Trip to James Lick Observatory

This is part of the windy road we took up to the observatory. I would say I was driving somewhere between 10 and 25 mph, nice and slow (lots of hairpin turns).

My car, enjoying the visit.

The oldest observatory there.

A view to the bay area.

The mysterious booth. What do you think it was used for? We have a video clip to come on our guesses. Shane - do you know???

An old boarded-up house that peeked our curiosity as well. I wanted to crawl in through the basement but then one of the local workers warned us about rattle snakes (I think he was just trying to keep us away from the house).

Cousins-together at last

A view of a few observatories, I think there are nine in total.

Boring Video Blog

But since I made it, why not post it?

It's Been Ages

Okay, really, barely a month since I last posted. I just got busy with school, and then visitors, and then laziness. So whenever this happens, I seem to favors lists, so here we go:

• Did excelente in my two LIS classes, even enjoyed writing the term paper, which at first thought was terrible but turned out to be better than I expected
• Finished up my reference and instruction internship, it was needed practical experience
• Still have plenty to learn about working in SJSU Special Collections
  
• Had some cavities filled at the dentist
• Traveled with my awesome friends to Alcatraz Island (love spending time with them)
  
• Kent ladies, their husbands, and their daughters were all in town for their dad's wedding. Whoo hoo! I got to spend the evening with them at their aunt and uncle's house, trying to keep up with their daughters.
• My cousin, Rachel, made a stop-over in CA on her way back from Kentucky to WA (I'll be posting pictures and videos of our escapades later)
• Discovered that with on and off freeway driving, my car gets about 26.6 mpg, not bad I guess
  
• Saw Iron Man (twice) and Prince Caspian in the theatres
• Watched season finales for Smallville (disappointed), Bones (crushed), and Lost (still confused)

I think that's it. I'll try to be more regular but no guarantees. Here's a couple of pictures from the Alcatraz Trip (taken by Jenn Wu since I forgot my camera):

Alcatraz Island from the ferry

C Cell Block

Alcatraz Island Lighthouse (oldest on the West Coast, I think)

Nice Group Photo with San Francisco in the background

The Ladies (Jamie, Megan, Gina, and Jenn)

The View from the island

The Silly Photo

The Squirrels Gymboree

I'm sitting here at my computer and I'm supposed to be writing my term paper on Academic Library 2.0 but it is, um, not going as I would like it to. I'm taking notes on articles I've already read two or three times. I'm finding additional blogs and other online sources of new-to-me Library 2.0 information. Then I remember I have stack of books I populated with stickies and I think one of them said something important. Where was that? And it easily leads to me feeling very overwhelmed. Directly behind my computer are three good-sized windows. In the backyard that they look out upon, there is a large old dead walnut tree. In it is a dilapidated base of treehouse with a sign hanging from it that says, "Elizabeth's Treehouse." I don't think it has been played in for over two decades. Except perhaps by a few special little guests: the squirrels. As I sit here, pondering the purpose of my paper, there are four squirrels scrambling through the tree's dry leafless branches and chasing each other. If you are frustrated with an unproductive writing session, then this can be quite amusing to watch. Maybe one of these days, I'll give you a play by play using the video camera on this computer.

Just Wanted to Say, Hi!

I feel like I should be making a blog post but I don't think I have anything that significant to say. Let's see...

• Lost and Smallville are both back on TV and neither is all that great. The former for losing touch with what made the show special (the people) and the latter for really poor editing and story-writing (what the heck is going on? I can't even begin to follow).
• I sat in the sun as I was doing some school reading yesterday and my knees got burned.
• Two weeks left of school!!! Actually, only one week for one class.
• I made some yummy Mexican rice-a-roni with bell peppers and corn so I can live off of quesadillas for the next week or so.
• Today is Ben and Jerry's Free Ice Cream Cone Day. Make sure you get some. My current fav flavor is pumpkin cheesecake, but bananas on the rum is a close second.
• Still lifting weights once a week, even moved up to 50 lbs on some of the weight device thingies.

All that's all she wrote.

To Eat Meat or Not To Eat Meat

So this is a tough issue for me for several reasons, which I just don't feel like going into right now. Nonetheless, I think it is important to take a serious look at this issue. My dad sent me an article from the NY Times that I think provides some insight into the current meat situation in the U.S. and the world. I encourage you to read it.

AT&T Disconnect

So moving into Day 5 of no Internet or phone line, I'm still surviving. Fortunately, we get somebody's wireless at my parents house (must be comcast; thus, making it comcastic for me). I hope I am able to keep up with people's emails and my schoolwork so that no one has really noticed that the Internet is not at my finger tips. Hopefully, AT&T will finally fix the problem tomorrow, and I will be back to using my own computer.

I Failed and then Grace Came

I had failed, missed an important deadline that could affect the rest of my life (and I do not say this to be over-dramatic). As I read that nothing could be done, an overwhelming sense of loss hit me. I sat there trying to rejoice in God (Philippians 4:4), to praise Him, to love Him, and to know that He is good, regardless of my circumstances. I began to prepare a prayer request email, tears beginning to well. In that moment, when it seemed so hopeless, I heard the chime of a new email. In the background, I listening to a new CD given to me by Kevin: "Thy Mercy, My God" by Sandra McCracken.

Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Thy mercy my God is the theme of my song,
The joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue.
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,
Hath won my affection and bound my soul fast.

Without Thy sweet mercy, I could not live here.
Sin would reduce me to utter despair,
But through Thy free goodness, my spirit’s revived
And He that first made me still keeps me alive.

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart.
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground
And weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found.

Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own
In the covenant love of Thy crucified Son.
All praise to the Spirit, whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine.

All praise to the Spirit, whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine.

Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Those words were filling my ears as I read the email that informed me that even though I was late, I was being slipped in, just in time. My heart swelled and my tears flooded as my lips moved to match the words of the song above. I did not deserve this little bit of grace and I certainly do not deserve the Grace that comes to me through the blood of Jesus Christ. Thank you, Father God, for loving me when I fail and when I fall. Hallelujah!

Black Ring Be Gone

Just a quick anecdote:
If you find that your rings or other pieces of silver have become tarnished, never fear, a quick solution is near (at least if you have a Trader Joe's nearby).
One evening as I was heading to take a shower, in the process I glanced at my hands and saw with great horror that my silver rings had turned black!!! The next morning I borrowed some of my mom's silver polish and while it did clean off the black, the rings still seemed brownish-hued. As I was leaving the house, my mom mentioned to me that I might try some toothpaste (really??? I said). So several days later, when I just couldn't stand the brownish-hue any longer, I tested out this theory of toothpaste as a silver polish using Trader Joe's peppermint toothpaste. Low and behold, it worked better! Now my rings are shiny silver => Yay!

The New Car

Is it lovely? I'm not really sure why I chose the red one but I did have a dream about buying the red and when I woke up, I was super happy. This seemed like confirmation that I should choose that color. I did, and so far (three days), I like it. I classify it as mini minivan because there is a third row and there are two sliding doors that are not automatic but still make it easier to get into the third row. It is quite a bit smaller than a regular minivan. I can't wait til it is actually fun to drive right. Right now, I'm adjusting and trying not to get in a car crash.

Lost in Circulation

I recently requested a book from the library (Library 2.0 and beyond : innovative technologies and tomorrow's user / edited by Nancy Courtney). Supposedly it was plucked off the 8th floor shelf and then delivered down to the 1st floor. It would have then sat on the requested books shelf with my last name attached to it, waiting for me to pick it up. Well, last week, when I went to collect my precious book, I found a totally different book, not at all the one that I had requested (something about fashion styles). When I took it to the circulation desk and explained the situation, the lovely lady did her best to help me. I don't want to list all the details but it suffices to say, we came up with a plan to "ensure" that I would get my book. (I had seen in the catalog that someone else also had a request for the book, and thus, if I didn't get my fingers on it, the next person in line would and who knows how long that person would have it!) They were supposed to make a special note in the system so that when they found the book, I was supposed to be bumped to the top of the list and then notified to pick it up.
Today I went into the system and I saw that that other person got it first!!! It's gone. Thanks for all the non-help. arrrgghhhhh. I didn't want to think so badly about the library but I had a bad feeling that I was not going to be getting that book first. This is why smaller libraries can be better. With a huge staff and oodles of materials, one request for one patron just gets lost in circulation. Oh well. At least, it's due back on April 4th. This means that it must have been requested through Link+ or a public patron. Anyway, that is not too far away. So that is a moment of venting. Another helpful bit is that I do my research well before the paper is due (May 7).

The Princess of Power

This year as one of my birthday gifts from my parents, I received season 1, volumes 1 and 2 of She-Ra: The Princess of Power ( at wikipedia or at imdb.com). What fun! I used to truly love this series as a kid. As I watched Princess Adora transform into She-Ra, I was entranced. So far each time I watched, I still enjoy it. Of course, in these types of cartoons, they just reuse the same reel so that it is exactly the same clip every time, and my enjoyment hasn't faded. Granted I've only watched 7 episodes so far. This gives me about 58 episodes to go. I'm thinking about having a She-Ra party for anyone interested in experiencing a flashback or catching a glimpse of the 80s they might have missed.

She-Ra, the Princess of Power: For the Honor of Grayskull.

Test Drive

So I forgot to mention that I test drove the Mazda5 yesterday. Here's what I discovered:

1) It was actually a 2007 model that I drove (he told me this afterward - thanks)
2) It is small!!!!!
3) The base of the seats are half the height of my current van seats. That was weird. They felt like mini-seats.
4) I like the beige interior more than the black but unfortunately, it will inevitably get dirty faster.
5) The side sliding doors are manual (not automatic, like my mom's 2005 Odyssey). They were harder to open but easier to close.
6) The adjustable steering wheel was a good thing. Apparently I can be quite picky about where it goes.
7) Nice storage places (i.e., under seat pads).
8) Essentially, it was what I thought it would be.

If I actually know more about cars and driving them, what that should be like, I could probably tell you more but as it is, I can't. Regardless, I think it is the car for me. I will have to do a more serious test drive. This was just preliminary one.

A Month Behind!!!

Wow! I can't believe that I did not post anything in February. I thought about it a lot but never quite got to it I guess. Now, I'm stumped on what to say...

How about a list?
1. Love my internship: learned that when patrons come to the reference with ref. questions, I have to write down their topic or in the next minute, I forget it. Sort of embarrassing. Tomorrow and Tuesday morning I will be teaching information literacy sessions to English 1B at 7:30am. This means I need to be at the library at 7:15am.
2. Learning a lot at my student assistant position in SJSU Special Collections. It is way more complicated than the regular reference desk. Lots of policy, procedures, and rules.
3. Still lifting weights but only once a week. pooh pooh.
4. I got really sick and my parents totally had to take care of me. Thanks Mom and Dad!
5. I've now lived next door for a month. The re-adjustment is going well. I think by Summer, I'll be set.
6. Oh, I love my two LIS classes. I've learned a lot of about academic higher education institutions and their libraries. Also, I've gained an appreciation for the challenges of science and technology resources.
7. I've become an ALA member again!
8. Amanda and her daughter (plus her sisters and their families) will be in town this coming weekend = Yippee!!!
9. Lost is killing me with the suspense. I think the show has been very intense and I'd even say, good.
10. Psych ended is second season in February, but never fear it will be back in July.
11. I'm going to take Amtrak to visit Katy and B at the end of the month for part of my Spring break.

Well, that is all I can think at the moment... yep, that's it. Eleven is an odd number to end on, I'm sure it would drive Adrian Monk crazy. Fortunately, he is only fictional.

How's going with you?

Video Blog Ramble

Jane Austen - love 'em all

So I admit it, I love Jane Austen novels. And, frequently, the film versions. I own at least one film version of all the novels except Northanger Abbey. However, PBS just showed the most recent BBC version. It was excellent! I thought they really captivated not only the essence of the book but also the characters. The first time I read this novel I was 20 years old and studying abroad in London. I remember that I laughed so much because the main character, Catherine Moreland, is so silly and naive. Oddly, when I watched a 1980s version of Northanger Abbey (it was horrible), I realized that somehow I missed the tone of Henry Tilney. He's quite a sarcastic character who takes much delight in teasing Catherine. Or perhaps, I had just forgotten. Anyway, for any Jane Austen fans out there, I definitely can recommend this version of Northanger Abbey.

Well, tonight I'm off to go see 27 Dresses at 9:35pm. And tomorrow I work in SJSU Special Collections, 1-5pm. Yippee!

The First Dance of Mr & Mrs. Titus

I recorded Philip and Megan's first dance.

The Garage Go Bye-Bye

This is where Lehein and I painted our boat for the 8th grade boat wars. As you can see, it was poor design. Basically just a box that was waterproof. Oh well. Shane at least did better when he competed. Below is a video and some commentary about it. :D

Guess what? I'm moving!!!

Sort of ... I'm moving next door into my neighbor's house. They live in WA most of the time and would like to have someone in their house, keeping it warm and home-like. So all their stuff will still be in there. Also, they will come home occasionally and I will have to move back home. I'm not even sure how much of my own stuff will go with me. This is sort of an interesting arrangement. Guess I'll figure it out when I actually move over there. The best part is that I can start having dinner parties again - yay!!!!

Hope to see you soon at my new house (he he he).

Star Trek and Trees Without Leaves

A little poem for the new year...


Star Trek and Trees Without Leaves

Sharing the oddities and the quirks
Chewing the fat
Leaning back, relaxed
Remember when
Isn’t it funny?
Can there really be time bubbles and warp speeds?
Do you see math when you see trees without leaves?
Imagination, Fantasy, Creativity
Why do we have these gifts?
Snuggle in the bedsheets – so comfortable
Clouds that can’t be touched
Clouds that seem so soft
Can we converse?
Can we laugh together?
Seasons come
Seasons go
And seasons come
Remember when
Music hits the soul and – it swells up
Fierce
Starships, space stations, and shuttlecrafts
Transport me away to be in your presence forever
Now is not enough, I want the Everafter
The Great Mathematician of the Universe
Lover of my Soul
Pursue me and never let me go
I strike out and yet you stay
I curl and hide, you unfold and reveal
Beauty in the stars, Beauty in the trees, Beauty in me
How can it be?
IN you, FROM you, BECAUSE of you… Jesus.