Knee-Deep

in boxes, that is. It's day 2 of packing for the movers, who could come anywhere between Thursday and Sunday (it's Tuesday today). Michael decided to throw a wrench in our plans yesterday by getting the flu. I took him to sick childcare (glad I remembered that that existed!). He didn't do well though and we had to go get him about halfway through our day. So, we're a little bit behind, but he's doing better and hopefully we'll catch up today. Our good friend Vern will be arriving shortly to lend a hand.

Soundtrack: Tool, U2, Police.

The MIL does not have internet access, and we're hoping to set that up for her (us) shortly after our arrival. But, if you don't see me posting for a while, you know why. California here we come!

Baseball Imitates Life

The parallels between the Pettitte deal and my own are very striking. Like Andy Pettitte, I'm leaving the only team for which I have played baseball, I mean, worked as a librarian. Family ties played a big part in my decision, like Andy's decision to go to Houston. And, it also appears that less than ideal timing on the part of the home team was a factor in both cases. There the similarities between the institution I am leaving today and the Yankees ends. While the staff here are super-talented, they don't land mega-contracts. And, I'm hard-pressed to say who our George Steinbrenner would be.

Today proves to be surreal, as the last day of employment. There are loose ends, keys to be handed over, cake to be eaten. And finally, beer to be quaffed.

Living through the Eulogy

This week has been like a living death, the way that transitions are. People telling you what they really think about you (hopefully), and asking about your plans. Reviewing all of the things you've done (or not) as you sift through papers. I'm leaving some undone tasks for my co-supervisor, which I feel bad about (kind of). Since it's the holiday season too, I've been eating lots of cake and other bad things.

On the faith path/books from dinner with Bill:

• The Postmodern God


• Postmodern Pilgrims by Leonard Sweet

Also readings by Paul Tillich and other things that David wrote down. There are so many different angles from which to approach and explore faith. I think with our academic background we're drawn to history, systematic theology, etc., but I also want to balance the head with the heart of Chrisitian living, prayer, relationships. I want to remember that I'm not hitting the books for the big test but actually have to learn and grow through living.

Goddy discovery of the day

Here it is: BasicTHEOLOGY.com - basic theology for everyone. For all of the Greek I've wanted to learn. Will check this out more another time.

Winding Down

Today is the first day of the last work week here. I'm looking forward to my daily cake, which should be brought out soon. This weekend was more wrapping up. Dinner with Pastor Bill and Sue on Friday night--some great Mexican food and conversation, from politics to family to theology/spirituality (of course). It definitely felt like an "exit interview", which was strange. It was clear that David and I wanted to get everything we could to provide fuel for us during this transition.

Saturday was Olympus Spa with Tamara and my wonderful body scrub. Thanks Bobbie! I will miss this place and will try to find something similar down in California.

Then Sunday, and our second-to-last session at church. This one's going to be hard to match. I've told so many people that if you're thinking about making a re-entry to church life, this is the place to be. These folks are the real deal, breaking through all of the religious baggage that you may have picked up along the way and might be dragging you down. We'll be subscribing to CDs of the sermons, but if we could do a simulcast we'd do it.

Yum

Jane, the other supervisor in the unit and my partner-in-crime, came to my office all serious and asking if I could come with her. "What'd I do?" I replied. Just come. "OK." She takes me to the table, where there's a chocolate cake and on the blackboard it reads "It's Lisa's Countdown in Cakes". (I had built up a reputation of being a cake-fiend). The gals are making me a cake a day until my last day. I started tearing up. And then I ate. Stuff like this makes it hard to leave a job.

Yay for Blogging Librarians

Here's a new one for professional tips for librarians. Thanks Rachel and Sarah! Beyond the Job

Nostalgic Turns

This morning I walked down the Ave, the street filled with student-budget restaurants, bookstores, coffee joints. I also stopped into one of the University's cafeterias to get a breakfast sandwich. The lady at the cash register has always amused me. She has a quick patter when she's performing her transactions. She says the figure for the cost, the figure for change and then sometimes says "see you later" really quickly. It's always struck me odd that she says "see you later"--it seems like something a friend would say, or someone you knew better. It just didn't seem like the best tag line at the end of a business transaction. But, after going there time after time, she became right, and I would see her later.

Sorting out Discipline

The moving schedule is getting tighter and tighter. Next Thursday is my last day at work and it seems like there are just too many friends to see and too much work to do to have it all happen. But it will, I know that.

Michael is in a stage of development where we're disciplining him more actively (more of a correction/redirect than physical discipline, of course). My mom was visiting this weekend, and the discussion came up of the discipline threat that worked in place of the actual discipline. For my husband and I it was the wooden spoon--it didn't need to be used, but just bringing it out and smacking it on the counter was enough to get our attention.

I also recall my grandfather's gibberish phrase--I've always wanted to trace a meaning rooted in a language--like Yiddish? (he had German roots), but no success. The phrase was "socktemelocktemeh chickamelahdemedeh!" , meaning "you're about to be in a heap of trouble if you don't stop what you're doing." Sometimes he would just shorten it and say "socktemelocktemeh". It sure did work on us.