Packing for camp

I started packing for camp today. Even though I've been going to camp for 2 weeks in August for 10 years now, I still have a hard time imagining that I'm going to need to pack socks and shoes, long sleeve shirts and pants. Usually when I'm packing to go to Fryeburg, Maine (western Maine - on the New Hampshire border, in the White Mountains), it's in the 90s here and I'm wearing shorts and a tank top!

In my heaven the temperature will fluctuate between 75 and 85 during the day and go as low as 60 at night. 55 is okay but never lower than that. I can even tolerate 90 during the day.
I'll never need:
long underwear
wool sweaters
flannel-lined jeans
winter boots
down jacket
long down coat
warm hats
turtlenecks
gloves
mittens
earmuffs

And that is why I LOVE summer! I can get dressed in the morning and that it's for the day! No changing clothes because the temperature went up/down dramatically.

I usually pack my winter boots away for the season but didn't this year. They're still on display in the cubby room underneath the winter jackets. I look at them and wonder "why in the world would I ever need those?"

Stormy Weather

We've been having some rather violent thunderstorms this summer. Yesterday we came home from seeing a movie in downtown Northampton to discover that another crazy storm ripped through while we were sitting in the Little (no relation) Theater of Pleasant Street Theater.
Our porch furniture was knocked around and the wicker chair that I like to sit in was upside down. The door mat at the kitchen door was MIA. Lots of good size branches were down.
When I went in the house I found that the 2 spooners that I keep on the window sill behind the dish drainer (and I don't use them to hold spoons but rather those rubber plugs for vacuum sealing wine) had been pushed off the window sill and were standing upright on the counter behind the dish drainer. Yet again, my cookbooks got a little damp since we'd left the window open near the shelves where I keep them.

We also quickly discovered that the power had gone out. Thank goodness we have a gas stove and I was able to cook dinner for us. Before we got home we stopped at the co-op and did some grocery shopping. The co-op is 1.8 miles from our house and has a good view of the valley and I-91. The highway was stopped. I learned today that during the brief and powerful storm a huge tree had been uprooted and landed on a car on I-91. The driver and passenger were taken to Bay State Medical Center in Springfield.

The play house in the backyard on our patio was flattened very much like Dorothy's house in The Wizard of Oz. All we're missing are a pair of legs poking out from under the ruins of the house. I also found a few pieces slate in our back yard from our roof shingles.

I'm a little disappointed that I wasn't at home at the time because I do LOVE a good storm! (As long as I'm safe.)

Librarian in the Making Part 2

In case you haven't heard about this somewhere else: I've been accepted at Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science where I will earn a Masters in Library Science. Simmons has a long history of educating women to be librarians (they also accept men now). They were one of the first in the nation to have a library school over a century ago. My elderly friend, Betty Guiu (she's in her 80s), went to Simmons many decades ago. When I told her I applied she was thrilled for me. I know it's changed quite a bit since then! I've also had the fortune to meet current students and recent graduates, including someone I went to high school with who is now a librarian at the City Library in Springfield, MA.
I'll be attending the part-time program on the campus of Mount Holyoke College also called "GSLIS West" where Simmons has use of the Mount Holyoke College library and some of the classrooms. The main campus is located in Boston. GSLIS West has been in existence for about 4 years now. I've been told that I will likely have to take a few courses in Boston at some point in my career at Simmons. That's OK, as I still have plenty of friends in the area who I'm sure won't mind giving me a place to sleep for a night.
I'm very excited about this hope and to someday fulfill my desire to be a science librarian an academic library in the area. In the meantime, I will continue to search for a library job that doesn't require an MLS.
As my friend Kelsey said, now I can wear those beaded eyeglass necklaces! And, as I said to her in reply to that, now it'll be OK for me to wear them! I've been eyeing them since I got reading glasses about a year ago but was afraid to wear them. I'll fit right in!

Cruising around Northampton

I had to get out of the house today. It's that way when you have limited income from your "short-term contract with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts" (aka unemployment). I decided to drive to downtown Northampton (10 minutes from my house) and do some errands. Along the way I came across a few things that amused me. Maybe I just need to get out of the house more often but none-the-less I'm easily amused and admit it. It probably wouldn't matter much if I had a job to go to every day. I'm sure the following things would still amuse me (or annoy but mostly amuse).

1. Driving down King Street towards downtown there was a sign that said "left lane closed" so I pulled over to the right and quickly discovered that the right lane was also closed and that traffic was being directed towards the opposite lane. Just wondering if they don't know their left from their right or if the sign had somehow got switched. This would fall under annoyed and then amused.
   
2. A Mini Cooper with a vanity plate "Goliath".
   
3. A pierced dude on a scooter who I spied in my rear view mirror while I was on my way to the Forbes Library wearing a stick-on name tag that said "Ninja".
   

I love Northampton!

Definitions

For my friend Jim who hadn't heard of a resume before: (I think he's actually just pulling my leg but one never knows...)
It's also called a curriculum vitae, or sometimes shortened to CV. The definition below is actually for curriculum vitae.
"a brief account of a person's education, qualifications, and previous experience, typically sent with a job application."
ORIGIN early 20th cent.: Latin, literally ‘course of life.’

Source: Oxford American Dictionaries (the one that it's my laptop).

My resume is pretty boring and scares the pants off anyone who doesn't know a thing about science. I'm fond of using bullets in a resume. I should probably simplify it a bit but actually don't really want to.

This is what it looks like:

Experience

Nourse Farms, Inc.
Whately, MA
2003-2008
Supervisor:

• Managed daily operations of the micropropogation facility

• Scheduled and assigned daily tasks for staff of 8 technicians

• Directed and participated in production of raspberry and strawberry multiplication media

• Maintained supplies for efficient technician production

• Trained and monitored technician performance on a continual basis

Northampton High School
Northampton, MA
1999-2003
Lab Technician:

• Prepared and set up labs for the 8 science teachers, assist as needed

• Coordinated use and maintenance of all science equipment

• Ordered, received and distributed chemicals and supplies for department

• Maintained high-level safety standards in science prep rooms

• Coordinated chemical and hazardous waste disposal with health department

Marine Geology Laboratory
Salem State College
Salem, MA
1996-1998
Laboratory Technician: Worked under the direction of the department chairperson identifying microfossils using a binocular microscope for use in paleoclimatology studies. Prepared deep-sea sediment for further identification and analysis.

Education Resource Library
Salem State College
Salem, MA
1996
Library Assistant: main duties included assisting students find materials; shelving books; covering newly acquired books; and assisting the librarian with a total re-organization of the ERL.

Education
Bachelor of Science, Geological Sciences, cum laude, 3.22 GPA
Salem State College, Salem, MA

Training/Seminars
Managing Difficult Employees, Holyoke Community College
Flinn Scientific Lab Safety Seminar
Laboratory Safety Seminar, Kaufman and Associates
Chemical Inventory Management, Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance
Microscopical Identification Of Asbestos, McCrone Institute

The Answer to the Question...

A couple of people recently have asked, "So, you're not really looking for a job, are you?"

Is it because it's not the first thing out of my mouth when I talk to you that you think I'm not "really looking for a job"? Maybe...

But, the answer is "OF COURSE I AM!" It's just not all-consuming and on the forefront of my mind every day but I do spend ample time every week reading the Sunday Republican classifieds and clicking through the more than 2 dozen websites I have bookmarked under "job search" on my laptop. Just last week, I sent my resume off to Western New England College for a position in their Law Library. I also spent way too much time completing an application for a position at Springfield College in their library (I'd sent a resume and cover letter over a month ago). This week I will send my resume and a cover letter to Amherst College for a position in the Frost Library.

Last week I attended a not-so-useful workshop at the Career center called Identifying Transferable Skills. I also had a meeting with my career counselor where we both realized that I'm in a holding pattern right now while I'm waiting for a decision from Simmons College. Five area colleges (not The Five Colleges), have my resume and I'm hoping one of them will want me. I'll keep searching. But, NO, I'm not in a huge rush to get a job this week or next because I'm leaving for Maine pretty soon to spend 2 glorious weeks at the Fryeburg New Church Assembly.

I'm hoping to have a job by the time my unemployment runs out sometime in September. Does that answer your question?

A Librarian in the Making...

"When I was about 12 years old my older sister and I made a room in our attic into a library. We called it the Attic Library and organized all of our books: fiction, non-fiction, reference (ancient encyclopedias), and even periodicals (mainly years and years of National Geographic and Life magazine). We made cards to put in the back of the books and lent them to our friends in the neighborhood. We charged a fine (a nickel a day) for late returns. We also learned, just like larger lending libraries, that not all books get returned. The Attic Library remained open most of the time in the summer from 1976 to 1978.
As I thought about library science the more I recalled that over my life I've always had a fascination with libraries, and have always been a person who is naturally very organized and likes things to be orderly. However, the idea of studying to become a librarian had never crossed my mind until 2 years ago when I took a few days off from my job. It was suddenly very clear to me that I needed to go in a different direction career-wise..."

The above is the beginning of my personal statement that I wrote for my application for Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science. It'll be a few weeks until I hear a decision from them. And when I do, I'll be sure to let everyone know!

Bridge of Flowers

We visited the famous Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls yesterday, while my friend Jocelyn was visiting. The Bridge of Flowers was an old trolley bridge that connected the towns of Buckland and Shelburne and was taken over by the local garden club in 1928 and turned into a flower garden. It's really cool. There's a path down the center and flower beds on either side.

I like to visit a few times during the summer because there's always something different blooming.

Trip to Pittsfield

On Friday Trevor & I drove to the Berkshires to pick up my sister's old TV. It's newer than ours and was at an excellent price (free) so we took it. It only cost us gas money and some driving time. Along the way we stopped at Wahconah Falls in Winsdor, MA. (above) We enjoyed a picnic lunch and had the place to ourselves for a good hour and then were invaded by tourists. So we left.

Mugging for the camera.

While we were killing time in Pittsfield we found this really nice park on Onota Lake. We walked along the lake, swung on swings (I love doing that), and put out a forest fire in the making (our good deed for the day).

Nearly vertical slabs of limestone in Pittsfield along the shores of Onota Lake.

We also visited Balance Rock State Park in Lanesboro, just north of Pittsfield. It's a gigantic boulder of limestone balanced on another rock, a relic of the last ice age. (Notice how I said "last ice age"?) Geologists call these "glacial erratics". Sadly, it's covered in graffiti and the plaque is long gone.

We had a brief visit with my sister and her husband and then were on our way back home.

I only spent $3.41 on tea and a cookie at a local coffee shop in downtown Pittsfield.

Pink Roses

My pink rose bush is in bloom. Isn't it just lovely?

Bloomin' Rock Garden

Yes, it's true. I, geologist at heart, have a rock garden. It's just a little strip of sand and soil between the kitchen porch and the walkway where I've planted some succulents and creeping thyme. I planted some chicks and hens there several years ago and this summer they are blooming for the first time ever! The above photo is of the blooming chicks and hens. You can also see the creeping thyme in the background.

More chicks and hens (or are they hens and chicks? and which came first?). Maybe these will bloom next summer.

Mental Note

RED WINE + WHITE SHIRT + FUNNY MOVIE = RED WINE SPLATTERED WHITE SHIRT

Home

After spending 5 days in Bridgewater, MA attending the annual convention of the Swedenborgian Church in North America at Bridgewater State College, it was really good to come home yesterday. I've been a member of this church since I was 12 or 13. We're a tiny, minuscule Christian church whose theology is inspired by the writings of the 18th century scientist, theologian and mystic Emanuel Swedenborg. I've gotten used to the comments over the years, "Sweden-what? So, you're Swedish?" and "Swedish-borgish?" Makes me wish we never changed our name from the Church of the New Jerusalem but that's a hard one to explain to people because not many have actually read the book of Revelation (Chap 21 verse 1 - 2).

I hadn't been to a convention since 1993 or 1994 (not sure which) in Washington, DC but going to Convention after a 14 year hiatus was like going home. I was reminded while I was there that this church, because of its size, is like a huge extended family to me. Some of these people I've known since I was a teen or young adult. I've met many at retreats and summer camps at Almont and at Fryeburg. And many others at past conventions.

I had a wonderful time and hope to be at next year's convention in Seattle, WA.

July Flowers

It's July! The red Asiatic lilies and the coreopsis (also known as tickseed) are in full bloom.

A closer look at the coreopsis.

Trevor's favorite, the orange day lilies, are also in full bloom. So are the weeds.

Red Asiatic lilies in the foreground and coreopsis in the background.