I've been Tagged!!

I've been tagged by the FABULOUS Amanda from Life and Times of a "New" New Yorker. Amanda pretty much rocks my face off!! I met her when we were both down in Denton for the Web Institute of our MLS program at UNT. We hit it off instantly, and have kept in touch over email and through our blogs. She has amazing taste in books, and I love hearing about her adventures living in New York City. Thanks for tagging me, Amanda!! =)

Ten years ago I was:

I had just finished my Freshman year in college. I would have gone home for the summer, working at a child care center. That summer I had the school age kids, and we were constantly walking around town on field trips and adventures to the pool. It was a fun job, and I LOVED those kids...wow, they'll all be graduating from high school now won't they?


What are (non-work) things on my to-do list for today?

1. Yoga
2. Make a doctor appointment
3. Buy cards and gifts for my mom and niece for their birthdays

Five snacks I enjoy:

1. Chips and Salsa
2. Fruit (lately cherries and grapes - mmm!)
3. Beef jerky
4. Veggies and dip
5. Hummus and Pita

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

1. Travel, travel, travel!
2. Volunteer
3. Buy a couple of houses (one in a tropical location)
4. Pay off debt for select family members and friends
5. Donate to charity and research

Places I’ve lived:

1. North Dakota
2. Minnesota
3. Tennessee

Jobs I’ve had:

1. Child care worker
2. Library page
3. Library technology assistant
4. Library assistant in circulation
5. Library associate in children's department

I'm not going to tag anyone, but please, if you'd like to play along, go for it!! Please leave me a comment letting me know you participated!!!

Pomp and Circumstance

Well, today is the day. I have finally arrived - I am officially a Real Librarian. The ceremony was at 9:00 this morning!!!

As you know, I decided not to make the trip to Denton, Texas to walk in the graduation ceremony. I am totally okay with that decision - I never really felt a pull to go there. It might have been different if I actually knew any of my classmates, but since I took all of my classes online, I wouldn't know anyone. Besides, my DH wouldn't have been able to go with me, my parents couldn't have gone, and I would have had to take a bunch of vacation from work.

So instead, I am sitting at work wearing my graduation gear - my cap, gown, hood and tassel. There is a beautiful balloon attached to my chair that says Congratulations! and my coworkers presented me with a card and some yummy candy! Ahh, so exciting!!!

I found this picture - some graduation tips for those who ARE actually walking graduation.


I suppose this means I have to start looking for a new job, huh? More on that later...

My poor DH has to work tonight until 10, so we are planning on celebrating later. So, instead, my friend A is taking me to Red Lobster (mmmmmm!!!), and we are going to have Bonus Night of FMRNS!! YAY!!!

Tonight's feature is the original Hairspray from 1988 with Sonny Bono and Ricki Lake. I haven't seen the new one yet, because I was told that I couldn't see it until I saw the original. I'm excited!!!

My last assignment

I just did it, Just now, about 5 minutes ago.

I turned in my last assignment for graduate school.

If you don't know, I am in my last semester in the SLIS graduate program from the University of North Texas. Before I was accepted into the UNT SLIS program, I had applied to several schools that offer the program online. I think I had received a good 10 rejection letters. It was disheartening, but I knew that being a librarian was what I wanted, and I wasn't going to let a couple 'you suck' letters get in the way of what I wanted.

Then, in April, 2006, I received my first Congratulations! letter. It was from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville SIS program. I was so excited, I couldn't contain myself!! I finally got in!!! The next day, I got an e-mail from the program. It once again congratulated me, and offered me a nice little scholarship to start my program early - meaning in May. I got all excited - and THEN I realized that the email wasn't from UT-Knoxville. It was from UNT!! WHOOOOT!!! I got into TWO schools!!!!!!

I decided to go with UNT because I could work more at my own pace. It sounded like the UT program was a requisite 3 years with multiple trips to Knoxville. And while Knoxville isn't too terribly far away - I didn't want to have to keep heading there for classes...that's what ONLINE is for!! The UNT program only took me a year and a half, which is awesome. I just figured that paying out of state tuition for half the time would equal paying in state tuition for longer - right?

I had to go to Denton once for a Web Institute and introduction to the program we use for all our classes. I also had to go to Las Vegas once for another Web Institute for different class. These trips were actually pretty fun, and while I had to pay my own way to get there, I definitely got a lot out of them. And it all worked out pretty well - the Denton Institute was over Memorial Day weekend, and the Las Vegas Institute was over Labor Day weekend, so I didn't have to take much vacation time to go! WHOOT!!

I definitely made the best decision for me. I loved my classes (which included a Storytelling class!), and had good experiences with all of my professors.

And the best part? It's OVER!!!!!!!

I won't be traveling to Denton for my Graduation Ceremony this Saturday, but I decided to order all my graduation stuff (cap, gown, hood and tassel) anyway. I actually have to work that day, so I am going to wear my graduation stuff to work!!!

I want to give a shout out to my friend Becky, who will be starting her UNT SLIS program in the Spring semester. Becky, if you need anything - let me know!!

I also wanna say whassup to my friend Amanda (from Life and Times of a "New" New Yorker) who is working her way through the UNT SLIS program! It's a great feeling to be done - and you will be there soon!!! It's TOTALLY worth it!!!!!!!

One more thing... Can I get a WHOOOOOOOOOOOOT WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT?!?!?!

*wink*

The results are in...

So, I know I just posted that my results for Capstone would be in tomorrow. But...

I checked my UNT email only to find an email that said "Preview: Your letter is in the mail" And it's from the Capstone Committee...

And without further adieu...

Congratulations! Your hard work and dedication have come to fruition. You have passed the Capstone Experience examinations. If you have met all of your other academic requirements, you will graduate in December 2007.

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!! I'm going to be a REAL LIBRARIAN!!!!!

::::::does a happy dance all around the library::::::

So, what's the grade??

While I was just checking my UNT WebCT Vista page to read up on discussion postings and print out the latest articles that I need to read this week, I decided to pop into my assignments page to see if the Strategic Planning Interview paper that was due on September 20th was graded yet. Since it was no longer in the 'submitted' box, I hastily clicked over to the 'graded' box to see what I got...

Well, there is no grade listed. There is some decent feedback about my paper, but NO GRADE. Grrr...that's frustrating, especially considering that paper is worth 20% of my final grade. I guess I'll just have to wait a little longer to find out how I did.

Here's another 'it's funny now' story for ya. After the spring semester was over, I was stalking my UNT Student page to see my final grades for the semester. I was SHOCKED to see that I had received an 'F' in my Public Libraries class. Now, seriously, I shouldn't have worried because I had gotten As on all my assignments and posted everything on time, but seeing that 'F' really freaked me out!! So I emailed the professor...then a week later, I tried calling. Then I called the SLIS office and was told that he doesn't have office hours in the summer and to email him... Well, I went around and around for 2 weeks before this professor FINALLY called me back. He said "of course you got an A!" It was just a data entry error. I told him that he gave me a few gray hairs, and he laughed at me. Then he told me that the office secretary (who I talked to at least twice), said I sounded very calm considering I was fighting an 'F.' Yes - calm under pressure!!

It all worked out in the end. Besides, I can't fail a Public Libraries class - I practically LIVE in the Public Library!!! So yeah, not so funny then, but I can chuckle about it now!

And I'm still waiting to hear about my Capstone Experience. They said I'll hear about that on October 26. I don't know if I can wait 18 more days!!!

Hell week is over!

WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

It's done, Capstone is finally done! I didn't think I would get through it, seriously. The stress, the anguish! But, it's over. I finished the reading/reviewing/revising the essays and *just* submitted them into the dropbox!!

And now, the hard part. I won't hear the results of my Capstone Experience until October 26th.

The waiting...the suspense...

And the Capstone Experience begins

I got my questions for my Capstone Experience this morning...

I had been trying to psych myself out thinking, no worries, I can make it through this, three essay questions isn't a big deal, it's ALL good!!!

Now I'm thinking...Holy Shit.

I'm glad I took a bunch of time off work, because I'm definitely going to need it.

Wish me luck, y'all.

More on Capstone

Well, it's getting close to that time. Capstone starts on Monday!!! My Capstone page opened up in my WebCT Vista page (where we do all our online class work) the other day, and I am now a little more informed about the whole process. It's still scary, but it's a little less scary now that I know what I can expect and how long the essays have to be and all that stuff.

What's crazy is that this week is just as stressful. Both of my professors scheduled a couple assignments due the week of Capstone. Seeing as how I won't be doing ANYTHING other than research, reading and writing for Capstone that week, I need to get these other assignments done before Monday.

So, I need to write a paper about Strategic Planning in my library for my Advanced Management class. I interviewed one of my favorite library administrators about her role in the process - so the information is all gathered for that, I just need to sit down and write it.

Also for that class, I need to read, oh, about 10 (really long) articles and write reflections on them.

I also need to write 2 blog posts for my Academic Libraries class. That won't be too bad - I just need to read a couple articles and write my critical analysis about them. Don't worry, I won't bore you all with those blog posts!!

In other more exciting news, I just got my Graduation Application!!! I can't believe it's so close!! In fact, the last day of the semester is less than 3 months away!! If I can make it through Capstone week, I am home free!!!

WHOOOOT WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!

My last day of freedom

This is it. Tomorrow I start my last semester of graduate school. Papers, class discussions, reading articles... Ahh, school.

It's been a pretty decent last day of freedom. I had brunch with a good friend who I haven't seen in a long time. It was great to see her and catch up a little!!! Unfortunately, 4 hours of my day were spent at work, which wasn't all that fun, but it's was busy and therefore it went by fast.

After work, I decided to be a good little wife and (*gasp*) make dinner!!! I invited the friend who I had brunch over to hang out, and got a great quick lasagna recipe from Tina (check out her blog - A Taste of Tina!). I also picked up a six pack of Corona. My friend is bringing over a lime and chocolate cake. Can you get any better than that?!

We might even get in a movie. I just checked out Zodiac from the library!!

Ahh, good food, good friends, good fun - all on my last day of freedom.

The Capstone Experience

In less than a week, I will be starting my final semester of Graduate School!!! I am taking classes online through the University of North Texas, and have actually loved (almost) every minute of it.

I have been trying to get through the program as fast as I can. Some people called me crazy when I took three classes while I worked full time and planned my wedding last fall. Maybe I was, but because I have been working my ass off, I will be able to graduate this December!! WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Just think - I will have my Masters degree in Library and Information Science! I'm going to be a REAL LIBRARIAN!!!

I don't have to write a thesis or a dissertation or anything like that. My 'last step' before graduation is called 'Capstone.' I have to write three major essays 'designed to synthesize knowledge from my coursework and educational experience.' And I have one week to do it. And this is in addition to the two classes I am taking.

I'm a little nervous about this. For one, I am not a fabulous essay writer. And these essays are going to be graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. If ONE of the three essays is rated unsatisfactory, I fail. Yikes.

The other reason that I am nervous about this is because of the 'Capstoners' before me. I have talked to other students who took Capstone in previous semesters and asked them how it went, if they have any advice or whatever they can tell me. Apparently Capstoners are sworn to secrecy because the ONLY thing they have told me is...

"They don't call it the Capstone Experience for nothing."

Great.

I just registered for Capstone this morning. My Experience will happen the week of September 17-24.

OMG - that starts in less than a month.

My first confession

Confession: I am not a real librarian.

Yet...

No, I take that back. Technically I am a real librarian. According to Dictionary.com a librarian is:

1. a person trained in library science and engaged in library service.

Well, I am engaged in library service. I have been working in libraries for 9 years. (AND, I just broke out the dictionary on your ass! If that doesn't scream librarian...) The problem is that in many library systems, to be officially called a librarian, you have to have your Masters degree in Library and Information Science. That surprises a lot of people (for instance a couple of my cute little teen volunteers - "you have to have a MASTERS degree to be a LIBRARIAN?!?!"), but alas, it's true.

I, however, am well on my way to becoming a real librarian. I have one more semester left before I can officially call myself a 'real librarian.' I hope you don't mind my premature insistence of my librarianship, as it is only a matter of time before it's for real!

Now that we have that out of the way, let me tell you a little about me.

I'm a North Dakota girl, but one of the many Nashville transplants. I've been living in Nashville for over 5 years now, and I LOVE it. It has become my home. I love my friends, my job, and pretty much everything about my life in Nashville... I will be sad when I have to leave - but more about that later.

I am recently married to a wonderful man, Scott...who doesn't necessarily agree with my Internet addictions (in fact, when I told him I was thinking about starting a blog he scoffed 'you need another Internet addiction like a hole in your head... Don't tell him I'm also thinking about another piercing). We were married in Cozumel, Mexico on November 18, 2006 in the most amazing beachfront ceremony. Ahh, paradise - I can't wait to go back!

I work as a library associate 1 (that's what they call us peons who don't have degrees) in the children's department in a large branch of my library system. I LOVE IT!!! I get to do story time for preschoolers, plan parties and activities for the kids, order books. It's seriously the best job ever, and perfect for me.

Occasionally (okay, okay, more than occasionally), I have to deal with some...interesting patrons. I'll more than likely be sharing some of those stories, along with random thoughts and more stuff about me.

I think that's enough for right now! I'm nervous and excited about blogging...I am a little worried that I won't have much to say, but I am really excited about it, too! Hope you enjoy! happy reading!