Doing it right

Tonight I went to a party with some friends who are wonderful people. But they are also incredibly successful in a way I never will be (archivists don't rake in the money. It's just not a thing). Of course, they are also done with their careers, so they're in a completely different stage of life and it isn't remotely fair to compare myself with them. It's apples and peanut butter. Not the same thing (although tasty together). Even so, it's hard to not feel overwhelmed and inadequate.

But then I came home and saw this:

Which could only be the product of the elders I work with. And you know what? I may never have a house in Cozumel, but I'd take this over spare houses any day. I think I'm doing something right.

Tradition's Patient Zero

Today I overheard someone telling about how Christmas trees became a thing. Apparently, it was to be a reminder that new life would come in the spring or something. But here's my question: how did it become a thing?

Even if it was a "let's remember that spring will be green" thing, it had to start somewhere. So, did some family just feel really gloomy and need some cheering up so they put up a tree? And then their neighbor came by and was like, "Hey, that's cool! I like that! It makes me feel hopeful, like there will be new life in the spring" and put one up? And then they told their family and friends and soon everybody was doing it?

Or was there some farmer who wanted to clear some land, but didn't want to cut all of those trees into firewood, so he cut them down and convinced everyone that they were a symbol of new life and got them to buy them?

Did some religion somewhere just really love the smell of pine trees? Was it some kind of self-inflicted punishment, because you had to sweep up all the pine needles? I mean, who looked at a tree and said, "Hey. Let's cut that down and put it up in our house [because that totally  speaks of new life] so that we can remember that there will be new life in the spring! And, while we're at it, why don't we stick some candles on it?!" Was there a committee? An election? A whole town or province or country all handed in their ballot, "Yes, I am in favor of starting this tradition"?

I mean, seriously. Traditions start somewhere and probably not with all the symbolism we attribute to them. It's probably just a few people looking for something fun and meaningful to do and then somehow word spreads and a couple centuries later, stores are throwing merch out in September for a holiday that's in December and everyone is having fun with it (because we are. I LOVE Christmas trees! And lights! And ornaments!).

I just wondered, is all.

One Hell of a trip--haha

A co-worker and I were talking a few weeks ago and somehow got on the subject of places named Hell. I lived not to far from Hell, Michigan for a while and she has been to Hell, Norway. Well, naturally, we decided that a tour of Hell would be an awesome trip to go on someday. There aren't actually that many Hells:

• Hell, California (this is a ghost town)
• Hell, Michigan (a favorite for tourists visiting in winter, when they can say Hell has frozen over)
• Hell, Grand Cayman, in the Cayman Islands (in terms of heat, probably closer than Hell, MI to the stereotypical hell)
• Hell, Norway (with a sign that says, "God's Expedition". Translation: goods expedition, but where's the fun in that)
• Hell Cave, Slovenia (not a city, but it's hell)
• Hell Creek near Jordan Montana (again, close enough)

I don't know how many hells would be added if you threw in foreign languages, or if there are more variations like "Hell Cave" or "Hell Creek" that the internet just doesn't know about. But, this seems like a pretty good start. 

Now, the best part of taking a tour of all the Hells on earth is the out of office message you get to set. So many amazing possibilities, like "I'm out of the office. If you would like to reach me, go to Hell." Or "I went to hell. Be back in two weeks." Or variations thereon. You got to have fun with it, though. 

If you'd like to come along on this lovely world tour, you're more than welcome. If you do, I'll see you in Hell!

So lucky

One of the things I'm really grateful for is the people and experiences I've been blessed to have in my life that have helped me become a more compassionate, better informed and understanding person. I have had a couple of moments lately where I've just been really grateful for people who have pointed out things about some hot topics that helped me understand a different perspective and realize that there were things in my own views that weren't well-informed. 

I know that if I hadn't been lucky enough to study abroad and to have experiences living in and traveling to different places and, most of all, making friends with people who have different experiences than me, I would be a very different person--and probably kind of a jerk. But I have been so blessed to have people who I respect and who, without anger or being condescending or putting me down, have been willing to be patient and have conversations with me that have really helped me understand different perspectives better and to realize that things that may have seemed contrary to my core values aren't (or at least, they help me see how I can still live my values while letting others live theirs and it's not actually a problem). They've helped me have compassion for "the other side". They have helped me be a better Christian, in my opinion, and to live my values better.

So I'm really grateful for all those friends and mentors and role models who have been willing to share themselves and have trusted me with that. I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had to see others as people and not just abstract "them"s. I'm really grateful for the person others have helped me become. Thank you, all. 

I've been plagiarized

And yet again I am forced to question the validity of algorithms.

This week I got an email from Amazon, everyone's favorite love 'em-and-hate 'em online Overlord. It said:

So, there are a few things going on here. First, "Elise Reynolds"? As if I haven't given them enough money in my lifetime to be on a first name basis? It's so impersonal. 

Second, you should definitely read the other five books in this series so that when Return of the Thief comes out, you're up to speed. LOVE these books! They are soooooooooo good. You need to read them. This cannot be emphasized enough.

But the real thing going on here is the question of where Amazon found this.  Would you like to know? Because I'd love to tell you. They found it in my list of orders. Yeah. I pre-ordered this item. After I pre-ordered it, the publication date got pushed back. So they then re-listed this when the new date came out. And I was looking at the relisting, which didn't have the hardcopy up yet. And then they sent me this email. And I clicked on it and, yes, I had still pre-ordered it. 

Am I the only one who thinks that Amazon's algorithm--we'll call him Tony*--is stretching it by saying that he "found" this? I don't know how you could call that finding. Observing--yes. Tony observed that I had purchased an item and deduced from that very straightforward information that I was in fact interested in the item I was purchased in. Not a hard thing to do. So, yay. Algorithms can state the obvious. So can most people. I mean, it just feels like I've been plagiarized. 

Also, it just makes Tony look desperate. I mean, he's digging the bottom of the barrel if he's pulling recommendations from things I've actually bought. Or put on my wish list. Or already ordered. Tony, it's okay.  You don't have to have a new suggestion for me every hour. Or ever, really. I promise, it's fine. 

*No offense to any Tonys out there. 

It's all relative

Today's actual date: 10 November 2019*.
The date based on the weather: late March/early April
The date according to my brain: simultaneously January of 2019 (how have we made it to NOVEMBER already?) and December (bring on Christmas)
The date it should be based on election stuff: at least June 2020.
The date according to my feelings: 1985, 2019,  and 2050.**
The date according to how people are behaving, depending on who you ask: hmmmmm. Maybe 66 million BCE? Or 200 BCE? Or 70 AD? Or 1800s? Or 1900s? As a world religions professor once said, "People are people wherever [and whenever!] you find them."
The date according to the coptic calendar: 30 Babah 1736.
The date according to Batman: Same bat day, same bat month, same bat year. Ha ha.
The date in Roman numerals: MMXIX. Or would it be X-XI-MMXIX?***

Whatever you feel like the date is, I hope you it's a good one.


*Or November 10, 2019. Or 2019 November 10. Depending. 
**I know. These aren't complete dates. 
***Or XI-X-MMXIX, etc. Or, wait. Wouldn't we use the Julian calendar, in which case it would be 10 October 2019, so XXIX-X-MMXIX? So glad we don't use Roman numerals for this stuff anymore.

No robots were used in the making of this post

I was listening to a news podcast that had a segment on artificial intelligence tonight and they were talking about AI being able to write things. The good news is, I was listening to this while I was working out, so all that anger could be channeled into calorie burning. So there's that. The other good news is they anticipate that your 7-year old still needs to learn how to write, because AI won't be up for it soon enough.

There's lots of talk around AI and robots and stuff and no one has ever yet been able to answer my primary question: Why do you hate humanity so much?

Maybe AI can do things faster or better or more safely. And I'm not saying all of these advancements are bad. I'm sure that's not the case*. But why do we want them to replace us? We are essentially outsourcing our humanness to computers. Let's assume AI can learn to write a novel. But why would I want to let my computer write my novel? Then it isn't mine. So why would I want that?

I get it, there's a lot of stuff humans have done that is so far below despicable that it's not even on the same chart. I am not oblivious to the annoyances of humanity. Ask any of my friends--they'll confirm this.

However, the opposite extreme also exists. Humans have done things that are so beautiful, so wonderful, that words fail. Humanity is incredible, compassionate, stunning. Think of the goodness of the millions--billions!--of unnamed, unacknowledged, but decent, caring humans who for no other reason than that they are good and they care about people. I cherish the good of humanity and I don't see what an algorithm can bring that can even equal it. So, sorry folks. I'm pro people on this one.

I like people, believe it or not, and I think we're worth keeping around. So I personally will pass on having my existence made obsolete by the robots.

*it's a great tool. It's just that People tend to look at every tool as a Swiss Army version--it can do everything. And so often, that's not the case. We're really bad at knowing the right use for tools. 

The coolness of capes

Tonight I was walking home from running an errand and I ended up behind someone dressed like Zorro. So, I was really just getting a view of the cape and even though it wasn't windy or anything, this guy's cape was billowing. Seriously, it was really cool. And I totally understood why someone would wear a cape. I mean, it was a seriously awesome effect. Despite the advice of Edna in The Incredibles, I think I'm down with capes. Think of all the great ones there are:

• Thor's cape. And Dr. Strange. And all the other Marvel capes.
• Lord of the Rings has some great capes--technically, probably cloaks, but they have the same effect.
• Zorro, obviously.
• Elsa has a sweet cape/train.
• Star Wars? Loads of capes and cape-like variations.
• Prince Humperdink has a super ridiculous cape in Princess Bride, but it really makes the character.
• If you are going to mention Marvel capes, I think you also have to go DC--Batman, Superman, etc. Can you be a superhero without a cape? I'm not sure that's allowed.
• Yzma! She's got a cape!
• Dracula wouldn't be Dracula without a cape. 
• And neither would all the princes, princesses, etc. in movies and books

Let's face it, guys. The world just needs capes.

Once upon a time was enough

This weekend I found myself on a college campus briefly and I out of the blue, I just thought, "I'm soooo glad I'm not a college kid anymore!"

Don't get me wrong. I love college kids! There's a whole bunch of them at work, half of my neighbors are college kids, I have three college-kid nieces, and I took one of them on a road trip with me this weekend. It's a great age! And I loved being that age, when I was that age. Probably not every second of it, but I have really great memories, for the most part. (I do seem to have blocked out a lot of the college stress, though, so who knows what else I'm forgetting). I had some fun times.  Also, I'd love to go back and work at a college or university, too, so I'd be surrounded by college kids. I'm really not the grumpy old person who just can't stand youth, I promise.

I'm just really glad it's not my time of life. I am glad I had that time, and I'm glad that there are people having that time. I'm just really glad it's not my time of life, and I think that's mostly because I know so much more now and have done so much more--some good, some not so good--and how do you trade all of that to be young and less aware?

It's kind of like watching toddlers learn. They are so adorable and sweet and it's so fun to see them figure out the world! But if they stayed a toddler forever, it would just be wrong. Disturbingly wrong. As bittersweet as it is, growing is part of the fun. And it's the same for adults. We may think we want to be young forever, but really, that isn't right.

And so, I'm really glad (even as much as I complain and get frustrated with things) that I am where I'm at in life. And if I do it right, I'll still be glad in twenty years.

Celebrity

Last week, I was on my way to work when a group of my neighbors/coworkers* (young men, late teens to early twenties) saw me. They called my name and waved and I looked over and there was this whole group of them looking at me and pointing and waving. I've never wanted to be famous, but I really did feel like a celebrity. I wouldn't have been surprised if they came asking for autographs (ha ha). And it was even better because these guys actually all knew me, so it wasn't just fandom.

Anyway, it was a really great way to start the day. I highly recommend it.

*It's kind of an unusual setup. But lots of fun.

Cave dweller

This weekend was a three day weekend for me (just for me, because I'm so special*). Three day weekends are always a little bit risky because I become a bit of a hermit and this weekend was no exception. I did leave my house once on Friday for groceries and dinner, and 6 times on Saturday to do laundry. I have not left my house today, though.** And this afternoon, it hit me that I actually have a job and I have to go back to it tomorrow. Like, it had completely slipped my mind that that was a thing. No joke. 

Which makes me think of a conversation I had with someone, or multiple someones, last week. We were talking about somebody not knowing something that basically the whole world knows and so of course there was the, "What rock did you crawl out from under?" line. Only I added, "Because I want to crawl under that rock." I mean, doesn't that just sound heavenly? To crawl under a rock and not have to listen to all the American politicians fighting, and the news fighting, and everyone else fighting, and everyone being mad at everyone when really we all just need a nap and a good snack, not necessarily in that order?***

Yeah, this weekend I got pretty darn close to crawling under that rock. And, I gotta be honest, it was kind of nice. I mean, it would have been cool to have some company. You know, dig the space out, create some tunnels, add some rooms--hobbit style, maybe--invite my besties over for a rock party. It would be amazing! Sigh. I think I may need more rock time in my life.

Also, my keyboard has taken to double typing letters. It's super annoying and has nothing to do with anything. Just throwing that out there.

*No, not so much. I just worked Saturday of the previous week, is all. Nothing special here.

**But why would I want to? I baked cookies practically all day. Oooh, that's why. So that when I come back in it smells like fresh cookies. Darn it!

***Why are we all so mad, guys? It's so exhausting! 

So that happened

The other day, I sent off this text:
"this is Elise. I think I left a hot pad at your house on Tuesday and wondered if you'd found it laying around by chance."

The answer I received was:
"Huh?"

Yeah, so what I really sent was:
"this is 3. I think I left a road at your house on Tuesday and wondered if you'd found it laying around by chance."

Which makes zero sense. So I replied:
"Sorry, Elise. [meaning, "Sorry, I meant it's Elise" but clearly doesn't read that way.] I think I left a hot pad behind. Sheesh, I get an F for that text!"

Anyway, we made arrangements for me to get it back, and life went on. The next day, at a church meeting, I noticed a text that said:
"3, this is 4. I have your road. I can meet you at the East door after the assembly. Come alone. Don't tell 5."

Which is honestly one of the best texts I have ever gotten in my life. And, quite frankly, is there any other way to respond to the texting fiasco I created? Brilliant.

The moral of the story is, I'm bad at texting, when you get weird texts from people you know, you should just have fun with it, and it's still not as bad as the time auto-correct told me Satan would help me find a ride to Church.

Viva la musica!

On Monday, I went to the symphony with a friend from work. I was excited, because it was the

¡Celebración Sinfónica!, so music from Latin America. Which sounded very fun and enjoyable.

Side note. It took me waaaaay too long to figure out why they were doing the Latin American concert that night. I mean, it was a whole big festival--dancing outside, a pre-show with local kids performing music and such. And I knew there had to be something going on. Yeah, after about half an hour of thinking about it, I realized it was Mexico's Independence day. It took me so long because in my brain, I was still thinking we were in August. I'm not currently processing time very accurately. Sorry, everyone. And now back to the main topic.

I was totally right. The concert was fantastic. The pieces came from countries all over Latin America. The conductor, Carlos Miguel Prieto, was Mexican but had traveled all over Latin America and the US and for each piece, he'd ask the audience who was from the piece's country and kind of speak to them about their cultural identity in terms of music and dance. And the music was great and the conductor was dancing and the audience was dancing and even I was dancing in my seat. It was fantastic and joyous. I know not all music from Mexico, or Colombia, or Brazil, or Peru is so full of life and energy and happiness, but they do have really great music, our neighbors to the south.

One of the great advantages of having a world with so many nations and cultures is that you get to see so many different ways of living and thinking and being. And you can say, "Hey, I like that. And maybe I can be more like that." Or even, "I'm not that type of person, but I'm glad others are so I can enjoy who they are." I don't know if that makes sense, but life is so much richer when you get to enjoy all the different kinds of people in the world. 

Reader's guilt

Yesterday, I woke up and finished reading a book. I just spent maybe an hour or two reading, doing nothing else.

Now, I used to just read all the time. As a kid, probably half of my summer hours were just lounging around reading. We went to the library practically every week during the summer. Somehow, I could just read and it was fine, no guilt.

But yesterday I kept thinking that surely there should be something else I should be doing. Adults can't just sit around reading, right? That's not a thing? But honestly, why shouldn't it be? Not everyday, necessarily, but I should I feel guilty? It just seemed like there was something more important I could have been doing. And there were, but at the same time, not necessarily a better use of the limited time I have on planet earth, depending on how you look at it.

So, I finished the book--which meant I walked to the library to return it, which was healthy--and I enjoyed it, so I'm not going to worry about it. But I do kind of miss the guilt-free days of reading.

Things you remember

Yesterday, for whatever reason, I was thinking of popsicle sticks and how, as kids, when we finished our popsicle or whatever it was on the stick, we would rinse the sticks and then sharpen the ends by rubbing the edges down on the pavement. For the life of me I have no idea why we did this, but we went through this ritual almost every time we had the opportunity (which wasn't a daily occurrence or anything). I mean, what do a bunch of kids need popsicle stick daggers for?

To the best of my knowledge, no children or animals were harmed in the making or use of our practically useless weapons. I have no memory of actually using them, only of making them. Aaaah, the good old days.

Frequently Heard Comments as a Walking Reader

Don't run into anything!
Have you ever run into anything?
I would run into things if I did that.
How do you do that?
I don't know how she does that!
That's Elise, she's always reading.
I didn't recognize you without your book!
What are you reading now?*
That looks interesting.**
That's not the book you were reading yesterday!

And, not a frequent one but one of my all time favorites:
"I want to take your picture because you are actually reading a book instead of looking at a screen!"***

*I actually love this one because then I get to talk about the books I'm reading. Although, it can be risky, such as when I was reading Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders? (And How to Fix It). That led to some awkward moments. 
**can be said either sarcastically or sincerely. 
***I do read books on my tablet but that day, I had a hard copy of a book. 

A new best

Approximately half an hour ago, there was a huge bang, which turned out to be thunder. And then there was lightning. And so I, being me, did NOT finish getting ready for bed. I grabbed my camera and headed out into the rain, where I took roughly 700 shots to get 2 that were pretty impressive* (and a couple of other kind of cool ones you didn't know about):

There were so many even better than this, but I didn't capture any of them. Still, this one's pretty good.

Then, of course, rather than coming home and getting ready for bed, like a responsible adult**, I sat down and posted these. Because, priorities people.

*It's lightning. This is what you do. Well, it's what I do, and I don't know that there's a better way. 
**I never claimed to be an adult. Society just decided I was. I only meet the outward qualifications--age, full-time job, providing for myself. Other than that, it's all a bit iffy.

Another one for the birds

A view from the refuge

Coming in for a landing

  

Swimming in the rain

Showdown 

Spread your wings

eating on the run

King of the Mountain

geese on the move 

primping for the camera

what better place for a meeting than a sunflower?

Synchronized flying

See ya later!

Algorithmic Failure

I have complained before about algorithms and how inept they are and I just need to register yet another complaint.

The other day I made fettuccine alfredo. And had a lot of leftovers. And wanted to know the best way to reheat it, because it doesn't reheat super well in the microwave. So I did a google search.

Now, despite having done google searches for YEARS (seriously, it's been over a decade) and NOT looking for information about alfredo on a regular basis, my google news feed has popped up 2 or 3 alfredo related blog posts a day. Because I looked for it once.

What does this tell us, friends? It tells us that algorithms are  not actually very smart. And maybe we shouldn't turn our decision making over to them.

Return of the Cake Fairy

I used to be known as the Cake Fairy, bringer of delicious baked goods to acquaintances in need. Then I moved and something happened* and I kind of lost my cake fairyness. I didn't have the right audience or motivation.

Well, in the last few months, I've started working with my next door neighbors and they've kind of become like little brothers in a way. They are pretty entertaining. A few weeks ago, one of them knocked on my door and handed me a mostly empty box of chocolate covered macadamia nuts and said, "This isn't an act of friendship, it's a bribe. I want more baked goods." And this week they both had birthdays so I made them a cake.

I'm not saying I was ever a fabulous cake maker or pastry chef or anything. But I liked to make stuff for people. It was just an easy way to put a smile on their face.** And it's been kind of nice to find that part of me again. Maybe not so healthy but it has been a nice change.

So welcome back, Cake Fairy.

*possibly multiple things. I didn't know anyone because I was new, I had dozens of coworkers instead of a couple dozen, and probably a few other things. Life happens.
**I think Carnegie missed an important chapter in his book. Food is a fantastic way to win friends and influence people.

Things that should not be things

Crocheted shorts
Activated Charcoal ice cream
Jumpsuits for adult women (apart from uniforms, like in the military)
Romphims
Most of the dresses on the red carpet
Smart Bidets (toilets should not have remote controls)
Smart diapers, which apparently is going to be a thing?
Sleeping pods
Brain hacking

I will

This weekend I got to spend time with my nephew, #24, who is 2 and a half. He, like all my nieces and nephews, is fantastic, and he is at such a fun age!

One of the funnest things is that he always says, "I will...". "I will go play." "I will sit here." "I will clean up." "I will go hit it" (the punching bag, which is totally okay to hit). There is something about it that is adorable. Confidence. Excitement. Optimism. Or maybe it's something about an under 3 being so declarative about his life. "There's a thing to do, and I'm going to do it." Or, it could just be that he's 2 and a half and pretty much almost always adorable.*

I'm sure there's a lesson here. How would this approach change things for me? "I will buy a car." "I will go to bed [meaning, sooner than later]." "I will eat vegetables." Probably can't hurt.

*Even his cry is darling. It's kind of convulsive, like an evil laugh only with sad tears instead.

I saw it in the paper

I love old newspapers. As an archivist, I get to work with a lot of cool documents, but if the whole world was going to be wiped out and I could only pick one collection to save, I would save newspapers--at least for the 20th century. They aren't as glamorous as the Declaration of Independence, Harriet Tubman's Abraham Lincoln autograph, or something signed by the pope in the 1500s, but newspapers tell you a LOT about the world. It's this amazing snapshot of what life was like. You get your world headlines, your local news, sports, entertainment, comics, ads (which tell you what people could buy and how much it cost), births, deaths, marriages, and so much more.

For example, this week I was digging through some February and March 1938 newspapers. For those of you who haven't been reading The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (so, most of you), March 1938 is the year Hitler took over Austria. I'm going along, and I see Chamberlain and Hitler and Schuschnigg in the headlines. And I know these names! I mean, most people know Chamberlain and Hitler, but who remembers Schuschnigg? So, in the headlines of an 81 year old newspaper, I'm seeing the history I just read. And it's fascinating because the people who first read that paper, the people who wrote those articles? They didn't know what was coming. So you get a real-time perspective in the reporting, you get a feel for what they thought and knew and believed they knew in that moment, without historical hindsight.

Then there was the advice column. How to keep a hubby's attention, problems with in-laws, so many things that honestly aren't that different from what we deal with now. Although the advice has hopefully improved from "make yourself up and cook him a nice meal".

The grocery prices wouldn't seem all that interesting, but back in the day, you could get a dozen donuts for 19 cents. Which seems like a steal, but according to the CPI Inflation Calculator, 19 cents in 1938 is equivalent to $3.45 today. Slightly more than your Smith's dozen donuts on sale, but much less than Krispy Kreme's dozen.

Finally, my favorite news story was that of the Stork Derby, or the "Millar will Baby Derby", as the local newspaper referred to it. Charles Millar decided to prank everyone after he died by creating a fairly zany will: he left his Jamaican house to three people who hated each other; he left some ministers and temperance advocates stock in a brewing company on the condition they keep it in the company. And because he had no descendants of his own, he left a big chunk of his estate to the woman who had the most babies in the ten years after his death. Thus, the baby/stork derby. How is this a thing I didn't know about?

Aren't old newspapers awesome?!

Worst Spy Ever, or James Bond stinks at his job

So, I'm not a huge James Bond fan and here's the reason why: James Bond is really bad at his job. 

Now, some caveats to begin with: I've only watched the more recent James Bond movies (think Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig), and I haven't even watched all of them. I've never watched one more than once. I'm not anti-James Bond, I'm more just "meh" about him. I'd sit through one and I wouldn't even hate it, but I'm not likely to be in a Bond sort of mood.

I don't know all the reasons that James Bond isn't my cup of tea. I like spy movies, I like action. But one thing that does bug me about Bond is how absolutely horrible he is at his job. He's seriously one of the most incompetent spies ever.

The point of a spy is to go unnoticed, yet Bond always seems to be blowing up cities behind him. And I have heard interviews with one or two actual spies, and the lady thing was, well, a thing for them. So I guess that's not that unrealistic, but it does seem to be problematic for the work of a spy, to be having flings left, right and center. Bond just doesn't do unobtrusive very well, and it seems to me like that would make it very difficult for him to be successful as a spy.

Granted, it does make for a more exciting movie, but I felt like the plots were secondary to explosions and hot women (maybe the plot was the undercover element of the movies?). I could be wrong on that, since it's been awhile and maybe I just missed something the first go around. But it also seems Bond as a character doesn't develop much? Maybe I need to watch the earlier ones? I don't know. 

And it's totally cool if you are a Bond fan. I don't mind that one bit, and like I say, I'd even sit and watch one with you. And not hate it, and likely even enjoy it at least a bit. Maybe I'll even love it! But, he is still just really bad at his job. 

Popular Beliefs and Superstitions

At work, some of our volunteers found this really fantastic book about beliefs and superstitions of our state. They are quite entertaining and have explained why I am still single.* They also make you fairly glad that none of the believers in said beliefs and superstitions are your medical practitioner. For weird reasons, back in the day skinning various animals and putting them on your belly was a common cure for all that ails you.**

Anyway, I was tempted to purchase a copy of said book, but it costs about $50 used and it isn't a small little volume, so all in all it seemed like a lot to burden myself with for years to come. Instead I did some searching to see if other states or regions had a version, and lo and behold I found Beliefs and Superstitions of the Pennsylvania Germans and Kentucky Superstitions for free on Google Play. (There is also a 2 volume book on beliefs and superstitions of North Carolina for Kindle and a 3 volume compendium of beliefs and superstitions in the US, but they are a bit pricey, so I'm sticking with the free entertainment for now).

Now, the Pennsylvania Germans were much less obsessed with skinning animals in their medical practice, thank goodness. And they have some interesting medical advice, such as:

• Prevent headaches by putting your right sock on first.
• Go cross-eyed to prevent sneezing
• And, to prevent sickness in the family, don't pay all of your doctors bills

For what it's worth.

In the child-rearing department, there are a number of perks to carrying your new baby upstairs before you carry it downstairs. If you do so, your youngster will

• go to heaven
• amount to something
• live long
• sing high notes
• and be quickwitted

Unfortunately, your kid will also be conceited and vain, but hey--high notes! Totally worth the trade off, right? And, as a tip, you should burn it's first diaper for luck.

As far as romance goes, if you marry in a snowstorm, you'll be rich. However, if it snows on your carriage while you are in it, you and your new spouse will separate. And, if your nose itches, you'll be kissed. Or you'll get a letter. Practically the same thing.

Apparently, my aunt, who had seven boys and no girls, missed the memo that there are never seven children of the same sex in succession in a family.

Some practical advice that I am totally on board with?

• Jump out of bed immediately on getting awake and you will have a fall during the day. (See? No sense in rushing to get out of bed in the morning. Let's all just take it slow and prevent falls). 
• Meeting geese is a sign of bad luck. (Undoubtedly. Don't even get me started on the Canadian geese that invaded my apartment complex when I lived in the Midwest). 
• If you eat a donut on your birthday, you'll live for another year. (Can mine be a cake shaped like a donut? Or a donut of ice cream? Nothing against donuts, but it's my birthday. The ice cream is a must).
• And a word of warning to you obsessive furniture movers. Moving your furniture around makes you poor. (See? It's not laziness or lack of creativity that keeps me from rearranging my house. It's fiscal responsibility). 

And finally, one last piece of advice that may be particularly useful to any chicken farmers (but it doesn't specify you have to own the chickens): Burn your eggshells to prevent bewitched chickens. Because, if there is one thing the world really doesn't need right now, it is bewitched chickens.


*I sat on a table and ate the last dessert on the tray, which happened to be a piece of pie and I ate it starting with the tip. 
**I think the point of half of old medicinal recipes was to provide a cure that was so bad, the ailment seemed preferable.

Where in the world???

For some reason,  I really can't say for sure what it was, I recently decided that I wanted to learn where countries are on the map. So I found an app* where I can learn all of the countries and where they are and have so far ticked off the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

It probably sounds silly, but I really love knowing where countries are on the map. It's super cool to read about elections in Mauritania and actually know where that is, or to read about Venezuelans heading to Curaçao and knowing why that makes sense. I know it's nerdy but it's really satisfying to know where things are in the world. Not that that makes me an expert but it is a pretty easy way to know at least a little more about the world.


*I really don't do apps, typically. My nieces and nephews always want to know if I have games, but I mostly don't play games. Crosswords, and now geography. 

How to tell you liked a book

I've been reading The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich lately* and the other day someone asked how I liked it. It seems like it would be pretty obvious whether you liked a book or not, right? But for me, sometimes it's not all that easy. In some cases, after the first reading, I'm just processing everything. Sometimes, I'm not sure if I didn't like the book or if I just wasn't in the right mood for it. Or, as in the case of the Third Reich, 'like' isn't really the correct word. I've been culling my book collection over the last year or so, which means evaluating how I feel about my books. And, more and more, I'm not even finishing some books that I'm not eager to keep reading. But does that mean I don't like them? Also, sometimes my sentiments are kind of muted, so I have to rely on other ways to identify my feelings. Basically, it's not always straightforward. 

So, how do I tell if I like a book? Here are some of my current clues:

• I refer to it and recommend it to people long after I've read it
• Every time I reread it, I enjoy it 
• When I finish, I reread the best parts
• I want to read the next in the series (if it is a series)
• I ignore the multiple streaming platforms and other forms of entertainment because I'd rather finish the book
• I stay up later than I should because I want to read some of the book before bed
• My background brain isn't as distracting
• I remember the book fondly when I see it--it has a presence in my mind

And sometimes, I really don't have to think about it. Anyway, it's interesting to think about, and if there are any additional tips on how to know if you like a book, I'd love to hear them. 

*lately=the last few months. It's a big book. With lots of detail. And sometimes maddening stupidity.

Clean house

I cleaned my apartment this weekend. Not that this is something I never do, but most weeks it's really just tidying. And it wasn't deep-cleaning. No scrubbing the walls or cleaning nooks and crannies with a toothbrush sort of clean. More the, "Lo and behold, there IS a kitchen table underneath the piles of stuff" cleaning. I mean, I could actually eat anywhere at the table, instead of one little corner of it.* So, getting rid of clutter and stuff. And it feels  awesome! Like, I keep looking around my place thinking, "Wow! This looks great! I love it!"

Admittedly, there is still a lot I could do to make it even better. Why do I have so much stuff? And how do my blinds get so dirty? And in a week, there will be enough hair on the carpet for a wig. Again. But, maybe this time, I will remember how nice it is to have a kitchen table, or a desk, or to shut the closet door** and I will keep things looking good.

Yeah. Maybe.

*which is a moot point because I rarely eat at the table. Probably not the best thing.
**it's not that I can't usually shut it. I mostly just don't. Or I have socks and stuff that didn't quite make it into the hamper, trailing out of the closet. Amazing how little things like that really add to the sense of mess. 

Long live the internet

Some days, the internet gives you adorable 1-year old royals waving at planes and cute babies having 'conversations' with their pops.

And some days the internet gives you crazy people sending death threats to someone for asking Jay-Z what he wanted to drink* and chicken-flavored ice cream.**

The internet giveth and the internet taketh away, I guess. Sigh.


*Although, as in all things internet, there may be more twists pending. In which case, please don't let me know. I'm not interested. 
**Do we just cry or do we light a match to it all?

Joys

The best thing about today was that it rained*. A LOT. With lots of thunder and (presumably) lightning. But what really made it so great was that it was still raining when I left work**, and raining pretty good. As I left, there were a bunch of people hanging out in the lobby, at least some of whom were waiting for a lull to avoid the soaking that they would have gotten otherwise.

Not me, though. I embraced it. (It's water. I don't melt in water). I embraced it so much that I puddle-jumped and puddle-stomped my way home, which admittedly is not that far (one city block, more or less) but was very puddle packed. And I didn't just jump in one. Or jump with any kind of reserve. I went all in, full-fledged five-year old, and it was AWESOME! It's amazing how jumping in 2-3 inches of water can soak you up to your knees. Also, it is totally worth it.

So, moral of the story? Turn your rainy day into a great one and hop in some puddles.


*It wasn't a bad day. It was a fairly normal day and more good than bad. 
**but not thunder and lightning. I had to enjoy all that from work.

A new place

This last weekend, I traveled to Massachusetts, where I spent some time in Amherst, the Cape Ann area, and the Boston area. Of course there was way too much to do and not nearly enough time to do it in and so there had to be some picking and choosing. So, how do you decide what to see when there is so much to choose from?

Given the fact that I'm an archivist and Massachusetts is jam-packed with history, you'd think I would want to hit up all the museums and historical locations. And it's not that I don't like any of that. But lately (meaning the last few years-ish) when I travel, I just want to see the place, get a feel for what it is. I don't really want to see the tourist attractions, at least not if it comes down to seeing the place or seeing the tourist sites. I have just been really into seeing the world as it is, rather than curated stories of the past. It may be a phase--check back in in another 5 years or so.

One of the reasons (one of the very important reasons!) for going to Boston was to visit some friends and they were very kind and patient with my constantly shifting plans. I kind of picked out a couple of things that I really wanted to do and we filled in the blank from there. So, what does a weird traveler like me do when there's a million things to choose from?

• look for lighthouses on Cape Ann, fail to find them, but see some nice beaches anyway and take that opportunity to get some photos.
• get a tour of the National Archives in Waltham, where my friends are working. 
• visit Lexington, which is historic but it was a historic where you could be in the place, know what happened without having to be told a ton, and just kind of take it in.
• swing by the Lexington Cemetery, which is really fascinating in terms of layout and led to curiosity about symbolism in headstone decoration.
• visit the Boston Common and the Public Garden I particularly enjoyed the flags put up for Memorial day. It was very touching. 

A flag for each Massachusettsan who died in a war

• check out the Boston Public Library, which also counted as visiting an art gallery.
• tour the Mapparium. This was one of the very few things that was an absolute must on my list. It was awesome! Somehow, looking at the globe from the inside really changes your perspective on how big things are, and how close or far apart they are. Maps are always disproportional, globes do better, but from the inside out is a whole new perspective.
• amble through Back Bay then eat at Uno's, because what better place to visit a Chicago-based pizza restaurant than Boston.
• play some board games with your friends, which was delightful. It was nice to have some down time and I love playing games! 
• walk along the Charles River, which is very scenic.
• go to Mount Auburn Cemetery. This was a totally unplanned stop--I didn't even know it was a thing, but we went and it was beautiful. Then I came home and looked it up on Wikipedia and am even more impressed! Also, super thrilled that I got to see it even though I hadn't planned on it at all. And we got to go up in the tower, which gave me a great view of the city (which I missed out on at the Skywalk Observatory, because $21? Really? But it worked out perfectly because the Tower did the job). And there were a lot of cool experiences as we ran into people.

So, probably not what anyone else would have done but for me, it was the perfect trip, but still too short. I got home and just wished I could have spent another week--not a week of sightseeing, but just a week with good friends, enjoying a new place, but mostly being with friends. 

My only regret? I didn't eat any lobster. Guess I'll have to go back. 

Family Ties

Every now and then, I like to log on to FamilySearch and just click back as far as I can on a line. Any line, doesn't matter which. And, apparently I had time to kill today* because that's what I did.

Of course, the farther back you go the more dubious the information gets. You start hitting these things where the mother is also the niece or the husband died before the wife was born. You know how it is. But it is still always entertaining to see who you are purported to be related to. Once I followed a line back to a Gandalf in about 200 AD. That was fun.

Today's playing of the "Who Am I (not really) Related To?" had some great hits. My favorites include:

• Odin Woden Woutan, King of Asgard**, who according to FamilySearch died in 300 AD. Clearly, they didn't watch Thor: Ragnarok
• the Myth King of Kvenland--I'm not sure what the Myth is referring to (the King is a myth? He is the king of Myths?)
• a frost giant (whose genetics clearly skipped me, as I'm a whopping 5' 5" if I round up)
• and the Overlord of Anglo-Saxons. 

Also in my supposed ancestry are lots of kings and queens of the Scandinavian countries, Turkey, Syria, Mesopotamia, France, Germany, and various British tribes, etc; Boudicea (multiple spellings), another Odin Woden Woutan, who died in 306 AD and was not listed as the King of Asgard; Hoard of Denmark; King Gorr of Alfheim; one Kwxyd; and Franklin P. Lucifer, parent of some Roman somebody or other who was born in the late BCEs. Of course.

I also love how many entries in the hundreds AD are just, "Mrs. ________________". You have "Big Ole Important Dude with a Fancy Title", and "Mrs. Big Ole Important Dude with a Fancy Title." "Mrs. Tertulius" was somehow one of my favorites. "Hello, let me introduce you to Tertulius, head of the Roman Empire. And his wife, Mrs. Tertulius."

It is kind of interesting to see how I start out in Europe and end up in Egypt and Tunisia and Jerusalem. Supposedly. While the lineage is probably very bogus, there is probably some semblance of truth to the geography. At least to a degree. And probably more likely if you really do tap into the royal lines,*** because they really got around.

Anyway, even though it is almost 100% not likely to be true, I think I'm still claiming Franklin P. Lucifer. And maybe Odin Woden and the Myth King. Because, why not?


*I didn't really. Well, I mean, I did. But I definitely could have found something significantly better to do with my time than this fun little exercise. 
**I think I should now get free admittance to every Marvel movie ever. 
***I had a patron come into work one day claiming she had traced her ancestry all the way back to Adam. Speaking as an archivist who knows a thing or two about the absence of good documentation, I'm saying the likelihood of doing that is next to whatever is 5 steps away from impossible. If you do tap into royalty, you can get decently far back, because royalty was important and so their life got written down, but that has to be the legitimate line, not some poor out of wedlock line. And maybe, maybe if you happened to tie into the line that is given for Joseph or Mary in the New Testament, you might be able to trace back, but even then, I'd be super skeptical. So, congrats, but no. I'm going to kill that dream right now. 

Stuff happens

Someone I know has been dealing with an injury the last few weeks (or months, depending on when you start counting). One day he said, "I just wish I knew what God wanted me to learn so I could learn it already and be better."

Now, there are two things that crossed my mind when he said this. First, maybe God wanted him to learn to treat an injury when it first occurs, instead of 7 months after the fact, but what do I know.

Second, sometimes stuff just happens. God doesn't make it happen because He wants us to learn something. It's just life. Stuff happens. Sometimes things happen. You get the flu, even though you got the flu shot. You don't get every job you apply for. Traffic is bad. You have bad days, you don't sleep well, you get old. Stuff happens. It's not like God is up there saying, "Oh, now it's time for him [or her] to learn about failure, so I better make sure they don't get that job offer."

Nope, stuff happens and it's not part of some celestial predestined curriculum. Yes, He wants us to grow and become better, stronger people through these types of events. He wants us to turn to Him for help and to demonstrate Christlike traits as we navigate our way through the stuff that life throws at us. But he isn't playing mind games with us, forcing us to figure out what it is He wants us to learn and then learning it. And, since that's the case, learning it faster isn't going to make the flu or injuries or anything else go away once we nail it.

So, folks, when life goes south, all you can do is buckle in and be your best.

Sober thoughts

This week was the funeral of a co-worker who died in a hiking accident the preceding week. The whole thing came as more than a shock. In about 5 hours, I found out he'd gone missing two days earlier, a body had been found, and had been identified as him. I personally don't think all deaths are equal and this one seemed particularly sad. He was a happy person and spread that happiness to everyone and he seemed to love life.

I hadn't known him as well as others, but we'd worked together on projects and I really liked him, as a colleague and as a person, and was sad. It was weird, because I found myself feeling like crying was overstating how close we were and feeling bad when others knew him better and felt his loss more. Which makes it seem like this was all about me, but ironically, I think maybe I felt like me crying made it all about me. And by then I was just overthinking so I said, "Forget everyone else." I am sad that he is gone. I am sad to realize I won't ever run into him on the elevator or in the hall anymore. He is a good person who made the world better for those around him. I am not a crier, typically* but I feel like my tears went to a good cause.

I also for the first time prayed for the deceased. I believe in an afterlife, as you may have guessed. Most of the people I know who have died knew they were dying and were in pain--from cancer or old age or other ailments--and so death was less unexpected and a little more merciful. And then we tend to say stuff like, "They are in a better place now." So the assumption is that everyone is thrilled to be in heaven and it's so wonderful that they aren't even sad. But in this situation, I couldn't help but wonder if that was the case. Why wouldn't this co-worker be sad? He loved life, he surely had things he wanted to do. And most of all, he didn't get a chance to say goodbye to his family and loved ones. I'm sure heaven is awesome, and I'm sure he's glad to be there, but that doesn't mean he isn't also sad that his family is hurting and that he doesn't get to see them for a while. I think I'd be concerned if we just went to heaven and didn't still care about the people we loved here. That just seems weird.

Like I say, I didn't know him as well as some and I'm adjusting okay. It's still a bummer, and there are moments where his absence stands out at work. I feel slightly guilty that life has moved on so smoothly for me and slightly guilty for sharing this, because it seems like it isn't really my story. But life doesn't happen in a vacuum. Regardless of the degree, experiences like this change us, so this little tidbit is really my story, not his, and I hope that's okay. I don't think he'd mind.


*not by choice. I want to cry a lot. My tear ducts just refuse to cooperate.

Happy Spring

The Monday that wasn't

Today was not a Monday but somehow, it really felt like it. Just in that "Ugh" kind of way. Work was way more stressful than it should have been, I felt grumpy all day, I was kind of flustered. None of which is actually something that routinely happens on a Monday, except maybe the grumpy because let's be honest: sometimes, it's just hard to go back to work. But it is what you think of when you say, "It's a Monday."

Anyway, I managed to survive and didn't even yell at any patrons, thank goodness. And I even got some work done. A little. Despite all the interruptions. Objectively speaking, it was way better than last Monday when I was occupied with putting out fires all day* and not getting anything else done. But I'm really glad the day is over.

Also, can I get a refund? Exchange? Anything?

*Although, thankfully they weren't literal fires.

If I had a time machine...

I would stop 24-hour news stations from becoming a thing.
I would visit Bellagio's in Shanghai again.
I would pop through history telling people to label their photos and date their records.
I'd buy the hat in Puerto Rico.
I'd go meet Princess Alice the elephant, check in on the hippo ranch, and swing by the US Camel Corps while I was at it.
I would check to see if Vanuatu really does look like Hawaii did 100 years ago.
I'd try to prevent Adolf Hitler's grandfather from claiming Hitler's father as his legitimate son so that Hitler would have ended up Adolf Schicklgruber.
I'd figure out what that darn dinosaur book I'm remembering from my childhood was called. I'd also go relearn the words to the dinosaur songs I learned in kindergarten.
You'd better believe I'd double dip on sleep, weekends, and vacations. Which would probably destroy the space time continuum or something, but hey, what a way to go out!

It was one of those days where nothing good could come from getting out of bed. It wasn't that there was anything that happened or any reason for it to be a day that would have been better if it hadn't happened. I was just more than I could handle without even knowing why.

It hasn't been all bad. Like I say, it's not that it's been bad, really, at all. It's not like my car got towed (don't have a car), or someone I know received some bad medical news. I didn't get fired. A bit tired when I woke up is all. And there was rain, which I like, I got a fun package, I finished my taxes, I balanced my checkbook (admittedly, not the most exciting tasks, but I got stuff done! Hooray!). And I ordered prints of some family pictures. I started my day without the usual meeting and instead helped someone out at work.

Sigh. Sometimes, life's like that. Sometimes, there is no correlation between events and feelings.

Either that, or I'm nuts.

sleeeep

I think somehow my brain has forgotten how to sleep. It's like with computers, when they hibernate but don't actually shutdown. I think that's what my brain is doing lately. Last week at work, they were doing a survey asking us what activity we wanted to do in the 3rd quarter. All I could come up with was a sleep-a-thon. And it actually sounded really awesome.

On the plus side, I got to sleep in this weekend. And take a nap today. It was so beautiful. The next best thing to finding an off switch.

Been there

Last week*, I went to the zoo with my brother and his family. It was a great time and I had a blast. I know I probably shouldn't, but I love zoos. I really love seeing how animals behave and putting the human spin on it.

Like the orangutans. First, can we talk about how adorable baby orangutans** are? SOOOO adorable! And then there was the mama orang. Baby is having a blast, playing and being adorable, but her? Not so much. She grabbed a sheet and threw it over herself, ghost-costume-esque, then grabbed an armful of straw and dumped it on her head. (Baby was a little sad about this, because some of it was his*** straw. But then he had fun dumping straw on his head, so he made the best of it). Everything about Mama was saying, "I just can't take today." And every adult watching was saying, "Yep. I've been there."****

It was the same with the bears, the peacock, the zebras, the otters. (Not the straw dumping. The "I can relate" and the "Let's make up what the animals are saying.") It's one of the best parts of the zoo. And I get that we are putting animals in an artificial habitat so that people can gawk at them, but I really love zoos.

Also, I remembered the hat lesson. There was this adorable***** stuffed sloth that was on sale. I was talking myself into being a responsible adult****** but then something kicked in and said, "Buy it!" Everyone else was getting a souvenir. So I bought it. And I haven't regretted it one bit.

*was it only last week? And has it really been an entire week? Time is weird.
**Does anyone know how this is pronounced for real? I'm so glad this is all written because I never know how to say orangutan.
***I have no idea if it was a he or she, but my impression based on nothing sound is he.
****The kids just thought it was hilarious.
*****Yes, I know. Everything was adorable.
******Always a mistake. Well, sometimes a mistake.

Small talk

I don't consider myself the best at small talk. Or the best conversationalist. I either can't think of anything to say or I just can't stop talking and I interrupt and just go into verbal dump mode. I just can't seem to find the happy medium. 

I feel like last week was a massive swing to the verbal dump end of the spectrum and by the end of the week there was this inner me (I swear there is a sane person inside who isn't an obnoxious conversation hog or silent Sally) that wanted to grab me by the ear and take me out in the hallway for a little timeout until outer me could get a grip on myself. Sadly, inner me didn't have the steering wheel.

Anyway, people are really nice and patient, but if anyone wants to volunteer to be my on the spot mother and keep me from going crazy you might be doing the world a favor.   

Mulligan

I don't know how common this is but sometimes, when playing board/card games, I've been present when players will call a mulligan. In board/card games, this could be a new hand, or swapping out a card. Basically it's a do-over at some level. 

Lately,I've been feeling like we need to call a mulligan on life. Yeah? And I know a lot of other people who are feeling the same. I think we are all kind of bored with the routine. 

I don't know what we can do on a global scale, but I'm thinking maybe I need to take a cool trip somewhere--Iceland, the Azores, Nigeria. So many places to choose from! Or maybe I just need to go play with some kids. Or read a new book? Maybe one that's not The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich? Buy a new shirt? (Wait I did that. And I also bought some new shoes). I don't know. I need to figure out something. Because I definitely need a mulligan. 

*Which is a fascinating read.

Bravo?

Okay, world. Or at least Americans that have crossed through my orbit at any point. We have got to figure out this applause thing.

For example, at a division meeting this week, we had a series of updates, all of which were approximately 2 minutes and were primarily reading slides. And at the end of each one, we gave a round of applause. Why? Not to belittle your achievements, you're doing a fabulous job, but the presentation wasn't out of this world and the updates weren't really unheralded, either. The applause itself was the socially-obligated kind of applause, so I don't think anyone was really feeling it. So, I'm not entirely sure why we were clapping. And I have been in other meetings and events like this, where the whole production could have ended much earlier if we had just done one big round of applause at the end. Maybe I'm just a party pooper?

Also, we need to talk about the standing ovation. Methinks this should not be happening at every performance. I can't think of a time I went to something and it didn't get a standing ovation. Really, people? Really? A standing ovation is kind of an A++ of performances. There is no way every performance is achieving that level. Is it just because we're not that discerning anymore? I mean, I think if it were a movie, or a podcast, or TV show, I could probably distinguish an A++ from a C much better. But I'll probably only ever see Wicked the one time. And I probably won't listen to dozens of symphonies playing Copland, so I don't know how I can really tell whether they've knocked it out of the park. I'll probably never hear dozens of symphonies, period. Welcome to the 21st century, friends.

Whether that's the reason or not, we definitely need to discuss the use of the standing ovation. And the clapping thing in general. All in favor?

Tricks of the lazy

It was brought to my attention this week that planning is actually an activity of the lazy. Okay, maybe not the lazy, but those who want to minimize the amount of work they have to do. 

See, when you have a plan, you know what you are trying to accomplish and you can outline how you are going to accomplish it. You have an idea of how to make it work. You're not playing pin-the-tail on the donkey and just hoping that it all works out. Of course, even when you plan, you have to tweak and adjust. But you probably don't have to start from scratch over and over again. Or duplicate effort a dozen times. 

I'm a big fan of only having to do the work once. And ironically, I don't feel like I'm a very good planner in my personal life. Of course, in my personal life, I don't have a lot of big projects that have huge deadlines and serve vast numbers of people. This is a good thing, and a characteristic of my non-working life that I enjoy. But professionally, I do try to plan because, well, that's what professionals do. And because it's just easier to plan. Really, it is.

So, yeah. Let's all be a little lazier and plan!

Chocolate Cake Day

You gotta hand it to the USA. We may have weird politics and lots of things we aren't good at, but we are great at having lots of ridiculous. (Do other countries do this? Or is this just a weird American thing?) And while they may be ridiculous, a lot of them are really delicious, like National Chocolate Cake day, which what do you know, is today. So, naturally, I made a chocolate cake. It was a pound cake, and a new recipe (using coconut sugar, so fewer sugars!) but I think it turned out well. It is SUPER dark. And I didn't have milk chocolate so I used semi-sweet, which probably didn't help, but it's all good. If you really wanted to rich it up, some Nutella would do the job nicely. 

The good news is that because it's a pound cake, and baked in a loaf, there's not as much as if I did another cake and that is great news. Because, National Chocolate day may also come once a year, but the leftovers are forever. 

Where have you been?

So far, 2019 has been exhausting. Not completely unproductive (until I start to think about it, and then it maybe has been horribly unproductive!), just exhausting. I'm not sure if I never got over the holidays, the sickies, or if it's just an epidemic, since everyone seems to be worn out. Anyway, my energy has been sapped. 

I did have a great visit to my brother's, where I played with my nephews and got to bond with my month old niece.* Oh the adventures we had! We went on a quest to find the magic carpets and wash them in a magic potion so that the villains couldn't ride them**, meeting a wizard on the way, then boarded a ship and traveled to the Portal Hoard, and popped through some portals. We built a fort, we played lots of games, and generally just had a good time. It was a nice reprieve and might tide me over for a few weeks until I go into kid withdrawals again. 

I also got to do some sleuthing at work the last couple of days, trying to track photo studios and photographers to figure out who has the rights. It's so satisfying when I manage to follow the clues to more information! I'd make a horrible detective in real life, but an archival detective--right up my alley.

So, no, January hasn't been all bad. I just wish I had more energy to enjoy it. Here's hoping this isn't a sign of tiredness to come.

*Completely unrelated, I am listening to a podcast while I write and they just played a recording of the vice president speaking Spanish. It was a valiant effort but please, sir, don't say 'con' like that! 

**aka, gathered towels and threw them in the wash.

Adulting

Well, 2019 has started off in a pretty downer way. First, I am back home in a very empty apartment after having spent nearly 2 weeks with a house full of kids. It's very depressing. I'm not getting nearly enough hugs.

Second, I've been sick. (A final parting gift from my nephew. He's two and not really well-versed in gift giving. Also, he's adorable, so it was totally worth the risk of getting sick to play with him). I ended up taking two days off work and only went on Friday because I felt horribly guilty for missing two days right after my vacation and felt less bad. And, probably because I was bored.

The ridiculous thing is that despite being a full-fledged adult, I honestly had no idea if I was sick enough for a sick day. I kept feeling like I needed to call someone to find out how sick is too sick for work? I think what really clinched it was the idea that my co-workers probably didn't want me around because I sounded so awful. And I didn't feel great. I was blowing my nose every ten seconds and my ears felt like they needed to pop I was so congested. And my throat and ears did hurt off and on, but mostly only in the mornings and evenings. So, probably good that I stayed home but you would think that after half a lifetime, I would know a little better if I'm too sick to go anywhere.*

Anyway, maybe that means I'm not a full-fledged adult, which may have all sorts of implications. But, I think I'm finally on the mend. So, even though I would love to just stay in bed for a few more days, I guess it's time to be an adult and face the real world. Sigh.

I really miss Christmas.

*Of course, I had to go somewhere. I'd been out of town for 2 weeks and had no food. And then I had to come home and make food. It really stinks to be sick when you are single and live alone.