Missing

To miss someone or something is such a deep and human emotion, but whenever it is articulated or mentioned, it sounds so trite. Maybe it's because we overuse it, or use it lightly. A flippant "miss you, wish you were here." But there is the deep missing, the deep longing that doesn't really go away, no matter how long it's been since you've seen the person or people. It's not always felt, but it's always there, just waiting for a trigger, a memory.

I think that missing is often disregarded in our society. If you miss someone and mention it too many times, then you feel whiny, and the feeling is often, move on, don't dwell on or live in the past. But, I don't think that we should ever disregard the past or forget our love for the people who have meant so much but are no longer in close proximity.

Glorious Sleep

I slept for about 13 hours last night, and it was wonderful. I had been rather low on sleep, coupled with basically an all nighter the night before, and so I went to bed around 6 and got up at 8 the next morning. I didn't think I would actually sleep the whole night, but I obviously needed it.

I was supposed to work this afternoon, but I had an eye appointment, so I was able to take off. I am going to try contacts again. We'll see. I can't read from the computer as well as with glasses. It's a little blurry, and causing some eyestrain. We'll see how regular reading goes.

I should do some homework tonight, but I really just want to veg and relax. This week is crazy with homework and my 2nd job started, so extra work hours. However, this is the last week of class. It's over on Tuesday, which is exciting. Then, next week is rafting and after that, RBMS. I'm really looking forward to rafting. It will be so nice to get away and be out in the beauty. A group of us from church went out to a local park/campsite and hung out around the campfire. I had homework to do, but it was worth it. When you get out and camp, everything else doesn't matter, doesn't exist. For 5 hours, there was no EAD or work. And it was nice.

Things are very busy, but they will be ok. It will start getting harder, though, as I've been scheduled for Sundays now. Sundays mean a lot to me, and with my schedule the way it is, it would be the one day where I didn't have to work. But, both my jobs have been scheduling me to work that day. The reference job isn't that bad, as I can still make it to Sunday school and church, but the page job means that I have to adjust my Sunday morning schedule, going to early service and sometimes missing Sunday school, which has become really important to me. I would appreciate prayers, as I know from experience it is really hard to keep a good attitude when I have to work on Sundays.

Hodge Podge and Misc.

I have a huge homework assignment due this week, but I have been putting it off. I really need to start it soon, as it will be impossible to complete the night before. Very long and mind numbing.

I am going shopping with a friend, and I'm excited about it. It will be so good to get out and chat. And shop. :-)

I was somewhat distressed this morning when I realized that I had miscalculated the days of the RBMS pre-conference. I thought the last day was Thursday, but it's actually Friday. But, my hotel, plane ticket, and work are already set, so I will just have to leave early. Thank goodness I have a later flight coming back on Thursday. Also, I don't think I will miss much. Mainly some extra networking.

I am hooked on the 44 Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall Smith. I had heard that he was a good author, and he has proved it to me. I just finished 44 Scotland Street, the first book in the series, and it was very good. The book is character driven, and the characters are so real. And human. It's a good author who gets you to make verbal exclamations at the characters. Bruce and Irene really get on my nerves, but you can't hate them. Though I do hate how over-bearing Irene is. Poor Bertie. I have to get my hands on the next books in the series. This does not bode well for homework.

I also watched a Korean movie last night. I enjoyed it, and I think I'm going to check out more of the movies/TV series in the Asian section of the library. The movie was called My Little Bride, and it had a really weird beginning premise, but after you got past that, it was really cute and sweet. I also wonder if Asian films do not allow on-screen kissing. I know very little about Asian culture and film, but there was no on screen kiss. At one point, the actors' lips were as close as possible without actually touching, but the "kiss" was obscured and thus only implied. It could just be this particular movie, and not the film industry as a whole, but I found it cute and kind of refreshing. There was inuendo, but the film had a more innocent, different feel than an American film.

Busy, Busy

I may be crazy, but I will be working another job this summer, along with my internship and internship job. My old job in circulation at the public library needs extra help this summer, so I agreed to work as a page just for the summer. I'm glad to be working with my circulation co-workers again, and the extra income will be helpful. Also, I'll just be a page, so I'll have less hours and less responsibility, which will be much more compatible with my reference intern position. I had been thinking about trying to find another job this summer, and I'm glad that this opportunity came along. I will be very busy, but busy is not always bad. It will keep me out of trouble. :-)

I am enjoying my reference intern position. I realized that I really like helping people. There is a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment in being able to answer someone's question or help them find the resources they are looking for. I like feeling useful.

I also have a fairly full social calendar this weekend. Tonight is a potluck with the 20-somethings from church, and Saturday is Angy's birthday. We're hosting a party, which should be a blast. I do, however, need to help clean the apartment, as well as make sticky bun for tonight. I think I might make cream cheese roll-ups for Saturday. That's a good party finger food.

Playing in the Mud

There was a bonfire/cookout/potluck/party put on by the archives group on Friday, and I went for a few hours. I wasn't really in a party mood, but the food was good. I should have had a 2nd hot dog. Hebrew National hot dogs are packaged in 7s. :-) One of the guys came with his wife and 3 year old. So cute and so much fun. We've had a good amount of rain here, and there was a mud puddle/small rut in the yard. They let him play in the mud, and it didn't take much wheedling and soon my shoes and socks were off too. I cannot remember the last time I played in the mud. It was so much fun. Feeling the mud squish between your toes. That was the highlight of the party for me. :-)

Also, I went to the 8 AM service on Sunday, as I had to leave early for tech training for my new job. Sunday morning was the only time we could all meet. I really enjoyed singing the hymns, though my voice is not the best that early. During worship, however, there was a medical emergency. A man (elderly, I'm assuming) fell down or passed out, and we're singing Peace Like a River and watching as everyone rushes to his aid. I have decided that if I have a medical emergency in public, I'd like to have it happen in church. That way, you have an entire room of people praying for you.

My new job and internship are going well. The internship is not too exciting yet, but I am doing useful work. I am really enjoying working at the reference desk for my new job, though. I still have a lot to learn, and I know I'll make mistakes and have some bad days, but I really enjoy answering questions and helping people. I shadowed in AV yesterday and took my first phone call. It went well and I was able to help the patron. It is such a satisfying feeling. I have my first official shift tomorrow night. It's at the main desk, which worries me a bit, as you can get any and every question up there, and I really don't know that much. But, I'm working with two really good librarians, so I'm sure it will be fine. Everyone has been really nice and helpful. Though I would appreciate prayers if you think about it.

TTFN

Watching Worms

The Dalai Lama was on campus today. There was a long line of people when I went to my internship today, and I wondered why they were there. I also wondered when the security person asked everyone to empty their stuff and be ready when they reached the front, but it makes sense. It was really cool seeing all the monks around. I think their red robes are very pretty.

In the movie Grumpier Old Men, there is a scene where Walter Matthau's character is trying to woo Sophia Loren's character, and he tells her that her restaurant is on a really good nightcrawler bed or area. He says that the worms come out at night, so they go out looking for worms. The worm in the scene is really fake, so I figured that they just made that up. After last night, however, I think there may be some truth to the idea that worms come out at night. I was sitting on a bench outside the laundry room, just being, and I noticed long, glisteny things moving. There were a lot of worms out, and they were moving the whirly seed pods that were on the ground. It was pretty cool watching them move and hearing them rustle. So many times we miss that. Everyone is so busy, so plugged in. We never just sit, just be. And that is important. Sit down. Listen to the worms.

Music

I used to be very biased against contemporary Christian music, and was very skeptical of taking the "world's" music and putting Christian lyrics to it. In college, however, I started to listen to some contemporary Christian music. Some of it is ok, but it's not generally very hard hitting or convicting, though Casting Crowns has some really good songs. I have been hearing about Christian rap/hip hop recently, and decided to pick up a CD at the library by Lecrae. It's a hip hop/rap album, but it is so good! Whether you like that type of music or not, I have not heard such hard hitting lyrics or such a clear Gospel message from contemporary music before. Because hip hop/rap is a more edgy, hard hitting music style, the lyrics really combine with the music to form some very powerful stuff. I want to see him in concert now.

P.S. The album I borrowed is Rebel. It's his more recent album, I think.