I'm Running Away

I need a day to just explore, so I'm going to get on the bus and I'm going to run away somewhere (can't say where because too many people may be reading this.) Today is my day off and I'm not going to waste the opportunity to do my homework...which actually involves mapping out a store.

I also kind of want to go off by myself, just for a bit. Just to prove I can still run away from home at almost-25.

Talk to you all when I get back.

Ta,
Bec

PS: Didn't last long. I didn't get my homework done but I did get some shopping done. I bought a yellow bandana to go with my new Packers shirt. Gotta be ready for the Superbowl.

I also got my laundry done, which was something that definitely needed doing. Probably will clean my place on Sunday if I get time (otherwise it's going to be next Friday or Saturday before I get to it.)

Have parentals to call, so ta,
Bec

Burned My Mouth But Working In A Library Again

I am fine, but forgot to mention that I did something amazingly stupid yesterday. I'm going to give you all a bit of advice that I was given at one point and then carelessly decided to forget: When getting hot cocoa from a gas station, it's best to remember that the cocoa is HOT.

I mean, I had a free ticket and all, so I went for the biggest damn cup I could get (32 ounces) and I'm not a soda drinker nor a coffee drinker so I went for the cocoa. And then I get a straw and I go to take a sip and forget that the cocoa is probably boiling. It's written on the side of the cup. You'd think I'd pay more attention. Or remember.

I remembered, strangely enough, when my mouth was screaming ouch and my eyes were watering from the pain. And now I have big burns on the roof of my mouth and down my throat. That'll teach me.

Beyond me being incredibly dumb, I was busy doing Oblivion quests this morning when the SLIS library called up and told me I was to work at 3 today.

So I'm working. I got a job as a graduate assistant at the SLIS library, about four steps away from where my classes are. It's the job I wanted when I got down here simply because it was close to everything I needed and heck, it was a library job. It's my chosen profession, my reason for existing, the thing that gets my serotonin levels soaring and my hands shaking and my head goes all muzzy because of all the books and the awesomeness and dear Lord, the BOOKS...

You can see why my particular brand of crazy fits right in with stacks and cataloging. What others may think tedious and boring is fun for me. Take putting books away today. I was happy as a dog in a biscuit factory. I leaped at it even though I hadn't done Dewey since I was a senior in high school. It's like riding a bike or tripping over your own feet or breathing. So what if I'd done Library of Congress for 3 years in two different college libraries? Didn't seem to stop ME...

However, there was a bit of a bump to all this joy and vivre. Everyone has either gone to class or gone home, leaving me to flounder in my stupidity and doubt, alone, behind the desk. First days are always a nightmare. I don't know where anything is up here.

Let's just hope no one wants anything complicated. Let's hope it's all, "Let me check this out," or "Which way is it to..." (actually don't have them ask me that as I have no clue where anything is beyond this floor.)

But it's okay, because I'm a librarian. Right?

The good thing is that only graduate students and profs are allowed up here at night so I won't be dealing with freshmen asking for the restroom or where the library is and such stuff.

I'm going to go back to reading "The Joys of Cataloging" now. Toodle-oo.

Bec

Bye, Chicago...

Packers in the Superbowl! I could sing!

Not much else going on with me; I am playing Oblivion and I'm screaming through the quests instead of doing homework like I should be.

Oh, well. There's always tomorrow.

We're IN AGAIN! HA!

Ta,
Bec

Cured of Most of My Diseases

So, folks, I am (still) recovering from the flu. It was misery, therefore, on my first day in Master's class because I felt like death warmed over. I had to walk out twice because I felt sick (but I made it to the end!) and had to apologize for missing Thursday's class because I was ill. Not the most auspicious of beginnings.

However, that was Saturday. Now I'm better. Hi. Here I am again.

One thing important that has happened is that I am no longer lactose intolerant...at least for now. I found some pills at GNC that are basically like a dozen servings of yogurt at a time, and the amount of live bacteria culture in them puts the good ones in and the bad ones out. I took them for about a week and something must have gone right because I ate a piece of ice cream cake the other night and didn't get even get a gas bubble. I just hope I reset my system for a good long time. Lactose intolerance is most unpleasant.

Not much else going on with me currently. I'm going to run down to Parker and Otis tomorrow and I'm not coming back till they hand me a warm sesame bagel with cream cheese on it. I haven't had one this week and I see this as a gross oversight.

I might come back with chocolate, too. One never knows.

Got my new shoe inserts today and the adjustment period is going to be hard but worth it.

I'm in class and misbehaving by talking to you. I am participating! I'm just busy eyeballing the laptop screen while listening to the teacher with half an ear.

I should pay attention in these last 27 minutes, so ta,

Bec

Cough Redux

Didn't get lost yesterday. I found my way home without incident. I don't know if this is a fluke or if this is going to be the standard.

Matt Bellamy and Kate Hudson are having a baby. I wish them all the luck in the world.

My toilet backed up over the floor this morning and flooded my bathroom, so I had maintenance here to fix it. Note to self: get plunger.

AND my cold/flu/cough that carried her off is back from the trenches. I feel like I was run over by a small truck...again. Hopefully I can get into student health service and get some help with this. I can't afford to be down in bed sick for another week.

I have homework to catch up on, so talk to you later,
Bec

Snow! Agh! And I Get Lost Again

There's ice on the roads down here. They actually closed campus until 11 and the bookstore shuts down at 5, which means I have to go down there today and finish all the stuff I didn't get done yesterday.

NOTE FROM LATER: All classes cancelled. I'm going nowhere.

Meanwhile, I used the bus system yesterday. This, obviously, was a sequel to the events of October 1 of 2007 where I got lost in Eau Claire...http://becca-blog-bec.blogspot.com/2007/10/hi.html

This was worse, however, because at least in Eau Claire it was warm when I got lost and it was a far smaller town AND here I got on and off the wrong buses so many times that I started to wonder if some part of me was doing it on purpose. Add the fact that I've never been in most sections of Durham before and you can see my dilemma.

And to add icing to this cake of stupid, I forgot my cell phone so I couldn't call for help. I've only had it a week and I'm still learning to carry it everywhere. It was charging when I left and I must have missed it.

So something that should have taken two hours once again took 4. Next time I take the bus service I'll only take the buses I'm supposed to and stop listening to people who tell me to take the 13 INSTEAD OF THE 5...

Or I'll just hire a plane.

Ta,
Bec

Waiting On A Call

I am currently watching a Merlin marathon on Syfy before tonight's US premiere of Merlin series 3 (oh the joy!)

I had a lovely breakfast in my apartment this morning, really wonderful. Used my stove for the first time; I'm not that good with electric stoves but this one seems to like me.

I MAY have a job as a graduate assistant with the SLIS library at NCCU; I'm waiting on a phone call. Mom was impressed that I walked in there and charmed their socks off in ten minutes flat but they were lovely people. I will love working there if everyone is as nice as they were.

I'm going out to do stuff today as I have nothing else to do besides go out and do stuff.

Ta,
Bec

Here!

I am sitting in my new bed typing this entry. From here I can see the fridge and the door to the bathroom is open so I can see in there, kind of (it's still sort of dark.) Around the corner behind this wall is my "living room", which is a big table, a little table, and a couch.

The apartment is small (I was warned about this before I got here) and the pool is way the hell over in a different building. The cable doesn't work yet. There's no laundry stuff here.

I like the place. I think I would probably be fine with a cardboard box at this point and be fine. It's my place and I am paying for it, so I like it.

One thing about it; they have offered to paint one wall in the color of my choice. I think I'll pass it up. Why on Earth you would paint one wall one color and one wall another is beyond me.

Dad and Anna are still here; Dad is getting heebie jeebies about leaving me here on my own, no small thanks to the fact that I'll be 1,000 miles from home and rescue once they go.

I think he needs to relax and get going before he winds up sleeping on my couch forever, but that's my take on it.

Well, that's it for now. I have a table to move today, as I am entirely unhappy about its placement.

Ta,
Bec

Update from Hickory

I am currently sitting in a hotel bed in Hickory, North Carolina. I am hours away from signing the lease on the apartment and getting dropped off and finding out if my snooty pig plate broke in transit. Here's a little update on the trip so far...

Day 1: We started off at 2 in the afternoon from Wisconsin. I got a cocoa at the Illinois border that would have had a better life as water. Anna took the reins when we got to Chicago and scared the life out of me on the expressway (let's just say I quit looking. It was better for my sanity) and then Dad navigated her into getting lost in northern Indiana at 3 in the morning (Eastern time, and to the point of cussing the road beneath us.) We got a hotel room and dropped into bed.

Day 2: Woke up at 9:30 and I took a shower and managed to procure a late breakfast for all three of us (negotiated with the desk clerk to have the food left out a little longer so we could all sit down and eat toast.) Off we went again, at 11 in the morning. Went through the rest of Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee and Anna, once again, got the curvy highways to navigate when we were passing through the mountains. I decided sleep was the better option and dropped off pretty much until 1 AM when we got to here, Hickory, NC...which I tried to find on a map but apparently I'm not looking in the right places.

That's about it for now. I will update as the day goes on and I have Internet connection.

Ta,
Bec