Just in case you’re interested…

In the Beginning… Was the Command Line, Neil Stephenson

This is a really good book, loaned to me by Mark, about (bland as it may sound) operating systems, how they came to be, the philosophy behind them, and especially Linux. It’s actually an informative, entertaining read. I’m really liking it.

Ubuntu Linux for Non-Geeks, Rickford Grant

I took the plunge, and installed Linux on my desktop. The result being that I can no longer print and I have no idea how to install ANYTHING on to my desktop!!! Well, I went onto the Ubuntu forums, and though very helpful, I found them populated with people who didn’t really remember when they were and Linux-Stupid as me. One of them mentioned this book, so I immediately ordered it from Schuler’s. I’ve only read the first chapter, but OMG, is it JUST what I needed.

The Last Templar, Raymond Khoury

This was a Christmas present from a friend. I’m not really a “bestseller” kind of a girl, and though I find novels like this a bit hokey, it’s actually not that poorly written, and a lot of the historical background is very interesting.

What are YOU reading (yes, this is a poorly disguised plea for comments). I have over a dozen subscribers now (yay!), so come on, post!!!

My five things are boring. So, here are some better ones:

1. I once sat naked in the rain on the balcony of my apartment at 5 am.
2. When I worked at MSU, my friend and coworker Paul and I had a craving for really good deep dish pizza. We didn’t want to settle for the fake stuff, so when we left on our half hour lunch break, we drove to Chicago, got a pizza, and came home. Needless to say, we got in trouble.
3. I used to party regularly until 8 am.
4. I never make a big deal of drawing my curtains. My thought is if someone is trying that hard to see something, they might as well…
5. I’ve had reoccurring dreams about ani difranco for nearly a decade.

Okay, okay. After the third person asked me why I hadn’t done this, when it’s been so insanely spashed throughout the library blogosphere, I figgered, why not.

1. I own ten pairs of brown shoes which I wear regularly, not including number 11, a pair of slippers. One pair of hiking boots, one pair of work/winter boots, one pair of dress boots, three pairs of sneakers, 1 pair of flip-flops and three pairs of dress shoes.
2. Upon viewing the blog of another, way more known librarian blogger, I’ve discovered that we have a mole in the same place, two of the same piercings, are both tattooed, and have both have had “a little too much fun” on at least one occasion.
3. I say “good morning” and goodnight” to the dogs in the same order EVERY time.
4. I sell the Christmas presents I don’t like on eBay, it’s true…I wasn’t really kidding…
5. I’ve had the same mixed CD in the CD player in my car for well over a month.

There. For more fascinating tidbits, read my 101 things.

I hope everyone (or maybe I should be more accurate, and say “both of you”!) had a safe, fun and happy New Year. Mine actually turned out to kind of fun.

Side note: I know this blog has turned in to a personal blog these past few weeks, but I’ve been off work since the 22nd, I think, so I have had little exposure to the library world. That being said, back to my personal life.

Around 6 pm, I went to the store to buy fabric to make curtains and curtain rods. Well, they were fresh out of the right sized rods. Oh well. I did buy some nice, plain fabric, but in some good, rich colors. See, I have two cubby type nooks in my bathroom. Although modesty is not something that I claim to have large quantities of, if I’m trying the newest thing in anti zit medication or a new type of feminine hygiene product, I’m not entirely sure that I want to share it with whomever stops by my house, and as of late the number of people dropping by has increased.

…nothing like a good run-on sentence. I love ‘em.

So, anyway. I got some nice fabric for my curtain, and had every intention of staying home on New Year’s Eve, sewing curtains. No big deal. Well, I got home and made myself a salad, a nice one with olives and beets and blue cheese, and the phone rang. I thought it was probably another family member wishing me a happy new year, mentioning how lonely it is to stay home alone and that I should go out and have fun. Way to make one to feel like shit.

Well, it was Julianne, my fav APB volunteer, even after I learned that she hated ani difranco. For about the fourth or maybe fifth time,she asked me to do something social, which I always promptly turn down because I don’t like social activities very much. I’ve turned down going out to the movies with a few friends, going out to dinner with five or six people, and things of the like. This was New Year’s…nothing good could come of it! Well, there’s something about Julianne, I guess, because somehow she got me to agree to go to a New Year’s party and another volunteer, Pam’s, house. It was fun, nice and laid back. Apart from Julianne’s car not starting, me having to drive, our trouble finding hard liquor, my inability to drive when sober, she dumping her purse between the car sea and the center thing, some tricky stairs and a bunch of, though pleasant and well-meaning…well, old people, it was very enjoyable. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but..I’m glad I went.

So, on to my goals. Not “resolutions”, because I’ve never kept a single one of them, but just…”goals”.

1. Eat better (more fresh stuff, less stuff from cans and boxes. I’ve been lazy this past year)
2. Sleep more (I’m down to like…5.5 hours of sleep per night, max. Being that I have been falling asleep in the bathtub on a regular basis, and have been sleeping through alarms, I’m going to shoot for….a minimum of 7 hours)
3. Learn Linux. (I finally bit the bullet and installed Linux Ubuntu onto my desktop. So far, this means that I can’t print, can’t figure out how to install solitaire, and am currently using my desktop solely to play a rip off version of Tetris)
4. Spend less money (Well, maybe I should change this to “be happy more”, because there is a direct correlation with my mood and my shopping habits)
5. Set up my home network. (If I could do this, despite my Linux issues, I would be able to print *sigh*)
6. Redo my bathroom (tile the floors, refinish the tub, paint the vanity, get a new top for it, get a new faucet for sink and tub and get a new medicine cabinet with movie start lighting)
7. As always, lose 20 lbs
8. Be social more (at least a few times/month)

So, that’s my list. If you think of anything I should add, please feel free to share, unless you tell me to stop smoking…then I’m afraid I’ll have to beat the shit out of you…and Aaron, if he ever reads this, the same applies for you in regards to sugar.