An Easter Well Spent

This weekend was Easter. God may have been raised from the dead but B and I didn't barely raise ourselves from the bed this Sunday.

Now before you start contemplating ways in which I am a heathen, consider this. Never a day passes without a prayer in some way, shape or form. I had written this whole section on faith and God. And I keep deleting it. To me, my belief in Christ is just that. I don't want to use it as a battering ram or a judgement stick. I would rather my acts speak for themselves.

And in that Easter spirit, I have a joke. Of course, God laughs. You can not make a joyful noise without joy.

There were three men standing at the gates of heaven. St. Peter comes out and tells them that they have to answer one question before they can enter. So he asked the first man, "What happened on Easter?". The first man thinks and says, "That's when we all dress up and get candy, right?". St. Peter shakes his head and asks the second man the same question. The second man thinks and says, " That's when Jesus was born and we get loot, right?". St. Peter again shakes his head. He asked the last man, " What happened on Easter?". The third man answers, " That's when Jesus comes out of his tomb...". St. Peter begins to smile but it quickly turns to a frown as the last man continues"... and if he sees his shadow, we get six more weeks of winter, right?"

Good day and welcome happy morning age to age shall sing!

Woots!

My life has been filled with many little woots in the last week.

Take for example, yesterday. It was my day off and in the middle of the day, the electrican showed up and was able to fix the circuit breaker which now allows me to wash and dry laundry at the same time. Woot! A small thing being able to do laundry, you might think. But having to drag it elsewhere and sit and wait for it to be done only to throw in the next load is a soulsucker.
Even if you bring along something to do, you can still feel that sutble pull on your soul.

I also got to open the windows for the cats. They love it. It is Kittyvision. I remember growing up that sometimes windows and fans were our type of central air. Maybe that is why every chance I get I love opening the windows. Woot!

The other two things I did yesterday were putting up laundry with B and going to FIHS to see my niece in a band/colorguard presentation. It felt like my first auntie outing. I was so proud of how well she did and how beautiful she looked doing it. It made me miss twirling flags. But regardless she did just great. Woot! And the putting up laundry with B was one of those moments where we were just talking and laughing and doing something together. Woot!

Good day and this is the day that the Lord hath made.... Woot, Woot!

Ma familia

Did you ever see Moonstruck?

It has the quintessential lesson of no matter what your family does , they are your family...(in the movie, Cher got engaged to one brother and ended up being engaged to the other brother that she was supposed to convince to go to her wedding)

I am still learning this lesson. There have been times when I wanted to disown them. But in truth they are what makes life life. I do want to throttle them at times.

I don't mind being the quiet one though. There is one day though that I want to be the one in the center of it all. It will be the most important day thus far. I really want it to be just a day of family and some friends. This may mean being really strick on the guest list... which is weird for me. Normally I have such a hard time and so dislike excluding anyone. But with the cruise, it is supposed to be 20 for the package and it is a set price for any extras.

But in truth, there only needs to be me and him and it becomes the perfect wedding.

How do I tell someone I only wanted to invite them and not the person that they just turned to and invited? It isn't because of the person but I feel like somehow it will turn the day into all about them and not about B and I. And writing "No, they can't come" is a lot easier than saying it. But I will if need be. I never want to be a demanding person. But it is a fine line between standing up for your self and being demanding. Ugh!

Good night and be strong, E.

Feels Like Home

Somethin' in your eyes, makes me wanna lose myself
Makes me wanna lose myself, in your arms
There's somethin' in your voice, makes my heart beat fast
Hope this feeling lasts, the rest of my life

If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I've been so alone
And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you've done

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

A window breaks, down a long, dark street
And a siren wails in the night
But I'm alright, 'cause I have you here with me
And I can almost see, through the dark there is light

Well, if you knew how much this moment means to me
And how long I've waited for your touch
And if you knew how happy you are making me
I never thought that I'd love anyone so much

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way the back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

~Chantal Kreviazuk

I told B. that this songs reminds me of him. It describes how I feel when he hugs me.

I know, I know... you'll all being going into sugar comas now : P

Good day and where do you find a one handed monster?

Beginnings and Endings Part Two

It was meant to be a full post but I think Grandmother's dialup must have eaten it. I'll try and get you the jist of what was said.

So for the start, let's cover beginnings. If you haven't read Dad's blog, then you may not have seen the post about my big annoucement. I'm engaged to B! I have been sitting on that news for three or so weeks. I wanted to wait to post it until I had gotten all my family together to tell them face to face. He is beyond wonderful and I am so happy. Right now we are looking at next February (don't worry... it won't be valentine's day...) So in a year I will be Mrs. Eve Harm. LOL It is just so weird to see it in print : D

And the ending? My grandfather, Jack Worthington, passed away last week. We went up to Maryland for the memorial service. I will miss him so much. I had just began to plan to bug him to start practicing his waltz so he could dance with me at the wedding. I was going to call him and Grandmother on Monday but he passed away Sunday. He was a one of a kind. I will most remember his big booming laugh, all those funny t-shirts and the way my grandmother would ruffle his hair. They were married almost 65 years. I am glad we were able to be there for my grandmother.

Good day and grow old along with me, the best is yet to be...

Beginnings and Endings

I shall have to...

I cried in a museum last week. I was having a wonderful time. I really was. I was in San Jose California for a library conference. After my workshop, I headed over to the San Jose Museum of Art where they had an Escher exhibit. It was beyond words. But that didn't make me cry.

It was upstairs. They had an exhibit, a "symphony" of words which were pulled from online. Words that were said on a daily basis all over the place online and repeated online. They then put them on LCD displays and put them to music. It was there that I cried. Not for happiness or sadness. It was there that I felt like I wished my family was there to see this very awesome display and how B would have not liked the display which made me miss him. In that single moment, I felt every millimeter of the distance between us.

And so I cried. Rather like I always have. Quiet and without anyone noticing. I used to sing like that as well. It was only a couple of seconds really.

For me it brought into focus my plans of leaving at some future point. It makes me step back and want to weigh with B this heaviness and bulk of this idea. This people, the people I just happen to know because I was born into them, are wonderful. But I also ponder that idea that the world is getting smaller by the minute. How I could keep in contact via all sorts of ways and how I did when overseas. A balancing act of old and new.

That appears to be my life in a nutshell.

(I am going to try to post bunches upon bunches of pictures next time and share more of my CA adventures.... at least that is the plan)

Good day and life is what happens to while busy making other plans.... Gung Hay Fat Chow!

Double Trouble in Walla Walla....

was what I started with this morning. I headed out early to do a reading celebration for a middle high school in the area. It was actually pretty cool and the kids seemed to really enjoy it. I got a chance to talk to the school librarian before I left about school and kids and such.

I had a lovely V-day. It was very cool. We handed out chocolate hearts and I heart my public library stickers to everyone who came in. A lot of the customers seem to really like them. I told one woman that you were supposed to give valentines to those you loved and we loved our patrons.

I also had a valentine's surprise waiting for me at home. B. had gotten me a dozen red roses. They were just beautiful. His present is still on its way.

The caritas got started this morning. I did make it up today and did my working out this morning. Usually my days are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. But I guess Thursday, Friday and Saturday will work this week : )

Good day and give your librarian a hug today : P

Happy Made-Up Holiday!

I am a bit on the fence about this holiday.

I think of it as a made up holiday but this doesn't stop me from wanting all that it symbolizes... love, hearts, valentines, chocolate, flowers, etc...

But I do like having one day where love is the word of the day. But it is a word I hear everyday : ) I don't think that there has been a day since we first told each other "I love you" that I don't hear it from B. Or don't hear it from family or friends or say it first when talking. Or feel it when reading a comment or mentally pray it when reading a blog.

Everyone should get a chance to feel it or hear it everyday. I wish you could...

This reminds me of caritas... It is defined as divine love. But to me it means a sacrifice for another person. When I was younger, we had an event in the episcopal church called Happening. It was a weekend retreat and during this retreat, you got a bag. In this bag there were letters and notes from people you knew who were encouraging you and sacrificing things for you. A small example of that divine love....

So my caritas for you will be getting up and working out at home until Easter. I would normally do this at the gym for $2 a day three days a week. But I'll do it at home and then take the money I would have spent on the gym and donate it. Send me a suggestion of where you would like me to donate it.

Good day and I love you.

Competing for title of Busiest Girl...

Every day seems to be packed right about now. I am currently doing both the manager's and the children's librarian duties right now. Plus on my "down time", I am still keeping up with family and friends and doing all sorts of stuff.

Everyone keeps telling me I look tired. Trust me, I know... I am tired. My brains seem to be going ninety miles an hour even when I am asleep so I don't always feel rested.

P. came into town and arranged a couple of familish outings. It was awesome. I have such a wonderful family. I really liked our family pow-pow time on Sunday. I wish B. could have been there. He was at home feeling under the weather. But it was quality family bonding time : )

I did take home some of their comments about proposals. I told them that he was saving up for a ring. When D. brought up the idea about saving afterwards, I vetoed that. I think of this as my one and only time I will get married and I want it to be right for me. When I told B. about it, he asked about styles I liked and price ranges. That had come up in the discussion as well. I want white gold or platinum setting. I want amthethyst to be the primary stone with diamonds either around it or on the side. P. said sarcastically that I never want something unusual. LOL

LOL This is just me thinking about logistics. But when I actually think think of it, I have to catch my breath. He is beyond wonderful. He is proof of prayers being answered. He isn't perfect but he is perfect for me.

Good night and Zzzzzzzzzzzzz......(hopefully)

The Yang beat up my Ying

LOL Why is it that my life gets so busy of cool blog worthy stuff that I have no time to blog?

The Title Comes Last

Today reminded me how much I like working with kids. I got to do storytime and it went really well. I felt a wee bit rusty and nervous.

It also reminded me of Snow White. Not because of the storytime but because of lunch. I had an apple with it. I had been reading a number of short stories based on traditional tales. I had been telling one of my staff about it and she didn't recognize any of the stories not based on Disney films. So I had gotten a book of some of the original Grimm tales.

It was cool to go through and see how things had been changed from the original. Did you know that it wasn't a kiss that woke up Snow White? They dropped her coffin and the jolt knocked the apple lose.

Hence my reminder... : P

Good day and someday my prince will drop my coffin... just doesn't have that same ring to it : )

Wanted: More Chocolate

Somehow my bowl has been emptied and I am having the hardest time remembering to fill it. I usually put chocolate somethings in it. I have learned many things about my staff by having a bowl...

Yesterday was my day off. I actually got quite a number of things done which is sometimes what I want to happen on a day off. I got a bulb for my car's tail light. I got the oil changed and the tires rotated. Though don't they rotate themselves like every day I drive it?

I also did laundry and washed the dishes. Tomorrow is a day off as well. But B and I are heading off to the museum. They are having a big exhibit of Egyptian Art. If I can't go to the pyramids, I can definitely go to the museum.

I like having like one fun day and one do stuff day during my week.

Good day and live happily.

Why does napping make you more tired?

I had planned to spend today cleaning. Yet instead I spent most of it asleep. Obviously my body was trying to tell me something.

I just had to have the windows open today. It was just a gorgeous day. Well... that of it I saw while awake. The cats love when I open the windows too. It is like KT-TV:P There must have been a Sally Struthers-a-thon on though. There was this one little cat who spent the day meowing outside our windows.

I hate seeing strays but I know the minute I help one, half a million will show up on my doorstep. The cats around here though seem to be pretty taken care of. It appears that it is one big extended family as they all seem to be black and same coat.

Speaking of families, my mom's side is working on getting all together in June. I really want to see everyone but a lot of things are up in the air. I'd like to get together with everyone else and see what their ideas are about it. Right now we seem so ensconced in our own lives.

Good night and mrrow!

Do you know the way to San Jose?

Yay! My application for a conference has been approved. Plus my boss still thinks I am doing a great job. She felt that the potential was always there and that I have grown so much. So way coolness for me.

I really hope I can get everything together for the conference though. It would be so awesome especially since it would be right in the neighborhood of Uncle R and Aunt D. And since it is a whole day and two half days, I might be able to bring B. Huzzah!

How cool would that be. I am so incredibly lucky. To have someone who makes it a point to hug me before I go to work.... sublime... It just starts my day out so very well.

Good day and dream with your heart.

Acro-Cats

Just one of the many things vying to do programs at the library... and something I posted so I saw it every day. When I make it to the marrying stage, they are so going to be something at the wedding : ) Or I could go the cheaper route and get my cats to perform. You would be dazzled with the death defying sleeping and rolling over going on....

I remember a couple of years ago going to my Uncle R.'s wedding. Chusaka, their dog, walks my new aunt's mom down the aisle. He then proceeded to flomp down long ways in the front row and occassionally chuffed. I only have the reactions of past parties to know how my kitties would react. Basil would hide out in the room furtherest from the party. Hazel would taunt all the guest by coming within inches of petting distance before scurrying away and Henri would flop down on the carpet and do the kitty backstroke before demanding much love.

This is a picture of Hazel and Basil getting in their required 22 hours of sleeping in per day.

I must not have an all three of them pic on this computer. Henri in looks is a cross between Hazel and Basil. He is also the one who gets spoken to in French. I love all my kitties. B. keeps trying to convince me that Basil is the one who deserves the most love. But I love all my kitties equally. How fitting as I cat post today that I am wearing my cat shirt. Though not a crazy cat lady. That would require four cats and no boyfriend: P

Good day and if you don't talk to your cat about catnip, who will?

levofloxacin ophthalmic solution

Again with the things that I see every day. This one is a notepad note written from my eye doctor's office.

I wrote a letter to myself today. It was good. Sometimes if something has me on the fence, writing it down helps me figure it out a little bit better. It helps me clear the air. It is normally something I don't want anyone to read.

I feel like I have been so serious both at work and at home. I need to have some fun soon. I have felt very focused on getting stuff done. It isn't that I haven't been having fun but few things have been fun for fun sake...Ewww I am acting all grown up... what an eek situation!

Good day and drop the work at work....

an umbrella ambles on London's classic park theatre

So after much pondering and talking (thanks Christelli! Even wishy-washy opinions helped : ), I think I will stay here if possible. I just need to take a good look at what I want this library to be. I've got a good base. Now I want it to be a shining topper...

Outside of that, I am still taking in the new year. The thing I am working on now is continuing the getting healthy plan and working on time management. I have recently seen myself as a masterpiece in the making. It wasn't always like that. I used to be very down on myself. It was like a whole other person inside my head always making me feel horrible. It sounds crazy I know but it was very much like that to me. I just never thought I was good enough.

I don't remember what was the catalyst to make myself stop putting myself down. I just know now what are my strengths and what are the things I need to work on and what are the things I just have to let go of. I love having new things to discover about myself.

What makes this post even weirder is I have been indulging on an America's Next Top Model Marathon. You might think that it might make you feel worse watching these incredibly beautiful girls but it is so cool to see what they see as flaws or sensitive issues. Everyone got one. For me it has always been the weight. I am very bad at snacking when I am upset or bored or tired. Or not stopping when I am full. Right now it is not so much losing weight as it is getting healthier or making better choices. I screw up all the time but I try to learn from my mistakes. Okay removing self from soapbox.... even funnier if you read Dad's posting : P

Good day and stay healthy!

England is walk on rich history for explorer spend stroll

I have made my list of pros and cons and am no closer to a decision.

Yesterday at the end of the day I found out that there is another manager position available at another branch. I have been here for two years and have been really happy here.

But within the last couple of months I have been debating what I want to do. I am pretty certain that I want this year to be my last in Jacksonville. And I have been considering moving from branch manager to senior children's librarian. It would mean different duties but same pay scale. So now this position for another branch is available. And so I sit here pondering on it.

This is my list of pros:

shorter drive
no evenings or weekends
getting gate (less chance of theft)
J, my friend
less staff
settled community
already know this branch (worked here as children's lib and one month as manager)

This is my list of cons:
less staff (I know it's on both list, usually more chances for rubbing the wrong way)
urbanish enviroment (right now I am dealing with a very rural enviroment)
still managing (ie not children's)
less circulation (we have a higher circulation here)
leaving the easier job

Good day and any ideas?

raven river sounding as musicly like sky

It is one of the magnetic poems that I wrote a while back and it sits at eye level.

Well, still settling in quite well. It was a lovely end of the year. D and H came over for supper and I made bbq chicken. We ate in front of the television but had a good time laughing and talking as well. I like having them close by.

I was lucky enough to have the last couple of days off. The job gave me the 31st and 1st and then I had to take another day off other than Friday. I, of course, choose Tuesday. Yay! Long weekend. B and I spent some time getting bookcases for the new places. Okay, I know I work at a library but yee gods we have a ton of books. I have currently filled two tall and one short and have one set aside for just graphic novels and role playing books. But I still need to get another tall for just the regular books.

Of course being the crazy library lady I decided to put them into order by fiction author and pulled out the nonfic to shelve somewhere else. I know, I know... insane-o-lady. But I really did like getting to go through mine and B's books. I had no idea what all he read. There was a lot of Prachett, Turtledove and other scifi/fantasy authors.

Tonight is our night. Even though we have been together for the last couple of days, we have been busy with errands. So tonight we'll just get to spend time with each other. I love spending time with him. That is happiness.

And for those of you wondering after reading Dad's blog, it is not me. I've never gotten a speeding ticket : P

Good day and okay joke.... This cop pulled over a car full of older gentleman for going 17 on a highway 17. When the cop asked the driver about it, he explained that he had taken the highway sign for the speed limit. It was then that the cop noticed the gentlemen in the back seat who looked very very scared. He asked the driver "what was wrong with those gentlemen?". Oh nothing, the driver replied, they're just still getting over our driving on highway 110.