It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmas knitting (!) is coming along well. I'm unfortunately not going to post any pictures of FOs until after Christmas, just in case anyone that's receiving some lovely hand knits is reading (hi Mom!). I'm finding though that the knitting is keeping me sane during an otherwise stressful time of homework, final projects, church obligations, and the general domestic endeavors.

I'm also planning on going to the Show-Me Crafters Show today? (Yes, the question mark is purposeful.) Hopefully, if I can find some time. Never been to one, and maybe it'll give me enough of a mental break- at least for an hour. Then it's back to the homeworking and quiz meetings (although I don't dread those, just the constant stress of interpreting legalese and hoping I mentioned everything in our answers that should be... other than that, it's a good time.)

Other Christmas festivities and traditions (can you tell I'm my mother's daughter) are also already in the works. Cookies, meals, presents, stockings.... and no shame that I'm currently enjoying Starbuck's Christmas Blend. Sometimes, you just have to break the rules (No Christmas before Thanksgiving) and indulge. But I'm looking forward to starting some new Christmas traditions this year with our new family as well.

Definitely looking forward to Christmas break and the opportunity to have a few more adventures in domesticity and take a few days to watch movies, read, and knit- ALL DAY LONG. (I'm thinking it's about time to indulge in some Little Women again.) Twill be glorious.

Goldmine of Information [It's Mine!]

After a few fruitless endeavors, I am finally locating information for my Preservation term paper!! Expected, yes, since I am an MLIS student. Exciting- even more so- because I have a knack for choosing relatively obscure paper topics.... it's always been my bane during every term paper, but I can't seem to operate any other way. I think part of it is the knowledge that no one else from class will write on my topic. But honestly? It's also part of the fun. Hunting for information that may seem obscure, even though you know it's out there somewhere...

I was working on this assignment earlier today, and finally grew tired of hitting dead ends. So, I went for a walk to clear my head, which produced some excellent results. Except for my poor husband- he was on the receiving end of what I'm sure were very cryptic text messages. Thank goodness for unlimited texting- I knew I had to write down the questions and ideas somewhere before they were but a fleeting memory.

Now I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere! And.... I should probably focus a bit on the assignment due for Monday, right?

Other reasons for rejoicing today:

• I made breakfast, washed the dishes, got my husband to work, and finished grocery shopping all before 9 am. If that's not productive, I don't know what is!
• I found my licensing agreement for my Legal Issues term paper, and it's (naturally) longer than others I located. But hey, what's grad school without the challenge?
• No cavities. 24 years and counting. :D

Focusing...

I'm feeling pretty good about the end of the semester. Not only is it in sight (finally!), but I'm pleased with my grades so far, I feel I'm grasping the material reasonably well, and my paper/project topics are finally established. Time to start hunting down resources, I suppose.


One of the things currently bolstering my spirit are grades on two of the papers I wrote over the weekend that was The End of October. Aced both of them, and even got some encouraging words from the professors in their respective feedback. Legal prof said I answered the question on licensing "like an experienced negotiator!" SCORE. Apparently I'm good at deciphering licenses-- I'm not quite sure what that says about my legal skills, but I'm quite pleased with myself regardless.


[So much that I think I'm going to answer the licensing question for our final project. Although part of me feels like it might be the easy way out? Considering the project is due three weeks from today, I'm not so sure if any of the questions are "easy."]


Anyway. The other paper currently boosting my self-esteem is the observation paper for my Reference class. Feedback stated that I asked a particularly good question (health-related), because with those types of questions, an interview is crucial to understand the true information need. Too bad neither of my "interviews" really consisted of much other than an initial question. TOPIC WIN.


Today, I'm thankful that school doesn't seem so unbearable and that I'm actually happy with my success for once. That's always been a difficult thing for me to deal with, which I suppose will happen when you're a super-over-achiever. But there are so many things to look forward to: getting these papers and projects done in a reasonable amount of time, fieldwork next semester (hopefully!), picking new classes for next semester (Archival Outreach is being offered! Yippee!!) and the rest of my school career (not quite sure how I'm going to fit in everything I want to take with the credits I have remaining, but we'll see what happens).


And finally, in other tangentially related news, I've been forcing myself to have some downtime, which I've found to really help me stay grounded with everything going on. As a result, I've been enjoying some quality time with Big Bang Theory, knitting, and reading (for fun?! When was the last time that happened??). Even though I read the series years ago, I'm immersing myself back into the time of settling the Red River Valley, with Lauraine Snelling's Red River of the North series. Heartwarming, and full of courage, these books are a delight to read when I need a break from the heavier reading of the LIS field. (Although I must confess I'm wholeheartedly looking forward to Christmas break when I can read and knit for my own enjoyment all day long. :D)


That's all for now, as I've got a few legal issues lectures waiting in the queue.

Is it break time yet?

Well, we've arrived at that magical point in the semester where brains are officially overworked and official break is not yet in sight. I suppose you could say we're in midterms, although so far in the program, I haven't exactly had those dreaded midterm exams in my courses. But I'm definitely ready for a break.

I survived the crazy-busy weekend that was The End of October, full of three different church-related events (two of which required us to be in two places at once, always a fun game to play!), an observation paper (which required cutting out about three pages of material to comply with professor-sanctioned guidelines), a set of 20 practice questions (not difficult, but time-consuming), plus all the various and sundry housewifery that comes with the territory of a newlywed housewife.

And tonight, I spent the past 2.5 hours going over the quiz with my two lovely quiz-mates for Legal. It was a productive 2.5 hours, and I'm glad we were all able to be there, but my brain is fried. At least for tonight. I was going to at least start on my readings for Preservation after we finished, but now I'm thinking it may just be more productive for tomorrow. Although tomorrow morning will consist of a crash course on Library Confidentiality and the USA PATRIOT before our semi-weekly chat. Can you tell I'm excited? :/

Thankfully, the reading load seems to be significantly less than the past few weeks, although participating remains the same:
Reference: Two articles. Required discussion.
Preservation: Three chapters. Two articles. One exercise. One discussion post, two comments.
Legal: Three statutes. One powerpoint (and only 159 slides this time!). Two lectures. One meeting/chat.
Also on the docket for this week: Officially begin panic mode re: not yet starting term projects due in a month.

In other, more exciting news, the schedule for next semester is out! And now I get to pick classes I love at the moment, but will inevitably loathe tire of by the end of next semester. I'm planning on doing fieldwork (woot!), so I've got two spots open with four contenders. And comps? Are we brave enough to take comps?? I don't feel near ready enough now, but I think I'd rather take it during Penultimate Semester than the Semester of Cap and Gown. I'd be terribly devastated if I took it the semester of graduation, failed, and had to take another semester just to pass. Although then perhaps I'd get to take more classes I wanted to, but couldn't fit in...

SIX WEEKS. The end of the semester is finally on the horizon.

Finally... FO: Wine Bottle Sweater!

I've been waiting to post this until after my good friend and surrogate sister received her package. And then, of course, it took me a while to get around to posting this even after she received the package. (Thank you, homework and general overwhelmingness of life.)

First sweater attempt: success!

My first attempt at a sweater could have been worse. Overall, it went pretty well, save for running out of yarn with the first skein (so much for using up leftovers!), which resulted in frogging the entire sweater and starting over in a different color. I performed some modifications with the ribbing because I changed the number of stitches for gauge. I'm still please with how it turned out, and more importantly, J loves it!

I think the little heart button adds the perfect finishing touch. I got the pattern from Pints & Purls: Portable Projects for the Social Knitter, which is such a clever book. Loved it when I learned it was published, and really enjoy the entire premise of the book. Everything from tips to knitting sober (or tipsy), drinking-related projects, and how to save your current WIP from wine stains.

As for other projects recently finished: I've got one Christmas present already finished. Super quick and quite cozy. Mom is sure to enjoy it. I'll post pictures after she receives it... in two and a half months. I've got the next Christmas gift on the needles already, although this one has been specifically requested by brother-the-younger, along with one other semi-coordinating item (don't you love all the vagueness by necessity here?). He just may get them when they're done instead.

Other than knitting, school is slogging along. I'm definitely ready for a break, which I won't get until at least Thanksgiving, maybe. Only a few more weeks to go, right? Trying to juggle three classes, church obligations, and married life has proved challenging, but not impossible. 8 weeks of classes to go this semester!

*Disclaimer: I received no form of compensation, monetary or otherwise, for mentioning (slash, semi-reviewing) Pints & Purls.

For better, for worse: Library Lessons

Working through my classes this semester, I've had some time (surprisingly) for introspection into my own thoughts and philosophy toward libraries. I've realized that, although not currently working in a library, I have definitely been shaped and influenced by those libraries in which I used to work. They've all been very different, and have each taught me lessons both good and bad.

First: A library is composed of two things: Information, and People. Without either, the library would cease to exist. You also can't ignore one or the other.

Second: Treating patrons with the simple courtesies and respect they deserve will get you far. At times, it may be difficult, especially with "those patrons." But extending a simple "hello" or smile as they enter the doors can go a long way in making the patrons feel comfortable in the library environment and also makes them more willing to let the librarians help them. Stop to greet someone you know as you're reshelving books. Make small talk at the front desk. Assure patrons they are neither interrupting you nor asking stupid questions. Put an emphasis on little things like these, and it'll make a huge difference.

Third: Office politics will happen. You have a choice: Keep it professional, or let it infect your staff. The results are drastically different. Differences of opinion are good and can be handled professionally. But if someone's not doing their job and you're asked to cover-- again? Fine. Bring it up with the management later. Word to the wise: no one wants to hear a string of expletives preface your help, not your employees, not your patrons.

Fourth: If you're going to hate your job, don't complain about it to your student workers. That's not professional, and it definitely deflates morale in a flash. It lowers your employees' opinion of you and makes it difficult for them to come to you when they have problems. It also makes your student workers complain more, both about their jobs and you.

Fifth: If you're going to have student workers, you must train them. Train them well, and TRUST THEM. Sure, you'll have a few along the years that disappoint and prove untrustworthy, but why would you not trust the student workers you interviewed, hired, and trained? Again, not being allowed to do the job for which you thought you were hired deflates morale quickly. I have worked in libraries where I was thoroughly trained. Awesome. I have also worked in libraries where I received haphazard training, and even where I received no training. Not cool, library "professionals," not cool.

Sixth: If you do trust your workers, it's a definite benefit to yourself, the library, and the workers. Having the privilege of working in at least one library where the administrative staff actually trusted the workers, I can say personally it was a huge boost of confidence to know that I was trusted with certain duties without being micromanaged every step of the way.

Seventh: Policies are good. Very good. They tell you what to do, and what not to do. But please, don't make the policies so incredibly convoluted that it actually prevents your employees from doing work they are certainly capable of if you'd only give them a chance. It's demeaning, it's frustrating, it's micromanaging, and... (confession time) it means some people still carry that chip on their shoulder. I left almost every shift at that library feeling like a useless employee and wondering why I was hired. On the bright side, this situation was an excellent reminder (one that I'll never be able to forget, honestly) of what not to do when holding an administrative position in a library.

The libraries which have formed good impressions on the library profession were such a blessing to work at. I enjoyed every day and the new challenges it would bring. Knowing that seemingly boring/meaningless tasks actually do have meaning brings a whole different sense of joy to both the jobs and the profession. It makes me excited to join these librarians as colleagues. And it means I will be forever thankful for the lessons they taught me about life and library science.

The library which has formed the majority of my bad impressions on libraries and the profession also came as a blessing. I doubt I would have seriously considered library science as a profession if I had worked there prior to settling on libsci as a career. But working there while knowing I would be attending library school the very next year gave me an insight which I truly appreciated. Seeing how this library treated its patrons, its employees, and its information taught me what not to do as a librarian. Perhaps even after these few years, I am still frustrated, mad, and hurt about my time there as an employee. It doesn't help that I find myself comparing their relevant services in my current courses this semester. But at the same time, I never forget those good lessons which it taught me as well. Perhaps this post did turn out more cathartic than intended.

But it's always good to look back and see just how far we've come.

I have not disappeared...

I have been so out of it lately. SO out of it. It's been about all I can do to keep up with my weekly homework, church activities, and attempting to keep my house in some sort of presentable order.

Here's a few things I've been trying to puzzle out in my own life:

- Which topic I should pursue for my Preservation research paper: photographs in archives (possibly preserving family photographs/albums as well); or preservation programs in small archives (religious archives?).

- I have food in my freezer. I have an entire pantry (well, what would be a pantry if we actually had the space for one) full of non-perishables. WHY can I never seem to come up with good, new ideas for dinner? I love cooking. Don't get me wrong. But I've definitely hit a rut here and don't know how to get out of it. (Hence having pizza for supper. Is it necessary? No. But easier than trying to figure out what to cook.) Problem #1: D and I have opposite tastes. Basically, what I like he doesn't, so on and so forth.... you get the idea. So where do I go from here?

- Why it's been so hard to get myself motivated to do my homework. I'm constantly distracted by other things (mostly internet related), and it's been really frustrating lately. Part of the reason is that I'm not overly excited about any of my classes this semester. Some are better than others, but they just haven't captured my interest like previous semesters have. I'm not used to this....... and trying to convince myself my brain isn't broken.

Things I'm currently loving about life:

- I have fall decorations up. A few vases of autumn colored florals, a cute little pumpkin crafted out of twigs, and a glittery wooden sign that says "Blessings". Fall-scented candles, and it's complete. I love autumn. It's my favorite season.

- Speaking of favorite seasons, one of the reasons I love autumn so much is because it's the beginning of SWEATER SEASON. I LOVE sweaters. So comfy, colorful, and fantastic.

- Sunday, I wound up with a little extra time, so I ventured into my kitchen and baked a crumb-top apple pie for the senior youth group meeting later that day. They loved it, and that was a welcomed confidence-booster for me. I also found myself with a little bit of the leftover pie filling, and didn't want that to go to waste. So, domestic adventurer as I am, I mixed it in with some beer bread batter and sprinkled the remaining crumb topping on top of the bread. DELICIOUS.

- I finally had a chance to get back to our local knitting night last night. It felt so nice to just get out of the house without having to worry about homework or anything else for two hours. Two hours of knitting, drinking chai tea lattes, and conversing with fellow knitters. Yay!

I suppose that's about it for now.... I really need to go for a ridiculously long walk today, preferably before supper and Bible Study tonight. Hopefully it'll help reenergize me and get me to focus a bit more on my studies this week.