Happy Halloween!

Last weekend I headed back to northern KY to see some old friends and celebrate a bday! It was wonderful and fantastic because she decided she wanted to celebrate her bday by playing laser tag...in Halloween costumes! So I rocked the Rosie the Riveter costume pretty well if I do say so myself. It was an absolute blast and so nice to see everyone.

As far as work...it's work. Sometimes I wonder why I thought librarianship was a good career choice. Other times I love it. It's hard to say what the day will bring. I don't have too much else to report right now.

A note to all library users

PLEASE do NOT reshelve books, dvds, cds or any other items. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!! I BEG you!

Secondly, PLEASE do not refer to your librarian as "hey." It's just not very nice.

Thank you for your time. Have a nice day.

UPDATE: Also, I do NOT respond well to "pssst"-ing. Or snapping. I am not a waiter (although waiters also do not deserve disrespect).

In general: PLEASE STOP BEING A TOTAL JERK.

Most of you are very nice, very polite very considerate patrons and I enjoy seeing you everyday. To the others, go take a class in manners.

I'm having way too much fun with this camera

Fun with the camera

Pics from the ribbon cutting ceremony

Camping

My friends Bill, Vince (and his dog Spencer) and I took a trip to Hoosier National Forest this past weekend for a short camping trip. It was absolutely wonderful and I wish I was still there! Here are a few great pics.

So much to say

I've got too much really to put into one post. Let's see, where do I even start? I'm living in Indianapolis now and LOVING it! This town really is my home and I felt comfortable the moment I moved in. I'm slowly learning my way around and getting to know everything that's here in the city. There's so much! But best of all, I'm a mere 20 minutes from N/R/L/L!!! It has been so much fun spending time with them and they've been gracious enough to feed me the wonderful food they cook! Thanks guys!! It's also been great to be closer to MK/DB, they came down to see the library and take me out to lunch which was wonderful.

The bad thing is that I was really really sick for a while there and I'm still getting over it. I was hit with a monumentally awful cold for a couple of weeks and even had to miss a day of work my first week on the job! I lost my voice and had horrible coughing fits. It was pretty embarrassing to say the least and I still have the occasional fit here and there. Somewhere along the way I either severely strained a muscle or possibly bruised a rib from coughing so violently. It's slowly...very slowly...getting better but I'm still in horrible pain when I have to cough or breathe in deeply. The pain is similar to what it would feel like if someone were sticking a hot knitting needle into my chest and swirling things around a little bit...at least I imagine. :)

So aside from the drama that is my physical condition, things are going swimmingly! I've had lots of visitors and already taken my first fall camping trip! (next post with pics) I'm also including some recent fun pics from my new camera. The first few are from N&R's front yard. I arrived at their house before they got back from running errands so I decided to experiment. I think they turned out pretty well! The others are just goofy pics.

I'll try to stay up to date on posting, I'm sure there will be some decent stories to share.

Sicky from sickville

Yup, that's me. I'm still quite sick. It's going through the normal course of things I think, it's now in my sinuses and throat but still is really getting on my nerves. I'm going to start drugging it up today. I was avoiding it. Not sure why, I just don't like to take a lot of drugs when I'm sick unless it's something like antibiotics. Part of it is that once the drugs wear off I usually feel worse than I did before I took them. As a friend of mine said, I have to be careful and not make myself sicker.

I got a call at my desk yesterday saying "Sally, there's a patron here who would like to speak with you." Yikes!! It was an account issue, something I couldn't do anything about because I'm not even trained on the circulation system yet. It was frustrating not to be able to help her but I think she was understanding. I'm sure there's more of that to come.

Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful since I've arrived, it's been wonderful. Luckily they have been very understanding about my awful cold as well. Apparently it was passed around the branch before I got there so they are all very sympathetic. The branch I work at is filled with wonderful staff and I feel very lucky to be a part of the team!

That's all for now. Back to my stuffy head life.

Another update

Here's a picture of Sammy with his whiskers covered in butter. (and a couple more cute pics)

So far...so sick

Okay, it's about time for the update. The move went...well. About as well as can be expected. I had one major glitch which threw everything off schedule but all in all it went well. And a HUGE GINORMOUS THANK YOU to N, R and MK/DB!!! You all are the GREATEST for putting in the extra mile for me!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

I had a week off more or less and I'm so glad I did because I would've been totally overwhelmed if I started my new job last week. The week was still filled with finding grocery stores, meetings for work, getting the odds and ends taken care of, not to mention unpacking. My new place is really cute, I like it quite a bit. It's on the first floor which is the best for my situation. As of this very second, Lyra is running around the apartment at top speeds chasing after the cats and generally getting into trouble. I would've made some enemies real quick in this place had I taken a second floor apt. Speaking of animals, they're all doing well. Monkey's taken the longest to get adjusted but he's fine now.

I had my first day at work today. It went really well. Spent the first half in benefits orientation then went over to the branch to get adjusted, meet people and that sort of thing. I'm exhausted now because not only am I totally overwhelmed, I'm also sick. I got hit with the dreaded cold over the weekend and I'm feeling about the same today. I haven't had a voice most of the day and also a very painful cough. NOT fun. But as always, it could be worse!! I did, however, make my first managerial decision today! One of my new staff came up to me and said the other branches have adopted a policy of wearing jeans on Friday and Saturday, can we do the same? She said she asked my supervisor first before I started and my supervisor said it's up to me. So I said, as long as the jeans aren't ratty looking I think it's a great idea! Yeah!! Go team!!

I have had a BLAST hanging out with N, R and the L's!! It is so fantastic being close to them and spending more time with them!!

That's all that fit to print as of now, I'll try to keep things up to date!

Music area

More updates to come, but here's my new music area in the new place.

Expect the unexpected

I've had some challenging moves, but this one is turning out to be quite challenging, at least so far (knock on wood). The two main issues that have significantly slowed me down are as follows:

1) Lyra became extremely ill last weekend forcing me to stay home and keep her calm instead of doing my loads and loads of laundry and packing. She's absolutely fine now but I was quite worried for a while.

2) My power is out courtesy of Ike. I went out and bought a ton of votive candles so I can pack tonight. Not cool.

Yikes!

Packing it up

I'm in the long and insane process that is packing right now. I've made some progress though you'd never be able to tell by setting foot in my apartment. It is an absolute disaster zone right now and I'll be glad when it's next Sunday and I'll be starting to settle in my new place.

I called N&R one night while I was packing to ask "how do I pack wrapping paper?" Essentially they both said "well, that's very conscientious of you but it's probably not worth the hassle." Then I spoke with my friend R and he gave me the fabulous idea of wrapping all my packed up boxes in wrapping paper. Then when I'm moving in I would be excited about opening all my new presents from...me to me! Oooh, what's this one? *shake shake shake* It might be a...box of socks and music books! Yay!! Happy move in day!!

Too cute to pass up

I had a sweet, sweet moment with my Sammy boy last night and did my best to capture it on film. Love this cat!

A perfect representation

more animals

Lots of change

It's high time I write on this here blog. I apologize if I've kept anyone waiting...which I think essentially boils down to my sister and my parents. So...sorry sis and parents! :)

Life is moving at about 80mph right now. Now that the word is out I can start to talk about this experience. I have accepted a job as a branch manager of an Indianapolis library. I am ridiculously excited to be closer to the fam and to start this entirely new universe of professional experience. But I have to admit, it's going to be really hard to leave a lot of the relationships I have made in northern Kentucky. I know I will keep in touch with quite a few people and I look forward to them visiting me and vice versa but nevertheless a goodbye is a goodbye and who likes those? Not me.

Everyone's telling me to take it one day at a time and I can do that to an extent but there's so much to be worked out with any move, let alone an out-of-state move that it's hard not to be constantly thinking about what's coming next. I'm not looking forward to the transition but I am looking forward to what is coming up after the transition.

One of which is my current obsession with roller derby. Most of you who know me personally already know this about me. I thought that as many obsessions of mine, this one too would fade into the background but instead it has become more and more a part of my thinking. I am in contact with one of the teams in Indy and I plan to start skating with them right away. I may be writing here asking for ideas for names in the future. I have a few but I want to start really skating and learning techniques before I assign myself a name.

I'm going to go eat dinner before my program tonight. It's called "All Sorts of Sports" for ages 6-10 (the program, not my dinner). I made an Olympic torch out of a paper towel tube and construction paper which you see here. Ah yes the life of a children's librarian...

The latest from this tri-state area

Lots to say, lots to do, lots and lots. First thing's first, the 5K was fabulous! We raised a lot of money and I feel good about my results. I was quite intimidated at first, looking at all the serious...and I mean SERIOUS runners. But by the time I started I just let it go, rocked out to my ipod and did the best I could do. What's nice is now that I don't have a specific fitness goal in mind, when I go to the gym I'm much freer. For instance yesterday I ran a mile and then did some weight lifting. I have found that I prefer that to just flat out running all the time. I'm pretty limited on time since I have to deal with my dog. I'm going to have to find a new schedule to fit her in so I don't feel pressed for time when I'm at the gym.

Let's see...speaking of animals, mine are doing fine. I've been boarding Lyra quite a bit recently due to some weekend trips, vacations, etc. She is not a cheap animal by any stretch of the imagination. But she's worth it. The other night I was at home alone with the cats and I found I was overwhelmed with missing her. It didn't feel right. It was kind of a nice realization. She's such a good dog. Cats are good too. Sammy is feisty and mischevious, Monkey is confused and lovey.

Work is good too. Crazy busy but good. Time is going so quickly for me right now which is good all in all. I like distractions. I've recently developed a strong interest in the roller derby and I plan to join in one way or another pretty soon. I'll start off with volunteering and if my skating improves I'll work toward trying out. In fact I'm going skating tonight!! I'd LOVE to be a part of the sport, it's so awesome. I want to be a blocker.

Okay, that's all that's fit to print. Insane couple of weeks coming up. Barely time to sleep. But it's all worth it.

March on Melanoma--Sponsor Me!

It's not too late to sponsor me in the 5K--this weekend! I am overwhelmed by the response of all of you who have already donated and I can't thank you enough. Melanoma research is a cause very close to my heart and my family and Teb's Troops is an amazing organization which raises money toward this well-needed effort.

Here is some information about Teb's Troops:

"Teb's Troops is a not-for-profit organization started after Tricia E. Black, or 'teb' as she was known by her friends and family, was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic melanoma. At the time of her diagnosis, teb was 29 years old and living in Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband, Michael, and 9-month-old son, Sam. Wanting to rally her "troops" during her war with cancer and desiring to make something positive come from the negative, teb asked her friends to help her design and sell a bracelet, the profits of which would go to organizations that support the treatment, prevention, and research of cancer, including melanoma. We are now asking you to enlist as one of her troops by purchasing a Teb's Troops bracelet to show your support the fight against cancer."

For more information on the organization, please visit Teb's Troops.

I'm only a little over $300 from completing my ultimate goal of $1000! Every little bit helps and goes toward a wonderful cause.

To donate, please visit my fundraising page.

Thanks again to everyone who has already donated!

Updates

Well I guess it's high time I put a few thoughts in this here blog. Work is coming along swimmingly. Programs are fabulous, performers are wonderful (with the exception of one we had to cancel due to an arrest...sheesh!) and people are picking up summer reading logs like gangbusters! So far, so good.

Now, running. I'm not as far along as I've wanted to be but I was really excited the other day when I ran 2.5 miles with only 2 1-minute walking breaks. I wish I could have been more consistent with my training but it's really hard with work, traveling and just general life stuff. I've decided to stick with the gym for these next couple of weeks so I can just work on endurance on the treadmill. After the 5K rolls around I plan to incorporate lifting into my schedule but figuring that out with the dog is proving to be challenging. I'll work it out eventually. And a big thanks to my cuz for the foot pain help! It's great to have someone with so much running experience and fabulous tips!! And your advice worked!!

Anything else? Not really. Big changes coming but nothing to speak of yet. I'm ready for the next step. Ready, willing, and very close to able.

LSA Conference Part 5 (Party time!)