etc.

I love love love spring, oh I do! When we dug up and replanted our front yard last summer, we pulled out all our bulbs, the tulips, the daffodils, the hyacinth, and I had good intentions to replant them last fall, but of course didn’t get around to it. I’m lamenting that now, because this time last year our kitchen and living room had pink hyacinths generously placed about them and the main floor of our house was glorious and fragrant for days. I miss that. Which just means that I’ll have to buy some hyacinths this year, that’s all.

Also about this time last year, I was just starting to dip my toes into the world of sewing, I was drawing more, I was making creative plans, and I was working on my shop. Remember my shop? I can’t say for sure whether it’s the fair weather or because it’s almost a full year later (a year!), but my thoughts have returned to my poor, neglected shop lately and I’m actually starting to pay some attention to it again. I upgraded the content management system, I spruced up a bit and redesigned, I stripped away all the unnecessary frilly bits, and I’ve pared it down so that it doesn’t need a lot of attention when I don’t have time to give it any. I’ve also been dreaming about getting back to my sewing machine and this evening, for the first time since last August, I cut out and pieced together a softie. How lovely to get back into the studio and paw through fabrics and buttons and ribbons and felt again! I never realized how much I missed it.

She’s not done yet, but alas, I had to lay her aside and return to my computer to finish working on some content for a course I’m teaching that just started this past Monday. Which brings me nicely (if somewhat awkwardly) to the other point I wanted to make. Having complained before about my inability to balance multiple activities at once, I thought I’d tell you that over the past couple of weeks, I think I’ve pulled it off. Balance, that is. By some unknown force of will, I’ve managed to get work done, prepare and deliver three conference presentations, read for pleasure, work on the course, knit, teach course, start sewing again, and exercise. Not necessarily in that order. I’m not at all sure how I managed to make it work, and I’m not entirely convinced I’ll ever manage it again, but I’m putting it down to Sheer Necessity and will happily ride it out while it lasts.

And finally, a note to self and a reminder to you too: don’t forget to spring forward this weekend!

It was a busy, busy week, an excellent conference, I’m exhausted but fortified with all sorts of great ideas. Love it when that happens at a conference. For any interested library-types, I blogged the conference over on my other blog. I’ll be back soon with lots of good & interesting things to say. Promise.

It’s been a busy week, brimming full not with activity but with hours upon hours in front on my computer, at work, on the couch, in bed, you name it. I’m at a conference next week (a conference I’ve always, always wanted to attend! And, as if that isn’t exciting enough, I also get to meet and hopefully hang out with someone you might know!) and I’m doing two presentations and a panel at this conference, hence the all-consuming, nose-in-laptop work. I haven’t even had a good, long look at the conference program yet, I arrive right after it begins and don’t even know which sessions I’m going to. It will all fall into place, I’m sure, but for the next 72 hours it’s just going to be me, my computer, and the endless rotation of what I’ve come to think of as my Conference Prep Soundtrack:

• Rabbit Fur Coat, Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins
• Say I Am You, The Weepies
• Push Barman to Open Old Wounds, Belle & Sebastian
• Let it Die, Feist
• Careful What You Wish For, Texas

Also, I have some news.

This was last Friday, as I waited at the airport for the mister to call and tell me where at Terminal 1 I should pick him up (he was flying home from Germany).

How do you photograph yourself? Me — I tend to snap continuously, review the pictures (god bless digital cameras), and then take a bunch more because I don’t like the expression on my face, or the way the shadows fall, or the tilt of my head, or my lopsided smirk, or [enter one of multiple physical shortcoming here]. I’ve recently challenged myself to take just a single picture, no revisions, no checking for minimized imperfections, no outtakes. I’m a bit slow on the uptake with this but it’s definitely inspired by Kathreen’s “all of me” February SPT challenge.

It’s not easy, but, I suppose that’s the point. Something else that isn’t easy? Taking a picture of yourself and answering your phone at the same time.

Yes, I too thought the Oscars were a little boring. Bless Jon Stewart, he tried his little heart out, but what a lukewarm reception. What was it about that audience? Nerves? Boredom? Discomfort? Several times I found myself laughing and wincing all at once. What that crowd needed was more wine. Or something.

Here are some links:

• A retirement letter template, in case you’re planning on leaving academe.
• New! Furry Crustaceans!
• Fun for Medieval Geeks!
• Wear your librarianship proudly!
• For my crafty friends, art quilts you can stare at for hours.
• It’s International Women’s Day! Hip hip! (but not really)
• Wantwantwant a MacBook Pro as much as I do? Read this review. Then continue with the wanting.
• City-wide WiFi! Right here in Toronto!

Sorry about all those exclamation points.

I haven’t seen a lot of blog-chatter on Jon Stewart’s hosting job at the Oscars last night. Did you watch the show? What did you think?