Ten reaspons to be a public librarian

from
Dispatches from a Public Librarian:

Ten reasons to be a librarian

You totally get to classify things.
Where else are you going to ruin a person's day over a 20-cent fine?
The funky glasses make you easily mistaken for a hipster.
You can make up whatever you want and people will believe you just because you're a librarian.
You get first dibs on unclaimed items in the lost-and-found box.
You get to be in charge of buying furniture that is least likely to show a piss stain.
Playing Scrabble on the Internet can be considered "professional development."
The most stressful thing that happens is arguing with people over why they cannot view their favorite pornography website.
Get to spend two hours designing a sign that says the library will be closed for the holidays.
No one says anything when you fall asleep during a meeting.

Ten reasons not to be a librarian

Who wants to go to grad school for two years to learn theory you will never use?
Those little punk teenagers on skateboards.
People kind of expect you to know things.
If you know enough about how to find information to be a good librarian, you can definitely make more money doing something else.
People automatically assume that you have some weird fetish for cats.
People expect you to help them find things when you are not working just because you know how.
Some people think you are weird because you classify things in your house—like clothes and dishes.
Writing library policy can be about as fun as watching paint dry.
Every great idea you have is likely to get shot down as soon as someone says, "Let's form a committee to decide things."
At some point in your career, someone will, or will try to, physically assault you over something incredibly lame (like not giving him or her more time on the Internet).

World Beard & Moustache Championsips

Our pictures from the World Beard & Moustache Championships can be found here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eareeve/sets/72157618670230261/

Own it.

E

Summer

Summer arrived in Anchorage almost three weeks ago.  The sun has been shining.  Temperatures have been high (70 in May?!).  We've been hiking and enjoying long beautiful car rides.  

It's shaping up to be a great summer.  Not only is my step father coming up to visit in June but my friend Holly is coming in July.  Yowza, it's gonna be great!  

In June, we'll go hiking and galavanting around the Kenai Peninsula.  I'd like to go paragliding, but I'm not sure I have the wherewithal.  

With Holly, we're going to the Girdwood Forest Fair.  I'm so upset that Rebel Blues will be playing on Friday.  We won't be there until Saturday.  But we're staying at the Alyeska Resort.  We'll go hot tubbing and sauna-ing.  It's gonna be rad.

I can't wait to have visiters!

Wanderlust

Despite a couple quick trips every month (although, it's often EVERY WEEKEND) to various places up and down the Seward Highway I have a tremendous desire to go far, far, far away. I've had my eye on the British Isles for awhile now but a coworker just reminded me that there are such things as CRUISES.

That made me think of the Mediterranean.
But besides the cost of the cruise itself ($599 and up but really, for anything good $899 and up) I'd also have to get there. Flying anywhere from here is pricey.

Hawaii is still an option (a direct flight from Anchorage & cheaper than most places in the lower 48) but it's just a closer, cheaper alternative to Capri which is where I really want to be.
Although it's tropical and beautiful, it's really the FAR-AWAY-FACTOR that makes it appealing. And the Italians. And the Italian food. And the history. C'mon! Tiberius had his pleasure palace there! Imagine all the goings on (or don't if you've got a weak stomach or are easily offended)! I wonder if they have reenactments...

Anyway, I've applied for a renewed Passport. I haven't needed one in the last 12 years but I thought I might need one just in case I can't control the urge anymore...which is likely.

Beautiful week

It has been an absolutely gorgeous week.  Skies have been blue, temps have been unusually high.  I've been working all week in a dank, dark corner of the mall and have been unable to get out and enjoy it...until yesterday.

Now, we almost always drive south down the Seward Highway to Girdwood or Seward.  Either of these would have been great.  But we decided to head north to see Denali.  Did we see it?  You betcha!  And some caribou, too.  And swans.  And it felt like summer, sunny and 70 degrees.  Amazing!

Update

Since the happenings on Sunday, I feel great. My body is sore all over, but I feel great. I had an MRI today and should hear back by the end of the week. Then, in about a week and a half I have an EEG which should clear me for driving again.

In the meantime, I've been doing a lot of reading up on the possible causes of seizures. I'm not an epileptic, I'm not a drug addict but I've had a lot of stress in my life lately. The list:

Still dealing with my mom's death (I know, I'm a big baby)
The Municipal Assembly is trying to close my library and I seem to be the only voice crying out against it,
Short-staffed and busier than ever at the library,
annoying/drunk/drug addicted neighbors keeping/waking me up constantly,
music lessons,
dieting and exercising...yowza! The list could go on.

I'm feeling a little different after the (for lack of a better term) episode. I feel more relaxed and easy going. But I feel a little spacey. Perhaps further testing will be needed after all.

memory

I barely remember the events from last night.  I showed up at the PAC to pick up our tickets to Spamalot, had a glass of wine while waiting for Luke then enjoyed the show.  After the show we went to Orso's for a drink (and food for me because I hadn't eaten since 3pm) and then we drove to my apartment where I recall very little other than being exhausted and going straight to bed.

The events of this morning are even more faint in my mind.  All I know is that I woke up to 5 strange men in my apartment.  Four of these men were EMTs.  One was Luke (though, I remember seeing his face and not realizing it was him right away).  According to Luke he woke up to me breathing heavily, between clenched teeth.  When he was unable to rouse me from my sleep he grabbed my cell phone and called 9-1-1.

I spent the morning in the hospital being poked and prodded, peeing in cups and half-sleeping.  The doctor thinks I suffered a seizure and is sending me in for an MRI and EEG.  Until I know what's going on I can't drive.  I plan on driving to the store though.  My body is very achy, I bit my tongue during the episode...I need some painkillers.  I'm surprised that out of all the bottles in my medicine cabinet, I have no Advil.  

I'm doing okay now.  Luke has hardly left my side today.  I pretty much had to shove him out of the door to get him to leave.  I doubt he'll let me sleep alone ever again...that I really don't mind.