I’ve neglected my blog for a few months now, so I really need to get back in the blogging habit. Eventually I’ll do some backblogging, but for now I’ll add some posts that I wrote for a blog on the three-week class I’m taking in the Netherlands.
Archive for the 'observations' Category
This morning I woke up with a headache and sore throat, so I seriously contemplated skipping class and staying home to look at pictures and watch videos of my angel sister, Celia, since today is her birthday. Then I started thinking about the last few days of Celia’s life. Last year I spent the night at her house the night before her birthday, and — as I often do — I read late into the night. The next morning, I woke up groggy and grouchy because I hadn’t had my eight hours of sleep. Celia had stayed up pretty late, too, and she woke up with a headache, an occurrence that had been way too frequent those days. Celia asked if I wanted to go to church with her family, but I decided I’d sleep a little longer and count going to my nephew Josh’s blessing later that day as my church attendance.
I just got home from the Public Library Association‘s 13th national conference in Portland. Oy. I think when my brain has had a chance to process everything, I’ll find that I learned a lot while I was sitting in those dark rooms of the Oregon Convention Center, but the main impression I had was that there are a lot of librarians in this country. Thank goodness. If you’re reading this post, I want you to take a moment and think of the ways librarians have contributed to the betterment of you and your community. If you can’t think of anything, send me a note and we’ll talk.
I’ve been thinking about doing this post for a long time, and I really don’t know why I’ve been putting it off. The past several months have been really hard for me — I think I’ve cried more since March than I did my entire life up until then. But I’ve also had a chance to reflect on how blessed I am, and so, in no particular order, here are a few of the things I’m thankful for: Continue reading ‘Blessings’
I haven’t seen Sesame Street in decades, but I spent last night with two of my nieces, and they watch the Street every morning. I looked up from a NYT blog post about Terry Eagleton’s new book to see Rachael Ray cavorting with a muppet tomato. Why? I have nothing against the woman (unless you count my disdain for people who name magazines after themselves and put their own face on the cover of every issue), but does she really have to be that ubiquitous?
Is it wrong to like the naughty kids in Primary the most? I can’t help it; they’re way more interesting than the good, reverent kids. A couple weeks ago my favorite 4-year-old in Seattle told a joke that went like this:
G: Why did the chicken cross the road?
Me: I don’t know. Why did the chicken cross the road?
G: I don’t know, but it got smashed by a car and died!
The Primary president was visiting my class that day so I tried my best not to laugh, but a tiny guffaw slipped out. I think that’s one of the best chicken jokes I’ve ever heard. Plus, she was so naughtily cute when she told it. My other favorite chicken joke is one my high school buddy Elizabeth’s dad told me, but it’s best told with salty language, so I’ll leave it off my blog.
So, I haven’t blogged in awhile, as you can see. Here’s what’s been going on in my life between the last time and now.
I applied to grad school in the beginning of January. I’m planning on getting a master’s degree in library and information science. The highlight of my application process was doing an interview with Nancy Pearl, my librarian hero. I listen to her podcast, and I have a deluxe action figure of her with shushing action. A little dorky, I know. So far, Syracuse has accepted me, and I’m waiting for decisions from the University of Illinois and the University of Washington. I’m going to visit Syracuse in a couple of weeks and then spend a few days in NYC. Anyone want to join me?
The other big event was on January 9. Steve Swartz, the Hearst head of newspapers, came to the P-I and told us that Hearst is tired of losing money publishing the newspaper, so the company was going to try to sell it. If a buyer isn’t found within 60 days, Hearst will close the P-I. The 60-day mark is next Tuesday, so we’ll see what happens. You can probably get a pretty good idea of what we’re going through at the P-I by watching the video on the Rocky Mountain News website. It’s sad to see newspapers dying, especially with the up-close and personal view I have.
Most of my family lives in Mesa, Arizona, so I’ll probably end up there sometime in my life, just so I can be close to them. My two main complaints about the city, though, are that it is too hot (not much can be done about that) and too spread out (I like my largely car-free existence). There was an article in The Economist recently about how the “biggest city you’ve never heard of” finally may be getting some urban planning. It’ll be interesting to see what comes of it.
I do a lot of shopping at Fred Meyer, mainly because it’s close and it has almost anything I’d want to buy. It’s a little weird, though; for example, the yarn and knitting needles are right by the toilet gaskets. But sometimes you can find incredible deals there, like this one.
… and a progress update: I passed the 50-mile mark today, woohoo! One of the nice things about riding a bike is noticing all of the things you’re totally oblivious to when you’re driving a car. Here are a few:
- Other cyclists are really friendly, except the super serious people who ride professional racing bikes and wear spandex. They never say “hi” back because they’re too busy being serious. Maybe it’s just carrying over from their accounting jobs.
- Pedestrians, on the other hand, aren’t friendly at all, with one exception — the guy who called out “Bye, beautiful!” as I rode past him.
- Goslings are really cute and fluffy-looking, but their parents are pretty darn scary. I think my mph went up by 10 miles when the mama (or papa) goose came flapping and hissing at me when I rode past the goose family.
- For all the talk about people in SUVs driving like they own the road, I’ve noticed they give me more space than the Prius drivers. They drive like they’re trying to murder me because they’re angry that I emit fewer greenhouse gases than they do.
- Long, gradual hills are waaaay harder than short, steep hills. If you have warning for the short ones, you can get up enough speed to make it most of the way up and then pedal like crazy for a few seconds to get to the top. The long slopes just make you pedal and pedal and pedal, and they really lower your average mph.
That’s it for now. There are some really beautiful spots along my ride, so I’ll post some pics as soon as I get a bike bag that leaves my camera more accessible than it is in my backpack that I strap down onto my rack with bungie cords.
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