other than grad school apps), and though I had the stress of figuring out what I was going to do for grad school and such, it was rather less complicated. I did watch way too much TV though. :-) I really miss people from the dale. I've been missing my church again, and I miss the community theater and the college. Last year was hard, but it was also good.

Oh, last thought. I found out what happens if you leave butter on top of the stove and the oven is on. It melts. No more butter. I should probably run to the store when I get home. :-(

Standing Under a Waterfall of Possibilities and Getting Drenched

There are so many things that I need to do/deadlines coming up. Things are starting to fall into place and I'm starting to make decisions, but I am still feeling overwhelmed. I don't like all the uncertainty. At least I now know that I'm going to stay in the area this summer. I got the internship I wanted! And, contrary to what I've been saying, I'm going to do the sane thing and take it for credit. I also plan on taking the EAD workshop, but it's only 1.5 credits, and with the internship, workshop, and work, I'll be plenty busy. I have also decided that I really want to go to the RBMS preconference this summer in Philadelphia. RBMS is the rare books section of ALA. Hopefully I can get a scholarship to go, but I'm going to try to go anyway. I don't think I'm going to go to the main ALA conference. I am also applying for a scholarship to go to another conference which is in San Francisco, but that one will be determined by whether or not I get the scholarship. Now, I just have papers and scholarship deadlines coming due soon. I have changed my rare books paper topic to something that I am pretty passionate about right now, so that is good. I would ultimately like to have it published, but it remains to be seen if it will be any good or worth publishing.

Sorry, I know the above paragraph is full of library jargon. But, that's pretty all consuming right now. There are so many decisions that I have to make. I'm trying not to worry and to trust that the Lord will open and close doors as He sees fit. I'm also slightly worried about the career path I have chosen to pursue. I want to work with special collections, specifically with objects or "realia," so I'm pursuing that. I'm not sure if there is any hope or possibilities for me in this path, but I need to focus on and pursue something, so I am pursuing this, and I hope that if it is not what the Lord has for me, He shows me and directs me toward what He wants. I kind of feel that this is His will though, as it is the path that He led me to, away from my original desire to be a school media specialist.

School is getting better, now that I have a purpose. It really helps to have something to work toward.

I cannot wait for spring break, but I have a lot to do during it, including a deadline tomorrow, and 2 deadlines for Monday. Then another next Friday. Augh! Oh well. It will get done. It always does.

Also, I saw some guys outside today with a "free hugs" sign. Though I like the concept of this movement, and appreciate hugs myself, I did not take advantage of it, as the concept of hugging complete strangers is rather intimidating.

Connections

I am officially a part of the community. While waiting to check out at Kroger I saw my computer professor from last semester, a coworker, two girls from Sunday school, and another lady from work. All at basically the same time. I am officially connected.

I also found out what happens if you forget to put baking soda in your cookies. They don't expand. They still taste ok, but I'm not going to bring them to girls night. Speaking of which, I need to head out to that.

Blessings.

Answer to Prayer

I have a roommate for next year! One of the girls I met in Bible study and is also in my program was also looking for a roommate. I think we will get along well. I was a little worried, but I knew that the Lord would provide, and He did. I'm so glad that I didn't have to send out an e-mail to the listserv or post a classified ad.

I am also apparently a mold magnet. It is a blessing and a curse.

There is a lot going on this weekend. I don't know when I'll have time for homework. Guess I'll have to make time, as I have an assignment due Monday. There is a small archives conference on campus tomorrow (Saturday). I'm looking forward to it. Then, Bible study is having a girls night, which I'm also looking forward to, and I need to bake cookies for. (Which also means I need to buy butter.) Then, I have to work on Sunday due to a meeting, and then I'm going to an Oscar's party with my friend of the same name. Busy busy. At least this proves that I have a social life. :-) I met one of the girls from out of town who is coming to the conference, and she seems really nice. We had a pre-conference get together, and they came late due to the time change and long drive up, but I'm looking forward to seeing her again tomorrow. I hate to say networking, as it can often have a negative, self-serving connotation, but I'm hoping to network in a good way. Meet new people.

I watched Quigley Down Under last night. It is a very good western, one of my top rated. :-) I realized as I watched it that it is one of the few westerns that actually focuses on the female. They actually developed the female character, and she is one of the reasons that you watch the movie. And the love story part is different from the other movies. Crazy Cora has to come to grips with her past before she can be with Quigley, and he in turn needs her, as he is a loner. Augh, it's hard to describe, but it's very good. My favorite Western coupling, however, is, by far, John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. They are wonderful together. (Quigley Down Under is a Tom Selleck movie, btw)

Any whoo, I'm tired. Night.

I Am Weary, Let Me Rest

It's Thursday again. Which means I have to go to boring class. And I am tired. I hope I can get through it. I think coffee before class is a good idea. Coffee definitely tastes like the elixir of life sometimes.

I am a bit burned out right now. I had two midterms due this week, one on Tuesday and the other on Wednesday, and I have not had much sleep the past few nights. I also have a lot going on this weekend, and I have several things I need to apply for, like scholarships and a grad assistantship. I also need to decide about a conference soon, as the early bird registration ends tomorrow. I may or may not have an internship for this summer lined up. I contacted a staff member to see if she wanted an intern to help with the special collection she curates, but I haven't heard back from her. I hope I got the e-mail address right.

There is a small archives conference on campus this Saturday, which I am going to attend. It shoudl be a good way to network and meet people, as some people are coming from out of town to attend and present.

I need to get ready for class. TTFN