Betty Who?

30

     H
          I
               L
               L
          Y

km
today.

:-]


- TOB

P.S. Can I say that ya gotta know Betty and not have it be blasphemy???

Fly on the Wall

...in the jar??

I wrapped up grad classes three weeks ago and have yet to figure-out normal. Finishing right before the holidays didn't help much. Extra time was spent with preparations, even if all that involved was purchasing a couple of gift cards. There were work parties to attend, a couple suppers with friends, and some car repairs that needed to be taken care of. I was still busy.

Vacation days between Christmas and the New Year were spent visiting family and sleeping-off a cold and some drab exhaustion. When I felt normal I'd grab a book and read a couple chapters, then set it down looking for the next thing I needed to do. After some quick skiing or riding, I'd do some finger-twiddling wondering what I had to take care of next. I felt a bit like a fly in a jar...bzzzzzz bzzz bzzzzTT....bzzzzTT... bzzzzzzzzzzTT.... During the down times I'd get through a couple things I'd been neglecting since August, but for all the flurry, I wasn't really getting anywhere.

I couldn't quite figure out how to take the time needed to think through anything or to organize myself (or my office piles!). While I remembered all the things I used to do, I'd forgotten the pace of all the things I used to do. I'd just been through a year of outwardly imposed due dates and expectations. While something similar typically defines anyone's work day, for 12 months this defined my time after work as well. And now that it's over, it seems I need to re-figure how to set my own goals I will skate ski all day with intermittent stops for hot chocolate and a sandwich and determine what's important to me.

I'm getting used to spending a day out skiing and an evening shopping online at Sierra Trading Post (if you're into Icebreaker woolies, now's the time!), but it feels a bit indulgent.

O not a fly, dammit! B

It was Christmas

we rode with the
falling snow
in the dark
along the roads and trail
that could take us to the river
but after a busy Christmas day
it was time only for
watching the snowflakes
catch light
and flurry around spokes
until our feet were cold
then we rounded the curve
to head for home

- tob

Slow Return to Normal

this is what we used to do
he said
we had stopped for eats
after skiing Sunday
and I didn't care
what time we got home

- ob out dancin' on the snow these days now that I'm finished studying

I Want to Work in the City

Had a conference to go to on Monday.
Downtown.
Hopped the bus a block from home, dropped-off with two blocks to walk.
10 minutes.
Maybe 12.
Fresh air and conversation.
Same on the way home.
I could get used to it.

- OB feelin' like Petula

It is Finished

On Friday, I uploaded my last quiz and tonight I emailed my last two papers. I'm all but finished with an assignment that is due next weekend. There are a couple of loose ends, but for all practical purposes I'm finished with my coursework. I can almost, according to the Minnesota Department of Education, officially do the job I've been doing for the last year+.

After two weeks straight of sitting on my backside cranking out assignments, I can't wait to rediscover and redirect my energies toward those things I used to do. There's snow on the ground...enough for skiing. It's time to hit the deep snow again and think deep thoughts again and write fun writings and go to art flicks and drink beer and spend weekends in the good company of friends.

- TOBack

Librarian Humor

- The Old oh-my-GAWD-is-this-what-my-life-has-become? Bag

There's a Trail Here Somewhere...

- TOB havin' fun looking for it!