Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

So, here we sit on the cusp of another year. I am still planning on taking a road trip out to Massachusetts to the farm, though that nearly didn't happen. I asked my wonderful mechanic bro A3 to change my oil and flush my transmission for me and upon doing these things he found a few EXPENSIVE other things that needed tending. And being the Boy Wonder that he is, he is fixing everything and footing the bill for my Christmas/Graduation present. He is awesome. However due to the holidays and part stores being closed, my on order parts won't be in until after the 3rd, so no driving to Buffalo to meet up with B1&B2... So, I checked Amtrak and found that the train I needed to get there is sold out already...and so what did this young traveler decide on. *Cringe* That is right, I am taking a good old Greyhound to Buffalo to meet up with B1&B2 and then continue on to the farm in their car. Now don't get me wrong. I love traveling and I will do it any way possible and somet...

I woke up this morning to find big downy flakes falling to the ground as silently as they were made. These are the days that it is hardest to get out of bed. These are the days that I pray the snow will come down and gather around our house, piling higher and higher, until all is tucked in neatly and there is no coming or going. However, the majesty of the snowfall only lasted as long as it took me to get to work and then the snow disappeared. Even in its brevity this was the type of snowfall I wanted on Christmas, however, true to the current trend in Michigan the last few years, we recieved none. I am glad Christmas is over. I am glad that soon people will stop asking me how it was for my family without Dad. I wish I could bury my head in the sand to their questions; shout over their voice, scream until my mouth is full of sand, and can make no reply. I hate the mopey expressions that people make, trying to pry into my sadness with their very eyes. I feel as though people ask...

I started digging to find my favorite Christmas-esque scenes/lines from movies and I was pleased with what I found. In spirit of my 14's lists, here goes: 1. Charles De Mar: "Ah, come on! It's Christmas Eve! I could be home right now, drinking this *monster* eggnog my brother makes with lighter fluid." ~ Better Off Dead I also love the present opening scene on Christmas day, where his mother is dressed like a reindeer, his father gets an ardvark jacket and the kids get freezer dinners. Pan out to the neighbors Christmas when the French foreign exchange student gets a framed picture of Ricky. I LOVE THIS MOVIE! 2. When Zuzu says to George Bailey, "Look, daddy! Teacher says, every time a bell rings, an Angel gets his wings." George quietly agrees, "Attaboy, Clarence," as "Auld Lang Syne" rings out. That scene makes me cry everytime. (I also love that if George had never been around, Mary became a spinster librarian--see pic) ~ It's a W...

I never liked holidays growing up--there was always something--I will leave it at that. When I lived out East at the farm I stayed there for every single holiday for nearly three years, absorbing some of the farms traditions; and then continued to go back for some of the holidays even after moving back to Michigan. Now with Dad gone I know that I am especially dreading this Christmas. I went to a Christmas party a couple of weeks ago at a friends house and someone overheard me say that I hated Christmas music; this after talking about how marginalized the real idea of Christmas has become, and how our culture has taken Christmas and made it into this horrible "shop-fest." My friend Chris called me Grinch. Maybe he is right. So, I have decided in the spirit of my 14 things that make me happy mode , I will list 14 alternative things to do this holiday season. And maybe even share some of the memories too. 1. Make pinecone bird feeders . This link will take you to directions if ...

Well, I guess it's official. If you will notice I changed my blog header. I have graduated from the Monster Library Student to the Monster Librarian. Holy cats!

I went to a funeral home last night. A church acquaintance from my former life--what seems like five hundred years ago--committed suicide Friday morning. She was 28 years old. And then College K's Grandfather passed away Saturday night. College K said that she thinks that death comes in three, with these two current deaths and my Dad's--two months ago this week. I don't know if College K is right or not, but either way I wanted something to cheer us up, so I decided to make a list, and then it turned into a playlist. I like making lists--no I love making lists. And I love that movie High Fidelity with John Cusak. And I love that he makes "Top __ Lists. So, here as I sit at the end of my Masters, I would like to look back on the music I enjoyed this past year. If it is true that death comes in threes, well, then music should come in fourteens. So, College K, I dedicate these to you, links to fourteen of my favorite songs of '07. ENJOY! (Sorry I couldn't po...

Graduate School is over. Wow. It feels strange. When I started this program just over a year ago I felt like I would never be able to say that. And looking back now I can't believe how fast the time has gone, especially, mercifully this last semester. My best friend L asked me if I was excited--when I called her Saturday afternoon to say that I had submitted my last paper--excitement isn't the word I would use. Glad that it's over--certainly, but there are so many things to think about. I feel tired more than anything. It is amazing that I could do all nighters with no sleep a few times a week to get all my papers and projects done, but now that everything is turned in I can't believe I ever was able to do that. All I want to do is have a serious Rip Van Winkle, and catch up and then, maybe after all the sleep the excitement will settle in. I feel like too much life has happened this semester. Death, Graduation, Finding a new job, possibly moving again. Oh, argh, ...