Solo

I'm a "single" Mom this week. Mies is visiting his Dad and Joan in Las Cruces, NM, prior to attending the Electronic Resources & Libraries conference in Austin, TX. Although, it has added extra to my plate, I'm a very excited that he is attending this year and am hopeful that he will walk away with some useful information and some new contacts. Plus, I'm happy that  he is spending time with his Dad and Joan. Also, while he's there, he can catch up on his reading/writing for his comprehensive exams.
I cannot say enough how proud I am of Mies. He has been working hard at home, work, school these past several years. I know it hasn't been easy for him to work full-time, help raise a family and work toward his PhD, but he is doing it! There are many times that he wants to throw it all in, but he doesn't. I know he struggles with the balancing act between the three and I try my best to cover the home detail for him, but I know I could do better.
That is another reason, I'm happy Mies attended this conference, it gives me time to get back into the home aspect. What I mean is, since I've taken the full-time Head Librarian gig at Finlandia, I've been focused on learning the job, doing my daily librarian and administrative duties (which are many), as well as meeting the goals of the strategic plan and devising a new plan for the future. This is not to say that I've haven't been helping at home or with the boys, but that with the new gig, comes new responsibilities. Working longer hours, coming home exhausted, but still being there to help with dinner, homework, baths, etc. for the boys. And cleaning the house, which I must admit is where I'm slipping, a bit. So, this week is allowing me to reevaluate the domestic side of my life. I guess, I can balance more than I thought I could. Multitasking isn't one of my strong suits, because I tend to lose focus easily and end up with many tasks that I never quite see to the end. Ok, I'm rambling...sorry.
Long story short, this week will be good for both Mies and I. But I still miss him.

Call came in..

Last Friday afternoon, I got an interoffice call telling me that the library website's databases page had been "cleaned up" and I should see how it looks. So, I went to the site, and much to the amusement of my already blooming stress headache, I noticed that the entire site, with the alphabetically listing of our databases, was GONE!!! All the links, everything.
So, I asked, politely, what happened to page and the response was, "oh, was it supposed to have more information on it?"
I politely said, "yes, but don't worry, I'll fix it."Although, internally, the conversation went a little differently.
So, alas, I started to re-create our database page, bit-by-bit. And while this was happening, the entire network crashed. No one had access to the school's website. HA! I took a deep breath and told self to relax. Nothing else for me to do. (Actually, I was stress eating at this point...not pretty).  So, by the time the site was back up, it was late Saturday. I fixed what I could from home and just told myself to wait until Monday. And I did. And I can happily say, the database information is intact, just in time for me to teach a session on business research.
Never a dull day. :)

So little time...

I was under some illusion that life would get easier as my kids got older, well...haven't seen that yet. Although, our stessors have changed, they definitely haven't gotten easier.  School-work loads are getting more intense, outside activities (the few they participate in) take away from homework time.  Even my first grader will be starting weekly spelling tests soon. That is more work, not just for him, but Mies and I too.  We need to instill good study habits for our boys...how do we do that with so little time?
It seems we get home from work, the boys work on homework, we work on dinner (even if it's a crockpot meal...still some effort has to go into this), dinner is over, a few more whiles for homework, then bed. Day in, day out.  I feel like I'm on complete survival mode and not living...image what the kids' feel like...

Weekend in Chicago!

I'm completely stoked! Mies and I have a weekend to ourselves in Chicago! It's a Christmas/Anniversary gift all rolled into one!

Before we go to see Eddie Izzard at the United Center Friday Night, we must make a side trip, on Thursday, to the In-Laws to drop off the boys and the doggies. Then very early Friday morning, we head out...should take about 7.5 hours from Garden, MI to Chicago. YAY!! (cheap accommodations...we're on a budget!)

Saturday we're going to some museums and having lunch with a fellow graduate school alumni, William Forgette. Then, another great thing, we're having dinner with Rebecca (Duff) Campbell, her hubs and Ms. June! YAY (again)!!

Did I say I was stoked??? Ok, yes, I don't get out of the UP much, it's true! Hell, going to Detroit is an exciting trip for me. Who am I kidding, going to Marquette is an thrill of a life time. So, CHICAGO, is like heaven on earth!

Speaking of Marquette, after we get back from our weekend escape, I have to turn around and head to Northern Michigan University for two days of library related training sessions. I get to meet other academic librarians, besides the staff at Michigan Tech, and introduce myself as the "new Head Librarian for Finlandia University." (or as Mies says, The University's Librarian--not to say I'm the only librarian here, but I'm the University Librarian...eck...not really used to this whole concept, yet. I hate drawing attention to myself and downplay the significance of me being in this position, but I have great plans for this library! Just don't tell anyone, okay?!?)