get your zzzzzzzzz's

    I was a little early, I suppose in announcing Spring, which officially begins later today. S'ok, though, I know y'all will forgive me. That make this the Vernal Equinox, I suppose, so celebrate as you like!

    The big news for us is that hubby's sleep study, at least in his opinion, was a rousing success. Actually, that's a totally wrong metaphor, as he felt his sleep was much improved and that he felt noticably more alert and rested yesterday! Some time during the night of the study, they put on him a CPAP. His only complaint was a bit of irritation on his face, but he felt that was a result of too tight a strap, or something minor. Definitely worth the benefit. And, he continues to rave about the health benefits: lowers risks of stroke and heart attack, improves memory and metabolism (thus aiding in weight loss), etc. Read up on Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) here and here and here.

    Now, back to re-learning how to update/create authority records! It's been 6 weeks since I last worked on this project! I just wanted to post this good news and these links . . . This is really an important and life-threatening condition -- snoring really is "no laughing matter."

suddenly, it's spring

    The azaleas have gone from a couple of blossoms at the bottoms (i.e., protected) of the bushes, to full-blown, full-bloom... and gorgeous! The "for-cynthia" (as my friend, Ann, calls forsythia), the pear trees, the red-buds and the dogwoods are all just beautiful. Of course, everyone's allergies are kicking in, too.

    I was up very late last night messing with an Excel file as part of a project for my collection development class, so I slept in a bit this morning. Once I was up, I found myself in the book-room and on the floor organizing some of my mom's cookbooks. For severals years before she passed away, she had subscribed to the Pillsbury Classic Cookbooks. There are a couple of issues missing (Oct '01, Oct '99, Feb '96 & Mar '96), and apparently Dad had renewed for a multi-year subscription not long before she passed away, because I have them through the end of 2001 (Mom died Dec '99).

    It was like spending the morning with Mom... we always spent a lot of time when I visited looking at cookbooks and magazines, and watching food/recipe shows. She had marked interesting items with the little bookmarks that were a perforated part of the subscription insert each month. Every once in a while, I would find one with the subscription insert still in place; it would make me think that perhaps she'd never gotten to look at it. Maybe she was too sick, or maybe it just got mislaid.

    But, it wasn't a sad time, really. It brought back happy memories of our times together. And it kept me away from the computer, where I had too much repetitive-stress action on my right hand and wrist last night! This short post is the only time I've been at the keyboard all day... but my wrist is still hurting. So, I'm heading to rub it down with something analgesic and go to bed.

    #2Son is here with me tonight, but I left DH at the sleep lab tonight. I wish I had taken a photo of him all wired up for the tests. Tomorrow, I think I'll check eBay for those missing issues.

spoiler ahead

    Don't read any further if you haven't seen (and plan to) The Guardian, with Kevin Costner. It's the movie about Coast Guard rescue swimmers. We watched it last night, and it was okay. A bit too reminiscent of Officer and a Gentleman and others. And I didn't like the ending... which leads me to my spoiler question:

    What is it with KC and self-sacrifical deaths? First there was Message in a Bottle, now this. I can't think of specific title(s), but I seem to recall others.

    And in the weirdly unbelievable heading today are 1) the Rock Paper Scissors League competition this weekend on the Gulf Coast, whose winner goes to the national competition in Las Vegas, and 2) all the Chow Downs on Spike TV this week/weekend. No wonder the world has such little respect for us any more -- although, ya know, there's plenty of weird stuff going on around this little blue marble. Feel free to chime in with anything that comes to mind...

    Time to make the donuts work on cataloging. Everyone have a wonderful Friday!

flattering, but

        embarassing.

    This afternoon I checked my webmail for the online classes I'm taking and found two requests from fellow students for file copies of my last assignment -- for which I had received the total possible points and high compliments from the professor. Both student requests were instigated by the professor. Atta, girl... I guess.

    Fulfilling earlier promises for more peeks at my purse stash:

I love all these bags with the embellished photos on them, especially the kitties. I picked this one up at Hudson's, of course.

These were a Christmas gift from my step-daughter in 2005.

But, this one is my favorite, because it looks so much like our Sasha.

meandering

    I know I don't post regularly any more (did I ever??), but seems like all I have to say is whiney. I'm not doing anything interesting, nothing but work and school, and I am pretty exhausted by the time I get home. As much as I despise day-light savings time, at least by the time I drive home these days it is still light and I'm a little more awake. But, like last night, for example, I wanted to do something but had no energy... and my eyes were SO tired! They actually 'quit' on me about 2:30pm; at least it felt that way... and this morning they are still fuzzy. Yes, Rissa, I will drink more water today. And I need to get an eye exam and new lenses, I'm sure. Too much tiny print in old books yesterday, plus all the reading for classes. See??? Whiney stuff.

    And here's some more........

    kinds of drivers who make me crazy: those who stop and won't go at a four-way, and those who go and won't stop... then there are those who speed in town but won't accelerate onto the interstate...

    I should stop and save this as a draft, then add at least one purse photo from my laptop... nah. I'll just post again at break.

Right.

    I am doing some research via blogging. How about that for different? Seems there is this movement afoot on the library scene that has come to be known as "Library 2.0." I set up the Google Reader for these blogs, and by golly, it's a rather convenient way to read blogs. But, in some ways, I don't get the hoop-la. It's almost exactly like reading newsgroups -- which was around long before *I* started doing in in the mid-nineties. Sure, the interface is different, and there are bells and whistles, but it is really the same approach...

    As for the Library 2.0, my paper will hopefully answer my primary question: what is the point/reason for the gushing? Is it hyperbole or is it a practical and worthwhile use of staff time. So far, I've read some interesting opinions, but, most just seem just infatuated with the toys.

(gotta run)

will i never learn

to keep my mouth shut?

    First thing at work this morning, I checked my e-mail -- just like everyone else does. The draft of a group assignment for one of my classes was in my inbox. I expected to have a couple of grammatical or spelling errors to comment on, BUT, the formatting throughout the document was inconsistent. I cannot afford a grade lower than a "B" on any of these assignments! So I spent an hour editing the document.

    Now here's the stupid part: I dropped by my temporary supervisor's office and told her I would owe her an hour on Monday because of the classwork ... nope. I had to submit leave-time for it because the pay-period ends today and I have no way to make up the hour.

    Back at my desk, I was in tears. If I had said nothing, no one would have known I'd spent that hour doing classwork, but noooooooooooooo! I have to be honest.

stupidstupidstupidstupidstupid . . .

    I realize it has been over 20 years since I have been in the workplace, but I do not remember being treated like a child in my previous jobs.

purses

    Amazingly, I seem to have a bit of the "spring cleaning" bug. I've been tidying up here and there -- but honestly, I was searching for something. A purse.
    Now, some people think I have a lot of purses. I can't helpt it. When they are cute and cheap, I buy them. (By the way, I was truly frustrated when I didn't have time to change my purse last month when I went to visit some people and did some "marathon shopping."

this is my current carry
    This is the one I was hunting for the last week and finally found this morning buried under a pile of new sheets I bought a while ago:

    It is a Nine West, but I'm not a designer or brand-name shopper. I only know this because the cashier made a big deal out of what a bargain it was.
    While I had out the camera, and was tidying up the bedroom (including doing the piles and piles of laundry), I took some photographs of my other little treasures, so I'll be sharing those in future posts. Aren't you thrilled?

rose ice

    My husband is a worse book-wh*re than I am. He haunts both the town library and used book store for interesting bargains. This morning he brought me three small cookbooks -- don't laugh so hard -- including this one:
    I just have to share the recipe for "Rose Ice" from this little treasure.

Wash half pint of rose petals; pound them to a paste, adding granually four tablespoons og granulated sugar. When smooth, add a quart of water and a pound of sugar, boil ten minutes; do not strain. When the mixture is cold, add the juice of four oranges strained through chhese cloth. Freeze carefully and serve in punch or wine glasses, garnished with fresh rose petals. -- Mrs. S.T. Rorer, Dainty Dished for All the Year Round, 1908.

self-connections

    I usually bump along on meme's after Rissa, though I skipped the "Inside the Actor's Studio" (Bernard Pivot)one)... maybe another time.

1a. What is one thing about your body that you hate, deny, talk trash about?
    Is hair part of your body? It upsets me that my hair has gotten so thin. It is embarassing, and I do talk trash about it as a defense mechanism, I guess. What REALLY bothers me is women and girls (okay, Pentecostals/Fundamentalists) with long, long hair who won't donate even a portion of it to Locks of Love! Their 'crowning glory' is nothing but vanity.
    Like Rissa, my flabby and paunchie tummy bothers me. Yes, it is smaller now, but that means it is saggy. But, what is up with this not having eyebrows any more?!?!?
1b. What can you do to make friends with this part and show it a little love?
    Keeping my hair colored is about the only thing I can do to make myself feel better about that; I use good shampoos and conditioners. Biotin is supposed to help. As for the tummy, I'm so glad to have lost the weight, I'll put up with the saggy tummy.
    The eyebrows, well, I have this nervous habit of plucking at them when I am under stress. Staying calm helps more than just that, thank goodness; and keeping my hands occupied helps. Last year I just about plucked the left one totally off; lately it's the right. And then... one of the women at Incense asked if I wanted my eyebrows 'threaded' -- I had to tell her I didn't have enough to bother with.
2a. What is one thing about your home that doesn't feel good?
    Except for the clutter, and the fact that I'm a terrible housekeeper (I need a maid), and there are a hundred things that need to be done (or finished), I love my house.
2b. What is one thing you can do to change that?
    Hmm... just said it I guess: get a maid. But what I'd really like to do is to finally have the light blue paint job finished and to create a Japanese garden outside the 'library.'
3a. Is there a relationship that you have difficulty with?
    The relationship with which I have difficulty is not one I am either willing to discuss on a blog or do anything about.
3b. What is something small you can do to either salvage it or come to terms with the way it is now?
    I am polite, and hard as I try not to do so, I keep hope that the future will not be as bad as I fear it will be because of this person.
4a. Is there something you are afraid to do, but would like to try it?
    I am afraid to get a tatoo. For a dozen reasons (all pretty good ones).
4b. What can you do to begin a plan to try it?
    Won't be doing anything. I will, however, probably get a third piercing in my ear. Which one should it be??