7 Quick Takes Friday

1) On Wednesday this week, it was 60 degrees.
On Thursday, it rained all week.
This morning, it was predicted the rain would turn to snow in the early morning hours.

I woke up to sunshine. Now I certainly don't complain about sunshine--it makes a much nicer commute than snow. But it is winter, so I wouldn't mind a little snow. On the other hand, moving in snowy weather wouldn't make it any more enjoyable.

2) The move to the new house has slowed significantly since Thanksgiving. At most, we've moved 2-3 boxes at a time of things that we need at the new house--food, flatware, cook ware, bathroom essentials. I'm going to be working until 7:30 tonight. I think JM's moving goal for tonight is to get the computer moved (we are scheduled to have Internet installed tomorrow). I think my goal for moving this evening is to get laundry stuff moved--laundry detergent, fabric softeners, bags of dirty laundry that haven't been moved yet, maybe even some more of the clean clothes still hanging in our closet.

3) At work, for me, the semester is wrapping up. Students are studying hard and going into their first day of final exams. I'm losing one of my part-time employees at the end of the semester. That will make next semester very interesting and challenging.

There was a meeting about renovating the library this summer, including a set of stairs to connect the two areas of the library. While it was hopeful, it is still very tenative, as no funds are available at this point.

4) Christmas shopping is ....going. I could add slowly and it wouldn't be unreasonable. I did start making a list this week of what we have, what we plan to get, and what we still need and the list didn't come out as bad as I was afraid it would. I think SR is the one we are really the most stuck in trying to find a gift. SR, what do you want for Christmas?

5) Megan wrote about the emotional challenges of establishing and accepting new traditions. My first reaction was, "I haven't had that problem." But I probably have. I've just been more in denial. We've never put anything that looked like a real tree, just a metal frame that we called a tree. And we haven't even put that up yet this year. Maybe we'll make a point of putting it up this weekend while Jer is visiting. JM also picked up an advent calendar and we haven't opened a single window on it yet. My excuse for the bad tree is that we spend Christmas in Kansas with my family, so what's the point of putting so much work into a tree at our house? But that excuse won't hold up forever. Then I'll really have do deal with the idea of establishing our own traditions.

6) Megan's post also got me to thinking about how so many transitions in life take a while to "feel real." While in grad school, I wrote a short piece trying to explain how I felt. I contrasted the little girl inside who felt unsure trying to join a new group of friends with the adult who was trying to appear confident while learning so many new things and meeting so many new people. There are other points when in the early days, weeks, or months of a change, it didn't feel real--becoming a librarian at PHC, assuming the responsibilities of the director, starting to date, getting engaged (I think this one took the least time, as people wouldn't let me forget :), getting married, becoming a homeowner (some days that still doesn't feel real). But all I can do is act on what I know is fact and meet the responsibilities set before me as best as I know how and continue to trust that the emotional/feeling aspect of it will catch up eventually. When it does, I won't feel as much like a fraud or pretender.

7) In case you haven't caught them yet, JM did post pictures of our new house on his blog.