Baking Continues

So I love to bake. Yum yum. And to eat. But mostly to give it away and enjoy other people eating it. I have baked about 5 banana cakes (dad's recipe with maple cream cheese frosting), 3 batches of brownies (my grandma's recipe), 2 carrot cakes (dad's recipe, simple but delicious), and some number of cookies to bring in to work at the Science Library. With the last batch of carrot cake I made, I had leftover pinapple, so I decided to experiment with a pineapple cherry coffee cake. It came out decently for a first time adapted recipe. The aftertaste is a little tart because there is one cup of non-fat plain yogurt. But the brown sugar topping adds sweetness.

Below is a picture of the brownies I made for Happy non-Valentine's Day (it was February 13th).

I wonder what I will be baking next...

So I'm Back

I felt inspired to start blogging again. Who knows if anyone is still following me but here I go.

I have been working as a research librarian for mathematics, physics and astronomy at UC Irvine for a little over a year now. As several/many of you know this exact job is what I have been working towards since about 2002. And you know what? I am so happy to have it and I think it is a good fit. Here are two lists describing best of and most challenging:

Best (in order as I think of them)
1) Continued education in extra awesome subject areas:
(a) I love the subjects of mathematics and astronomy
(b) Learning physics keeps me growing in new knowledge
(c) Love attending colloquiums at these departments
2) Helping students find their research information
3) Great colleagues that really help to foster an environment and culture of learning
4) Working at research university is exciting and eventful
5) Ordering books, I really enjoy browsing book collections and deliberating on best additions
6) Committee meetings (yep, color me goofy but I love group work)

Challenging
1) Miss working in the Math Department and regular interactions with students and faculty
2) There is WAY more to do than I have time to do
3) Do not like it when "to dos" slip through the cracks
4) Still learning the contextual understanding of collection development at UCI
5) What is my calling at UCI? Why has God brought me to this campus?

I'll end with a sunset from my apartment window. Nothing to do with the above but it is pretty.