Differences of opinion

Catalogers do not always agree. Frankly, much of the time we don't agree. But that's what cataloger's judgment is all about. Three people can see at least 5 different ways to catalog the same thing. We all work in different environments and while we all ultimately have the same goal to make things findable for our users, our users are often very diverse and different, so we catalog things in different ways to accommodate that. Variety in local practices can be astounding, but exist to serve a specific set of users' needs. What the users of an art library need will be very different than a set of elementary school students, which will be different still from undergraduates, who are different than researchers, etc. You get the idea.

This is where the "play nice with each other's records" clause comes into the guidelines for cataloging in a shared utility environment. Unless it's flat out wrong, you don't change it. Edit your records locally (by all means!), but do not edit the record in the big shared database. Local practice is just that, LOCAL. And just because you don't like the way someone phrases their notes is not a reason to change it, even if you're editing something else in that record. You only change it in the shared database when it's wrong/outdated or you are adding new/additional information. Additionally, you don't delete things that aren't wrong, even if they are from previous cataloging rules and no longer part of our most recent set of rules (which, by the way, are going to be changing again in the next few years). They aren't "wrong," just no longer used. So leave it alone, I don't care if you don't like it or it looks "ugly." Play nice, people, and edit locally to your heart's content.

These differences of opinion can become a problem when one cataloger is the reviewer of another cataloger's work. It can become a serious issue when the cataloger and their reviewer don't agree on things like note phrasing. Some of the differences of opinion are downright pedantic. My institution uses *this* phrasing but their institution uses *that* phrasing. Both options are correct because it's a free-text NOTE field, people! Yes, there are guidelines for notes, and books of example phrasing, but even within such guides and books there is stunning variation.

So why oh why do I have to phrase my note the way you want me to? Oh yeah, you're reviewing my records. And until I phrase things the way you want them phrased, I'm doomed to continue to having my records reviewed. Never mind that as soon as you turn me loose I'm probably going to phrase my notes the way I see fit. And that's OK, because both of us are correct.

Don't you just love cataloger's judgment?

Proof that I'm busy

Alternately titled: Proof that I'm a dork

I realize there's been a lack of regular posts lately. Well, I've been a bit busy. Still am. But I offer up the following story as proof that I really am that busy.

I am a cataloger. A continuing resources and electronic resources cataloger to be specific. I am extremely detail oriented by nature. I always have been. Fortunately, this trait is beneficial in cataloging. So my career choice is a very natural fit. What you need to take away from this paragraph: Shana = detail oriented. Little things don't usually slip through the cracks.

As you all know, we're undergoing a forced software migration. Two big services are merging, and one of them is being folded into the other. Unfortunately, my library was part of the service being absorbed, so we're migrating to the "other" service whether we like it or not. I have lots of experience with this other service, so I've been doing a lot of training to help facilitate this change. This is not news.

In June at the big ALA Annual Conference, we learned of the deadlines. The service being absorbed will be going away ("retired") the end of August. But, as of the end of July, while it will be there, nothing new will be added to it, rendering it pretty much useless for anything but searching legacy data. That means that as of August 1st, everyone in my library has to be using the "new other" software full time. This migration to the "other" software can't be completed until everyone upgrades to the new version, 2.0, of said software. Version 2.0 included some major changes, so it was decided that "orientation" sessions highlighting those changes needed to happen before everyone downloaded the update and started using it. It took me a few weeks to put together handouts, and I split the sessions over two weeks in the hope of accommodating various vacation schedules (it is, after all, the middle of summer).

So last week when I began the sessions I put a request into the IT department for them to put together the webpage for the software update. This is a standard "loader" webpage with instructions, and a link to the file they need (unzipped and ready to use), that is used for any software update/download at my library. No big deal. I asked that they put together the loader, but hey, told them they've got time because I don't want it sent out until AFTER I finished the version 2.0 orientation sessions (which I did on Wednesday). I even included a date in my message that they should send out the email to the staff with a link to the webpage with the download instructions.

I SENT THE WRONG DATE.

I looked at my message again today and panicked. Instead of Friday JULY 27th as the date in my message, I put Friday AUGUST 27th. I put the MONTH in wrong. This is a rather large problem, given that the staff need the software update by next Wednesday, not a month from now. So I sent a message apologizing profusely and asking that they put together the loader ASAP (please, pretty please, with sugar on top??). I got a reply, a very gracious reply, telling me they should be able to have something ready by tomorrow morning.

*whimper*

And at the same time, I had to send another message to IT asking them to install the software on the 17 machines in the electronic classroom so I can do some hands on training sessions next week (Wed. and Thurs.).

*sigh*

I either need more sleep or a nice stiff drink...I'm not sure which one is more appealing at the moment.

*headdesk*

Music in the park

During the summer the Philadelphia Orchestra performs free concerts in parks around the city. It's the "Free Neighborhood Concerts" series. Tonight was the one in Clark Park, where the farmers market I usually go to is on Saturday mornings. A few of my colleagues live in very close to the park, and they said they'd save a bit of space for me when they staked their claim on a patch of grass. They all have toddlers and infants or are (very) pregnant (KS was hoping Bolero would bring on labor... but no luck), and I brought my own four legged furry child, Aussie.

I love the symphony. I always have. In college I was fortunate enough to be friends with some of the people that played in the city orchestra, so I always had free tickets to the performances. In graduate school they had deep discounted tickets for students. I went every chance I got. When I got my first job and moved to a big city, friend JT and I decided to split the cost of a season subscription for two seats to six concerts. We always made an evening of it, going out to a restaurant and then to the concert, often discussing the performance afterwards over drinks or dessert somewhere. She and I had a blast. So when my friend KS told me about the concert in the park, I knew I was going to go no matter what. It had been far far too long since my last orchestra concert.

I got there with plenty of time, which was good since I had to park a good ways away from the park. I overheard someone say that around 2,000 people attended the concert. Wow.

They had a theme to the pieces they chose for the evening, focusing on Spanish music. I couldn't have been more thrilled. They played Chabrier's Espana, portions of Bizet's Suite No. 2 from Carmen, Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34, Danzon No. 2 by Marquez, a tango from Barber's Souvenirs, and finished up with Ravel's Bolero. What a fantastic selection. It was a bit hard to hear the quieter parts of the pieces and movements, mainly because they didn't have the speaker volume up high enough. Overall it was beautiful. Very well played. The conductor, Rossen Milanov, was energetic, often dancing while he conducted. I love watching conductors when they're really into the music. The Philly Orchestra is really good. I now have a goal of finding a way to see a few performances during their regular season.

Free neighborhood concerts are not only fabulous for the music, but for the general ambiance and experience. Where a concert in a performance hall tends to bring only to adults, concerts in the park bring out whole families. Small children, like the toddlers and infants I was surrounded by, get to experience music in an environment where they aren't shushed the entire time. They can move around, dance, and no one minds if they get a bit rowdy at moments. People bring picnics and spread themselves out, lying back and letting the sound of the music envelop them. It's peaceful, yet there's an energy. The ambient noise of the people and kids and other dogs doesn't bother me in the slightest. For me, it only enhances the experience, being able to watch and hear others enjoy the music as much as I am.

The only negative moment of the evening was when a local news helicopter hovered overhead of the park for just a bit too long. I missed hearing an entire movement of the Carmen suite because that damn helicopter drowned out the music entirely, even the loud parts. Very annoying.

Aussie behaved quite well. She enjoyed the attention she got from the kids and other people nearby. I'm sure the small bag of dog treats I brought helped a bit as well. She was a bit restless with all the activity around her for most of the concert, watching everything, that is until the last song, Bolero. My dog took a nap during that song. Who sleeps through Bolero?? Only my dog. As if I needed more confirmation that she's weird.

In search of good cheese and bread

I went and explored the 9th Street Italian Market this morning. Wow. So much good food available. It was mildly overwhelming, actually. I started by just buying a cup of coffee from Anthony's Italian Coffee House (and Chocolate House) and walking the length of the Market, which runs along 9th Street between Fitzwater and Wharton Streets. There were people everywhere, not to mention the folding grocery carts, strollers, bicycles and dogs. It made for a bit of an obstacle course, but the hustle and bustle was exciting at the same time. People from all over and speaking a variety of languages doing their shopping. I was not in a hurry (I scored a free 3 hour parking space in a municipal lot), so I could really just relax and wander. While walking and absorbing and enjoying the environment, I formulated my plan of attack for purchases.

My friend KS had given me some recommendations, and I trust her (she did clue me into the delicious peaches at the local farmers market), so I was looking for those stores on my walk. Almost all the stores are long-time local Philadelphia family owned stores, most still owned and run by the same family that opened them generations ago. Some of the vendors have been around for over 100 years! In addition to all the stores, produce stalls line the other side of the sidewalk. It created some narrow paths that got clogged with people and carts and strollers, but there was so much to look at so I didn't mind. Everywhere is the smell of coffee, fresh fruits and veggies, fresh seafood, fresh meats, and cheese. OMG the cheese.

In addition to the various food recommendations, KS told me about Fante's, a kitchen supply store. Anyone that knows me knows I cannot resist a kitchen supply store. They emit some sort of gravitational pull, much like a bookstore, that I can't fight. I am compelled to go in and look around. I love getting lost in a kitchen store. So many neat toys and tools and gadgets. Some are laughable, but some are really cool.

After wandering around making a wish list in my head at Fante's, I headed up the street to Sarcone's Bakery for bread. I picked up some tomatoes from a "Jersey Fresh" vendor along the way (love love love local produce). The fresh bread selection at Sarcone's was beautiful. I picked up some short French loafs, munching on one of them as I walked back down the street. Crusty on the outside, and soft on the inside...almost melted in my mouth. I stopped in at Orlando's Meats for some homemade pork chorizo (so good!), and continued my walk down 9th Street.

Along the way, I picked up various fruits and veggies from the produce stalls. I made sure I grabbed some basil, and some fresh squash and lettuce for salads. Next stop: the cheese.

KS told me to check out Di Bruno Brothers for cheese. I walked in and was hit by the most incredibly delicious smell of all the cheeses. So many choices. If there's a cheese you want, Di Bruno's has it. Wow. It's a small store, like all the others in the Italian Market, and there was quite the line. While I was waiting, I started to feel a little drunk from the cheese smell. Wow. Heaven. In addition to the cheese varieties, they do have some meats and general items like olives, olive oil, and various canned goods. They have samples everywhere, and if you ask for a particular type of cheese, say a sharp cheddar, they'll give you samples of a few options and you pick the one you want. The cheese-mongers know what they're talking about. I had a mission: fresh mozzarella. Their fresh mozz is homemade regularly, so you know you're getting a really good cheese. I can't wait to have it on a nice slice of my French bread with some fresh tomato and basil. The best sandwich in the world.

My last stop on the way back to the car was Talluto's for fresh pasta. Again, a small shop, but they have olives and a small selection of various salads in a case as well. In addition to the variety of frozen pastas, they have a selection of fresh homemade pastas that are cut when you order. I chose the spinach pasta, and asked for a linguine cut. They even bundled it in two pieces so I could freeze one (they don't sell less than a pound at a time), and the cooking directions are printed right on the package. I'm drooling just thinking about what I'm going to do with that pasta...so many possibilities.

Even if you aren't planning on buying your groceries, I highly recommend a wander through the Italian Market just to look around. It is an incredible experience, and I can't wait to go back.

To Do Lists, or Get(ting) Things Done

To do lists. I have a LOT of to do lists floating around. One for work. One for stuff that needs to get done around the house. Those are long term lists that get shorter and longer depending on the number of projects. I have short lived lists that get created on the fly so I remember all the things I have to do and places I have to go that specific day (kind of like a grocery list of errands). Sometimes I lose a list and have to recreate it. Then I eventually find the original again and cross reference the two to make sure nothing got "lost."

There's a whole culture based around Get(ting) Things Done (GTD) these days. How to deal with email more efficiently. How to manage your RSS feeds, including a large number of reviews of the various available RSS readers. There are books on how to GTD more efficiently. There's even websites and blogs with tips and tricks (my current personal favorite is Lifehacker). You can spend all day not GTD by getting lost in reading how to GTD. Oh, the irony.

There are options for keeping online to do lists. Seriously. I've tried several of them. But they just aren't as portable as a card from a library's card-catalog. Those card catalog cards are the perfect size, the same as an index card. They fit in your pocket so perfectly. And bonus, since I work in a library, and most library catalogs are now all online, making physical card catalogs obsolete, cards are in abundance. And they're free for the taking.

There's also something inherently satisfying in crossing something out with a big bold line of your pen, or scratching it out so it's not even legible anymore. You can't do that with an online list. Delete just doesn't have the same effect and satisfaction for me. So I still make paper to do lists.

I often make a list at the end of the day of all the things that I need to tackle the next day. Lately I've had one big to do list at work that I've just added to at the end of each day, often creating sublists under different tasks. Nothing was falling off the list. This is not how a to do list is supposed to work. You're supposed to cross things off, right? Many articles even recommend writing down things you know you'll accomplish as part of your normal routine in addition to the big projects just so you do cross something off each day. Supposed to help you feel less overwhelmed by your list. Yeah, right. It just made my list longer and more daunting when I looked at it. So I went back to just writing down the big stuff, breaking the big stuff into smaller sublists, and attacking them piece by piece.

I've been working off the same list at work since I got back from ALA the end of June. I made the list before I left. That means I've been using the same to do list at work for over a month. Granted, it's a bit messy looking now with all the sublists and notes and sublists of sublists, but it's the same main big list.

Today, TODAY, I crossed things off. That's right, folks, I finished projects. Two projects are officially done. Well, my part of them is done. They've now gone out and become part of someone else's to do list. They will eventually come back, but in a new and different form, so that's OK because it will be the next step in an ever evolving process and it means things were accomplished to get to that next step. I've been hammering away at the same step in the process for so long I didn't think I'd ever be able to draw that nice line with my pen and move on to the next step. But I did. TWICE today.

Happy Friday, indeed.

On our daily walk

Every day Aussie and I walk around the neighborhood. At least one block, sometimes more. There's always a few random things seen or heard, but in the past week there's been more than usual. Like a LOT more than usual.

Seen over the weekend by the curb: a can of Colt 45 with a drinking straw in it. That one made me wish I had my camera with me.

Overheard today as it was shouted across the street: "I just spilled butter all over my toes!"

I've also received multiple offers to either buy my dog or breed her. People ask me about her all the time, but the offers to buy and/or breed her are a new thing. All offers are politely declined (duh!).

I've had several offers for dates, many questions if I'm single and if I live around here, and a litany of requests to "get to know me better." Most of them have come from guys in their cars. And they don't get out, instead shouting at me through an open window, a rather common activity in my neighborhood in general. I know my neighbors, and they know me, so these are people that are not from the neighborhood. I answer these questions all the same..."I'm around" and refuse to give any info beyond my first name (and only when they introduce themselves first). Do not worry, I am not stupid, people.

I guess this should bother me more than it does, but random people have always asked me for directions or general information (I seem to have an invisible tattoo on my forehead that says "Information here" and I appear non-threatening), so I don't think too much about strangers talking to me and I can be polite and keep my distance at the same time. I also have a dog that would rip their throat out if they tried to hurt me, so that helps.

Today someone even got out of his car and gave me his phone number. He backed away a bit as Aussie put herself between us and eyed him warily (good dog!). Needless to say, I'm going to, um, "lose" that slip of paper right quick. Thanks, I'm flattered, really, but I don't think so.

Last night I was asked if I wanted to go out roller skating (no joke). Points for creativity on that one.

Now I know that a white girl in my neighborhood is a bit of an anomaly, but I really think the heat is getting to people.

A Food Filled Weekend

As you all know, my friend CH visited me this weekend. His train arrived after the work happy hour on Friday, so we met up and headed out for food. CH was in the mood for a cheesesteak, and rather than venturing into Center City, we walked up to Abner's. I've been there several times, and know that they make good cheesesteaks, and CH agreed. Another Abner's fan. After food, we headed home to take care of the dog (CH and Aussie bonded, even getting in a bit of play and a good game of tug) and since we both had long days, we sat down and vegged out for a bit to the Food Network (always good TV for foodies).

On Saturday, after sleeping in a bit, we went to the farmers market down in Clark Park. I needed some veggies, and since CH is also a foodie, he loves just looking around as much as I do. We arrived at Clark Park only to discover there was also a flea market going on. I vaguely remember my colleague and friend KS that lives nearby telling me about the flea market insanity, but couldn't remember which days it happens. Well, Saturday was one of the days. It meant I ended up parking a bit farther away than normal, but the weather was glorious so the walk wasn't unwelcome. We brought the dog with us (which wore her out for the rest of the day) because she loves all the attention and extra loves she gets and she gets to meet lots of other dogs (two of her favorite things). On our walk through the flea market to the farmers market, a really nice lady that was running one of the food carts even gave my dog some water just because. She did drink some, but I think she was more interested in the sausage smell coming from the woman's cart.

At the farmers market, I had a few things I needed, like delicious bread, and KS had told me that the peaches were in. First stop (and always the first stop), whoopie pies from the stand on the end. Apparently CH has never even heard of them. He's now a convert. Yummy. In addition to picking up some of the really good bread, I picked up some tomatoes, some squash and some kale for lunches and dinners this week. I also got peaches (freshed picked that morning!) and they are delicious. A few were a bit more ripe than others, and got a bit smashed just banging into each other in the bag, so CH and I were forced to eat them. Poor us (NOT!). Sweet, juicy, perfectly ripe...I didn't even mind the peach skin (I usually have to peel the fuzzy skin off...it's a texture thing). Several places had blueberries as well, but I passed on those this week. Next week I'm going for blueberries and peaches, and I'm going to buy extra so I can freeze some. Nothing like blueberries in the middle of November (the freeze very very well) and frozen peach slices on hot summer nights (better than a popsicle, really! Try it!).

On our way back to the car, we stopped to get coffee. And then we smelled it. Basil. Very fragrant basil coming from a stand just past the coffee stand. The basil smelled just too good to resist. So I bought a huge bunch (all the bunches were huge) so I have enough for my favorite summer salad (tomato, olive oil, salt, pepper, mozzarella and basil...a classic) AND enough to make some pesto. So good. My fridge currently smells like basil and it's wonderful.

After stopping off at home to drop off the dog and eat some lunch, we headed for Center City. Specifically the area around Rittenhouse Square. We were meeting up with friends for dinner in the area, so we headed over early to walk around in the gorgeous weather for awhile. We didn't have anything specific we were looking for, but the neighborhood itself is historical, and it was nice to just walk and talk and look around. Many of the row homes are historic, and some even have names like Madison, or Lexington. I don't believe I've ever lived in a house that had it's own name. There are lots of random little boutiques and shops around, as well as lots of restaurants. Every block or so we had to stop and read a menu. I love it when restaurants post their menus in the window or on a stand out front. It's like window shopping for your stomach. There was one Spanish restaurant (lots of tapas) that looked intriguing that I'm going to have to find again. My friend AH even said that she heard they have good hot chocolate and churros. After hearing that I must find it again...if I can remember the name.

For dinner we met up with AH and her husband DS at Monk's Cafe. There was a 30 minute wait for a table for four, but man-oh-man was it worth it! I had heard that they have a large variety of beer available, and their focus is on Belgian beers. They have a list of them all that is referred to as the "Beer Bible" and is cross referenced by style and country. We all decided to get a beer that is currently on their seasonal on tap menu and it was very refreshing after walking around. CH got their namesake Flemish Sour (a sour ale), DS and I both got the Geants Goliath (a Triple with a hit of fruitiness...almost peachy), and AH went for the Chimay Triple. We were all very satisfied beer drinkers.

For dinner, DS felt like being different and got a sandwich, but AH, CH and I decided to each get a side salad and to split two small pots of their famous mussels, which are served with a side of their pommes frites and bourbon mayo. We settled on their namesake Monk's and the Brussels varieties. Delicious. And decadent. They also come with a piece of bread, that we all used to soak up the liquor in the pot. What a delicious rich flavor to that broth after steeping the mussels and herbs and garlic in it. CH contemplated just pouring it into an empty glass and drinking it...but he resisted. That's some serious willpower on his part.

We declined dessert there, as we had plans to walk over to the Naked Chocolate Cafe. The weather continued to be beautiful, and as we crossed Broad Street, I looked over to see City Hall lit up, and an incredible dusky, gray blue color to the sky behind. Stunning. A nearly perfect summer evening, not too hot, people out and about, beautiful weather, brilliant sky colors...a great night to walk.

At Naked Chocolate Cafe, we scored a table, and realized we were just too full for anything beyond drinks. But that's not a loss there. Their chocolate drinks are divine. AH and DS decided to split a Frozen Drinking Chocolate, and I decided to indulge myself and get my own. We all got the Aztec variety, rich chocolate with a hint of spices, slightly frozen, with whipped cream on top. CH went for a hot chocolate, the bittersweet variety. Mmmm...yum. It was definitely an evening of a decadent dinner followed by and an equally decadent dessert.

Sunday morning CH and I slept in again and vegged out for a bit with the dog before he had to leave. He has a soccer league game this evening, so he had to take a fairly early train, which really didn't give us any time to do anything in the city. But that's OK, we enjoyed our time hanging out and just having a relaxing weekend rather than rushing all over the city playing tourist. And he'll be back...if only for the mussels and chocolate.

Playing catch up

I'm still playing catch up with my life. This post is an attempt at filling you all in on what's been happening.

This past week was the first full five day work week I've had in almost a month. And it was busy. And this next week will be just as busy. Lots of projects, lots of training. I have deadlines looming, and just don't seem to have enough hours in the day to get everything done. But, I'm drawing the line at bringing work home...for now.

We had our third work happy hour this past Friday. Yes, Friday the 13th. For a day that's supposed to be bad luck, we had excellent luck and set a new record with the number of people in attendance despite summer vacations and various conferences. We've collectively decided that we're going to hold off and do the next one in September.

I did make a decision regarding the RSVP for my friend's wedding. I'm RSVPing for one. I'm goin' in alone, people. It should be fun, as I'm fairly certain that many of the people in attendance will be people I haven't seen since I was about 10 or 11 years old. These are people I went to elementary school with, but then we moved away to another state right before 6th grade, so I lost touch with many of them. So the wedding will not only be a joyous occasion because I get to see the person I've been friends with the longest get married to a great guy, it will also be a reunion of sorts. Watch for the report after the wedding on August 4th.

I'm starting to get out more and see more of Philly, and starting to figure out what activities and area groups I want to get involved in. I'm loving the area farmers markets! I'm also thinking I'm ready to try dating again. This time, however, I think I'll try something other than online. I think I'll go the "old fashioned" route and meet people through friends and various activities. Start by meeting people face to face rather than profile to profile. We'll see what happens.

Besides the general insanity that is work this summer, life is pretty good. The dog is happy and healthy, and we're surviving the various heat waves just fine. What more can I ask for?

Weekend visitor!

I'm having company this weekend. My friend CH is visiting. Have I mentioned before how much I love company? It's such a wonderful excuse to get out and do things that you wouldn't normally do. You get to play tourist in your own city.

We don't have any plans for the weekend as of yet. Much of what we do (or don't do) will depend on the weather. If it's uncomfortably hot and sunny out (i.e. typical Philly summer day), I doubt we will go wander around the Independence National Historical Park area, which has very little shade and lots of open space. Also not a good plan if it's raining.

But there are plenty of museums and other such things. There's always the giant heart at the Franklin Institute. And there's a film festival this weekend. Or one of many farmers markets scattered around the city to wander through. And parks to explore. This is why I love living in a city, there's almost always something going on and there's plenty of things to do.

And company is the perfect excuse for another visit to the Naked Chocolate Cafe! See, CH is a foodie like I am. He loves to try new food as much as I do, whether that be at a restaurant or cooking it yourself. My talk of chocolate orgasms in your mouth has convinced him that we need to go to Naked Chocolate so he can experience it for himself. So I can guarantee the weekend will include chocolate. And probably at least one new restaurant I want to try (Monk's Cafe is on my list).

Beyond food, well, we're just going to relax and see where the mood takes us. I think that's the best plan of all.

Cool by association

My parents are divorced. They have been for quite sometime now. They also live in another country, Australia (I'll mention it from time to time). Over 10 years ago, they moved there married, and after being there for a few years, filed for divorce. They both subsequently met native Australians, and decided to stay. So my parents are permanently ex-pats now. They are both happy in their respective relationships. But it's a very odd thing to be in your mid-20s and suddenly end up with step-siblings. All of a sudden I had 2 new step-sisters from my mom's new partner, and 4 step-brothers from my dad's wife (note: brothers are a new thing for my sister and me). And it works. Everybody's happy. But I digress.

This came to mind this morning because my mom's partner is a professor emeritus of religion at a major university. He has a new book out on demonic possession. And in the course of my daily work here at the library with serials, I came across a review of that new book in a new journal title we subscribed to recently.

How perfectly random, yet so incredibly awesome to look at this academic journal, and realize I KNOW one of the big name authors who's books are being reviewed.

Guess that means I'm cool by association. Can I put that on my business card?

Which punctuation mark are you?

It's Friday. So for your random enjoyment...a quiz!

My score: I am quotation marks. Hmm...

You scored 53% Sociability and 64% Sophistication!

There is a lot more to you than meets the eye. You certainly get plenty of "action," but you'd be happier if those who lusted after you were more selective. You hate being used as a general intensifier; haven't these people ever heard of underlining? Italics? And yes, you remember the cruel words Mr. Joyce directed at you.

But you let none of this get you down; those who abuse you are destined for a "special" reward, sooner or later. You feel particularly warm toward periods, commas, exclamation points, and question marks, and usually wish to have them next to you. Parenthesis can sometimes trouble you.

Link: The Which Punctuation Mark Are You Test written by Gazda on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Fireworks!

Having a holiday in the middle of the week is just a big tease. You're left feeling like it's Monday all over again the next day AND you're left wondering what happened to the other day of your weekend. But I digress. This is not the topic of this post.

We almost didn't have fireworks in Philly for the 4th of July. It started raining in the early evening, and we're not talking about light sprinkles, but serious rain. The kind of rain that cancels fireworks displays. In fact, they told people waiting that there wouldn't be a show and to go home before 11pm. I guess they changed their minds when there was a break in the rain.

I watched the fireworks display in my pajamas while sitting in my bedroom window. [FYI, sitting on a radiator (it's in front of that window) for any length of time is just not comfortable.] I heard fire and police sirens in the background for the entire show, but such is life when people start playing with explosives (insert obligatory "it's all fun and games until somebody loses a X" statement).

Other than the discomfort of the radiator, I had an excellent seat to enjoy the fireworks. My view was pretty much unobstructed, with the exception of a few telephone poles and tips of rooftops. Having them start after 11:15pm is a bit late, and made this morning a bit more harsh than it already was since it already feels like another Monday, but the show itself was quite good. I admit I'm still partial to the shows my sister does (and yes, she's certified to work with pyrotechnics, and yes, she's damn good), but I still enjoyed Philly's fireworks.

Almost immediately after the fireworks ended, the rain started again. Timing is everything. For me, the timing was awesome. Not only did I see fireworks to celebrate the 4th of July, I had the sound of rain to lull me to sleep afterwards.

Absentmindedness

Today was one of those days that I left the house more than once. I had to keep going back to get things I had forgotten. I leave the house, with my bike, my bag, my change of clothes, etc., lock the door, all ready to go, and realized I forgot my lunch. So I unlock the door (confusing the dog), retrieve my lunch, and leave the house a second time.

This time I got a good 3 blocks away on my bike before I realized something was missing. Something didn't feel right.

I had forgotten my helmet. Sh*t.

So I turned around and went back the 3 blocks to retrieve it (and confusing the dog even more), because riding without a helmet on city streets is just plain idiotic. I also retrieved my wallet, which I need to not only get into the building at work, but to get the necessary cup of coffee to become human again. Being the thinker that I am, I had put the wallet IN the helmet last night so I wouldn't forget it. Yeah.

Clever, Shana. Clever. Good thinking.

*headdesk*

Relief...I'm allowed to leave the country again!

My passport expired in January. Now, for most of you, this is no big deal. I know some of you have never had a passport. Never in your life. Or you got one way back in high school that you have long since lost to the boxes of childhood memories in your parents' attic. Not me. I've had a valid passport since I was 16. A little over 10 years ago, my parents moved to another continent, a continent on the other side of the world. Going to visit them means I need my passport.

I have forgotten this in the past, and had to have a friend overnight mail me my passport so I could leave on a plane the following evening. I am now mildly obsessive about knowing where my passport is and making sure I have it on my person when I travel.

As those of you that read my blog regularly know, my identity was stolen this past fall. Even though I knew my passport was expiring in January, I was very very reluctant to let it out of my sight. The person that stole my identity had generated a fake driver's license, so the only photo ID I had that truly proved who I was happened to be my passport. Well, s*it. Guess it's gonna expire. I'm not happy about this, but I don't see any other option. Fortunately, most states consider an expired passport a valid form of identification for at least a year after expiration. So once it was proven that my identity had been stolen, and who I really am was firmly reestablished, and I had successfully obtained a new driver's license for Pennsylvania, I knew it was time to send in my passport for renewal.

I had no idea what I was doing, apparently. Surrendering my passport into a void. Due to the new laws that will require people to have a passport when they drive to Canada, the backlog going on at the passport agencies is out of control. When I mailed my passport in in March (to a PO box in the same building...absurd!), I was told that it would take no more than 8 to 10 weeks for a renewal. Especially since I was changing nothing. No name change, nothing. Just a new really bad picture (horrid! it's horrid this time!). Note: last time I renewed it took 3 weeks. But OK, no problem. 8 to 10 weeks it is.

They lied.

At around 12 weeks I started to panic. With your parents living in a foreign country, not having your passport in hand and knowing that you cannot get to them if an emergency arises really starts to make you nervous. So I checked online on the handy government travel site. I knew they had my passport, as they had cashed the check in mid-April. But that was still over 8 weeks ago. And no passport had been returned to me. I hadn't heard anything telling me there was a problem. The online "check the status" option just told me that they had it. No update of any use at all. OK.

At a little over 14 weeks, I tried to check back, but the website was "down for maintenance." So I decided to call. I finally go through (about a good 20 minutes on hold, mind you), and in a rather panicked voice, asked the nice lady when I would be getting my passport back as it had been almost 15 weeks and OMG do you understand that my parents don't live in this country so being with out it for very long starts to freak me out?? To her credit, she calmly asked me the info she needed to look it up in the system, acting as if she was oblivious to my shaky panicky voice, and then said, with some surprise: "Oh, it's done!"
Me: "What?? So where is it?"
Nice Lady: "They put it in the mail this morning, it should be there in 3 to 5 business days."
Me: "Oh! Excellent! Thank you very much!"
Nice Lady: "No problem. Have a nice day."

This was before the conference. I returned from the conference to a rather large pile of mail. Can you guess what I looked for first? Yup, my passport. And it was there. Bad picture and all. Thank the heavens, I can leave the country again.

I am now free to move about the world.