The ice is thin come on dive in

So. Olympics. I'm a total junkie. Winter or summer, it doesn't matter. I've seen three different torch relays (Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Athens). I watch as many events as I can, though I do have my favorites. As I told Eilonwy, it doesn't matter who is competing for what, I will get tense watching events and competitors I wouldn't care about any other time of the year. I love hearing stories about the athletes, watching them express their joy with their success, and am sad for them when it doesn't quite go their way.

This Olympics, I have discovered two sports I hadn't really watched previously - curling and ice dancing. I even understand curling now, thanks to watching a few matches, reading some articles, and playing bocce ball (the scoring is somewhat similar), which helps me enjoy it even more.

Now, I don't really understand the scoring of ice dancing, but I do enjoy watching it and I've finally figured out what a twizzle is. Except for compulsory dance. That's really boring. Things don't really get interesting until original dance and free dance. There are some really creative moves - the lifts are my favorite (typical). Tonight there was even a lift where the woman lifted the man, which was neat. Here are my other thoughts from tonight, and a few rather "priceless" commentator notes:

When the first Russian pair come on the ice, I thought to myself, because of her costume, "Hmm. I hope they're dancing to 'The Firebird'."

I was right.

From the commentators: "Ice dancing is often about 'here's the top; let's go over it.' "

I was also right that another pair was dancing about immigrants, because of their costumes. Their piece was apparently called "The Immigrants".

Ben Agosto has sparkly chest hair!

And finally, the one and only Bob Costas: "One has a penalty box. One has a kiss and cry area. Both are Olympic sports."

Thanks Bob, for pointing that out.

Finally, I'm always pleased when the Olympians sing and are otherwise properly respectful of their national anthems. The winners of tonight's ice dancing were appropriately enthusiastic. Congratulations!

We are the world

Eilonwy declared today Random Blogging Day, and I am nothing if not random. So here goes:

Things I do not like about the Olympics:

Subway commercials

Plushenko's hair

Staying up too late every night

Things I do like:

VISA commercials. Well, Morgan Freeman

That I'm usually watching them on TiVo, and I can skip the commercials

Shaun White's hair

Figure skating to Yann Tiersen compositions

Glittery argyle

Watching them with Eilonwy (tonight, simultaneously, thanks TiVo)

Commentators - except when they're being unnecessarily snobby, their comments are always fun

Joyful athletes, regardless of their outcomes

Sing from a book you're reading in bed

1. What are at least 2 of your favorite genres?

• Urban fantasy (or, as I like to call it, alt-reality fiction) I like fantasy in general, but I just love fantasies with realistic settings running simultaneously with our own world
  
• Historical fiction
  

2. What is your least favorite genre?

• Fanfiction- I just can't get into it. I prefer to leave my characters and stories as the author intended.
  

3. What is your all-time favorite book?

• The Giver - I can't give you a number 2 or 3, or even a top 5, other than this book, but this is definitely my all-time fave.
  

4. What is the first book you remember reading?

• Either The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear or a Berenstain Bears book.
  

5. Do you prefer books or audio books?

• Definitely paper books, but audiobooks are handy when I'm cataloging.
  

6. Who are your favorite authors?

• Neil Gaiman first, but also Lois Lowry, J. R. R. Tolkien, J. K. Rowling, Jodi Picoult, Ray Bradbury. My guilty pleasure authors are Meg Cabot and Nicholas Sparks.
  

7. How many books do you read in a year?

• Well, there was the year I read 54 (2008), and my Goodreads says I read 23 (just 1st reads) last year. I'd say that between 1st reads and re-reads, it's probably at least 30 or so a year, even during grad school and book challenges.
  

8. Do you buy books or borrow them from the library?

• Yes. Both. If I need a specific book, like for my book challenge, I'll check the library, but I'm not usually hesitant to buy it if it's not there. Otherwise, it just depends. I love owning books (I sold back one textbook ever, and sometimes I still wish I could reference it), but I'm also a librarian.
  

9. How many books do you own?

• I count 9 within arm's reach, plus two bookcases nearing full in the hall. Not to mention all the books that I still have in my old closet in my parents' house. Ah heck. I just counted the books on my shelves, and that number is 201, not counting music books and counting compilations as one. This also does not include any books I have loaned out or that are in my car.
  

10. What is your most prized book?

• Probably my very well-loved copy of The Giver, the scriptures I've been using since my seminary days, or the Harry Potter books I'm collecting.
  

11. What are the worst books you have ever read (or tried to read)?

• There was this awful book about The Rapture and a cult in Utah Valley and this woman who was somehow tied to all of it and was trying to save everyone, and the cars had autopilot, and somehow I still read the whole thing. It was bad.
  

12. Have you read any modern day sequels you liked?

• Um, no. I think this falls in the area of fanfiction.
  

13. What is your favorite quote from a book?

• Hmm. I really don't know. I have a hard time remembering quotes anyway. I have starting marking them, but I should also write them down.
  

14. Who is your all-time favorite male character?

• Jonas, from The Giver
  

15. Who is your all-time favorite female character?

• This changes sometimes, but Door from Neverwhere and Novalee Nation from Where The Heart Is are on the list.
  

16. What highly recommended book have you not liked?

• I really didn't like Gone With the Wind and The Great Gatsby, the latter because it was over-analyzed in a Junior English class.
  

17. Name a character you love to hate?

• I actually hit the book when I was reading about Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind she was driving me so crazy.
  

18. Do you belong to a book club?

• A friend wanted to start one. We even picked a book. Haven't met yet.
  

19. What was the last book you purchased?

• Looks like I ordered both The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World and Odds Are, You're Going to Be Exalted last month. I've already finished the latter and should finish the former soon.
  

20. What are you reading now?

• The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World and The Miracle of Forgiveness and I know I've started a few others that I'll finish eventually.
  

21. What book made you cry the hardest?

• Nineteen Minutes made me cry for reasons associated with the content, not the content itself. I don't cry easily over fiction, but that's one I remember.
  

22. What book made you laugh the most?

• I giggled over a short story in Smoke and Mirrors. Otherwise, I'm not sure. Much like crying, I don't usually do more than chuckle if I'm reading something to myself.
  

23. What is your favorite children's book (one you would choose to read to your kids)?

• There is more than one I will be reading to my kids. I love storytelling, so this is something I look forward to often.
  

24. If you were to choose a book to give as a gift, what would it be?

• Like Eilonwy said, it really depends on the person, but books are great gifts.
  

25. List 5 books you have read more than once?

• The Giver
• Where the Heart Is
• The scriptures
• Neverwhere
• Harry Potter books
  

26. What is your favorite book made into a movie?

• Probably The Notebook, or any other Nicholas Sparks books/movies, see #27 for reasons
  

27. Did you like the book or movie better?

• I almost always like the books better. If it was a good book, the movie just can't completely capture the whole story (e.g. Harry Potter, The Time Traveler's Wife, The Memory Keeper's Daughter). There are details and nuances and plot points that you just can't fit into a movie. Now, if it was a mediocre book, the movie can actually be enough on its own, like the Nicholas Sparks books/movies. This doesn't mean I don't like the movies, just that they aren't the same. I should flesh this out into a whole post someday, but that's basically it. There are, of course, exceptions to these rules.
  

28. What book would you like to see made into a movie?

• No idea.
  

29. Do you prefer hardcover or soft copy?

• Softcover, but hardcover does look so nice.
  

30. Do you leave the dustcover on while you are reading a book?

• Yes. They are handy bookmarks.
  

31. Where do you usually read?

• Bed. Couch. On the metro. On the floor. Standing on line. You know, wherever.
  

32. When do you usually read?

• At night, before bed, but also whenever.
  

33. Do you keep a TBR (to-be-read) list?

• I have a list on Goodreads, in my head, and a stack, at the very least. My Amazon wishlist also serves as such a list.
  

34. Do you usually have more than one book that you are reading at a time?

• Always.
  

35. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?

• I am a Bibliophibian (don't forget hover over the comic for the alt-text), having grown up in a house with many bookshelves, weekly trips to the library, and a mother who loves to read. (My dad enjoys reading, but not nearly as much as Mom and I.) I don't remember not reading or being read to. I hope my children will be Bibliophibians too.
  

Mmmm whatcha say?

Several of my friends in the area are updating their blogs this weekend, as I suspect many people in the area are. It's one of the few things you can do with snow like this. But, as I alluded to yesterday, I expected that my posts were relatively boring, since I'm not out adventuring or playing with friends or my children. There's not much you can say about sewing and watching tv. That's totally okay, of course. I just didn't really think I had anything that made for terribly interesting blog fodder.

Fortunately, I was wrong. In the two and a half hours I was digging my car out of two feet of snow, one of my across the street neighbors was doing the same. EVERY time I talk to this man, usually in passing as we're getting in or out of our cars, he has something to complain about. Today was no different. The following is our exchange, best as I can remember it. There was more complaining about the weather and more mumbling, that's for sure.

Enjoy!

Joe: Good morning, I'm Joe.

Me: Good morning, I'm Amanda.

Joe: This weather sucks.

Me: Yeah. A lot of snow.

Joe: Yeah. And they don't know how to plow it. You'd think they'd cut the snow wider, around all the cars, instead of just straight through.

Me: Maybe.

Joe: And people drive so fast down it.

Me: The people I've seen haven't been so bad today.

shovel shovel shovel

Joe: Most of the churches are probably closed today.

Me: I know mine is. I'll just have to worship on my own today.

Joe: I already did. mumble My girlfriend in Florida. I'm moving down there as soon as my daughter graduates from high school.

Me: Oh? When's that?

Joe: June.

Me: Cool. Good for her.

shovel shovel shovel

Joe tries to borrow his housemate's shovel, who is actually using it, because it's better.

Housemate: You can have it in a few minutes, I'm almost done.

Joe: I'm supposed to be at work. Jerk. I won't give you a ride the next time you need one. See how you like that. to me He's such a jerk. I won't give him a ride next time. See how he likes it.

shovel shovel shovel

Joe: So much for global warming. We're supposed to get another 16 inches on Tuesday. You can already see the clouds. It's the winds from the Northeast. That's the trouble. This has got to stop. You know who the Prince of the Air is? It's his fault. It's not God's.

Me: Uh-huh.

shovel shovel shovel

Joe: Valentine's Day is next Sunday. I still need to order some flowers to send to my girlfriend.

Me: That's good. I don't have a boyfriend, so I'm not worried about it.

Joe: Oh really? I'm surprised. Pretty girl like you.

Me: Oh thanks. It's alright.

Joe: Y'know. It's the guys around here. They're crazy.

Me: I hear that.

Joe: But y'know, the women are too picky.

Me: Oh that's not my problem. Just haven't had the opportunity.

Joe: Let me tell you about some websites. mumble is supposed to be for Christian Singles, but they aren't nice to the women there. Christian Coffeehouse is good though.

Me: Um, thanks.

shovel shovel shovel Joe hires some teenagers who are out shoveling to help him.

Me: Well, I'm done. Back to hibernating. Good luck!

I did try to make a snow angel today. Unfortunately, my head didn't make much of an impact in the snow and my snow angel looked more like a snow hazmat symbol. Not exactly what I intended, but at least I did some playing!

Otherwise, the hibernation continues. Just because I can physically leave my apartment doesn't mean I will. Work is closed already tomorrow, and I don't really have any need to get out. It's nice, this little staycation. I wouldn't mind, however, a little less snow and a little more beach.

It snowed, it snowed, it snowed last night

So, you thought THIS was the Snowpocalypse? Wrong. That was just a preview. I'm feeling a bit like this exchange from Buffy:

Giles: It's the . . . end of the world.

Willow, Xander, & Buffy: Again!?

This time, it snowed for 30 hours straight, and the last I checked it was over 20" at the top of my driveway, past my knees. I don't care where you're from, that's a lot of snow. We were sent home early from work yesterday, and church has already been canceled for tomorrow. I was supposed to finish up my temp "just for kicks" job at the Kennedy Center today, but it seems my last day was Wednesday. It's too bad really, because all two evenings I worked that job (merch booth for the Alvin Ailey dance company) were actually fun of sorts. The extra cash is nice too.

And just what have I been up to since noon yesterday?

Not a heck of a lot.

I've caught up on all my currently running TV shows and season 2 of Angel and I'm just about finished with season 5 of Buffy. I've also made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins (YUM). I did finally break out my new sewing machine and patch up my well-loved panda comforter so I can I stop putting toes and even feet through some of the holes, mostly on the edges, and now I'm even washing my sheets. In my most productive move of the day, I've finally sewn my flag patches on my backpack from my study abroad trip of 2004.

The most productive move of the day yesterday was to brush the snow off another driver's car. We were stopped at a light, and he still had snow on all his windows. I jumped out of my car and brushed enough snow off to notice he was also talking on his cell phone, but at least he could see now. Maybe I prevented an accident? Who knows? It's drivers like him that keep me off the streets in weather like this.

I haven't gone outside and played or shoveled or walked anywhere, because doing that alone just isn't all that exciting and I don't live close enough to anything worth walking in knee high snow for. I am fortunate that I haven't lost power at all.

It really is quite gorgeous outside (take a look), and I'm safe and warm. That's really all that matters.

When I have grown a foot or two

As I realize that many of you know and love my sister (though not as much as I do), I should probably officially announce that she is now a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She's in the Missionary Training Center now, and will leave for the Texas Houston East mission this Wednesday.

I really am excited for her. She is going to make a wonderful missionary, and is already a tremendous example to me in her devotion to the gospel. Though I wasn't able to be there for any of the official send off festivities, I was able to be with her, and the rest of our family, in the temple for her first time, and again at Christmas. It's amazing to be together there.
I do, however, miss her like crazy. I had to take her off my favorites on my phone, so I'm not tempted to call her. The cravings to talk to her have eased. Consequently, I'm getting much better at letter writing again.

And speaking of letters, if you want to follow her missionary adventures, you can check out her missionary blog. I'll be updating it for her at least weekly.

Hooray for sisters! Hooray for missionaries! Hooray missionary sisters!

We're groovin' in the home of the librarian

I've done a day in the life before, but this one is an official Library Day in the Life.

8:30 AM Wake up. I know. My life is hard.

9:30 AM Time for work! Checka ze email. (Does anyone else hear Strongbad's voice sometimes when they check their email?) I also do a little morning blog reading and turn on the Pandora. Lauryn Hill Radio for now.

Most of my circulation requests and reference queries are via email, and there's actually only one of each so far today. It's unfortunate, but when I get emails that start out with "I apologize ahead of time. I know there is a new procedure on how to check out materials, but I can’t remember what it is." or don't even apologize, just proceed to act like I haven't been rolling out a new system (complete with library instruction sessions, group emails, and individual emails) by requesting things the old way, I feel like I wasted my time trying to teach it in the first place. After three years of work on this, how hard is it to take twenty minutes to learn and remember the new, faster for everyone involved way of doing things? Blargh.

So. One request for materials I actually have. She asked for it with the old call number, but at least she remembered we're doing it by class sets now. Put together materials, drop off at intra-office mail pickup. Email teacher to tell her the music is on its way and to try and remember the new call number next time. Crave a little Angel Taylor and listen to Like You Do. Twice.

No outstanding requests. Time to clean up the office and catch up on my check-ins.


12:20 PM Request for orchestra materials via the new system. I think orchestra teachers are picking up on this new way faster than any of the others.

One of the returns is drastically incomplete, according to my records, so I have to draw up a Missing Music Form to send to the teacher. This is one of my least favorite things, but missing music is no good.

1:30 PM Lunch! Ate the last of the kind-of burned clam chowder, a mango, and some Jell-o whilst watching a little Doctor Who.

2:30 PM Back to check-ins, after reading a letter from my missionary sister. Afternoon playlist mostly influenced by this list a fellow librarian shared on Twitter.

3:40 PM Reference query via phone! This is probably the only time my phone will ring today.

4:00 PM I was mistaken about the phone. It was the same teacher, who still can't find the library website. ("It's l-i-b as in library, c-a-t as in catalog." "So it's l-i-p?" "No. l-i-B. As in library.") Bless her heart.

5:30 PM Working a little late today. Shelve the check-ins, fill in my timesheet for the week, daydream about moving if I get one of the jobs I've applied for recently.

6:00 PM And I'm off!

So, how does this librarian spend her evening? I went to the hip hop class at the gym before heading home for dinner, which was Ramen noodles in chicken broth with loads of veggies. I've watched a couple episodes of "Angel" (just started Season 2), and I'll probably watch "Heroes" and "Castle". I'll also do my dishes, and possibly fold some laundry. Ideally, I'll be in bed by midnight.

Today was definitely a calm day, of which I am a fan.

The way you look tonight

You're all smart people. You know that how you dress affects the way other people perceive you. It's why we dress up for job interviews, dates, important meetings, etc. It's why goth teenagers in trenchcoats caused such a stir post-Columbine.


You probably also know, as I do, that how you dress affects the way you perceive yourself. Judith Rasband of Conselle Institute of Image Management says it better than I do.

It's time to take control of what we can—our everyday lives. Maintain a positive outlook and stay in touch with your spirituality. Now is not the time to slop around in a T-shirt or sweats, dwelling on the news. Don't let yourself look like a loser.

The way you look affects you first—the way you think, the way you feel, and the way you act—where you go and what you do.

Get up and get dressed. Put on something nice. Look sharp—in charge of your looks and your life. Fix your hair. Try wearing a favorite outfit or a new combination of clothes. Lift your chest, your head, and stand up straight—a little taller than before.

Everything about your appearance affects you—what you wear, how you care for and carry yourself. Looking so sharp and feeling friendlier, get yourself out and out of yourself.

This probably isn't news to any of us. What I have a hard time with is remembering it. Give me a t-shirt and my brother's old gym shorts, and I'm a happy and comfortable girl. I LOVE that I can wear a t-shirt and jeans (even shorts) to work most days. Most of the people in my building know that if I'm wearing slacks and heels, I probably have a meeting. I usually make an effort to, well, make an effort when I know it might matter to other people, but I forget to make an effort when it would only matter to me.

It's easy to do. I work, mostly, alone. I don't think I've exchanged more than casual courtesies with anyone in person there since sometime last week. So, I know that if I sleep in twenty minutes longer and just throw on some random shirt after showering and piling my hair on top of my head, no one's going to care. Or, if I take those twenty minutes to carefully style my hair and actually put together an ensemble, no one's going to care. There's also the chance that the guys in the warehouse, who have been turned down for dates more than once, will compliment me. I always appreciate a compliment, truly, but there is something about the way they say it that causes me to feel uncomfortable. At least I've stopped saving my reasons to walk past them until after they've left for the day. It really doesn't help that I'm the only woman in the building under the age of 45.

So, I get in a rut of not worrying about my appearance. I'm clean, and at least I choose nice t-shirts, so I'm not a slob. I'm just casual and comfortable. But there is such a thing as too casual, and after a while of being casual, I start to feel it and act like it, and that IS a problem.

I dressed up this week. I wore heels to work twice. I've washed, dried, and straightened my hair three times in the last five days. I did wear a t-shirt on Monday, but that wasn't a work day.

Other people have noticed. Friends I went to dinner with last Friday noticed. More than one person has complimented me on the duster I incorporated into my outfit on Sunday and today. This has definitely been welcome. However, the most welcome thing is how I've noticed. Traditionally, this week would have been a very casual week, and while I have been tired and there was one day I just sported a rather frizzy chignon, I have still felt a little extra energized, confident, and focused than I have lately.

Hooray for that. I do wish I could add few more blouses into my wardrobe right now, but the clothing budget is currently rather limited. Still, I can continue to experiment with hairstyles, mixing and matching all the clothes I do have, and maybe add a few new accessories. I can definitely keep working out, which should eventually mean that I'll be able to wear some of the pants I haven't worn for awhile. Not that I have anywhere to wear my pleather pants to just now, but having the option again would be nice.

I really do like myself. I just could do a better job of reminding myself of that fact.

There's nothing to it, really

Let's talk about goals, shall we? Specifically, how I did with my 2009 goals.

• Learn how to rock climb

Well, I went once. I even liked it, but those I went with, including myself, either got a girlfriend, got married, moved, or just isn't that close of a friend. I've talked about going several times with a group of girls in my new ward, we just haven't done it yet. Still, the goal was to learn, not to go every month. So, check.

• Go to the gym 3-4 days a week

Ha. Hahahahahaha. Well, some weeks I did. I even had a personal trainer for a month or two. I had a dance class or two every week and even had a recital (that no one I know attended). So, it's not like I just sat around all day. Still, check-ish.

• Read 26 non-fiction books, in alphabetical order by subject.

This one was harder than I thought. I've only read 7 thus far. To be fair, I WAS in grad school for most of this year, The Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha is NOT an easy read, and, well, that's it. Eilonwy is doing this with me, and she only read 8, plus she got married! So, tick mark that will be a check later.

• Scripture journal every day

Definitely needs improvement.

• Blog weekly on my gratitude blog

Not so much on the weekly, but I did do it daily for the entire month of November. Check, depending on how you look at it.

• Organize my things (What good is a desk if I can't use it, as there is too much clutter on it?)

Not only did I clean off my desk, I threw it away! In the Great Move, I had to downsize on the furniture, and the desk was the first thing to go. I did organize the heck out of what did move with me, and it still looks pretty great. So, check and check.

• Learn how to knit, and then give someone something I knitted for Christmas

Not even a little bit. I bought a set of Knifty Knitters at some point, but I just didn't get the hang of it. I still want to learn to knit, but all in good time. No check at all.

• Graduate

CHECK!!

• Finish the project I was hired for by the time I said I would

It's still not exactly finished. It may never be. I was, however, able to complete it to the point of unveiling and everyone is loving it so far! Check!

All in all, I did pretty well! Stay tuned for goals (and a personal motto!) for 2010!

You might also like: 2008's goals and my progress report.

Get around round round I get around

Here it is! My annual Review of Places I've Spent At Least One Night (see 2008 and 2006-2007).

Where I Used to Live, VA
Washington, DC (Inauguration!)
York, PA
Alexandria, VA
Where I Live Now, VA
Morris Plains, NJ (only once this time)
Nashville, TN (proof that I can take LONG road trips all by myself)
Thurmond, MD
Gettysburg,PA
Lanesville, IN
Orem, UT (twice)
Rexburg, ID (sleepover with the sister!)
Columbia, MD

2009 was a pretty great year, but I have a feeling that this one is going to be just as great or, hopefully, better!