Momma said knock you out.

I'm watching the movie "Holiday" with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. I've never seen this before and it's good! Cary Grant is currently making his stand against his fiancee's super rich family saying that he needs to go out and see the world and live while he's young enough to enjoy it, rather than going to work in his future father-in-law's bank forever and ever. The wedding's off! The only person who supports Grant is Hepburn, the now-not-future sister-in-law. She loves him. Hepburn chases Grant across the world and everybody's taking off on a long global cruise into the sunset. Yay!

So, just a couple of days ago I was mentioning that I needed things to do, yes? How I was feeling like I needed socializing and new challenges/experiences? Well, I've found stuff to do. You're reading the words of the Como Roller Derby Dames newest (non-skating) official for the 2012 season. I'm not sure what exactly I'll be doing, but something like stats-keeping for home bouts, penalty box timing (I have to get gruffer, if that's the case...making sure a brawny girl with a name like "Salt Ann Battery" stays in the penalty box for her allotted time seems intimidating), points-counting, etc. I don't know if I get a roller derby name or not, but if so, I'm leaning toward "Eleanor Bruise-evelt". Historical figure + tough pun? Maybe? If all goes well and I really enjoy being part of the team, I could become a skating referee or an actual skater. I'm not sure being slammed to the floor is something I really want to do though, I'm not that into having broken bones, plus I really don't have that sort of aggression. I'm kind of a calm sort of person, usually. I'd probably say excuse me if I was in a bout and bumped somebody. Still, I like the sport and it's a fun atmosphere to be in. I could see myself as a skater if  I become like greased lightning on the skate track and can avoid being seriously injured by someone such as the aforementioned penalty box resident. For now, being a ref sounds more like my area.

Aside from becoming a part of the Derby Dames, I was randomly chosen to be a paid lab rat. I got a call last night from the psych department of the university, asking if I would take part (and be well-paid) in an alcohol study. I said "Sure, I would!" and answered some questions and then the fellow said he had to get back to me. I'm not a binge drinker, you see, and he wasn't sure if that was okay or not. I think this is the first job I've ever heard of where not having a drinking problem was possibly a deal-breaker. But, indeed, they said that I was a good little lab rat so I'm hired. My first session is this weekend, sober-style. Sometime after that session is over, they schedule another one and get you drunk and see what you do. I hope I don't pass out or puke on them. He was telling me on the phone tonight all the rules and regulations surrounding the experiment. It's quite in-depth. It's not boring though, and it certainly will get me out of the rut I was feeling like I was in over the weekend.

How quickly times change, yes? I'm on the hunt to find some old curtains that I think I have packed away in the basement. My co-workers and I are planning on decorating our little area. We already have some nice Christmas lights lining the top of our cubicle walls. We decided today that some fabric covering the walls might be a nice touch as well. I'd rather just use things I have than have to purchase fabric. But if it comes to that, maybe I can find some cheap remnants somewhere. It'll be fabulous.

I need things to do, before I become creepy.

Have you noticed there is a tumblr for just about anything you could possibly imagine? I was strolling down Pinterest yesterday and there was a link to a tumblr called "Hot Guys Reading Books". Of course, I had to follow the link and, yup. There's a whole lot of pictures of fellas reading books. The more I looked at the tumblr, the more it became clear that when someone sees a man reading in a public place, they are beginning to sneak photos of them and then submit them to this blog. Not all of the submissions are strangers, there are plenty of boyfriends, husbands, co-workers, etc. But there seems to be a lot of men that have gotten shot (so to speak) by strangers while they are deep in the world of whatever they're reading. The stories of some of the photographers getting caught are funny too. I laughed as I wandered through the pages of the blog. Good job, sneaky bibliophiles.

I need something to do. I'm becoming really bored again with life as I know it. I've been tossing about the idea of getting a second job. Mostly because I could use the socialization and it would just plain give me something to do with my time, the extra money would be a bonus. I decided not to do the running charity thing I was considering doing this spring. There's not much in the way of clubs or hobbies that I feel like picking up, exactly. I do go to the health plex, but I won't do that every night. I suppose I could take part in one of their aerobic classes or something. That would be something routine that I could get into and get to know people through. On the second job front, there's not much that interests me. I wish something would open up at the library, except that I almost kind of want something completely different. Like a whole new group of people to meet, you know? I did find some adult enrichment classes that look interesting. There's a chinese food class and a chocolate cooking class that I am leaning toward taking. That could be fun. Those are just one night sessions, though...  I just plain need something to do with my time. I don't like ruts. I did apply at a bookstore, and that could be okay. I could start getting active in the animal shelter group again. I had to stop that when I was in school. I like that sort of thing. Hmm. I'm just in a bored funk and have no vacations to look forward to,  nothing really going on. Time to make something happen, I guess? Go-go-gadget-mischief-maker!

I could just wander around and take pictures of hot guys reading books? Working in a bookstore would help with that. Until I get fired for being the creepy bookstore worker who takes pictures of random men while they read and then submits them to an internet website for the world to see.

Hmm. This might not be a path I want to head down. Chinese cooking, chocolate treats, and shelter animals seems the road that leads to the 'less likely to get into actual trouble' area of life. I'm good with mischief. I'm less good with actual trouble. All that drama...who needs it?

Ray Bradbury

Even when the overall movie is bad...

...nobody can make me laugh like Vince Vaughn does.

...who walks away so easily.

I forgot my mardi gras beads. It completely slipped my mind that today is Fat Tuesday, despite yesterday realizing that my favorite restaurant in town was having a free cookie giveaway if you wore your mardi gras beads in to lunch today. (I did, however, remember that today is International Pancake Day, but I digress.) Upon realizing my forgetfulness regarding the beads, a co-worker came to the rescue and brought a couple of her mardi gras beads back from lunch. Lunch was saved. Beads were worn. After walking in to the restaurant and wagging the beads, they told me that the restaurant wasn't actually giving away free cookies with lunch, despite what their facebook page promotion said. But, I must have looked super sad at this, still wagging the beads, because the nice lady at the counter said that she'd give me a cookie for free with my sandwich. It was delicious.

I worked out this evening and decided to up the weight on one of the machines I tend to use. I only use about 4 or 5 machines. The fellow who was doing my initial health consultation only showed me how to use those handful of machines. Someday I might ask someone what a couple of the others do. Anyway, I'm pretty pleased with my little routine that I do right now, although I don't remember any recommendations for when to up the weight level that you are lifting/pushing. I guess just when you feel like giving it a go? It seemed like many women who would use the machines prior to me and who appeared to be about a half century older than me were oftentimes lifting/pushing upwards of twenty pounds more than me. I'm not in competition with anybody on weight lifting, but after nearly two months of lifting the same amount, I decided to give it a try. I'm still not pumping as much iron as some of those older ladies, but I am pushing (incrementally) more than I was. I do feel that I've made a bit of progress in that regard. I'm 'bout to go get a bowlful of m&ms soon, probably.

I was chatting with a friend of mine earlier and we have very different political views. We have basically very different backgrounds in general. We met in Italy on a study abroad trip and have stayed in touch since then. Anyway, she has been looking for a job for a while now and hasn't had much luck. She's aggravated and angry at President Obama and, I understand the aggravation, but I am still of the opinion (although perhaps I am more and more in the minority) that Obama was still the best option in 2008, and he has not done as poor a job at attempting to lead a struggling nation as some people think he has. He's tried a lot of things. Maybe the things he has done haven't been aimed at your social class, and maybe you haven't benefited from the programs he's implemented. But he has done things. He's tried programs, he's gotten laws passed, he's attempted some pretty brave programs. Some things haven't succeeded as we would all have liked, but I much prefer a president to try things rather than one who sits and does nothing. While my friend and I certainly do not see eye-to-eye on the topic of politics, we are incredibly respectful of each other's opinions. I can understand why she feels the way that she does, and I don't feel the same, but it doesn't diminish our friendship. I have to say, that one of the things I like most about my friends is the ability to speak rationally and calmly about things that we see completley differently and never sink to the level of meanness or rudeness that seems to permeate a lot of other areas of life. It's pretty cool to be coming from extremely different positions and have very strong beliefs about certain things and still be able to respect the other's opinion without feeling the need to argue, persuade, or tear down the other person. I'm proud of my friendships in that regard, especially. I think people who belittle other people because they don't see an issue the same way are not people I enjoy being around. Even when I disagree with someone, I still enjoy hearing the other viewpoint. I still like to find out why someone feels the way that they do about something. I may never truly understand it, but I can usually learn something about where the person is coming from and see another side to an issue, even if there's no way I would ever agree with them on that topic.

I heard the new Jason Mraz song on the radio several weeks ago and haven't heard it since. It stuck with me enough that I found it on youtube and fell in love with the video. It's full of old airmail envelopes! I loooooove international airmail envelopes. When I worked at the archives and handled the mail a lot, I would always get excited when I'd see the international airmail envelopes from researchers on other continents. I get a nerdy rush from letters, as you know, and I do also get a nerdy rush from the idea that a piece of mail has arrived from across the globe. Good job, Jason Mraz! Thanks for making the nerds smile with your video.

Mortimer J. Adler

Give up everything to show you there's still time.

Good weekend to ya!

I don't have any big plans this weekend and the weather is looking nice and sunny. It's like having a whole open road in front of you and you have lots of time to meander down it and stop whenever you want to see what you can see. I got up this morning and worked out, which was a goal I was wanting to make sure I met. Being sick had really taken a lot of the energy that I had to get up and go work out and I didn't want to get out of the barely-formed habit that I'm trying to create of being a workout kind of person. I always feel better afterward.

This past week was a big birthday one at work. Two of the four people in my little area had birthdays, so we did some celebrating. I bought some mini-cakes from a downtown bakery (Columbia has an excellent variety of bakeries within walking distance of work, so we're super spoiled in that regard) for one day and then yesterday we went to lunch at a Japanese restaurant. I haven't had Japanese food in probably a couple of years. It was good! Usually when I have Asian food, I tend to lean toward Chinese because it just seems quicker and easier to get. For some reason, Japanese food seems like it's a special occasion sort of food. I think it's because, until yesterday, every time I'd had Japanese food it had been hibachi-style, and that's more of an entertainment/event kind of experience rather than just a meal. Anyway, it was good food and good company and good times. More birthdays!

Also this week, a project came to light that is trying to challenge the stereotypical view of librarians. It's called "This Is What A Librarian Looks Like" and it's inspired by a similar project trying to challenge the stereotypical view of scientists. Anyway, I submitted a photo of myself for the project and they accepted it and posted it as part of the project! I was excited to be included. We're a pretty diverse community and the project is international, so it's kind of neat just to see the level of participation globally in this project. (If you're a librarian or work in a library, I encourage you to take part!)

Okay, the day is moving forward and so must I. I could spend all day sitting here listening to music and basking in the niceness of having free time. I'm still listening to Green River Ordinance and learning more of their songs. S'wonderful, s'marvelous. But, I think I'll go out in the world for a bit. Have a good weekend!

The ole swaparoo.

Already February 15th? I have to renew my license plates this month and that means a trip to the DMV. Apparently, in this state, you can renew online as long as you have the same car as you had the last time you renewed. But if you hit a deer and total that car but salvage the plates by stomping on them to flatten them back out and then put the newly salvaged plates onto a nice and un-crumpled newer car? That requires a face-to-face visit, despite the fact that you were face-to-face with them just about a month ago when you had to transfer the title to your name for this newer car and nobody bothered to tell you to renew your plates at that time. So, the question is: When do you find the time for this second face-to-face visit? I haven't found that answer yet. Sigh.

I am super sleepy. I took some cold medicine earlier after getting to work and it says it's non-drowsy, but my eyelids are saying otherwise. They're pretty certain this medicine is sleep-inducing. Mouth is joining in the argument with lots of yawning, too.

I work in the basement of the campus library, and in this basement there is a large auditorium for classes to use. Last week I was strolling by and the giant class that was in there was taking a test. And I felt a surge of happiness, knowing that for the first time in a really long time I had no tests to study for, no papers to write, nothing to do but work and go home. That I actually am done with school and never have to go back...Ever. And I knew that before, but seeing all of the students taking a test made me realize it fully. I have the terminal degree for my field. It's a completely different phase of life. The 'after college' phase. I need a hobby or something. I've already changed all the furniture around my house once this year and last night I was sitting on the couch watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show on my new favorite channel, "Me-TV", and thinking that I should switch around my living room and music room. The music room is one that I just created last month. I can't actually move the living room furniture by myself, so it would be quite the undertaking and, now that I really think about it, I probably can't fit my couch into the music room. And I don't have the money to buy a sleeper loveseat, which is what I really want for my living room. Although, a sleeper loveseat probably would fit in the back room/music room. Maybe I'll hold off until I get enough money to buy one and then do all this swapping of furniture again? As it is, I'd either have a couch with the record player and stereo in the now-living-room and just a chair and foot rest in with the tv in the now-music-room. I kind of like the idea that when you enter the house, the first thing you see is not the tv, though. I kind of like the idea of a music/conversation area to be the first impression of my home. More thought is needed. More money too, if furniture buying is going to become a part of this scheme. I do plan on buying furniture in the near future, but not living room furniture. Hmm.

March Madness is soon! I like basketball. Basketball is fast and fun. I've been giving thought to trying to find an NBA team to throw my support behind. Not that anybody is missing my support, but you know...just in case I ever get bored of college basketball, I'll have a pro team to focus on. My problem is that there is no NBA team in Missouri. St. Louis used to have one, but they left a long time ago and no team has ever come back. I don't think KC ever had one? Anyway, St. Louis should get one again because trying to decide on which one to support in my extended region is proving to be difficult. My dad suggested that I support Oklahoma City Thunder, but looking at their roster they've got two assholes from KU on the team, and in no way does that sit well with me. My natural choice is the Chicago Bulls because I really like Chicago as a city, and they don't have any KU players on the team currently, although they have in the past. I suppose that's a fact of life in the NBA? Hmm. St. Louis also needs a Major League Soccer team. More than an NBA team, I would support an MLS team in St. Louis. KC has one that's pretty good and that just got a brand new super-nice stadium. A couple of years ago there were talks about expanding MLS and that St. Louis would get a team. Albert Pujols was even a public financial backer of the future MLS team that would be in St. Louis. But there is no expansion team. And Albert is in California now.

I would be happy to trade the NFL and NHL teams in St. Louis for MLS and NBA teams. Just in case anybody with power to make that happen wonders my opinion.

I got my Birchbox earlier this week and opened it last night. It's fun to open those and see what sort of goodies you get each month, but more often than not, I have no clue what the cosmetic doo-dad in the box is for. Luckily, the wonderbrains behind Birchbox always include an info sheet about what exactly they've included. This month was the first month that I've been a little disappointed in what I've gotten. It's not their fault, you can't hit a homerun every time you're up to bat, I guess. I was only a little disappointed when I saw the mineral makeup that's not a color I'll wear, and the overpriced face moisturizer. They struck out with some adhesive eyeliner stickers. I don't do much in the way of makeup, especially eye makeup. I'm kind of low-key on the makeup front ...which makes the fact that I've got this subscription kind of hilarious, I guess. It has introduced me to nice skincare products, hair products, and nail polish. The box this month was makeup heavy, but I think they probably knew that there was a good chance that this box was sub-par because they included a free download of songs from a band that they're kind of digging at the moment. That perked me up. I'm always up for new music. It's an indie pop rock band from Ft. Worth called "Green River Ordinance". After downloading the songs, I'd actually heard one on BXR on the 'What's New For Dinner' segment that they do weekdays at 6 pm. But, it's good stuff I think. If you like bands like Snow Patrol or The Fray or Parachute or something like that? You'd like this band, too. Seven free songs make up for the bizarre eyeliner stickers. Thanks, Birchbox.