1. Wake up because am fully refreshed by sleep and amazing dreams.
2. Chirpy cat to talk at and respond in kind.
3. JP Licks coffee in my mouth. Oh, you black gold, you!
4. Non-obnoxious morning radio (I've been listening to KEXP - 90.3 FM Seattle through iTunes Radio).
5. Oatmeal - not instant [shudder] - with dried cranberries in.
6. Good book/magazine to read while feeding self.
7. Afternoon work shift.

This did not all happen this morning, but enough ingredients were available to make things pretty nice.

The weekend was uneventful in a good way. I accomplished some little things that have been annoying me - re-potted plants, did monster laundry, changed Bet Li's water, etc. Much coffee was consumed, and I've been oh so enjoying my Rogue Ale from Oregon (run the cursor over the Brewdog - are your speakers on?). Dana and I went to Wild Oats for lunch and grocery shopping when she visited and they had my very favorite beer, Dead Guy Ale. I was never surprised to find Rogue in Boston, hey-it's BOSTON, but to come across such a prize in the microbrew-challenged wilds of Nebraska is heartwarming.

I'm experimenting with All Consuming to keep track of my reading. That may be a lie; I have lists, physical and virtual, scattered around my home in various notebooks and journals and paper scraps and on the internet on multiple websites. This is not simplifying the situation, but I do like the formatted "what I'm reading" blurb for this blog (see right column).

+ I've got a wishlist on Amazon, though it is more of a Think About list than a To Buy list. I wish it was a To Buy list.
+ Years ago I set up an account at AlexLit to take advantage of their excellent recommender, but I'm up to my neck in books I want to read. (You rate books, either by a list the site suggests or going in and selecting your own books to rate, and it pops out a list. Much better than the recs at Amazon).

I compiled a list of the books I read last year - 80. I wonder how that compares with my year at Simmons.

I lost a post this morning - argh. I am looking forward to upgrading my computer OS in the near future. Apple will soon be releasing Tiger. Don't know when or how I'll upgrade, but it will be soon. I also want to get the near 1000 photos off my hard drive and onto CDs so they don't eat up so much space.

Bruce and I saw House of Flying Daggers last night (both of us were disappointed) and besides being distracted by the rude audience members doing such things as talking on cell phones, I noticed a movie poster for Girls in Pants, the selfsame book I finished reading yesterday. The book was good, but man, I got tired of getting up to blow my nose and dry my eyes. Sob sob, boo hoo, sniffle snuff. Wads of damp used tissue cascaded down my lap and made playthings for Keaton -- who is in the doghouse big time for climbing up the ledge and knocking Bruce's hookah onto the floor, breaking the base off and denting the hardwood flooring in the process. Bad kitty.

Though the movie was un-stellar, there were two previews that gave me some hope:

+ A new Jet Li, Unleashed.
+ The Interpreter with Nicole Kidman.

While I was poking around for sites, I discovered that they've turned Because of Winn-Dixie into a movie. The preview did not excite me. What do you think? I've already gone into personal detail with some of you about my lack of enthusiasm for the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film, despite my intense love for Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. When is the movie world going to acknowledge that Willy Wonka is three feet tall, has a black, pointy beard, and wears bottle green pants? AT LEAST give me the pants, Mr Burton! Please!

But not to fear, for Johnny and Mr Burton have something in store for Halloween that may make up for the mess they are making of Roald Dahl's book: Corpse Bride. Mwah ah ah!

Today I gathered info on my favorite authors' upcoming books. Diana Wynne Jones has a new one coming in MARCH, which makes me so happy. She just had her 70th birthday. I hope that woman never dies. Robin McKinley won the Mythopoeic Award for Adult Fantasy for Sunshine which made me want to write her a letter of congratulations. I love her. I want to be her when I grow up - her AND DWJ. That's my Life Goal: to become an odd and fascinating combination of Diana Wynne Jones and Robin McKinley. I got the odd part down. Now I just need to write some fabulous children's books and move to England.

(If you aren't familiar with the Mythopoeic Society, you should be - the winning books make an awesome reading list.) (Unless your name is Susan W.; then it's just plain hell.)

I took a trip up to bad old Barnes and Noble to transform a Christmas gift into something I wanted. My first choice was The Gravedigger's Cottage for March book club. I couldn't find a copy on the shelf, so I went to the Information Station to ask. The Station was empty, so I got ready to be patient. Just a moment after I'd leaned against the counter, a youthful high school boy steps up (there was an obscene number of teenagers there - was school out today?) and goes, "How you doin'?" in a Joey-from-Friends manner.

There was a pause...
...maybe a beat or two...
...and I think I gave him a teacher look...
...as I replied, "Fiiiine."

Suddenly, the manager stepped into the Station and asked who she could help first; Mr. Joey-from-Friends and I looked at each other and he admitted I'd been there first.

So I ask about the Lynch book and she says they do not have it but they can order it, blah blah blah, and I thank her and turn to leave, but not before hearing the young man ask for help finding his book of choice, a Kama Sutra.

Ah.

I picked up a copy of Paul Fleischman's Breakout instead (the paperback cover is gorgeous and such an improvement over the hardback. And both are better than the galleys we read in YA at Simmons, though that was pretty cool; just inconvenient.

OH - the third Traveling Pants book came in the other day and I checked it out. So far, so good. I still think the four girls are superduper way unrealistically close, but maybe that's just my antisocial self talking. I keep getting them mixed up and have to keep a cheatsheet at hand.

Tomorrow I'm a 5th grade teacher. Hoo-ah!

Last year, at this time, I was pretty sure I would be living in Omaha in 2005. I did not imagine that I'd be sitting by myself in a small-town, one room library, signing UPS deliveries and listening to a group of nice old ladies play bridge in the meeting room. Again, I'm the youngest person employed, again I'm the only unmarried one, again I'm making crap money. Or the money is okay, it's just my limited hours that are...limiting.

That's not a complaint - it's just something I quirk my eyebrow at. Or, it was a complaint, but isn't now; I'm okay with the above situation. This entry started yesterday while I was at work and contemplating how things never turn out the way you think. And it was bothering me more than usual because I've been feeling like my depressed self instead of regular me. And there are no meds this time.

Motivation is so elusive.

This guy is fabulous. I need to get his latest CD.

S.F. environmental commission recommends grocery bag fee I think this is wonderful. Here in Omaha, they don't even credit you for bringing your own bag - they just look at you funny. Or, they put your canvas bag in a plastic bag. Where's the logic?

Books We Like

Books We Like is "activist e-commerce", a way for progressives to use their online shopping to effect change. BWL collectivizes online book (actually any product at Amazon, Powells, etc.) purchases, maximizes the resulting sales commissions, and pools them to fertilize progressive independent media.

D and Me
Originally uploaded by arahsae.

Not been blogging much because Dana and I have been oh so busy talking, bookstoring, drinking, talking, eating, making coffee and enjoying Keaton. We shot pool and walked around suburbia. It was lovely, but very hard to leave her at the airport. I am very bad at saying goodbye and it didn't help that we knew she was going off into blizzard conditions back in Boston. Dana's a hard-ass northeasterner, so I knew in my heart she would be fine.

My caffeine intake this weekend was of unhealthy levels.

I finished Al Capone Does My Shirts this morning - it's a Newbery Honor this year and I think it deserves the recognition. I like the characters and the setting: Alcatraz in 1935. It started out as a regular ha ha funny kids book but developed several richer themes. Good stuff.

I know lots of money won't solve all problems, but having a bit would sure make some things easier. I don't think that is really me talking; I hate money.

Moose in My Backyard
Originally uploaded by arahsae.

Oh my gosh - I looked out the window yesterday and what did I see? A giant moose strolling thru the snow! Goodness me, I almost fell off my chair.

Hee hee.

What is supposed to happen when you land on "Free Parking" in Monopoly?

Monopoly is one of my favorite board games - Susie and Eddie and I would occupy ourselves for HOURS; I'm sure Mom loved this. Besides collecting $500 for Free Parking (I think I got that from a friend) we had our own little specialties. Eddie would always always claim the yellow spaces: Marvin Gardens and so forth. He'd then put hotels up on all three spaces and that corner, combined with the Go to Jail space, was transformed into a deathwalk. Susie would try to score the green spaces - Pacific through Pennsylvania Ave, and she would also ALWAYS get the two cheapos: Mediterranean and Baltic. I almost always had the orange spaces (St. James thru New York Ave) to myself, and usually the light blues (Oriental thru Connecticut), too. Boardwalk and Park Place, however, were inevitably a house divided; one would belong to Susie and the other to Eddie or myself. I always wanted the railroads, but as both siblings knew that, they would hold onto any they could and rarely bargain for them.

I need to get my own copy of Monopoly. Maybe the Boston Red Sox version.

And don't miss the Token Personality Quiz. I always wanted the thimble or the race car (though some said it was a roller skate).

Napoleon Dynamite

Boston Skyline
Originally uploaded by arahsae.

(Click for bigger pretty picture) Please don't mind the photo posting madness; I'm clearing out my hard drive and saving photos to CD and forgot about this one.

Ah.

I should post a photo of the Omaha skyline - all five buildings. Ha ha - just kidding.

Just posting a very happy time from last summer.

This is a shot from a cafe in Boulder that offered patrons an assortment of games to enhance the dining experience. Kristin and Susan dominated the Chutes and Ladders do-gooders and ne'er do wells and led us all on a trip down memory lane.

I'm set for tomorrow! It's 11pm; I didn't bother trying to get to bed early because my internal clock is all bunged up and because I'll have trouble falling asleep regardless.

Tomorrow is a two-part assignment. I'm in a 3rd grade in the a.m. and 4th in the afternoon. Not ideal, but if either class is "challenging," I won't have to spend a whole lotta time with them.

Dana flies out on Friday to spend the weekend and Keaton and I are SO excited. Bruce did a little dance when he found out. All is well in the world. Dana, for all our sakes, I hope he doesn't bring out the kilt in celebration.

Here's to good dreams tonight, for everyone.

Got in late late last night and didn't sleep well. Skin is so itchy.

It appears the snow has not melted one bit during my absence. Denver was fabulous and I have photos but Flickr is ornery right now.

Tomorrow is my first sub job and I'm nervous. I'm sure things will go well; I have not forgotten how to be a hardass when necessary. Yesterday when Kristin and I toured downtown Denver we did a bit of shopping and I now have a new pair of pants that will do quite nicely for work. After I get home from my library shift I will put my sub bag together and hopefully be ready for anything. Will bring candy and multiple things to read aloud. Getting up early will be the hardest part of my day.

I've been meaning to discuss my probable move to Montgomery, Alabama on here but keep forgetting. Bruce has not heard anything definite, but all signs point south right now. This would happen June, maybe? More about that next time.

I'm still in Denver - been eating and drinking and laughing. Less sleeping than I'd like, but I'm alright. Things won't really suck until I have to get back to the Central time zone.

Yesterday, Susan and Kristin and I visited the Celestial Seasonings factory, where they create and mix and package all the tea, all right here, in Boulder, Colorado. It was awesome. Free samples galore and a tour and the all-impressive Mint Room. Oooh, the menthol! The website has some fun stuff on it, like recipes and coloring pages (that's MORNING THUNDER, one of the teas I bought at the shop there - low low prices, dude).

I've pictures to post but don't have my computer here. Coming soon.

After much deliberation, debate and diligent thought, an august event has finally occured. The Fish of No Name has found identity and a sense of purpose in life with a Name of his very own.

His name is:

Bet Li

Ship Rock Theatre
Originally uploaded by arahsae.

I am posting this in an effort to remember what it is like to be warm. This was from my first trip to Denver, last month. It was tee shirt weather. It was nice. You can click on this and see Tiny Susan and Tiny Mike in the foreground. Don't they look like proper, relaxed Denverites? We had margaritas and excellent Chinese food.

Tomorrow, Kristin and I embark (on a plane, not via auto as I did last time) on another trip to Denver, but it will be a bit chilly. Not as freezing-ass-cold as it is here, (-22 with the windchill) but cool nonetheless.

I expect a storm of high spirited laughter and genial discussion and some all around fun and missing all Boston friends. I think one of us should get rich and sponsor a once-a-year reunion. Any volunteers?

Lemme know if you want a postcard!

PS - Kristin is an orange juice hog; I'm thinking JoJo already knows that.

Cheshire Cat moon tonight, for all those inclined to looking at the sky.

And I did pick a fish name.

Okay - winner to be announced tonight. I need some more time to meditate on the suggestions and find the one that fits his karmic halo thing.

As I can think of nothing of merit to type, enjoy this old journal entry:

10 January 2003—10:56 PM—Friday—Room in JP

Am back, have been since late Monday night. It has been weird and nice and good. I keep falling in my old trap though. That seems to haunt me, follow me around and settle on my shoulders—and I can feel it on my shoulders. Like a shadow.

Internet is not working for me. Dana’s is, mine ain’t. I emailed Eric and requested backup. I don’t know if he will call me tonight or not. I’m going to bed in an hour, so if not today, then tomorrow. I hate not having access, though. Maybe it is good for me for a bit. I was on quite a bit at work today. Got my fix.

Tomorrow Chrissa, Kahla, Justin, and I are going sledding. Tubing. Whatever. That and dinner and a movie at Chrissa’s, all of which I am looking forward to. I’m hungry now. McSweeney’s should be coming this month. I hope I am home when it comes. Stupid UPS.

Well my dear, enjoy this last semester at Simmons. Last chance. Love it. Do all you can—your hard work paid off in Straight A’s so far; you rock. That’s pretty cool. I never did that before. I guess it comes out that I love what I am doing. And that I am working my arse off.

Moment Mal—
—I will always get a fond feeling in my heart, from now till forever, when I hear a Boston accent. I noticed it on the bus today, after not hearing one for so long. I will always associate that with my time here, which has been wonderful.
—special feeling you get when the shadow of a plane falls on you. Or when you see the shadow of the plane you are in over San Francisco Bay.

Winners of the "I Look Like My Dog" Contest I got this off kottke.org and tis amazing!

(Dana, did you see his bit on Photoshopping images to Lomo-fy them? And you are bringing cameras on your visit, right?)

I met Kristin at the airport last night and gave her food and lodging. Hopefully she will find her way to Sioux City without too many wrong turns - though last night, as she was following me home in the rental car, we accidentally ended up in Iowa. I wanted to have a go at the casinos, but Kristin thought it would be best to get home. So we turned around and did.

She'll be back Wednesday or Thursday and then [drumroll] we are taking off for Denver, to visit the lovely Ms. Susan and her gentlemanly assistant, Mike.

You know, I've been sitting here wondering what was wrong with me (and that is NOT open for commentary) and I just realized I've not had any coffee. Not that I NEED coffee, mind you; it just makes things easier. I'm always cold; coffee is HOT. I'm usually sleepy; coffee shoots wakeUP! juices into your veins.

And then I think I must do laundry and assorted other dull tasks. But with COFFEE!
And I see Kristin left her tennis shoes by the front door. I wonder what size she is...

And thank you for all the entries into the Name the Betta Contest! This will be tough. Judges will begin judging soon.

For now, he's having a ball You know, I really think he should hand it over. It isn't his; it belongs to the franchise, to the TEAM - and should be placed where THE FANS can see it. But no, it is in a safe-deposit box in Florida. Dougie, who I hope gets traded because I think we need Millar more, despite Doug's Golden Glove, is being a money-grubbing ass.

You can vote for what you think should happen on the Globe's main Red Sox page.

Animal Vegetable or Mineral
Originally uploaded by arahsae.

One of my coworkers gave me this fish/plant combo for Christmas. I like fish, and I like plants, but it was overwhelming to get a pet for a gift. Keaton likes to munch on the pointy ends of leaves, so the only safe place to place the vase was on the mantel.

The betta is beautiful and aggressive (he attacked the glass when I tried to get some close-up shots) and NAMELESS. He's deep blue-green and purple and NAMELESS. He does not swim fast or eat much and is NAMELESS. That's about all I know about him.

So! To combat his sad, NAMELESS state, I hereby announce the Name the Betta Contest! Winners will find themselves in possession of a Special Certificate of Winning-ness they can hang on their refrigerator and earn the respect and honor of everyone who reads this blog. Wow! Also, the winner's name will become the fish's middle name (winner's first or last - you decide). Second place name will go to the plant.

Name the Betta Contest Rules
1. No wimpy names. This is a fighting fish! He eats his own kind!
2. Literary entries will receive special consideration.
3. Male/asexual names only.
4. Entries in a language other than English must be accompanied by phonetic spelling.
5. You can enter as many times as you want!
6. Entry deadline is Monday evening, unless I don't get enough responses and then it will last indefinitely.

This is the most exciting thing going on in my life now - please enter the contest and bring some light to my life.

43 Things This is kinda cool - you can select up to 43 things you want to do and then make comments on them as you succeed/fail and see what others are doing. I signed up to see if it would help me be more goal-oriented. The past week I've had flashbacks to feeling shitty - or, as JoJo blogged, having that gray (grey) anxiety descend upon me.

So I presently have seven things on here.

Maybe "Spend less time online" should be a thing, too.

I took this just now - that's what the house backs up to. If you look closely, you can see other houses behind the trees; the development straddles both sides of the meager stream that piddles through the trees. Does not look like a typical Nebrasky photo. The fields are all white and grey. It's a monochromatic land.

This morning my supervisor called in and told me NOT to come to work. What a delight. I finished Hoot and am now slugging back the dregs of my coffee and trying to put an agenda together for the day.

One item will be to call my credit card company and see if they can still collect on a check I mistakenly dated 3 January 2004.

Keaton has taken to plopping his body down on the registers and sucking up all the heat pouring out of them. Greedy kitty.

PS - Bruce has some new photos and commentary up on his blog. Please have a looksee and leave a snarky comment or two; his traffic is way down.

Today I reached a new level as a Children's Librarian Assistant. Kitsy has led me true. It is an honor to emulate her. Today I had my three month review. It was quite nice, with the only area of improvement being to curb my sarcasm/flippancy when dealing with the public etc. Because some people just don't get it. This was said in a non-offensive manner, and I know I tend towards more sarcasm instead of less, so I am okay with that accurate assessment.

I also get a raise. This is marvellous. And because of the snow, I got to leave work early! Kitsy, I knew your tenets of patience, shy confidence and good grooming would lead to success. I thank you.

In other news, I followed up on most of my To Do List. I wrote thank you letters. I called Dana and arranged her visit. I borrowed my boss's ice scraper (and returned; did not steal). I got up in the AM. I did not get stuck in the snow, though my TRACTION ALERT light flickered on and off a bit.

Excuses for Incomplete Tasks:
ITEM #3 - I did not hang the Red Sox ALCS Scorecards because there are seven of them and I am not sure where I want to put them or if I should use nails or pushpins. And I am afraid they will be crooked. But there is still time to accomplish this goal tonight...hm.

ITEM #5 - I chickened out because how can you tell someone who is just now giving you a raise and complimenting your job performance that you want Fridays off for your other job, which you've technically not started yet?

My nighttime reading last night was a Tintin collection. I've never read Tintin and great snakes! I'm learning a lot.

Here are some sample swears you may want to work into your own vocabulary:
- Alcatraz! (gangster)
- Sing Sing! (same gangster)
- Wriggling rattlesnakes! (Native American)
- Smouldering Smokestacks! (train engineer)
- Crikey, what a bloomer! (Tintin)
- That's torn it!
- Shuddering sheiks! (Arab)

Instead of calling that guy who almost ran you down while crossing the street an asshole, try one of the following:
- Dumbcluck!
- Bungling jackass!
- Clever dick! (note sarcasm)

My favorite part was when the hotel dectective (They Might Be Giants has a song about one of those) met with Tintin and asked, "Mind if I begin detecting?"

Jeepers! I better scram!

1. Write thank you letters.
2. Call Dana.
3. Hang scorecards.
4. Find ice scraper (CD case only does so much).
5. Talk to boss about not working Fridays so I can sub instead.
6. Get up in the MORNING (I'm still claiming fallout from Pacific Time Zone Exposure).
7. Do not get stuck in 8-12 inches of predicted snowfall.

THE FAIRY TALE BELONGS TO THE POOR
AUGUST 7-13, 2005, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
Children’s Literature New England’s nineteenth annual summer institute will be held at The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Participants will consider the staying power of the classic fairy tale as well as the tenacity of the cultural use of the term fairy tale. What do Cinderella, Anansi, Baba Yaga, Coyote, or Tom Thumb, a congress of irregulars, bequeath to Harry Potter, Desperaux, Pippi Longstocking, Wart--and to child readers? Is the age of the fairy tale over? If so, what next?

Among many other presenters at CLNE 2005, participants will hear from Elizabeth Bicknell (Candlewick Books), Susan Cooper, Neil Gaiman, Michael Patrick Hearn, Betsy Hearn. Donna Jo Napoli, Elizabeth Partridge, Maria Tatar, Jacqueline Woodson, Paul O. Zelinsky, and Jack Zipes.

Ok, I got SO pumped out about this - NEIL GAIMAN!! and MPH and Jack Zipes and Susan Cooper, etc. etc. and ready to go go go UNTIL I saw that it costs $1000 to attend! What the hell?! Apparently the fairy tale belongs to the poor but only the rich are allowed to discuss it.

Neil Gaiman I think this is fabulous:

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't to forget make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.

Who could ask for anything more?

I finished The Haunting of Hill House this morning. I tried to read myself to sleep last night and it was a massive failure. It is a scary book. Despite the cat on my legs, I was scared and unable to sleep. I heard knocking on my doorframe, and in my half-slumbering state, called out to whoever it was. No one was there, or at least no one who wanted to make themselves known verbally.

Sisters
Originally uploaded by arahsae.

This [looks better at full size - click on it!] was taken just before Susie hopped on the train to go back to Bellingham. I need to call her and see how her New Year's celebration went - she got a cabin up at Rainier with a bunch of people. I got to hang around with a man in a skirt.

Damon marries in Florida I'm going to go cry now. But there's no way Brooks & Dunn music would be in MY wedding. I guess it is for the best.

Brown Forest
Originally uploaded by arahsae.

These mushrooms illustrate the damp conditions of Oregon that allow grass to be green, instead of the brown color of present Nebraska grass.

I'm back in Omaha - it really felt like home. Have you had that before? A new place does not feel like your main base of operations until you return from a vacation. My stuff, my space, my responsibility to feed myself...hmm. That last one is not so good. Keaton was very glad to see me and the fish one of the librarians gave me for Christmas was still alive.

Unpacking still looms in my future, an act that has lost some of it's distaste because I did laundry the night before I left Oregon.

Today is an adjustment day - trying to get back on Central Time, trying to get organized. Trying to banish some of what I saw at the party we went to last night from my mind.