Despite only about five hours' sleep

I was extremely productive and perky, getting a report in, discussing a speaking engagement with someone in the mobile technology industry, filling interlibrary loans, filling the clinic's cart of children's books, organising the library, shelving the new journals, shelving the journals and books, plus all the stuff I do for the data entry position as well. I got so much accomplished on what I thought would be a slow day that I found by 3:30 I was pretty much finished with everything that needed to be accomplished this week, and rather than start on a new project (in this case, cataloguing or referrals beyond ten days out), I asked my boss if it was okay if I could leave a little early. Today's a friend's birthday, you see, and I was going over to spend time with him. I got out of there about 3:45 and picked a few things up at Kroger's, and then we watched a couple of episodes of 'Haven' and visited for awhile. What I did do, unfortunately, was leave some of my medication locked in my desk drawer at work, so tomorrow I'll need to stop by and get that. Then we'll go out to Masala for their lunch buffet. Yum, Indian food! Of course, 'Doctor Who' is tomorrow, as well. I also need to finish the game notes from a couple of weeks ago. Now I'm getting a quick bite to eat (mmm...tomatoes), and then I'm going to head on to bed, as I have been up and bouncy for far too long and I can feel my gears running down. Good night! Have a safe and happy holiday weekend! (Note to self, do not go to work on Monday, as it is Labour Day).

Loved the company, but...

After work today I took YKWIA to an appointment, and then we went to his house and I took A to get just a few things from the grocery and stopped by Long John Silver's for dinner. Then it was back to the house and I watched a couple of episodes of 'Haven' with YKWIA, which I loved. We also watched a few YouTube videos, and then we wound up talking for a very long time, so long, in fact, that when I finally went into the kitchen to throw something away, I had to take my phone, whose battery was almost dead, and look at it, because I thought the stove clock must be terribly wrong. It was almost 1:30 am. So I took my leave, came home to absolutely no traffic on the road, practically, finally found a parking spot, and then I got ready for bed. Now it's almost 2:30. I have to be at work in six hours. So it's definitely time I turned in. But it was like old times, staying up late talking about all sorts of topics. That was nice. Good night.

It's been so quiet at work this week

Although I am the only librarian in the library, there is another person who is my cubicle-mate who oversees an outcomes programme, and a research director in what used to be my storage closet. This week, the cubicle-mate is away visiting relatives for a wedding, and the other person worked Monday and Tuesday, but is off the rest of the week, so needless to say, with the exception of an occasional printout (the library has the two main copiers, a heavy-duty black-and-white one, and a colour one). It's been quiet enough that instead of listening to music while I do the data entry job on my earphones, I've been listening (softly) via the speakers. But, when that happens, and someone calls me, the music cuts out as its supposed to for the call, but there's crackling and popping on the other end and the person can't hear me unless I hold the phone directly in front of my face and speak into the microphone, if that. I recently had an update to my phone via my carrier. Granted, the reception is not always great in the hospital, but I have better luck than most because I have windows. It hasn't happened before. It doesn't seem to be an issue when I'm elsewhere, but I haven't been listening to music anywhere else, either. I have a Samsung Galaxy S5 with Android 4.2.2, with the latest firmware T-Mobile is providing. Any ideas? I did look through the settings and there was noise-cancellation feature (like if there's a siren or something in the background) that I turned off, thinking that the copiers or some other background noise could be working with that to cause the problem. But I doubt it. I don't think they've been printing at that point, and if anything, it's been quieter in the library this week than normal. So, I'm thinking it may have been the update, which was supposed to bring greater stability to the system, and I'm not sure, audio may have been affected. I searched for anything like this problem, and I haven't found anything as of yet. The latest update was yesterday; there was another a couple of weeks ago, I think. What I really wish is that they would go ahead and upgrade me to Android 4.4.4, or at least 4.4.3!

More about Felicity

Reward Offered In Case Of Branded Puppy

The Lexington animal shelter is now offering a $1,000 reward for tips leading to an arrest in the abuse of a pit bull puppy.

Isn't she adorable? Look at this face!

Never fails...

Come home to find the Internet connexion is down.
1. Cycle (restart) modem.
2. Cycle (restart) both routers.
3. Restart computer.
4. Wait. Nothing.
5. Call Time Warner Cable...instantly the connexion pops back on as soon as I reach a real person, after a suitable time making it through the menu and on hold. Hmmmm....

It's so quiet and peaceful

I'm up briefly, mainly because I fell asleep before taking my Lantus, so I got up to do that. I'm struck by how utterly quiet it is right now. Oh, I can barely hear the crickets and cicadas outside, but with the exception of the keys to the keyboard, there's nothing going on in here. Even the air conditioner is at a lull. I am not used to that absolute quiet, and perhaps I should embrace it more often, as it brings a feeling of peace and tranquility that is sometimes lacking.

As I look around, I've really messed the house up looking for that paperwork, so Wednesday will have to be devoted to getting everything back in place. Besides, I washed the bedclothes two weeks ago and I still haven't made the bed properly; I've been sleeping on a comfy, fluffy blanket. Tonight wasn't really a great one for straightening up; the opposite was happening. Tomorrow I have quite a bit to do in the evening. But Wednesday--I'll definitely have to get things in order so I can work on the notes. I like some order in my life when I work. For all that I struggle with my inherent messiness at home, my desk at work tends to stay very orderly.

I guess I'll head back to bed. Good night.

Three hours after I came home last night

Two women were robbed while walking about two blocks from here. I have generally felt safe in my neighbourhood, but crime can happen anywhere, of course. I don't know if the thing last night was in any way related to that or not. Probably not. But it's highly unusual to have the police out here.

I came home this afternoon and rested (yes, that means napped), and I've spoken to YKWIA a couple of times on the phone. The last hour or so I've been trying to find an important piece of paper to make a payment on something that cannot be paid online, I don't otherwise have the information to pay it like address, account number, and amount, and I'm highly annoyed because I'm sure I put it in a 'safe place', so safe I can't find it. The payments are made quarterly, so it's not with much frequency. Tomorrow I'll have to call the company and get them to send me the information. I can go online and initiate a loan, but I can't find any information about the very small loan I'm trying to pay on. Grrr....

This morning I went to my endocrinologist, which I dreaded because I don't feel like I've really kept my diabetes under the control they needed to be. But my weight and hA1c are both down, so it was a good report. They took some blood and an urine specimen, and I went on into work. It was nice to be able to give them a report of my glucose readings from the new meter without having to type in the readings manually. Today I had two goals:

1. Drink only one diet soda. I drink far too many in a day, up to two two-litres sometimes on the weekend, but even on an average day, about 4-6 20 oz. bottles. I managed to reach that goal, and while I was a bit sleepy in the afternoon from lack of caffeine, I did okay. I drank one sparkling flavored water and the balance has been regular water. Go me!
2. Enter everything I ate into my phone application. Everything. Which I did. And I made pretty decent choices today. For example, at lunch they were doing warm chocolate-chip pecan pie with ice cream, which I totally skipped in favour of spicy vegetarian black bean soup, broccoli, summer squash, a couple of slices of tomato, and a small seeded roll. Breakfast was the worst, as with my appointment I missed breakfast at work, so I went to McDonald's and got two egg and cheese biscuits, which are a combined total of 780 calories! Dinner was more soup, corn on the cob, a small roll, and about five tater tots, so still a bit heavy on the starches, but not horrible. Later I had a couple of pieces of string cheese, a banana, some sugar-free pudding, and a little bit of hazelnut spread on bread. So I've eaten about 2000 calories today and according to the application, which records my steps, I've burned over 300 calories. Even at that, according to my doctor, at my current weight I'd lose on that, but I'd like to take it down to 1800 calories slowly. If I hadn't snacked in the evening, I'd have kept it under that.

In general I'm going to try to eat less bread, more fish, eggs, beans, fruits, and vegetables, and generally make better choices, and see what happens. Although I am pescetarian (fish but no meat), I rely far too much on bread and cheese and not enough on protein and vegetables. Now that my knee is doing better, I also want to start walking, although today was far too hot and humid to start. Perhaps in the mornings or evenings.

Okay, I think I'll go in the other room for awhile. Tomorrow I have a bunch of things planned for the afternoon and evening, including appointments and 'The Awesomes', so I'm not sure if I'll get in early enough to really blog. Have a good night.

So I came home tonight to discover

the police here, blocking part of our drive up to my apartment with a car, although only one car/officer seems to be here. The police officer seemed to be filling out a report. So I parked a few buildings over and rolled my laundry cart over to my apartment (there wasn't anything indicating danger), and there was a young girl sniffling on the steps to my building with a phone in her hand. I asked her if she knew why the police were here, and she said, 'I think they're here for me,' which was wonderfully vague, so I don't know if she's the victim or the criminal, but she was obviously upset, so I said, 'I hope it's nothing very serious' in a comforting tone and continued on into my apartment, figuring she probably didn't feel like answering a lot of questions. Now a young man who looks somewhat like her (maybe her brother?) is out there with her on the steps. I don't know if maybe there was a domestic situation and he's come to comfort her, or if there was a break-in, or what. So I'm pretty much staying out of it. I'm in the house, have put my food away, including some lovely asparagus deviled eggs (I went ahead and had a couple, and if I remember, I'll take the others to work tomorrow if I can. Actually, I keep forgetting, I have an appointment early in the morning with my endocrinologist, so maybe keeping them in the car, even that early, may not be such a good thing. Now I'm in the bedroom listening to some Loreena McKennitt music and trying to decide if I want to turn in early or stay up a bit longer. I have to get up by about 6:30, so I think I'll head on too bed. I've done housework, watched some more of 'The Black Adder' and an episode of 'World's Strictest Parents', and it's been a good day all around. I noticed that Jim Parsons has certain similarities to Rowan Atkinson. I don't know if he was influenced by him or not, but some of the mannerisms were similar between Sheldon and Edmund. Also, the king on 'The Black Adder', played by Brian Blessed, is barking mad, bonkers, delightfully insane. We did try to watch a movie from Netflix, but it had an irregularity in the disc and wouldn't play correctly, so we've reported it and I'll send it back tomorrow and they'll send another copy. I left and A was watching The Maltese Falcon and YKWIA was having a bit of supper that I'd fixed him. I'd done a couple of loads of laundry over there, too. A carried my cart out for me and put it in the trunk of the car. Fortunately it was fairly light, since I'm parked further away than normal.

Hope you had a good weekend. I think I'll turn in. Good night.

Well, the jury's out for now

I watched the season 8 premiere of 'Doctor Who' tonight, and I'm not quite sure how I feel about Peter Capaldi's Doctor yet. I rather like the Scottish accent, but it does make it slightly more difficult to understand him, especially if he's speaking low and fast. I haven't really connected with him yet, and I've never really connected with Clara completely, either, so it was a little weird watching them on the screen. It's like I wasn't completely in the story, which is unusual for me with 'Doctor Who'. Afterwards we watched the premiere of 'Intruders', which was intriguing to the point of making me want to check out the book upon which it's based, by Michael Marshall Smith, for more information.

Today I spent the early part of the day getting some rest and relaxation, then I picked a friend up from a funeral and we went to the store for some groceries a little while after that. YKWIA and I watched a bit of 'Star Trek: Voyager' and some 'SeaQuest', a show that had slipped my mind entirely, but which I did enjoy. Then there were the BBCAmerica shows tonight. Now I'm home and it's storming again, with quite a bit of rain, which is nice, as August isn't normally quite so wet and yet we had a dry spell earlier in the summer, so the brown vegetation has greened up again.

Tomorrow there's no game, so I haven't done the game notes yet but will do them this week if at all possible rather than waiting till the last minute. There's a list of things for me to do tomorrow over at my friends' house, but I don't have to be over there quite so early, so I'm going to shoot for an hour or an hour-and-a-half later than my normal time. I have to remember to bring binder clips and a couple of books YKWIA wants to borrow, the ones by Ransom Riggs. I know where the second, Hollow City is. I'll have to glance on the shelves and figure out where Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is. I think it's in the bedroom near the bed. One of these days I will have to really put the fiction books in order. I have the non-fiction mostly in order, but the literature isn't. One bookcase has quite a few of the children's and young adult books on it, but those aren't there. Bad librarian! If I had time, I'd classify it all as well. The non-fiction is by subject and the history is in chronological order, but that's as far as I've gotten so far. At least they're all up on shelves, though. :) Okay, I'm off to find that first book. Good night.

I want this sadistic person caught

Lexington-Fayette Animal Care & Control (LFACC) needs YOUR help! LFACC responded to a complaint regarding an abandoned canine on Campbell St. Once officers brought in Felicity, a young pup, they realized she had been chemically branded by her owner and a profane word was spelled out on her hind quarters. LFACC needs the community's assistance in identifying the owner(s) of this sweet girl and any information you may have in this case. Felicity has now been transferred to LHS where she will receive plastic surgery and continued love and care. If you have any information please contact Lt. Agee at 859-255-9033 ext 229.

If you are interested in helping the Lexington Humane Society take care of Felicity, who will be undergoing plastic surgery to remove the profanity some sick person burnt into her skin with chemicals, you can donate to their Second Chance Fund. Anyone who abuses animals like this is just wrong, and may be abusive towards people, too. Look at that sweet face. It's so heartbreaking that anyone would treat another creature that way. I hope Felicity is adopted by someone who will give her the loving home she needs and deserves.

So good to be home

Today I started out my day at the dentist getting the metal foundation of my permanent partial dentures checked for fit.  They fit very snugly compared to my temporary ones.  The dentist said my mouth had changed a lot since I first got those,  right after the oral surgery,  and that these would be easy to adjust as needed. I haven't been wearing my temporary ones because they come out if I eat even small bites. I had begun to worry that I was paying for something that I couldn't use. Next week I go back to see how the teeth look next to my natural ones.

Work was good,  but a little slow.  Fridays can be like that.  After work I went and got medicine from the pharmacy.  The traffic lights were working ,  unlike the other day,  but the train crossing was not.  People were going around the gate .  I didn't feel comfortable doing that,  so I turned around and went down the next street.  On that one the train goes across a bridge rather than the road.  And yes,  a train was on the tracks and heading right for the intersection I had been near. Then I stopped by Speedway at Malabu and was amused as people tried to negotiate the parking lot,  which had more ducks in it than I have ever seen in one place.

I went over to my friends' house and watched the first episode of Rowan Atkinson's 'The Black Adder' with YKWIA. Peter Cook played Richard III, and all I could think as he spouted Shakespeare was that scene from The Princess Bride where the clergyman with the speech impediment speaks.  That was also Peter Cook,  you see,  albeit an older one. After that we made asparagus deviled eggs,  which are quite tasty.  A is taking some to a visitation/funeral tomorrow.

Now I am home and thankfully,  despite the storms,  I have power.  The other side of the street does not. But at least they have a crew working on it. Here's hoping ours stays on.

Tomorrow there's just maybe picking up A from the funeral and a small grocery run,  and then I am looking forward to 'Doctor Who',  which premieres at 9 pm.  We'll finally see Peter Capaldi  in action.

Sunday we aren't playing, since Brenda has an SCA  event to go to. So either tomorrow morning or Sunday, maybe I can get some things accomplished around here.

Okay,  I'm pretty tired,  so much that I'm blogging on my phone rather than get the laptop out.  I changed my CPAP nasal pillows to a larger size,  which gives me a less difficult exhale.  Now I'm in bed and comfy. Time to sleep .  Good night!

Today after work I:

• Took a friend to two appointments
• Worked on and submitted a job application
• Took another friend on a small grocery run, and
• Fixed the first friend dinner

Now I'm home, but I'm more than a little tired. I've driven over a good portion of Lexington today, as the appointments were almost on opposite ends of town. But we actually made it to them early (for the first) and on time (for the second). Tomorrow it's back to the pharmacy for a friend's medicine and then I'm going to help make asparagus deviled eggs. I'm not sure what I'm doing Saturday yet. Sunday should be the Cthulhu game. I started the notes tonight at one of the appointments, but didn't get very far yet. It's only 9:30 pm and I should probably work on them now, but I'm tired of being on the computer, and I'm just feeling pooped in general. I think I'll go listen to some music and chill out for awhile. Tomorrow I have to get up early for a dental appointment of my own, which is half and hour before I'm normally at work. I think it would make sense to go to bed early.

I really think

that the job I interviewed for the other day was filled by an internal candidate, because now they're advertising an adult services librarian at the same location, a job I went ahead and applied for today after tweaking my cover letter and résumé again, while a friend was at his appointment. I used my phone as a hotspot (they didn't have open wi-fi there) for the laptop so that I could upload the documents and submit the application. Wish me luck! This one is not as supervisory-intensive, and so I may be better suited for it. (I have supervised students, but as a solo librarian, it's not the norm in my position). Anyway, I've got it in, the one for the state was applied for yesterday, and there's one more that closes in September at Morehead State to apply for. I'd really like the local one I applied for today, though, as both of the others would require a lot of driving, gas, and wear and tear on the car. Not to mention, I'd really, really like to be a public librarian and I think this position would be a really good fit. Here's keeping my fingers crossed that I get a call for an interview. I think I connected well with the interviewers and I did follow up with a thank you note. So here's hoping....

You don't appreciate traffic lights until there aren't any

I just drove completely across town in a storm and the traffic lights from Nicholasville Rd/Limestone west were out--not flashing, just out, with one intersection being policed and everything else treated like four-way stops. That's half the town, roughly, of 300,000 people. Glad to be home and with power.

Got it in

Now I think it's time to go to bed. Good night.

Well...

I didn't get the job. I appreciate that they got back to me so soon after the interview, though, and the thank you note went out in the mail today anyway. I have two more jobs to apply for, one of which closes tomorrow, so I need to work on the application tonight.

I am disappointed, of course, but if nothing else, it was good practice for next time. And I'll keep applying. Somewhere, sometime, there has to be a job where I'll really prosper and do a great job for them as well.

Have you seen Butterfly the geep?

Adorable, in my opinion.

I started laughing so hard when

'What I've Done' started playing--they even included Linkin Park in the mix. Michael Bay, in case you didn't know, is best know for the explosive-ridden Transformers movies, which often feature Linkin Park music on the soundtrack. I've never actually seen Up, but I laughed myself silly anyway. Thanks to YKWIA for showing it to me.

Creepy

Last night I had a surprise. Four days after my period ended, I started back. This is the second time this year that I've had that sort of thing happen (last time was two days on, two days off, two days on, whereas this was four on, four off, then starting back again). I've also gone 35 days without one, am sometimes very hot, especially at night even with a fan, and have some other symptoms of perimenopause (that period leading up to menopause, which is technically only accomplished after an entire 12 months without a period). In frustration, I turned to Twitter, writing:

Anyone have good tips for dealing with #perimenopause? Looks like at 47 it is my time to start going through the 'change of life'.

Now I got a response from someone through Twitter, which I expected. What I didn't expect was to get a robocall on my unlisted cell phone today on menopause. As far as I know, my cell phone is not associated with me publically online. Even my online résumé only has my e-mail. But that's what happened. I didn't recognise the number (it just said unknown wireless caller), so I rejected the call, but listened to a bit of the voicemail later. Granted, it could have been mere coincidence, but I find that unlikely. I may do a little digging and see if I can explain it. Just doing a Google search, I can't find a correlation between my name and number online, and when I look up the number that was displayed, it turns out to be a spoofed number. But it was definitely weird, and not a little creepy.

Taking the third day

I was offered for bereavement was absolutely the best thing to do, as it gave me the opportunity to 'decompress' after returning from the funeral and getting some needed rest. Physically I'd really done nothing, but emotionally, I was bunched up and drained. So I wound up taking most of the evening yesterday just relaxing at home. A said today when he gave me a shoulder rub that I was much looser than normal, so I must have done something right.

Today was a day to spend with friends. We visited. I took A to a couple of stores to get some things they needed. YKWIA and I watched a few episodes of 'World's Strictest Parents' where spoiled teens from Britain are whisked off to the far corners of the world for a few days to experience life with much stricter family rules. ALthough technically a 'reality show', it is very interesting. Even more interesting is that when it was done in the United States, the kids not only couldn't easily be sent to other cultures (primarily because of budget along with, in some cases, getting a passport for juvenile delinquents), but the parents apparently got to go along and rate the host family's job. The thing that worked with the UK kids was getting them away from their home life, their friends, and their culture, and then plopping them down in an unfamiliar environment and giving them rules and good, strict host-parents who enforce those rules. It seems to work best if there is a boy and a girl, and if they are separated at some point for some one-on-one attention. So far, the best set of 'parents' I've seen in the UK programme (I haven't seen the one produced in the US) was a gay couple in New Jersey who had both adopted and foster children of their own. They were firm, but at the same time never resorted to shouting or the like, and weren't basing their family philosophy on religion, as seen in many of the other families, which was a turn off for some teens. One of the kids actually wound up staying awhile longer, and one of the mem accompanied her back to Britain to help integrate her back with her family. I have to say, they're very engaging to watch.

So now I'm home, albeit later than I hoped, and I really need to finish the game notes. I did some of them while at an appointment this afternoon with my friend. I could just go to sleep right now but that wouldn't accomplish anything, so I guess I'll at least get as much of it finished as possible, and then get some sleep. :)

I went for my interview

and while I was maybe a little weak on one or two questions out of twelve, I think I did very well, and I was nervous but not paralysingly so. I think I connected personally with them very well. I wore the floral skirt, a white camisole, a white vertical-pleated blouse, a white lacy long jacket, and my grandmother's pearls for luck. :) Apparently sandals are not allowed by the dress code, so if I wanted to wear any dresses or skirts I'd definitely have to get some comfortable dress shoes. But for pants I have black shoes that would fit fine. I am really excited about the prospect of working there. Please think good thoughts and keep your fingers crossed. They were interviewing today and then it goes to human resources. Oh, I hope I get it.

This is my last day off before returning to work on Monday. It's been a long, sad, and, at times difficult, few days. But I'm going to take some time today for recuperation from the stress of the funeral and such. I miss my grandmother, of course, and want some time to reflect. But also I feel drained from the visitation, funeral, and yes, even the interview. So for right now, I'm going to drink some more water, take a nap, and then putter around the house and maybe do something fun like read or watch a show later.

I got a surprise in the mail today

--an invitation to my 30th high school reunion. Yes, you read that right--30 years. I've never been to a reunion before, but I'm seriously considering going. It's in October and Danville is only about an hour away. Dare I go?

I'm home

from my grandmother's funeral. It's been a sad and long couple of days, but it was good to see my family. I just wish it had been under better circumstances. She is at peace, at least, and she lived a long life. She looked beautiful in the pink dress she had chosen to be buried in, and I have a carnation from the spray that matched that I'm going to press in remembrance. I'm still not sure it's fully hit me that she's gone. I'm sure it will, though.

Well, I've done most of my list

I still need to take the trash out, which I'll do right before I go. Of course I'll get the gas on the way. Everything else is ready. In the meantime I'm dressed, having a banana for a snack, and drinking a big glass of ice water. I tried to fix the pump in the aquarium (the power glitched off during a thunderstorm the other day, and while it's not running dry (which would damage it), it isn't running the water through, either.) I tried priming it to no avail, so I unplugged it for now. They're goldfish, so they'll probably be alright. I won't be gone long, after all.

I'm taking some library books on interviewing with me. I hadn't mentioned it yet, but I do actually have an interview for a job on Friday afternoon. Apparently revamping the résumé worked, I got a screening phone call, and I was invited for the interview. So keep your fingers crossed for me. I'm off Friday as part of my bereavement leave, and it happened to work out that they were interviewing then, so I'm taking that as a sign of good things to come. :) It will be a major switch of gears from funeral to interview, but I need to do well. I also need to find something that shows some personality without being distracting for the interview. I'm thinking the floral skirt YKWIA and A gave me with a camisole and the eyelet lace jacket. It's not a suit, so that may be a mistake, but I don't actually have a suit, and I think they're not as preferred anymore. And there are no sequins or bee-baws on it, it's simple yet tasteful. What do you think? I was in a floral dress when I interviewed for my present job 17 years ago, so maybe florals are lucky for me. :)

At least

I finally slept well last night. I was asleep by about 12:30 I think, but then I didn't wake up till 5:30, did my monthly libation, and then went back to sleep till 8:30. The first thing I did was clean the tub/shower, as I'm going to take a bath in a little while. Then I gave myself my Byetta, which you have to delay eating a bit after, picked up around the house, and put my meds into my pillbox for the trip. Now I'm going to get some water, check my blood sugar, and eat something. The last few days I've done very poorly with my diabetes, haven't had any sleep hardly, ate emotionally, and was somewhat haphazard with my meds, and with the stress and everything my blood sugar reading in the morning yesterday was the highest I've ever had. So yesterday was all about getting back on track, taking my insulin correctly, and eating well. It's still a little high this morning but nothing near yesterday, so I think I'm doing better. As one of my co-workers said, the last thing anyone needs is for me to get sick on top of everything else.

So this morning I have to:

1. Take a bath
2. Try out the dress I bought last year in case of funerals to make sure it still fits fine
3. Dress in a black skirt and top for the visitation
4. Pack
5. Run the dishwasher
6. Take out the trash
7. Get gas

Okay, I've eaten, taken my meds, etc. Time to go take a bath and try to relax a bit.

It wasn't my intention

to have my blog turn somewhat melancholic and sad, but that is how I've felt lately, and it does reflect my emotions. Hopefully things will perk up a bit again soon. Tomorrow is the visitation; Thursday is the funeral. After we've said our last goodbyes to my grandmother, the mood should lighten somewhat. Stick with me....

Another effective public service announcement against texting and driving

one I think is good for getting the conversation started with young people. Considering the statistics, we need to be doing something.

Another legend gone

Lauren Bacall has died at the age of 89, apparently from a stroke.

Lauren Bacall, Sultry Movie Star, Dies at 89

Lauren Bacall, the actress whose provocative glamour elevated her to stardom in Hollywood’s golden age and whose lasting mystique put her on a plateau in American culture that few stars reach, died on Tuesday in New York. She was 89.

Her death was confirmed by her son Stephen Bogart. “Her life speaks for itself,” Mr. Bogart said. “She lived a wonderful life, a magical life.”

With an insinuating pose and a seductive, throaty voice — her simplest remark sounded like a jungle mating call, one critic said — Ms. Bacall shot to fame in 1944 with her first movie, Howard Hawks’s adaptation of the Ernest Hemingway novel “To Have and Have Not,” playing opposite Humphrey Bogart, who became her lover on the set and later her husband.

From a playlist I created called 'Loss'

Last night it was poetry. Tonight it's music. I should probably try to sleep now. Good night.

I cannot imagine

the terror and for some, relief as well, that these people must be going through....



'Heroic' mission rescues desperate Yazidis from ISIS

Yazidis, among Iraq's smallest minorities, are of Kurdish descent, and their religion is considered a pre-Islamic sect that draws from Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism.

One of the oldest religious communities in the world, they have long suffered persecution, with many Muslims referring to them as devil worshippers.

More than a week ago, they fled into the surrounding mountains when ISIS fighters stormed the town of Sinjar.

Now, trapped without food, water or medical care in the summer heat, thousands of families are in desperate need of help.

A senior Kurdish official warned Monday of the potential of genocide against the Yazidi people.

So sad to hear of this

Comic virtuoso Robin Williams dead at 63 from apparent suicide

Robin Williams, the versatile actor whose madcap comic style made him one of television and film's biggest stars, was found dead on Monday from an apparent suicide at his home in Northern California. He was 63.

Robin Williams, an Improvisational Genius, Forever Present in the Moment

Part of the shock of his death on Monday came from the fact that he had been on — ubiquitous, self-reinventing, insistently present — for so long. On Twitter, mourners dated themselves with memories of the first time they had noticed him. For some it was the movie “Aladdin.” For others “Dead Poets Society” or “Mrs. Doubtfire.” I go back even further, to the “Mork and Mindy” television show and an album called “Reality — What a Concept” that blew my eighth-grade mind.

Robin Williams, Oscar-Winning Actor, Dies at 63 in Suspected Suicide

Mr. Williams’s publicist, Mara Buxbaum, said in a statement that Mr. Williams “has been battling severe depression.”

His wife, Susan Schneider, said in a statement, “This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings.” She added: “As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.”

Depression is a serious disease. It's not something you 'snap out of' or can be 'cheered up' from. It is debilitating, devastating, and at times, deadly. I am so sorry the world has apparently lost such a funny and talented man due to this disease. My thoughts are with his family at this time. Robin Williams was so gifted that he could leave you in stitches yet he also played unforgettable dramatic parts as well. Few actors, particularly those who are known as stand-up comedians, make that transition to drama well. He did. And he seemed to have a real, genuine warmth to him. He will be sorely missed, as evidenced by the outpouring of statements about his passing. So sad.

Having trouble sleeping tonight

So here is one of my favourite poems, by my favourite poet, to take a bit of comfort in.

And Death Shall Have No Dominion by Dylan Thomas

Requiescat in pace

Marjorie Rhodella Lamb Craig
May 29, 1924 - August 10, 2014
When she was born, they thought she was stillborn. She wasn't breathing. They put her aside, and somehow, miraculously, she started breathing. I remember her telling me that story so many years ago. And yet despite that early moment of doubt, she lived another ninety years. From feisty, mischievous child to the young wife and mother to whom my grandfather longed to return while stuck with tanks in the volcanic sands of Iwo Jima, who raised three children, several foster children, to the woman who was there so much when I (the child pictured) was very young and my father was overseas in Vietnam and my mother went through nursing school and night jobs, she was the backbone of our family. She bore the brunt of discord when the same child, now a sullen young teenager whose parent's marriage had fallen apart, came to live with her during high school. In some ways we were just too much alike, I guess. But she bore it with grace and always loved me anyway. She knew tragedy (her father was killed by a train in the 1950s, her sister by domestic violence, another was lost to cancer in her 40s). But she persevered. I swear to you that if you misbehaved flames rose up in those dark black eyes--you simply knew it was time to stop whatever you were doing. She cooked wonderful mashed potatoes, and barely sat down to enjoy a meal because she was waiting on everyone else. I have so many memories of my Ma spilling around in my head right now, trying to convince me that she is not yet gone. But she is. Sometime this week there will be visitation, a funeral. She will join my grandfather in the grave. But I have my memories, and some pictures, and a few things of hers to cling to. I knew this was coming; I made my peace with her long ago, and said goodbye. It doesn't make it any easier at all. She was like a second mother to me and a kind of glue in our family, and with her death there is just my mom and me in the area; my aunts and uncles and cousins are hundreds of miles away, to be brought together, no doubt, for a short time due to her death and funeral.

I am sad, even though I know it was a fairly peaceful death. I miss Ma already, so much. But people remain alive for us in our memories. I can still hear my grandfather's voice, and that of my other grandmother, and hers will join theirs. I know the pain will get better over time. But this night, this week, is going to be a difficult one, for me, for my mother, who was with her, for all my family. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Please keep my family in your thoughts today

I just got off the phone with my mother, who told me that my grandmother, who is 90 years old and in hospice, is not expected to live throughout the day. I offered to come on home, but she said she probably wouldn't know me, and in any case may die before I could get there--about an hour's drive away. So I expect I'll get a sombre phone call later today. My grandmother has been in ill-health for some time, and it would be a freeing of the spirit from a body that is worn and tired, but it doesn't make it any easier to watch, and my mother is doing that duty at the moment. I said my goodbyes to my grandmother when she knew who I was and could appreciate it fully. But it's still sad. She is my last grandparent living; with her passing that generation is pretty much gone in my family. :( An emoticon doesn't do it justice, but words don't either. I won't try to write them.

It is a rainy, grey day

and I am moving slowly. I'm cramping a lot, which could be my period about to start (back on schedule) or could just be way too much soy in 24 hours. It's probably the former because it's all the way down into my legs. I know, too much information, but needless to say I am uncomfortable and unlikely to do a great deal this morning. Earlier we had a thunderstorm that dumped a little over 2 inches of rain on my side of town (3" in some parts) and knocked my electricity out for about 30 seconds. We needed some rain, and it looks like even the window boxes under the porch got some, which is great. I'll do a little here and then head over to my friends' house for awhile. But for right now I think I'm going to take an ibuprofen dose and curl up into a ball in bed for a little while longer.

Every driver should see this--especially young ones

When I worked at the gas station, one of my co-workers had a very good friend who lost her 14-year-old son in an accident when the 16-year-old driver texted, ignoring a stop sign and running into a semi-truck. The girl's first words were not concern for her passenger. She wanted to know where her phone was. Please do not text and drive (and for that matter, most phone calls can wait, too.)

Quote of the day

“One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.” -- Malala Yousafzai, speaking at the United Nations, July 12, 2013

Today I:

1. Paid my rent
2. Took books back to the library and got some more
3. Called and cancelled the game.
4. Helped a friend look over some things in preparation for going to the store
5. Helped a friend get reading glasses and those eyeglass holders
6. Took a friend to the store for a larger run than we though at the bigger store which was hot, and neither of us thought we'd make it
7. Got another friend a chocolate shake
8. Watched an interesting video on the philosophy of the question of the reality of fictional objects and entities (thanks to YKWIA)
9. Watched a hilarious Christmas episode of 'Eureka' where the characters were translated into lots of cartoon styles and Jim Parsons of 'The Big Bang Theory' was the voice of Carl the ever-suffering Jeep driven by the sheriff
10. Rubbed a friend's feet until he fell asleep
11. Chatted a bit with the other for awhile
12. Came home
13. Had a bite to eat
14. Listened to some music
15. Read a book
16. Took a nap
17. Paid my cell phone bill
18. Revamped my résumé and curriculum vitae online, since I'd redone the print ones
19. Removed the steri-strips on my incisions, as they were curling up and they had told me that would be the signal to remove them--seems odd to have a bare knee again

So it was a busy day, but not so much as a normal Saturday, and I had from about 6 pm on to myself. We're not playing Call of Cthulhu tomorrow, so I'm going over much later than normal and presumably I'll work on some things here, like straightening up, getting a little laundry together, putting the massive laundry from last week away (no, still haven't done that), made the bed completely (it's just blankets and two pillows right now), take out the trash and recyclables, that sort of thing. Also I want to try out a popcorn popper I got some time ago, take it out, and figure it out. It and air popper, but it's round rather than the normal air poppers. Then I'll go over to their house, do my little bit of laundry and some things around there, and visit. I don't think we're all up to watching The Grand Budapest Hotel at the moment, so while I have it, that may be put on hold until sometime next week.

At least

I didn't sleep the night away--just three hours. :) But I did have a fairly long 'sleep' (too long for a 'nap'), and I'd set my alarm for only 30 minutes after I stretched out. Fridays can be like that, when all the stresses of the week fall away as I relax and let it all go. One great thing about me is that I don't normally 'take work home with me' in the sense of emotional and intellectual baggage from one day or week to another. But my weekends are exceedingly busy and my weeks outside of work often are as well. So I tend to fall asleep on Monday evenings (due to the weekend) and Fridays (due to the week), and be busy the rest of the time. I know it probably sounds like I'm some sort of torpid toad.

I did wake up just in time to get a medical librarian reference question (YKWIA loves having a personal librarian to find things, and as it's Sabbath, A called and asked). I found the information and relayed it. Sometimes his questions are much more difficult than those others give me. He keeps me on my toes.

Still, it's almost 11:30 pm and so it's a bit late to start the notes and yet I haven't had a real night's sleep yet, either. I'll try to get up a little earlier tomorrow. I may check the news and add anything of interest, but otherwise I think it's off to bed for me.

I am

home, propped up with pillows on the bed with the laptop on a lap desk atop two more pillows, listening to Loreena McKennitt and trying not to fall asleep after such a busy week while still managing to get some rest. I started out my day very stressed not by my impending work, but rather various things from my life outside of work, but forced myself to put aside my anxiety to get things accomplished, and felt much better as a result.

I did manage to get that job application in as well, and I do hope you'll wish me luck. It would be a very exciting job with benefits, a nice salary, and it would utilise my history background very nicely, as well as my training in archives and preservation, the latter of which I was fortunate to study under George Cunha, a pioneer in the field and a fascinating man and storyteller. I totally revamped my cover letter and résumé. What I had been sending out was much more like a curriculum vitae, and was too dense and packed. Instead I got the entire résumé on one page by concentrating on the most important stuff and targeting the résumé to reflect skills needed for the position I was applying for. I feel more confident as a result. I do hope I get an interview (and of course, the job!)

The position is at the public library downtown, in the Kentucky Room, which is devoted to local and state history and genealogy. One of the things that excites me about working in the public library is that there are patrons of all walks of life with information needs who seek assistance, and I think it would be a more stimulating environment than the one in which I work now. Also, I'm excited about the prospect of being one of many librarians with varied backgrounds. As a solo librarian, I've relied on professional organisations and electronic lists to interact with those of my own profession; it would be so nice to not be the only one in my organisation who really 'gets' what a librarian is and what she or he can do. Don't get me wrong, my co-workers are great, and I've been fortunate to work in teams within the hospital and really contribute, but I feel a little isolated from my profession at times.

Okay, I think I'm going to stretch out, put my feet up (it's hard to believe it has been two weeks since my surgery and I'm doing really well), and concentrate on not actually falling asleep. I should work on the notes tonight, too. So, no sleeping just yet. Tomorrow I'm going to pay my rent, take A to the grocery, watch The Grand Budapest Hotel with friends, and finish the notes if necessary. But I'm going to try to get up early enough to enjoy the morning a bit, maybe watch something fun on my own. I need to renew some books at the library, but of course I can do that through their mobile application (yay!) But I might take the books on cover letters and résumés back and get some on interviewing. I am a shy person, and it's very difficult for me to present myself to a group of strangers in a way that really markets my assets, for at heart I'm still a bit of a socially-awkward geek. I'm fine when dealing with patrons or co-workers in a professional setting--I just tend to choke when it comes to interviews. So I'm looking for some tips that will help me be more confident and 'wow' my interviewers. Still, I'm not really sure you can get that out of a book. :)

I have done many things a loving and loyal friend would do today

and I am, quite frankly, pooped as a result. But some things are more important than others, and for me, my closest friends are not just 'like' family, they are family. So while I didn't get some things done that should have been today, I did what was best. And that is what matters. So, no real blogging tonight, as I am too tired. Tomorrow I will finish all those things I meant to do today, really, like paying my rent and applying for a job (which closes tomorrow at 5 pm!) But for now, good night, good people. Hope your week is winding down and the weekend is soon upon us.

But first, something to go to bed laughing over

Okay, really, good night already!

I consider any day

in which I wear a white skirt and white eyelet-lace jacket and don't get any of the following on either to be a good day:

• any food at all, including the chilpotle black bean burger with all the trimmings this afternoon and the kung pao tofu sauce I had tonight
• the gasoline I put in the car
• the quart of oil I put in the car after checking it

Today after work I:

• Returned two books to the library
• Worked for two hours in the library tinkering with my résumé in preparation for a job application
• Picked up food from Jin Jin for three of us
• Watched a couple of new 'The Awesomes' episodes (a Hulu original series which is really great) with a friend--I think the second season may be even better than the first, at the rate they're going
• Let him show me various other things online, including an episode of an (I kid you not) alien surfer chick series, 'Lightning Point', from Australia--yes, it's on Netflix

Now I'm home, and I really should work more on the cover letter, but I'm tired and ready for bed. I did check a few books out, including the one I was using as a guide to the résumé-building. I may look that over some once I go on into the bedroom. Okay, time for more ice water. I'm parched. Then it's time to take my contacts out and get into my sleep shirt. Good night.

Despite the fact that the doctor was running an hour behind

and I had to get a friend to another appointment right after (we were about 15 minutes late for that), my followup to my surgery went really well. The tech took out the staples and put steri-strips on my incisions, which will just stay on until they come off. The surgeon was pleased with my recovery and told me to do some exercises with some ankle weights to strengthen the leg, but otherwise just come back if something else is needed. They gave me a CD with pictures of the surgery, and he showed me the difference between the shredded and cleaned up meniscus, as well as the smoothing he did on the femur head (I think that's the chondroplasty part). I am a little sore now simply because of taking the staples out and because I've been walking fairly fast (for me) and without a limp most of the day, so I took some acetaminophen and that's taken care of it. Even at the end of the day, normally, it already feels better than after the injury, and I'm having less pain walking and driving. It's not even hurting much getting out of the car, which was the worst part for the first few days. So all in all, I think things went pretty well.

This is an absolutely wonderful parody of

the Gotye song and video 'Someone That I Used to Know'. Pure genius....

But first...

this was an amusing picture shared on Facebook by George Takei:

I didn't quite sleep the night away

although I must have eaten something that didn't agree with me, because I have a bit of a stomach ache. I've done a little towards my goals, but mostly just went into a quiet room and rested/slept a bit. I didn't even listen to any music--I just wanted some quiet time.

Tomorrow I:

• Need to remember to call someone at 11 am regarding suggestions for speakers for a mobile tech talk at a meeting in October
• Want to get some things done around the library, like shelving and straightening
• Do my normal work things
• Have my followup appointment with my surgeon and presumably get my staples taken out of my knee
• Take a friend to an appointment after that

So it'll be a pretty full day. Okay, back off the computer for awhile. Have a good night.

It is nice to be home

Saturday I:
• Took one friend to get his hair cut
• Took my friends' bill over to the company, which apparently many people decided to do at the same time; thankfully they opened a 'payments only' window, so I lucked out
• Took another friend to an appointment
• Went to pick up food for all of us at a time when Long John Silvers' was packed due to some sort of promotion
• Took the one friend grocery shopping
• Came home and slept for a bit, then got up to do things and couldn't sleep or concentrate, so I listened to music and tossed and turned in bed

Sunday I:
• Got up very early in the morning to work on the game notes
• Cleaned my friends' house (with some help)
• Did four super-large loads of laundry
• Went to get some food from the the grocery for me and for having at the game
• Gamed for about six hours
• Had A help me get things to the car, but had to wrangle a purse, laptop bag, two grocery bags of food, two carts and a bag containing the laundry from the car to the apartment with some difficulty
• Put a couple of pillowcases and a couple of blankets on the bed but didn't really make it, got into my sleep shirt, took my meds, and went to bed

So now I'm home, I've eaten, and I need to:

• Work on a couple of job applications/cover letters
• Work out the finances for the month
• Maybe get started early on the notes
• Relax a bit

I'm going to start with the last bit, even though I might just fall asleep and waste my evening. I hope not. But I am really needing some quiet time with my feet up, although in general my knee is now doing better than when it was injured, as long as I don't overdo it. So rest and relaxation is actually the most important thing on the list. I do need to get one of the cover letters in by Friday, but otherwise things can be put off a couple of days.

Exactly what I've been saying!

What’s Better Than Kindle Unlimited for $120 a Year? This Free Alternative

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But there’s a competing service already available for compulsive book downloaders, and it’s available for free. It comes with a massive selection of books including new bestsellers, and a great app that lets you download to any of your devices: Kindle, iPhone, iPad, laptop, Android devices, Nook, Mac, PC, whatever. This miracle service is available -- get this -- at your public library.

I pretty much crashed yesterday

I came home a little early and napped for about an hour and a half, then got up and ate and did some stuff on the computer (but not the notes or the job-hunting related stuff I planned to do last night). Then I spoke with YKWIA for awhile on the phone and decided afterwards to get away from the computer for a bit, listened to Loreena McKennitt, and promptly fell asleep. That was about 8 pm. I got up about 10:30 and took my nightly medications and set the alarms for 5 am, in the hopes of working on them before I had to do anything else today. But that didn't work. I wound up finally waking up at 8:40 am and getting up about 8:55, took a shower, got dressed, ate a little cheese, did a couple of things I needed to, and then by ten I was over at my friends' house to do some errands and get him up for an appointment. We are now at said appointment and I've loaded the game recording onto the computer, but really haven't gotten much further, and there's only about a half-hour left before we go. I'm getting really hungry; that cheese wasn't enough to stay with me apparently, and anyway that was almost five hours ago.

I'm not sure what else we're doing today, other than doing a grocery run, but I'll try to get home fairly early to work on the notes. I think I'll use the time left at the appointment to work on cover letters for two jobs I'm applying for, although my computer is getting low on battery. I may have to cross the room to a less comfortable seat and plug into the outlet there.

I'm surprised there wasn't bloodshed

'Guardians of the Galaxy' Fans Reportedly Surprised by Wrong Movie

Regal Cinemas, a theater chain cited in some tweets, did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for an explanation or other comment confirming or denying the tweeters' version of events.

In case you didn't know, "Guardians of the Galaxy," the comic book-inspired summer blockbuster hitting U.S. theaters today, is not the same as "Rise of the Guardians," a 2012 Dreamworks animated film in which Jack Frost, Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny team up to fight the Boogeyman, according to IMDB.com.

It might have happened in more than one location, and in at least one, they tried to show the right film no less than three times, with complete failure.