Rain, Rain! GO AWAY!

So I was in Subway today, ordering my favorite Sweet Onion Teriyaki sandwich, watching the MSNBC news channel because the guy in front of me had a big order, and there on the news, "Flood waters in Norwalk, Ohio!", which is odd, cuz there really isn't a huge river near by. So I called my dad, who said, "A what?", cuz he was as surprised as I was. I went online and found some news stories. 5 - 9 inches were dumped in NW Ohio and SE Michigan! Wow.

We're thinking of you, Judy, Harris family, and Krichbaum family!

List of things to do...

On my list of places to visit before I die....

• Go somewhere warm or warmer while we celebrate Christmas
• Go to Stonehenge to welcome the Summer Solstice
• Ring in the new year in New York City
• Take the train through Canada, visiting Vancouver, on the way to Alaska
• Travel through Africa, seeing where Haddy's and William's ancestors are from
  
• Get lost in Hong Kong
• Introduce Maddy and Joe to all that I did (the places, the church, the castle, the school) when my family lived in Skipton, North Yorkshire, England for two years MANY years ago.
  

Whew!

What a weekend. Joe worked all weekend, but Maddy and I found time to surprise him at the fair he was working at on Saturday, and then for a bit of family time on Sunday morning before he had to return to the fair.

Maddy is very much a 2 1/2 year old, but she is in great health. She had her ear doctor appointment on Friday morning, and she's doing great a year after her ear tubes were put in. She had had chronic ear infections, and for her, the tubes were a miracle. One of them is on its way out, and the other is already out, so they've done their duty well. :)

I had another appointment with my orthopedic surgeon re: my elbow. The residual pain is due to the ulna nerve still not 100% repaired, and there is some concern about how much damage it sustained in "the fall". Fingers still pretty tingly. I wear this fun brace to bed, making it harder for the nerve to get pinched in the night. He suggested a nerve conduction test. Ugh. Had one done years ago and it was NOT FUN. Ouch.

But I've postponed that test for a few months. I'm not ready to start from square one trying to recuperate from the break. *sigh*

choices

When did you last stop and wonder how you got to this particular point in your life? I've been doing it a lot lately. (See this entry)

I got my library degree 5 years ago for (what I thought) would be a good job in academia. I AM in academia, but not in a library doing what I thought I'd be doing. And I guess I'm itching to get back to a career in libraries. I was good at what I did, and there are so many aspects of a library career I would love to explore / investigate /do again:

• I would love to be a young adult library. You should see my YA collection - not very large, but big enough to be a collection.
  
• I would like to spend my career teaching.... anything! I love teaching. I'm doing a bit of it right now, but I want more.
  
• I would like to continue learning about website design and management. I did a bit in the past, and really enjoy learning what makes a GOOD website, what makes it usable, not just well designed.
• I'd like to own a bookstore.
• I'd like to work in a bookstore.
• I'd like to devote my energies to finding and compiling a library of titles that support and celebrate diversity of all types.

There....

all better! :)

test

hmmm.. the blog seems to be having issues....

The only constant thing is ...

Yes, I know the old adage but I tell you, it can be a bit tiring having so many things change at once. I'd like plain old boring for at least a LITTLE while please.

Since January, just 6 short months, it's been such a whirlwind with a growing child, broken bones, damaged nerves, the challenge of job changes, keeping our marriage intact despite my craziness and our stress, and other sundry family upheavals. I'd like this crazy roller-coaster to just pause for, say, maybe a week. I'd re-charge my batteries and remember how it feesl like when I could tackle the stresses of these days.

Until then, I'll take what I can, do my yoga when I am able (YEAH!), take the time to visit with friends and family, remember to breath, and remind myself that people less-equipped emotionally / financially can do what we need to do in order to move on.

So cool!

Check this blog out! It makes me yearn for my "lost" career in librarianship. When I was in library school, I loved many aspects of librarianship (teaching, cataloging, reference materials). But I particularly loved my classes on the history of the book and archives. I love old books! I actually purchased a copy of the Lindisfarne Gospels because I enjoyed it so much! I'm such a geek!

What a weekend!

It was a whirlwind, and quite successful! Zac and his bride, Erin, were married Saturday at the Weidner Center. It was a BEAUTIFUL day! (finding pictures to post)...

My 2 cents

I found this quote so ironic:

As this debate goes forward, every American deserves to be treated with tolerance and respect and dignity. On an issue of this great significance, opinions are strong and emotions run deep. And all of us have a duty to conduct this discussion with civility and decency toward one another. All people deserve to have their voices heard and a constitutional amendment will ensure that they are heard.

Do you recognize it? It's Pres W Bush on his stance on what he calls "the Marriage Protection Amendment".

Are you kidding me? What part of "tolerance and respect and dignity" does W and right-wing supporters show towards homosexual committed couples who want the same financial, political, social responsibilities and benefits as heterosexual committed couples? I don't know about you, but I was taught that denying obligations/responsibilities/benefits based on certain aspects of a person's life is wrong.

What's the deal people? People don't CHOOSE who they love. It is without a doubt easier in today's world to love someone of a different gender than you. Why would anyone want to forever fight in their workplace for insurance benefits? Endlessly having to "tone it down" when going out. Trying to constantly remember who in the family "approves"? It's not easy! It's not simple! And no one tries to go out and fall in love with someone of their same gender.

As Joann Elder puts it, "This amendment is divisive … This amendment is unnecessary … This amendment is un-American..." I'd also add Russ Feingold's words. This is MEAN-SPIRITED. Leaders and decision-makers who base their work on hate and mistrust and obvious intolerance should be voted out of office. Where in the world are the leaders who work for the GOOD of the nation? What happened to people wanting to do good for each other?

• Wisconsin's US Senator Russ Feingold has a pretty detailed statement against this amendment.
• The Fair Wisconsin's No On the Amendment Blog has a LOT of resources and documentation.
• Love is Love is Love. com is Margaret Cho's Marriage Equality Resource Site. Good links!

So you think you know how to play Rock, Paper, Scissors?

HA! There's more to it than the old RPS. How about SPONGE, or MONKEY, or even ALIEN? LOL How does it work?

Check it out!

Our world....

It's been crazy around our house lately.

• Maddy's been sleeping in the BIG GIRL BED now, and to our surprise and delight, it's working! Ok, naps are still a bit of an issue, but the plan is to continually wear the little girl out.
• Haven't quite figured out how / when she'll be able to give up her nuks. We've weaned her down to only at naptime and bedtime. A HUGE accomplishment. But now I'm not so sure she's ready. I kept on saying "by he UnBirthday June 23", but I don't think it's going to be that soon. Any suggestions?
  
• Joe's been working at finding a job. There are some good leads. (Cross fingers)
  
• Haddy Bell, William and my folks came to visit last Sunday. It was HOT. It was nuts. It was a delight however to see HB, W and M enjoying each other's company. HB and W are becoming such country kids! The sight of them going up and down the sidewalks with their little scooters was a hoot. It reminded me of my sisters and me, going to Edendale to visit Nana. She lived on a dead-end street, with sidewalks. Such a different sky than in the boonies where we grew up.
  
• We're having yet another "Hasta-la-bye-bye Weidner Party" at our house Friday night. Invited the neighbors so they wouldn't be TOO upset with the weirdos coming to the house. It's going to be a crazy night.
  
• Had my last therapy appointment for my elbow this morning. After 7 weeks (!), I have gained a lot of motion, some strength, but that damn ulna nerve is still causing me problems. I'm a bit troubled by the fact that it takes days to recover from "over-doing it" (like gardening, picking up Maddy, vaccuming). But I was reassured that it will get better over time. I just have to be patient. Looking at taking a yoga class somewhere this summer to really be able to work at strengthening.
  
• Started more therapy this week. This is focused on my back. When I fell, I really did a number on my elbow, but I also pulled muscles in my back. They haven't been quite the same since. So I'm seeing "Sven" to help me loosen up. Ugh. After the first day, I had a headache for 2 days. Wish me luck!

Cheers!