Happy Birth Day

Guess who arrived on Saturday? SweetPea weighed in at 7 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 20.5 inches long. The extra hands and hair in the picture belong to big sister.

Brief Update

Since it's been two weeks since my last job hunting update, I thought I would let you know (in case you don't already know) that I'm still in the exact same situation I was two weeks ago--waiting to hear about something positive.

They say that "no news is good news," but I'm not sure that is true in my case. Rest assured that as soon as something happens, you will be able to read about it here.

Top Five - Extinct Television Shows

Continuing an earlier theme, here are my top five favorite out-of-production television shows. I think this list is in descending order of favorite-ness.

1. Homicide: Life on the Street

2. Boomtown

3. Sports Night

4. Arrested Development

5. The Bionic Woman

Shocking

Did you know that our children are exposed to profanity and inappropriate language, sexual content, violence and horror, and other atrocities in the books in their school libraries?

I, for one, am glad that courageous parents all over Texas are standing up for censorship and suppression of freedom by challenging such vile, suggestive books as The Emperor's New Clothes, which features an "illustration of the Emperor's rear" (see p. 13 of the ACLU's 10th Annual Report on Banned and Challenged Books in Texas Schools).

It makes me happy to know that other parents are watching out for my children even though they don't know me, working to create an environment where I will never have to be involved in my children's reading lives, since I know they will be shielded from the harmful influence of Lemony Snicket and Gary Paulsen.

Top Five - Books

I was recently accused of having no opinions or favorites. So, in an attempt to remedy that situation, here are my favorite five books (in no real order, since I can't be expected to go from having no opinions to picking a top favorite, just like that). Readers, feel free to chime in with your own favorites.

1. Persuasion - Jane Austen

2. Anne of Green Gables - L. M. Montgomery

3. Peace Like a River - Leif Enger

4. The Color Kittens - Margaret Wise Brown

5. Bad Mousie - Martha Dudley

Childhood Lexicon

Bunk Olympics - contest of strength, speed, and agility enacted entirely on bunkbeds

Fangy - finger

Iddy - little brother's derivation of big sister's given name

Mailbox - space between edge of bunkbed and wall, useful for passing items from one bunk to another

Sock - knitted foot cover or mechanical device used to secure a door

Stompers - split leather high top boots worn by toddler brother

Ignorance is Bliss

Despite my claims about being an "avid reader," I have a library book that's 13 days overdue, and I can't turn it in because 1) I haven't finished it, 2) it isn't renewable, and 3) there are 30 holds on it, which means if I put it on hold again, by the time my turn came around I would have forgotten what I already read.

My problem, of course, is that I put whatever I want to read on hold, darn the consequences and nevermind what else is going on in my life, and in this case, I didn't even start reading the book until two days before it was due, so I put quite a handicap on myself. Now, I start books and never finish them all the time, but for some perverse reason, I feel compelled to finish this one before I relinquish it.

Luckily, I'm not very good at doing math in my head, so I have no idea what the $0.25/day fine is going to run me when I finally turn in the book. Regardless, I don't think it will be as bad as it is for some of these people or for this guy.

The Wait Begins

I had my phone "conversation" with aforementioned university library this morning. It lasted 28 minutes, and the outcome could go either way (of course). I don't think I tanked it, but I don't have any strong feeling that it's in the bag. It will probably be two weeks before they are released to invite candidates to interview.

So, tune in two weeks from now, SBTSBC, and I'll let you know how it turned out.

(Just in case I get to take a plane trip sometime in the next month, I ordered samples of my beauty regimen products from Paula's Choice last night. Have quart-size, clear plastic, zip-top bag, will travel.)

Reverse Bad Luck

Guess who has a phone interview with a librarian search committee at a Pac-10 school on Friday, Oct. 13?

Dream or Nightmare?

Guess what retail cashiers dream about at night?

Yup--neverending lines of customers, all waiting to check out at your register. And the scary thing is, the line doesn't dissipate when you wake up!

Word of the Day

bench scraper n. 1. tool used by bakers to manipulate dough and to clean surfaces on which dough has been worked. It is generally a small sheet of stainless steel with a handle of wood or plastic along one of the long sides.

(definition from Answers.com)

Still Here

I'm still here, though you may not know it by reading my blog. Last Friday, my first day of real "work" at Target, I decided I was going to be too depressed to ever blog again. A week later, I don't feel that way anymore, but Target has apparently robbed me of what little creativity I ever had. As Anne would say, there just isn't much "scope for imagination" at Target. I can't think of anything to blog about except Target, and to tell the truth, I'm kind of tired of thinking about Target.

As for the job, the work itself is fine, though physically tiring and often very slow in passing. Today I "amused" myself while waiting for guests by figuring out how many hours I would need to work in a month in order to pay for health insurance. Answer: Too many. In case you're wondering, I had to agree to work some Sundays in order to be hired. My first Sunday shift is this weekend. Can't you see the big smile on my face?

Turning to other news, Tuesday I took a quick trip south to visit Curly and her parents. Nothing eventful to report, but I believe a good time was had by all. I can attest that Curly has her body parts and animal sounds down pat. She's also fond of avocados. Hmm--obviously doesn't take after her father in the food department!

Intervention

Dear E.,

I can't tell you how much sorrow I felt when I saw you the other day with a tube of Vaseline Lip Therapy in your hand. I felt even worse when you said that you carry it everywhere and use it constantly. And of course, the final blow was when you said that I influenced you to start using.

I am so deeply entwined in Vaseline's devilish snares that it is too late for me to escape. I have hope for you, since you didn't exhibit too many overt signs of addiction. Nonetheless, I sense that you are standing on the slippery edge of a dangerous precipice.

I urge you to confront your problem and seek help immediately before, like me, you are in too deep to save yourself. Many others have conquered their addiction, and I know you can also.

Lovingly,

Auntie K.