June in Pictures

Yup... I definitely fell behind!

Work.

Danielle and Kyle's wedding.

Grandma's birthday dinner.

Sir Genbu.

2012 NAMI Valley Walk

This past Saturday, Scotty, our friend Joe and I participated in the 2012 NAMI Valley Walk, a walk for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

The NAMI Walks are set up to raise funds for awareness of mental illness and what's required to treat it and help people recover from or handle it. Scotty works for a behavioral health company, and his company contributed a large group of walkers. It was a nice fall day - a little warm but with plenty of shade and water available. There were two walks - a 1.2 kilometer and a 3 kilometer. We did the 1.2 because I had brought Raiden along and I was a little worried about him walking the whole way (turned out to be a good idea - he was pretty tired by the end).

Some pictures...


Us in the parking lot, before the walk.


Raiden enjoying the shade (he was such a hit with everyone, and a real sweetheart).


Me with Raiden - taken by one of Scotty's coworkers.


Us after the walk - in front of the Arizona State Capital Museum building, which is absolutely gorgeous!
I had a lot of fun and now have definite plans to return to the Capital Museum and check it out. I ducked in there to check it out briefly and loved it - I'm a history geek and I love Arizona so it was heaven for me.

Looking forward to the 2013 walk!

Wednesday Hodgepodge, 5/23/12

1. What's something you miss about the 80's? If you're too young to miss the 80's how about the 90's?
I was born in 1986 so too young to remember the 80s much at all. Something I miss from the 90s though... Nickelodeon shows. Doug, All That, Rugrats, Clarissa Explains It All (she seemed so old and wise to me! haha), The Amanda Show. I love that they are showing them on tv again.

2. Do you have a library card? If so, how often do you visit?
I do indeed have a library card. In fact I work for a public library. Haha. So I am there 4 days a week (10 hours a day). The library I work for is pretty awesome.

3. What's the secret to success?
Motivation.

4. This is National Backyard Games week...what's your favorite backyard game?
I am not sure... I like playing bocce on the PlayStation 3 so maybe I would like it in real life.

5. If I dropped by today what would I find on your coffee table?
Oh gosh, it's a mess. There is a blanket on there, a pile of papers, the remotes... probably some random things I am forgetting.

6. Do you own a bicycle? When was the last time you rode a bicycle? Is that something you enjoy?
We have bicycles, and I actually love bicycling, but we haven't gone out to do it in quite awhile. It's one of my favorite active things to do though. Much better than just walking everywhere. Haha.

7. What's your favorite cheese?
Dubliner.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I'll share a picture of us. We just had our fourth wedding anniversary (nine years together on the 25th). Love this guy.

Keep your attitude bright

I love my job, but I don't always love the "customer service" aspect of it. My job is working as a library clerk at a public library. I love so many things about it and I'm really happy with the niche I've worked out over the past five years there, and the projects I get to do. About half of my time each week is spent working at the public desk where I check out books, take fines, help with reference questions, etc. A million and one things to do. And people are not always happy. I'm an introvert myself and I find it difficult to speak to so many strangers every day, but it's part of my job so I do it. I get talked down to, yelled at, sworn at, and treated like basically any other person people think is below them.

Saturday was like that. After three people all in a row who were very unhappy - one I had to call a supervisor out for, and two just generally miserable people - I was feeling fairly unhappy myself. I've heard everything about how they must be having a bad day, but I don't take it as an excuse. No one needs to push their bad day onto someone else, and making someone else feel bad does not help anyone feel better.

Towards the end of the day, I was still feeling pretty down, but just trying to get through. Then an older lady came to the desk, talking away, chattering on about this and that; she wanted a library card. I got her signed up for one, and she kept chattering. I couldn't really hear her very well, so I smiled and nodded, and tried to listen as best I could. She told me about always losing her wallet, how she was going to the movies with her sister, and how her sister was insisting they go out to eat and she hardly ever goes to restaurants anymore. Then she said, "Oh, there's no charge for a card? Well, at least let me give you this."

We can't take tips and the majority of what patrons give me is either trash (without a word of explanation!), candy, or religious brochures or cards trying to convert me. This wasn't, though. It was a simple little poem printed in the same design as the business card she had handed me that showed her address on it. (A lot of winter visitors or RVers have business cards printed up with contact information to pass on to people.)




I liked it a lot and thanked her, and she told me I have a great attitude and a wonderful smile.

It was just what I needed to hear that day and I put the card up in my cubicle.

Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of kindness and it helps someone feel so much better.

Learn Something New Tuesday 7/26/11

 

1. Do you travel for work?  If so, do you travel far?
Nope, I don't have to travel and I am glad I don't. The most I have had to travel is down to Phoenix for various workshops or to Florence for the same thing.

2. How long have you been at your current job?  Do you plan on staying there for awhile?
I've been at the library for 5 years. I do plan on staying there for awhile - it is a great place.

3. Do you have a favorite movie that you could watch a zillion times and still not get tired of it?
Hmm... well, I rarely rewatch movies, so I'm not sure, but I know I can watch Wall-E, Moulin Rouge, and Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure over and over. Oh, and for some reason I always catch 13 Going on 30 on TV, and it's a surprisingly rewatchable movie, too.

4. Do you have an all time favorite tv show? (Can be cancelled or still running)
Well right now it has to be Doctor Who. Scotty and I have been catching up on the new series and I just love it. In the past though, when I was a teenager, I was a big Star Trek, I Love Lucy, and X-Files fan.

5. What kind of cake would you like for your birthday?
A home-baked cake! Any kind of homemade cake, I love. I'm not a big fan of store cakes with the bland cake and artificial-tasting frosting. A big favorite of mine is chocolate cake with cherry icing.

6. Name three of your pet peeves
One - People who think it is okay to be rude to others because they are in a retail/service type position. It is not okay to be rude to anyone, ever. I don't care if you forget what they looked like the minute you walk out the door, at the very least, acknowledge them and be polite. (Yes, this one comes from work.)

Two - People who make up scientific facts or statistics. I get this a lot in comments on my hearing loss blog. People post comments anonymously and throw out completely random numbers and totally false information for no reason.

Three - People who discuss politics on Facebook. (In particular, the posts where they seem to think everyone they're friends with thinks the same way, so they can be as rude as they want.)

A Breath of Fresh Air

I met somebody today who really brightened up my day. A library patron, just before I was due to go home. I was only at work for a half day today due to coming in during the holiday weekend to empty the bookdrops. She asked for my help with a couple things, and then she told me, "You're so nice! You're just so nice."

Her attitude was SO refreshing. I deal with a lot of people every day, people who run the gamut to very friendly like her, to downright angry and mean. I have come to see that a lot of people view coming to the library like waging some kind of battle. They don't understand the system of fines, how to use the computers, how books are organized, et cetera, so they see everything about the library as a challenge, and that includes staff. I feel bad for these people because a little understanding goes a long way in a library setting. Since I listen to complaints, anger and frustration all day long, talking to someone like this lady is a breath of fresh air.

I have been trying to focus lately on being a fresh breath of air myself. I am shy, so I am not about to go around talking to people a whole lot, but there is a lot during daily interactions that can be improved, without me thinking about it much. Eye contact, smiles, thank you, hellos. The bagger at the grocery store today had a button that said to be patient, he is hearing impaired* and I signed "thank you" to him along with speaking it, after I saw that the cashier signed a bit to him, as well. His smile made me smile. There is a lot we can do to spread kindness. I just have to remind myself to do it, because if it makes me feel good I know it makes other people feel good.

Have a great day!

*I could use a button like that myself, although I might change the wording.

Overlord Award

My friend Jennifer at What Would Jen Do awarded me the Overlord Award! Thank you, Jennifer!

To play, I must change three things, any three things I want, so I'm going with....

1. I would snap my fingers and make pigeons hate my house! Seriously, right now they love my house and I don't know why. I don't mind birds, but pigeons are so big and loud and messy. And they are soooo not afraid of anyone!

2. The city I work for would suddenly get a bunch of money. Maybe some anonymous donor or inheritance. It is such a good city with great programs. They deserve moolah they can do stuff with, and not to have to take the cost saving measures they have needed lately.

3. The Doctor from Doctor Who would be real! I just started watching the show with the new season that started this year. Now that it's on hiatus Scotty and I are catching up by starting with the 'new' first season with Christopher Eccleston. We just finished it the other day and are moving on to season two with David Tennant. I gotta say I really liked Eccleston! Either way wouldn't it be awesome if there really was a Tardis and time traveling and other worlds and dimensions? Cool stuff...

Anyway, I am going to give this award to the following people:

1. Arizona Writer
2. Caris O'Malley - okay, so I was waiting for a better award to give him (mainly one with princess graphics and sparkles, ideally), but mostly I just need an excuse to tell you guys to buy his awesome book: The Egg Said Nothing.
3. life and love and wings

Learn Something New Tuesday - 5/3

This is Learn Something New Tuesday... with six new questions every Tuesday to answer.

1. Have you ever gone swimming in the moonlight?

Yes - in my in-laws' pool. It's really nice.

2. In your whole house, what room do you stay in the most?

That would be a toss-up between the den (which has the computers and Loki and Genbu) or the living room. Although, of course, the bedroom would probably win since sleeping takes up so much time!

3. How much time do you spend on computer a week?

Oh... a lot. Especially if you factor in being on the computer at work.

4. If a stranger gave you a cookie, would you eat it?

No. I'm a little too paranoid for that.

5. What’s one thing you’re looking forward to?

The rest of this week (I have the week off work), and the Pet Expo on Saturday.

6. If I say “psycho”, who is the first person that comes to your mind?

A certain few members of the public who utilize library services...

Something to cheer me up!

Yesterday was a long day. By the end of it I found myself wishing I had a little chameleon, like Pascal in Tangled, to do some butt-kicking for me.



Unfortunately, not only do I not have a chameleon, but they frown on butt-kicking at public libraries, even if you work there.

Luckily I found something else, by my front door, to take my mind off the long day! My prize from Aaron Zenz's Chuckling Ducklings giveaway had arrived!

The packaging was super cute with the duck quacking my address:




And here's my sketch:





Thank you, Aaron! Be sure to check out Aaron's blog Bookie Woogie for wonderful kid reviews of books!

DePhoMo 17-21

This should have been posted on the 21st! I totally forgot about it.




DePhoMo 17 - My favorite picture from our visit to the Wildlife World Zoo on the 17th.



DePhoMo 18 - I took this earlier this month but never shared it. Cheyenne sleeping on our bed.



DePhoMo 19 - I also took this earlier this month. I got this advance copy of Wither by Lauren DeStefano in the mail totally randomly. I really need to get started on it!



DePhoMo 20 - My cute little reading owl at work.



DePhoMo 21 - At work we had a "Decorate a Stocking" contest and I came in 2nd place with my drawing of a cow. (I'll have to take a picture of it.) I won this musical rocking horse! Sorry about the busy background; I wanted a picture after I had unwrapped it at work.

DePhoMo 8

Another Loki picture! I knew my DePhoMo was going to feature this lizard a lot. He is in his absolute favorite spot in the room, the windowsill, staring out. The blinds broke the blinds a few months ago so they have to be propped up on that lamp (from IKEA) if Loki wants to look out.

I picked up Scotty yesterday from his business trip. He had a good time, and he absolutely loved the plane rides (it was his first time on a plane). We went to Red Robin to have dinner. It was a nice time.

I'm hoping to go to the mall this weekend and knock out the last of the Christmas presents. I thought I was almost done but I have to buy for the kids, our cousins. That's okay, that will be even more fun than buying for adults. I just need to resist buying Epic Mickey for myself. It looks like so much fun.

DePhoMo 7 + Gooey Chocolate Butter Cookies Recipe

DePhoMo is December Photo Month! Share a photo every day in December.





THESE ARE DELICIOUS.

One of my coworkers made them and brought them in, then gave us the recipe. It is from Paula Deen. Hers came out more dense and almost deliciously brownie-like, but mine came out wonderfully light and delicate. Here it is:

Gooey Chocolate Butter Cookies
1 8-ounce block of cream cheese at room temperature
1 stick of butter at room temperature
1 egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 18-ounce box of moist chocolate cake mix
Confectioners' sugar

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in the egg, then the vanilla extract. Finally, beat in the cake mix (this will be the trickiest part, but just keep going!). Cover the dough and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Roll the chilled batter into balls about the size of a teaspoon and roll them in the confectioner's sugar. Place them on an ungreased cookie sheet aobut 2 inches apart.

Bake 12 minutes. They should come out looking a little gooey in the middle. After they are cooled, you can add more confectioners' sugar if you want to.

DePhoMo 5 & 6

DePhoMo is December Photo Month! Share a photo every day in December.

(I forgot I never shared #5! So here they both are in the same entry.)



 Loki, again... he is sitting on his worm dish. He has a fondness for putting his tummy on round things like his thermometers and worm dish. I just love how rotund it makes him look! He gained 23 grams this week. :)

Scotty leaves for his business trip to Texas today. He'll be back tomorrow night. Since it seems like he might have to make these short trips a few times a year, we bought him a carryon bag yesterday and I couldn't resist this cute luggage tag from Target.

I made delicious cookies yesterday (I'll share the recipe tomorrow with a pic for DePhoMo) and yummy dinner (that recipe will be upcoming, too). This morning Scotty and I are going to get breakfast before I go drop him off at work. His flight leaves later this afternoon.

DePhoMo 4

This is the tree the Friends of the Library put up at work.

DePhoMo 2

First morning's light...




I just got back from dropping Scotty off for his business trip to Sierra Vista today (I took the above photo in the parking lot of the rendezvous point with his ride), and a little bit of Christmas shopping. I made the mistake of going to Kohl's. They have so much cute stuff there this year, I can't resist. I got some fun things there. It's so much fun shopping for other people.

30 Day Challenge - Day 9

I'm still trying to get over my stupid cold. :( I don't think it's ever going to go away, and my chest and tummy and throat feel so yucky. Ugh.

(See here for the complete list of days & questions.)

Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days

I helped out with the teen Halloween event for work on Tuesday and it was a lot of fun. I'm proud of the "Horror Movie Trivia" sheet I made, with 10 questions about recent (and a few older) horror movies. Zombieland, Shaun of the Dead, Carrie... they were all covered and it was great.

30 Day Challenge - Day 8

(See here for the complete list of days & questions.)

Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why 

(Wish I could remember where this came from)

Hmm, well, there are only 11 days left in October, so I don't have much time to complete any "goals," but here's what I hope to have done by the end of the month.

• See UFC 121 this Saturday
• Add more money to savings with Scotty's paycheck next week
• Pay the old Sprint bill next week
• Get into the housesitting routine
• Work on my epic "monster vs monster" idea inspired by Dan & Scotty
• Get the library's Facebook fans up to 100

I'm sure there's more I want to get done, but that's all I can think of right now.

30 Day Challenge - Day 5

(See here for the complete list of days & questions.)

Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to

Another excuse to go through my Photobucket! I know it says "a" picture, but why include just one when more is just more fun?

So here we go. Here I am at...

...a Suns game with Alicia and the gorilla!

...a Relay for Life event watching my brother PJ play!

...Schnepf Farms in front of pretty spring blossoms!

...a convention!

...Toy Story 3 in 3D!

...work!

...a family reunion!

...the yearly Geocaching event my father-in-law puts on, stuck on a cactus!

That was fun... and definitely took my mind off the cold/sinus infection/weird head thing I have going today.

30 Day Challenge - Day 3

(See here for the complete list of days & questions.)

Day 03- A recent picture of you and your friends

I had to look through my Photobucket album for this one. Here's what I came up with... (yep, more than one picture, I consider my family my friends, and I'm not in all of them)...

Me with Scotty, Alicia, and Chris

TJ, PJ, Ashton

TJ, PJ, Candice

Me & my mom

Me & my grandparents & Uncle Lonnie

My in-laws

Me with my in-laws and Scotty

And finally, me with my coworkers!