Although I wouldn't say that the past 24 hours have been exactly thrilling, there have been some interesting moments.
First and foremost, my mother has passed her National Counselor Examination for licensure as a counselor! Four years after graduating from her master's program, I should add. It has been a bit studious around my parents' house lately as she has been preparing for this. Let me tell you, she worked very hard at this. Never doubt my mother when it comes to tests. Leave all the doubting to her.
So CONGRATULATIONS, Mom! I really never thought that it would be a problem for you to begin with, but I am glad that you proved me right (and yourself wrong). :)
Second, I had a random message from an old friend last night through Facebook. This is a friend with whom I spent many hours of my adolescence through my early twenties. Then, for some bizarre and unknown reason, in our mid-twenties we grew apart. She moved around to different places and while we always meant to get together, it never seemed to happen. The last time I saw her was in 2008 at a wedding, and even that was quite brief as she didn't stay for the reception.
I take partial responsibility for this situation. I totally could have pushed harder for a meet-up. Actually, she only lives about 30 minutes away from me right now, which you would think would make it easier to facilitate. But no.
So, last night I was doing my daily check-in on Facebook and was suprised to see that I had a message from her. As our communications have been few and far between, I was curious to see what she had to say.
Turns out she has been in communication with another former classmate of ours from high school over Facebook and they are meeting up for a date tonight. She felt the need to tell me because she thought that I was the only one that knew she had actually liked this guy in high school. In reality, she never actually admitted to it to me, although I always kind of suspected it because she flirted with him quite a bit.
Truth be told, I think that they could be quite compatible, at least based on what I have seen of him on Facebook in recent years. So I am hopeful that it goes well for them.
Still, it was very random. I have not yet responded to the message, mostly because I don't really know if it warrants a response. I have to admit that I was a tiny bit sad that she was making the effort to plan and get together with a guy she only knew somewhat well from high school when we never seem to be able to do anything. Maybe I will make a push for it and see what happens.
My final item to share pertains to my dog. Apparently, Lena now thinks that our daily wake-up time should be 5 a.m. To be fair, I have been setting the alarm for 5:30 a.m. to allow time for a full morning walk, but every morning this week so far, right at 5, she rises and starts her morning dance. Thankfully, she waits until the alarm actually goes off to climb on top of me, but from 5 a.m. onwards she is on constant watch to see if I open my eyes. If she gets eye contact, it's all over.
This morning was a sticky walk. Humid. We met quite a few other people out for early morning strolls, which is encouraging, but I know I am not looking my best at 5:30 a.m. after rolling out of bed, so I am a bit leery of greeting potentially attractive members of the opposite sex. Oh well.
Anyway, Lena obliged with my walking objectives and voided both her bladder and bowels. No problem.
We arrived home and had breakfast. Lena finished before me and proceeded to roll around on the floor with her toys in ecstasy. When I was about halfway through my meal, she sat down on the ground next to me, looked up at me and proceeded to drag her butt across the carpet.
I realize this is normal dog behavior, so it doesn't really freak me out. This time Lena decided to class up the routine a bit. After finishing her butt drag, she stopped, looked back up at me and belched. Quite a gal, that dog of mine.
So to summarize, in the past 24 hours, my mother passed her NCE, I received a message from a long-lost friend to tell me that she has a date, and my dog demonstrated that she can pass as "one of the guys."
What will the next 24 hours bring?
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Waxing nostalgic about reserve readings
Do all bloggers check their stats as regularly as I do? I hope so. Otherwise I have a problem.
So the crazy weather of MN continues, this time featuring a thunderstorm, some tornadoes and humidity. It's like the triple threat of weather.
Oh, and it is Monday. Oh, and it is August.
Wait. AUGUST? Seriously????
Even though summer month countdowns have all but disappeared from my repertoire since I joined the full-time working world some 9.5 years ago, I still occasionally experience a nostalgic twinge of panic that freedom is slipping through my fingers.
Of course, technically I am a student. At least through this December. So I guess that there is some freedom to be grasped in that I do not have any homework right now.
Oh, but just wait. Before you know it, my professors will have posted our syllabi for the coming semester. Unlike my undergraduate experiences, most of my graduate professors like to assign things prior to the first class session. Woe betide the fool who does not thoroughly read their course assignment calendars carefully!
For the most part, they only assign readings. Lest you think that this is no big deal, let me tell you the truth.
Most of my professors are fairly cognizant of the fact that books cost money. They will therefore usually try to keep the "required" textbook list to a minimum. The trade-off for this is that many of the assigned readings will be journal articles that can be accessed through the school's library website. Fine.
If it were only always that simple.
There was the time that the assigned reading had yet to be distributed by the publisher. This meant that not only did the university bookstore not have the item in stock by the date class started, but the alternative resources like Amazon did not have it either. After several stressful interchanges with bookstore staff, my professor finally announced that due to the fact that the book was unavailable, she would not expect that we had all read the chapters for our first lecture.
Then there was the professor who assigned two textbooks, one of which was out of print. You can imagine the confusion that came from 24 students trying valiantly to locate a copy of the rare book that cost less than $240. It was an epic failure. This professor also relented by placing a copy on reserve.
It was this same professor who chose to put multiple books on reserve at the library. I believe her intentions were honorable. She knew that supplies of these books may be limited and she did not want to stress the budget of her students in trying to obtain them for purchase.
Unfortunately, this led to a different type of problem. To help you understand, you should know that this graduate program caters specifically to working adults who commute to campus. Therefore, all classes are either in the evening or on weekends. Many of us do not live on or near the main campus and therefore our trips to the library are usually carefully planned and scheduled.
Now imagine if you, the diligent student, made plans to come to campus on a Saturday when you did not have class for the specific purpose of doing the assigned reserve readings. Imagine you arrive at the circulation desk, only to be informed that the books you require have already been checked out, probably by one of your classmates.
You may be irritated. But you will probably ask politely whether the library worker can tell you how long the book should be out as you know that the professor has put a two-hour checkout limit on the reserves. The library worker does this and assures you that it appears that the materials should be back within 30 minutes. You decide to wait.
45 minutes later, you return to the desk to check the status of your books. The new attendant checks: they are still checked out. She simply shrugs and says that they should be back "any minute." You decide that you can wait a bit longer. You casually peek around the library fringes to see if you notice any classmates, but you cannot find them.
In the interest of making sure that you are first in line to get the books when they are returned, you sit in the chairs near the circulation desk and try to focus on other things. 30 minutes later, none of your classmates have come back to the desk with the books. At this point, you decide that an hour and a half is a bit long to wait, especially because you know that your classmate is well over their two hour limit.
Rather than leave in a huff, you decide to wait another 20 minutes and use that time to send your professor a message. This message says that although you made a special trip to campus specifically to do the readings for her class, the reserve books are not available and library staff appears to have no interest in enforcing the time limits for check-out.
Remembering that you like this professor, you take the time to carefully word this email because you don't want to sound accusatory, but you want her to know that this setup may not be truly conducive to this type of class.
Just to be sure, you stop at the desk one last time before departing, two hours after you arrived. No luck.
You drive home, muttering under your breath things like, "wasted time," "inconducive to learning" and "book hogs."
So... what has this story accomplished? Well, it has made me appreciate the fact that I am currently in the pre-syllabus school break phase. It has also made me happy that I only have one more semester to potentially encounter this type of situation.
So the crazy weather of MN continues, this time featuring a thunderstorm, some tornadoes and humidity. It's like the triple threat of weather.
Oh, and it is Monday. Oh, and it is August.
Wait. AUGUST? Seriously????
Even though summer month countdowns have all but disappeared from my repertoire since I joined the full-time working world some 9.5 years ago, I still occasionally experience a nostalgic twinge of panic that freedom is slipping through my fingers.
Of course, technically I am a student. At least through this December. So I guess that there is some freedom to be grasped in that I do not have any homework right now.
Oh, but just wait. Before you know it, my professors will have posted our syllabi for the coming semester. Unlike my undergraduate experiences, most of my graduate professors like to assign things prior to the first class session. Woe betide the fool who does not thoroughly read their course assignment calendars carefully!
For the most part, they only assign readings. Lest you think that this is no big deal, let me tell you the truth.
Most of my professors are fairly cognizant of the fact that books cost money. They will therefore usually try to keep the "required" textbook list to a minimum. The trade-off for this is that many of the assigned readings will be journal articles that can be accessed through the school's library website. Fine.
If it were only always that simple.
There was the time that the assigned reading had yet to be distributed by the publisher. This meant that not only did the university bookstore not have the item in stock by the date class started, but the alternative resources like Amazon did not have it either. After several stressful interchanges with bookstore staff, my professor finally announced that due to the fact that the book was unavailable, she would not expect that we had all read the chapters for our first lecture.
Then there was the professor who assigned two textbooks, one of which was out of print. You can imagine the confusion that came from 24 students trying valiantly to locate a copy of the rare book that cost less than $240. It was an epic failure. This professor also relented by placing a copy on reserve.
It was this same professor who chose to put multiple books on reserve at the library. I believe her intentions were honorable. She knew that supplies of these books may be limited and she did not want to stress the budget of her students in trying to obtain them for purchase.
Unfortunately, this led to a different type of problem. To help you understand, you should know that this graduate program caters specifically to working adults who commute to campus. Therefore, all classes are either in the evening or on weekends. Many of us do not live on or near the main campus and therefore our trips to the library are usually carefully planned and scheduled.
Now imagine if you, the diligent student, made plans to come to campus on a Saturday when you did not have class for the specific purpose of doing the assigned reserve readings. Imagine you arrive at the circulation desk, only to be informed that the books you require have already been checked out, probably by one of your classmates.
You may be irritated. But you will probably ask politely whether the library worker can tell you how long the book should be out as you know that the professor has put a two-hour checkout limit on the reserves. The library worker does this and assures you that it appears that the materials should be back within 30 minutes. You decide to wait.
45 minutes later, you return to the desk to check the status of your books. The new attendant checks: they are still checked out. She simply shrugs and says that they should be back "any minute." You decide that you can wait a bit longer. You casually peek around the library fringes to see if you notice any classmates, but you cannot find them.
In the interest of making sure that you are first in line to get the books when they are returned, you sit in the chairs near the circulation desk and try to focus on other things. 30 minutes later, none of your classmates have come back to the desk with the books. At this point, you decide that an hour and a half is a bit long to wait, especially because you know that your classmate is well over their two hour limit.
Rather than leave in a huff, you decide to wait another 20 minutes and use that time to send your professor a message. This message says that although you made a special trip to campus specifically to do the readings for her class, the reserve books are not available and library staff appears to have no interest in enforcing the time limits for check-out.
Remembering that you like this professor, you take the time to carefully word this email because you don't want to sound accusatory, but you want her to know that this setup may not be truly conducive to this type of class.
Just to be sure, you stop at the desk one last time before departing, two hours after you arrived. No luck.
You drive home, muttering under your breath things like, "wasted time," "inconducive to learning" and "book hogs."
So... what has this story accomplished? Well, it has made me appreciate the fact that I am currently in the pre-syllabus school break phase. It has also made me happy that I only have one more semester to potentially encounter this type of situation.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Minnesota dreaming... on such a summer's day
Uff da! It is another hot one out there! Now I know that Minnesotans have taken a lot of heat (pun intended) over our wimpy response to hot and humid weather. Believe me, I read the blogs of gals who lived in Texas and Alabama and now are here. They have not been afraid to point out that our toughness may be limited to the cold.
I am not going to argue with that observation. I only offer that this is NOT the kind of weather we are used to having in this state. One of the best things about living here is that our summers are temperate. How else could we endure the lengthy winter chills? We believe that we will be rewarded for this endurance with a lovely (albeit brief) summer season that allows us to be outside, wear shorts and sandals and absorb sunshine.
This really doesn't mean that we can't endure heat and humidity (despite all of the weatherman's warnings to the contrary), it just depresses us in a way that blizzards and ice storms cannot. When the very act of sitting in a chair induces one to sweat copiously and breathing becomes a less than pleasant experience, the only solution is to seek out air conditioning. If one is fortunate enough to live, work and travel in air conditioned environments, life is OK.
The people who truly suffer in this kind of weather are those who lack A/C in any or all of these areas.
Today I met my friend Jill for brunch at a lovely cafe called Common Roots located in south Minneapolis. It is really a great neighborhood joint serving meals, treats, coffee, wine, beer and other assorted goodies all day long. This place is POPULAR. We arrived during brunch time and had no problem finding a seat. However, by the time we left, the lunch rush was in full swing and seating was at a premium.
Now, I did notice that the cafe felt a bit "less than chilled." Not sweltering, but definitely not the icy refreshment that true A/C usually brings. I noted this, but I had dressed to sweat, so I was OK. Until I stood up. The back of my legs and backside were very damp and sticky. Very unpleasant. TMI? Oh well, 'tis the truth.
We departed the restaurant into the even hotter and stickier outside air. Thankfully our walk to my car was not long and I had the A/C going quickly. Not to jump around too much in this story, but I should add that Jill had offered to drive to the restaurant. The reason that this did not happen is that her husband stopped us on our way out the door to ask that she not take the white car because he was going to take the dog somewhere and they needed the A/C. As their other car does NOT have A/C, I quickly offered to drive instead.
Back to brunch. We left the cafe and returned to Jill's house. Jill and her husband live in one of the loveliest neighborhoods in all of Minneapolis in a truly prime location. They love living there and I love that they live there too. Unfortunately, the houses in this area are older and some (Jill's included) do not have central air conditioning. Even more unfortunately, Jill's house also lacks a window or portable A/C unit as well.
As remarkably resourceful people, Jill and her husband live through this. They keep the windows covered and fans running. They also keep properly hydrated. But it is HOT. We have had hot spells in MN before, but this year has really been a doozy. They have made it through all of it. There are plans to get a window unit next year, but until then, light clothing and shade are the name of the game.
So to all of you people out there who want to make fun of Minnesotans and how we wilt in the heat, I am here to tell you that some people are a lot tougher than you think. I should also add that Jill's husband is a native of Sweden, where they are even MORE accustomed to cold weather than us. As for Jill, I am fairly certain that if you asked her whether she prefers this or winter, she would still choose this.
Does this make them the toughest Minnesotans of the summer? I think it makes them strong contenders. I certainly know that the next time I think about complaining, I will think of them and hopefully keep my mouth shut and dream of snow. Lots and lots of snow.
I am not going to argue with that observation. I only offer that this is NOT the kind of weather we are used to having in this state. One of the best things about living here is that our summers are temperate. How else could we endure the lengthy winter chills? We believe that we will be rewarded for this endurance with a lovely (albeit brief) summer season that allows us to be outside, wear shorts and sandals and absorb sunshine.
This really doesn't mean that we can't endure heat and humidity (despite all of the weatherman's warnings to the contrary), it just depresses us in a way that blizzards and ice storms cannot. When the very act of sitting in a chair induces one to sweat copiously and breathing becomes a less than pleasant experience, the only solution is to seek out air conditioning. If one is fortunate enough to live, work and travel in air conditioned environments, life is OK.
The people who truly suffer in this kind of weather are those who lack A/C in any or all of these areas.
Today I met my friend Jill for brunch at a lovely cafe called Common Roots located in south Minneapolis. It is really a great neighborhood joint serving meals, treats, coffee, wine, beer and other assorted goodies all day long. This place is POPULAR. We arrived during brunch time and had no problem finding a seat. However, by the time we left, the lunch rush was in full swing and seating was at a premium.
Now, I did notice that the cafe felt a bit "less than chilled." Not sweltering, but definitely not the icy refreshment that true A/C usually brings. I noted this, but I had dressed to sweat, so I was OK. Until I stood up. The back of my legs and backside were very damp and sticky. Very unpleasant. TMI? Oh well, 'tis the truth.
We departed the restaurant into the even hotter and stickier outside air. Thankfully our walk to my car was not long and I had the A/C going quickly. Not to jump around too much in this story, but I should add that Jill had offered to drive to the restaurant. The reason that this did not happen is that her husband stopped us on our way out the door to ask that she not take the white car because he was going to take the dog somewhere and they needed the A/C. As their other car does NOT have A/C, I quickly offered to drive instead.
Back to brunch. We left the cafe and returned to Jill's house. Jill and her husband live in one of the loveliest neighborhoods in all of Minneapolis in a truly prime location. They love living there and I love that they live there too. Unfortunately, the houses in this area are older and some (Jill's included) do not have central air conditioning. Even more unfortunately, Jill's house also lacks a window or portable A/C unit as well.
As remarkably resourceful people, Jill and her husband live through this. They keep the windows covered and fans running. They also keep properly hydrated. But it is HOT. We have had hot spells in MN before, but this year has really been a doozy. They have made it through all of it. There are plans to get a window unit next year, but until then, light clothing and shade are the name of the game.
So to all of you people out there who want to make fun of Minnesotans and how we wilt in the heat, I am here to tell you that some people are a lot tougher than you think. I should also add that Jill's husband is a native of Sweden, where they are even MORE accustomed to cold weather than us. As for Jill, I am fairly certain that if you asked her whether she prefers this or winter, she would still choose this.
Does this make them the toughest Minnesotans of the summer? I think it makes them strong contenders. I certainly know that the next time I think about complaining, I will think of them and hopefully keep my mouth shut and dream of snow. Lots and lots of snow.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Cry me a river
In case you didn't know, looking for a new job is tough. Thankfully, I am not in a position that I am without work and am at a point of desperation. However, with the end finally in sight for my MLIS degree, I am getting antsy about my prospects.
I suspect that this principle may apply to most professions, but in most of the library jobs I find that sound interesting, I am noticing that not only do they require a completed MLIS degree from an accredited school (which I will have after December), but they require at least some library experience.
To me, this means that I need to get a library job that doesn't have the degree requirement so that when I do have the degree I will be able to fulfill both of these areas. Got it?
The problem with this scenario is that library jobs without the degree requirement are typically not high-paying or even necessarily full time options. Personally, pay really isn't of huge interest to me. Unfortunately, the people who send me monthly statements and bills may feel differently. I own a house, which alone is enough to make me think twice about how much I can accept for income.
You may be thinking, "Why not just sell your house?" Well, it appears that the same thing that has happened to thousands of other homeowners in the U.S. has also happened to me. I bought high. I could go into all the complicated reasons why selling is a bit of a non-option for me at this point, but you don't want to hear that, right?
So... for the past few months I have been scanning posts and occasionally submitting applications and resumes for positions that I think I might have a chance at getting. So far, nothing has come of it. I am not sure if my resume is weak due to the fact that I have been at the same company for over nine years and it is the only job I have had since college. Or maybe I am not writing up the right qualities and job duties in my list of accomplishments. Maybe the font is off-putting. Who knows.
Today I actually filled out an application to a position for which I know that I am over-qualified. I wish that this could be some assurance that I would get it, but my confidence is really not that great any more.
Good grief, this is a whiny entry! Time to get a move on! Take a shower! Bring the dog to the groomer! Pick out a restaurant for dinner! Brush my teeth!
Maybe not in that order.
I suspect that this principle may apply to most professions, but in most of the library jobs I find that sound interesting, I am noticing that not only do they require a completed MLIS degree from an accredited school (which I will have after December), but they require at least some library experience.
To me, this means that I need to get a library job that doesn't have the degree requirement so that when I do have the degree I will be able to fulfill both of these areas. Got it?
The problem with this scenario is that library jobs without the degree requirement are typically not high-paying or even necessarily full time options. Personally, pay really isn't of huge interest to me. Unfortunately, the people who send me monthly statements and bills may feel differently. I own a house, which alone is enough to make me think twice about how much I can accept for income.
You may be thinking, "Why not just sell your house?" Well, it appears that the same thing that has happened to thousands of other homeowners in the U.S. has also happened to me. I bought high. I could go into all the complicated reasons why selling is a bit of a non-option for me at this point, but you don't want to hear that, right?
So... for the past few months I have been scanning posts and occasionally submitting applications and resumes for positions that I think I might have a chance at getting. So far, nothing has come of it. I am not sure if my resume is weak due to the fact that I have been at the same company for over nine years and it is the only job I have had since college. Or maybe I am not writing up the right qualities and job duties in my list of accomplishments. Maybe the font is off-putting. Who knows.
Today I actually filled out an application to a position for which I know that I am over-qualified. I wish that this could be some assurance that I would get it, but my confidence is really not that great any more.
Good grief, this is a whiny entry! Time to get a move on! Take a shower! Bring the dog to the groomer! Pick out a restaurant for dinner! Brush my teeth!
Maybe not in that order.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Plans for support
Well, it's Friday. Like all Fridays, this brings the question from any and all acquaintances, "So... what are your weekend plans?"
This time around, I just shrug and say, "Not much."
Just so you know, this is the truth. I officially have no set plans for the weekend. Of course, I do hope to get my dog in for a quick nail trim treatment and my usual place is unavailable so I may brave the aisles of Petsmart. Does that qualify as a plan?
Oh, and it is quite possible that I will embark on one of the most hated types of shopping imaginable (to a woman): bra shopping. About a year ago, I finally was introduced to the wonderful world of Nordstroms and their personal shoppers.
Note: if you are a guy who is related to me and get squeamish at talk of female undergarments worn by your sister/daughter/niece/other, read no further.
Back to Nordstroms. Ladies, this is one of the greatest setups I have ever heard of. You are ushered to your own dressing room and assigned your own salesgirl. She measures you to get an accurate reading (because who really knows their proper bra size), asks about style/needs/comfort and then whisks away to find you a dazzling array of options.
After giving you a chance to try them all on, she reassesses your mood and needs and then goes back for another round. This continues until you have what you want. Or give up, dissolve into tears and run as quickly as you can back to the parking ramp. But where did you leave your car? Never mind. That has never happened. To me.
I think that one of the reasons it is so nice is that you really truly do feel like someone is taking care of you. No longer do you have to dig through racks of delicates to find your size only to wonder if this particular brand runs big, small, loose, tight etc. Your new fairy bramother will do it for you!
There are only two downsides to this whole rigamarole.
1. Good bras are EXPENSIVE. I realize it is a necessary and worthwhile investment, but paying this much for a foundation garment is a little hard to accept sometimes. Especially when I am the only one who really ever sees it.
2. The only Nordstroms in MN is at the Mall of America. To be clear, I have nothing against the MOA itself. I simply hate that I have to contend with the crowds that show up to such a gross behemoth. I like to park near the store and get in and out quickly. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee of parking where and when you need it. There have been times when I have spent 30 minutes circling the levels of the parking ramp, only to end up parked in the middle of nowhere at the opposite end of the mall from my store. After parking, I must then fight my way through the crowded hallways clogged with double strollers and lollygagging out-of-towners. Grrrr.
So... it looks like I may be adding another plan to my weekend. True, it is one that is nearly guaranteed to raise my blood pressure, but at least I shall be properly supported.
This time around, I just shrug and say, "Not much."
Just so you know, this is the truth. I officially have no set plans for the weekend. Of course, I do hope to get my dog in for a quick nail trim treatment and my usual place is unavailable so I may brave the aisles of Petsmart. Does that qualify as a plan?
Oh, and it is quite possible that I will embark on one of the most hated types of shopping imaginable (to a woman): bra shopping. About a year ago, I finally was introduced to the wonderful world of Nordstroms and their personal shoppers.
Note: if you are a guy who is related to me and get squeamish at talk of female undergarments worn by your sister/daughter/niece/other, read no further.
Back to Nordstroms. Ladies, this is one of the greatest setups I have ever heard of. You are ushered to your own dressing room and assigned your own salesgirl. She measures you to get an accurate reading (because who really knows their proper bra size), asks about style/needs/comfort and then whisks away to find you a dazzling array of options.
After giving you a chance to try them all on, she reassesses your mood and needs and then goes back for another round. This continues until you have what you want. Or give up, dissolve into tears and run as quickly as you can back to the parking ramp. But where did you leave your car? Never mind. That has never happened. To me.
I think that one of the reasons it is so nice is that you really truly do feel like someone is taking care of you. No longer do you have to dig through racks of delicates to find your size only to wonder if this particular brand runs big, small, loose, tight etc. Your new fairy bramother will do it for you!
There are only two downsides to this whole rigamarole.
1. Good bras are EXPENSIVE. I realize it is a necessary and worthwhile investment, but paying this much for a foundation garment is a little hard to accept sometimes. Especially when I am the only one who really ever sees it.
2. The only Nordstroms in MN is at the Mall of America. To be clear, I have nothing against the MOA itself. I simply hate that I have to contend with the crowds that show up to such a gross behemoth. I like to park near the store and get in and out quickly. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee of parking where and when you need it. There have been times when I have spent 30 minutes circling the levels of the parking ramp, only to end up parked in the middle of nowhere at the opposite end of the mall from my store. After parking, I must then fight my way through the crowded hallways clogged with double strollers and lollygagging out-of-towners. Grrrr.
So... it looks like I may be adding another plan to my weekend. True, it is one that is nearly guaranteed to raise my blood pressure, but at least I shall be properly supported.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Happy Anniversary!
Good news, world. My air conditioner works! Turns out I am not crazy and there was a problem. But not a hugely expensive problem.
Truly Wednesday was a day full of amazing discoveries. My air conditioner works, therefore Lena and I were able to sleep in our OWN bed last night. The one I paid for. In the house where I keep most of my stuff. I say most because I do keep a few things at my parents' house. Still.
Once the A/C was under control at a relatively minimal cost (relative to the $2000 I was afraid it would be), I made a Target run. Not too exciting to some, but keep in mind that I have not made a full-on Target run for two months. Pretty exciting to me.
In this Target run, I managed to acquire many essentials along with the inevitable impulse buys. Such is par for the course at Target. I went in to get laundry detergent, juice, milk, water and a baby gate. I came out with laundry detergent, juice, ALMOND milk in two flavors, water, a baby gate, season one of "Modern Family," Triscuits, KaBOOM! bathroom cleaner, 409 Spray, Raid bug killing spray, OFF! mosquito repellent, a new retractable leash (in pink) and hamburger buns. Don't judge. It was all necessary.
I returned home to an excrement and urine-free properly air conditioned home to find my dog calmly awaiting my arrival. It was nice. I then proceeded to put away groceries and spray Raid around all my outside doors. Don't worry, I kept Lena away from the spray as directed by the instructions. No worries.
Today I am testing out the baby gate. You see, I am embarking on a new phase of life for my dog. I really REALLY hate kenneling her when I am out and have long hoped to be able to trust her to be unconfined during the day. I am realistic about this; I realize that there may be some accidents. That is why I bought the Bissell Spot Bot several months ago, right?
This is also the purpose behind the baby gate purchase. While I do not think that Lena would actually choose to spend much time upstairs, there really is no need for her to have access to the second floor of my house while I am away, so I am trying out the gate to see if it will help her remember to stay downstairs. If push came to shove, I am certain that my dog could scale (or leap over) this impediment, but I don't think she has much impetus to do so. Her water dish and toys are all downstairs. Plus she has access to a couch, two chairs and her dog bed. Plus my living room is carpeted.
I am strongly tempted to go home at noon to let her out, although she has been known to hold her bladder all day while kenneled. Again, I am OK with accidents. When I see the state of my house this afternoon, I may change my tune, but for now I am fine.
On a different note, this weekend is going to be a strange one for me. Why? I have absolutely nothing planned for it. No homework, no parties, no trips. It will be even weirder because this is normally the weekend that I go to Ely, MN with my mom and friends for our girls' cabin weekend extraordinaire. We have known for a long time that this year was not going to happen (although it would have been our 10th anniversary). I doubt that we will attempt to do any of our normal activities down here in civilization, so we will just have to renew our antics next year. I wonder if the local fisherman will miss us.
To change the subject yet again, it appears that I have now been blogging on this blog for one whole year! In the grand world of blogging, I don't know how that rates, but I am pretty impressed with myself for not abandoning the endeavor last August. My stats and follower list may not impress that many, but the fact that anyone reads this at all is enough for me. Here's to another year!
Truly Wednesday was a day full of amazing discoveries. My air conditioner works, therefore Lena and I were able to sleep in our OWN bed last night. The one I paid for. In the house where I keep most of my stuff. I say most because I do keep a few things at my parents' house. Still.
Once the A/C was under control at a relatively minimal cost (relative to the $2000 I was afraid it would be), I made a Target run. Not too exciting to some, but keep in mind that I have not made a full-on Target run for two months. Pretty exciting to me.
In this Target run, I managed to acquire many essentials along with the inevitable impulse buys. Such is par for the course at Target. I went in to get laundry detergent, juice, milk, water and a baby gate. I came out with laundry detergent, juice, ALMOND milk in two flavors, water, a baby gate, season one of "Modern Family," Triscuits, KaBOOM! bathroom cleaner, 409 Spray, Raid bug killing spray, OFF! mosquito repellent, a new retractable leash (in pink) and hamburger buns. Don't judge. It was all necessary.
I returned home to an excrement and urine-free properly air conditioned home to find my dog calmly awaiting my arrival. It was nice. I then proceeded to put away groceries and spray Raid around all my outside doors. Don't worry, I kept Lena away from the spray as directed by the instructions. No worries.
Today I am testing out the baby gate. You see, I am embarking on a new phase of life for my dog. I really REALLY hate kenneling her when I am out and have long hoped to be able to trust her to be unconfined during the day. I am realistic about this; I realize that there may be some accidents. That is why I bought the Bissell Spot Bot several months ago, right?
This is also the purpose behind the baby gate purchase. While I do not think that Lena would actually choose to spend much time upstairs, there really is no need for her to have access to the second floor of my house while I am away, so I am trying out the gate to see if it will help her remember to stay downstairs. If push came to shove, I am certain that my dog could scale (or leap over) this impediment, but I don't think she has much impetus to do so. Her water dish and toys are all downstairs. Plus she has access to a couch, two chairs and her dog bed. Plus my living room is carpeted.
I am strongly tempted to go home at noon to let her out, although she has been known to hold her bladder all day while kenneled. Again, I am OK with accidents. When I see the state of my house this afternoon, I may change my tune, but for now I am fine.
On a different note, this weekend is going to be a strange one for me. Why? I have absolutely nothing planned for it. No homework, no parties, no trips. It will be even weirder because this is normally the weekend that I go to Ely, MN with my mom and friends for our girls' cabin weekend extraordinaire. We have known for a long time that this year was not going to happen (although it would have been our 10th anniversary). I doubt that we will attempt to do any of our normal activities down here in civilization, so we will just have to renew our antics next year. I wonder if the local fisherman will miss us.
To change the subject yet again, it appears that I have now been blogging on this blog for one whole year! In the grand world of blogging, I don't know how that rates, but I am pretty impressed with myself for not abandoning the endeavor last August. My stats and follower list may not impress that many, but the fact that anyone reads this at all is enough for me. Here's to another year!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
A/C Update
Well, readers, I must admit defeat. My heroic attempts to avoid paying a repairman for my air conditioner have all failed. I was supremely optimistic after replacing the filters. It may have been wishful thinking, but I thought the air in the vents felt cooler before I left.
When I returned after work, it was clear that I was delusional. It was 75 when I left and it was 75 when I returned. No change, but after I moved around in there a bit, it moved up to 76. Clearly, there is a need for professional help. Rats.
I did briefly contemplate living with it and simply sitting completely still all the time. But I don't know if Lena is capable of that, nor do I want to make her do so while I am away at work. So... tomorrow should be interesting. Hopefully by evening I will be back in my own bed. With my dog. And a nice, cool breeze.
When I returned after work, it was clear that I was delusional. It was 75 when I left and it was 75 when I returned. No change, but after I moved around in there a bit, it moved up to 76. Clearly, there is a need for professional help. Rats.
I did briefly contemplate living with it and simply sitting completely still all the time. But I don't know if Lena is capable of that, nor do I want to make her do so while I am away at work. So... tomorrow should be interesting. Hopefully by evening I will be back in my own bed. With my dog. And a nice, cool breeze.
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