Beginning a New Job!

OMG!  I had forgotten how stressful it is to start a new job! That feeling of "What was I thinking?? I am so over my head here!"

I have to say, though, that everyone at Brown-Mackie College has been very welcoming and nice.  It only took a few days to get my IT access so I could start getting familiar with the e-resources. I also met with the former librarian for some orientation.  A very nice and interesting man with a wealth of knowledge.  He's a really hard act to follow!  Add that to the fact that I have no real college librarian experience means that I feel totally out of my league. (note to self: breath. quit clenching jaw. get shoulders out of ears.)  I just have to remember how overwhelmed I felt when I started at the base library and that this, too, shall pass....

The added stress of being semi-homeless isn't helping much. My friend, Lynn in Mountain Home, is a gem for letting me live with her until I sort things out.  But I'm having a hard time finding decent, reasonably priced lodging in Boise and after two days of commuting I was already tired of the 50-60 minute drive, and that's even with clear roads. I will be a basket case once the weather turns bad. (another note to self: breath. quit clenching jaw. get shoulders out of ears. relax, damn it.)

But I'm so thankful to have a job, especially one with good benefits.  I'm also so thankful to have had several weeks to spend with family, play with my amazing granddaughter, and to decompress between jobs.  And, of course, it'll be fine.  It will all be fine!

Time for a New Post!

I know! I know!  Actually, I don't know.  What happened to this year???

A lot has happened this year.  Following is a not-so-quick synopsis of the past 10 months and a promise that I'll try harder to keep this blog going (especially since I hope to have new adventures to report in the coming months...)

February
Snowshoeing at the beautiful Boise River 

My new favorite winter sport

June
A very fun reunion in Ennis with great friends, Shirley from Columbia Falls and Marylou from Billings

In the beautiful Madison River valley

August
A very fun reunion with the kids at Mt Hood

Uncle Andy and Zayne checking out the trees

Alix and Zayne

  Andy just before catching the big one

Zayne's first river steps!

How many men does it take to put on a baby's sock??

Much needed relaxation!

A beautiful picnic site

Reading is delicious!

Max waiting for Brandon to catch a big one

What a cutie pie!!

September/October
Not my best months.  The library contract wasn't renewed and I was out of a job.  I had to say goodbye to my library (insert big sad, teary-eyed face here)

The sitting area and the new game table that I didn't have a chance to see anyone using but apparently they have

The beautiful stacks upon stacks

The best library team ever! (eating at Shiok, a fab Singaporean restaurant in Mountain Home)

I then packed up house and home, put everything in storage, put a "For Rent" sign in the front yard and packed the truck to bursting with basic stuff to "set up camp" wherever I may land at whatever time.  But before I left,
 
One last Idaho hike down into the Bruneau Canyon

It was a beautiful day with my great friend, Lynn, (who was such a tremendous help getting me out of my house and on my way) and our "hiking guide" Fred

November
I am officially a nomad again!  I made my way northwest to Whideby Island where I temporarily have a cozy, furnished one bedroom apartment in Coupeville (thank you Marilyn!).  I'm about a block away from downtown on the east shore, and about 5 miles from BranAlZayne and the west shore.  Soon after I got here we had a very special celebration.

Happy Birthday Zayne!!!

None of us can quite believe she's already one!?!  (although Bran and Al might be thinking she should be about 5 by now after the year they've had...)

She wasn't quite sure what was going on but she took it all in and enjoyed the ribbons and wrapping paper.  And her new Uggs

 But she especially liked her new rocking horse

That her Daddy lovingly made

 It might be a few years before she can get on by herself

 A really good time!

Wondering what to get into next?

I'm not sure what the future holds.  I've had several job interviews, and already an offer of employment as a librarian at a for-profit college in Boise.  It's not my top pick--I was hoping to get closer to the kids (and I was also hoping to be able to spend the holidays here).  But I am happy to have an offer this quickly.  It's not a done deal yet, but sounds like they want me there by December 1.  A new chapter in this life story.  In the meantime, I will enjoy spending as much time as I can with family and all the beautiful moments I can get here.

What Happened to January??!?

For that matter, what happened to October, November and December?!?

The new year began with sadness as we had to say goodbye to long-time friend Darlene Gissler-- the Mom of my best friend, my Mom's best friend, my second Mom--connections that span nearly 5 decades.

A few weeks later, I got word that my Aunt Esther had died, my Dad's last sibling.

Even though they lived long, full lives and we know it was their time, it doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye. They will be missed by many.

So, to balance the sadness, I must go backwards in time to my granddaughter's entry into the world. And I know you all have heard me brag about this cutie patootie. Many times. Sorry, but here goes some more. I know she's already changed a lot but I had to begin at the beginning.

Warning!

The following pictures show some

very,

very

serious

Love!

Alix and Brandon, B.Z. (before Zayne, before their lives changed forever)
Proud Mom
Proud Daddy. Look at her expression--she already knows she has him wrapped around her little finger!
Z and GB (still not sure what I'll be called)
Andy and a zonked Zayne
Getting a little more comfortable
and still more comfortable
now they're both in the comfort zone
Al enjoying the blissful (albeit short) quiet
a setting that certainly invites relaxation
our little angel

Happy New Year!

Chapter 4

We made it! This is our only window but it does add quite a bit of light. I'm so glad it's all done!
But wait!?! What is this??
Yep. It was Friday and we were supposed to open on Monday. Miraculously, it was all put back together and cleaned up in time to open. Most everything is in place. Well, most everything is in a place. We're not quite sure just where that place is.

The End.

Epilogue
It's been over a month since we opened and we still can't find where we put those extra bookends! And didn't we have another packet of labels somewhere...???

Chapter 3--The Move Began

Tuesday, July 19, movers and moving van arrived in the morning and started packing and loading. They would have made ants proud!

I think we all got a little teary when we saw the truck and book carts descend.
And the packing began.
Meanwhile, at the new space, it was necessary to mark off where the shelves would be and which shelves would be there. We had 3 different sizes of shelves, 3 different colors, 4 different heights in both standing and wall shelving.
It was quite the puzzle to determine which shelves would fit where and which collections would go on them.
Whew--made it through the first day!
The fiction collection fits nicely on the walls and the nonfiction will live in the standing shelves.
Meanwhile, back at the old library, it's starting to look a bit bare.
Day 3 saw more progress.
It's beginning to look like a library, complete with tree!
But it's really taking a toll on staff...