Detox

I've mentioned before that I listen to a lot of podcasts. I had the history podcasts, news podcasts, humor, economics, and whatever else peaked my interest.

But lately, I've been feeling disinterested. Especially the newsy ones. Somehow, they seem monotonous. There are still a couple that I listen to, that go more in depth on one topic, and of courses I listen to the news-comedies. But I couldn't take on the same old same old that has been the topic of discussion for 2+ years. It's completely non-productive.

There are other podcasts I've let drop off the radar, and even those that I still have in my rotation, I've lost the compulsion I felt to listen to every episode. This has been incredibly liberating. Why should I listen to something I'm not interested in? Time is a limited commodity.

Anyway, it's been very nice. I feel like I have been detoxing and I highly recommend it to everyone. Let's all make the world a better place!

Behind the Lens

Last night, I spent some time with my niece to celebrate a big event*. And, as usual, I was the camerawoman, a position I enjoy and sometimes am terrified of because I'm fairly certain I'm not as good a photographer as people think they are getting. But mostly I don't mind, and I end up there because I carry an actual camera instead of a phone camera. And in this case, it was fine and the pictures did turn out nicely.

The thing is, though, I realized on the way back that I didn't get a picture of me and my niece. I never seem to think about doing that. So I have all these photos documenting events in my life and I'm not in any of them! It's not a super big deal, but there is currently no photographic evidence that I'm aware of (maybe on someone's phone somewhere, but why would they photograph the photographer?) of me watching my niece open her mission call. Except for the fact that I have photographs of the event on my camera. So I guess in a way I'm in every single photo, you just never see my face. When I'm dead and my papers make it to an archive (ha ha!), researchers will have to study me through my lens, and research my life based on the photos I took, not the photos I am in.**

Now, I understand why people don't ask if I would like them to take a photo. A camera like mine I think is intimidating. It's a DSLR and it looks big and scary, but it really isn't. It has the functionality of a point and shoot, but how would they know that? Also, we live in the world of selfies; does anyone ask anyone to take photos for them anymore?*** But it does mean that photographs of me are sort of rare.

So, if you think about it, maybe ask if the photographer would like to be in the picture. They might just say yes.


*She received a mission call to serve in the Singapore Mission, Malaysia region. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
**Which does make copyright a little easier, because I took them all so if I donate my photographs I can transfer the copyright. Whereas, if I'm in the photograph (assuming it isn't a selfie, which it most likely isn't if I'm the one taking the photo), it means someone else took the picture, which complicates the copyright. Yes, people, I am an info professional. We care about copyright.
***Answer: Yes. Not often, but yes. I know, because people have asked me. And I have asked if they would like me to on occasion.

Embracing the stereotype

I think it's pretty typical for people to think of librarians (and hence, archivists, since it's typical for people to think that archivists are librarians) as eyeglasses-on-the-tip-of-the-nose, hair-in-a-bun, cardigan-wearing individuals. Well, as an archivist, I don't wear glasses to work and I can't get my hair in a bun worth having, but as far as the cardigan thing goes, it's true.

Not that I limit myself to cardigans. I do have several, along with jackets bordering from fleece to suit. And I always have one at work, for very good reasons. First, archives are chilly. They kind of have to be, because they exist to preserve records and that means they have to be temperature controlled--records like cooler temperatures. 

But in the last couple of years, I've discovered the real value of sweaters/jackets at work: security. As adults, it is frowned upon for us to carry security blankets. But there is still nothing quite as comforting as a blanket--preferably on a bed, accompanied by pillows, but barring that, blankets do wonders. Given this social norm, I make do with sweaters and jackets and such. It's almost as good as a blanket.

People will see me bundled up in a fleece jacket and ask in surprise, "Are you cold?" And, sometimes I am, but usually I just tell them that I'm missing my bed and so I'm making do with the next best thing. And you know what? I think they understand. 

So here's to the delightful stereotype that has definitely paid off for me. 

Another weekend come and gone

Here we are again: Sunday night. The last few moments of the weekend, ticking away, the sands of our free time slipping through the hourglass as we contemplate how we wasted these precious moments of life that aren't committed to anyone else, ours to do with as we wish.

In theory. Of course that's never the reality. Mentally, my weekends feel spent before I even get to them. I have this tendency to vastly overestimate how much time I will need to do things and so my weekends feel super packed because I have a list of things to do, like clean the house, do laundry, wash the dishes, and buy milk. None of which really takes an entire weekend, and if I'd sleep less on weekends, I'd have more time to do stuff.

This is the other dilemma. My brain is so exhausted that doing anything on the weekend seems an overwhelming prospect. Once I get going, though, it's fine, it's just tricking my brain into action that is the challenge. This weekend, I did get a few things done, but not nearly as many as I had on my list. Which means I'm going to have to be very sneaky to get my brain into gear this week. And of course, I'm contemplating all the work I have to do that didn't get done because last week was packed with meetings and have been battered over the head with the realization that I'm behind before my work week even starts. Sigh.

Times like this, there's only one thing to do: go on vacation to Iceland.

Ho Hum

Things are very dull of late. Just not much that is note worthy. But, it occurs to me I do have some fun pictures from Easter weekend, which is at least something. Enjoy!

Lots of fun bright colored eggs. 

And the hands that died them.

This one's for the birds.