Starting Over with a New Year!!

I am so excited to get back to posting!! I have been waiting to store up some juicy things in order not to get repetitive and boring.

When I took the job in the public library system, I knew that there were hazards. It was not the first thing in my mind, I was way more excited about getting to help people with their literary needs. I did not think that I would ever experience terror and shock in a week! We had a man decide that it would be okay to sit in the Young Adult section of our library and "rub one out." Unfortunately we did not catch him to first time; he was arrested 3 days later when he thought it was safe to return.

I also did not expect to deal with so many of the homeless and mentally unstable people of the city. Really, this came as kind of a shock to me; but when I thought about it, a library makes perfect sense for them to hang out in. It is warm, well-lit, open early/kind of late, there are bathrooms, entertainment (computers, books, programs) and occasionally food (vending machines). Some of them are nicer than others (much like the general population) and some just make you go, "Huh?!"

Prime example: the same night that we had our "gentleman caller" we had a patron who was muttering to herself as if she was talking on a Bluetooth headset. We all knew she didn't have a Bluetooth in, but she wasn't bothering anyone. Suddenly, after having just been very polite and bidding us "good night" she came storming back in the library to yell at us for calling her a prostitute. We tried to calm her and explain that we said no such thing and that she must have mis-heard something, but she would not calm down. Eventually she stormed out of the library and has yet to return; we still don't know what the heck happened there.

Again on that night (it was 3 days before the full moon and I think that has something to do with it) after experiencing shock all night long, I got to experience terror. I noticed that there was a vehicle following me shortly after I left the library. When I turned down my street I noticed they were still there. Feeling odd, I decided to test what was going on by turning down a street that NO ONE turns down at night; this is not because it is shady, but because it is mostly used by the people who work at the office buildings down that road. Since I knew it was a short-cut to another major road I took it; when the vehicle pursued I knew that something was up. I continued to drive aimlessly and finally had to run a red light in order to escape the chase. Had I been able to see a license plate or any real vehicle descriptors I would have called the police, but I had nothing to go on and all the police would have told me was to continue driving and not to go home.

That had to be one of the strangest nights in my short memory!!

Since the beginning of 2009, I have already completed 2 books and am working on 3 more:

The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Galante was an interesting YA read. It followed a portion of 2 girls' lives within a religious commune and the struggles that they faced when removed from that atmosphere. While well-written, I found it very obvious. It was clear from about 1/4 of the way in what was going to happen. I did enjoy the alternating chapter narrators; one chapter would be from Girl 1's pov with a certain font and the next would be Girl 2's pov with a different font. It varied the reading and made me concentrate on who was telling me what.

The Lucky One by Sparks has got to be one of his better books. I have read many of his books and usually I have to be in a lovey-dovey, sappy mood to want to read them. I often find that I think they should be in the romance sectoin for all the sensuality in them. This one was SO different. There was romance in it, but for the most part it was just a story about a man who followed his instinct. I found it to be about faith in humanity and learning to trust. This book also changed narrators for each chapter and flowed quite well despite the opposing viewpoints of those involved.

I am currently reading Black Out, Rebecca, and The Red Scarf. I will post reviews when I am finished. I will explain next time why so many books!

2008 was the year of change

Now that 2008 is officially over, I can recap!! Change was the theme of last year. I wonder what 2009's theme will be?

1. February- I became officially engaged to the most wonderful man ever!
2. May- I graduated college!!
3. May- I got my first real job at the library.
4. October-I got to go to my first convention (BlizzCon) with my hubby and 2 great friends in Anaheim, CA.
5. November- I got MARRIED!!
6. November- I completed a 6 year goal of donating my hair. 10.5 inches!!
   
7. December- One of the aforementioned great friends gave me his car as a Christmas present.
8. December- I got a FULL-TIME real job.

So much happened that I am excited to see what 2009 will bring. I love you all! May God bless us all in this new year!

Happy Holidays

I just want to tell you all, no matter where you are, to be safe and have a happy holiday season. I will be back to my blogging after the new year. Until then, I bid you a wonderful, relaxing holiday season!!

Back to the basics

So now that the wedding is over, that means no more long posts about wedding stress!! I have finally settled into a rhythm again of getting up, going to work, and coming home. I try to plan down time, but that is mostly in the evenings after work. Night time is when the hubby and I get to spend the most time together, so we'll sit side by side on our computers doing our own things or I'll be at my desk in the bedroom and he'll check on me occasionally. One of us normally makes dinner. It doesn't sound romantic, but you have to understand that we aren't "just moving in together." We already lived together before we got married and so now we are just trying to get back into our normal routine.

Work is going quite well. We are planning projects for January and February while trying to make a few changes to spruce up the library. With the current economic crisis in full swing, the county has had to cut our operating budget. That means that any renovations we were hoping for will definitely not be happening now, so we have to rearrange things and use what we have. The children's area is the one that needs the most help. It is not very "childlike." I am hoping to open up the floor plan a bit more and then to get a mural painted. We are thinking that we want the mural painted on canvas so that it can be taken with us if we ever move, but we'll see how that goes.

Books galore:

• American Wife was really good! While slow going, I really enjoyed how I could truly relate to the main character and her relationship with her husband.
• Glass is a little harder to get into than I remember its precursor being. Maybe it is just my mood.
• The Tale of Despereaux is up next. I know it is a children's book, but when I saw the movie trailer I knew I had to read it first.
• Catch-22 is one of those "You have to read it at least once in your life" kind of books. I pick it up and put it down. Hopefully I will be able to get more in to it soon.
• Finally, bringing up the rear is Guilty Pleasures. Believe me, the title does not do the book justice. It is more like "Dity Smut, with Vampires." Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake, vampire hunter, book is just raunchy. I like the underlying story about Anita being an animator (someone who can raise the dead: read zombie) and that she must find whoever is behind the slayings of master vampires; but, I really don't like the sleazy romance stuffed into the book. It feels slimy and poorly done. I am sure there are plenty of people who like it (my mother and sister being 2 of them) but I just couldn't get through it. The same reaction has been felt by some of my friends about the Twilight Saga, but that is another post for another day.
  

The Rest of the Photos

The cake table

The happy couple's first dance!!

The bride and bridesmaids

"I Loved Her First"

The happy couple cutting their cake!!

Me with the Best Man (who caught the garter) and the lucky lady who caught the bouquet.

Will and I making our grand exit!!

I have spent quite a few hours putting these photos up a few websites so that I could print them off and make them into books. I intend on giving one as a gift and the really big one will be for us to keep. Not only do I have a brown album with pictures just inserted, but I will have the professional one from online and then the scrapbook that I am making. Currently I am only to the ceremony in my scrapbook, but I hope to have it finished before the new year (provided I can make it out to Archiver's, my new hangout)

The Promised Wedding Photos

My garters, shoes and dress.
Me, Ani (MOH) and Hope watching someone do their hair.
The new Mr. and Mrs. Robinson!!

Me and my dad.
The whole wedding party.
All the new in-laws. :D
The happy couple!

I think that is enough for now, but I assure you, there are a few more good ones!!

Thanksgiving

Happy Turkey Day all! I for one am not the biggest fan of the holidays; never have been. This year the hubby and I will be staying home to make our own meal and then heading over to his parents' place for family fun. He is on call at his job all day, so we couldn't leave town to visit other relatives.

While I will grin and bare it tomorrow, I hope the rest of you are enjoying your time at home. Be thankful for what you have and all that you enjoy. You are very fortunate.