Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Back In The Saddle Again

Spring semester has officially arrived, peeps. I started my web-based class last night, which included beginning the readings I have to do before next Tuesday (four book chapters with eight journal articles to use to create a 400-500 word reaction paper). Tonight is the first in-class section. Should be a hoot. Wish me luck.

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Just When Your Faith In Humanity Was Just About Shot...

I have to admit upfront that I am a crier. Movies, TV shows, books, commercials even. Doesn't matter the format, I've cried tears of sorrow, happiness or sentimentality more times than I care to admit. I did it again this morning when I read this article. Since I'm at one end of the spectrum, I can't guarantee that you'll all have the same reaction, but I'd be willing to bet that at the very least you'll "get something in your eye" as TLS likes to say.

(Hat tip to my cousin, Brittany, for the link.)

Monday, January 05, 2009

Haiku Anyone?

In my very younger days, I used to write poetry. They were very earnest poems, full of angsty teenage feelings. I'm pretty sure that I threw them all away at some point and probably rightly so. I have a feeling that they would be almost painful to read from my (much) older and (much) wiser vantage point. That being said, however, I do still like to put pencil to paper for something creative.

I was driving home one day last week just as the sun was setting. The sky was a beautiful orange color and there was the barest hint of a cresent moon right next to the planet Jupiter. It was so gorgeous that I was moved to write the following haiku*. Enjoy!

Winter Evening
Lovely orange sky
Crescent moon, planet glowing
Dusk is falling fast

*A short poem in the Japanese style consisting of 17 syllables broken into three lines with five, seven, and five syllables, respectively.

Friday, January 02, 2009

One Of Those Lists That No One Wants To Read

The author of one of the blogs I read religiously posted her answers to these questions. I am always open to "borrowing" good ideas so, despite no one asking for them, here are mine:

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Flew in a glider (and actually flew it for about 10 minutes) in front of the Tetons. It was super awesomely fantastically wonderful. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Let's see. As I recall, my resolution last year was to stay away from vodka. I believe that I kept it fairly well. I'm not big on the new year's resolutions, so I'd have to say that I don't have any for 2009.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes. My friend Amy O. had an adorable little boy, Trey.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. Thank goodness.

5. What countries did you visit?
Does Idaho count?

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Can't think of a thing. Well, aside from world peace. Oh, and a pony.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I've got nothing for this one. Just as 2008 didn't have any reeeealy bad things, there weren't any "stop the presses this is awesome" ones either.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting up off my duff and actually starting grad school.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Keeping my crankiness in check.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Unless you count the dreaded 21 day cold from November/December, nope.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Okay, I didn't buy it, but it has to be my iPod Touch. Awesome! (Thanks, TLS.)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Drawing a blank on this one. Can't even come up with something amusing.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
See answer #12.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Hmm. Mortgage, car payment, electric bill, gasoline. Okay, this answer is depressing me. Moving on...

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Making an "A" in SLIS 5200 (Introduction to the Organization of Information a.k.a. The A**-Kicker)

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
For sheer numbers of radio plays, Flo Rida "Low" (And how sad is it that an almost forty year old lists a hip-hop song for this question. Think young, think young, think young.)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Same
b) thinner or fatter? Same
c) richer or poorer? Same, apparently, I'm nothing if not consistent

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Reading, travelling, catching up with friends

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Homework. Ugh.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas Eve with the in-laws and Christmas Day with my mother and brother

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Nope. Just happy to still be in love with the darling TLS. (And glad that the feeling is mutual.)

22. What was your favorite TV program?
(Tie) Pushing Daisies and Life

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is such a strong word. Let me think. ... Still thinking. ... Nope, no added hatred.

24. What was the best book you read?
Oy! This is a hard one. Must be Then We Came To The End by Joshua Ferris. It was well-written, funny and poignant. Recommended.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Has to be last.fm You can listen to music and create your own "radio station" by typing in a favorite artist name and they will stream songs from similar artists.

26. What did you want and get?
A 4.0 for my first semester of grad school

27. What did you want and not get?
Can't think of anything. I must be lucky that way.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Well, technically this was from late 2007, but I'm going to have to say Lars and the Real Girl. If you haven't seen it, give it a try. It has a fairly wacky concept (lonely, alienated, eccentric guy buys a life-size doll and pretends that she's real and the whole town plays along) but it had more true heart that most of the traditional relationship movies I've ever seen.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Had a small surprise party with some friends put together by TLS. I was the dreaded 39.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Winning the lottery. Yeah, that's about it.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Just glad the clothes still fit.

32. What kept you sane?
My friends and TLS

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Daniel Craig ain't too hard on the eyes.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election is finally over.

35. Who did you miss?
My grandma.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
My school BFF Mary. She kept me sane during SLIS 5200.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
You can do anything you put your mind to. (Dorky and not very original, I know, but it's all I've got.)

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
In the "getting motivated" column, from the song, Believe by The Bravery
Waiting for our ship to come but our ship's not coming back
We do have time like pennies in a jar
What are we saving for?

Thursday, January 01, 2009

All Is Quiet On New Years Day...

New Years Day checklist:
The Making and eating of my spicy black eyed pea recipe? CHECK.
Putting up the new Christmas card photos on the fridge? CHECK.


Happy New Year! May 2009 be even better than 2008.