Enjoying a late day

I have a teleconference on medical/public library cooperation this afternoon that runs later than I usually work, so I don't have to go anywhere until noon. I left the house about 10:30, though, and I'm over here at the public library blogging. I do need to swing by work to get the directions though, seeing as I totally forgot to print them out yesterday.

I'm in a quandry. Here's a word problem them had you do in school: You have $238. Do you:

1. Pay off a bad cheque so that when you go to court it might be dismissed, but last time it didn't get dismissed, so you're about 50-50 on your chances, then pay it off within two paycheques?
   
2. Pay part of your rent so that when you pay the rest you can also pay the electric company, which won't give more than one extension, get your medicine, and have money for groceries?
   

I admit, I have trouble doing this, or I wouldn't be in this quandry in the first place. I can pay the cheque off by mid-April at the latest, so I fully intend to do so. But I also don't know what happens if you don't pay it off and it goes back to court. Do you just get a guilty plea and have to pay it along with fines by a certain date, usually about 3 months? Do they take you to jail? Does anyone know? I hate having it on my record, but I already have two others thanks to going crazy for awhile impairing my ability to balance/manage my chequebook plus being too poor to have any cushion when I do stupid stuff like that. It's embarrassing that I can do well with budgets at work (with the exception of one Harry Potter party during a breakdown where I had no help, no set budget, and a directive to 'do whatever is good for the kids'), but I have trouble doing it (and I know how to) with my home life. I think part of it is that I don't have to worry at work about not paying bills or not having enough--I've been blessed with a fairly decent budget. I can't say the same for my pay, so it's a struggle just to pay my rent and electric every month, get my meds, and still get some groceries, and then when I do make a mistake or have a moment of poor judgement, everything falls apart. I must admit also that I am a pathetic criminal, probably because I'm not trying to be one. Still, I've always paid the cheque at least by the main court date, and usually before the arraignment. (One got dismissed, one didn't...I guess it just matters what judge you draw, and you don't always get the same one for the second appearance.)

Sigh. See, there's a reason this place is called the Rabid Librarian's Ravings. I do have to admit that although I generally function well in society, I am, in the words of Matchbox Twenty, 'a little unwell', and it's a day-to-day struggle to deal with some of the issues from my mucked up brain chemistry. The good news is that I've been doing loads better since my medicine was changed. The bad news is it's a struggle just to get my medicine, especially the new one that's so expensive. There are just times I want to give up, but I refuse to do so.

In the meantime, I so need a third job, or one that pays enough that I don't have to work extra jobs. But I also realise that talking about stuff like this on this blog and that couple of cheques I already have on my record are probably not going to help me get one. I realise I'm not sounding all that competent at the moment, although I'm a good librarian, have a real talent for it, and I'm very dedicated to the needs of patrons. I also know sometimes that isn't enough, and circumstances are such that you can do all the right things and still have the carpet whisked out from under you and land on your butt--or, trip due to your own clumsiness. Either way, it's sometimes hard to get back up again, you know?

Listening to

some lovely Celtic music, including one of my favourite's, Kilkelly.

Which reminds me--at some point a little while back, I contacted a local pipe and drum group about bagpipe lessons. Yeah, I know, but you learn on a chanter which really doesn't make the noise. They're between classes right now but among other things, I hope it gets me connected with other people descended from the Scots, Irish, and other Celtic peoples. I love the music; I love the culture, but I haven't found any actual organisations in town. If you know of any, drop me a line. I probably need to patronise the Irish stores and bars more, too. ;)

I forgot to mention this tidbit

Listening to: "There's Nobody Home" by Pink Floyd

Someone took the stones from my altar the other day--essentially took the altar in its entirety. Not moved. Took. They are nowhere to be found. Theoretically it could have happened anytime in the last month, but I think it must have been a few days ago, because my large planter is also gone from the front, and I noticed it a day or two before I went out for the libation. This sucks, because it was my backup if there was a problem with the altar, to bring it inside with dirt and the stones. Now I have neither. This is the equivalent to finding someone has burnt down your church while you weren't looking; I was a little shocked and I didn't notice until I went to give the monthly offering (I pour a libation of burgundy and honey out upon the altar during my menstrual period).

At this point I don't know if it was somehow an honest mistake (they didn't know what the stones were, the pot was empty, and so might have seemed abandoned) or if someone saw me go out one night, knew I was up to something pagan, and acted out of malice. In my experience the malicious vandalise rather than take the whole thing, so I'm not quite up to praying for retribution. But it was disappointing, and I'm not sure what I'll do. That night I poured it out on the ground where the stones had been. If I build another altar, it'll probably be down by the creek away from prying eyes, so long as I can keep a small area clear for that purpose and not walk in poison ivy. Sigh...the challenges of being a pagan in an apartment building. At least the ancient Roman tenement dwellers had plenty of places to worship. I wish we had full-blown temples. If I had the money I would build one, just so pagans here would have a place to worship properly. Of course, for my purposes, given my Patroness, I'd really love to have a bit of land with a cave and spring on it, which is quite possible here in karst topography land...it's riddled with caves. But until then, I'll have to make do.

Plugging along

Listening to: "Dear Green Place" by Battlefield Band

It was a clear mornin' down near Bann
Where it meets and runs with the River Clyde,
And they tell the tale of the holy one
Who was fishing down by the riverside.

A holy man from Fife he came,
His name, they say, was Kentigern,
And by the spot where the fish was caught
The Dear Green Place was born.

Though the salmon run through the river stream,
And they salted them by the Banks of Clyde,
And the faces glow'd as the silver flow'd,
And the place arose by the riverside.

There was cloth to dye and horse to buy,
The traders came from all around
And they raised a glass to the Dear Green Place,
The place that was a town.

Chorus: There is a town that once was green,
And the river flowed to the sea.
The river flows forever on,
But the Dear Green Place is gone.

When the furnaces came to fire the iron,
And the folk were thrown from far off land,
Then the Irish man, and the Highland man,
And the hungry man came with willin' hands.

They wanted work, a place to live,
Their empty bellies wanted filled,
And the farmyard was another world
From the dirty, overcrowded mill.

Now, you may have heard of the foreign trade,
And fortunes made by tobacco lords,
But the working man slaved his life away
And a narrie grave was his sole reward.

A dreary room, a corwded slum,
Disease and hunger everywhere,
And the price to pay was another day
And fight the anger and despair.

Chorus

A thousand years have been here and gone
Since Kentigern saw the Banks of Clyde.
And how many dreams? and how many tears?
In a thousand years of a city's life.

A city hard, a city proud,
And no mean city it has been.
Perhaps tomorrow it yet may be
The Dear Green Place again.

Feeling: A little overwhelmed, just holding my head above the water

Things to do this week:

1. Library teleconference from MLA: "Partnering for Public Health: Information, Librarians, and the Public Health Workforce"
   
2. Pay off a cheque that didn't go through
   
3. Go to court over said cheque
   
4. Make an appointment with my doctor, since I missed my last one
   
5. Have her call in refills on my meds and get them
   
6. Get an extension on my electric bill
   
7. Apply for a part-time library job in Jessamine County
   
8. Go house shopping with a member of my family
   
9. Finish up the ancient/tribal section of a unified humanities timeline
   
10. Take some books back to the library...I'm at the max allowed
    
11. Pick up some music CDs I have on hold at the library once they become available
    
12. Knit a little
    
13. Continue to be careful with my brakes, which are working on the front but leaking on the back, so I'm limiting my rush hour driving when possible. I hope I can get them fixed soon!
    

Listening to: "I am the Common Man" by Battlefield Band

(Words Joe Corrie; music Alan Reid)

I am the Common Man
I am the brute and the slave
I am the fool, the despised
From the cradle to the grave

I am the hewer of coal
I am the tiller of soil
I am serf of the seas
Born to bear and to toil

I am the builder of halls
I am the dweller of slums
I am the filfth and the scourge
When winter's depression comes

I am the fighter of wars
I am the killer of men
Not for a day or an age
But again and again and again

I am the Common Man
But Masters of mine take heed
For you have put into my head
Oh! many a wicked deed

Note to self

Do not have a moment of idiocy and decide to put the earrings you first had your ears pierced with back in. I hadn't worn earrings in awhile and thought, being thicker, they'd help keep the piercings open. Hah! Instead, one became LOCKED onto my ear. The other came off with some difficulty, but this stubborn one only succumbed once I got a pair of pliers and a multi-tool with needlenose pliers, grabbed each side of the earring by one of the tools, and pulled with all my might, causing a bit of pain and a bit of blood but altogether better than when I was trying to get it off with my fingers.

Another use for a multi-tool; maybe it's just my post-surgery weakness, but I could not open the cat litter no matter how much I tried to unscrew the cap this morning. So, I used the pocket knife part of the tool to 'break in' to the plastic jug. I refuse to be thwarted by cat litter.

So how's your day? Mine is sunny, spring-like, and besides a touch of heartburn I'm feeling pretty well. I went and re-did a Rabid Librarian image (see above right). It's a little different, but my other one was hosed along with my old hard drive. I had to be creative since I don't have any webspace at the moment that can be linked to. Fortunately, there's Flickr. I've also posted some pictures and installed a little display badge to randomly pick from them over on the left sidebar. Enjoy. Well, have a great weekend. I'm going to go take a nap and then watch 'Avatar: the Last Air Bender', which is an excellent series on Nickelodean.

One Book, One Lexington

Our local library has launched a special programme to celebrate National Library Week, with discussions on local author Silas House's first book, Clay's Quilt. I happen to have a copy checked out from our workplace's lending library (the public TV station, not the hospital), so I think I'll participate. Nifty.

Two gems from D

First:

Top 10 Dog peeves about humans

1. Blaming your farts on me... not funny... not funny at all!

2. Yelling at me for barking... I'M A FRIGGIN' DOG, YOU IDIOT!

3. Taking me for a walk, then not letting me checks stuff out. Exactly whose walk is this anyway?

4. Any trick that involves balancing food on my nose... stop it!

5. Any haircut that involves bows or ribbons. Now you know why we chew your stuff up when you're not home.

6. The sleight of hand, fake fetch throws. You fooled a dog! Whoooo Hoooooooo -- what a proud moment for the top of the food chain.

7. Taking me to the vet for "the big snip", then acting surprised when I freak out every time we go back!

8. Getting upset when I sniff the crotches of your guests. Sorry, but I haven't quite mastered that handshake thing yet.

9. Dog sweaters. Hello?? Haven't you noticed the fur?

10. How you act disgusted when I lick myself. Look, we both know the truth, you're just jealous.

Then:

Go Git Yo Momma...

A redneck family from the hills was visiting the city and they were in a mall for the first time in their life. The father and son were strolling around while the wife shopped. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and then slide back together again. The boy asked, "Paw, What's 'at?"

The father (never having seen an elevator) responded, "Son, I dunno. I ain't never seen anything like that in my entire life, I ain't got no idea'r what it is." While the boy and his father were watching with amazement, a fat old lady in a wheel chair rolled up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady rolled between them into a small room.

The walls closed and the boy and his father watched the small circular numbers above the walls light up sequentially. They continued to watch until it reached the last number ! and then the numbers began to light in the reverse order.

Then the walls opened up again and a gorgeous, voluptuous 24-year-old blonde woman stepped out. The father, not taking his eyes off the young woman, said quietly to his Son, "Boy, go git yo Momma.... "

Want your posts sent out into deep space?

Astronotes: reports that the Internet community Craigslist plans to do just that. Okay, it's a little geeky and a little crazy, but hey, at least they can say they're the first to offer want ads to the extraterrestial community, right?

In space, "no one can hear you scream", but they may read about the latest music gigs in San Francisco. :)

On the internet and the hunt for a serial killer

Yahoo! News - Amateur Cybersleuths Flocking to BTK Case

"This place is cursed", to quote the guy in The Mummy Returns

Yahoo! News - City Hit by Ancient Curse, Residents Say. Surpisingly, this gem comes from Carlisle, England. Ah, the perils of including curse texts on a piece of artwork.

The thing is, I don't know whether to play "spot the looney" (as in the councilor who wants the piece of art removed or destroyed) or suggest they find a good priest or witch to deal with the curse. I do believe it's possible. There's just too much out there we can't really explain. But this sounds a little far-fetched, and it sounds like the stone is taking the fall for a bad run of luck.