"Do you work here?" "No." "Oh, well there's a reindeer stuck in the tree."

Lots more to scrapbook. Really need to post more. I'll attempt to go in order.

Superwoman has officially dubbed me as our branch's Staff Association Liaison.

I can never spell that word right, had to Google it.

If you don't work at my library system, Staff Association is basically a group of people from all over the system who work together to promote comradery amongst staff. We host events, send out cards, and all that. We haven't done it for years but then one of my comrades brought it back - making her president.

That's what happens when you want things to happen, you get put in charge. Isn't it lovely?

She even bribed us youngsters with food so we would join.

By youngsters I mean myself and the New Guy.

Everyone else at my branch that's my age has bailed.

But that's another story.

Anyway, so we've been having meetings and they're super fun and also planning a lot of fun stuff. They had a Staff Association picnic at the park - which I missed, though I did text The New Guy to take pictures if they attempted anything athletic.

You've gotta know my people, it would be hilarious. Especially if it were something like volleyball or kickball. Apparently they went with frisbee cause anyone can play that.

Next up is the Holiday Breakfast, where everyone brings food - I know, I'll have to practice beforehand so I don't kill anyone - and there are raffles and all that. After that in the spring we're thinking bowling and wine tasting in the summer.

Should be fun. In the meantime I'm on the cheeseball committee.

Basically we make cheeseballs for the holiday breakfast and then if people want to order any of their own we will supply them.

Remember how I can't cook?

But I was promised there would be wine so I'm there. As long as I don't have to actually cook anything, I think I'm capable of mixing cheese with nuts or whatever it is that goes into cheeseballs - my family makes them all the time but I've never been involved in the process.

Better not mention it to them, then they'd expect me to start making them. Especially since there's usually a large number of people who order them so I'd be a pro by the end of it.

Anyway, I'm excited that Staff Association is back. I bugged Superwoman for years about staff morale and starting something similar. Now I'm just glad I'm not in charge.

Moving on.

Guess what season it is!!

Fall!!

Which means I get both ice hockey and football!

And, I get to see them both in person this upcoming weekend!

That was me all summer, BTW.

For ice hockey our first official game of the season is on Friday and then I'm going with the Cool Aunt to the Husker game on Saturday!

Super excited, we used to go to the Kansas game but since we switched conferences I haven't been to one in person. The away games are so far away now and the home ones sell out in like 10 minutes.

As for ice hockey, we actually hosted two different pre-season games at our ice box, and in both games we've come from behind to win.

Which is good for the team but bad for my heart.

The best thing about the first game was that season ticket holders got to go early and meet the players and tour the locker room so I got them to sign a bunch of stuff. Since the boyfriend was out of town I took Smo and it was awesome. We went through the signing line a couple of times, cause we're awesome like that. I took a ton of pictures and we won IN OVERTIME so it was extra awesome.

Plus Smo got a sweatshirt with a beer koozie and bottle opener in it.



Enough said.

Here are some of my favorite pics:



Up close and personal with the ice, yet far enough away to avoid me falling on my face.



Smo with the zamboni.

College flashback - Professor Hargin-Smith: "What's a zamboni? Pasta?"



Gotta have the suit jackets...



This guy is a stud. Gonna be high scorer all season, I'm calling it now.







Love these guys.



Ludvig for the win!

The second game the boyfriend was also gone so I took the eldest member of P Squared. Both members are huge hockey fans and the eldest is soon moving to Vegas for a job so I figured it'd be good to jam before she officially left us. More reasons to go back to Vegas.

Again we came from behind to win but this time it was in the third period.





I love our section, we are loud and obnoxious. There are two guys who sit behind us and commentate and they're hilarious. Plus the guys around me yell at anyone who stands up during the game - you're supposed to remain seated when the puck is in play so people can see and also so you don't get hit with flying pucks - but since they yell at them it means I don't have to so it's nice.

Next up to scrapbook are some work adventures. I mean actual adventures as I ventured out into the wild.

Literally.

A middle school and a zoo, both are extremely wild places.

First was the middle school. I got to jam with Sam - who needs a nickname, we had like 10 classes together for grad school plus now she works at a branch in my system - at a middle school over their lunch period and talk about books. It was fun.

Of course the girls are all into Fault in Our Stars and other John Green books, and then the boys are more into fantasy like Warriors and such. But there was some crossover. We ended the session with some Harry Potter trivia and my god they were shouting the answers before I could even think of them in my head.

Do you know how many pieces Ron tore up the letter from Percy into?

They did.

It was eight if you were curious.

The next day it was fun at the zoo with Girlscout. The zoo hosted a thing for area school's and lots of businesses (including us) had booths there to promote ourselves and our services. We had stuff for the kids to make bookmarks and it was crazy busy. We're thinking a good 350 kids in under 3 hours.

It was swamped, but lots of fun. Once we got into the rhythm that is. Though for both of us, our favorite part was when a parent came up to us and asked if we worked at the zoo.

We were like no.

And she was like, Oh, well there's a reindeer stuck in a tree.

That's something you don't see very often, however we were informed by a zookeeper - who also happens to be married to another one of our comrades (remember Big Brother?) - that it is shedding it's fur so she gave him branches to help out.

Bummer. We thought he was practicing for Christmas.

Night after that was sister's night out for Oldest Sister's birthday. We took her to the Parthenon. Lots of good food plus a bottle of wine - we were there for a few hours so it was a lot of fun. And I'd post quotes but most of which are inappropriate.

I'll let you ask my nephew yourself how he describes his older sister's music.

Best. Bubby. Line. Ever.

Then, yesterday was the Husker game against Miami.

Another one that was bad for my heart - for the first half at least. While I'm usually very proud of our fans for being nice people and cheering for both teams as they leave the field, I feel like the booing of Miami this time was warranted. There were quite a few scuffles going on during the game, I'm just glad Gregory made it off the field without being injured over something stupid.

And Fear Ameer man, that guy's definitely going pro. I don't know what we'd do without him. And Bell, he was great, but he always is. Too bad Westercamp didn't have any big plays, that guy has been on fire so far this season. I'm bummed Turner is out for the season - he was one of my favorites - but he'll be back next year, hopefully. Armstrong is impressive, you can tell he worked a lot in the off season.

I'll stop, I know you don't care.

On to the music:

Dear Future Husband - Meghan Trainor


Yes I bought her EP the day it came out. This is my second favorite behind All About That Bass. Total throwback style.

Here it is live, she's not bad.



I can't say the same for the cameraman.


It Must Be Love - Christina Grimmie


Totally underrated single. Love it. Not just cause it's her and the Voice comes back tomorrow...

Try Me On - Karmin


Still in love with these guys, even moreso after seeing them live.


And that's all I got.

The boyfriend gets back from the west coast tonight and I get to see him tomorrow, woohoo! Only been gone for like two weeks...and then he's leaving again so I'm taking Queen of the Known Universe to the first hockey game.

Apparently it's gotta be the whole date experience. Food and a t-shirt. Should be fun.

"I would shoulder a twelve-year-old for you. That's love."

Remember how my life motto is: Well, that's something to scrapbook....??

Lots of scrapbook worthy moments will follow in this post, but the first one I could do without. My hands are still shaking.

So I got into libraries cause they were safe.

No stuff to gross me out, no craziness, no life or death situations.

Until today.

With that last one I mean, there's gross stuff and craziness almost every day. That's why we have a security guard.

So, imagine this, if you will, Info-Man and I are on the front desk. Less than an hour left in the day when one of our regulars walks up to the counter.

I look up and something just seems off. His face is sort of sagging on one side and he looked disoriented.

Adding to that he couldn't find his library card, which was apparently right in front of him.

I noticed he was only using one of his arms and on a hunch I Googled (yes all my reference training and I still reach for Google) "symptoms of a stroke". He seemed to have every symptom on the list.

So, me being me, aka hesitant about what we're allowed to do legally, consulted with Info-Man who said I should go tell Superwoman who happened to be working in youth services.

She was of course helping a patron but when I told her it was a patron emergency she came on the run.

I pointed out the symptoms on the screen and then the patron and she went over to talk to him.

He seemed even more disoriented. She called the ambulance, I called the guard, and we all waited for the EMT's to show up.

Longest 10 minutes of my life.

By the time they got there he couldn't even tell them his own name. So I did. Along with the symptoms I noticed and other answers to various questions they had.

They loaded him up on a gurney and drove off to the hospital in the ambulance and that was that.

No idea what happened next. Am hoping he will be okay.

After my dad was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy I started to notice facial stuff like that. Glad we were able to get him an ambulance, can only imagine what would have happened if he left the building.

As mentioned above, could have lived without that one in my life's scrapbook. My hands are still shaking.


So, let's move on before I freak out more about it.

Guess what I found again at the library!



Seriously?



Seriously?

Ridiculous. I'm done looking at ceilings.

And guess what shirt I was wearing!

A blue one with a giant 3 on it.

Which was fitting as it was my third bat.

While this post is delayed that happened the day right after the previous post.

Day after that I was gonna wear a Warehouse 13 shirt but changed my mind and went with a musical festival one instead.

Figured it was safer. Didn't want any magical artifacts showing up at the library.

Seriously should go out and buy a shirt with a bag of money on it.

And now, not only am I "Batgirl" as one of the guards has so lovingly dubbed me, but also I play exterminator to damsels in distress, aka Queen of the Known Universe.

I was upstairs when I got this panic call about a big bug in youth services. She traded me desks while I went to squash it. The call was my fault technically. Earlier this week she had another big bug encounter. She got a supervisor thinking she would squash it but instead she just shooed it and then they couldn't find it. I was enlisted to help search. When it wasn't located I said if she saw it to call me and I would squish it. I'm assuming that led to this call so it was my fault.


In other news the boyfriend and I hit up the last roller derby match at Pershing. It was also the last event at Pershing before it is decommissioned so it was packed. We sat trackside cause how could you not for the last one, really?

The Road Warriors (aka the B team) dominated, but the Mad Maxines (A team) lost in the final minutes. It was a heartbreaker, but it was still a great game. Missing Flash Gloria for sure but Annamaniac and Slam Anderson are pretty good too.

We sat right next to the merchandise table so of course I had to buy some shirts. Especially since they were on sale. You can never have too many derby shirts.

Plus I bought ducks from Kelly Ripa-Nipalov which was delightful. Don't worry, they were rubber. At halftime they put buckets in the middle of the track and you have to try to throw them in one to win prizes.

Ripa is my favorite. The first bout I ever went to she decked a chick at the whistle and then took off skating. Since the refs didn't see it they didn't call it, it was fantastic.

She's my only favorite that's left that is.

It used to be Busty St. Claire then she left.

Then Princess Lay-ya-Flat then she left.

Then Anna-Wrecks-It then she left.

Then Lt. Slamher then she left.

Then Flash Gloria then she left. To play for Omaha. The rival squad.

I'm shutting up before I rant for an entire post.

Anyway, here are a few pictures from the bout.







As mentioned we sat trackside. Since it was the last event at Pershing they brought back a bunch of the alumni skaters who happened to sit in front of us.

Best part of the whole derby was them screaming "I hope your wheel falls off!" at the other team's jammer.

Like I said, sad we lost, but it was a great couple of games.


The boyfriend and also went to see Karmin at the State Fair. They were excellent, played all my favorite songs. We went out to meet them afterward but were surrounded by tiny children and screaming teenage girls.

Quote of the day was: "I will shoulder a 12-year-old for you. That's love."

Thanks babe.

We decided we no longer want to have children after that experience. I should rephrase, we decided we no longer want to have children that grow up to be teenage girls after that experience.

Low maintenance boys would be okay.

But since there's no guarantee it will be a low maintenance boy we're just going to hold off for a while.

Until our mothers push us to the breaking point that is. According to his mother we're supposed to have three. According to mine she'll be happy if I have one. Actually I think she'll just be happy if I get married to begin with.

Anyway, here are some pictures from the concert.









Fabulous. Nebraska pride. So proud, for serious.


What else? Oh yeah, finally did the Ice Bucket Challenge. After being challenged 3 times. First was Smo, then Oldest Sister, then Abby-Cadabra my niece. Thanks for that, by the way.

In return I nominated Liz - a friend from the library - Anna - aka Chief my best friend from grade school - and SuperHumann - a teacher from my high school.

Was smart enough not to challenge Sketch - she'd drive all the way out here just to smack me - or the boyfriend who would also not be a fan.

The video is on Facebook if you want to see it.


Been spending a lot of time with my sisters the past week. Went out for sushi and all that.



Tada! Isn't it pretty?

Not according to Queen of the Known Universe.

But we had fun. Basically closed the place down the one night.

The boyfriend and I have been playing a lot of retro MarioKart lately. By retro I mean N64. Which I like better than the Wii version, but that's just me.

I used to play it with my cousins all the time. I'm always Toad. I like Toad. Liz was always Peach, Jake was Yoshi, I think Justin was Mario.

The boyfriend is always Luigi.

Or "weejee" as myself and my family calls him. I have no idea why he picks him, but he does.

I was pretty proud cause I beat him a few times in both battles and races.



Documented proof.


I'm so excited hockey season is coming up. Before the first pre-season hockey game season ticket holders get to tour the locker room and meet the players - I'm stoked! But the boyfriend will be out of town so I'm taking Smo. He'll also be gone for the first actual season game so I'm taking Queen of the Known Universe.

She says if she goes it's gotta be the whole date experience. Dinner and a t-shirt from the gift shop.

Reminds me of when we went to Info-Man's play. That was date night at well with dinner and driving all the way across town to make it in time.

PS - the woman drives like a man woman.

I was reminded of that when we went to a funeral this week for a coworker's father.

Not a fun way to start the day but I was glad I went in support.


Scale of Awesome's for you:

Noah


Okay, I knew I shouldn't have watched this because I had heard about the rock monsters and all that, but I was bored and needed something on in the background when I took a nap.

I was so mad that I couldn't sleep.

It lasted a whole 30 seconds before it was wrong.

And then it just got worse.

The destruction of the world by water is dramatic enough, did you really have to add in rock monsters?

Seriously?

I was so frustrated by the end of it (full of more lies than just the stupid rock monsters, btw) that I still couldn't sleep so I put on some Blacklist to calm me down.

I'm giving it a -10/10.

That's Rushmore and Mummy 3 level which is saying something.

Divergent


The boyfriend and I caved and finally watched it. Scale of Awesome says 7/10. It was alright, but predictable. I'm sure the book is better. However it didn't give me enough motivation to read the books so that will remain just a guess.

On to the music:

Gotta go with Karmin of course. Here are my favorites...

Look At Me Now


the song that started it all. 92 million views and counting.

Brokenhearted


years later and it's still my favorite song.

Acapella


love it. and its acoustic version...also on youtube if you're interested.

There are more but I don't want to overload you.

But I'm excited, I have officially seen 3 of my top 5 favorite bands.

Maroon 5, She & Him and now Karmin.

Now just missing Lily Allen - who is touring the US btw, awesomeness, want to go so bad - and Eminem who is also touring with Rihanna at the moment.

Monster Tour. They did the Ice Bucket challenge, it was hilarious.

Anyway, back to Karmin. I loved it, it was epic and awesome. Nebraska Pride man.

And that's all I got.

Wow, a lot for just two weeks. Should really go back to posting more. At least once a week to keep my ramblings manageable. Maybe I'll attempt for "My Life Mondays" or something.

puck...puck...puck...i should probably move...yep, good plan.

Souvenir for a lucky fan.



Only stung for a second, though now I have a nice red mark on my side. Luckily I was wearing a lot of layers.

The lady in front of me ducked to save her beer.

Priorities.

And the boyfriend didn't even do anything to defend me, geez. Just leaned away. I'm feeling the love.

That pretty much sums up my week. Birthday included.

I spent it sick on the couch.

I'll get there. Let's start with Valentine's Day.

So I'm at the home branch, and the boyfriend is playing it totally cool. It's Valentine's Day, okay whatever. So I was all, okay whatever, and then suddenly he shows up with flowers.



Totally had me fooled.

Hockey game that night - we lost (and we lost tonight too, I'm starting to think this jersey is bad luck). But Brandon Bollig was there to drop the puck.



He's kind of a big deal now to Lincoln since he's the first Stars player to win the Stanley Cup.

We were laughing because the chicks next to us - who also have season tickets - were all decked out, like the works with makeup plus the Blackhawks jersey and they were all excited to get their picture taken with him.

Okay, so that was Valentine's Day, lots of fun, minus the loss to rival team. Then I went home for the holiday weekend and I started feeling sick Monday - it's been going around work for a couple weeks now.

I texted Queen of the Known Universe asking what her first symptoms were and went, crap cause they matched.

She told me to hit the road before it got worse so I headed back.

I already had Tuesday morning off so I could go get my license renewed but when I woke up Tuesday morning I was legit miserable.

Headache, fever, sore throat, achy, exhausted, all that. BUT I had to get it renewed or I won't be able to go to Vegas.

So I'm like sitting there in a ball in the corner and the lady behind the counter was like...are you okay?

No. But I'll survive.

So I got in removed and that was the last time I left my apartment before this morning (Friday).

Then Wednesday was my birthday so I'm like, I have to do something. This sucks. So I watched the original Star Wars trilogy on Blu Ray. With commentary. I love Carrie Fisher.

I was gonna start from number one but then I remembered I hate number three so I just went with the originals.

Yes, I'm a big fat nerd, get used to it.

But that's all the energy I had. It was that and the Olympics. Go USA. Been watching a lot of hockey, sad day that both our teams lost to Canada.

Thursday I was a little better but I was already scheduled to be off so I spent that day on the couch too.

Somehow, I was gone a week but only took 2 days of vacation. Just worked out that way with the holiday and then the day off.

Today was my first day back in a week and, since I obviously didn't finish the prep for my booktalk, Queen of the Known Universe covered for me and gave one of her own.

Felt she owed it to me since she was the one that probably got me sick anyway.

Take that.

Weight off my shoulders, for serious.

I did also miss out on the Strategic Plan meeting which I was told was "epic". Though "epic" to a group of librarians is probably something else entirely to outsiders.

Again, big fat nerds. Get used to it.

And speaking of big fat nerds, I got my diploma today.

Now I just need a frame so I can hang it up and look all important.

According to Second Sister it makes me kind of a big deal.

Again, big fat nerds. Get used to it.

And that's all I got. On to the music.

Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot


i first heard this on the blacklist - yes, i know, big fat nerd - and it was a lot more dark but i love it.

Acapella - Karmin & Mike Tompkins


0:34....and you thought i couldn't find another version to post. nebraska pride. i know, the obsession never ends. but check this out, it's epic.

that's Mike Tompkins, everything he does is all him acapella. I've posted his stuff a lot on here, but if you haven't seen anything else by him watch this:

Harder Better Faster Stronger cover


it is also epic. possibly moreso.

though this one is also catchy.

Trouble/As Long As You Love Me


he's on tour with Karmin and the Jonas Brothers. I'd go see them...if it weren't for the Jonas Brothers.

The human torch was denied a bank loan.

I love my boyfriend in the mornings.

I'm going to work. 

Okay. 

You want to keep sleeping?

Okay. 

Can you bring me my keys at work?

Okay. 

I laid you out a towel and toothbrush. 

Okay. Thank you honey. 

And then he was gone.

Though he did get up to lock the door after I left.

Cause he's sweet like that.

It's funny though cause he makes fun of me for not being a morning person.

I feel bad making him live normal people hours on the weekends - though this one was his choice - because then he has to go into work on Sunday nights.

I met the other side of his family last night, his cousin owns a bar and all the other cousins got together and brought food and did a potluck sort of thing at the bar.

I was all like nervous the entire day at work. Pretty sure BossLady and Queen of the Known Universe - aka my Work Mom - were making fun of me cause I was all paranoid about meeting them.

But it was good, it actually went really well. They were really laid back and I actually knew a couple of them from camp cause their kid goes.

And his brother and sister-in-law were there so we jammed with them and actually went out with them afterward.

Made for a late night so he stayed over and slept all day when I was at work.

Came home, brought him supper, we watched Anchorman and then he headed back to go to work.



I own it but haven't seen it since high school. Scale of Awesome says 7/10. The second one looks funny, have you seen the cast list? Go here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1229340/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast serious amounts of cameos in this one.


My cat is currently going psycho and I have no idea what's going on. Like he keeps running back and forth in front of me and making strange noises.

I can't tell if he's chasing a bug or having a panic attack.

Can cats have panic attacks?

Is that normal behavior? I mean, he does it all the time, but do normal cats do that or is it just mine?

Should I get him a shrink?

Do they have shrinks for cats?

They had one for a dog on Castle.

Maybe I should look into that.


Anyway, those were the real highlights from this weekend aside from working with an awesome crew and then tonight's 2 hour conversation with Sketch.

I had this flashback to college cause I swear like 98% of tonight's conversation was about boyfriends. Anyway, in college freshman year I was on the way back to the dorms with Sketch and Schwartz and Lindz and we were talking about guys and I was like, "Remember earlier when we didn't talk about guys. Let's go back to that." *silence* "What did we used to talk about?" *more silence*

Was good to catch up.

And now I'm off to bed.

My goal is to get up before noon and then do homework all day.

Wish me luck.

On to the music:

It's official, there's a video!

Acapella - Karmin


yes i've posted this song like 5 times in three weeks, but it's official cause the video is now out!

and is awesome.

the toast thing amuses me.

okay, i promise not to post the song again for another month.

how's that?

here are the real songs of the day.

both from soundtracks and both for no reason whatsoever, just got into my head and wouldn't leave.






i was going nuts.



here's another soundtrack for you:



"that's not a good start but, keep going."

out.

"I boss with her golf."

"Wait."

I miss the Library Goddess.

It's been so weird not seeing her almost every other week.

We met up for supper with the new GA - another one of my fun classmates.

It's semi-depressing because by the time you finally get close to your classmates you're done with the program.

But I guess that goes with the whole half online thing and then half only meet once a month thing.

The meeting was fun.

We did more joking around than business as usual.

I've learned not to argue when the check comes. Though it was highly entertaining because we all ordered these burgers and they were MASSIVE but I'm pretty sure we all ate like 10 bites total.

But that's okay, more leftovers for me.

I told Superwoman I was going to dinner with the LG and asked if there was anything I should pass on - cause they're friends and they fight about who's boss #1 and who's boss #2 - and she said, "nah, we'll talk about you tomorrow at golf."

Not cool.

Oh, and apparently she'll always be my boss, even if she has a new GA.

We've already had that conversation.


Glad to end the night on a high note as the preceding part of the day was crazy.

Lost my datebook - but it was in the car. I seriously need to duct tape that in my pocket or get a tool belt or something.

Was on the front desk the first 2 hours and I think I got like 2 minutes of peace the entire 2 hours.

Which is good, I'd rather be busy than bored.

Chicken sandwich for lunch. Apparently they're doing specials every day now instead of Thursdays. Which is good for when I only get half an hour to eat.

More busyness in the afternoon but it did slow down the last hour so that I could update my TAB stuff and come up with a semi-plan for my weekend schedule.

The semi-part included marking down the weekends that I know I can't work and then planning to talk to my boyfriend about the rest.

Easier that way and I always feel bad when I ask to switch with people.

Though it's hard to know your schedule 5 months in advance.

Especially this fall with the whole practicum thing.

I'm thinking instead of working every Saturday from mid-August to December 1st that I could work every other Saturday and then I'll just use 8 hours of vacation every other week.

There's no way I can keep whatever sanity I have left if I work every weekend for months and months.

"She's got it made, Marian!"

Sorry, more Wipeout.

Another way to keep my sanity in place.

But now I'm zonked. Another long day tomorrow so I'm off to bed.

Oh PS - Karmin's new single has officially been released on iTunes so you should now all go and buy it.



Why yes, I am aware that this is the third time I've posted it in like 3 weeks, but that's only cause it's that good.

More sanity.


and i'm out.

Thought he was gluten-free but all that I got was bread.

Kind of a rough day.

Getting only four hours of sleep didn't help things.

Add to that the fact that I felt like crap so I was pretty much a walking zombie.

Superwoman kept trying to send me home.

I would have called in sick but I had a volunteer coming in for training in the morning and I didn't want to dump that on some poor unsuspecting soul.

And then I realized that the Book Board Game event is TOMORROW and full on panic set in.

Similar to Library Golf but not as extreme.

As that was kind of an extreme event.

This is more laid back.

And I'm thinking like 10 people will attend, which is fine by me.

I almost finished my example today.

By "almost" I mean my comrade and I had fun coming up with game spaces for Harry Potter and finding online pictures to cut out and use as game pieces.

And then an hour and a half later the board was completed.

Now I have to do the currency and cards.

Though instead of chance and community chest I'm going with:
Portkey - cause you're going to be moving either forward or backward depending on if you set a python loose on your cousin or you won the house cup,
and then Spells and Potions - which can lead to you loaning money to the person next to you while being under the imperious curse or getting money for saving your friends because of your clever use of gillyweed.

etc. etc.

It's Harry Potter-based if you couldn't figure that out by yourselves.

I'm having far too much fun with this assignment.

Which makes up for the current assignment I'm taking a break from.

Ugh.

I hate takehome tests.

Especially when they're not actually tests but more like 3 term papers combined into one that's due Friday.

Ugh.

I have two of the three done, now all that's left is the first one. Which should be the easiest but seems to be the hardest.

As is true for most grad school assignments for the perfectionists out there.

But I have to do them tonight because tomorrow is the 3rd and then it's the 4th and those days will involve traveling and fireworks and therefore no homework will be done.

And I don't want to put it all off until Friday night - even though it isn't due until midnight.

Cause that would be irresponsible librarianship.

Or so I'm told.

Is that even a word?

I'm making it one.


Anyway, sadly the homework and board game weren't the most stressful part of today, it was actually that whole future thing that I avoid.

Juwanna and I use to refer to it as the "f" word cause I hated thinking about it.

However, today I was confronted with it as I talked with Superwoman.

Basically the thing is that I work 40 hours a week.

And in the fall I need to do a 90 hour practicum.

At a location that's open the same time as the library I work at and is closed on the weekends.

So I'll have to use vacation time to do my practicum.

90 hours of it.

Which I do not have when you combine it with things like camp - which I will never ever give up, you'll have to pry that from my cold dead hands - and then comprehensive exams which I will also be taking in the fall.

Which again are NOT TESTS, they're papers! 4 of them, basically dissertations and I have a week to finish them.

So why they call them exams I will never know.

Okay, technically it does evaluate your knowledge of the subject, but still!

They should just rename it "the week from hell" as my classmates so lovingly refer to it.

And from now on I'm sure I will too.


Anyway, I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to do the practicum on Tuesdays and Thursday afternoons and make up for the missing 8 hours every week from mid-August through December 1st.

And I really don't want to be stuck working every Saturday to make up for it.

A girl needs her sanity where she can get it and being tied to a desk is not one of such places.


Anyway, the stress from all that made me overreact to stupid stuff and now I'm all headspace.

Which makes writing these papers even more difficult.

I'm thinking about quitting for the night and finishing question number one on Friday night.

Give me some time to think and confer with people about ideas.

Cause I'm stuck.

Yeah, let's go with that.



Alright, music and I'm out.

Let's do the fork in the garbage disposal!


sorry, i needed that.

on to the real music:

Acapella - Karmin (acoustic version)


yes, i know i posted the lyric video already, go here: You and me are through though, watch me hit it solo, I'mma do it acapella. but i really like the acoustic too.

looking forward to the real video that I assume will come out soon since the song is gonna be released end of this week.

huzzah for awesome nebraskans.

legitimate pre-midnight post, holy crap tag in use.

You and me are through though, watch me hit it solo, I'mma do it acapella.

Ah the joys of a busy Saturday.

Actually the day flew by fairly quickly.

Had a super busy morning in the lab, lunch from Amigos, afternoon checking in in the backroom and even though our system was wonky I got through 6 carts and then headed back out to the desk.

After work was the real fun.

My original plans fell through for the night so that meant it was College World Series time!

Missed the opening game cause I had to work so I recorded it.

Mom has picked her team - Oregon State - who lost but they're still in it.

The Wordsmith has also picked his teams - he always goes with North Carolina so I didn't really have to ask, however with him he and I always pick backups.

Mine is Indiana, his is Louisville.

Meaning my backup just kicked his backup's ass.

2-0 final score.

Take that!

I figured, Big Ten, plus Omaha has officially adopted them - we always go for the underdog, Cal State, Stony Brook, etc. etc.

Tomorrow LSU plays - my main team - so we'll see how well they can dominate UCLA.

Who I also like but couldn't pick as my backup since they play each other in the first round.

Anyway, tonight was good.

Relaxing.

Love the College World Series.

And I did more work on camp stuff - so I don't feel guilty for taking a night off to watch baseball.

And my homework is done for the week.

Sent me a confirmation email in the middle of the night last night saying he got my paper.

Scared the crap out of me - you never want to get an email in the middle of the night from your instructor titled "Assignment #1" cause it makes you paranoid that something went wrong.

Apparently someone asked if he would send out confirmation emails so that explains it.

But I'm enjoying this weekend cause discussion boards don't resume until Monday and the next major assignment isn't due until the 24th.

Alright, I was supposed to be sleeping like 4 hours ago so I'm gonna crash and burn.

Here's some music for you.

My new favorite song.

Acapella - Karmin


All the harmony went fallin' out of key so now you gotta find another.

very cool lyric video...the real one comes out after the song is released - on the 25th! - so i'll post that one later.


and if you're not a fan of Karmin - though who isn't really, they're fantastic and from Nebraska so how can you beat that - go with this classic:


another Song You Know But Forgot You Knew It

Let Your Love Flow - Bellamy Brothers


that crowd has no enthusiasm whatsoever.

"The first thing you can expect is a punch in the face so you're lucky I just screamed."

Title was from an aide to another aide - quote of the day.

So I found out today that my mother is more stubborn than me.

If humanly possible.

She sent me a recipe in the mail with my Valentine's Day card, then today when she came to work (to pick up her book on CD cause she uses me for my library card) she brings along a bag of ingredients for said recipe.

Cause she knows I'm stubborn and won't do it.

Told me I'm supposed to make it for the boyfriend for Valentine's Day to which I laughed cause I can't cook.

Which you know if you've read this long enough. I burn everything.

But my apartment is still standing so even if it's scorched I call it a victory.

Tonight I made spaghetti, only burning myself once.

Another victory.

So a new recipe will probably kill me.

I'll see what he thinks about it and go from there.

We still don't have plans, aside from not going out cause it's like a madhouse everywhere.

Probably stay in, make something and watch Almost Famous.

But Mom got her book on CD and I got to see my music mentor since she was with mom. Was good to see her back in action. Camp is coming up fast!

They brought cookies.

Pretty sure mom is determined to be the favorite.

Even if she's not trying I'm pretty sure she is.

Every time she comes in she brings food so that makes her the clear winner.

There was food everywhere today because of various celebrations. But TPD had stuff, we had cookies, reference had stuff, even third had snacks.

Though they always have snacks, I work on the wrong floor.

I'm exhausted. Today was super long. Ended with a TAB meeting, lots of debates going on. Well, more rambling than debating but they're good kids so we have fun.

I don't know, just something about today's I was just zonked by the time I got back downstairs. But I sent out the meeting minutes before closing which means tomorrow is just Volgistics and follow-up.

We voted on Summer Reading Events. Superwoman is okay with us having three cause the other branches get three - small victory but I'm taking it, though it won't feel small when it comes around - so we voted but as some of the regulars couldn't make it to the meeting I've sent the options to them and will wait to hear back until I make any final decisions.

Library Golf is one for sure.

The second is looking like decorating jars - drawing on super thin paper and taping it around then adding a light so it lights up like a paper lantern. Or putting stickers on it, painting over them and pulling them off to reveal the design underneath.

Fitting for the "Beneath the Surface" theme, though Cabin Fever basically said "screw the theme" and since she's in charge I'm going with it. Saves me from finding a way to make library golf to fit.

The third one is up for debate but I'll keep you posted.

After that I came home to homework. Originally the boyfriend was going to come up but his work schedule is messing with his head. Ironic that he's working days and having trouble whereas nights he's fine. But I guess you get used to that. I think he just doesn't like putting up with managers. Cause they're not around on 3rd shift.

So I did Internet Reference homework instead. Not due 'til Friday but tomorrow I'm interviewing a librarian over the phone for Diversity, then Thursday is Valentine's and then it'll be Friday so it's good to get it out of the way.

I started at 9 and just finished.

And now I just feel like blah meaning I need to post music and go to sleep immediately if there's any hope for tomorrow being better.

I Love It - Icona Pop

They're Swedish.

I absolutely love this song and have had it on repeat in my headphones for literally over an hour. I've been working on this freakin' assignment since 9PM. Meaning 3 hours on the same paper, staring at the same screen, searching the same things over and over and over and all I can think of are the lyrics to this song.

Fitting.

Here, mellow out.

King of Wishful Thinking - Karmin

Their cover album makes me love them even more. Before the fame.

OUT!

"Weird to meet you." "Likewise."

When it comes to popsicles stick with what you know.

Don't try to be adventurous cause it will backfire.

I eat a lot of popsicles.

More than most normal human beings, like 3 or 4 times a week.

Just nightly ritual or habit or whatever. I don't know, but I fly through boxes.

Anyway, I usually stick with this same brand that's got grape and cherry and orange and orange used to be my favorite but now I'm kinda liking the cherry - surprisingly cause I always used to hate cherry, it was too sweet - anyway, I saw this other box that had like pineapple and other fruit stuff as flavoring and I like pineapple and other fruit stuff so I figured I'd try it?

Epic fail.

So, 2012 was a big year. Many memories were made though I do have to say and yes I will be sappy romantic girl for the next few minutes so you can skim this section if you'd like - would be getting back together with the boyfriend one year ago today.

I went out to his place cause Mondays are the worst for him.

Yes, I'm aware it's Wednesday but it's Monday to him because of the holidays and vacation and he had to switch from normal people hours to third shift hours. So he slept, well, attempted to sleep all day but woke up at seven to meet me at the movies.

We saw Jack Reacher and holy crap, I totally underestimated it. Scale of Awesome puts it at around 9/10. Tom Cruise was fantastic, I know, shocking. We're hoping there will be a sequel.



Awesome action scenes with just enough comedy - like the hat thing - to make you laugh but not like it's trying too hard.

I should probably mention that I lost my voice today. I don't feel sick, I have a runny nose, but the voice is just gone. It's bad. Should have called Juwanna and sang some Amazing Grace as is our tradition.

I did tell him he didn't have to kiss me on our anniversary but he braved it anyway. Though when a girl phrases it like that and the boyfriend agrees he's gonna catch hell the next morning.

Similar to how we say we're fine.

We're not.


Alright, as promised you'll get a week of my favorites from 2012. Let's start with some big ones.


Brokenhearted - Karmin



after some promotions from Ellen and a lot of video viewings on youtube they hit it big. gotta take pride in the fact they're from nebraska. don't have a lot of those.

Everybody Talks - Neon Trees


so stoked to see these guys in March!! the boyfriend spoils me.

Call Me, Maybe - Carly Rae Jepson


no matter where you go you can't escape this song. it's just too dang catchy.

alright i'm out!

what a bright time, it's the right time

It's interesting how fast days are flying by.

I just want everything to stop, literally just stop and go slower.

Christmas is the best time of the year and it's almost over already!!

Last year didn't feel like Christmas at all cause there was no snow, this year it's mad snowing outside right now. If the temps stay low maybe some of it will still be around next week.

But probably not enough to go sledding.

We'll see.

Though we're rednecks so our version of sledding is hooking up a sled behind a four wheeler.

Or what you would call an ATV.

Then driving it all over the yard, through the fields, over the pond, over buried cars, etc.

Have some interesting memories from sledding. Remember one time Tweet was driving the 4 wheeler and Alex and I were in the sled, he was in the front, we hit a bump, he fell out - somehow over the front - and I ran him over with the sled. My bad. But not like I could do anything about it we were going that fast.

Another time my brother was driving and he used to have this big black lab that was very excited about cars and stuff so he totally took me out on the sled, didn't even see it coming.

Then I ran Megan into a mailbox.

That was legitimately my bad.

The thing about this one was that the rope was really long and you have to remember that when you turn corners. Gotta remember to turn wide or you'll end up running your third cousin straight into the mailbox.

But she survived so we're good.

Megan and I have been through a lot together - "those are gonna be some weirdass dreams" Camp J Highlights - but somehow our adventures are always highly entertaining.

So worked all day today and it flew by. Am shifting the books on CD cause we're out of space and weeding any more of them would be ridiculous. Anyway, BossLady and I are adding shelves so I got to stand in the broken glass while she climbed over stuff to get the nice looking ones from the backroom of the basement.

It's like a graveyard down there, I should have taken a picture. Piles taller than me full of shelves and edges.

"Like graveyard jenga down here."

Why yes, I do still say that in a Scottish accent. Go here or here or here or here or here but mostly here

Wow, have I really abstained from that saying that phrase for over a year?

"Result!"

I realized you have no idea what I'm talking about. You should all go to your local library and request a copy of Bonekickers. It's fantastic. British CSI meets Indiana Jones. It was so cheesy it was awesome. Though the critics didn't think so which is why it only lasted a few episodes.

After doing that for a few hours it was back to the desk, lunch, checking in holds, then more shifting and desk stuff. Tomorrow will most likely be more of the same.

Christmas Music that Doesn't Suck: Day Six

Slight changes to day six, last year I included Glee's mashup of Deck the Halls and Up on the Rooftop and as much as it doesn't suck I can't post it again as it would kill the whole, same songs different artists thing.

On to the music.

Sleigh Ride - Karmin


Last year's was one of my favorite bands - She and Him - but this year I went with a Nebraska girl. More specifically, college town girl. A quite famous one.

Nice to hear the other half of Karmin in this one - aka her fiance.

I like the new one but it's hard to beat Brokenhearted.

It's just too damn catchy.


Jingle Bell Rock - Chord Overstreet


Because who doesn't want to dance with cheerleaders dressed as reindeer to a choreographed song about dancing bells in the middle of a library?

I'm so far behind but Glee-Loving Boss - for the 2 seconds that I saw him when I was at the home branch - said I need to watch the Xmas episode. I don't even know who's in it anymore aside from Blaine cause of the Hopelessly Devoted to You video I ran across earlier. Go here: There's no where to hide since you pushed my love aside


You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch - VersaEmerge (acoustic version)


The girl is pretty good but dude, that guy's got a voice.

Was not expecting that at all. Might have to look into them further.


For last year's day six go here


with arsenic sauce.

Legitimate pre-midnight post. Holy crap tag in use.

lovin' you is fun

Another night spent with the boyfriend means I'm cramming for homework but I don't care, he's worth it, and I'll get it done. It's not due 'til Friday and I've got tomorrow night and I mean all night since the only thing I have on Friday is a dentist appointment at 11AM.

And of course I haven't been flossing even though I should have been but I'm lazy and I don't like to floss.

It's just weird.

And I'm building a website - I'll turn on my inner nerd and get it done.

I'm an information professional, I got this.

I said proudly yet knowing I'll be flailing - much like today.

Okay, so I'm the volunteer coordinator at our branch and as of last week I had like 7 volunteers total.

I got 2 applications earlier this week, then this morning I had 3 patrons in a row come up and talk to me about it. So that makes what like 12?

Head math on the fly.

So I was like, okay, I'll find stuff for them to do.

Then I get back from lunch and they hand me 2 more applications that came in while I was gone.

For an hour, I was gone for an hour and 2 more came in.

AND THEN!!!

I'm up on second floor when I get a phone call from yet another chick asking about volunteer hours and I'm like AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

I don't have enough stuff for all these people to do.

My regulars shelve.

That's good, I love that they can shelve and they're self-sufficient.

The thing about new people is that there's a whole training process and you have to have time to train them and then things for them to do.

I do not have that much stuff so I had to reject the 2 that came in over lunch and the 1 on the phone this afternoon because seriously? 5 in one week?

When I had 7 total?

What's in the water around here, seriously?

Anyway, they all seem competent enough that I won't have to worry about them, but finding things for them to do is kind of a challenge. Because my regulars are so good at what they do they don't really need backups. So I'm basically flailing for ideas. Some of which I've gotten from coworkers throughout the day, which I'm grateful for. Others of which I picked up from literally walking all over the building with a piece of paper and a pencil just writing down any possibility.

There's a lot of cleaning-related stuff that needs to be done.

Which is good, and some inputting data stuff, with some sorting of periodicals, aaaannnndddd now I'm blanking.

But I have a list.

Which is my lifeline.

Which is actually true for a lot of lists as of lately.

Anyway, 2 of them new 3 are coming in to train tomorrow, so list in hand I'll hopefully be able to get through it.

This is of course after our morning staff meeting to which I'm bringing my kickin' iPad cause it's all about ebooks.

Well, a portion of the meeting will be about ebooks, I'm hoping the rest would be as severely depressing as our last staff meeting.

But that's in the past.

I think we're good now.

And if not I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

Anyway, where was I going with this again?

Oh right, flail-age.

Right now I'm going to post this and then work on that website until I fall asleep.

Then tomorrow I'll have work and then come home immediately to finish the thing and get it posted by 10AM Friday morning.

Maybe if I'm up super late I can post-pone the dentist appointment even longer.

I just have a bad track record with dentists. I pass out in their offices and wake up in their arms, they mistake me for my brother's wife which is super awkward, I get high on nitrous just so they can fill 4 cavities, etc.

I'm not looking forward to yet another appointment.

But whatever, post this, website next, sleep eventually, then work, then more website and discussion boards, then hopefully sleep at a reasonable hour though I'm guessing not, then the poking and prodding of sterilized equipment and finally after that is an afternoon off.

On which I will probably make up for all the missed sleep.

But, the faster I get started now, the more I'll get done - or so I say - so moving on.

Aaannd, in honor of her Rolling Stone cover - they said it was the first Nebraskan but actually there have been more. James Valentine being one.

Brokenhearted - Karmin
it's almost too catchy.

almost.

amusing that she's from my college town.

but you wouldn't know it cause of all the "cheerio"s.

Lovin' You Is Fun - Easton Corbin
this is actual country. as in not rock/pop country, actual real genuine george strait country.

dig it.

OUT!

and yes, i'm adding a "flail" tag. i feel it will get much usage. especially if i go back to old posts and add it in where necessary.

so let's get up, let's get on it, don't you leave me brokenhearted tonight

It feels like a Tuesday.

But it's Friday.

This whole holiday in the middle of the week thing totally threw me off. Like today is Friday the 6th. I kept thinking today was like the 7th. And a Tuesday.

So I should be excited cause I have the weekend off. But it just feels weird. Not that I'm complaining, I'll take it!

Camp meeting tomorrow, gonna sleep in before that. After that, depending on how long it goes, I'll probably come back and watch some Swamp People or whatever Dad has lined up for me to watch. Cause there's always a lineup of stuff that I've missed.

The swollen arm has gone down slightly. More Benadryl and some ice should make it go away completely. Better than going to the doctor. I'm not really a fan of going to the doctor. Not that I have anything against them, my sister is one, there's just something about the office that makes me nervous.

Same with dentists.

Moreso than before, just cause of the cavities thing.

On the phone with Sketch. Keep falling asleep, gotta stay awake long enough to post this and talk to her for a while, but I'm blocked and distracted so she says to write about the heat.
(! imagine this symbol upside down)Hace Calor!

So it's hot.

Crazy hot.

And it needs to go away. A little concerned about Camp J, if it's this hot now what's it gonna be in the end of July? The boyfriend says everything is starting early so maybe it will have cooled off by then. Possible winter in early October, that would bite the big one.

Was fairly successful today, found a chick her book after searching over 20 minutes.

Wow, definitely on Benadryl and glad I proofread, that's what I did, but what I ended up typing was "I helped find a dude some money". No idea where that came form.

From.

Cane from.

that's it, i'm going to ebd!

bED!

ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

"Brokenhearted" Karmin

her singing style reminds me of someone else's. kelly clarkson perhaps? lyrics and melody.


minus the cheerios.



out!

think this is the least amount of tags i've ever had, granted i've talked about nothing of substance. but i'm still out! more and better tomorrow!