Merry Decemberween!

Merry Decemberween!

I know it’s almost over, but I hope everyone’s December festivities have been super wonderful. We’re down at my folk’s house in MD for the week and having a great time. Christmas was super fun. I love watching the kids open presents. Since there are only two kids in the family at the moment, everyone was putting the pressure on for JeT and I to contribute to the younger population so that there’ll be more kids to watch on Christmas morning. Yeah, probably not anytime soon. Though woo hoo for all the friends who have announced their expected little ones! (You’ve all been busy: there were two baby announcements and one engagement! Hooray!)

I’ve finally uploaded photos from the last couple of months. Geez, we were wicked busy, weren’t we? There are photos from Thanksgiving with friends, the Fancy Schmancy Dancy Birthiversary Party, the Hooray for Repeal Day Party with librarians, the Ugly Sweater Party, snow, birthday, and Christmas. It’s been crazy-fun. There are also pictures of recent crafty projects: felted bags, and a doll of The Dude (from The Big Lebowski). And cupcakes. Yum!

See you all in the New Year!

Thanks!

Thanks to all who have wished me a happy birthday, happy holidays, and happy graduation. It’s been a happy, happy time around these parts recently, and I’d like to express my gratitude the only way I know how: with The Muppets. Enjoy!

Librarians rule

To celebrate my graduation and to bid farewell to another assistant, the librarians in the Manuscripts department gave us a party. Isn’t that sweet? We got gift certificates to the Harvard bookstore and chocolates from Burdick. They rule. I’ll still be around a bit longer, while conducting a search for a full-time job, and they all wished me well in that endeavor. I’ve only been working there a couple of months, so it was really a surprise to be included in the celebration.

In addition to this part-time job, I’ve got an interview coming up for another part-time position, doing pretty much the same sort of thing, but with academic archive stuff instead of manuscripts. Fingers crossed, please! I figure working at two part-time jobs for a while will give me a little financial wiggle room if I can’t find a full-time position right away. I think it’s a decent strategy.

Right. Back to that Christmas list. I’m running out of time, but all I want to do is eat popcorn and watch movies. It’s much warmer in here.

Done.

Yes, as of Thursday, 12:30 pm I finished the work for my MLIS. Woot! To celebrate, the skies dropped a foot of snow on us. I went to lunch with a fellow graduate, The Spinstah, and another GSLIS student, The Boss Lady. We had lunch and beer at Thornton’s while we watched passers-by stumble in the snow, and drivers sit in the city-wide gridlock.

Walking to the T (and to and fro the restaurant) was a bit of an adventure, because I am wicked smart: I forgot my snow boots at home. I was wearing dress shoes. I might as well have been walking bare foot. By the time we got back to the car (3 1/2 hours later) we had to shovel it out and then drive home on the treacherous roads. We got stuck at one point because the plows cleared (sort of) the main road, but when we turned on to our own road we couldn’t get over the plow pile. Because JeT is awesome, he dug us out (with our emergency shovel, because at least one of us is thinking clearly about winter weather) and we were home very shortly afterwards.

Once I got home it was really weird. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I kept thinking there was something I was supposed to be doing, and I’d get this momentary panic, like “what am I forgetting.” It was kind of funny. Today was wonderful. I woke up at my leisure (7:30, which is wicked late considering we get up at 5 on weekdays) and we watched Saturday Morning Cartoons for hours and hours. I even took a nap. And then made cupcakes. And we’re going to a party later this evening. Hooray for leisure!

I do have to figure out the details of my Christmas shopping list, especially the knitting that I’ve neglected for ages and ages. Shouldn’t be too difficult, considering I’m giving myself a couple of weeks after Christmas to get things done. Some stuff will have to be done before then, as we’re traveling to Maryland to spend Christmas week with my family. It’s going to rule.

I have tons of pictures to upload: from the Birthiversary party onward. Perhaps I’ll do that tomorrow, since, you know, I don’t have any homework to finish. Ever. Rock!

In one week…

I’ll be finished with my MLIS classes by next Thursday. This semester has been one of those weird times where time doesn’t seem to flow at a consistent rate. Or maybe, more accurately, it feels as if time is traveling excruciatingly slow, and wicked fast, simultaneously. Three weeks ago I made a little chart so I could satisfyingly tick off the last days. And now there’s only one week left.

I’ve found myself thinking, “This is the last time I’ll walk these steps regularly,” etc. Sentimental crap, really. I wanted to document this experience so much better. But I didn’t bring my camera regularly. And every time I’d see a good photo opportunity, I’d either be running late, or think, “Oh, I’ll get that next time.” And now I have so few photos from my time here. Ah, well. It’s not really a huge deal, but it would have been cool. I never got any good autumn photos, which is a shame. Though, really, what’s to look at? Half the place is in a state of constant construction at any given time. And others are already documenting that.

Anyway, I still haven’t uploaded the photos from the Birthiversary party last month. And I don’t know if I’ll get to those before next weekend. I may just wait until after the semester’s over to catch up on my photos. I’ve also not added appropriate description of the photos from the Clue Party and the fun afternoon in Shelburne Falls.

I’d also like to do a sort of “what I learned in Library School ™” kind of post, for my own edification. I want to do that sooner rather than later, before I lose my motivation for such a project.

I keep saying, “during the break…” when really I mean, “when I get my life back…” It’s going to be awesome, but kind of weird, too. I mean, I’ve spent the better part of the last 25 years in school or planning for school. I’m glad to be done with it. Though, really, who am I kidding? I’ll still be interested in continuing education, workshops, online courses, etc, etc., but the bulk of it is finally over.

I can be crafty again, Yay! I’ve missed that. I’ve put so much of my life on hold these last 2.5 years, and I’m ready to have it back again. Granted, I have done a pretty good job at keeping an active social calendar so I don’t become completely isolated from my friends, but I feel like there’s so much I’ve missed out on. Parties, events, all sorts of good stuff.

December is going to be chock full of fun things. Seriously. There’s going to be at least two or three things going on each weekend all month. And we’re going to have a party in January, so keep an eye out for that.

Ok, enough rambling. Off to finish up the last of the reading for one of my classes. Woot!