Challenging

I talked to HQ this morning. I can challenge this prerequisite course at a cost of $50 -- much better than $500.00! I get the textbook, and can write an online exam within one month. If I was to fail, I would have to wait and take it at another time, but I know this stuff, so with the textbook and some brushing up on a few things, I'm not worried. Once I have that, then I can look at the next step. :-)

Friday update

I found out today that, with my experience and computer/Internet knowledge/skills, I might be able to challenge the prerequisite class. I'm waiting to find out more about it, the process and the cost. Unfortunately the person I need to talk to isn't in the office until Monday. And I have to make a decision Monday morning. Nothing like last minute... ::rolleyes::

This is such a busy time of year as it is, and I find myself getting stressed (as I always do at this time). Board meetings, annual meetings, numerous reports (oh how I hate the financial ones), planning for moving the library and the huge amount of work involved in that, church stuff, etc... As far as the church stuff, I think I am finally going to step down from my one position there. I feel it's time. I don't think it's where I'm supposed to be. There is still lots there that I will be involved in, but not that particular role. I'm not sure what will happen with that. We are such a tiny church, with a mostly older congregation, and in the past no one else was willing to take over that position -- one reason why I stayed. But I have to trust that things will work out.

I need to go shopping in Saskatoon tomorrow. I was going to go Monday, but I can't now. I have to get Sheldon a birthday present... not that I have any idea what that will be yet! LOL. He turns 18 on January 28. My baby...

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Education Opportunity

(Some of you will have seen this already...)

Blah.... I hate making decisions!

I got an email from HQ yesterday afternoon with an offer to take an online Certificate in Library Training course. Now, as most of you know, I work in a very small public library (town pop. 1,100). I don't have any "formal" training, it was all done on the job. I have a lot of experience, after 8.5 years, but no formal training. Now, it isn't required for my current job (although it would be helpful), however if I was to someday move and and wanted to find employment within the same field, then it would definitely be an asset (and most likely a requirement).

There is a prerequisite class that will run from the end of January to mid-April, at a cost of $500.00. The deadline for registration is MONDAY, January 22. It's short notice, but HQ was only informed about it yesterday. The other courses will be offered over a period of time, and vary in price.

It is both a financial and a time commitment, and I'm not certain if I'm prepared for either at the moment! But I don't have a lot of time to make that decision. Blah.... Do I sound panicky? Cuz that's how I feel.... lol. *deep breath*

Some prayer would be lovely. :-)

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Brrrrrrr.....

I talked to my girl last night. She was basking in +34°C temps, while we're freezing in -28 to -30°C temps, with a windchill of -40 to -45°C. So not fair.... lol.

There are 5 Filipino men who come into the library frequently. They have been living in town for about 8 months (one has been here longer), and they got their first experience of a blizzard the other day.... and now this bitter cold. I feel for them... even I hate it, and I'm used to it! Poor fellows... lol.

I got Christmas presents in the mail today -- lots of great stuff. I got spoiled again. :-) This was one of the gifts:

iHome

(I already have a Nano, it's the iHome that I got.) ;-)

Sheldon's off to a basketball tournament today -- about 3.5 - 4 hours from here. I'm not thrilled that they are traveling in this cold weather, but there are several carloads, parents driving, and probably every person going has a cell phone... lol. So they should be okay.

I wish I was at home curling up on the couch, under my fuzzy Eeyore blanket, sipping hot chocolate and reading my book. Only 2 1/2 hours of work left.... :-P

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Currently listening to: Launchcast
Currently reading: Hannibal Rising ~ Thomas Harris

January Blizzard

We've had a nice, relatively mild winter. Until now....

Most of central SK got hit with a major blizzard today. We had high winds when I went to work at noon, by 2:00 it was snowing, and by 3:00 it was really bad. I tried to call my co-worker to tell her not to come in (she lives on the farm), and that I would work straight through till 8:00, but I couldn't reach her. She came in at 4:00, and shortly after that you could barely see across the street. It's now after 7:00, and you still can't see across the street!

Her husband came about 5:00 and told her she needed to go home with him -- because if they waited until 8:00 she probably wasn't going to get home! So I'm working later tonight.

In Saskatoon, the university was closed, they closed the bridges (there are several) this afternoon, buses stopped running at 6:00 p.m., several highways are closed, businesses closed and sent employees home... my friend's daughter was one who was sent home. When Robbie talked to her at 4:30, she'd been stuck in traffic for 2 hours. And she doesn't live very far from work!

Oh well.... at least we don't get avalanches here. ;-)

Josh asked for a picture, so I tried to take one tonight from the open doorway. It was dark outside, and all I got was snow all over the lens of the camera. :-P


Fortunately, I only live 2 blocks from home. I think that Sheldon has his dad's truck tonight, so I'll see if he can give me a ride home. Otherwise, I'll be bundling up and walking. ;-)

Goo Goo Dolls & Elmo

Okay, I know I posted this elsewhere, but I had to put it here, too... It is so adorable. Josh sent it to me earlier tonight, and I love it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXT1x6eJt-g

Happy New Year!

It's New Year's Eve, and I'm sitting at home. :-P I don't normally do anything for New Year's, might watch a movie or something, but it's not a big deal. Last year at this time, Josh and I were celebrating New Year's with some of his friends -- we had such a great time. This year, he's playing video games and I'm 1,200 miles away drinking chai tea, answering emails and blogging. What a bummer!

I wish all my friends a wonderful 2007 -- may God bless you richly. Love you guys! :-)

Hope you had a Merry Christmas!

Yeah, so I've been a bit of a slacker and didn't get a "Merry Christmas" post up. I hope you all had a great day, however you spent it. :-)

December has been kind of a blah month for me -- up and down and all over the place. My Christmas Eve was very quiet. Sheldon worked until 4:00, and the boys spent the afternoon/evening with their dad. They had a good time. I went to church by myself at 9:30 p.m. That was a bit of a bummer. Church itself was good, but I missed having my kids there with me, and I missed having my close friend Lana and her girls there (the nasty flu bug hit their household). Christmas Eve is usually so "routine" for us, and I really missed the hugs and exchange of gifts and good wishes, etc.

I also was feeling pretty down when I left church and walked home. My mom left a gift for me (since we wouldn't see each other the next day). Didn't give it to me, but told my sister it was there for me as she left (catching a ride home with someone). That was fine... however, she is refusing to give gifts to my kids, because she says they didn't thank her previously. So that was hurtful. She had gifts for others, but not her grandchildren. (She gave to the other grandchildren, but not my kids.) My kids aren't little, and they brushed it off... but I was hurt, even if they weren't (or acted like they weren't). It feels like she is doing this -- in some weird way -- because she is still upset with me, and that instead of dealing with that, she's taking it out on my kids. It might not be that way, but that's how it feels. It's all very strange and dysfunctional. *sigh*

I talked to Chantelle a little while after I got home, very briefly, and that was good. I had a long chat with Josh, and that helped. It always does. :-)

On Christmas Day, Robbie, Sheldon & I went to Moose Jaw and spent the day with my aunt & uncle. We had a great time. It was the first Christmas that they (aunt & uncle)had spent without my grandma, and their daughter was home but left early Christmas morning, so that was really different and I think kind of tough for them. We had to agree that it was definitely an odd Christmas this year. But we did have fun with them. :-)

Chantelle called last night and we had time for a longer talk. That was really nice. She had a good Christmas with friends, and they will spend New Year's together as well before going their separate ways.

It's snowing lots here today... Brrrrr.....

Okay, back to work. ;-)

I need to buy the new Todd Agnew CD...

... "Do You See What I See?" I totally forgot when I was in Saskatoon. I think I'll have to order it on Amazon, but it won't be till after Christmas. That's okay, I just wish I would have remembered it before so I would have it for this season. His talent is so amazing....

I wrapped most of the Christmas presents today (not that there were alot). I need to do the ones for the boys yet, but that won't take long. I have a couple of things that I ordered online that haven't arrived yet -- I'm hoping they get here in time.

We had our Lessons & Carols service at church today. It was nice, but there were only a few of us there due to a nasty stomach flu that is going around here. Yuck...

I went to the high school's musical drama production on Friday night. It was really good, the kids did a great job. The school has done drama's for many years, but last year was the first time they attempted a musical, and they've done great. There is alot of talent there, especially when you consider how small our school is.

Loneliness....

I was feeling kind of lonely the past couple of days. It's something that comes and goes. Been missing Josh... been missing my girl... Christmas seems to make things worse.

Chantelle is talking of moving to Toronto when she gets back from Australia. *sigh* That's even farther away than Calgary. Sheldon is excited for graduation and talks about moving out. Which is a good thing, but tough for me at the same time. Josh is too stinking far away. (Toronto is actually farther... blah...)

Such is life...

I'm actually okay today. Or at least at the moment... lol.

In other news.... :-P Sheldon got his car, a 2002 Cavalier, deep midnight blue. Very nice! He worked his tail off the past few months to pay off his other car and save for a down payment. He is quite pleased, and deserves to be. He's playing basketball this weekend, an out-of-town tournament. They won their first game last night so they were pretty excited. They are up against some even tougher teams today, so I hope they do good. It's just the start of the season, but they haven't lost a game yet -- an encouraging start. :-)

Chantelle has been fruit picking in Bundaberg for the past couple of weeks, with a German girl that she met at Surfer's Paradise. They worked 11 hour days, but made good money. I think they are heading back to Surfer's soon, where they will meet back up with a couple of other friends and spend Christmas and New Year's there. Then she'll be off to explore other parts of Australia.

My aunt and uncle invited the boys and I to spend Christmas Day with them -- my cousin and her friend Brent will be there, and my uncle's sister. I think it could be fun. Hopefully the weather will be good for traveling. It's only an hour away, but I don't like traveling when the weather is bad.

I got a start on my Christmas shopping, but am really stuck on what to get for a few people. It seems that buying gifts has become more stressful than fun for the most part. How did that happen? I'm becoming a Scrooge! Yikes!

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Currently playing: Far Away ~ Nickelback

Moving???

No, not me... :-P

But maybe the library. We are in an old building that has served many different purposes long before it was ever the library. It's okay, but needs work, and my biggest issue is that we've had flooding and water leaks in the past, and I am afraid of what is growing underneath the carpet!!! Seriously! We had a leak in the bathroom earlier this year, and water seeped outside the bathroom onto the carpeted area... and we had some really funky-looking fungus growing out of the carpet!!! REALLY GROSS! I mean, how healthy can that be?! :-S

We've been talking for awhile about the possibility of moving to another building, and now the opportunity has come up that might make that a reality. There is a recently vacant building that is currently up for tender, and the board chairperson and I are going to the Town Council meeting tonight to put forth a proposal for them to consider bidding on the building (they could get it for peanuts) for the library. (The Town is required to provide a building for us.)

The purchase of the building probably wouldn't be a big issue, but the necessary funds to do some renovations and to make it wheelchair accessible might be the stickler. But we're going to give it a shot!

I was a bit hesitant about this building before, not being very familiar with the layout, but I've had a good look at it now, and the assistant librarian and I spent some time today dreaming up possibilities for it.... lol. I'm kind of excited about it. We'll see what happens. :-)

42 Days Till Christmas!

Have you started shopping yet?!

Not.

But at least I'm starting to think about it... lol. I'm going to see if I can do quite a bit of my shopping online this year. I did a few things last year, and it was wonderful! Even if I could do half of it that way it would be great.

Randomness...

Today is a laundry/dishes/housework kind of day... I need to get caught up.

I'll be out of town the next two days, for a librarian workshop. They are sometimes kind of boring, but on the other hand it's a nice change from work, seeing other people, hotel room and meals all paid for... plus my regular pay for both days. So I really can't complain. :-P I hope to get a short visit in with my aunt and uncle tomorrow night -- I have a banquet at 6:30 and she teaches an anger management class till 8:30, but hopefully after that.

Been pondering my future alot. I hate change, and don't do well with decision making. The past couple of years have brought some big changes, but at the same time, other things remained the same... my job, my home, etc. Now with Sheldon graduating in the spring and planning to move out in the summer, more changes come into play, including the possibility of having to sell the house. I don't know where things will go from there... thoughts and possibilities, but no real direction... It's very scary.

My life is not like I had expected it to be, and that is okay... because although it's not like I expected, it is good. But it does mean letting go of the conception that I had had, and being able to embrace change. I think that God has -- for some time -- been preparing me for something different. Even positive changes can be hard...

We've been worried about my mom lately... some confusion, forgetting things (like what day it is, appointments, etc.), some other stuff. She attributes it to new medication she was taking, and it has been quite a bit better since she seems to have gotten that regulated, but not entirely better. Talked to my aunt, and to my sister. My sister doesn't think it's a real concern, but I don't know... I'll talk to my aunt about it tomorrow night.

Well, I guess I should get to that laundry and those dishes, shouldn't I? :-P

My girl's birthday

It's her birthday tomorrow... but since it's already tomorrow in Australia, it's her birthday today. ;-) I scanned her birthday card and emailed it to her. It was the easiest, since she's moving around and doesn't have a fixed address to receive snail mail (except at the SWAP Australia office in Sydney, but since she's not there and won't be back for awhile.....). I'll give her a call a little later -- evening for us, morning for her. She's 22... hard to believe...

I know that I say about each of the kids on their birthdays, but really... the time has gone by so fast, and they are adults (or near-adult in Sheldon's case), and it blows my mind sometimes... lol. (Funny how that works, cuz I don't feel older! :-P )

Chantelle sent pictures from Australia...

She emailed a few pictures the other night... very cool. Surfer girl... lol. There is a great one of her surfing, and a group one from the last night of surf camp. Also a few others, including a nice shot of the beach at Surfer's Paradise and a beautiful sunset. (I'm not posting them here, though. Just telling ya 'bout them! :-P )

I'm so jealous -- she's hanging on the beach, and we've got cold and snow. Not fair. :-P Oh well, she's earned it.

This week has been rather busy, both at work and in the evenings. It's one of those weeks where I have something to go to almost every night. I don't get those too often anymore, and I'm glad! I've mellowed in my old age and so much prefer staying at home and for things to be relatively quiet. I'm spoilt... or lazy! Hahaha....

Well, back to work...

We got snow yesterday....

... okay, so it was only for 5 minutes, and it melted right away, but the point is we got snow! Yuck! Too soon, too soon...

It's nice and sunny today, but cold. *Brrrrrrr* I really hope that the snow holds off until at least November. I can wish, can't I? :P

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Currently reading: A Heretic's Guide to Eternity ~ Spencer Burke
Currently playing: Hyperventilation ~ Just

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm not sure who still reads here, but Joyce and Susanna, if you see this.... Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have a great weekend!

Tired....

Blah... have had a bad cold this week. At times I don't feel too bad, but today I'm really tired again, and coughing. At least the headache, sore ears and sore throat are gone. It's a slow day at work -- which on the one hand is okay, because I don't have the energy to do much. But on the other hand, without much to do, I get dopey and just want to curl up and have a nap... lol. I've had a couple of very chatty patrons today, though... that keeps me from falling asleep. :P

I don't really have much to update, I'm afraid. Life is pretty quiet (which is okay).

Chantelle has been in Australia for a couple of weeks now, and she's having a great time. She went to "surfer camp" this week for 4 days. After spending a couple more days in Sydney, she's going to jump on a Greyhound bus and head to the Gold Coast and Surfer's Paradise. She hopes to find a job and spend some time there. I'm looking forward to her calling this weekend to see how surfer camp went. :)

Sheldon's been working a second part-time job to save up money for a downpayment on a car. He's been going crazy without one, but has been using his dad's truck for the past couple of months, so he hasn't been totally without.

It's Thanksgiving this weekend, but we don't have any specific plans. I think Sheldon is working, not sure about Robbie's schedule. It'll be quiet for us, though.
Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends! :)

Today's adventure...

(Those of you on the Ship will have read this already...)

As previously posted, I got my nose pierced a few weeks ago, right nostril. Well, sometime during the night, I somehow managed to catch my fingernail on the little stone on the end of the nostril screw, and totally ripped it off! Not pulling out the nostril screw, but yanking off the stone! Weird, I tell ya..... I thought I'd dreamt it, but sure enough, I got up this morning and checked, and it was gone. :rolleyes:

I actually was able to find it, which is pretty miraculous in itself, because it is tiny. It looks really ugly without it (kind of a greenish lining in the spot where the stone goes), so I went and bought some crazy glue and thought I'd glue it back on. Now, my piercing is only a few weeks old, so I didn't want to take the nostril screw out. However, I realized that there is no way I could crazy-glue it back in (being so tiny) without ending up with the stone stuck to my face. :P

So I decided to take the nostril screw out, glue the stone on, and put it back in. Yeah....... right...... :rolleyes:

Got the stone glued on, but couldn't get the nostril screw back in -- tricky little things they are, curved and difficult to manage. So there I am, struggling to get it in, my nose is hurting, and I'm running out of time and have to get to work. I never did get it in... I ended up finding a small earring stud and putting that in temporarily so that it doesn't close up (feels terrible... lol). Blah.....

Now, if I didn't live an hour from the city and my piercer, I'd just go get them to put a new one in, but that isn't feasible at the moment (or for at least several days).

I'll try it again tonight.

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UPDATE: Finally got it back in tonight. My nose is red, swollen, and hurts like crazy. More than the initial piercing. I won't be messing with that again until it's well healed! (Never had a problem with any of my piercings before, and I wouldn't have this time if I hadn't decided to glue that stupid stone back on.)

Off to Australia

Chantelle leaves in just a few hours -- first to L.A., then Singapore, and then to Australia. I'm excited for her, but a little nervous, too. I'm certain she is going to have an amazing experience, but still, you know.....

I miss her already...

I talked to her last night. It still hasn't really sunk in for her that she is actually leaving. Jerry is flying to L.A. with her (and then going to visit his sister), so I think that it's not really going to hit her until she's on that plane to Singapore, alone. She's had alot of difficult good-byes, but I think she'll be okay after the initial separation. Fortunately her friend Johnny is in Australia right now and will meet her and be with her for a bit. It will be great for her to see a familiar and friendly face.

I'm very proud of her. :) (I just miss her.)