Library Shenanigans

Once upon a time, I was a full-time grad student.

That time has passed.

Now I just have to write a thesis. Which I haven't touched since May 2012.

Yep. May 2012.

I've been making my way to the library off and on these past few months to finish up research and data collection of the mammoth thesis project. And I've noticed a few things.

1.) Dragon necklace guy behind the counter should know by now that I ask for the same crap every time I come in there. I'm pretty sure zero people come in there and ask for 1966, 1968 or 1970 microfilm of the Arkansas Gazette and the Arkansas Democrat. Plus I look the same, give or take. T-shirt. Messy bun. Yoga pants. You'd think by now he would know that I KNOW how to work the microfilm machine. But every time dragon necklace asks me if I understand how to use it. I always nod and politely say yes unfortunately I'm very familiar with it. Come on, dragon necklace. Get it together.

2.) If you stay in the library long enough, you will catch yourself singing out loud to whatever song is blasting through your earphones. Today I caught myself singing Bruno Mars' Gorilla. Probably not library appropriate....but hey, they can't arrest me.

3.) You know it's time to leave the library when you start texting people in headlines and you think it's funny. It's not funny. It's sad. Very sad. Today's headline read Disgruntled grad student demands caffeine in library. Luckily, I have good friends that actually laugh instead of not ever talking to me again. I went home after that.

But I'm pleased to say I have only nine more months of newspaper coverage and editorials to sift through before I can start writing again. So if I gave 8-9 days to the library, that can all be over. And then I'll never have to see dragon necklace again.....or until I need to check out 498734985723974 books for said thesis writing.

Things are coming along.

I don't want to toot my own horn or anything. But I think it's going to be a nice piece of literature. Something I will be proud of.

I say that now.

Fun Day Friday

• My mom got this little running girl sticker for me when she went to St. Louis. I think she's precious, and her purple headband is the best. I love purple. I think running stick girl goes nicely with my run sticker I got in New Orleans.
• Speaking of stickers, I'm saving the other side of my back window for my 13.1 sticker. As of December 1, I will have one of those beauties on my car. And I get to check something off my bucket list.
• I've decided my only distractions I'll have from working from home will be unlimited access to my refrigerator and the ability to make endless cups of coffee.
• I am thinking it's time to break out my top 5 Christmas movies. Asher's been quoting Christmas Vacation for weeks now, and it's starting to get to me. I'm trying to hold out until Thanksgiving, but let's be honest....you and I both know I'll cave before then.
• Mark it down. October 26. The first time I mention Christmas on the blog this year. Two months away....I can't believe it didn't happen sooner.
• Boom Kinetic is playing two nights in a row here in Little Rock. I've waited years for such goodness to happen. There's rumors of a guest list for tomorrow night. Trying to figure out how to get on it. It would just add to the goodness.
• I'm in the market for some chunky sweaters and smoking loafers. Any suggestions on where I should go to get these items? I need something trendy in my wardrobe right now. Maybe a sweater with elbow patches. And definitely some leopard print smoking loafers.
• Once Upon a Time and Pretty Little Liars has taken over my free time. Netflix has been good to me recently. I think it's trying to make up for the time it took away The Biggest Loser without my knowledge. And don't judge me for Pretty Little Liars. It's a good show. I think I'm in love with Ezra Fitz. He's cute in that nerdy smart guy kinda way.
• I picked my 13-year-old cousin up from the junior high the other day. And then I kidnapped her and made her help me recycle some magazines. She tries to pretend like I'm not cool anymore, but deep down I know she loved it. Am I cool enough to make recycling fun? It's questions like that that keep me up at night.
• I need to get the new Mumford and Sons and the new Taylor Swift. My musical life is suffering. I am behind. I feel bad about it. And you can hate T. Swift all you want, but she means it when she sings. She means it. (My love of Mumford should help me keep some cool points, right?)
• Who says cool points? I need to be slapped.

Have a great Friday. Rock on!

Fun Day Friday: Funnies

Every time I write a blog post, I e-mail pictures from my phone to myself so I can post them. In the subject line, I just type random letters so I don't get the dreaded there-is-no-subject-do-you-want-to-send-it pop-up. And sometimes the random letters are autocorrected into something awesome.

That was the case today. kdhaldjhdl turned into Highballing. #perfect

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I went on a winter squash buying rampage yesterday. And I have to tell you I had a butternut squash before I got all this. It's fall, y'all. Get some squash. Roast it and love it.

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I stole this photo from Arkansas Outside. I laughed a lot when I saw it so I had to share it.

I also found this on Pinterest and sent it to the roommate.

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I'm prepping to see Needtobreathe next Tuesday. We all know how much I love them. And they are coming to Little Rock to play a show. We have fourth row tickets. HOLLLLLLAAAAA!!!!

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While eating burrito bowls on the patio of Chipotle's, a little girl, no more than two years old, tried numerous times to climb the metal fence and run out in the street. Her parents were trying to eat dinner while her older sister was shaking the umbrella attached to the table.

As they were getting ready to leave, the pregnant mother was carousing the umbrella shaker and the dad was going after the fence climber. I made a comment to the dad about how she was trying to break out of jail.

He said, "Don't have kids til you get a Taser." I, of course, laughed out loud. Then he threw in "...and ear plugs." as an afterthought.

Best advice ever. Taser and ear plugs.

Oh, How I Love the Little Things

Every morning when I get to work, my co-workers and I talk about how hungry we are. This morning was more of the same. Direct quote from Tiffany, my aquarius co-worker sister: "I'm hungry....what sounds good? IHOP...french fries....BLT? I'm just saying."

As she leaves the room to go make copies, she says "When I get back we're going to IHOP!" Like we can just pick up and leave on a lunch break at 8:15 A.M.

While she was having this monologue, I started to get tickled. And she had no idea what I thought was so funny. And to tell you the truth, I have no idea what was so funny. It was just the simplicity of the moment. The fact that everyday we have this conversation.

I have come to the realization that moments like that are what keep me going. My stress level has been outrageous the past couple of weeks. And I'm sorry about that because it means you, as a reader, get the brunt of the stress via word vomit on this blog.

But I've noticed a lot of little things that I would normally overlook, and I've laughed at mundane things or words that would usually have no effect on me.

Por ejemplo, for the past two or three drives to Little Rock I've noticed how BEAUtiful the sky, water, and mountains are when driving over the 430 bridge. Most days I would be concentrated on not having a wreck or keeping my blood pressure in check due to the horrid traffic, which is common of my daily commute.

First, I blame Spring because the trees are all green and pretty. Then, the sun because it shines on the trees and water. And then, Pinnacle Mountain because it is all regal in the early morning sunshine.

It's like an split instant when coming over the bridge that my brain says to self "Hey, would you just look at that. I mean really just look at it. That is so pretty. I am lucky to be here in this moment and see this sight." And then it is back to not having wrecks and not screaming at cars as the slam on their brakes.

Sunshine on the mountain tops and water. So simple. So ordinary since it happens everyday. Yet completely perfect. Makes for a better drive and a better morning.

My favorite thing that happened yesterday was a story my roommate told me about her trip to the bank. So the girl needs new check with our new address on them. What does she do?

She drives through the drive-thru at the bank and says, "So I need to order some checks, but I don't know how to do that. So do I just do that here, or do I need to come in?"

Ladies and gentleman, my roommate in her finest moment. Dead serious. I laughed so hard. She is the only human I know that would go through the drive-thru to get some new checks. Did it work out for her? Yes. Is it still funny? Yes.

This are the kinds of moments I get in the course of the day. Sometimes the moments are big profound Ah-Ha moments. And other times they are joyously funny moments from stories you hear. It's all about what take the stress level down to a manageable level.

Challenge of the day: Take note of one mundane thing that is brought to your attention that normally wouldn't be. Or what one thing made you laugh so hard that you felt instantly better.

It's these moments in life that keep you alive and going. Cherish them for the simple fact that they put things in a perspective that you can understand. It's moments like these that shape you into who you are and show you what you CAN appreciate. It may be a sunrise, or it may be something else. Let the moments wash over you...Trust me, you will like it. Because when they come, it's like a breath of fresh air.

Let me know what moments you find today. I hope they are simple enough, yet have a profound affect on you. Get out there and take it in.

Until next time...