giveway

ok, so i didn't move this weekend - my key didn't work in my new place so i went to pennsylvania. anyway, that's good news for this blog because i'll be updating rather than packing. i've managed to put the majority of the things i own into the middle of the room so i can't walk around at all-- that means, if i leave this computer, i'll have to pack and move - and i'm in no mood for that. so, i'll take brad up on his shout-out.
Three nicknames that you have had:
1. johnstone
2. chatty cathy
3. katty

Three things you like about yourself:
1. my sharp, well-disguised wit
2. my ability to nap at any hour of the day
3. my stellar waitressing skills

Three things you don't like about yourself:
1. my ability to nap at any hour of the day
2. my subscription to blockbuster online
3. my unnatural attraction to mediterranean food

Three things that scare you:
1. revolving doors
2. conservatives
3. tiny modern dinosaurs (aka birds)

Three of your everyday essentials:
1. working
2. procrastinating
3. taps

Three things you are wearing right now:
1. my sweet new asics
2. thrift store t-shirt
3. pin-stripe pants

Three of your favorite bands growing up:
1. michael jackson
2. marlo thomas & friends (free to be you and me)
3. pennywise

Two truths and a lie:
1. i'm about to cut off my foot
2. i already cut off my foot
3. my whole body is happy to see that foot go

Three things you can't do without:
1. npr
2. all my buddies
3. apparently, my foot

Three things you most certainly can do without:
1. boxes for packing
2. underwear
3. bills

Three places you want to go on vacation:
1. vegas
2. luxembourg
3. nyc

Three things you want to do before you die:
1. move out of this apartment
2. pay back some loans
3. make a serious dent in my "to read" list

Three people you want to know these things about:
1. erin
2. a. todd - eternal reader/never writer of blogs
3. you

Saving all the waitresses 'cause they've all got longing in their eyes,
The little acorn becomes the mighty oak
The oak throws its seeds into the sky
Drive your car up to the pole
That's as far as you can go
Take your coat off when you know
To warm your bones in the northern snows
Drop a feather in the water
What the ocean gives the sky will take
Killing swans with twenty one guns
Just to see them fall into the lake
When you're driving up the coast
To your left is a black mass
Drive your car until you see
To wet your tongue with the salty sea
Float your paper boat up the creek
Watch the waves from its wake
Killing swans with twenty one guns
Just to see them fall and see them break

by Eric Johnson (Fourteen with a Beard Music/BMI)

ah, i can't wait...

i was just taking an awesome nap when i woke up to repeted honking. i looked out my window to see that one of my neighbors had given a small child the remote to his car to play with while he talks on the phone. i think i only heard her hit the 'panic' button a few times. who would ever think that is a good idea? dont they know people are take their 4pm naps?!

that is how curtis and i were greeted upon our arrival to the club quarters in chicago last weekend. we headed down for the ALA annual conference. from what i hear, the conference was pretty good, but i can't comment myself because i only made it to two meetings, the first of which was sunday night and the second monday afternoon. oh, by far the best conference related activity though, was the "book cart drill team" for those of you who are not so library-hip as i, book carts are those carts that library employees use to stack books on and wheel them around to the shelves. so, picture this: 'teams' of library employees dressed up in bright colors and sparkles performing their routines choreographed to music. it was classic and i wasn't sure if my unabashed laughter was quite appropriate amidst the cheering fans - but that is just something i can't stop.
chicago as a whole was a great time - i made it (on one of my "should be at the conference but am not" days) to the taste of chicago, navy pier, a long walk along the lake and millennium park. it was a great time and made me seriously consider chicago as a spot to move post-graduation. its a great city, close to home and seems to have tons to offer - and lots of flowers.
friday night of my trip i took the train up to wisconsin for my mom's birthday party and after i arrived at the train station i was greeted by my lack of planning so i hung out there until i could recruit my cousin nick to come and pick me up - he graciously came - and quickly.
the next evening was my mom's party so we spend the day getting ready by spreading 50's paraphernalia all over the house. i also took a while to 'repair' the poodle skirt my mom made me - she was inspired by a picture to put a larger-than-life banjo on my skirt with some music notes... although it was nice of her, the poodle skirt itself is not my style so me in a poodle skirt with a giant banjo on it is surely not my style. ellen and i did some emergency repair and i hit the scene with a bowling/poodle skirt. not too bad. the party was a good time but sadly i had to take off pretty soon after - but it was nice to be home for 24hours.
so anyway, i'm back in syracuse now and have a few exciting things going on. i'm moving this weekend - well, i'm moving tomorrow - but i haven't packed a thing yet. i suppose that will be today's activity. yesterday i also got offered my teaching job for next semester. i'm not totally sure i want to do it, but i should keep in mind it would be much easier next time around since i have taken so much time this semester to get used to how to teach and planning so many lessons... it's possible. we'll see what happens.
ok, that may be enough bullshit from me for now. perhaps i'll respond to brad's post on my next packing break.