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Thursday, October 31, 2024

Anger management

 Not sure what the Universe is trying to tell me! In the course of saying goodbye to some of the folks I work with, someone told me they will miss me including how I manage my frustration - just letting things go. What? They went on to say they kind of talks themselves down when they gets angry by thinking about me and how I handle it. This is a wild situation - no one on Planet Earth (maybe even in the entire solar system) associates me with handling frustration gracefully. Well, until now I guess. Hmmm.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Buh bye

 I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that my exit from my current employer is shockingly cold and disinterested. Not a single person I have worked with for over 3 years offered to take me out to lunch or otherwise say goodbye. There is an "official" goodbye, but my boss sent the wrong day (Tue) along with the date (Oct 30) and never issued a correction (though I mentioned the error to her). At lunch time on Tuesday, someone said something to me about the festivities later, so I finally sent out a correction myself, to clear up the confusion. Awkward af though. And wow, could you more clearly telegraph how little you give a shit about me after I put my heart and soul into this job? Just wow. When I think about how engaged I have been - instigating things, volunteering for things, participating in things. All for what?

I don't suppose this is really a reflection on me - anxiety and apathy are a growth industry at the organization. People stay in their offices, barely speak at meetings or even in the hallways. It's downright depressing. This is the perfect moment to be escaping. 

A friend asked me: "How are you doing? I know you built a life there." LOLOL. I can't wait to leave. The "life" I've been existing in here is so devoid of genuine human connection, it is stunning. Good riddance.

Monday, October 28, 2024

KCU Research and Writing Support Librarian

I had the most validating experience with one of my grad students. 

I was meeting with her about the formatting of her dissertation (several faculty members have been sending students to me for help at the very end of the process, once they realized I knew about it and was willing to help). We were discussing formatting, but also writing and organizing. 

She kept telling me how helpful I was and how much she wished she had talked to me earlier. And all I could think is THIS is going to be my FULL job in KC and I am SO ready for it. 

It felt like the Universe wanted me to know how perfect this choice is for me and how much value I will be bringing to the students and faculty there. 

Monday, October 14, 2024

Is Mercury in retrograde?

 There is just too much going on and it is affecting my effectiveness.

Story #1

The keypad on the back door stopped working. wtf? The door is unlocked all the time. I think it must be the battery, even though I put a new one in just a few months ago. I stop at Target - they have a huge battery center but no 9V batteries of course. Next day, I stop at Runnings, who just bought Home of Economy (right by my house). HoE always had pretty good prices, so I was hoping these would be good. They have regular 9V, but also the lithium for $26. I said to myself, fuck it, I might as well get the good one, since the last battery didn't even last a year and Imma boutta go away, don't want to screw my renter. Oh boy. I should have known. When I put in the new battery, I see that the little lever on the lock is tripped. I just wasted $26. Doh!

Story #2

My watch band broke. I can still wear it, but I need a new band. I ordered a new one from Temu because I try not to use Amazon (because Jeff Bezos in a bozo). Plus the band isn't expensive so I'd have to order extra stuff since I don't have Prime, and I'm trying not to order stuff I don't need right before I move. So the watch band is supposed to be delivered in a couple weeks. But then I get a notice that the delivery date has changed to Dec 13. wtf? I won't even be living at the delivery address at that point. Now I'm looking at bands on Amazon and trying to figure out what else to order to get to $35. Couple days go by and I lost my watch. Band must have broken again. I look for it in a few places, but I can't find it. I order a new watchfrom eBay. It's supposed to be delivered in a few days. Then, I found my watch in the way back of my car. ACK! Now I've got a new watch on the way, but still need a new band for the old one. Doh!

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Super hero day

So much going on right now, it's hard to get my arms around it. I have discovered that "gratitude" is not the same as "appreciation." Once I gave my notice at UND, many people had lots of nice things to say, which is great and I'm super flattered, but that certainly is not, and has not been, reflected in the meetings I've been invited to or been reflected in how much I am listened to when I have been included. 

But today was a great day! It was a 360 degree librarian day:

I started the day teaching a large undergrad class at 9 am (in-person); the tech let me down for the final exercise and I forgot something important, but I still think I killed it

Next, I did some student engagement with the College of Ed during their semi-annual HS outreach event. Not only did I kill it with the students, but I talked to relevant staff and faculty and made some great connections.

Right after this, I was covering chat and got a research question - we got onto zoom and I killed it helping this student find the right resources.

I closed out the day having a conversation about materials to buy for the children's collections that supports our goal of expanding biligual books this year.

Then I went and donated blood.

Later, I met one of the visiting fellows and helped them work through a frustrating situation they had experienced earlier in the week. I think I said all the right things and they felt better after our conversation.

So I'm feeling like a superstar librarian and generally outstanding contributing member of society. I need to remember this on the many, many days where I feel like I am wasting my time and screwing everything up.

Monday, October 07, 2024

KC Customer Service

Had a truly bizarre experience with a property manager in KC today. 

I had chosen an apt on their website, they contacted me, I said I could only do a virtual tour, and it was scheduled for today. 

This afternoon, I got a text asking me to confirm our 3 pm appt, and I replied "okay." At 3 pm, nothing happened - I didn't get a call or a link in an email or anything. 

I called the number that had texted me (Brylea) and got no answer. I called the main office number and Brylea answered. She said she usually gets a text reply that says "yes confirm" So she's mad because I only said "okay"??? 

I said something like I had expected the tour to occur on the computer and she said, "yeah we'll set up a google meet." I said "okay" and the call ended. Did she hang up on me for saying "okay" again??? 

I have no idea. She didn't call back.

This apt has been listed for over a month. wtaf? She's being this shitty to a potential renter for a place that's empty? Very worrisome if this is typical customer service in the Show Me State!

I will add that there are about a thousand apartments for rent in KC, so this is very much more her loss than mine. I think I'll write a Google review or email the company about how they lost a customer...

Saturday, August 24, 2024

1883 and 1923

 I was an early adopter when the TV series Yellowstone premiered. I loved the location and the complex storylines, especially about indigenous land reclamation and casinos. But I ulitmately only watched the first 2 seasons - as it caught on and the audience grew, the storylines got soapier and sillier.

I had no real interest in the prequel series and I didn't want to add another streaming service to my panthenon. But, on a recent flight, I watched a couple episodes of 1923 in lieu of a movie and I was kinda hooked. Paramont is only $12 a month, so I thought I could afford to subscribe for a month to catch the two series. 

I really enjoyed 1923. The cast is great and the storylines have some punch and pathos. I think the series reflects Taylor Sheridan's strengths better than Yellowstone does - his sentimentality and his poetic turn with dialog. Helen Mirren is a treasure of course, and the Montana locations are used to tremendous effect (though season 2 will be filmed in Texas due to tax incentives the production company received). In this series, the Duttons have been established in Montana and the main conflicts are between the sheep and cattle ranchers, and with the mining industry represented by Timothy Dalton (in a mustache-twirling role as Donald Whitfield). Jacob Dutton, played by Harrison Ford, is not a strong and silent pioneer hero, but a more ambiguous figure, closer to the patriarch John Dutton (the third?) as portrayed by Kevin Costner. There are also two charming romances happening in two locations, both very watchable (though it starts to become rather noticeable that, in Taylor Sheridan's universe, the only women who settle the West are stunning, ethereal blondes). The tangential story about an indigenous girl who escapes a cruel Catholic boarding school is perhaps even more compelling than the various plots involving the Dutton clan (the actress, Aminah Nieves, is incredible, I hope she finds the kind of success that Lily Gladstone has enjoyed).

Once I finished 1923, I turned with a bit of reluctance to 1883. Not sure why I thought wouldn't like it, but I couldn't have been more wrong. The macho, pioneer spirit bullshit that Taylor Sheridan worships works much better in this historical setting and the genuinely stirring voiceover by Elsa (Isabel May) lands surprisingly well. The casting is pitch perfect and the performances are flawless. The high-powered cameos add a welcome touch of fun. My only complaint is that 1883 is just too damn sad - so many people die, it's kind of exausting. I read some complaints about the historical accuracy, especially regarding the route and the geography of Texas, but those seem like minor complaints when a series is this well done. The story explores grief and love and freedom and loyalty, and asks what we owe each other as human beings. Although there are plenty of strong and (mostly) silent pioneer male heroes to go around, the story is essentially Elsa's - her perspective on the events, and the arc of her growth. The female characters in 1883 and 1923 are more rich, interesting, and fleshed out than anything I saw in the 2 seasons I watched of Yellowstone, so Taylor seems to be maturing... 

I probably should have watched the prequels in chronological order, but no matter - I'll be thrust back into 1923 next year, to find out what happens after the many cliffhangers of the final episode of the first season.