"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.

My librarian's spicy under-layer.

Damnit, I don't wanna cheer for Omaha!

I was informed today by Alicia Teaze - aka one of the managers of the awesomeness that is the No Coast Derby Girls who also happens to be a librarian at the university - that my favorite (well, everyone's favorite) skater Flash Gloria has transferred.

Not only did she transfer, but she transferred to the enemy.

Damnit.

All my favorite jammers leave...

First there was Busty St. Claire - she opened a flower shop.

Then it was Lt. Slamher - she went overseas for the army.

But I knew I could always rely on Flash because she was MVP every year and we were dominating so why would she ever leave?

Our record is like 59-17 for gods sake, WHY WOULD YOU LEAVE?!

It's giving me physical pain.

Damnit, I don't wanna cheer for Omaha!

I know this may seem over-dramatic to you, but it's really not. If you knew how big of a fan I am you'd understand.

Is it weird that my favorite sports are roller derby and ice hockey?

When did that happen?

I mean, I'm head over heels for Husker football, that's always been there and always will be, but when did roller derby and ice hockey beat out basketball and baseball?

And then the only sports I play anymore are softball and golf.

Though golf isn't really a sport and technically I only do it like twice a year so it doesn't count.

We're well-inebriated for most of it anyway.

Where was I?

So yeah, Flash is leaving. Left already, actually. There's a bout tonight but I couldn't stomach going.

Totally bummed out.

Damnit, I don't wanna cheer for Omaha!

Okay, distract me. What else was I gonna ramble about?

Oh, inservice!

Every year all of the libraries in our system shut down for a day and we have a staff training day we call Inservice.

This year's was at the hospital - which meant I got to jam out with Juwanna afterward, woohoo!

It was alright, not my favorite, but it had its moments.

Here are a few of my favorites:

"I know about your librarian's spicy under-layer....let your freak flag fly."

"Never underestimate the power of a slightly inappropriate book...Captain Underpants is my gateway drug."

"Think about how much time you spend managing your boobs." *all of the men's mouths drop after viewing a particular slide*

"Do anything to combat that stress?"
"I'm drinking more....running, drinking, not at the same time..."

"Banning? This happens at the library?!" *room erupts....no our patrons are all perfect angels*

Oh and we also learned that if you vary your clapping speed it makes it sound like there's more people in the audience. Apparently a tip our director picked up after attending many of her late husband's gigs.

Our table had fun. Basically the same group as last year. I sat between the Queen of Awesome and the Queen of the Known Universe.

Talk about feeling inadequate...they're queens and i'm like...not.

This year's focus was all about health and wellness - hence the hospital location. We talked about physical and a little bit of mental stuff and how our health affects how we deal with patrons so we should always be at our best, etc. etc.

A bunch of us went out for Mexican at lunch. Had a big table. We counted the vegetables so we didn't feel so bad about that whole day of health awareness thing. Does cactus count as a vegetable? What is cactus anyway?

After all the lectures and our director's speech I met up with Juwanna in the entryway - introduced her to a couple of the essentials, Queen of the Known Universe and Superwoman. They wanted all the dirt, but she's smarter than that cause I have dirt too.

Was cool to catch up, we're gonna have a girls night soon.

After that Queen of the Known Universe and I hit up Barnes and Noble. She had to pick up a movie and I had to buy Attachments.

Have I rambled about Attachments yet?

I'm pretty sure I have but you're gonna get it again.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell.

It's about a dude who works in IT at basically the Omaha World Herald and it's his job to flag personal emails and people who are gambling and all that and he runs across this series of personal emails between these two women - Beth and Jennifer - and gets caught up in their story so he doesn't flag them. Then Beth starts talking about this hot guy at work and it turns out to be him so he joins a gym and all that. It's just hysterical.

Beth is me.

You roll your eyes but it's true.

She talks like me. She says stuff I've said and would say in situations. She acts like I do in situations. She's in love with a guy works the night shift. Etc.

I'm pretty sure Rainbow Rowell just followed me around a took notes. A fact that I tweeted her about and she favorited it!

So who knows, maybe she did. She is a local.

Nebraska Pride.

Anyway, I keep reading sections of it over and over cause I'm hooked.

But that's a problem with me, I get so hooked on fictional characters and once they're gone I get totally bummed out and need an immediate replacement.

Luckily I have a bunch of editing I can do to fix that.

I always get hooked on them.

BUT READ ATTACHMENTS. It's fantastic. And it's available at your local library so you don't even have to pay for it.

Alright, gonna skim through it again for the 100th time then get back to my editing and crash.

It's been a long weekend and it's only Saturday.

Songs of the Day:

I'm starting a new music segment called Why don't people know this song?

It will feature fantastic songs - probably made up mostly of indie music - that people should know but they don't know.

Here's a classic.

Stuck in the Middle With You - Dawn and Hawkes vs. Josh Murley


Originally by Stealers Wheel and featured in the Tarantino movie Reservoir Dogs but not nearly popular enough. Some describe it as Bob Dylan-ish but I love it.

BTW Dawn and Hawkes may win the battle but Josh does get stolen by Shakira.

Speaking of The Voice, my top twenty are still kickin' butt. Let's take a look.

Voice Top 20

Christina Grimmie - Adam

Bria Kelly - Usher

Sisaundra Lewis - Blake 

Dawn and Hawkes - Adam

Brothers Walker - Usher - eliminated in battles

Cierra Mickens - Shakira - lost to Emily, stolen by Usher
Clarissa Serna - Shakira 

Audra McLaughlin - Blake 

Cary Laine - Adam - eliminated in battles

TJ Wilkins - Usher 

Alaska and Madi - Blake - eliminated in battles

Delvin Choice - Adam 

Ddendyl - Shakira 

Sam Behymer - Adam 

Paula Deanda - Blake - eliminated in battles

Kaleigh Glanton - Blake 

Jake Worthington - Blake

Madilyn Paige - Usher

Emily B - Shakira 

Kat Perkins - Adam

Rockin' it.

Alright, here's another Song You Should Know and then I'm out.

Everything - Michael Buble


not as well known, but excellent melody and lyrics

"What the heck?" "That's what I was gonna ask." "Is that legal?" "That's what I was gonna ask."

Said by the boyfriend and I after seeing a kid riding his bike down the median.

Not across it to get to the other side of the road.

Legitimately down the median.

Pretty sure that's not legal.

Sorry, just practicing for 4th of July.

"That's not legal" is a family quote, but we say it in a sing-song kind of way.

Well, Oldest Sister says it more than the rest of us.

Mostly cause her husband buys the not-so-legal stuff.

'tis the season.


Okay, I know I didn't post yesterday, but yesterday was horrible from start to finish so if I was to post it would be horrible too.

Our internet was down at work.

I got yelled at.

There were training issues.

I lost my datebook and broke open my foot in the process of retrieving it - thankfully a nice man found it and called me.

And the Mad Maxines lost by like 200 points.

Which is backwards because usually we win by 200.

Technically, we were skating against the number 2 team in the world - not the nation, the world - so it wasn't completely unexpected, but we are - well, were - ranked 25th in the world.

So...it was just awful though cause our jammers kept getting so frustrated because the refs weren't calling anything on the other team and they got called constantly for cutting the track. It got to the point where our jammer was in the penalty box for at least 50% of the entire bout.

And by the end they had just given up.

It was awful.

I actually wasn't planning on going until I walked out of the door from work. Then I got there and a lady gave me a free ticket so that sealed the deal.

I actually don't mind going to the derby by myself because I feel like my obsession out-ranges my friends' love for the sport.

So I cheer and I stand up and all that.

And it's nice not having to worry about if they're having fun.

Which they do, but you know what I mean.

It's like Del going to the Mumford & Sons concert by herself, because no one loves Mumford like Del loves Mumford. And she doesn't want anyone to hold back her love for said Mumford.

But she also knits in bars.

Cause she's a badass.

And I owe her big for She & Him.


Anyway, so yesterday was total crapsuck, but today was much better.

Ate my muffin and drank my coffee.

Was pretty busy, but not overly. Still had time to update my TAB website and send out all my reminder emails. Mock up some JPEG's for Superwoman.

Range of stats = 30s

So not bad for a Sunday.

Working the weekend means I'm off tomorrow!

Huzzah!

I'm meeting with my practicum rep and going over details. 90 hours of that coming up in the fall and no idea what to expect.

Here are some of the precise guidelines that the Library Goddess has for us to follow:

- Make sure you dress in a professional manner and ask about a dress code during the meeting.
- Review the library's website before you go. This will support good questions and discussion during your first meeting.
- Make sure you make your hosts laugh at least 3 times during the meeting!
- Make sure you work hard to be flexible in terms of hours you're available so that you get the most out of your practicum.

Will do my best to make him laugh. And dress professionally. Should probably figure that out tonight while I'm still conscious.

Wear makeup and all that.

Oh yeah, so tonight I went out to see the boyfriend and his word of the night was women.

Not like in a sentence like "women are, you know, whatever it is we are" just women in that tone that only a man can say it in.

You know that one?

And it wasn't my fault!

For the most part.

I mean, it started when we were listening to the radio and the song "Don't Talk About Him, Tina" came on - the Pistol Annies you know?



Yes, I know, I've posted it already, get over it.

Anyway, so it came on and I told him the inspiration for the song which you can read about here: http://www.accesshollywood.com/pistol-annies-dish-on-bra-inspired-song-dont-talk-about-him-tina_article_79106

To which he replied "women."

And then we're out eating and this employee is out in the parking lot sitting there on a bench for 15 minutes straight brushing her hair.

Just sitting there, middle of the parking lot, not talking to anybody, not on her phone, no one is with her, she's just sitting there brushing her hair.

For 15 minutes straight.

To which he replied "women."

Although that may be what average women do, who knows, maybe I've been doing it wrong all of my life.

And then we're buying fireworks - yes, more fireworks cause I needed more tanks and I got another, "women."

But I told him that since Bubby is gonna be gone it's up to him to take his place in the tank war. So we bought him tanks. And a train. And I got a boat. So it's gonna be tank on tank - and there are different types of tanks involved - and then it'll be train vs. boat.

Should have paid for it with some of those singles in my wallet, but I used my card instead.

Cause people look at you funny when you pay for things in singles.

I have all these singles and not for the normal reason a woman my age would be carrying around a wad of singles, but because our 93-year-old volunteer was in the hospital and everyone chipped in for flowers and since I'm the Volunteer Supervisor I got to be the one to buy the flowers and send them to her.

So, basically, the opposite reason of why a women my age would normally be carrying around a wad of singles.

But this woman is seriously Wonder Woman. We sent her flowers and the next day she was back volunteering.

And very grateful for her flowers.

I don't know anything about sending flowers so I had to have like 5 people look over the arrangement before I committed to it.

Women. 

We're perfectionists like that.


And that's all I got for today.

Tomorrow is that meeting and then cleaning and homework.

And trying to get this smoke smell out of my apartment.

Stupid burnt popcorn.

I keep bringing in more fireworks, my neighbors are probably like, ummm....


Alright, song of the day...was already posted, so let me find another one.

Barefoot and Buckwild - Lauren Alaina


heard this song tonight and was jamming.

apparently she was runner-up on American Idol from last year or the year before or something.

i don't know, i don't watch it.

neither does the rest of america either apparently.

fired 2 of the judges because their ratings sucked - but seriously? mariah carey and nicky minaj? what were they thinking in the first place? - and then randy left so all that's left is keith.

now they're flailing and looking for new judges.

Cause THE VOICE rocks.

and they can't compete.

okay, i'll shut up now as i promised my Voice ramblings were over 'til next season.

guaranteed to blow your mind, anytime.

Totally zonked.

But it was worth it.

Woke up early this morning - well, for my day off anyway - and hit up Squirt's trackmeet. Watched her throw shot and disc.

She's pretty good, for a freshman. Only girl freshman on the thrower's squad.

Also on the thrower's squad is my cousin. Though a different thrower's squad, but we were able to watch them both from the same vantage point.

After that I took a nap, whilst watching more Murder and Suburbia - don't let that reflect on the show, it's quite good.

And then headed to the roller derby with Oldest Sister, Squirt and Squirt's friend.

Oh my god, about had a heart attack.

So we were dominating in the first half, and then the announcer said something stupid - he called it a "comfortable lead" - 20 points is not a comfortable lead. Flash once got 34 in a single round.

Long story short - too late - after we were ahead the entire bout they passed us with 6 minutes left, then we had a power jam - where the other team's jammer (scorer) is in the penalty box and can do nothing to stop it - that brought us back but then they came back.

They saved Flash for the final jam, she passed just enough people to put us in the lead before calling off the jam right as the clock round down.

Final score 149-146.

The crowd went nuts.

Game would have been even better if we didn't have a bunch of Omaha players sitting behind us and talking smack about No Coast.

Rivalries ho!

They're just mad we smoked them.

And when I say smoked them I mean by over 100 points, smoked them.

About every 5 minutes they do cheesy advertisements for their sponsors, they're highly entertaining.

Though my favorite was an old one about a photography studio - "specializing in pin-up, boudoir and maternity..." or when the second announcer wasn't paying attention so it was "you know what I like?" *silence* *more silence* "Bicycles!"

"Flexibility, agility...other words that rhyme with ility."

So we were ranked 33 and the Arch Rival girls from St. Louis were 13th - this is in the world, not the nation, so I'm wondering how that will affect our rankings.

Anyway, so that was my day. And there's a big one tomorrow so I should crash.

Music Rec:

Killer Queen - Queen

out.

No Coast, No Mercy.

Yes I skipped yesterday. 


And the day before that. 


But it wasn't my fault. 


I've tried posting this three times now, let's hope this time it works. 


Have I mentioned how much I hate this new blogger?


Okay, so flashback to Friday:

Early morning, seminars all day, derby at night, then some crazy old lady convinced me and my boyfriend that we needed to go out after the derby.

But we had fun so it was okay.

Besides, I got her back anyway, check Facebook. I'm assuming she's not grateful that a picture of her sleeping on Easter has surfaced especially after she told me I'd be dead meat if it did. 
Bring it, I've got more. 

So, inservice.

Basically, all the employees from all the branches meet up at the main library and listen to speeches the whole day.

This year was not so bad, at least the sessions were interesting. Last year everything was aimed toward the new operating system we were about to switch over to so it got old fast. This year I got to learn about future technology aka 3D printers, and glasses that give you directions, take pictures, play music, etc. Plus some genealogy from Sensei my former boss, and  listen to a panel from the Journal Star about reviewing books.

Plus there were a couple major guest speakers, one of them being Mary Pipher who wrote “Reviving Ophelia” once upon a time. She told us a story about being on the Oprah show, apparently the producers told her what her opinions were supposed to be, ignoring her actual beliefs on the subject for dramatic purposes. But she’s stubborn so she ignored them and answered truthfully. She was immediately escorted out of the building after the show and into the limo. No goodbye, though there was no hello either, she didn’t meet Oprah until she was actually on stage being interviewed. So Oprah must be a great actress, it always seems like she knows/gets along with her guests very well.

Anyway, inservice is actually kind of a blast at times, mostly cause I get to see all my friends from the home branch and jam with them. Our new tradition is to head out to this Mexican restaurant during the lunch break, awesomeness.

Though some people still say they’d rather get an colonoscopy than go to inservice. But it’s not that bad, think of it as a nerd convention. All of us together packed into one room talking about library stuff, quoting literature and cheesy library-related jokes.

Plus some funny speakers that lead to a few good one-liners.

Things overheard at Inservice:

-“and now I have time to talk about my cats”

-“anyone want to sing a medley of show tunes?”
-“somebody give me a g”

-“now let’s take some time to talk about why you’re wearing what you’re wearing.”

-“the new paint job - orange meets green meets purple which wouldn’t be possible without the help of our decorator” *insert picture of Stevie Wonder*

After 9 hours of that came the roller derby. 


Mad Maxines dominated Springfield 165-97. 


Flash Gloria hip-checked the other team's jammer into the scorekeeper's easel and took it down! 


Oldest Sister was jealous as I take her kids all the time but she’s never been so she tagged along with me and the boyfriend. I’m turning into a pro at explaining the rules, or I better be as I've taught …at least like 8 people, but that doesn’t include the giant group of my former teachers that all came together a couple years ago.

Definitely worth it.

But then of course people realize how big of a derby nerd I am, quoting their actual names and occupations whilst listing stats and strategies along the way.

Oh well, it’s not like they don’t already think I’m a nerd anyway.

Especially since yesterday I checked out the Spice Girls greatest hits CD.

Yes they have one and it’s awesome.

Though I already own all the songs cause I have their previous albums, well all except the last few.

Like I said, nerd. 

BossLady and I were bonding over the Spice Girls, apparently there’s a great band called the Space Curls that sing their songs in German.

It’s highly enjoyable.

Which just reminds me of this time in college, freshman year I lived with an awesome friend of mine from high school and I just remember I turned this next video on Youtube and we were moving her gigantic futon, like giant heavy obnoxious futon, and it gets to the first language she drops her side completely and bends over laughing. Cause she had no idea, just thinking it was the regular version.
Fantastic.

"Girlfriend" Avril Lavigne in 8 languages

My favorite are probably Portuguese and Chinese, though German does have its charm. 


So Saturday:


Aside from Spice Girls flashbacks I worked 9-6, watched "Beginners" and "Page Eight" meanwhile uploading all my photos to Facebook. You can probably tell I was watching "Beginners" when I uploaded them as my captions were very much like lines in the movie. 
If you haven't seen it you should, it's great. 


Anyway, photos. 


After months of meaning to do it and getting distracted. 


Much like all the other stuff on my to-do-list. 


At the moment it consists of formatting that camp song book, which I started uploading in January, coming up with a camp application form before the meeting next week, buying my niece a kick butt confirmation present - I was thinking roller skates, we decided at the roller derby she would rock it. Just gotta come up with a kick butt name. I'm still working on mine, have some possibilities but nothing solid. Or as cool as one of my cousins, another one of my cousins came up with it, his name is Jake so basing it on Jake Gyllenhaal his name would be Jake Gyllen-haul-your-ass-around-the-track - go grocery shopping for summer reading stuff, but I get to do that on the clock, what else....meet up with the Library Goddess and her current GA for GA stuff, oh and fill out the official paperwork for that to happen in the first place, and then there's camp. 


Camp. 


And all the planning that goes along with it. 


Enough said. 


Sunday: 


Worked all day with some cool people, uploaded some volunteer stats, narrowed down more stuff for my next booklist, currently I'm jamming out with my big fat cat watching Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated. 


It's them as teens living in Crystal Cove, teenage drama included, and hysterical. 
"The last time you were that polite to me I spent a month locked in my bedroom listening to 'Now That's What I Call Break-up Songs 16'!"


"We've got something from every food group. salty, sugary, jerky and ice cream!"


"What's up with Freddy?"
"Oh, he's just in the zone. It'll pass. If not we'll spray him with the hose."


Highly enjoyable continuation of a classic, I'm diggin' it. This show never gets old. 


Time for some Scale of Awesome Ratings:


"Beginners" Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Melanie Laurent
The story jumps back and forth between the present and multiple pasts. After his wife dies Plummer's character Hal comes out of the closet. Which is strange as he's been married to a women for decades, but she died so now he wants to live his life the way he actually wants to live it. He meets a guy, Luca from ER which totally threw me off, they fall in love, then Hal gets cancer and starts dying meanwhile Ewan, aka Oliver the main character and Hal's son, is narrating this whole thing whilst living his own life and being horribly horribly depressed because the majority of his scenes take place in the present after his father is dead. 


I've probably lost you, sorry, he dies, Oliver is sad, he adopts Hal's dog and meets a girl who turns his life upside down. 


Anyway, the monotone narration and random images that pop up on the screen were probably the best part as they were completely random and as I was watching I was also tagging pictures and writing captions so the captions I was writing came out as monotone narration in my head. 


Scale of Awesome says around 6/10, I was entertained, I love Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer definitely deserved the Oscar, but it was horribly horribly depressing. Even when it wasn't. 


"Page Eight" Bill Nighy, Rachel Weisz, Ralph Fiennes
Basically Bill Nighy's character Johnny is given a secret file by his boss/best friend exposing a huge secret. Then his best friend dies, not mysteriously it was legitimate, and suddenly people are out to get Johnny because of the information that's been uncovered. Though he wasn't the only one who received the file apparently he's the only one being watched, along the way he meets his neighbor Rachel Weisz's character Nancy who's brother was murdered overseas.


I got lost. I checked it out cause it has Rachel Weisz on it and it was about secret agents and it sounded interesting, but it wasn't so much. I mean, there were moments, like many other movies, it did have its moments. 


To be fair I was doing about 8 other things at the time so, much like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, I probably would have liked it better if I were paying more attention. 


Scale of Awesome says 4/10. If it was better it would have held my attention instead of transferring it onto something else. 


So there are those, Scooby Doo gets a 10/10 in case anyone was wondering, and now I'm off to make some food though Chinese takeout sounds really good...

That'll be the day.

Does anyone watch Glee anymore?

I was trolling iTunes to look at The Voice singles that were released and where they were on the top charts and ran into a bunch of new Glee stuff.

Surprisingly not so bad. Loving “How Will I Know” yes they covered Whitney Houston. This time just the girls + Kurt acapella. Awesome.

So the music is still great, it’s just the storylines that went to crap.

But maybe it sucks less by now. I haven’t watched a single episode this season. Which is shocking to some as I used to be crazy obsessive about this show and its music.

But then the storylines got too over the top and I dropped it.

Which kind of killed my conversations with my Glee-Loving Boss as it was all we talked about the morning after the new episodes premiered.

The question now is, are people gonna stick around next season when they lose half the cast?

Graduation man, bites for your audience ratings.

The show pretty much revolves around Finn and Rachel, lose them and what’s your replacement exactly?

Curiouser and curiouser.

So, tomorrow off.

Don’t even remember when I had a day off that was in the middle of the week.

Probably back when I was an aide.

Which was like November.

But it was rare I took a day off at all, if I wasn’t at both places I was at least at one, which wasn’t a problem as at the time I really didn’t have a life.

Not that I have a giant one now, but there is a semblance of one at least.

Cause there’s a boy, and there’s family, and there’s camp, and there’s school, and then there’s everything else.

Might actually use some vacation time this year aside from the week for camp. Siblings are thinking of making some trips.

Cause yeah, we're the crazy kind of siblings that actually like spending time together.

Which apparently is rare.

We’re thinking Vegas. That’d be fun. But before that is camping, so yes, camping twice this summer. One time relaxation-filled, one completely opposite.

But that’s what happens when you’re in charge of 100 kids and the adults roaming around with them.

Speaking of, should put together an application form so I’ll have a mock-up for the meeting next week.

And start mapping out skits. Or at least take inventory of what I’ve got, I’ll write the new stuff once I have some idea of final numbers.

Though they’re not really final until the actual day, we’re constantly getting more and more applications until the day of.

Or they just show up.

Which is fine.

Sort of.

Not really.

But we’ll take them anyway.

We don’t want to be the camp that turns away kids.

And they loved the tents last year so if all else fails we’ll expand that way.

I should really finish that song book I keep intending to send out.

I’ve got everything scanned I just need to format it.

Tomorrow.

Oh tomorrow.

Such grand plans.

Sleeping in, as I don’t have to be officially up until 7.

PM.

Dinner with the sisters, woohoo!

Thinking it’s a movie day, I can always have one of those on in the background while I work on the songbook.

I’m thinking J. Edgar. I have that one checked out, pretty sure it’s due like tomorrow. Woops.

I’m there everyday and I still have fines, get over it.

Maybe I’ll watch the Week with Marilyn movie, that one got rave reviews from even my Big Brother coworker, so props to that.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I guess I could love you tomorrow.

Sure, why not.

Speaking of loving, so yeah, the boyfriend must really love me.

Sacrificing going to the races to go to the roller derby with his girlfriend.

I know, must be so difficult for him to settle for watching women in fishnets battling it out whilst he watches on drinking beer.

But the races are big to him, and I’m grateful he cares enough to put up with my crazy instead of watching cars drive around in circles.

Especially if we meet up with my derby buddies, then he’s really gonna have to put up with my crazy.

Nah, we’re not that bad. Just have a good time. Cheer loud and all that. Drink some Pepsi. Yep. Pepsi. It’s totally Pepsi. At least that’s what we said it was when the pictures hit Facebook.  

Moving on, I love derby.

Totally stoked.

Gonna crash and sleep in.

Don’t call me before noon! Cause I won’t answer. Sorry.

“How Will I Know” Glee Cast

I guess his sacrificing the big race to go to the derby with me is a big hint.

“That’ll Be the Day” Buddy Holly

"Your jammer's lame!"

Things overheard at the Derby
-"I could be wearing them now, You don't know what I'm wearing under these jeans." fishnet stockings...
-"That was pretty." "That wasn't pretty at all. It was hardcore." "Right it was hardcore pretty!"
-"Point it at the pretty girls!" "That's when you're supposed to point it at your mom." *he points his glowstick at the very large and very male referee*


Wow, sleep-deprivation has never been more fun. Worked more on my paper until the wee hours of night, then went to work 9-6 (smart planning on my part), then hit up the roller derby with some friends. One I haven't seen since derby last year, I got to meet her little boy he was such a cutie. He came and sat by me, other friend "you have an admirer..."
We were down by like 20 but made a major comeback. Pure awesomeness. Flash Gloria is the bombdiggity. I'm saying it. The problem is that we need a secondary awesome jammer. We lost Busty St. Claire and Lt. Slamher so we're left with some inexperienced last year's junior varsity jammers instead. But Flash was fantastic. And DropKick Muffy was pretty good as well. I could ramble for hours about the derby and the skaters but I should probably be sleeping. Or finishing my paper so I can go to the derby again tomorrow night. I mean the paper's done, I just have to finalize it with you know correct grammar and all that crap then throw in some APA citations that are still kickin' my butt then save it then upload it and post it then I'll be done.

And then do one of these with all my papers.

Song and dance included.

Out.

My Own Worst Enemy is Out of My Head - 90s Music Week Day Six

It was nineties night at the Derby, seriously. I got some inspiration for my next post. Final score Maxines 93 Omaha 62. So, kind of low score for the Maxines but acceptable as its a rivalry. We'll take the win. There was less cowbell than last year, which was appreciated. Last year the ORG fans were like blasting us out with the stupid cowbells so our friend yelled "check out the scoreboard!"

Quote of the night: "I'm a chair dancer."
"What?"

1. "My Own Worst Enemy" Lit 1999

I actually kinda like the video, it's humorous.

2. "Out of My Head" Fastball 1999

You had to know there were ending up on here sometime, right? Good song.

3. "That Don't Impress Me Much" Shania Twain 1998

Major memory with this song is listening to it repeatedly on the way to like I don't remember which vacation it was, maybe yellowstone or something, but we played it on repeat, and my cousin and I would like sing it out and Justin was going nuts cause we would point to him at the "Just in case" line.

4. "Hail Holy Queen" Sister Act 1992

Cause I posted something from the sequel already, here's the turning point in the first movie. Reverend Mother is pissed... I totally jam out to this one every time.

5. "Blue" Eiffel 65 1998

Awesome song.

Loved today, got to sleep in, had fun class with the library goddess, hit up the derby with some friends, was excellent.

Everybody has So Much To Say about Army Spice and Summertime Blues...now Roll to Me - 90s Music Week Day Five

Fun day today, worked then hung out with friends and family. Relaxation, hooray! Got to watch my niece and nephew act in their school play, and not to be bias or anything, but they were totally the best. Just saying, totally stole the show. My nephew was the bad guy, got to wear a suit and a monocle, so cute! My niece was in cahoots with her brother, which was hysterical, but they were both awesome. Oldest sister says nephew takes after me. I called him a stud. Then asked if that made me a stud. She said sure.
Tomorrow is class then derby then sleep! Cause I need sleep. Which is what I will be doing right after this is posted. Hope you all have a good weekend.

Same template as previous days

1. "So Much to Say" Dave Matthews Band 1996

Awesome, so sad I missed them when they came to NE, this is my favorite of theirs.

2. "Roll to Me" Del Amitri 1995

Not exactly the best quality but its the song that matters. But first can I say, um what the? Can someone explain this video to me, seriously?

3. "Summertime Blues" Alan Jackson 1994

Remake but still classic.

4. "Army Spice" Spice World 1997

Just because I can. Love this scene. Yes I'm a fan, get over it.

5. "Everybody" Backstreet Boys 1997

Yet another weird video, but i'll go with it. And yes I'm posting this because I got flack for posting Nsync. Here ya go ya canteloupe.

I'll give you Shoo-tanoo!

If you Write this Down I'll Be There For You and Buy You a New Life because I'm Jealous(y) and I Want You Back - 90s music week Day Four

Not a good day for Team Awesome. But we still rock. And derby is Saturday so life is good.

Think you've got the template down by now, if not, scroll down a post.

1. "I Will Buy You a New Life" Everclear 1997

love it.

2. "Jealousy" Natalie Merchant 1995

song is still frequently in my head. mostly because i sing it when i see it. awesome song.

3. "Write this Down" George Strait 1999

So you'll remember what I forgot to say. I had one of those moments today. Still haven't remembered what it is I was gonna ask her. He really is the king of country.

4. "I'll Be There For You" the Rembrandts 1994

Did they sing anything other than this song? Did they have to really?
Love this song, and the video. Friends is 3rd in my top 5. Quote something I'll tell you the episode.

5. "I Want You Back" N'Sync 1998

I'm trying really really hard not to laugh at this video.....
It's not working.
But I totally still jam out to the song. I was more of an N'Sync fan than a BSB one, sorry BFF and favorite Aussie, it's true. I did like "Everybody" but other than that, N'Sync all the way! haha.

This is a week of my favorite things Day Five: Hobbies

Since I love my job and that's basically my life now I don't have a lot of time for hobbies, or as much time as I used to. Aside from the usual singing, dancing like an idiot, watching movies/tv, listening to music, hanging out with friends most of my hobbies somehow involve children - directing plays, directing a camp, directing skits and worship at that camp, that's my mid-year life. Should be interesting to balance with work. We'll see how that goes. We have a date for the play this year, we're doing Three Men in the Fiery Furnace - but it's under a different title that I can't remember - but we're grouping it with awards night, that way we have more time to work on it.
Aaannnd, since it's almost spring that means camp stuff is going to be starting up full swing soon, aka writing up the registration and release forms, sending them out, updating the website, then once they start coming in it's all about ordering t-shirts, assigning grades to cabins along with counselors, teen helpers, station leaders, putting together a schedule, watching the budget, writing/finding skits to match with the numbers in each grade. Printing nametags to put in the lanyards, updating the song books...I'm missing something, I'm sure. But yeah, there are spreadsheets galore on my computer, it's madness. But I love it. Because, again, I'm crazy. But just seeing how happy the kids are is totally worth it. Plus, youth camp means teen camp which is even more fun because it means I'm not constantly watching out for homesick 3rd graders. These are just teens that only want to swim, tube, or watch movies on the wall. "Delayed...Reaction" loves teen camp because it's when we're most inspired to write and perform music...Plus we eat things like pizza, steak, lasagne, icecream and all that. Take them bowling. Go tubing down the river, which we do at youth camp as well but that is madness. 40+ 5-8th graders tubing down a river does not bode well for the sane. I'm stoked! Can't you tell? No, I actually am stoked. I love it. Which is why I've been going to the camp since 2nd grade. That's like...crap headmath on the fly sucks, Library Goddess was right. Like 12 years of camp! Madness, no wonder I got promoted. I'm a lifer. So's Amos. And Steve. And Megan. We have fun.

Okay, enough rambling, list time.

So I guess favorite hobbies for me include:
5. Lazy things like watching movies/tv, listening to music, reading books - it's nice to have something that's quiet and laidback after working all day in public service.
4. Helping with the play at my old grade school - we have far too much fun during practice. more laughing than progress but it's worth it in the end.
3. Going to the Roller Derby!! I'm a nerd for Derby. LT. Slamher is my hero. No Coast Derby Girls all the way! Toni told me I was supposed to try out (aka manager) but Mom said if I made it into grad school I wasn't allowed to join as it would take up too much of my time. Boo. I could pull off a secret hidden life, right? Yeah, no, probably not.
2. Directing the kids summer camp - yes it basically takes over my life and all my spare time but I love it. I really do.
1. Writing - That's really my only "hobby hobby" of interest because it's the only thing I'm occasionally semi-good at. Or so people tell me, everything I write I think is crap. Maybe that's because I'm a perfectionist, about writing anyway, so if it turns out different than my plan I don't like it.
But I write some of the skits for camp if I can't find anything I like. This past year I wrote one on Rapuzel the early years aka before she was born and how the evil witch tricked her parents into giving her up. I gave it to the seventh grade girls. My niece played the demon radish - long story - but they loved it, she still has the script hanging on her door. I always give my favorite skits to the seventh graders just because they still think drama and acting is fun, whereas the eighth graders are like "this is lame. i want to go swimming." It's the skits that are written at 2AM the night before camp that I've learned go over the best, aka Rapuzel and then the year before that's "Killer Eggs" which is an even longer story and yet again for the seventh graders.
But major pressure for this year since I promised the seventh grade girls a continuation of Rapunzel after she was imprisoned. And now they'll be eighth graders. Crap.

Okay, back to writing. Since it's clearly my favorite hobby without any competition we'll just go with it.

Here's a short intro from one of my latest projects.

“Well they say she died easy of a broken heart disease, as I listen through the cemetery trees.” – One Headlight, The Wallflowers

I watch as Tom, her father, approaches the grave. His hands are clasped behind him as he walks in an adagio kind of pace. From far away one could easily assume he is at peace, but they would be missing the contorted look on his face that contradicts with the rest of his calm demeanor. He is trying to be strong for Amanda, Lindsay’s mother, who seems to be a zombie in complete denial of every emotion ever conceived.
As the service starts people make a circle around the grave and Father Mark. I stay by the tree line around the edge of the cemetery. My feet are stuck in place. I can’t seem to make it any closer than 40 feet away. The breeze picks up and I can hear the leaves rustling against each other. It is as if she is here pushing me toward the grave, begging me to say goodbye and receive some kind of closure in return. But I’m not going anywhere. This is as close as I can get. The wind makes it hard to hear Father Mark. I can only make out every couple words but I’m not really listening anyway. All I can think about is the last few days. A week ago you were healthy. A week ago you were happy. A week ago we were together. Now you’re dead… and it’s my fault.

Intrigued? Me too, now if only I could figure out where to go from there!! No, I have a couple pages after that but I'm already stuck. Jake is the main character, he is moving to Seattle for a job and asks Lindsay to go with him. Most of it is in flashback. I'm still debating how to kill her off and make it his fault. I have a couple of ideas but none of them good enough to give me inspiration to finish it. If you have any send them my way!

So, since I'm blocked on that one I'll stick to my guns and hit you with another Sketch and Edit. With them I'm never blocked, mostly because they're short and if I don't like it I can make them do someting else, like order takeout or go shopping for flowers or go to a bar or install a nav system or decorate a tree. The possibilities are endless. There are more of these throughout the blog if you feel like scrolling through. You don't have to read them in any particular order.

Since I've been spent most of my day in one Wednesday I'll give you this one.

Sketch and Edit Sit in the Waiting Room
E – “I hate waiting rooms. They always make me feel so nervous.”
S – “Remind me why I’m here again.”
E – “Every time I go to the dentist something always goes wrong.”
S – “And I’m here because…”
E – “I need the moral support. You should know I’m famous here for bad things happening. Didn’t you notice the hygienists laughing and giving me funny looks when I checked in?”
S – “I just figured that was a normal reaction for people around you. Why are you famous at your dentist’s office?”
E – “Just traumatic events… I kicked him once.”
S – “The dentist?”
E – “No, Janet Reno, yes the dentist!”
S – “What happened?”
E – “He told me all he needed to do was pull out one of my baby teeth and it wouldn’t take long but ended up cutting it into four pieces.”
S – “Ouch, but that’s not that bad.”
E – “And I passed out, it was embarrassing.”
S – “Lots of people pass out at their dentist’s.”
E – “Do they also freak out over having too much Novacaine, run to the lobby, smack their heads on the main desk, conk out cold and then wake up in their dentist’s arms?”
S – “All that here?”
E – “Yeah, last time I was here they asked if they should put a big red x in front of the desk. Apparently I made number three on their list of top five highlights in this office. I bet it’s down to number four now though since he got arrested this summer.”
S – “What?”
E – “Thought you might like that one."
S – “Your dentist is a felon?!”
E – “Say it again but louder, I don’t think the mailman heard you. And my orthodontist committed suicide a while ago too.”
S – “Are your teeth really that bad?” *Edit glares* “So, basically I’m here to…?”
E – “Keep me from getting violent and/or passing out in the lobby…or just generally embarrassing myself.”
S – “Sounds like a full-time job.”
Dentist – “We’re ready for you now.” *leaves*
S – “Was that the felon?”
E – “Yes.”
S – “Aw, no felons have the right to be that good looking…”
E – “Slow down there cowgirl. I’ll be back soon…hopefully.”
S – “Okay, I’ll just be here, building up my tolerance for heedless celebrity gossip. Look, it’s Brad and Jennifer!”
E – “I always was for Team Aniston. I bet if you dig deep enough in those piles you’ll find some about Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley…” *leaves, comes back twenty minutes later to find a red-marker-colored taped ‘x’ in front of the desk* “Oh, You’re dead.” *Sketch smiles and makes a run for it*


Based on a true story. I really am famous at my dentist's office. The main lady at the desk asked if they should put an x in front of the desk and one of the hygienist's heads went up and yelled "that was you?!"



Okay, I'm running out of ideas for favorite things. I have Music, Movies, TV, Books and now Hobbies. Tomorrow I'm thinking Youtube clips or websites or something to that effect. If you have any other suggestions send them my way.