It's the last of a long weekend

and it was a very pleasant day. I went over and cleaned my friend's house, and although I brought my laundry over, he wanted to hold off on that so he could take a shower, which didn't materialise before I left, so I'm going to do mine and his tomorrow evening after physical therapy, if I can. I left the clothes over there. I'm still good on clean clothes, after all, although sadly, my belt that I've had for something like 30 years old (and is technically three sizes too small, but it's one of those braided leather belts, so they stretch and can be put through the braid) is finally fraying to the point where I don't think jeans or my belted pants are an option. I found one in my size, non-braided, but with a double tang, for $9 at Amazon, so I ordered it. It's not eligible for two-day shipping through Prime, but the shipping was free if I waited till December 2nd through 8th. So my old belt just has to last till then, hopefully. I haven't been able to find anything suitable locally for less than $30 or $40, so I'm hoping this will work.

I also have a wallet case coming for the new phone and a fast-charging car charger, since the S7 has that capability, and I'd rather use a Samsung charger than a third-party one. But both were less than $10 each, so I thought I did alright.

I went out just a little while ago, feeling the need to stretch my legs, and I went to Rite Aid to get a sharps container (well, two, really, but they only had one out on the shelf). I also got toilet paper and some paper towels, because I hadn't gotten them in awhile and only had toilet paper because YKWIA had given me some.

I texted my stepfather about my mom today but haven't heard back. I guess no news is good news. I'll call tomorrow if I don't hear from him.

I got home about 6 or 7 this evening and have just kind of relaxed. I did fall asleep for about an hour, but got up and completed my goals for steps and activity level by going out. Tonight I have to get A at midnight, and then I need to go in just a little bit early at work because I have a 5:20 pm appointment with PT, and I have to pick up YKWIA on the way, which is a lot to do when you normally get off work 20 minutes before the appointment. I'm doing much better pain-wise; right now I'd say my pain is about a 3, and that's at the end of the day. I actually took my heating pad back over to YKWIA's so he could use it, as I haven't been. I'm moving much better as a result, which is good, because I have some materials on my table at work that really need to be moved, and I've been avoiding it until the flareup subsides. I also want to work on the house some, weeding books, this week, and maybe put up the holiday tree sometime, maybe into next weekend. I definitely want to get it up before my procedure, so I don't have to fool with it then.

Okay, I guess I could go look at the news for a bit--A is supposed to call me in a half-hour or so. Just from what I've gleaned from notifications on my phone, it sounds like Trump is tweeting madly as usual. It amazes me that anyone his age could act the way he does and not get a stern talking-to by an aide or publicist. But I guess when you have that much money, people tell you whatever you want to hear, which disturbs me in terms of the coming four years. Throwing a tantrum every time someone does or says something you don't like is not a way to 'lead the free world', and he's going to have to grow a much thicker skin to succeed as president. I mean, look at all Obama has put up with for eight years. But the man has dignity, which is something I think Trump will never have.

For some reason

Google Chrome has not been loading on my laptop when I try to get on the Internet, which is one reason I haven't blogged much lately. Instead I've had to blog on my phone, which has certain limits on using the Blogger mobile application, and the browser doesn't work at all for Blogger in terms of filling in the boxes, at least on Google Chrome. So...

In the time it took Chrome to come up and hang up, I used Microsoft Edge (which I don't like) to download and install Firefox. Now I'm online with no trouble. So it may have been a Chrome issue. Pity, I do like Chrome, but only if it works.

I was in scheduling yesterday and today, and both days were busy yet alright. Yesterday there was an appointment, too, and I went and got something for a friend at the pharmacy while he was at the doctor's office. Of course, there was something else to get today due to that visit. So I've been to the pharmacy, which is clear across town, but which we prefer to the big mega-pharmacies, twice in two days. After I delivered the item, I read through and proofread a document he wrote up, and then headed home. I'm behind on my cleaning venture, and tomorrow we have the pest control people coming in, so I need to have the kitchen and bathroom in good shape. Mainly I need to wash the handwashable dishes, take out the trash, and the recyclables, something I haven't done yet. Of course, after starting out warm this morning it's very cold outside and also very windy. We're supposed to get snow sometime overnight, maybe a dusting up to three inches. I'm not in scheduling tomorrow, but I expect there will be quite a few cancellations--they've been cancelling for two days already out of concern for the weather, even though it should be a mild snow, the ground is quite warm, and it will warm up in a day or two (60 degrees on Sunday). Spring seems to be around the corner (my allergies prove it), and that's great. We had a statewide tornado drill Tuesday to kick off the storm season, as well.

So it's been a busy week, so busy that yesterday I was in bed by 10 and still had trouble getting up this morning. The alarm went off at 6 am and I think I hit snooze several times till 8:10. Mind you, I need to be at work by 8:30. Fortunately I live very close to work. :)

There was something I saw today which was pretty cool, and has librarians across the country celebrating. President Obama has appointed (subject to Congressional approval, of course) a new Librarian of Congress. It's history-making because she would be the first woman, and she is black. But we're just happy that she's an actual librarian by training (it usually isn't, and the last Librarian was not, actually, a librarian by training). Her name is Carla Hayden:

Obama nominates African American woman to be Librarian of Congress

Hayden is the chief executive of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, a job she has had for 22 years. She drew praise and criticism for her decision to keep the library open during last year’s protests over the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody. As the head of the American Library Association in 2003-2004, Hayden took on U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft over measures in the Patriot Act that she considered an invasion of privacy. And she is credited with updating Pratt’s technology and launching programs to meet the community’s needs.

Anyway, yay. Let's hope she'll be confirmed, and that the Congress (and the Republicans who would like to obstruct just about anything the President tries to do in his last eleven months in office) aren't poopheads about it.

I love the Obama Administration, if nothing else than for this:

White House rejects ‘Death Star’ petition

This is a link to the original, but I am also enclosing the text with links, just in case this doesn't get archived. But it should.:

Secure resources and funding, and begin construction of a Death Star by 2016.

This Isn't the Petition Response You're Looking For

By Paul Shawcross, Chief of the Science and Space Branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget

The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn't on the horizon. Here are a few reasons:

• The construction of the Death Star has been estimated to cost more than $850,000,000,000,000,000. We're working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it.
• The Administration does not support blowing up planets.
• Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?

However, look carefully (here's how) and you'll notice something already floating in the sky -- that's no Moon, it's a Space Station! Yes, we already have a giant, football field-sized International Space Station in orbit around the Earth that's helping us learn how humans can live and thrive in space for long durations.

The Space Station has six astronauts -- American, Russian, and Canadian -- living in it right now, conducting research, learning how to live and work in space over long periods of time, routinely welcoming visiting spacecraft and repairing onboard garbage mashers, etc. We've also got two robot science labs -- one wielding a laser -- roving around Mars, looking at whether life ever existed on the Red Planet.

Keep in mind, space is no longer just government-only. Private American companies, through NASA's Commercial Crew and Cargo Program Office (C3PO), are ferrying cargo -- and soon, crew -- to space for NASA, and are pursuing human missions to the Moon this decade.

Even though the United States doesn't have anything that can do the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs, we've got two spacecraft leaving the Solar System and we're building a probe that will fly to the exterior layers of the Sun. We are discovering hundreds of new planets in other star systems and building a much more powerful successor to the Hubble Space Telescope that will see back to the early days of the universe.

We don't have a Death Star, but we do have floating robot assistants on the Space Station, a President who knows his way around a light saber and advanced (marshmallow) cannon, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is supporting research on building Luke's arm, floating droids, and quadruped walkers.

We are living in the future! Enjoy it. Or better yet, help build it by pursuing a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field. The President has held the first-ever White House science fairs and Astronomy Night on the South Lawn because he knows these domains are critical to our country's future, and to ensuring the United States continues leading the world in doing big things.

If you do pursue a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field, the Force will be with us! Remember, the Death Star's power to destroy a planet, or even a whole star system, is insignificant next to the power of the Force.

Paul Shawcross is Chief of the Science and Space Branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget

I have to admit

I saw this on Facebook (thanks to Bill Hart) on election day and it made me laugh. I think the point is, race shouldn't matter.

Staying up late watching the election results

Which are overwhelmingly favourable in my eyes, with the exception of our Congressional race, where Chandler lost to Barr. But we'll have four more years of President Obama! Woo-hoo! We had high relevance of the vote of women and minorities. Marriage equality passed in Maine and Maryland. Todd Aiken and other candidates who made asinine comments about women and rape got trounced. Anyway, I'm happy and just waiting (hopefully) for Romney to concede and Obama to give his speech.

Had a long day. One friend had an emergency so another one stepped up to take me out to my appointment and we got several essential things done. She is now a pro at getting a wheelchair in and out of her car. I was so tired when I got back though that I went to bed for about three hours and finally got up about 10 when A called me about some of the election results. So I think I can stay up for awhile if need be.

Oh, thank goodness, Romney's going to speak in about 10 minutes. Think I'll grab something to eat in the meantime. Hope you all voted, no matter how you did!

That's so sweet

I hadn't gotten around to posting yet tonight, so one of my friends decided he should check up on me. I had fallen asleep, of course. I can't listen to 60s music to keep awake every night. Thanks, Brandon.

It was 100 degrees when I came home, and topped out at 102 for the day. At work they made sure I had a ride, for which I'm grateful. Even now, at 10 pm, it's still 91. This is crazy. And Saturday, when I have a few errands to run, it will be worse.

The house is in good shape. I got up a little early today to take the trash out and do a few dishes, as the exterminator was coming for their regular visit. Maybe that's why I crashed. Now I feel a little groggy, and I think my blood sugar is up. Today I had the hardest time checking my blood sugar. Usually I check it on the side of my hand, no problem. Today was the day I would not bleed. I stuck myself five times this morning until I had success, and at least twice each meal afterwards.

Ironically, in light of Nora Ephron's death, I happen to have Julie and Julia out from Netflix. I think I'll watch it tomorrow night.

That's pretty much what's been going on in my world. I am actually considering donating a small amount of money to the Obama campaign; I'd like to see him in a second term. I can't donate much, but in light of some of the social issues and things like the health care victory, I think he will do a whole lot better for my interests than Romney ever would.

Great orator, promising president, and a decent storytime artist

President Obama reading Where the Wild Things Are to children at the White House Easter Egg Roll:

He has the roaring and clawing motions down really well, although surely to goodness someone could have gotten him a 'big book' for this one--even I have one at the hospital. Of course, maybe the small one worked better for moving about--big books work better on easels I suppose. I don't do much storytime, so I'm not an expert.

Rawr!

A nice surprise

Today is payday at the hospital, so I got up early to check the status of my direct deposit. I found out I had an extra $20 in my cheque, which I can only surmise has to do with the tax rebates that I did not entirely keep up with that were discussed right after Obama went into office.

Yay!

That means each paycheque is higher (by about $10) than my rent. That hasn't happened in a very long time. (See why I work two jobs? You shouldn't have your rent be more than 50% of your earnings--and I don't have an exorbitant rent--it's less than $500 a month.)

Today I need to pay my rent and I'll have about $30 left over for food until I get paid at the store on Wednesday. So that $20 is much appreciated.

That next deposit from the store should be fairly nice, because I worked 30 hours again this past week, since I stayed so late on Saturday. I only have my electric and phone to pay with that, and then the next week I'll just have the cable bill, so maybe I can get ahead/get a few things I need (like clothes). I also get two more store cheques before the next rent after that, so I'll be on time and in good shape. The only factor I'm not sure of is my taxes, which I need to do this weekend. I'm sure I'll have to pay, but it shouldn't be as bad as last year since I changed my W-4 withholdings at some point in the year. Next year I might even get a refund.

I was on the American Library Association's Connect page (a sort of mini-librarian-only version of Facebook for professional networking) the other day and really started looking into membership in the ALA. I thought it would be too expensive, but they have an option for unemployed/underemployed librarians that is only $46 a year for someone who makes under $25,000, so I qualify. My position no longer requires a Master's (it is preferred, although of course I have an MSLS), doesn't supervise people, and doesn't require state certification (although I have it), so it doesn't fit regular membership requirements anyway.) I haven't been a member of ALA since library school because they didn't have that tier of membership after I graduated, as far as I remember. It's better than the MLA rate, which is also reduced. My MLA membership is vital, but I think I'd benefit from joining ALA as well. It would help me keep up with trends in the general library world and possibly network myself into a full-time job. With the way things are going, that's really more pressing than it used to be.

At the hospital, our benefits are changing due to the recession. This year our co-pays for health insurance doubled. They're eliminating our employee assistance programme, which I've used for medical and legal counseling in the past. They've suspended tuition reimbursement at least for now. There are a few minor ones involving things like our extended illness bank, etc.

The bad news is since I work for a system that relies solely on dues of a fraternity (that is ageing and not replacing members at the rate it needs to) and an invested endowment, the current oeconomic crisis means significant changes for the system. As someone who's already been partly laid off in this position, I'm aware at how little job security I have at the hospital, and it's a source of stress. Nor is the gas station completely secure, either. There's a good chance that the nearby Kroger, as part of its extended remodelling, is putting in a gas station within a couple hundred yards of our store. If that's the case, they may shut us down, and I'm really not sure if I want to go work at another, larger store, although at least there are two within a short distance from home. We'll see. One co-worker was told by a Kroger employee that it could happen as early as October.

Of course, the jobs in libraries (I do keep track of them regularly, and recently) are pretty thin right now, and the competition with the recent graduates of our library school is still a factor. Many librarians who planned to retire are holding on to their jobs. The job market is pretty bleak, and I don't have public or academic library experience so in a way my 12 years in medical librarianship doesn't exactly count, especially as the only people I've supervised are student volunteers, not professionals.

Sigh. It will get better. It has to. But if I lost my job (either of them), I really don't know what I would do. I guess if I lost the hospital job I'd go full-time at the store at least for a time, but I don't think I could make it, even at 40 hours a week, on $8.55 an hour. And if the store shuts down, I'll lose the extra money that keeps me afloat. So there you have it. It's a source of stress, but no different from millions of other people's right now.

Okay, time to get some stuff done before work. Have a good day.

Yes we did!

MoveOn.org is offering a free victory sticker about the size of a postcard to celebrate Barack Obama's election to the presidency. You can get yours, too. Here's what it looks like (the design is by Shepard Fairey—the same artist who designed the world-famous, iconic "Hope" poster for Obama.):

I'm so glad I got mine first thing Wednesday morning

I picked up a couple of Lexington Herald-Leader newspapers this morning (hey, I was a history major, I knew this was a momentous occasion and they'd go quickly), one for a friend and one for myself. Good thing I did. When I was at the store working later in the day, dozens of people came looking for papers to no avail, and surrounding stores were out as well. One lady said she'd go cruising neighbourhoods looking for one in a stand.

Apparently Lexington was not alone in this phenomenon, which isn't surprising.

Extra! Extra! Barack Obama's election win sends newspaper sales soaring

Let's face it; I may get my news primarily online, but a newspaper is a tangible piece of history, a document that can be archived (in acid-free materials, of course). A lot of people felt today that they wanted something they could show their grandchildren, something they could touch and remember the moment America elected a president of African descent. It amazes me some of the prices major papers were fetching on eBay. Wow.

Okay, I'm up way too late, and it's back to work at the hospital tomorrow morning. Good night.

Here's a text message making the rounds

'Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Barack could run. Barack is running so our children can fly.' Thanks to desertlibrarian for passing it on.

Some thoughts

I really wish Kentucky would extend its voting hours. 6 am-6 pm (at least in many areas--we have a variable schedule--some areas have until 7 pm) doesn't work for many workers or parents trying to get their kids to and from school. I took the day off just in case of problems. Not everyone has that luxury.

I apparently belong to one of only two precincts in Lexington with less than 100 voters registered. I know this because a news story mentioned that there were two with only one voting machine because of this. I guess that means if I don't want to encounter lines, I have to stay put. :)

I really think McCain lost this election not because the oeconomy tanked in September (let's face it, it's been doing so for months now--it just became more palpable due to Wall Street tanking), but because 1) his campaign never really found a direction to go forward with (chasing issues from here and there, not really presenting what John McCain himself stood for well, not like Obama's platform for change and slogans that included people like 'Yes, we can') but even more importantly, 2) the choice of Sarah Palin as running mate. No matter how much he might have been liked by many voters, it proved to be a very telling about his judgement, and I think many voters could not stomach her being a heartbeat away from the presidency--not because she is a woman, I think that has nothing to do with it--but because she is Sarah Palin. She has some very scary ideals that believe it or not do not resonate with the majority of Americans, and is obviously unprepared to be vice-president, much less president.

I think the gender card got played way too much during this race. I did not favour Hillary Clinton based on her personality. It had nothing to do with her gender. And I found the selection of Sarah Palin as a vice-presidential candidate insulting, knowing that there were many other Republican women who would have served very well. It seems like some people had an idea that as long as someone had the female plumbing than we are all interchangeable, which is not the case. I would love to have a female candidate I could really have gotten behind like I did with Obama. But whilst I won't say I would have voted McCain over Clinton in this election, I certainly wouldn't have wanted to vote for her, and would only have done so out of necessity. I could not have voted for McCain, however, once he selected Palin, because among other things I question his judgement strongly over that one. I'd rather have a candidate I can believe in. I found that with Obama.

Also, I'm happy that in the end, race was not as important as say, oeconomy. Obviously there was a huge turnout among blacks and apparently a very good one among Latinos. And looking at the breakdown in Applalachian counties (at least in my state), the numbers for McCain over Obama were very strong--but it's unclear whether that had to do with race or if they're just such Republican counties). But one of the pundits also pointed out that a different demographic which Obama did well with were college-educated whites, a group Democratic candidates have not done well with in the past. Since I'm part of that demographic, I'm glad we were able to make a difference.

I have a restored faith in America, I have to admit

It just feels so good to have Obama as President-Elect.

It feels good to be an American tonight.

I think Obama's speech

was excellent, too. He spoke to just about every person, every group, Americans and beyond, especially the part that America is not the strength of its arms or the scale of its wealth, but the power of its ideals.

His anecdote about the 106-year-old woman was well spoken. His inspiring talk of hard work and sacrifice gives hope. Wow, the man can speak. Now let's see if he can run a country--he's got a lot of work to do, or more properly we have a lot of work to do.

For text of the speech as prepared, see the Wall Street Journal's transcript.

I find it telling

that when McCain was talking about Obama, his supporters booed, but when Obama talked about McCain, his supporters cheered.

Anyone else notice that?

Of course, McCain clearly didn't approve of the booing, because he's a classy guy. In other days I might have voted for him--certainly against George W. Bush.

Kudos to John McCain for a wonderful concession speech

I am so pleased that Barack Obama will be our next president. McCain's concession speech was very classy, too. Although my state, Kentucky, was the first race to be called, and for McCain, my county went for Obama by 52%.

Of course, McConnell kept his his seat, and I would have like to have seen his defeat.

For a transcript of McCain's speech, try the Turner Report.

That's nice that her wishes will be recorded, even if because of a technicality

Hawaii officials to count Obama grandmother's absentee ballot

Although the law would normally require that an absentee ballot cast by someone who dies before election day to be discarded, Kevin Cronin, the Hawaii elections chief, confirmed that it would still be counted, as the elections office did not receive a list of deceased residents - which included Dunham's name - from the state department of health before Tuesday.

Get ready, set, go!

My voting precinct is small and includes mostly just my apartments and some townhomes, a population that doesn't NORMALLY vote. Of course, this is no normal election. So, just in case I get trapped in line:

1) Bathroom (check)
2) Comfortable shoes (check)
3) Taken medicine (check)
4) Eaten something (check)

Can't really get any caffeine (although Starbucks is apparently giving out cofee to those who have voted, in a possible legal violation). [Check out Krispy Kreme and Ben & Jerry's for general election day freebies as well]. :)

But otherwise I think I'm ready to hit the voting machine.

Oh, and it was so sad that Obama's grandmother died so soon before the election. I wish she'd been able to see the outcome, whatever it may be.

Whatever else you do today, and however you do it, be sure to VOTE! and exercise your right as an American. (Oh, and if you're not an American, be sure to watch the candidates duke it out as the rest of the world waits to see how bone-headed/smart we are.)

An embarrassed alumna

Effigy of Obama Found Hanging From Tree

I guess we have racist boneheads at UK, too (but I'd argue they're pretty much everywhere). The comments to the news story are especially interesting, many pointing out that there is a very different reaction from people and the media of the incident vs. the gay couple who as part of their Halloween decorations in West Hollywood have hung an effigy of Sarah Palin and put John McCain on the chimney surrounded by flames like the Devil.

I think the history of lynching black people makes something of a difference. Nor do I think anyone is attacking Palin due to her gender--she and McCain were targeted because of their politics. But I agree that neither case should be treated like Halloween fun. I just don't think Palin's represents a hate crime (and wouldn't be treated as one under the law, which as far as I know doesn't recognise gender for hate crimes, which I think is unfortunate). The Obama effigy may be meant as a Halloween prank, or a political statement, but it strays more fully into hate crime territory. I don't support either 'statement', to be honest.

I definitely am embarrassed that this happened at my alma mater.

I am being thwarted

Some weeks back, when the car was out of commission, I received a free Obama bumpersticker from MoveOn.org. I cannot for the life of me find it. No doubt it will turn up after the election. So I thought I'd get one from the Fayette Democrats, our local group. I've tried twice now, and they've been out. Yesterday I called and they had them, but it was raining and I wanted to put it right on the car so I wouldn't lose another one, and by today they were out again. They only get them in batches of 500, apparently. They're like gold. The nice lady did give me their phone number and asked me to call next week and have them hold one for me, since I've tried several times. So hopefully next week I'll have one (and maybe by then I can actually make a small donation to at least cover their costs). If all else fails, I may just have to order one from his website. They're just $3 and have a removable adhesive so they won't take paint off your car. My favourite is the one pictured here.