TDL

As I sit here trying to write my last paper of the semester I can't help but think about all the great things I want to do this summer.

• Get a tattoo.. which first involves me designing one I really, REALLY like. 
• Get a tan.. and keep it all summer long.
• I also want to start working out a lot more.
• READ- I have an epic list of books I have to read.. I should post that later
• bike ride more!
• learn how to make some great summer foods with fresh ingredients from the farmer's market
• and of course... be a better person

Let's do this!

what the!?

I feel like my life is not my own. The past 24 hours have been so intense... it is truly a time I will never forget. It all started yesterday when I went in to work.. It was just like any other Sunday when I work. I was looking forward to getting out at 6 and going home and settling down for some great Sunday night television (game of thrones, the killing,... celebrity apprentice). I had just helped a woman with a return she was making and getting ready to process the items to go back when all of the sudden I hear the loud sound of footsteps pounding on the tile. People were running in to the store. There was a man in the lead with his 3 small children behind him yelling that there was a shooter in the mall. I think in that moment my brain just shut off... all the people came rushing pat in to the back of the store.. There was nothing I could do but follow them. We made our way in to the back room, got confirmation that there was indeed a shooter and we were on lock down for the time being.

Thank god for my manager Ashlee because she handled the whole situation with poise and courage. I honestly don't know how things would have turned out if she had not been there. At one point we needed to move to another part of the store because one of our gates was stuck open and we were exposed to the outside mall. I was with another manager Dani and it was so strange. We didn't know whether we should be running.. walking.. looking for cover. The mall was eerie. Every store had their gates down there was no one outside, making that trek across the store was probably the most frightening moment of it all. We were totally out in the open. Once we got to the other stockroom we started to get information about what was actually going on. There was a gang related shooting and the police were present from the start of the whole altercation. People were getting antsy. There were about 30 of us piled in the stock room. About 15 minutes later a woman asked to be let out.. shortly after that the majority of the people asked to be let out the back. Despite the fact that the police were advising against it and telling us to stay put. My manager judiciously decided to let them go. Shortly after that we got word that they had apprehended another suspect from WITHIN the mall. We were then allowed to return to our stores, but not allowed in the main mall. We basically waited from that point on the be let out of the mall. We spent the time sitting in the back talking over the surreal events that had just transpired. It was really like a dream... a really horrible dream.

So we were finally released. I was beyond excited to be able to go home... where I snuggled with my cat and settled in on the couch. Then all the tweets started flooding in, Obama was going to make an announcement to the nation later that night... Oh god, what now?! When it was released that Osama was dead I just started crying. I don't know if it was the overall emotion of the day or the fact that the man ruined so many lives and hated everything that America stands for and he finally got what he deserved. I will never forget that day in 8th grade when the world fell apart, and now I will never be able to forget the day that both personally and nationally there were events that will shape me forever.

Q.K.T. - Quality Kitty Time

One of my most recent acquisitions is a 1-year old kitty named Juniper! I actually adopted her from the Animal Protective League of Springfield, IL, where I am from. I had been looking for about 3 months for a cat that I thought would fit my personality. I had an idea that I wanted an orange cat from the start because my previous cats were all black and white or gray. I felt that an cute little orange kitty would complete my life! The search process wasn't an easy one. I had all these ideas of what I wanted, but then the timing never seemed exactly right. I was either going to be going home for spring break or Easter and then end of the year projects rolled around and I really didn't want to get a cat just to neglect it. So all the stars aligned this past weekend. I went to an adoption at Pet's Mart and there she was.. the cutest, nicest, calmest kitten I had seen in my search!

So far it has been going pretty well, we are getting along. She needs a bigger litter box and more toys and I need to get used to having someone depend on me. It is a learning process for sure.. I think this will definitely help me grow up a little and not be so focused on me.

down and out

I hold myself to a pretty high standard... and usually I attain that goal. I might complain or worry along the way, but it gets done. Today, was just not one of those days. I am pretty sure I butchered my 502 exam (the second half of the intro to LIS). I can't stop thinking about it.. if I had just prepared a little bit longer.. worked a little harder.. maybe I would have done decently. I need to compartmentalize it in to a little box and let go. I have to.

I doubt your commitment to public service..

As of late I have been really trying to narrow down what type of librarian I want to be. I have always known that I would probably do well being involved with the public. I am not trying to be cruel, but there is a stereotype that is perpetuated of people in my field as bookish, nerdy, and socially awkward. So far I have met many people that supersede this conception, however I have met just as many that fit the mold. So I always had it in my mind that I would be someone who was made for the public arena. I mean, I definitely have my share of awkwardness, but I think overall I am a pretty sociable person. I have been working in the public sphere of the library for over 5 years now (gosh, that is strange to say). In either reference or circulation, which I must say the circulation desk is at the forefront of the public interaction. They are the first beacon that people run into in the library (generally) and therefore they get all the off the wall questions that people immediately ask as they enter the building. My experiences may have potentially jaded me. I am not as convinced as I was before that serving the public is what I want to do or what will satisfy me.

I have also been thinking that maybe I am just getting the wrong impression. Reference librarians generally only work a certain amount of hours on the desk a week. The longest I have seen them work in succession is 5 hours, but where I am working at now the shifts are at most 3 hours. So the public interaction is in small doses. Circulation is its own beast. I have seen circ desk's where the librarian works a normal day shift 9-5 behind the desk, in constant contact with the public. Ultimately I think just keeping to my current strategy of being open to all library experiences and willing to do anything that will get me a job will help me out in the long term....

fast forward...

4 months. I am almost done with my first year of library school.. I have to admit this second semester has been more challenging than the last one. I don't know if it is the course work or just my general lack of available time that has made it more difficult, but really there is a marked difference. I regret not diligently updating this blog. However, I just feel as though time has just flown by. It seems like just yesterday I started this crazy journey, but that is a little over 8 months ago now. I guess when you are working 3 jobs and trying to keep up with classes things get a little hectic.

This brings me to the thing I wish for the most for my next year of school: I want to get an assitantship. I need to get an assistantship. It would take care of my tuition and really just enable me to have a lot more freedom. It would also provide a great experience that I could hopefully use as momentum to get a great job after graduation. I have already started applying.. and I think the interview process will be beginning soon. I really need to make sure this happens... I want it more than anything I have wanted in a long time.