If you happen to be in the Dayton, OH area this Saturday, Oct. 21, stop by Temple Beth Or and watch me become a bat mitzvah! Services start at 10:30.

Vive le tour

I've been neglecting my blog again. Mostly out of apathy, really. I just haven't felt like writing anything. But tonite I feel inspired, so we'll see what happens.

We just moved at work. You can't imagine what it's like to move a library. We were in two places for a couple weeks. Our books were in one library and our offices in the other. That was alot of fun. But Tuesday the two were united and now we have a brand new facility and I have a new office to clutter up! And I have my very own circulation desk! No longer do I have to share with reference. Nope. I'm moving up in the world.

Speaking of work. The position in CO was filled without so much as a "thank you for applying". I'm not really upset about it. I still haven't heard anything from Bowling Green, but I decided to stay here for the time being. Why leave this brand new library? Anyway, I have a pretty good deal in the dorms and one more year to pay for my braces. Maybe next summer. I still want to move out west, just not now.

The only other thing happening in my life right now is the Tour de France. I'm a total geek for it. I'm not a bike rider. I don't watch any other races, but I LOVE, J'ADORE, le tour. I watch every night religiously. I can't miss Bob Roll. I think I like Bob almost as much as I like the tour, even if he does make up words. Okay, most of you probably don't care, so I'll stop.

It's officially the end of the summer session. We begin 5 weeks of no students. Let the summer begin!!

Wanderlust

I've recently been a bit stir-crazy. I don't know what it is. Maybe I'm anxious about the move into a new library at work, or maybe it's the same ol' dissatisfaction with my job. I can't tell you what it is, but it's got a hold of me. I thought a little change would help, so I did what I always do when I feel the need for change. I chopped off all my hair. I have a cute little pixie cut that doesn't quite look right on me, but I like it anyway. And now I'm going a little further...
I applied for jobs in Tacoma, WA, Aurora, CO and at Bowling Green State University. The job at Bowling Green is actually pretty cool. It's in the music library and sound recordings archive. I just like the idea of going to work where there are thousands of lp's, 8-tracks, cassettes and cd's at my disposal. But the downfall to all this job hunting is the fact that I can't actually afford to move out of the dorms. I have one more year to pay on my braces and finish paying off my credit cards, then I'm home free, but can I last another year?
So there's this job in Wellington, New Zealand. Does anyone know if $39000 is a decent salary in NZ?

poetry

Because Laurie asked for it, here are some poems I wrote for my class. :)
Can you recognize this place?

Bear Lodge

As I approach this place
holy to one culture and revered
by generations of moviegoers

I am filled with awe
of the giant stone sculpted by nature
rising from its bed of trees

As I read about its sacred nature
all I can think about
is mashed potatoes and flying saucers

The monument is a mystery
but I feel at peace in its shadow
I can understand why its holy

to Native Americans
and movie aliens

Spring

Explosion of color against the gray;
the once dead earth resurrects herself.
As brown turns to green, flowers bloom
in a kaleidoscope of reds, yellow and blues,
and the blossoms scent the earth with sweet perfume.
The trees answer nature’s call
with buds and branches reaching for the sky,
welcoming the sun once again.

Give me something to talk about

Hi. How is everyone? Okay how are you, my 2 loyal readers? I'm doing just dandy, thank you. Enjoying the new car, even if I'm still suffering from the shock.
I'm at work. It's the last day of finals. The place is a ghost town. Tomorrow will be worse. I'm always so happy when the semester ends. It means no people to deal with for at least a week until the summer semester begins, but no people also means unnaturally quiet and boring. So I'm keeping myself entertained by writing to all of you, my 2 loyal readers. I thought about posting some of the poems I wrote for my poetry class, but I don't know if I should do that to you. I probably will, just not right now. I think I'll stop babbling now and do something worthwhile. I hope this post of random babbling is enough to make up for weeks of not posting.

I'm an idiot. I just want to get that straight up front. Why am I an idiot, you ask? Well, last night I went to test drive a Honda Civic. I do this from time to time. I research cars, trying to find something a little bit better than the one I own, then I go test drive them, and then I'm happy. I don't buy the car. Well, not until last night when I was bombarded by an overzealous salesman who decided I needed this car. I still don't know how it happened. But, today I have a brand new 2006 Civic with all the bells and whistles, including a moon roof and ipod port. This is ridiculous. Especially in light of my last post, talking about all those cars on the highway that are held together by tape and I'm spending more on a car per month than I have on some places I've lived! The whole experience leaves me feeling like I'm holding on desperately to a speeding bullet.

I survived my birthday, without any trauma over my age. It was a good birthday, actually. I went to Cleveland and hung out with my bestest friend.
I was driving back from Cleveland, not thinking of much of anything when I started noticing the the cars around me. I was on the bypass around Columbus looking at all the cars that were held together with tape (there were an amazing number of cars that looked less than healthy on the road last night) when creeping up behind me I saw the strangest looking car. It was a Mercedes sports car that I'd never seen before, so I looked it up on the internet and showed the picture to a friend and she started freaking out. You saw a McLaren!! I'd never heard of the car, so I didn't have any clue why she was so excited, but then I saw the price of the car and realized it's rare indeed to see that car on the road. It seemed so unfair to have all these other people driving tape mobiles and some dude passing us at ridiculous speeds spending half a million on a car! Capitalism at work.

I'm sitting here listening to The Killers updating my MySpace page and trying not to think about anything too serious. Lately my thoughts have turned to where I'm at in my life (see I told you, these 5 years get to me). I'm considering a job hunt. I'm not really frustrated with my job as much as I am bored. Okay, I am frustrated, but not with the job, the people. I have to consider my living arrangements, however. If I quit the college, it's very likely that I'll lose my apartment in the dorms. That's the only thing holding me back right now.
I'm also thinking other serious thoughts that I don't really want to discuss here, but suffice it to say I'm thinking way too much these days. Anyone have any good jokes?

I'm still here

It's been awhile, I know. I'm neglecting my blog again. My life is incredibly boring most of the time, which makes me wonder why I insist on writing about it. I got nothin' else to do, so why not.
Last Friday, I tried to apply for a job in Italy. Try being the operative word. It seems the federal government has a thing against people applying for jobs overseas unless they already live there or have a relative in the military there. Stupid rules! Granted, I don't know the first thing about living in a foreign country. I don't speak a lick of Italian and getting over there might be a challenge, but damnit I wanted that experience. I'm not saying I'm going expatriate on ya. Hell, I'd be working at an airforce base, so I don't think it's possible. But to just have the experience of living in another country, taking in the culture. I'll keep trying. I don't know if I'll ever win this battle, but I can keep dreaming.

Your Inner European is French!

Smart and sophisticated. You have the best of everything - at least, *you* think so.

Who's Your Inner European?

Okay, yesterday's post was a bit lame. I can't guarantee this one won't be as bad.

I'm having a bat mitzvah this fall. It's only a couple decades too late! For those who don't know, the bat mitzvah (it means daughter of the covenant) is a coming of age ceremony where the bat mitzvah leads the service and reads from the torah. It's not necessary, really, but I'm excited about it! It's been a long journey to get here. I guess you can say it's the culmination of a life time of searching. Granted, it's not going to be easy. I've spent the last year trying to learn Hebrew and now I have to learn the tropes in order to chant it properly. Then I have to learn the service. At least I won't be doing it alone. There will be three other women with me (I'm the youngest), so the torah portion will be smaller! This shindig ain't for awhile yet. I'm sure you'll hear more about it as it gets closer.

I don't really have anything to say, but I've been neglecting my blog too long. So here goes nothing.

I'm too lazy to cook for myself, or pack my lunches. It takes a whole minute for me to get home, but instead I go to the cafeteria. I don't know why. Take a look at today's menu for instance:
Vegetable Soup, Creamy Zucchini Soup, Country Health Loaf, Carne Con Pappas, Rice with Corn and Asparagus, Zucchini Provencal, Broccoli Spears, Savory Lentils, Salad Bar, Peanut Butter Chewies, Low Fat Cherry Pie, Red, White and Blue Cookie
I don't even know what some of that stuff is. Country Health Loaf? Carne con Pappas? Yeah, I'm excited about lunch. Salad, anyone?

okay, not the most exciting post, but this is what I live with. Someone teach me how to cook!

Not again

My mother is back in the hospital. This time for suspected heart failure. I will update as we know what's happening.

*Update*

My mom was discharged after a battery of tests showed there is nothing wrong with her heart. However, the reason she went to the emergency room in the first place, shortness of breath, was never addressed. They did find fluid in her lungs, but nothing was done about it. They just sent her home! Very frustrating!