I'm in the process of moving all of blog posts to Life:Merging. Check it out and make any changes you need to make! Thanks!

Just six weeks in at the new job and it's already out of control. When I worked at Chandler, I had two stacks of about 30 books...looks like it won't take me long to beat those piles.

I've discovered steampunk: Parasol Protectorate series, The Affinity Bridge, and Boneshaker.

We get Advanced Reading Copies (ARC) at work...I'm in heaven!

What?!

Sixty-five BUCKS to change A...that's SINGULAR...ONE...headlight bulb in my tiny VW Beetle. Seriously?! I'm so glad I know people. In particular, my amazing brother-in-law Patrick. He gets things done. (He's totally awesome and I should really spend more time with him because he's a stellar human being.)

Also...the new job is going well. A little frustrating at times, but that's why I started a blog about just that.

I'm becoming an expert on eReaders. If you have questions, let me know. (I prefer the Kindle over the Nook due to functionality, but the Nook is library-friendly for all those with libraries that have OverDrive.)

I'm trying out a new blogging platform for a new blog...if you're interested in food, you should take a look!
Stupid Recipes

I've been very busy...packing, moving, unpacking, starting a new job...it's overwhelming, but I'm much better now.

I started my new gig last Monday and love it. While there are still a lot of things that are unclear, I feel that clarity will come with time. My co-workers are quirky like most librarians and library employees are (which is one of the reasons I love working in libraries).

My new home is great! While I miss Syd and V, I do love having the house to myself most of the work week, but not actually living alone. See my rooms below...

strange turn of events...

I got a call from Pinal today. The person that they offered the job to accepted it then turned it down. It's a "I said yes, before I said no" situation...kind of like John Kerry.

So what does that mean for me? It means that it's mine as long as I pass the background check! I should have a formal offer soon!

I've never watched Glenn Beck's show...until today. On today's show, he juxtaposed his peaceful followers with those violent, evil liberals. His idea that we need to "restore honor" is definitely honorable...if it made sense. Was there ever honor in politics? He has hooked his talons into the images of Samuel Adams ("Faith"), George Washington ("Hope"), and Benjamin Franklin ("Charity") to make money. What's interesting about his constant lament that this country has turned away from God is that this country was never founded under the God Beck wants us to turn back to. Two of our Founding Fathers - Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson - were Deists, not Theists. Has there been a history of religion playing a large role in this nation's governance? Yes. Does that mean we're a religious nation? No.

He discusses the First Great Awakening in America (he's talking about religious awakenings) and talks about George Whitefield who started it all. Beck also says that this First Great Awakening brought on the American Revolution. And I'm sure in a roundabout way, it probably did. When has religion not been at the center of a war? The Second Great Awakening happened in the early 19th century. It helped stop slavery. This is amazingly awesome, but I would like to mention that George Whitefield of the First Great Awakening supported slavery...isn't interesting how religious beliefs sway with the times. Now, Beck is starting the 3rd Great Awakening. This man has put himself on a pedestal. 

Here's what the Founding Fathers had to say about religious matters...

He [the Rev Mr. Whitefield] used, indeed, sometimes to pray for my conversion, but never had the satisfaction of believing that his prayers were heard.
-- Benjamin Franklin, from Franklin's Autobiography

Say nothing of my religion. It is known to my god and myself alone.
-- Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to John Adams

I am for freedom of religion, & against all maneuvres to bring about a legal ascendancy of one sect over another.-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Elbridge Gerry

I never will, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance, or admit a right of inquiry into the religious opinions of others.-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Edward Dowse

In regard to religion, mutual toleration in the different professions thereof is what all good and candid minds in all ages have ever practiced, and both by precept and example inculcated on mankind ...-- Samuel Adams

Every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience.
-- George Washington

I didn't get the job...life goes on. 

Now I have to focus on applying for more jobs. I wish there were more in the area because I can't afford to move too far away. I can hardly afford my life as is.

I'm thinking I should start a charity organization to help me pay my bills. Working part-time does not mean that I can afford to pay all of these crazy student loan payments and despite what everyone thinks - they do not all get deferred. So it stinks that I don't have a new job in my future that will pay me twice what I'm making now. 

I want to know what the millionaires and billionaires are doing with all of their money. I would really appreciate it if just one of them would donate $100,000 to my cause. I worked hard to finish both my BA and MA and I feel like I'm being punished. 

I hate feeling sorry for myself, but sometimes it just happens and it can't be helped. Today is one of those days.

On Tuesday (approximately 11 days after my second interview with Pinal), I called them. I spoke with the Director who said she would have an answer by Wednesday morning. I heard nothing on Wednesday. On Thursday I received an email saying she was sorry...blah blah blah...vacation...blah...hard to get everyone together...blah blah...she is confident they will have an answer by Monday. Tomorrow is Monday. I really hope they have an answer. And I really hope it's a good one.

As much as I want this job, I'm still nervous about actually getting the job. It would mean moving away from Syd...moving further away from my family. I would live with my best friend...but what if that turned into something horrible. On the flip side, I would be closer to my friends - the few I have left in the East Valley. It's a tough call. 

But if I am offered the position, money will be the deciding factor. My current employer is not moving fast enough on the money side of things. Since the beginning of summer, I've been promised a raise and a change in position. None of that has happened. Instead they've given me more job responsibilities, 10 more hours a week, and a small merit increase (which most people received if they got a positive annual review). The more hours a week is helpful when it comes to paying my bills, but it's hardly enough when I still have to drive there an extra day to get the hours (gas ain't cheap). My boss says they're working on changing my title from Library Assistant to Assistant Librarian AND that it's two pay grades higher - but no one will even give me a pay range so I have no idea if that means $0.50 or $2.00 more. They really stink at communicating any kind of specifics and I'm sure it's because they just don't know.

To make it even worse - I'm SO BORED at work. To stay busy, I invent projects and library services. I've started offering people a scanned Table of Contents of journals from our print collection, I entered our Docline borrowing requests into a spreadsheet to see just how horrible we are at breaking Copyright law, and now I've started updating our Policies and Procedures complete with Viseo flowcharts and how-to guides. By the end of the week, I just Google random things that come into my head. Last week, I learned about basketball.

Bottom line, I need this job with Pinal for my sanity! I'm going to go crazy sitting at that library by myself four days a week. I will get the job with Pinal.

**magical thinking**

Dear Ben Quayle…beginning your commercial with “Barack Obama is the worst President in history” is not what this country needs. We need representatives that are going to at least attempt to bridge the gap. Not to mention you are one of the worst speakers ever. Perhaps you should consider getting a personality and use that to win the election instead of insulting the President (who by the way has already been elected to his post whether you like it or not). Bottom line…I do not like your commercial. Thanks, Melissa