Apartment Hunting

I just got back from the dale. Dad and I went up to look for apartments, and though I found one maybe, I'm still going to keep looking. Sigh. I was really hoping to find something when I went up today. I don't really have time to go back up. Oh well, it will all work out, but I would appreciate prayers.

I have a lot to accomplish this week/month. I really need to kick into gear. Final push and then I'm done! Cannot wait!

The reality of going back to the dale is setting in. I am going to miss B-town, even though I didn't think I would. I'm going to miss my friends and the ethnic restaurants and the public library. I am looking forward to being a part of HFMC again, my new job, and finally being able to invest in the community. It's just weird that I will finally have a "real" job and be established and settled. Even though I know the community and people there, it will still be hard to adjust back. It will be good, but it will be hard. I'm going to try to have a plan to survive the winter and beat the blues. :-)

Life

I had a wonderful time with library school friends last night. We went out for pizza and then saw Tangled. Tangled was cute, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Pizza was the best part though. Laughter is good for the soul.

I have a lot to accomplish today. I am going on a run, and then I need to do my labels for my exhibit, as I am installing it on Monday. I'll be glad to have that done with and be able to focus on other things.

I am trying to find an apartment in the dale, which is a bit stressful. I am hoping to go up next week and look at places, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to go due to work, as the Monday night crew is sparse.

Going to run. TTFN

A Weekend of Good Movies

It is the first weekend of spring break, and I have been taking it easy. I really need to buckle down during the week and figure out my exhibit, which I'm still feeling horribly lost on, but it will get done. I have watched three movies this weekend, and they have all been very good. The Picture Bride, Inn of the Sixth Happiness, and The Chorus (Le Choriste). I never seen The Picture Bride before, and it is excellent. It is a slower paced, beautiful portrait of picture brides or mail order prides in the early part of the 20th century in Hawaii. From about 1907-1924, thousands of Japanese women went to Hawaii to marry men they had only seen in pictures and corresponded briefly with through letters. The main character goes to Hawaii to marry and to escape the stigma of her past. The movie comes across very real. It has essential elements, but it allows the plot to form naturally, without forcing the characters. The young woman slowly becomes used to her environment and develops into a strong woman. I highly recommend the movie. It is slower paced, but beautiful, though there is some sensuality.

I watched the Inn of the Sixth Happiness today, which is about Gladys Aylward. It is a very good movie as well, and the scenes of the children crossing the mountains are very moving. I love the character of Ms. Aylward. She was strong and determined and loved God. I would like to know more about her, apart from the movie adaptation. I'd like to read a bio of her when I have the time.

Lastly, I watched my favorite foreign film, The Chorus. It is a French movie set in 1949 about a man who becomes a prefect at a boys reform school. He reaches the boys through music, and it is a wonderful, poignant story. The boys are endearing, and the characters are great. Though there is slight bawdy humor, it is very clean, especially for a French movie.

In an unrelated note, we went on a long hike/trek today. I think we walked about 6 miles out at a state park. It was a lovely day, but chilly, and I didn't prepare as well for it as I should have. Ah well, it was good exercise. I really need to be training in earnest, as the mini marathon is less than 2 months away.

Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday

I bought paczkis today. They are my favorite part of Mardi Gras. I took a long time to decide which ones I wanted, and as I was leaving the display, two people came up, and the guy said "they're just donuts." The girl replied "they're Polish donuts." I gave them a look. Paczkis are so much better than regular donuts! Anyway, I ended up with white icing and raspberry filling. Mmmm. When I checked out, the cashier said that they looked really good, and I replied that they were the best part of Mardi Gras. The lady in front of me was older and had an accent, and she replied that it was the last day to indulge, because tomorrow was ashes. The statement was simple enough, but at that moment, I realized what Lent is all about. Being very low church, I do not generally celebrate Lent, as I think it can be more focused on what one gives up rather than the reason behind it. But, Lent is to prepare for Easter. To focus less on ourselves and more on Christ. Though I'm not going to give anything up for Lent, I am going to try to focus more on Him. So, I guess my Lenten resolution is to have more consistent quiet times of being in the Word and praying.

One down, how many to go?

I presented at a conference today, and I think it went well. There are sessions tomorrow morning, but I'm going to skip the 2nd day in favor of church. Especially as I'm leading Sunday school in the morning.

I am rather exhausted and just want to rest, but I will be busy at least until Tuesday (and beyond, most likely). I have a friend coming down to visit and check out library school, which will be fun. I need to go to the store though, as I don't really have food in the house. I think I'm going to make poppy seedless chicken Sunday night.

Not much to report. I didn't realize how crazy busy this semester would be, but it is and I'm almost done.

News

I am sorry for the long hiatus. I have been very busy and preoccupied with school and the job search. This week is going to be crazy as well, as I have to finish a paper for a conference on Saturday.

On Monday I went up to the dale and interviewed for the serials position at the college library. The current serials librarian will be retiring in June, and I applied for the position. The interview went very well, though the weather was crazy. There was a really bad ice storm that took out branches and power lines and phone lines, and the library was without power for the first half of the interview. It was kind of an adventure, and I was pretty relaxed. I was unable to meet with the provost, as he was unable to make it to campus due to the ice, but I received a call from him later in the week and he offered me the position. So, I will be back in the dale starting in June! I am very excited to be going back. The Lord is so good! I am still very busy, but that is one less stressor. (I was going to say, one less thing to worry about, but Sunday school was about worry, so I'm trying not to worry.)

I need to go, as I have a lot to do in a very short span of time. But, I will update more often. I just had to wait until my news was official. :-)

Encamped Along the Hills of Light

I have finished the second run through of my data for my paper. I am in crunch mode, and it is too early in the semester for this. Hopefully the end of the semester will be more relaxed. I have 2 big things that need to be done in the next few weeks, and yesterday I was in complete panic/stress/freak out mode. It was not fun. I am feeling better, but I am still frustrated with myself, as I should be more together than I am. I can't wait until I have a real job and no homework. I know life will still be life: complicated, but hopefully in a different way. I really enjoyed having a real job and a life. It was easier. Now, I have school, work, and life, and it is hard to balance it all.

Last week, work was crazy, due to the ice storm. The library was closed Tues. and Wed., and Monday and Thursday were insane, as people were preparing for the storm and then eager to get out of the house after the storm. The storm was worst Tuesday night. I was a bit nervous. We basically had a zombie attack, but we were safe in the apartment. There were popping noises outside that sounded almost like gunshots, and the wind was blowing branches and ice around and knocking on my bedroom window. The next morning when we walked to the bus, it looked like icicle pieces were all over the ground. Zombie fingers. But we survived. (And no, I do not actually believe in zombies. Just some joking to ease the nerves.)

I am leading Sunday school for the next 5 weeks or so, and I'm kind of excited. Logistics with the prayers requests and such still need to be ironed out, but hopefully it will all get squared away.

I would appreciate prayers for the next few weeks, as they will be rather crazy, but I hope it will all go well and get done.

TTFN