Day One

First day of unemployment. Last night, I stayed up until midnight determined to sleep in (but not be a total sloth about it.) You can imagine my dismay when I awoke at 7:30 to whiny cats. Five minutes later, my cell phone alarm went off (reminding me I had forgotten to disable it). I gave in, fed the cats, and checked to see what had happened with the internet while I slept. But I wanted my leisure time, dammit! If I’m not working, I want to take a few days to not do anything so that I sate myself on laziness and can get stuff done without the threat of flopping on the couch “just for a minute” and spending my afternoons unproductively zoned out. So I went back to bed, and the kitties and I snuggled and napped until almost noon.

I went in and got a CT scan to see how many stones I have (I really like the urologist, he’s very personable, but seriously, I don’t care how many stones I have. Especially since all the kidney stone stuff is largely counter to the holding your bladder stuff! Bah.) and swung by work to return my security badge and parking sticker (which I couldn’t do at the end of the day yesterday because the ID office closes at 5) and then I came home. I knew I was sleepy mostly because I hadn’t had anything to eat (for the CT scan) so I had a snack and read some more in Leaving Microsoft to Change the World. I ended up napping for like 3 more hours. So much for not being a sloth!

To return to the idea of how my mental illness affects me and my passions….When I was at the urgent care last Friday, I was reading the same book, and found myself tearing up practically every other page, two weeks off meds. That day when I finally got home, my meds were in my mailbox, and I started them the next morning. I hadn’t taken the time to pick up Leaving Microsoft again until today, a week later. After a week on my meds, though I am still moved, but no longer cry at each anecdote. I have greater control over how my feelings are expressed.

Apropos of nothing at all, today is Fitzy’s birthday! He and his littermates are 3 years old today (and in a month or so, Zelda will be 4. She wasn’t even a year old when she had them.)

Today is full of suck, but I kinda feel happy.

So today: head full of stabby dried up mucus fighting with gooshy, suffocatey mucus. Migraine with nausea (first one with nausea in many months, DRAT IT ALL). Throat that is all dry and tight and achy and hates me. Throat woes doubled by migraine meds (though at least the nausea and a lot of the headpain is gone!) Swallowing is ridiculously painful. It’s less ridiculous if there’s food, but swallowing water? It’s like swallowing fire. Also my lymph nodes in my throat are back to swelling. On the advise of a friend who is also a pharmacist, I emailed the doc to request another course of meds.

You know how over at Hyperbole and a Half there’s that post about being an adult? I am firmly in the I’M A SUCCESS phase. I spent less than $100 on totally healthy (and long lasting!!) groceries, (though I screwed it up a little when I went to Rite Aid to get my B-2 and saw cadbury eggs of both the cream and mini varieties….) Last night I made a dish of rotini and elbows with a tomato based sauce with peas, bell peppers, onions, and bay scallops (and garlic of course, but being Italian, I feel like that is assumed.) I didn’t even use a recipe, just winged it! AND IT IS DELICIOUS. I have been enjoying lots of fruit, trying new things, reducing the amount of processed food I eat (though I still need to plan in advance more, so I am not caught flatfooted when I need a snack while making a meal, or when I need to bring one somewhere. I just rearranged some bill payments and reduced services so I’d be paying less. I’M AN ADULT.

For Christmas, my uncle gave me a book (and two bookmarks and a t-shirt with the grinch emblazoned on it, but the important part for the purposes of this post is the book). This is not unusual, since I went to school to be a librarian, and I bring more books than clothes to our yearly week-long family trip to the beach, my family knows I like to read. But this book was nonfiction. Which, you know, if fine and all, but I rarely pick up a nonfiction book unless it’s like, a photo-encyclopedia of marine life or something (my first serious career ambition was to be a marine biologist.) The book is Leaving Microsoft to Change the World, about a computer nerd turned advocate for literacy in the third world. A few years ago, the same uncle who gave me this book spent part of his summer in Africa with his life partner (they’ve been together forever, but aren’t married. I jokingly refer to her as my common-law aunt, but that’s basically what she is) teaching at a school there. (His day job is in linguistics and translating, and hers is as a teacher at an american-expat school in Europe.) I asked a LOT of questions about it, because it seemed like such a cool project. And then when we did the book drive last year for DCRG/Dewey Donation System, I nagged all my family about contributing to it. So I can see where he would get the idea I’d like this book. I finally got around to starting it earlier this week and OMG YOU GUYS IT IS SO GOOD. I had basically glossed right over the cover info that indicates it has anything to do with anything books-related and was just like “leaving microsoft, blah blah” but by the end of the first chapter I was moved to tears, both at the plight of the Nepalese schools and that this guy did something about it (though at that point, he hadn’t. but dude, he wrote a book about doing it so I figured I was safe to assume.) I highly recommend it. Room to Read has joined First Book and of course http://deweydonationsystem.org/ in my list of literacy-and-reading-related-charities to support. You should check them and this book out, you guys.

Oh, and update on my leg: it hurts to put on socks. Last night, I rolled over on my side and my leg ended up on top of a fold of the comforter on my bed and that hurt. This is not awesome. Waiting to hear back from the ortho (I reported those issues as well as the ones I’ve mentioned here previously) but I am NOT A HAPPY BUNNY as far as this is concerned.

No Scooter! Yes, crutches.

Just finished listening to the DC Allstars take on Boston Massacre 226-131 Boston, alas. That seems like a big point gap but jam for jam, that was a super-close game and DC was great. We’ve moved into the consolation bracket, but we’re not defeated! Those ladies left it all out on the track, they didn’t hold anything back, and they skated hard. Up next is the anticipated rematch of London versus Montreal, which last year was the last bout of the weekend and was a 1 point game. So I’ll listen to that, too. It actually makes working easier listening to the games, but I have bounced silently in my chair a few times.

Went to the doctor this morning. He was very nice. He said my breaks both look great and that I can definitely increase the amount of weight I’m putting on my leg. So no more scooter! But I can’t just walk on my own or with a cane yet, I’m still using crutches. He told me to put as much weight as I could without pain, and it seems like at least 80% to me. He predicted I’d be using one crutch next week, which I hope is true, and said that he won’t send me to do PT until I can bear all my weight on my leg, and that I might not need it at all. Once I am 100% weight bearing on my right leg, I’ll start doing the exercises I learned doing PT for my sprain anyway, because it seems stupid that I wouldn’t get any PT. The doctor was also surprised at my age because I look younger. That’s probably helped by the fact that I’m wearing jeans today.

After work I’m going to hear Neil Gaiman do a reading at my alma mater, along with some friends. SO EXCITED!

Novel novel books, y’all installment 2

Okay, so! Another book I read on vacation is Cherie Priest’s Ganymede. All of the clockwork century books are fun–they have great characters, they crossover with one another to some extent but not so much that they’re direct sequels, and they’re an interesting alternate history take on the Civil War era. I have been having Zombie Fatigue for a while, but if the zombies aren’t the focus, I usually still find them enjoyable, and that is the case with this title. (Of the clockwork century, the zombies are only a major focus in Boneshaker and a minor focus in Dreadnought. (I haven’t read Clementine, yet.) They are a minor feature in Ganymede, but in all of these novels, the story is so compelling that my ZF isn’t triggered. This installment takes place mostly in Louisiana (with some bits in Seattle), and involves a steampunk submarine. As a Navy brat and daughter of a retired sub captain and someone who wanted to captain her own sub, I dug Ganymede a lot. My dad doesn’t do steampunk or zombies in his reading, but I was really tempted to suggest he try this one out. The mechanics of the Ganymede, the ‘punked sub, are similar to those of the airships that feature in all the clockwork century books, and I’d love his perspective on the operability of one of these “fish.”

There is also a transgender character in this novel, which I loved for two reasons: 1) there is no way that transgender people didn’t exist before, say, 1970, and 2) the discovery of the trans-nature of this character covers maybe 2 pages and while a character is taken aback, there is no “oh my god, gross!”ness at all. It’s noted, and then we move on. Not a big deal. More works need to be this way! It’s gonna be a while, I suspect, though, since it’s still a pleasant surprise when gay and lesbian characters are treated this way (rather than being 100% defined by their gayness or with a great focus on it throughout the story.) Still: good sign! Thanks, Cherie.

Novel novel books, y’all!

Sorry this post is later than usual–early release from work meant not taking a normal lunchbreak (or, technically, any lunch break. Though I did eat a criminal amount of white cheddar cheez-its) and after I got home I had to boot up Ye Olde Desktope and got distracted by my latest reading. so. here’s the interesting part: TALKIN’ BOUT BOOKS, BABY!

Last Library Friday I mentioned that I was picking up a stack of books from the library for vacation reading. I’m going to give you some 2-second reviews (disclaimer: may or may not take 2 seconds to write or read.) This is today’s:

The Wind Through The Keyhole by Stephen King. This is a new Dark Tower novel. Yes, I DID say NEW. DARK. TOWER. It takes place between 4 and 5, making it DT 4.5, and it has no real bearing on the overall story arc known as The Dark Tower. But it is another chance to a) hang out with our favorite Ka-Tet of 19 and 99 and to get a look at some Mid-World mythology. This is sort of a frame story: the frame is that Roland, Eddie, Susannah, Jake and Oy must take shelter from a storm. During this storm, Roland tells them a story he grew up hearing from his mother, about a young man who deals with King’s favorite antagonist, Flagg, better known to DT readers as Marten Broadcloak, and also has to survive the same type of storm our heroes are waiting out. We learn a little more about billy-bumblers, too. It’s pretty awesome, you guys, but I kinda wish we got the interior story without the frame. It’s not that I don’t love visiting with my favorite gunslingers, but the interior story has a weight to it, that weight any good piece of fiction has, where you don’t want to let go of that world. The Ka-Tet’s tale is done, and we know that nothing that happens in this frame is going to change it. The frame is unnecessary to the interior story, and lessens the impact the interior story has.

Getting Ready for Saturday’s Bout

Last night I went straight from work to the Armory and spent 3 hours or so with Pants (and less time with Sean, Sm’Ak, Batty, and various skaters, including having a lovely book chat with Lenore Gore, who convinced me to give Thomas Hardy another shot before hating him forever) bagging, pricing, and storing books for the used book sale fundraiser. The idea is that they are mystery grab bags! I said goodbye to (almost!!) all my Christopher Pike novels from 6th grade (had to keep Last Act-the main character is a theater nerd named Melanie. GOTTA KEEP A BOOK THAT IS ABOUT ME) as ell as a number of other titles, and I got to see what other people were donating too. It was so fun! And, as Pants noted, “it says a lot about us that whenever anyone comes in they go “ooh, books! OOH, SHARPIES!”

Ready for Saturday? DCRG’s gently-used books are!
Everything is now sorted, bagged, & labeled for sale!

Each bag is a flat $5 and contains THREE paperback or TWO hard-back books.
That’s right- 3 paperback or 2 hardback books for only $5!

All told, 20 people donated well over 300 books!

(From an email Pants sent to the league and pit crew )

Here is some photographic evidence of the work we did last night (click for enlargement)

From Roller Derby Saved My Soul

I meant to take pics of the books before we bagged them, but I forgot.

I got home at 9:30 and I meant to make lunch before passing out but I wanted to unwind (not that bagging books is stressful, but I was all wound up from excitement) so I crossworded on my phone for a bit and then it was bedtime and long story short, I have to buy lunch and also I look like a raccoon because of the GIANT BAGS under my eyes.

going to Anacostia after work, then going to sleep ALL THE NIGHT. Also, OMG IT IS COLD IN THIS OFFICE vinyl coat on and heater, ACTIVATE!

I’m losing coherence, here, aren’t I? Let’s stop while we’re ahead. But don’t forget to come out to the Armory Saturday for hot derby action!

Happy National Library Week!

I know the week is half over, and all, but seriously? Happy. Be it. Celebrate it. LIBRARY WEEK. Woo!

So. DEWEY UPDATE: I got an email from Linnea last night, and she said “so far we’ve raised $2,870 from 65 donors” and I went to to the Amazon wishlist and used a calculator because doing basic math is for chumps and hookers* and discovered that 138 books off the wishlist have been purchased for DCPL’s STAR program! That cash will cover 550+ board books, plus there’s the 138 books they’re already getting from YOU! HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!?! (Hint: The answer is SO AWESOME!!!!)

As I might have maybe mentioned before, at the April 14th doubleheader bout, we will be raising EVEN MORE MONEY for DCPL and STAR by selling gently used books. Last night I went through my shelves (and some boxes of books I didn’t have room for on the shelves) and pulled the titles I was willing to donate for the cause. (and then recycled a few that were, lets say, less gently used.) I also cut squares of brightly colored paper and gathered up my GIANT COLLECTION OF SHARPIES. We will combine these things tonight at practice with paper bags and prices to make BOOK SALE! And then I DREAMED ABOUT BOOKS AND ROLLER DERBY ALL NIGHT. I am SO jazzed about this! It’s fun! It’s exciting! It’s that feeling I would get after donating a book or two to Dewey or Child’s Play only for TWO WHOLE WEEKS.
This is gonna get a little image heavy, so I’m going to give you this and then a cut:

from Daphne Does Derby, which is an awesome derby tumblr blog thing that everyone should read.

Today is Gonna ROCK

First of all, my super exciting-to-me-but-probably-not-you news: you know that skirt I talked about? The one I keep not getting rid of despite the fact that I can’t fit into it?

IT FITS!

I have to wiggle and struggle a bit to get it on, but once it is on it fits comfortably (I have more hips now than I did when I bought it, I think) and I had to trim up the thong that laces up the front because my cat chewed one end of it so it was uneven, but it fits and it’s cute and YAY!

As far as the Dewey Drive is concerned, everything’s coming up Milhouse! Plus, yesterday, an anonymous donor challenged Dewey fans by offering to donate $300 to both drives if we raised $2000. We raised it so quickly he or she donated $350 to each drive!

Those of you who know me or have read this blog for a while know I am a big John Scalzi fan, and I often share things he’s blogged. He’s also a friend of Pamie’s, so is using his blog to suggest to his not-inconsiderable readership help, too! Yay!

For those of you who didn’t read click the first link, a recap:

• My contact at the DCPL Foundation, Linnea, reported last night that “As of 5:00pm ET, we’ve had 48 donors give a total of $2,420!”
• She asked if I thought we could beat DCRG’s record for most successful drive (around $6300)
• Pamie took that as a challenge and said Dewey fans can beat that EASILY, so prove her right!
• she also asked that if you have some sort of donation incentive to offer, please contact her or Glark

AWESOME, YOU GUYS!!! KEEP IT UP, PLEASE!!!

Why I became a librarian and an update on the Dewey/DCRG Drive for DCPL

Pamie shared an update about the drive and then talks about HER love of libraries:

All of this appreciation for books and how they bring people together started with a love of the library. It is heartbreaking to think every kid doesn’t get this chance, this experience. It is, in fact, the entire point of the DC STAR program — teaching families that love is in sharing storytime.

All I have to say to that is WORD.

Okay. So. I’m a Navy brat. Our family didn’t move as much as some military families, (my first move was at 3 months old, and my second was at 6 years old! Lucky me!) but every time we did, I made the local librarians my first new friends. This was especially true when we moved from one house to another in the same town, between fifth and sixth grade. We moved from several miles down the local highway from the library to maybe a mile’s walk away, and I walked to the library at least twice a week to get a new pile of books. I was a voracious reader, just like my dad and brother were, but being able to go to the library by myself? I surpassed them in sheer volume of reading within a month. (Of course, not being in high school or having to hold down a job helped.) My friends in the neighborhood and I would hang out at the library when we weren’t at each other’s homes. I thought about how great it would be to be a librarian, and be surrounded with books and computers ALL THE TIME. And get paid for it!

Then we moved to DC. I went to high school, and then college. I still loved the library (the only job I held in college was at the university library, working 8 hours a week with inter-library loans) but I had been seduced by other possibilities. I was going to be a theater teacher. Until, that is, the second half of my junior year when I dropped out of college, burned out on the theater scene (after doing nothing else for almost 8 years, burnout is understandable). What would I do with myself now? I went back to college, got my bachelors (in English-what better degree than one that asks me to read all the time?) and as that was coming to an end, my then-boyfriend started talking about librarianship and I remembered being 12 and 13 and clearing out the YA section of the Gales Ferry Library, and how cool I felt, knowing the librarians’ names and being allowed to check out novels from the general collection (adult (not THAT kind of adult) books! WOOHOO!) and started looking into library science programs. I got accepted to the one at Catholic, obviously, and to one in Hawai’i as well (and I occasionally kick myself for not going there, despite the fact that I could never in a million years afford to live there long enough to get my MLS) and to one in Arizona. I decided on staying local, and I’m so glad I did. I have had so many library-related opportunities, and if I hadn’t stayed here, I wouldn’t have met all the wonderful friends I now know through DC Rollergirls!

Without a love of reading and a love of libraries, I would not be the amazing person I am today. Please support DCPL’s STAR program, so someone else can experience the same love of reading and libraries.

DC Rollergirls and Dewey Donation System partner up to help DC Public Libraries

YOU GUYS! I am so excited! The project I have been working on as a member of DCRG’s charity committee is finally live and ready to be talked about! There are many librarians involved with the league (we have a ref named Screwy Decimal, for pete’s sake!) and we wanted to assist our local library system in conjunction with National Library Week. Rock Clobster (#B-52 of course) suggested we partner with Dewey Donation System, which is run in part by former LA Derby Doll Pamela Ribon, AKA May Q. Holla. Since Pamie is a huge part of how I got into roller derby (which I could have sworn I talked about here before, but I can’t find it, so you’ll just have to read about it here) I especially wanted in on this and so Rock Clobster and I took charge of this project. Claw was our POC for Dewey and I was our POC for DCPL and for the past month or so we have been busily working to set up this AWESOME bookdrive for the DCPL STAR early literacy program.

Last year, less than half of DC’s third-graders were shown to be proficient readers. The DC Public Library’s STAR program promotes early literacy by teaching parents and other primary caretakers techniques to share books, songs and conversation with infants and toddlers.
This program partners with social service agencies, homeless shelters, low-income housing providers and other venues who identify families in at-risk communities in need of training, and help DCPL follow up with these families to continue providing literacy services.
In 2012, their goal is to serve 600 families, beginning June 1, 2012.
Using everyday tasks, DCPL staff train parents key communication skills that lead to learning and reading comprehension. For bath time, program staff teach parents to sing their children a song about a rubber ducky or the water. When grocery shopping, parents learn to converse with their children about the foods they are purchasing. Through these simple exercises, parents teach valuable skills such as vocabulary, narrative skills, comprehension, and most importantly, a love of reading.
Each child is sent home with a book that’s theirs to keep (as well as a book for the caretakers that teaches these skills and practices). Upon finishing the program the child is given another book. That’s two books per kid in order to encourage a deeper bond between caretaker and child, and spark a lifetime love of reading.

You can donate through the Amazon Wishlist, but DCPL gets a significant discount through their vendors, so you can also donate money because a cash donation might be worth a little more. Once you’ve donated, tell Dewey and so they can thank you (and of course, DCPL and DC Rollergirls thank you as well!) and add your donation to the front page tally.

We will, as always, have a table set up at the April 14th bout where we will be collecting cash donations and selling gently used books to raise money for the STAR program. We may also have a librarian or two from DCPL there to tell you more about the program and sign you up for a library card! The drive will be running from today until April 21st. Buy a book or donate money online or at the bout, or buy a mystery bag of books (grouped by genre) at the bout to support DC Public Libraries, the DC Public Library Foundation, and their early literacy STAR program!