No Longer a Nomad

I have a home! Finally.


I signed papers on Friday and will spend my first night there tomorrow (Thursday). It needs a little bit of TLC (like, alot--new kitchen, new flooring, new back door, new windows, etc., etc., etc., ...) And I have one week to get it ready for furniture. Yikes--what have I done?!? At least it will be nice to consolidate all my things into one place (currently in 4, count them 4, different places. 2 here and 2 in Billings. and I wonder why I feel like I'm scattered and losing my mind...)

Stay tuned for the exciting sequel of this journey--walking the line between fixer-upper and money pit!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes, it does make us happy to give thanks. I try to give thanks everyday--because sometimes that's the only way to get through the day. But today is a special day for us to voice our thanks.

Of course, at the top of my list is family and friends. How blessed I am, how rich my life is because of my family and friends. They span distance and time, yet are always with me and for me. They encourage me, cheer me, listen to me whine (alot!), and wrap me in their tender embrace--sometimes physically, sometimes metaphorically. (they even give me a kick in the butt, metaphorically, when I need it.) For family and friends I am truly thankful.

I am thankful I have a job--a good job. Good health, the ability to see, experience, and appreciate the world around me. I am thankful I will soon have a home, finally. I am thankful I haven't had to deal with black ice (yet) during my daily commute. I am thankful our country still has enough sense to elect an intelligent president, one who seems to have a great deal of integrity as well.

My list is so much longer than this but the sunshine is calling...

Love and hugs to all and Happy Thanksgiving!

Where to start??

I was glad when yesterday came to an end and I could finally pull the covers over my head. It was just one of those days... It started with a meeting with the big shots about relocating the library (and them saying "you can't have a break room and just why do you need an office?") and ended at the dentist's office telling me I need a root canal. And I have to go to Boise for it. And in between those bookends, it was one raggy thing after another. Today was a better day.

One thing I neglected to mention about signing the counter offer on the house--I was sitting in the middle of Dillard's shoe department in Boise, with my real estate agent, signing on the solid line. Didn't buy any shoes, but I took the next step toward buying a house. Talk about one stop shopping...

Back to today--I met with a handyman who looked at the many and varied things that the house needs done to make it decently livable and he pronounced it "not that big a deal." I was a bit dubious about his qualifications (first appearances is a whole 'nother bloggin'), but my agent assures me that he has done quality, reasonable work for them. So. I guess I'm going to buy a house. Yikes!! Wish me luck!

Housing, or lack of...

Yes, I am still hunting for permanent lodging. Those with whom I've talked recently know that I've been a bit wishy-washy about it all. Ok, a lot wishy-washy. I've been on and off the rent/buy seesaw so many times it feels like a merry-go-round. But in my dizziness, I finally made an offer on a house last Friday. Of course, as soon as I did that, I found a rental that would have worked quite nicely. And so it goes... (did I just steal that line from Kurt Vonnegut?)

Today, I got the seller's counter offer. I was pretty cranky when I first got it cause I wanted what I wanted and I didn't want to play their stupid game. I was ready to take my ball and go home. Oh yeah, that's right, I don't have a home to go to yet. Well, someone much wiser than me, who will remain nameless to protect the innocent, suggested that I quit quibbling and just be done with it--I don't think those were quite the words used but I think that was the intent ;^). So that's what I did. I took their counter offer and didn't even counter their counter. Now I just have to wait and see what the home inspection uncovers. Hopefully nothing slimy or stinky.

Joyfulness

I just couldn't let this day go by without "voicing" my feelings of joy over the election results. On my morning commute, I was overcome with emotion. The good news, the blue sky. Even the mountains had dressed in their finest. They had some serious bling going on with their fashionable snow caps. I watched the news last night but I don't think it really sunk in til this morning.

One thing I was struck by last night is when our president-elect came out on stage to make his acceptance speech. He looked so humble and so genuine and so real.

And I'm so glad Brandon's birthday wish came true!

Time Flies...

It's been a month an a half now. I've arranged for time off near Thanksgiving to go home and get my furniture and stuff. Now all I need is a place to put it. I still don't have permanent housing although I'm hoping to look at a house this weekend that sounds promising to rent.

Highlights this week: I got my computer access and military email--woohoo! Now I just need the security clearance to get into the site that has the annual report that is due November 1 (gee I think that's today). Hmmm, I think I need to reread Catch 22. But, being the resourceful librarian that I am, I got the report done and submitted yesterday! double woohoo!! This is the report I've been whining about to some of you. The one that I walked into (kinda like those piles you step into out in the field...) when I started this job. It covers everything about the library--staffing, funding from four different areas, owned book and nonbook holdings, leased book and nonbook holdings, furniture, computers, databases, etc. etc. etc. Anyway, it's done and now I can get on to the fun things.

While talking with my brother during his evening commute in New Jersey, I decided that I should add some pictures of my morning commute and all the traffic I have to deal with.


And a little further down the road, looking southwest
Ok, I'm off now to enjoy the warm fall weather we've been having. I hope all is well in your world.

I'm still here...

Wow, it's almost a month since I got here. In some ways it seems like last week and in others, it seems like years. At least I'm starting to feel not-quite-so-stupid. I still don't have my computer clearance which is a pain in the butt. And I still haven't found permanent housing. I keep going from wanting to rent to wanting to buy. Yesterday, I wanted to rent. After looking at rentals today, I want to buy. You can see why I'm so confused with this whole house-hunting process...

Last weekend I decided to take a break and find nature. That's not that easy to do around here. The best I could do close by, and it really was kinda nice, was Bruneau Dunes State Park about 20 miles south of town. It's pretty stark but it's fun to hike up the dunes, especially in bare feet.

Looking from one dune across the pond to another
It was quite peaceful and I got some much needed exercise. I also went to Boise one day--that will be my other playground. It seems like a really nice town with a great trail/park system along the river that goes through the middle of town. Good shopping, restaurants, and cultural venues and it's only about 40 minutes away.

And now for some pictures of the library:


And my office
The circulation desk and video room
Opposite the circ desk and looking past the lobby into the main library
It's a bit tired looking, but certainly much cheerier than Wells Library!