Thoughts of the Day

Mostly this is me waving to you saying Hi from the blog world.  :)

I so love being able to burn CDs now.  I just burned a couple for my mom...one of a playlist I made back in December, and one I made today.  I hope she likes them, or at least finds a song or two that she likes on them.

Also, yes, I am procrastinating.  I need to do the dishes.  I also need to vacuum, but can't do that until Daisy wakes up.  It would be rude to wake up a sleeping cat.

Travel coming up: leaving tomorrow for the last (!) Murfreesboro/Franklin teaching run.  Heading to Winston-Salem on May 15, and then riding with Kate to Richmond for the weekend of May 16-17.  Busch Gardens!!!  Babysitting Alex at my grandparents' house from May 27-June 2, and then leaving on June 13 for LA.  Will be spending time in LA, San Diego, and Las Vegas.  Sooooo looking forward to that vacation!

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

I'm writing this blog entry from my shiny new iMac.  :)  I bought it on Thursday and I absolutely love it.  Hooray!

Now I have to make sure I get off this thing every once in awhile to get to my knitting.  I'm dreadfully behind on my projects, and friends keep popping out babies.  Sigh.  One day, maybe when I'm in my 40s, I'll be caught up on baby projects.  I want to make the scarf that my friend Carrie is making.

I've got something else, too, that my facebook friends already know.  But I want to wait until I have a chance to send something to my mom before announcing it here.  Oooh, the suspense.  ;)

I wish there was a way to go to "sugar rehab" as I've determined that it is definitely my problem right now.  I'm working on it though.  It's just very very very hard.

I'll leave you with a picture taken earlier this month of me and my friends Librarian Amy and Food/Crafts/Books Girl (and her baby, Charlotte).

100_0997

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

I'm writing this blog entry from my shiny new iMac.  :)  I bought it on Thursday and I absolutely love it.  Hooray!

Now I have to make sure I get off this thing every once in awhile to get to my knitting.  I'm dreadfully behind on my projects, and friends keep popping out babies.  Sigh.  One day, maybe when I'm in my 40s, I'll be caught up on baby projects.  I want to make the scarf that my friend Carrie is making.

I've got something else, too, that my facebook friends already know.  But I want to wait until I have a chance to send something to my mom before announcing it here.  Oooh, the suspense.  ;)

I wish there was a way to go to "sugar rehab" as I've determined that it is definitely my problem right now.  I'm working on it though.  It's just very very very hard.

I'll leave you with a picture taken earlier this month of me and my friends Librarian Amy and Food/Crafts/Books Girl (and her baby, Charlotte).

100_0997

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

It's been a crazy winter.  Lots going on, and I found myself lost in deep thought more than I care to remember.  Trust me, there have been good things, but also things for me to reflect on.

Enough about that.  It's Spring!!  Trees are blooming, the tulips and daffodils are coming out, and except for the frigid (40-something) weather today, Spring has been glorious.

Today was my first ever 5K!  I finished, I didn't die (or even hurt too terribly bad), and I wasn't last place.  ;)  My time was 49:46.4 doing a walk/jog combo.  I was hoping for under 45 minutes, but I'll take under 50.  Next time I'm going to work on beating my time, and eventually I want to jog an entire 5K.  Heck, maybe I'll do the half-marathon one day.  Time will tell...

Update on TV stuffs: I've started watching Life, and absolutely love it.  LOVE it.  Still watching Lost, as I figure I need to stick it out at this point.  I've pretty much given up on Heroes.  Gossip Girl is crazy fun as always.  I'm curious to see how Biggest Loser turns out.  And I've also been watching Dollhouse.  I didn't like it much at first, but it's finally starting to come together better.  I'll stick it out until Fox cancels it (which given how Fox treats Joss Whedon shows on Friday nights, it won't be long...).  Oh, and 24 has been amazingly awesome again this season.

I've got some more travel coming up.  Visiting my brother and some friends next weekend, then conferencing and visiting family in Nashville the next week.  I love spending Easter with my sister, as it means coloring eggs and watching her hunt them. 

Sadly, I won't get to go to the upcoming MLA conference in Honolulu.  But I've got a SoCal/Vegas vacation planned for June, so I will get some beach time before too long.  :) 

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

It's really snowing here.  Big fluffy flakes that look super-soft.  It's sticking to the rooftops, grassy areas, and tops of cars.  I actually don't mind the snow right now because I don't have to leave the apartment until tomorrow morning.  I'm just watching it from my bedroom window while goofing off online, listening to music, and drinking my second cup of tea.  I'll be exercising soon, but for now, I like chilling out and watching the snow.

Sadly, I didn't document this past weekend with photographs.  My dad and Alex came to visit me yesterday.  We went to the Lady Vols game (yay, we won!) and had a great night.  They left early this morning, and I'm glad I'll be seeing them again soon for Alex's birthday (she'll be *6*!!).  Daisy is taking a long morning nap to recover.  Actually, she did great...Alex was calmer with her, and Daisy rewarded her by not spending all of the time under the bed.

I know there is more to update on, but for now, I'm just going to watch the snow...

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

I now have a shiny new *pink* iPod nano!  I love it.

What are y'all listening to these days?  What do I need to check out?

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

Happy New Year, everyone!  2008 was a terrific year for me, and 2009 promises to be better.  This is the year that my weight will finally get to good.  I'm going to do at least one 5K.  I'll be graduating from EfM in May.  And I'll likely start ballet lessons in the fall.

Of course I have travel plans already.  I'm hoping to have my trip to Hawaii approved (for the MLA conference).  I'll also be making a trip west in June to visit friends in SoCal (LA and San Diego) and will be making a side trip to Vegas for a friend's birthday party.  Yay!

I do have some resolutions.  They're pretty boring, so I'm not going to list them all here.  Overall, today I'm in a better place than I was this time last year on so many fronts.  It's going to be a fantastic year!

Finally, a quote from the awesome Neil Gaiman:

...I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you'll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you'll make something that didn't exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind.

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

Taken from uncagedbird.  I don't normally do these, but thought this one was interesting...

****

THE 99 THINGS MEME

Things you’ve already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven’t done and don’t want to - leave in plain font

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland/world.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person.
41. Sung Karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

No, this is not a post about bread (though I will be finishing it up tomorrow!).

After making some sort-of plans for New Year's Eve last night, I couldn't help but be reminded on NYE last year.  I wrote this on the 30th.  My grandmother died the next day.  After work, I went home to pack, then stopped at the liquor store for wine and champagne on my way out of town.  I spend NYE with my mom in a hotel room in Cookeville.  It was a really hard night.

While I will take time this year to remember my grandmother (she was such a lovely woman), I'm also planning on ringing in the new year on a happier note.  Just as long as no one dies...

I'm on Christmas break now...no more work until December 29!  I look forward to this break every year, and am looking forward to having time to relax.  And clean out my closets.

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

I'm all done with baking banana and zucchini bread.  I haven't made as much of those as pumpkin (more tomorrow) or friendship (more next weekend), which is fine, because my freezer probably couldn't handle more.  However, the freezer is almost empty of bread now...I mailed off several loaves this morning.  Hooray!

I think that next year instead of getting myself in a baking frenzy, I'm going to knit as many prayer shawls as possible.  There is a shawl ministry at my church, and I know they'd love to receive some.  I figure if I start in November next year, I can get 2-3 done by the first of the year.

I really should get away from the computer now and start tackling the TiVo.  I think it's about to pop!  I know I've got about 3 episodes of Pushing Daisies to watch...I'm so sad that it got canceled!

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

I'm currently in Christmas baking mode.  I've been baking mini-loaves of banana, zucchini, friendship, and pumpkin breads.  Whew.  My freezer is full of carbs to be given away!  They're being given out locally & through the mail.  Some regular readers of this blog will be getting some, whether they know it or not!

I chose quickbreads this year because while I like them, they aren't tempting to me the way yeast breads are.  I still salivate when thinking of yeast breads.  Best to stay away for now.  I'm considering making some fudge, too, but that might have to be put off until another year as well.  As it is, it really feels like the Christmas season to have so many wonderful aromas in my apartment.  I'm currently immersed in pumpkin.  :)

Quick poll:  Which iPod nano color should I choose when I buy myself one for Christmas?

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

But it's a good ouch!  Today I did workout one of week four of the Couch-to-5K program.  It's a lot of jogging.  It took me 26.5 minutes to do the workout, then I walked for awhile, for a total of 45 minutes.  Plus a 20-minute workout first thing this morning, so 65 minutes today.  Whew. 

Then again, I did 105 minutes total yesterday.  So this was kind of an off day.  :)

I've lost 30 pounds since Sept. 4 (as of November 20).  My next band adjustment/weigh-in is on December 11.  Hooray!!!

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

I babysat my little sister this weekend (she's 5.5, will be 6 in February).  She, like most kids her age, is starting to get excited about Christmas.

An actual conversation that took place this morning:

Me: What do you want for Christmas, Alex?
Alex: A dinosaur.
Me: What else do you want?
Alex: Ming-Ming.
Me: Anything else?
Alex: No, that's two things.  That's enough!

My dad was also blown away by this.  She just doesn't ask for stuff...this is the first year she's even asked for anything for Christmas.  In this consumer culture, it's so refreshing to see this mindset just happen. 

If I ever have children, I hope I can instill this kind of mindset in them somehow.

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

Starting on Tuesday, I'm going to be co-teaching a series of CE classes for public librarians in middle & east Tennessee.  I was thinking that I'd wear my nice suit.  It's been through a few interviews over the years and the occasional board meeting.  I'm packing for my first trip right now, and when I got it out I realized something.

It doesn't fit anymore.  And I don't have anything else near that formal I can wear.

I'm going to wear a nice outfit, and hope that I look decent enough.  I'm sure I'll be fine. 

It's really happening this time, huh?  The weight loss, I mean.  It is really really happening. 

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

Today I started my holiday baking.  I got the starter going for the friendship bread, and have made 2 mini-loaves of banana bread and 2 mini-loaves of zucchini bread.  I still have to figure out how I'm distributing the loaves (and there will be many more mini-loaves to come!) but they freeze well and it'll be great having impromptu gifts on hand.

If I wanted to be really productive, I could start addressing Christmas card envelopes.  That would mean finding the Christmas cards that I bought last year but never even got around to opening...

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

Today was one of the worst college football days I've had in a long time.  Sigh.  I need to just focus on the fact that yay, I got to go to the game, but still...the game was a let down.

So happy stuff...  I can feel muscles in my arms and legs.  Seriously.  It's amazing and awesome and makes me want to exercise even more!  And today I jogged for 6 minutes straight.  Woo hoo!  As I was telling a few friends today, I sometimes feel like I've been body-snatched or something.  It's strange feeling so energized about exercise, but I love it!

I'm heading to the Nashville area on Thursday to babysit my little sister and her puppy.  Here is a picture of Sandy, now about a year and a half:

SandyDog

Isn't she beautiful?

I just walked into my kitchen to turn off the light, and could smell the bananas on the counter.  Yep, they're really ripe, so I'll be baking banana bread tomorrow.  I think I'll bake a couple of mini loaves and freeze them for Christmas presents.  Then buy more bananas to make a couple more mini loaves.  I haven't decide what other baking/candy-making I'll do if any.  I should figure that out before buying more bananas, huh? 

For those looking for more post-op updates...I had my first band adjustment on Thursday, and can really tell a difference.  I've lost 26.8 pounds so far since September 4, and my surgeon is pleased with the progress.  My next adjustment is on November 20.

Good night!

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

While goofing off on the Lush Scavenger Hunt, a winner has been declared!

Hooray!!!

Now I can go to bed.  :)

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

I'd really like to stay up to see a presidential candidate get to 270 electoral votes.  However, I'm afraid I'll miss that big moment, as I need to go to bed soon.

See, there's the wellness program at work tomorrow.  Three sessions are being offered, and the only one I'll be able to attend is at 7:15a.  So I'm going to that (it includes 15 minutes of a core workout), and will have 30 minutes to do some cardio before getting freshened up & dressed for work.  A few months ago this would have been unthinkable to me.  Now I really want this wellness series to succeed, and I'm getting some exercise in early, even though I already have walking plans for tomorrow night.  What a change.

Speaking of changes, tonight I was able to jog for 5 minutes straight on the treadmill without dying.  :)  I'm 99% sure I'll be doing a 5K (walk/jog combo) in March.  Yay!  At least a couple of my friends are considering doing it, too, so that should be a lot of fun.

I got my hair chopped yesterday.  Here are a couple of pics I took with my trusty work webcam:

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com

I just now got caught up with reading posts in my neighborhood, and realized that I haven't written since 9/21.  Oops.

Not that a whole lot is happening.  Mostly, I work, workout (either gym or walking), tidy up the apartment, and go to bed.  But I have had some fun in the past couple of months as well. 

First of all, baby shower pictures (8/31/08)  Here are pics of the blankie:

And then the recipient with the blankie:

Rrg_blanket

It was a fun weekend, and a good way to have some fun before starting the pre-op liquid diet.

Since I last posted, I had a really fun trip to St. Louis to visit my friend Erin and her pets.  We saw the zoo and the sculpture garden, and naturally I forgot my camera.  Oh well!

I went to the TN/AL game last night, which had a sad outcome, but I still had fun at the game.  The week before, my dad and I went to the TN/Miss St. game, which was fun and had an excellent outcome.  For those keeping track, this means I've been to three football games this season, which is a personal record!  I'm happy to just get to one game per season. 

As it's getting later, and I have to be up early tomorrow (heading to the SC/MLA conference in Birmingham, AL), I'm quickly running out of stuff to talk about.  So, I'll leave you with a picture that is my current Facebook profile pic, and one I've had compliments on (gotta love the webcam at work!):

Picture 12

p.s. I voted this week--be sure to vote early or on November 4!

Originally posted on medlibrarygirl.vox.com