Note on the coffee maker this morning:

"It has come to our attention that there are varying degrees of taste regarding coffee strength. To eliminate confusion, we have come up with a formula for brewing coffee" Basically, a whole pot (12 cup pot) gets 3 scoops, which is 6 tablespoons. For one pot. At home, I make it wayyyyy stonger than that - which may be a reason I have to buy coffee so often, but it's worth it. I think I'm the 'varying degrees of taste' they talked about. For the past few weeks, I've been getting to work about 15 minutes early - and I've been brewing the first pot. There have been some comments about how strong the coffee is (um, negative comments), and I always just smile, say it's yummy to me, and that they can certainly water it down if they want. Apparently, no one but myself thinks that is a good solution. {break to talk to co-worker} Well, now I've been told that I need to go pour out the pot of coffee that I made this morning, because when she opened this morning there were bugs in the coffee pot and the filter. So I have to go pour it out and wash it. I am soooo buying one of these and bringing my own: It may only hold 6 cups of coffee, but I'll just have to learn to live on a half pot at work. I can always drink more Diet Mt. Dew or just go across the street to the coffee shop if I get desperate for more.

A Day in the Life

I got to work at 8:00 on the dot this morning (which is late for me - I like to be early so I can make the coffee. Yesterday, I got roped at the last minute into helping with a presentation on EndNote - which I had never used before. We had 35 students show up, along with about 5 or 6 staff members. Since I do all the statistics reporting on our instruction sessions, I started today with adding up how many people circled "agree" vs. "somewhat agree" vs. ... well you get the point... on the eval forms. Type up the comments sections, and then write up a nice report-type email to my boss, her boss, his boss and his boss. Time-wise, this took 3 cups of coffee (known in the rest of the world as about 1 hour), which meant I had to drink 3 cups of water...at some point Ick. I decided it was time for my morning break, and took twenty minutes to go outside and walk the circle a couple of times (about a mile) while chatting on my phone, then come in and gulp down two glasses before I could think about it. Back to work. We're currently editing our periodicals list - the "Master List." Somewhere in the two years since it was last published, our Microsoft Office package was upgraded to the 2003 version. When that happened, it apparently wreaked havoc with the formatting of the the Master List. It's entirely in Word, each title in its own table. Each table looks great by itself - but the tabs don't match up anymore, and each one has to be changed manually. So what does that mean? I spend hours at my computer, moving around hundreds of lines. Did I mention that there are 399 pages of this? I'm on the E's; started with page 149 today. I'm determined to get to 180 today. There's another project that I'm supposed to be working on right now; our annual Reference Inventory started last week. We have until January 26th to complete it. Basically, I get the cards (yes, our reference collection still has a shelf list on cards) for my section, take them to the books, and go through the books one by one to make sure everything is there. I won't even go into what we have to do if its not. I've got the 900's (I chose it because I thought it would be the most interesting). I haven't started this yet. I was hoping to finish Project #1 before moving on to this one....but since I'm still not working full-time, I'm gonna have to really rush through the inventory. Thought I'd have a couple of hours to stare at hundreds of I marks, but it was not to be. But about 45 minutes later he shipment of periodicals that we sent out last month to be bound returned ....which means I get the list, and check each volume to make sure that what's on the spine is what's supposed to be on the spine. There were about 95 of those. After that, I got to shelve them. It's amazing how hot I get, moving those suckers around. Back to the computer. After about 20 minutes, a student I've been working with comes to me for some help on a new database. Spent about 20 minutes with him, then checked my email before deciding it was time for lunch. Just as I was standing up, a young officer came over to talk about starting in the Library program at UA (we had spoken once before). By the time I answered all his questions and printed some stuff for him, 30 minutes had gone by. Definitely time for a lunch break. So that's the first 4 hours. I never feel like I'm getting a lot done, but somehow I do. This afternoon, I'm sure I'll get interrupted a few more times at my computer. I'm on the desk for an hour, too, which means I get to help all the random people that come in. I love working the desk - you never know what they're going to ask for next. In between answering questions, I get to index the newest issue of Air Force Magazine (another of my favorite things to do) - this issue has an article about satellites (the artificial ones) and space, and a historical piece about the first jet aircraft flight, plus about 8 other things I get paid to read. And on my way to lunch, one of the bosses stopped me and told me that the replacement CD-Rom changer came in to replace the one that broke 5 months ago (I was voting for not having one at all, but....) - could I make some time this afternoon to install it and test it out? Ugh. I hate doing computer work like that. So how was your morning?

Blogs

I love blogs. I had a short but intense addiction, which has now settled into a mild obsession. I refuse to allow myself to add anymore to my Bloglines account - I don't really have time to keep up with my subscriptions now - but every once in a while I'll cave and add a new one. So why do I like to read blogs so much? My dad does not get the fascination with keeping or reading them. Some of his comments include: "Why would I want to read about someone I've never met before?" or "If I know them, can't they just email me to tell me what's going on in their life?" I tried to get him into the whole concept - he's a techie, for goodness sake! - cause I knew there are tons of things out there he'd like to read, but he wanted to know why they couldn't just put the information that he's interested in on their website. I like to find the stories that people write about their everyday life, as well as stories on specialized topics. One of my favorite blogs is written by a guy in Denver who's looking for a good man while working some kind of 9-5 job. May not sound fascinating, but peeking into his life a few times a week on his blog is fun for me. Tons of people - including myself - read WaiterRant , Opinionistas, Miss Snark , Shakespeare's Sister, etc. They're awesome examples of how far-reaching one person's writings can be on blogs, how ideas can be sent so far around the world in such a short amount of time. Some people even get paranoid about that kind of thing. Reading comments on these large, well-known blogs is either hilarious - because there are some truly funny people out there - or tedious, as everyone tries to out-do the previous comments. Reading comments on smaller blogs is more fun, because it's often more personal. Maybe it's the voyeur in me. I recently joined Romance Divas, and became addicted to blogs all over again. Some of these writers keep a blog for their writing, a personal blog, ...one is keeping a dieting blog. My Blogroll doubled when I started adding their blogs to my list. The fact that they can keep more than one blog astonishes me. I have a hard time updating this one a few times a week so that people don't log into their Bloglines account and go "Musings? Who the hell was musing, and what was it about?" (and yes, I know that I technically have another blog, that "Things I read" Thing. But that was something I did as an easy way to keep track of books to add to my to-be-read list, since I was always coming across them at work or at school. It's not an actual blog, although if you want to check it out, have fun. It really is just a list of books, though.) But if you want a good food blog that can explore the unusual one minute (avocado cake anyone?) and the humdrum the next, with a side order of humor and some scrumdiddlyumptious recipes thrown in for free, try The Accidental Hedonist . Besides the fact that I love the name, this is one blog I'll be addicted to for a long time.

Google, at it again

We all know that if one could be in love with a company, I would be in love with Google. Well, here they go again. They've been busy putting together a package of software - all freeware - that can be used as a one stop shopping place to get all the essential programs for your computer. FireFox, Adobe, a spyware program. Google Pack lets you choose which ones you want, then download them all at once. Ok, so just when I'm thinking this won't really this won't really help me, because I already have all that on my laptop and my PC.... I find out that along with it, they came up with Google Updater . From the Google Blog :

We worked with a number of technology companies to identify products that are the best of their type to create this suite. (We didn't pay them, and they aren't paying us.) For PC users running Windows XP, it downloads in minutes and installs in just a few clicks. There's only one license agreement - and no wizards. And there's a new tool called the Google Updater that keeps all the software in the Google Pack current. Even if you already have some of the software in the Pack, you can use the Google Updater to update and manage it.

How great is this? And why do I always find the fun stuff while I'm at work and can't play with it? /sigh Oh, and as if all this fun wasn't enough for me, they threw a bonus - the Google Pack Screensaver , which is an easy way to use your photos as your screensaver. I think I'm in falling in love all over again.

French Toast and Bacon

Last night I asked StepSon if he wanted to join us for breakfast in the morning, cause I was planning on cooking French Toast and Bacon. I was really surprised when he seemed to get excited. He hates whole grain bread - and that's the only kind I buy - so I didn't think he'd be excited about french toast. Although maybe if he can put maple syrup on something, he'll eat it. While I contemplated telling him that it would be whole grain bread, with blackberries on top instead of syrup, and turkey bacon instead of the real thing (not to mention I only use egg whites with 1 yolk in french toast...)....he ran to the freezer, still unexplainably excited. "I don't know how you hid it from me..." he muttered under his breath, pushing various packages of frozen vegetables, frozen berries, and other nutritious things out of his way. "I look in the freezer every time I come over, just in case you've slipped up..." I looked at Hubby, raising an eyebrow. (Well, if I were capable of raising only one, I would have. I can't, but I always think of it that way in my head - it just sounds better). Hubby had no clue what StepSon was searching for either. Finally, he gave up in the freezer and came back over. "Where's the French Toast?" Now I was really confused. "I haven't made it yet, cause it's for breakfast in the morning." Now he was looking very suspiciously at me. "you're going to make it?" He raised an eyebrow (and darn it, he can only raise one at a time) And then I realized what he was looking for - French Toast Sticks. Like those sugar coated deep-fried things they serve at Shoney's on the breakfast bar. I saw myself losing cool points. Again. I lost even more when I explained that no, I was making real french toast (or the American equivalent, because I don't have any French bread, so I was only making semi-real French Toast as opposed to authentic French Toast). With blackberries, but if he wanted he could put some syrup on them. He listened, looking disappointed. I hate it when he's disappointed, but not enough to feed him concentrated doses of sugar. I lost any points I had left with his final question "But you're gonna have real bacon, right?"

Seven Things

Seven things to do before I die : Only seven? Hmmm… 1.) Well, I’ll shorten all the travel stuff up and say: Travel to all the places that I want to see. At this point, the list is long enough that this is only do-able if I win the lottery and quit work to devote myself to travel. 2.) Convince StepSon that even though I may seemingly make his life hell for the next few years as he loses his mind to Teenage Insanity, it is all because I love him. He probably won’t realize this until Teenage Insanity passes, but I can wait. 3.) Get as much fun out of StepSon’s Teenage Insanity as possible – ideas I’ve had include: a.) hugging him in public when I know people are looking our way (I think the movies would be a great place for this); b.) Picking him up from school with Broadway show tunes blaring from both the car and my mouth; c.) Coming up with cute nicknames for use only when he is around his best friends. I’ll happily take suggestions from anyone who has experience or imagination. 4.) Discover my natural hair color. Maybe. And hopefully before said natural color is gray. 5.) Go on my honeymoon again. (ok, I said I did all the traveling in #1. So I changed my mind. Get your own list and you can make the rules) 6.) Publish something. 7.) Learn how to tell my husband I love him in at least 10 languages. Seven Things I Cannot Do: 1.) Play the piano 2.) Decorate the house for Christmas before Thanksgiving 3.) Eat peanut butter 4.) Whistle 5.) Play any type of sport. I am one of the least coordinated people on the planet. 6.) Speak a foreign language (Knowing how to ask “Where’s the bathroom” is essential, but does not make one fluent). 7.) Like any of my best friend’s boyfriends. I’ve tried, and so far I’m batting 0 on this one. Seven Things that Attract Me to My Spouse : 1.) His Mind – he has a PhD, and remembers more facts than I ever will (well, most of the facts are pretty old facts. He’s clueless as to when we’re supposed to pick up my StepSon this afternoon, even though I’ve told him 3 times) 2.) His sense of humor 3.) His patience (especially with me. In the mornings. Before Caffeine) 4.) He loves me. Who doesn’t like to be loved? 5.) He thinks it’s cute that every movie I see makes me cry, instead of rolling his eyes as most of my ex-boyfriends did (and he always remembers to grab tissues for me, because even though I’ve cried in 95% of the movies I’ve seen, I never remember to bring anything to mop my face up with). 6.) His muscles – he’s a strong ‘un. 7.) His smile – he has an extremely great smile. Seven Things I Say (or write!) Most Often: 1.) Ya think? 2.) Lovely (with much sarcasm) 3.) Ho-ly Cow! 4.) “It’s 6 AM – why are you speaking? (to my hubby, who is a morning person), followed closely by….. 5.) More coffee….more coffee… 6.) Seriously 7.) That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard (ALWAYS said to either my husband or stepson). Seven Books (or series) I Love: 1.) Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy 2.) The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon 3.) The Malory series by Johanna Lindsey 4.) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 5.) The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder 6.) The Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A. N. Roquelaure (Ann Rice) 7.) A Woman of Passion by Virginia Henley Seven Movies I Would Watch Over and Over Again: 1.) The American President 2.) The King and I 3.) Star Wars (the original 3 movies, not these new-fangled “I-have-no-acting-ability-and-I’m-going-to-speak-in-a-monotone” actors) 4.) Gone With the Wind 5.) An Affair to Remember 6.) The Odyssey – the made for TV version with Bernadette Peters as Circe 7.) Fiddler on the Roof I'll figure out who to tag later. This took enough mental energy for a couple of posts.

As I walked in my grandparents side door, my grandfather was waiting with a hug and a “Don’t kiss me, I’ve got a cold sore.” Grandma was right behind him, waiting her turn. We had been on the road for hours (it felt like days); I could smell the soup on the stove, bubbling until it was time to eat lunch. After lunch – if we didn’t have to go visit someone – and after dinner, my grandmother played cards with us. Shanghai, Canasta, Uno – it didn’t matter. We played cards for hours. And my grandmother played for keeps – she didn’t go easy on us, just cause we were her grandkids. She taught us to play, then she won until we learned how to win. The best times were when my brother would go watch TV with my grandfather, and I’d get to play with her by myself. Even better if we could talk my mom into joining in. But this time, it was all of us. We knew we had to start getting ready to go to dinner, but we kept squeezing in one more hand. Some afternoons we’d take a break, and I’d go to beg Grandpa to play the “There’s a Hippo in my Tub” song again, or maybe the soundtrack to “The Wizard of Oz.” After dinner, we came back to the kitchen table for more. Only now, the fun really got going with snacks, sodas (and highballs for those that were old enough) as everyone sat around talking and laughing. The game would go for as long as the players could stay awake. The older I got, the more I talked to them both. But it was always around that huge kitchen table, eating snacks out of plastic bowls and watching Grandma measure out her bourbon in her shot glass for each drink, while Grandpa and Dad argued had discussions at the other end. I never know what triggers dreams like this one. I dream a lot. Most mornings, I remember bits and pieces of dreams (who knows if it’s one long crazy one, or many short ones); some mornings I remember quite a bit. Every once in a while I have a dream that is so real I still believe it when I wake up. On these mornings, I’m already wide awake when my eyes open (instead of taking an hour to get fully conscious, as is my usual habit). And I remember everything about my dream. Sights, sounds, feelings. Like the way Grandpa could give you a hug so big, you felt like you were the most important person in the world to him at that moment. Like the way Grandma laughed every time I beat her at cards, because she knew she had taught me to play for keeps, but to lose gracefully “as a lady should.” Like the way I’ll never stop missing them.

"We are the music makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams" I was on the RD Forum tonight, and read a post that had the above quote in it. I know it's in the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but some long-ago English class popped into my head trying to remind me that it came from a poem first. And I thought it was one that I liked. So I had to search it out. I was right. It is a poem that I like. Ode - Arthur O'Shaughnessy We are the music-makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams, Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams; World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams: Yet we are the movers and shakers Of the world for ever, it seems. With wonderful deathless ditties We build up the world's great cities, And out of a fabulous story We fashion an empire's glory: One man with a dream, at pleasure, Shall go forth and conquer a crown; And three with a new song's measure Can trample an empire down. We, in the ages lying In the buried past of the earth, Built Nineveh with our sighing, And Babel itself with our mirth; And o'erthrew them with prophesying To the old of the new world's worth; For each age is a dream that is dying, Or one that is coming to birth.

Holidays have said goodbye

Took the tree down today. It must be a family thing, cause both of my sisters did too. I used to be a fanatic about leaving the tree up til January 6th - the twelve days of Christmas, and all - but the tree was definitely dead and ready for me to say goodbye. Looking at a half dead tree for a couple of weeks is ok, when Christmas hasn't gotten here yet. Looking at a half dead tree a week after Christmas is just sad. Not even Charlie-Brown-Christmas-Tree sad. Just...ick. Tomorrow it's back to work, and life is back to its normal state...whatever that may be. So yesterday I started a whole 'be-healthy, eat-healthy, damn-it-I'm-a-healthy-person' routine. This morning I weighed three pounds more than I did yesterday morning. This is NOT going to be easy. I'm refusing to get back on the scale til I fit in a size smaller jeans.

Happy New Year

It's a new year. Hello, 2006. 2005 was a good year for me, so I hope I'm starting a trend. :) I got a fabulous job, spent my first full year as a married lady, took a great honeymoon to Europe, managed to (finally!) get my Master's Degree, and started learning how to be a mom - it seemed like a good thing to do, since I have a teenage stepson. So what's ahead this year? As always, I'm full of plans. In the next couple of months, I'll get promoted at work. Hubby and I are going back to Europe to visit a friend in Paris. We're crossing our fingers and hoping real hard that we're able to get a new house this year. In the summer, we're planning a trip to New England to visit my in-laws (which will have the added bonus of seeing some of my family on the way), and we're really hoping to squeeze in a trip to Grand Cayman for New Year's Eve. My stepson will turn 15, so who knows what things he'll throw our way. My parents-in-law are coming for a weekend trip in a few weeks, and Hubby's best friend from high school may be coming up for a visit in the next week. And my brother and his wife are going to expand our family with another beautiful baby (ok, I won't really have anything to do with that, but it's still exciting). Happy New Year everyone. I hope you all have a year that makes a few dreams come true.