This year brought an unexpected change in my life. After four and a half years living in my apartment, I had to move. I have a hard time with change, so sometimes a kick in the pants from fate is exactly what I need. It was challenging, and I think my cat misses his squirrels, but as of January 31 I am all moved in to a new place. That sounds relatively straightforward. In reality, there were a lot of emotions and an overwhelming sense of "where did all this crap come … [Read more...]
Not Just Enduring Endurance Sports
A few weeks ago, I ran a 50k race. That's roughly 31 miles. I don't think of myself as a crazy person, but the look on some people's faces when I tell them about it says otherwise. What I wish I could convey to them, though, is the amazing feeling I get from long distance running. I remember running a few miles to stay or get in shape during college or in the few years afterwards. It was something I did for the outcome. Calories burned, maybe a little rush of endorphins. Inevitably, I … [Read more...]
Saying Goodbye
Five and almost a half years ago, I had my first day of work at a new job as a shelver for the library. I was so excited to start a new job, and I remember celebrating with friends on the night I got the offer. On my first day at work, I was quickly shown around the library. "Here's the children's DVD shelving, here's the juvenile nonfiction, here are the early readers.... Okay, so that's the library. Go ahead and shelve a cart. Let us know if you have a question." At that point, I was … [Read more...]
Reading, Finding an Apartment, and Life
Having just finished a grueling month of reading ten of the books I had checked out from the library, I think it might be time to reflect a little on the act of reading and some of its effects. Particularly in the last few days, I have found myself feeling a certain way that I don't completely understand. Challenging myself to read a book every three days added immensely to the way the emotions and plots of books seeped into my everyday life, and I'm not sure it was a very good thing. I was … [Read more...]
A Life’s Work
To all my many fans, I apologize for my extended hiatus from the blog. In the past few months, I got a second job at the library and finished working at the Acrapolis. I also had a friend from college visit for a few weeks. Of course, there was also plenty of housesitting to be done. Even as I write, I find myself looking for the latest episode of "Castle" on Hulu. Plus, I have about 75 books waiting to be read. So yes, I've been incredibly busy. But just for your sake, I will write a … [Read more...]
Everyday Heroes Sand Drywall Too
At the end of Mystery Men, when the team of ragtag superheroes has saved the day, they get interviewed by the newscast and say this: "'Excuse me, could I say something? I think we would all like this victory to go out to all the other guys, and I'm talking about the people in this city who are super good at their jobs but never get any credit. Like the lady in the DMV - that's a rough job.' 'To the people that remember jingles from tons of old commercials.' 'And uh, uh, people that … [Read more...]
Welcome To My Blog!
Here I am, two years out of college, still trying to figure out how the world can seem so much smaller when you're in the shelter of academia than when you get your diploma and walk out into the jarring light of the real world. At one time, we all thought it was a huge decision to either choose between different colleges or getting a job, and then to choose a major. Then you get to the real world and choose a career, a city to live in, a place in that city to call your home, people to live … [Read more...]