Spring Break Blues

Hello there, lovelies,

So my spring break has officially begun and I have no plans. I'm pretty much just planning on working and basically just lounging around, which I guess will be nice. Plus I will also be working on applying for as many jobs as I possibly can as well as hopefully getting in some Americorps applications (there are 3 library positions in St. Paul, MN that are Americorps and I want one of them really badly, now I just have to wait for my references to okay my using them on my Americorps application).

My boyfriend is in Honduras for the week doing service work, and I can't tell you how worried I am. I would appreciate words of encouragement from any of you who have been to Central America or have done service work like this before. He can't really contact me in any way, though he said he would try to email me at some point during the week to let me know he's ok. Anyway. He left Friday evening and won't be back until next Friday and, besides worrying, I'm going to miss having him around this week.

I'm also pretty much working on catching up on reading for my internship, reading some YA novels (right now I'm trying to familiarize myself with the literature), and watching some classic films (last night it was "It Happened One Night" and tomorrow I'll be watching "12 Angry Men", any suggestions are welcome). Also we're cat sitting for one of my roommate's friends, Viola has settled in pretty well but she does like to open doors and walk in on you. Also she really likes to get under my feet when I'm in the kitchen and she has claimed the couch and bathroom as her own personal spaces. I think I'll miss her when she's gone.

Anyway, I'm only 2 days into my Spring Break, and I'm kind of feeling like I wish it weren't spring break. I have way too much to do but no motivation to do any of it.

Finals Week Has Nothing on This

Hello my loves,

So finals week for me is not until next week and yet I'm still feeling the stress. Because for those of us in the silly School of Library and Information Science there really are no finals. All of my final projects (for the most part) are due this week.

I'm trying pretty hard to stay on task and get everything done and I know it all will get done, I'm just nervous about grades and whatnot. So far, I've pretty much completed a reading log of 70 children's books, I'm about half way through compiling an annotated booklist of alternative history mystery novels (I'll post it here if you'd like when it's all done), I have a presentation tomorrow for this program (I wrote all the code to make that sucker run), I still have to start a take home final of Perl code (blech), and I have to write a 3 page paper about cataloging and complete some final cataloging with my cataloging partner. Eek! This semester has been pretty stressful, which considering I was complaining all last semester about how I was not challenged in any way, this has been a nice change. Next semester is going to be intense in a different way though. I have to start looking for a job and I'll be on the job. I'm ridiculously excited about my internship though I really hope I live up to my supervisor's expectations (she seems pretty excited to be working with me). But then there's the whole finding a job or something thing. I will not be moving back to Fort Wayne (so if you happen to hear my mother at any time mention this as a possibility kindly correct her). I'm really hoping to find an Americorps position in a library or at least working with children and literacy; the only problem with that plan is that the Americorps positions won't begin to be posted until March most likely and if I end up needing a real job instead then I should really start applying for those now-ish. I've seen a few job postings that I like the looks of, one in Washington state and one in Wyoming (but I don't think I'd be happy in Wyoming, so I think I'll forgo the application process there).

Anyway, I was really glad I got to see most of you at Thanksgiving, I think we'll have to plan something for while we're all home for Christmas (I personally don't think I'll be home except the week before and maybe a couple of days after). I miss you all.

love love.

finally friday

Hello my loves.

Just thought since the week started with a blog post maybe it should end with one too.

Things are going pretty all right around here. Kind of rainy but it finally feels like autumn (which is awesome by the way). Today I am making Molasses cookies, but I was impatient and didn't want to chill them so I put them in a 7 x 10 baking dish and made them into bars instead. I think molasses makes it feel more like autumn.

Let's see. What's new with me? I'm thinking I'm going to be graduating in the spring (May 2010) and then looking for an Americorps position or something like that for a year (I've even considered applying to Teach for America again, but that was so much heartbreak last time I don't think I could take it if they rejected me again). I'm looking for an internship (and actually have been offered one in Mooresville, IN for the upcoming semester) but Mooresville is a 45 minute drive and it's an unpaid internship. The Ellettsville branch of the library here in Monroe County has asked me to come in for an interview, and while that would be unpaid as well, at least I would only be driving around 10 minutes to get there. But yeah, I'd be doing the internship for credit and taking 3 other classes to be able to finish up in the spring.

I'm also starting to do Preschool Storytime at one of the grade schools around here. They let us use the school media center to do storytime for community families and their preschoolers. I'm really excited about it. I'll only be leading about once a month and helping one other time during the month but the SLIS students that volunteer get to completely run the show, which is awesome and great experience.

Things with Kyle are fantastic. If you didn't know, I'm dating someone. It's been about 3 months or so. He's a library student like me. I can't remember if I ever actually came out and told you girls that on here, but it's on facebook I know and I know a few of you have asked about and/or met him.

Tonight I'm heading out to the Kings of Leon concert in Indianapolis with a friend of mine from SLIS and some random guy (also a SLIS student) (It's a long story that involves people backing out on going to the concert at the last minute.)

Anyway, I love you all and you should probably come visit me while I'm still in Bloomington, because I love it here and I love showing it off.

peace & love,

Court

An Account of My Vagrancy

So, as I told you all previously, I am homeless this week. I think I am coming to appreciate how nice it is to have someplace to come home to. Seriously.

Even with friends around to take me in at night, no one can really amuse me all day long (and I wouldn't want them to) but this also means that I have to find things to do which aren't within my usual routine of going home, making a sandwich and watching TV or reading a book or perusing the internet, and then going on with my day from there.

So far this week, I have spent a few hours in couple different coffee shops. I finished a book and am about half way through another (I would highly recommend The Waves by Virginia Woolf if you're looking for something with beautiful prose). I've walked more than I think I have ever walked in my life and thus my feet kind of hurt. I've also found a lovely little park down by my new apartment where there are some shady trees I can read under (which will make for a nice reading spot now that I no longer have a front porch to read on).

I'm also spending a great deal of time loitering in the SLIS computer lab (this is where I am currently stationed); that is the lab for the students in my program in the library. I feel weird just chilling in here, but I know I'm welcome and there aren't very many people around.

The weather has been ridiculous around here, and I feel like it waited just until this week to get this way. If I had been homeless last week or the week before the weather would have been at its hottest in the 70s where this week it's pushing 90 almost everyday.

Also, I just read the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett. I don't know how I've managed to go this long, loving children's books like I do and having never read this book. You should definitely check it out if you get the chance. The illustrations are hilarious and the story is pretty darn cute as well.

Anyway, I'm cat sitting this weekend, so I'll have a place to crash for the whole weekend and then I'm moving in to my new apartment on Monday! YAY!

But anyway, if you feel the need to call me, I'm pretty much persistently in need of amusement this week, so feel free to call and chat.

peace & love.

Crazy Baking

Hello my loves,

I just wanted thought I'd like to do a little updating on here.

Lyssa, love, I know the perfect teaching position is out there just waiting for you, don't give up hope yet! And Monica, you already know I'm planning on spoiling your child as much as I already spoil my real nieces and nephew, so be prepared. I love kids. Licia, it sounds like El Paso is a great experience for you. I can't wait to hear more about it. Shannon I'm probably going to come to Chi-town to visit you soon, so be prepared. Andrea, I just called you back today, we need to hang out again before the summer ends!! Klinks, I'd love to hear more about what is going on in your life! And Dport, it was great getting to hang out this weekend!

OK, in the life of Courtney -- Warren is turning 5 on Tuesday, very exciting, and it makes me feel old. He's getting so big, he's not a baby anymore, he's going to be a real school-going kid soon which is crazy in my mind. The rest of the little-uns are just as cute as ever.

Currently I am doing basically nothing with my life. I have to move out of this apartment on the 10th of August and in to my new one on the 17th. So I will be homeless for a week (the weekend of the 15-16 might be when I'd be thinking about Chicago if you wouldn't be too busy Shan). My classes start up again on the 31st of August. Until then I'm basically just working in the mornings and baking or reading or both all afternoon. My newest discovery is vegan baking. It's great fun because I'm relearning a lot of the things I already knew about baking. Here is a picture of what I baked today:
These are Blueberry Walnut Scones, and I know it doesn't look it so much in this picture, but they are a lot more blue than anything I've ever baked before. But they taste delicious. And when I say this I am completely serious, if you (any of you) ever want baked goods, seriously let me know and I will bake you things and mail them to you. I am honing my baking skills a little at a time and will willingly send you cookies, scones, muffins, probably not bread because I think it would be stale by the time it got to you, but pretty much anything else. If you notice on facebook I'm pretty much always baking and I really can't eat it all myself.

Anyway, other new things in my life. Nothing much really, I've been much more social lately which is abnormal but fantastic. And there's this boy. But we're trying to take things slowly. So more on that later.

Call me, all of you, I miss you like whoa.

peace & love,

Court

Seriously Anti-Social

Hello loves,

So I have determined that I am officially seriously anti-social. I know it's a shock to you all.

My summer has come and gone (the first part of it anyway). I had about a week off and now classes are starting up again tomorrow. It's going to be ridiculously busy for me as I have class MTWR for 3 hours each day and 3 hours of work on those days too. Oh well, I shouldn't complain especially since Dport's in law school. That's my schedule time infinity.

Anywho. I was thinking that I was going to get the apartment to myself for the summer (Jenna has an internship in Indianapolis for the summer and that's where she's from originally and Walla is going back to New York for the summer). It's looking like that may not be the case and somehow I am very disappointed. Walla really is leaving tomorrow morning but Jenna has come back already from what I thought was going to be an extended stay with her family. Maybe it's just because I don't know my roommates and have chosen to not particularly want to be their friend but the little things really bug me, like how loud Jenna plays her music, how Walla yells at the TV (no matter what she's watching but especially CNN), how Walla sings off-key at the top of her lungs everywhere in the house, how we have one bathroom and Walla takes forever in it pretty much whenever I need to pee, how Jenna is constantly doing laundry (seriously she went home for the weekend and came back to do laundry, what is that!?!). Sorry for the rant, but I want them to not be around for a while. I'm fairly certain they're the reason I've spent so much time over at Ben's this semester and why I don't feel comfortable anywhere but in my own room in this apartment. Ugh.

Anyway, I love you girls and you should come visit me or expect a visit from me (once my classes get over in June). If you need me, just call. I'm around. (if you haven't gotten my new phone number, let me know.)


peace, love, and sequestered nooks,

Court

I've never had a shit-list in my life. But I have officially created one specifically to put law school on.

Law school is on my shit-list for stealing my boyfriend from me for finals.

Finals are lame and so is law school.

also - I'm making Cinnamon Raisin Bread tomorrow, I've decided.

One Week

that's all that's left between me and the end of this semester.

I have complained and complained about how easy it is and now I've left everything to the very last minute. I have a pathfinder due on Tuesday, a podcast presentation on Tuesday evening, and a presentation on my HCI project on Thursday.

Podcast is done. HCI presentation will come together as my group always leaves these things to the last minute, but the paper that accompanies it is really my responsibility and I haven't really started it. But the pathfinder is my real worry. I have to compile a list of sources on a topic (I choose Conversion in the Abrahamic Traditions). It should be interesting but I need to get it all together and I don't want to because, well, I don't.

Also. My phone is dying (ask Dport) and earlier this evening the fire alarm went off in my apartment for like 10 minutes. I'm here alone and the place is not on fire. Weird.

Also, got my haircut and I just don't know about it.

All in all, I'm not digging tonight.

dearest loves -

my spring break is starting (right now!) and I'm headed to Minneapolis to see our lovely Lishka for a few days.

I'm coming back to Fort Wayne however (for a couple of days anyway) on Wednesday. I should be rolling in to Fort Wayne on Wednesday afternoon perhaps around 3 or 4, and will potentially be leaving to come back to Bloomington sometime on Friday or early Saturday.

If anyone who dwells in the Fort normally (mainly Klinks and Lyss now I guess, huh?) would like to meet up for coffee or dinner or lunch or something on Wednesday or Thursday evening, let me know, k?

love love- me

through the looking glass

I was feeling kind of like Alice in Wonderland today as I was working on our archives. I want you all to take a look down towards the end of our lovely new blog. You will notice that there are a good number of "new" posts that date from August 2005 through September (it's going to take me a little while to get all of the old xanga posts over here, especially the early years when we were really in to the posting).

You'll notice on the side of the blog that there is a list of "tags". If you click on one it'll take you to all the posts about that topic. I gave each of us our own tag (by name, sorry Monica, I messed yours up so for now you're Korson), our school has a tag, there's one labeled just "relationships" and then relationships that in retrospect are pretty serious ("monica_and_paul, cliff_and_andrea). There are others, just take a look and if when you post you want to put tags on your posts or if you want to suggest tags for the old posts, be my guest, comment here or log in to our shared account and go to the post and click the little yellow pencil to edit.

It's just weird reading posts from almost 4 years ago. We were so different and yet still so the same. And it's weird to read about things that I know have or haven't worked out and to read the hope in your words. It makes me miss you all so much.

Anyway, in the present - I'm starting to really actually settle in here at IU (aka I'm starting to actually like it here). Classes are pretty boring, but I'm hoping for better next semester. I just got a job working as an Accounting Assistant in Technical Services at the Library here (which will be amazing work experience and will probably help me to get a job when I graduate). I just started that today, so I don't have a good feel for it yet, but it seems a lot like the job I had in Genealogy that one summer with slightly more leg work (so not terrible).

I thought I had found a place to live next year and then a friend from undergrad called and asked if I still needed a roommate. Well, I had found a one bedroom but was still a little leary about living alone (and also I was kind of unsure about the cost of rent on a one bedroom). This friend has a friend who is looking for someone to live with, so I'm going to call her and see if she's not a complete psycho, and then I'll probably move in with her in August. Or I'll stick with my original plan and move to the apartment I had found just last week.

After reading all those mushy-gushy posts from yester-year, I desperately want to post something mushy, but I'm afraid some of you will puke. So I will simply say that Ben is fantastic. It is amazing to get to see him pretty much every day and we're going on seven months now. If any of you have noted my previous track record, you will see that this is the longest relationship I've been in, ever. If you want to hear me gush about my boyfriend all you have to do is ask.

Anywho, all of you - call me some time.

peace & love,

Court