Goodbye to 2007

I stole this meme from Pop Culture Librarian! And like she said on her blog, feel free to steal - stealing is fun!

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
I bought a new car!!! Her name is Lexi, and she's a 2004 Buick Rendezvous!! I might blog about her soon!!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I'm not a resolutions kind of girl, so I didn't make any this year. I have however, made a book-ish resolution for next year!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
An friend of mine just gave birth yesterday, in fact!! (Congrats to J, B, and baby A!).

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Fortunately, I didn't have anyone close to me die this year.

5. What countries did you visit?
I've stayed put all year!! DH and I had hoped to go somewhere cool for our first anniversary, but it didn't work out. Hopefully I will travel out of the country next year!

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A real vacation!! I am desperate to go someplace warm and tropical!!

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory?
Um, I don't know if anything happened that was really ETCHED into my memory. There were some cool moments and some good things that happened, but nothing that intense!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Graduating from UNT with my Masters degree in Library Science!

9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't like to count failures. Like Pop Culture Librarian said, that shit is toxic.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Besides one or two head colds, I made it through unscathed!!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I'm going to have to say Lexi, my new Buick Rendezvous!!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I'm going to have to go with me - I buckled down (one of my mom's favorite phrases), and kicked myself into finishing my Masters at a pretty fast pace. I am very proud of myself and I think this is definitely a cause for celebration!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Again, I'm going to have to agree with Pop Culture Librarian - World events certainly can make my mood go over into the bad place.

14. Where did most of your money go?
To the wedding loan, and probably a bunch of crap.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I sound like a broken record, but I was REALLY excited about graduating!!!

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
One of the most stand out songs of the year for me was Umbrella by Rhianna - not that it has anything to do with 2007, nor will it specifically remind me of 2007...

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) thinner or fatter? Yeah...fatter...
c) richer or poorer? In terms of money? Poorer. In terms of life fulfillment? Richer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I always want to read more.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Stressing about things that don't matter.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with my DH, lounging, watching movies and eating a delicious meal!

21 is missing. Couldn't be bothered to stick around, apparently.

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
I was already in love (and recently married) at the start of 2007, but I fall a little more in love with my DH every day!

23. How many one-night stands?
Nope - I'm a good little married girl!

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey's Anatomy. Oh, and all those reality competitions (American Idol, Americas Next Top Model, So You Think You Can Dance, On the Lot).

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Um, what?! What kind of question is this? Well...there is one person that would be in the "I hate him" category, if I hadn't already written him off as less than pond scum.

26. What was the best book you read?
I read a lot of really good books this year. That's all you get - I'm not going to specifically answer this question!

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
My greatest musical discovery... Well, I wasn't very adventurous in my musical tastes this year. I mostly stuck to Top 40. But, when I was loading songs from some of my old CDs into my MP3 player last night, I found a CD that I hadn't heard in for-evah (The Refreshments - Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big & Buzzy). I have always loved that CD, and was excited to pop it in my player again!

28. What did you want and get?
A happy and healthy 2007.

29. What did you want and not get?
A vacation to a tropical location!

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Favorite film that was released in 2007, or favorite film I watched in 2007? With FMRNS night, I have been exposed to some amazing movies from all different decades and genres. For movies released in 2007, I don't know if I really had a favorite.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I spent most of my 28th birthday in the airport on my way back to Nashville from WeFest.

32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A vacation to a tropical location!!!

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Honestly, I don't pay a whole lot of attention to fashion. I try to look nice and wear flattering clothes, but it isn't a top priority for me.

34. What kept you sane?
My DH tends to keep me more grounded that I might be otherwise. Thanks DH!

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Ohhh, I 'fancy' Patrick Dempsey...Mmmmmm, Patrick Dempsey... *drool*

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I am definitely not going to get into politics.

37. Who did you miss?
I miss my family and friends in MN/ND...but that is going to change soon...

38. Who was the best new person you met?
All the Knotties/Nesties I met at the National DW MSP GTG in January. These ladies are some of the best people I have ever met, and I am thankful for my friendship with them every day!!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
It's not really a life lesson, but I have always believed that you can choose how you feel. I choose to be a positive and upbeat person, and sometimes that's all it takes.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Count your blessings, ignore the lowest fear. - REM, Bad Day

Final Thoughts:
Overall, 2007 was a great year. My husband and I had a great first year of marriage, we bought a car, I graduated from Graduate School. I've had happiness and health and enjoyed so many things. Sure, there were some downs this year, but nothing that I couldn't handle. I am looking forward to next year and at all the adventures that await.

Happy New Year everyone!!

A book-ish resolution

I don't usually make resolutions. When I used to make then, they were of the 'I am going to lose weight' variety and resolutions like that didn't seem to work for me.

This year, though, I want to keep better records of the books that I read. I have been keeping track of the books I read this year through GoodReads (click here for a previous post about GoodReads), but I am going to be more organized about it. I joined GoodReads not long ago, so I added all the books that I have read that I can remember, not just the ones I read this year, so it's a little jumbled. Going through my list of books that I have read, I counted around 50 that I know I read this year.

Next year, I will create a post that I'll keep updating with a list of books that I have read. Not only to see how many I read in a year, but also to see what kinds of different things I am reading. I also want to keep up with the Nest Book Club board reading list for the year. They choose books from several different genres and I think this will be a great way to expand my tastes and interests!

I'm actually excited about this resolution! I can't wait to get started!

Library question of the day

So this lady is sitting at the computer, and she's trying to work the A: drive, but that computer is weird and I pipe up and tell her where to find the drive.

Then she turns to me and says:

Woman at Computer: Can I ask you a question?
Real Librarian: Sure.
WaC: Why are people so hateful? I just got married and everyone is throwing it in my face that I only got married because I wanted a meal ticket.
RL: Uh...
WaC: They think he pays my bills, but he doesn't!! We help each other. Even my MOM has said that!!
RL: Uh...
WaC: I'm sorry to bring this on you, but I have no one to talk to.
RL: Uh...well, I'm sorry they are saying things like that, I understand how upsetting that must be. (relieved when an actual patron with LIBRARY question walks up).

Is the Librarian the new Bartender? If so, I'm glad I got my bachelors degree in Psych!

How do you find me?

I have a StatCounter on my blog that tracks things like the location of people who read my blog, as well as keywords people use when they stumble upon it.

I was shocked to see that I got a hit from Singapore, Romania, Finland and the Netherlands - all in one day!! Very, very cool!!!

Anyway, I was looking at the Recent Keyword Activity, and here are some of the searched people used to find me:

Pomegranate martini from Ruby Tuesday (mmmmmmm)

librarian unt program (it's a great program!)

being nice to the librarian (that's definitely a good idea!)

librarian scary patron stories (I have got a few of those!)

foursomes (get your mind out of the gutter!)

blogspot mean librarian (I'm not mean! Okay, sometimes...)

real confessions (that's what I do!)

office confessions tryst (well, I don't recall a tryst)

librarian boobs (Um...I don't remember showing mine off...)


Well, however you got here, I appreciate your taking the time to read my thoughts and stories!! Thank you!!!!!

A Merry Christmas break

I guess I'm taking a little time off from blogging. I'm in the middle of a 5 day weekend, and am enjoying every minute of it. All the shopping is done, all the decorations are up and all the cleaning has been taken care of!! It's great to just be able to relax!!

On Christmas Eve, a good friend is coming over for Christmas movies, Papa Murphy's Pizza and plenty of booze!! Christmas day is going to be my husband and I enjoying a quiet day full of morning mimosas, lounging around in our pajamas and eating delicious food - just the two of us! I am SO excited!!!

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!!! I'll catch up with you in a few days! =)

Take a seat

I just had to post a link to this video. A chair you can check out - and it follows you around!! I don't know how I feel about all that yet... I might be just a little creeped out by a chair following me around like a puppy!!

I found this via Library Stuff and LISNews.

Currently Reading - Audience Participation!

It's been a while since we've done a Currently Reading post! Please, leave me a comment and let me know what you are reading and what's next on your to read pile!!

Right now, I am very into The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. I really want to see the movie on the big screen, but I definitely want to finish the book first. I have had it on hold for ever, and it finally came in! I plan on getting some good reading time in this weekend - maybe DH and I can hit the movie on Sunday! Here is a review from Booklist:

In the first of a planned trilogy, Pullman has created a wholly developed universe, which is, as he states, much like our own but different in many ways--a world in which humans are paired with animal "daemons" that seem like alter egos, only with personalities of their own. The story begins at Jordan College in Oxford, where young Lyra Belacqua and her daemon, Pantalaimon, are being reared and educated by the Scholars. Although a lackluster student, Lyra possesses an inordinate curiosity and sense of adventure, which lead her into forbidden territory on the night her uncle, Lord Asriel, visits. He's there to solicit funds for a return journey to the distant arctic wastes, where he has observed and photographed strange goings-on, including a mysterious phenomenon called Dust that streams from the sky and a dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora, or Northern Lights, that he suspects is part of an alternate universe. After he leaves, Lyra finds herself placed in the charge of the mysterious Mrs. Coulter and in possession of a rare compasslike device that can answer questions if she learns how to read it. Already shocked by the disappearance of her best friend, Lyra discovers Mrs. Coulter's connection with the dreaded children-stealing Gobblers and runs away, joining a group of gyptians bound for the North to rescue missing children. Lyra has also learned that her uncle is being held prisoner in the North, guarded by formidable armored bears. Filled with fast-paced action, the plot involves a secret scientific facility, where children are being severed from their daemons; warring factions; witch clans; an outcast armored bear, who bonds with Lyra; and more. It becomes evident that the future of the world and its inhabitants is in the hands of the ever-more-resilient and dedicated Lyra. A totally involving, intricately plotted fantasy that will leave readers clamoring for the sequels.

Next up is Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards. I'm reading this for a new book club I have joined and I am really excited about it!! Here is a review from Publishers Weekly:

Edwards's assured but schematic debut novel (after her collection, The Secrets of a Fire King) hinges on the birth of fraternal twins, a healthy boy and a girl with Down syndrome, resulting in the father's disavowal of his newborn daughter. A snowstorm immobilizes Lexington, Ky., in 1964, and when young Norah Henry goes into labor, her husband, orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Henry, must deliver their babies himself, aided only by a nurse. Seeing his daughter's handicap, he instructs the nurse, Caroline Gill, to take her to a home and later tells Norah, who was drugged during labor, that their son Paul's twin died at birth. Instead of institutionalizing Phoebe, Caroline absconds with her to Pittsburgh. David's deception becomes the defining moment of the main characters' lives, and Phoebe's absence corrodes her birth family's core over the course of the next 25 years. David's undetected lie warps his marriage; he grapples with guilt; Norah mourns her lost child; and Paul not only deals with his parents' icy relationship but with his own yearnings for his sister as well. Though the impact of Phoebe's loss makes sense, Edwards's redundant handling of the trope robs it of credibility. This neatly structured story is a little too moist with compassion.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

In other news, I got free passes to an advanced screening of the movie The Kite Runner, which opens in theaters tomorrow. This is based on the book by the same title by author Khaled Hosseini. I thought it was an amazing book, and am looking forward to seeing the movie!!