We Are Nowhere and It's Now*

Huh.  Imagine that.  Dead silence for a few months.  Like that's never happened around here before.

The universe has a cruel sense of humor and timing.  But hey, new friends are always a good thing ... and new friends who give excellent hugs are even better.

At the Getty, in LA. Drinking wine and enjoying awesome weather and better company.

I finally got new sneakers.

I've been running 3-4 days a week.  Up to about 2.5 miles.  I really love it.  I'm hoping to continue this in PA, and have scouted out a few running groups, races, and trails.

While Mom was out here, we went to a local cemetery.  There were some beautiful old stones.

I move back to PA on August 11th.  That is very soon.

I don't want to leave IL, but I also do not want to not be in PA.  Why hasn't a personal tele-porter been invented  yet?

 The Getty has some beautiful grounds; I enjoyed them more than the art inside.

I am getting really excited for the coming football season.  I might even drive back out to IL for the PSU/UIUC game.

Yes, I am insane.

 CPaAG has some of the nicest, most caring, and thoughtful people around. RAWR!

The idea of being done with school at least for a few years is finally starting to sink in.  What is life like without homework?  Or papers?  And with free time to read for pleasure?

However, with two part time jobs and a volunteer position at the Holocaust Museum in Philly, I might not have that much free time.

 I don't think I spent nearly enough time in Chicago.  Guess I'll have to come back.

Summer went by very, very fast.  Almost too fast?  At least, these last few weeks have been too fast.

I went to Chicago, I went to LA.  Lei came to visit, Phil came to visit.  Mom came to visit.  I spent very few weekends at home.

Rusty colicked and had to be put down on Thursday, May 28th, 2009.  He was 33.

I did get to say goodbye to the old man.

*Bright Eyes

Eye Candy Sunday

Or: Something To Do Other Than Write A Paper:

all straight out of the camera, I think these were with the cybershot.

I really really am ready to be DONE with school.

An Open Letter (or several)

Dear Wind:

Please stop.  The power flickering on and off keeps resetting the modem and wireless router, which means I keep getting kicked off line.  In case you didn't know, about 90% of my homework has to be done online.  YOU ARE NOT HELPING.

No love,
me

Dear Schrodie:

When I try to play with you, it is because I know you get bored and need something to do.  Do not sit there and stare blindly at the lazer dot on the floor - chase the damn thing.  You are more than willing to run around like an idiot when I'm trying to sleep, so when I'm playing with you would be a great time to run around as well.  Also?  GET OFF and STAY OFF the kitchen counters.  And I will be happy to keep throwing the toy so long as you bring it back.  If you want to play fetch, then follow the rules.

Frustrated, but also somewhat amused,
the person who feeds you

Dear laundry:

If you could some how find your own way to the washer and dryer and return clean and at least mostly dry, I will be more than happy to fold you and put you away safely.

Thanks
the person who is considering going shopping rather than doing laundry

Dear professors:

Yes, we all love stories.  But if you are going to require us to travel to campus (some of my classmates traveled from places such as South Carolina or Rhode Island), then maybe you could try TEACHING  us something at 8am on a Saturday morning?  If I wanted story time, I could go to the local library.

Also?  We are library students.  I really hope that we do not need to be shown how to search a database.  And if we do?  That should not take up 45 minutes of class time.  If you really feel that we will need those sorts of skills for this class - and I admit that we do - require students to complete 504 - Intro to Reference before taking your class.

with no thanks for wasting an entire Saturday,
a student

Dear vacuum cleaner:

I am very happy that you are feeling better again, in time for our weekly session.  But, do you think you can manage to make it through the entire session?  If not, please let me know so I can make sure to prioritize.

thanks in advance,
the clean freak

Dear Spring Break:

Please hurry up and get here.  Not only will I then be about half way through the semester, I will have completed a number of assignments and, in theory, my work load will be reduced but for three final projects.  I can handle three final projects.  (oh, and a few papers, but whatever.  3-5 page papers on romance novels and mystery novels will be easy.)

Also, I am greatly looking forward to you, Spring Break, and mentally need the time off.  There are also certain plans that I am REALLY excited about, and they all seem to involve Philly.  And a certain person.

waiting not-so-very-politely,
me

More Homework Humor

Found in tonight's readings on Books of Hours, as I attempt to put together a thoughtful, pretty, and interesting presentation on ... Books of Hours.

"The preference, for instance, for particular psalms or lessons for Matins mattered little to laymen, but personal devotion to individual saints was an essential part of medieval religious life--such devotion affected daily routine. Medieval society seems to have suffered from inadequate dental and medical care' it compensated for this by a deeply rooted devotion to St. Appolonia (or St. Appoline) because, we may suppose, her dental problems ceased after her teeth were drawn by her tormentors." (DeLaisse, 205)

Well, he IS right - the medieval times were not known for their hygiene or their health care.  Say what you will about the American health care system - and there's a lot to say - it is a huge improvement from the medieval times.

Quote from The Important of Books of Hours for the History of the Medieval Book by L.M.J. DeLaisse, pgs 203-225.  I think it is from a journal or a book, but as I was handed a photocopy by my professor, I can't quite say.  I will correct my citation when/if I find out more.

Time to play catch up. Again.

Evidently, I am blogging again.  I think it has to do with the serious lack of free time.  What better way to actually fix everything in time other than to blog?

Wet kitty. Sad kitty. Cute kitty.

So, quick catch up:

• I moved to Illinois and started grad school.
• School is awesome, I love my classes, library studies was totally the right choice for me.
• My landlord everything that my classes are not.  In short, had serious electrical problems for the first month+ that I was here.  Despite calls every couple of days, they dragged their feet in solving my problems and attempted to make me feel like a jerk for being upset about the fact that out of an entire one bedroom apartment, three electrical outlets worked, along with four lamps.  Those four lamps were only located in two of four rooms, and same with the outlets.  Their solution was to run an extension cord from an outside outlet.  For a month.  And I'm going to stop writing about this cause my blood pressure will soon skyrocket. 

His favorite place to sleep, still.  I'm gonna laugh when he doesn't fit anymore.

• TheBoy and I broke up.  Maybe one day we'll figure out how to be friends, but not right now.  Long distance is tough and it amplified all of our problems and eventually, we got tired of fighting the same fights, dealing with the same problems and never seeming to get anywhere.  So, that's sad and stuff, but it is what it is and then you move on.
• Because I can't do anything the "easy" or "simple" way, my expected graduation date has moved up.  To August 2009.  Which means I will graduate with a masters degree at the age of 23.  Which also means that I'm taking 18 credits this semester.
• Classes include:  Adult Popular Literature; Higher Education and Learning Professionals; Libraries, Information, and Society; Museum Informatics; Medevial and Modern Manuscripts; and Rare Books and Manuscripts.  So far, I love all of them

Second favorite place.  Mostly so he can mess up the computer with those cute little feet.

• I got a kitten.  He's currently about 5-6 months old and very cute.  He also also very much trouble.  His (full) name is Indiana Schrodinger III, or Schrodie for short.  Or Little Man.  Or The Little Shit.  Or Trouble.  He responds quite well to "HEY!" by this point in time.
• Kit hates the kitten.  He doesn't get the whole personal space concept, but they're doing quite well.  They even occasionally curl up near each other.
• Over all?  I am happy.
• I hate winter in Illinois.  Hence the graduation date change.

alive-ish

Um, hi. I'm still alive, though some might doubt my sanity more than usual.

Working and living at the horse farm again for the summer. Prepping for the move to IL. Attempting to enjoy my time with TheBoyfriend before moving. Getting an awesome farmer's tan.

And watching TV via my slingbox and wondering... what happens to the cakes that do NOT win on the Food Network Challenge show? (Just saw the end of the Princess cake and the start of the Villain cake episode.)

Also, enjoying the new washing machine downstairs.

Oh, right. The blog

Um, hi.  It has been a while.  Mainly because I have been too lazy to drag my camera out and take pictures and really, who wants to read a picture-less post?

I'll try to make this quick, as there's a lot to catch up on.

Things that Have Happened Since I Last Remembered That I Have A Blog:

-Spring break.  It was a week.  It was short.  I got food poisoning - not recommended.  I was busy.  I don't understand how I can be trying to pack so much stuff into one week when I often find myself bored and lonely on a Saturday night simply because I FORGOT THAT IT WAS SATURDAY and therefore, other people would be around and able to do something.  Having Wednesday as your Friday is not always a good thing.

Um, yes.  Spring Break.  There was sleep, there was spending time with TheBoy.  There was TheBoy's birthday and lots of yummy sushi.  Mm... sushi.  And there was lots of time spent at the barn.  I realized just how excited I am to be going back to work at the barn for the summer.  I love the people, I love the environment, I love the access to a swimming pool.  Getting paid is also a really nice concept.

I also spent all of Spring Break bemoaning the fact that since I was home, I was not at school to check the mail AND WHAT IF ILLINOIS RESPONDED?

Um, they did.  I got in.  I still haven't quite processed that yet.  Or the fact that I applied to four grad schools - without taking the GREs - and got into four grad schools.  Even though two of the four never received my transcript.  My letter of recommendation writers ROCK.  I should knit them socks.

Ok, the whole bullet (and quick) idea has gone to the wayside.  You'll get to read whatever I remember to write as I type.  Lucky, lucky you.

Yesterday, on Craig's List, I found a listing for a couple of AMAZING looking apartments.  Three buildings managed by one real estate company, with multiple units in each building.  New(ish) stainless steel appliances.  A dishwasher.  Laundry facilities located in the building.  Parking included.  They will accept up to two pets per apartment.  Hardwood floors.  The pictures look really nice.  Furnished.

Of course, I am waiting for a catch.  I might have already found it, for I tried calling the number listed on the website and NO ONE ANSWERED.  I called about once an hour for 4 hours or so, and never did I hear a live person.  I don't think that requiring a person to leave a message to get back to you is the best method to actually get people to rent your apartments.  It just seems weird to me.  So, great apartment that I really really really really like the look of, and I can't get ahold of anyone.  Also, not sure if it would matter because I am in Pennsylvania.  The apartment is in Illinois.  That's not quite a weekend trip and I don't want to sign a lease without seeing the place.  I doubt they'd hold it for me.  So, I don't know. 

So, to sum up the squee factor for this post:

-Accepted into Illinois

-Accepted into Wisconsin

-Accepted into Phi Beta Kappa, the honors society

-Got to see TheBoy

-Ate Sushi

-Am going to NYC on Saturday to eat sushi, go to Dylan's, Serendipity, and a museum that has yet to be decided

-there was something else, but I can't remember.

Squeee!

A few squee-worthy announcements:

I was accepted into the University of Maryland's MLS program.

I was accepted into Indiana University's MLS program.

I bought an iMac and it arrived this morning.  BEST reason to get out of bed EVER.  Also, I now love my FedEx man.  (When I orderd my iPod last year, neither I or my roommates were ever home when they tried to deliever it.  I had to sign for the package, which is fine, but I was not willing to presign for it and have them leave it on the floor outside of my door - anyone could have walked off with it.  To make a short story not as long as I could (ok, that sounded better in my head.), FedEx ended up giving my cell phone number to the driver, who called me and gave me a 20 minutes head's-up so I could skip out of class early.  Same guy delievered the iMac this morning, and thus, I love him.)

Oh, and details for those who like to know such things:
24" display, 2.8 GHz processor, 500gig hard drive, 2gig memory, nice graphics card.. the works.

It is pretty and shiny and I love it.  Best of all?  I shall not need Vista! Really, my hatred for Visita is irrational and at least partially unfounded, but it remains as is.  I refuse to change for those who have come to accept Vista as the latest OS for their computer.  Me?  I just bought a computer that is at least a few hundred dollars more expensive then a comparative system running on Windows.  Cause that makes sense in my mind.

Anyway.

Also, I finished a sock that I was knitting for a friend.  Because I loved the colors of the yarn so, I took the leftovers and knit a blanket square. 4", starting with one stitch and increasing one stitch every row until I have four inches, then decreasing every row.  Most boring knitting ever, and I loved every second of it.  I'm hoping I get a similar amount of yarn left over from the second sock, so I will have TWO squares.  I know, the excitement is killing me as well.

I ripped and re-started the second Rotating Rib sock.  Still no idea if I'll have enough yarn, and yes, I realise this is a reason to knit toe-up but I hate knitting toe-up and please see above, re: irrational hatred of things I should not (necessarily) hate. But, I did three fewer repeats on the leg this time around and am willing to go back and chop off three repeats from the other sock as needed.  If I don't need the yarn for the socks, maybe I can make another square.

The square making?  It is a sickness.  I know understand Ann and Kay of Mason-Dixon Knitting.

No pictures yet, for I have yet to attempt to contect my digital camera to the shiny new computer.  That, and the printer, ought to be connected, but I'm having such fun downloading my Absolutely Must Have Programs, such as AIM (well, actually, Adium) and Opera.  Next, FireFox, for I strongly feel that every computer should have three web browsers.  And now I am just happy that IE is NOT one of my options.  Take that, crappy web browser that is dead and sucks!  (Again, the hatred.  I apologize, but really people? Do you LIKE Internet Explorer or do you just not have a choice or what?  I am confused.)

I just realized that I have a number pad again!  Number pad, I love you.  You make typing addresses and such so much easier.

Oh, back to the squee-worthy stuff:

I seem to have gotten my knitting mojo back.  Apparently, all it took was that square.  I've finished more than two repeats (out of 17 that makes up one half, so really, I've done like, nothing) of Print O The Wave and it is pretty and I love it. (Does anyone else sense a theme here?)    I have, on occasion, knit the same row three times before figuring out that the mistake must be in the pattern row one down, and so tinked all the way to that row to fix the problem, oh, three or four times now, but I am content.

And apparently, I am a process knitter, for I am knitting for the sake of knitting lace that is pretty, not something that I'll ever use.  And that is ok.

Ok, back to moving things from one computer to the other and playing with my new toy.  And eventually, I suppose I ought to go to class and take a quiz.