Thanks to Amber, I now have some new yummy Moonlight icons.  To paraphrase another favorite vampire, "Is it not enough....to have sexy man-vamps on your ipod, your tv and sitting on your desk?"  No, never enough.  Now I will have to check LJ more often just to look ...  s-i-g-h.

A great Thursday today!  I got to work a little early and got my taxes done by the volunteers here at the Library.  Oh happy day.  I was going to have to take off 5 hours tomorrow to fight the crowds, get in line and wait for several hours to get them done tomorrow.  Today I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. It took less then 15 min. and I will get a small refund. Probably enough to pay the electric bill next month.

I also did well at Weight Watchers today and its been a good night tonight.  I read an article that I will use for my journal due Tuesday in Shakespeare classand now I might try to figure out which sonnet to memorize for my final project.  I would love any suggestions for something that would be easy for my limited brain cells to retain.  Or maybe I will just close my eyes and let my fingers do the walking.  Whatever, I need to start working on it and get it overwith.

Back to homework.................... s-i-g-h.

Not that unusual for me, since it is a good way to express emotions and is usually controlled to minimize mascara disasters. Today, though I cried happy!  For the first time in forever I was driving without that tiny little dread in the back of my mind that I might get lost.  Yes, ask my kidlets, I even get lost in malls (small ones).  Unless you are directionally challenged like some of us you have never had that true feeling of panic when you don't know where you are going.  But last night Amber & T.J., my wonderful children, who know me SO well, bought me a GPS!!!!!!  Today I went riding with Hermionie ( yes we named her, because she speaks in a beautiful English accented cultured voice and is a 'know-it-all'.  Oh happy day!!!!  I would have kissed her, except for the whole smudges thing.  Instead, I will send those kisses to Am and T.  Thanks So much for one of my best birthdays ever!  Love you!

Oh, Happy Birthday, Baby!  We miss you so much and can't wait to see you next week!!!!





Happy B'day!!!!!!!  Ms T!

Hope it is a wonderful one and

we look forward to celebrating it again when we see you guys next week!!

I work 1-9 tonight in Reference.  Last night was a good night.  I figured out a really complicated patron request concerning Nora Roberts book.s  The author must dream romance novels.  The problem is that these 2 series of her books were released in the late 1990's and then re-released, repackaged and put out in 2006.  Stories were combined and renamed and ...whew!  Still rather satisfying to figure it out and the patron was pleased.  Also found the 2nd book of a series for a young guy who didn't know the title or exact name of the series.

Then I had 2 patrons who asked why I was in 2 places at the library.  I work at the circulation desk on Saturdays for 8 hours and work in Reference on 2 nights a week.  I would love to work all hours in Ref., but can't get enough hours that way.  So, I had 2 different patrons questioning why I was in Ref and Circ.  "Just lucky, I guess!"  I replied rather snarkily.  Of course my humor went right over their heads, and then I had to explain the whole thing.

Oh, my other ref question?  Finding the repair manual for a Ford 2005 van thingy on plug specifications and serpentine(sp) replacement instructions.  Interesting, but we didn't have the right manual.  Good try though.

I also spent several pleasant hours reading Harry, a History by Melissa Anelli.  It brought me right back into the HP world that I have been missing terribly.  When she wrote about waiting for the release date of HP books I was reminded of how I would check the Leaky website several times a day looking for a new clue or tidbit of information.  The release parties and gathering with other HP fans.  I even cried a few times in the beginning of the book when she spoke of 9-11 and the friends that she met through HP.  I am so happy to find something to read over break,  I may finish it tonight or I may drag it out and enjoy it slowly.

So, yesterday I was unable to leave the house because of the horrible ice that held me captive when I would have loved to be out shopping and spending a gift card that T.J. sent me for WalMart, oh the pain of it......................... A gift card and no chance to shop.

Today the temp. was 67 degrees and the sirens were activated for a tornado warning.  Crazy Midwest weather.  The creeks were flooded and the ice was gone and it rained almost all day.  I guess it was better than being forced inside, but hey, how about a happy medium?

We had a great holiday here.  I actually have today off too, but am under ice arrest.  The road into and out of our apartment complex is solid ice, so all my plans to pay bills and shop are stuck inside with me. 

Oh, but at least now my internet is working again, Thanks to my brilliant daughter, Amber!  Life is good.

This is the reason we didn't have work today!


http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t304/lindal2007/ice%20storm%2012-08/


Peoria lost quite a few trees last night and many people were without power.  We were lucky.  It warmed up around 10 this morning.

I did get a lot done, however. 

Oh happy day!  I got my research paper back and got an "A".  I got 200 points out of a possible 200.  Whew!  I worked hard on that paper and agonized about it for a long time.  It was a great class and the teacher was a riot.  It is always good when the teacher is passionate about the subject.  Next semester....Shakespeare.  But for now, 5  weeks of reading anything I want!  Yay!

I am an independent woman. I can jump start a car.  I am pretty damn good at changing tires.  I can speak in front of a room full of people without breaking a sweat.  There are many things that I can do and one very big thing that I CAN NOT do.......

So tonight I was laying on the couch talking to my sister Peg on the phone and deciding to do nothing more than watch bad tv when the dog and Nuffy the cat began arguing loudly.  Nuffy was guarding something on the floor and Trip was tattling as usual.  I walked over to see what was going on, while I was still talking to Peg and looked down to see something between her paws.  I pushed both of them away and looked closer and then started screaming into the phone!  It was a  DEAD MOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  OH, my God!  I had to keep pushing the animals away because Nuffy was thinking she wanted this snack.  I was desperately trying to think of what to do while yelling at Trip and Nuffy and yelling into the phone!  I finally told Peg and hung up.  I thought about getting a shovel, but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.  That would mean getting way too close.  I grabbed a pot and put it over the yuck thing and then had to put a 10 pound container of kitty litter.  Then I jumped onto te couch and called Peg back.  She was sad for me.  Then I called Amber who laughed, but in a nervous, "I'm glad it wasn't me" voice.  Amber decided to call her dad, my X to get the mouse.  The funny thing is that Mark hates 'meeces' as much as I do, but he agreed to come and get rid of it.  Jman also offered to help, but Mark was already on his way.  Amber and Peggie both agreed that the area rug and pot had to go, so they did.  Mark took a shovel and took the evil creature WAY outside and threw it in the terrorist neighbor's yard. WHEW!  I have an unbelievable fear and loathing for critters.  At least the cats did take care of the problem and hopefully the corpse will be a warning to others who try to invade my space.

Man, I am still all shivery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I want to eat Peeps so bad right now, but I will resist and look for some quaisi healthful food....like grapes.  Enough ranting. 

Oh, happy day!  My research paper is done and handed in!  Everything I needed to get done is done.  I am almost done being sick and I have a new book to read!!!  Life is good!

We will be watching Ghosthunters tonight! Yay! And my dishes are kind of done too.  Laundry is done (enough) and everything else can wait.

I am reading City of Bones by Cassandra Clarke.  Hope it is as good as it looks.  I know, 'can't judge a book by its cover', but we can hope!

Here are a couple of pics from early this morning when I was out walking Trip.  Also is a pic of Trip in her new coat.  She is not pleased and looks quite put out.

http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t304/lindal2007/Trip/

I accomplished a lot today.  Finished my final response paper.  Turned out good.  I also finished my write up for my oral presentation due on Thursday.  All I have left to do is to finish up my research paper, but I still have 2 weeks for that.  Hopefully I will finish up this week.

I also went grocery shopping, made 2 meals, did the dishes and 3 loads of laundry.

Back to work tomorrow.

Today's list:

Up at 4:30 a.m. (crazy dog!)
To work before 8
Meeting at 9:30 -10:30
Weight Watchers at 11-12
Class from 2:30-4:15
Second job 5-9
Home by 9:30
Out to the theater by 10:30

TWILIGHT!!!!!!  till 2:00

Bed by 3am.
Up with crazy dog around 4:30.........................
Work by 8..........
Book club at 4:30
Dinner at 6:30
Twilight at 8:45
Home and sleep by 11
Up with dog
On to work....................

Tonight at work I need to read 57 pages of Mythago Wood for the book discussion Friday night
Read 60 more pages of Dancers Dancing for Irish Lit
Check my Works Cited page for my research paper
And possibly do a little work in between.

Gosh, I am making myself tired just thinking about everything!

What a fun time!  Wed. night I was able to atke off work to attend the HP book club -Lakeview's Leaky Cauldron which was great fun because I haven't been able to attend regularily since I changed jobs at my second job.  Dressing up is always fun and talking with everyone was great.

Then yesterday on Halloween Trip (my pup) and I joined the neighbor kids Trick or Treating.  The kids and I had fun and Trip even got a treat - a big bone from one of the neighbors.  She was a vampire puppy!

http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t304/lindal2007/Trick%20or%20Treat/

I have the day off tomorrow. Yay!  I will get up at 5 or 5:30 if the pup sleeps in.  Then I will walk the dog, and get ready.  Amber and I are doing our Families and Fandom presentation at IWU tomorrow, so we will leave fairly early to get there for a 9:25 a.m. class.  After that we will go home for a short while and then I will go back to work and wait to go to class.  Then in the evening we will be going to the library where Amber will be leading a discussion on the Twilight series. Whew!  Good thing I have a day off...........................

Short week-end, sigh, but a good one. I worked Sat. of course and it was another busy day at the Library.  Early voting took place again and we were swamped.  I can't count how many people came in and got new library cards because, "They hadn't been in the library for 20 year".  As if that is something to be proud of.  But really it is nice to have all of the new patrons. 

Today I got up at the regular time 5 a.m., but stayed awake instead of taking a nap after walking the dog. I went to earl church and then stopped by an English majors' brunch at one of the professor's houses.  It was a nice time.  There was a family who played beautiful music.  One of the instruments was a mandolin.  Another young girl placed and sang music she had written.  It was wonderful!  I will have to check to see if she has recorded any of her songs.

Then this evening I went to a friend's house for a great wiener roast.

Last week I walked the dog and took pictures of the Fall colors on the path that we walk everyday.  Gosh I love the leaves!

Here's the link to the pictures:
http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t304/lindal2007/Autumn%20in%20the%20Midwest/?albumview=slideshow

Oh, yeah, and the last picture is of Amber and her dad.

I need to work on my abstract for class Thursday, but first I need to find out the difference between 'Fairy" and 'Faerie' and Sidhe.   I think I will read for a half hour and then pop popcorn and watch Dancing with the stars.............What an exciting life......Oh, wait, I could do some laundry and walk the dog...again.............

So, evidently LJ likes Nuffy.  I have worked on creating user pics for several hours and the only ones that stick are Nuffy.  She is a cutie even tho this pic is from over a year ago.

I have started working on my research paper this week-end and have read thru several books.  Now if all of that info would just jump on my paper in logical order.  I really enjoy researching things but do get a little nervous when it comes to the order.  I have my abstract ready for Tuesday, so maybe I will work on an outline next.

I think I will go out into the kitchen now and start the dishes.

Also, I am trying to read Soul Music for my book club this Friday and have not made much progress.  I also need to read some for class on Thursday.  Man, this is making me tired, maybe I should just go to sleep.....................