Gas Leak?!

My neighbors just let me know that they're smelling gas coming out of our gas curb box by the street. Sigh. I can't believe this stuff always happens when Matt is gone. I called and reported it. Stay tuned....

Adventures in Branch Librarianship

(or, what you should learn about in management classes)

So far this semester our branch library has:

1. Had a leak in the ceiling which damaged a few books.

2. Had an uneasy incident involving one of our student employees and an angry ex-girlfriend.

3. Had to operate despite unavoidable absences of both staff people at the same time.

4. Found ourselves in an new organization division with a new direct boss.

That's just so far this semester and we haven't even gotten to spring break yet!

When Did 10 pm Become Too Late?

Last weekend some friends invited me to join them for trivia. Sounded like fun and I was actually up for it. Until I learned that it didn't start until 10 p.m. 10 p.m.?! I thought. That's late. And it was even a Friday night. Not like I had to get up super early to go to work the next day.

So I started thinking and asked myself, "When did 10 p.m. become too late?" I mean, it's not like we have kids or anything yet. Though after a long day of work, commuting 45 minutes each way, and some hours at home, not to mention all that other stuff I gotta do once I get home, I am usually ready for bed long before the DVR reads 10 p.m.

The Great Hunter

The great hunter. Isn't she terrifying in her jungle lair? Mice tremble and run away. Or so we hope.

Are You Kidding Me?

The strangest, most awful things always happen while the husband's away. Every time. Yesterday was a crazy, crazy day at work. Plus, I'm sick (I'm going to the doctor today. I swear!) So it actually came as no suprise -- though still quite unpleasant -- when I discovered the present our 100% indoor, never ever goes outside, cat left for me on the floor at the foot of the bed this morning. A mouse. A dead mouse.

Believe it or not, I didn't scream. I just covered it up with something heavy just in case it wasn't actually dead but playing dead. Cho was so proud. I could tell. And this discovery explains the unusal amount of time the cat has spent in the basement the past couple of days.

Orkin is coming on Friday. And, once again, I get to deal with something like this sans husband. Well, you know what they say, "When the cat's away, the mice will play."

Resolutions

It's that time again. The time of year we all make commitments -- sometimes silently and sometimes out loud -- to change something. Scores of people show up at the gym the first week of January, only to disappear a few weeks in. Churches must see more attendance. People try to quit smoking, or stop drinking soda (or pop if I acknowledge my eastern Kentucky roots here), and who knows what else.

And, of course, I want to be better this year too. Yes, I want to eat better and exercise more, but I am refusing to say that I'm going to "diet" or "lose weight." Diets never work any way.

But on the top of my list this year above all those things that could change the way I look physically is that I want to leave work at work. I love my job. But, I also enjoy my life outside of work too. Last year was both a great year and a stressful year. And some of the things that made it great also made it stressful. And more and more over the year I let my work creep -- well, swallow -- my personal time. And the more and more I let this happen the more it affected my interactions with family, friends, and co-workers. There are three things I should know about myself by now: I need to pick out my clothes the night before, I can never cut my hair short again (I think I've destroyed all photos from 2003-2005 by now), and I do not communicate well when I'm severely stressed.

So, no more! I'm going to try to keep work at work. I'm going to figure out ways to work smarter, not harder. And I'm going to ask for help or guidance when I need it. And don't be surprised if I ask you to be a lunch pal who will let me de-stress without judging me.

Some Random Observations about Europe

Hotels in Europe (well, Switzerland and Italy, at least) don't have alarm clocks. The clock is in the TV, if at all.

Getting connected to the Internet is expensive.

Elevators are small.

Bring more books than you think you'll need. I finished the two books I brought early. Funny thing about Europe -- the bookstores don't have any books in English. Weird, huh?!

Husbands work really hard and really long hours when they're there.

It's much easier adjusting to the time change coming home (Europe to US) than going over (US to Europe). I had the best night's sleep I've had in 2 weeks last night. But then I was wide awake at 5 am this morning....

This whole idea that you don't tip waiters in Europe really isn't true.

Getting in from dinner on Wednesday night at 11:30 pm is early.

Nothing is open on Sunday. NOTHING.

Is it weird that I craved sushi while I was over there?

NBA games make the sport highlights on BBC and CNN. Not a mention about US professional football though.

What the heck is cricket?

What a weird show.

Bidets.