We are losing snow, there's no denying that. I heard a red-winged blackbird (but not at my house) and today I saw a turkey vulture. and I smelled dead skunk on the way to Plattsburgh. Signs of spring but the ground is still covered, well covered with snow. And there's mud in the driveway. The ground hasn't thawed yet but it's coming along slowly.
Wednesday was my first day in Receiving at the thrift store. It went well but I asked a lot, lot, lot of questions about what to keep and about pricing. I think it will be OK and the people are very nice to me. Do I like it? Yes, it's a good thing for me to do.
I went to the Archives yesterday and that, too was fine. Margaret will be gone for the next 2 weeks so I'll be on my own. That's fine as long as no one comes in asking for help and unfortunately the school kids will be on vacation next week so may come in to work on their projects. OH NO!!!
Today was an exciting day, the gym this morning as usual but then I went to Plattsburgh to buy a new couch. What a good salesman, he took me right to the perfect couch for me, based on what I told him I was looking for. SOLD! Then I asked if he sold futons because my futon is 16 years old (I recently discovered) and I sleep in an indentation the shape of my body. I tried a few mattresses--oh, so different from a futon! and found one that felt just perfect so I bought it. A new mattress! I don't know what the dogs will think, first a new couch then a new bed as well. They'll deliver the goods next Friday but best of all they're taking the old stuff away. Far, far away.
Tomorrow I'll meet my friend at the gym at 7:30 then (after coffee) will head to the thrift store for a couple of hours before meeting another friend in Keene for coffee. more coffee. Sunday is Easter. I've been invited to a sunrise service at the top of Whiteface but I think I'll pass on that. I've also been invited to an Easter dinner across the lake in the afternoon. That will be nice, it's just 2 couples and me.
Life continues to be good for me. I'm not antsy about the weather--it's in the 30's these days, above freezing during the day with cool nights. Very typical. I'm usually fed up with winter by the end of March but I have a much more benign attitude about it all this year. A sign of maturity?
Friday, March 30, 2018
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Tuesday--is it spring yet?
Temp today was in upper 30's but there wasn't sun. Some breeze, though, which helps melt the snow.
Yesterday was a Plattsburgh day, doctor's appointment and a couple of errands. Did go to the gym first, did half an hour on the treadmill. This morning we went to the gym but only did 15 minutes because my friend had to get to work early. Oh I'm so happy I don't have a full-time job! I do have a job, though, and went to the Archives today. I don't have to be there until 9 and only work until noon so it's barely enough time to get anything done. We had the 7th-grade class from the school visit. I am not a good tour guide of the place so I turned them over to my assistant Margaret and she did a wonderful job. We weren't sure what they wanted to get from the visit, the teacher was a little vague but the kids had a good time looking up photos. I asked them if they knew what a card catalog was--guess what they said--NO. They had no idea what it was or how to use it so we set them loose on the ever-important to the Archives card catalog. It was fine and I laughed at the fact that libraries haven't had card catalogs in the lifetimes of these kids. I explained it to my mother--she was stunned that the kids didn't know about card catalogs but I reminded her that libraries got rid of catalogs 20 or more years ago. What a job that was, getting rid of the cards. We found a company that would recycle our cards and we sold the catalogs themselves for $50 each (my friend bought them and resold them for $200 each to friends). Oh those were the days... not.
Tomorrow I'm volunteering at the thrift store. My first official day in Receiving. I went yesterday to be trained and am still (more?) intimidated. I'll be fine, I just don't want to make decisions that much. I can barely make decisions about what to wear.
Yesterday was a Plattsburgh day, doctor's appointment and a couple of errands. Did go to the gym first, did half an hour on the treadmill. This morning we went to the gym but only did 15 minutes because my friend had to get to work early. Oh I'm so happy I don't have a full-time job! I do have a job, though, and went to the Archives today. I don't have to be there until 9 and only work until noon so it's barely enough time to get anything done. We had the 7th-grade class from the school visit. I am not a good tour guide of the place so I turned them over to my assistant Margaret and she did a wonderful job. We weren't sure what they wanted to get from the visit, the teacher was a little vague but the kids had a good time looking up photos. I asked them if they knew what a card catalog was--guess what they said--NO. They had no idea what it was or how to use it so we set them loose on the ever-important to the Archives card catalog. It was fine and I laughed at the fact that libraries haven't had card catalogs in the lifetimes of these kids. I explained it to my mother--she was stunned that the kids didn't know about card catalogs but I reminded her that libraries got rid of catalogs 20 or more years ago. What a job that was, getting rid of the cards. We found a company that would recycle our cards and we sold the catalogs themselves for $50 each (my friend bought them and resold them for $200 each to friends). Oh those were the days... not.
Tomorrow I'm volunteering at the thrift store. My first official day in Receiving. I went yesterday to be trained and am still (more?) intimidated. I'll be fine, I just don't want to make decisions that much. I can barely make decisions about what to wear.
Sunday, March 25, 2018
SUNSHINE
It's a beautiful day, almost spring-like but still 34 degrees. Supposed to warm up this week, temps in the 40's. Maybe even some rain at the end of the week. Pretty exciting.
Had an exciting day yesterday--on my way to the gym at 7 a.m. I came across a dead bobcat in the road, hit by a car but unmarked. I went on to the gym & asked my friend if she'd seen the cat and she screamed I ALWAYS WANTED A STUFFED BOBCAT so we raced back to the dead animal and put it in her car. Back to Stewarts to ask the regulars (we knew they would know) where a good taxidermist could be found. Plenty of "Can I see the bobcat?!!" and suggestions about what to do next, final determination was that she should call DEC (Environmental Conservation) and they would tag the animal for her so she could take it to be stuffed. Well, almost. DEC said they couldn't tag the animal because the trapping season ended in February, even though she didn't trap it. Rules are rules. The Forest Ranger went to her house and picked up the 1-year-old female absolutely gorgeous specimen, said they would have to send it to Albany for testing but then would donate it to an educational institution. Which is what my friend runs, so we're hoping they'll return the cat to her. It is really just a beautiful animal, in perfect condition. That was just too much excitement for yesterday, all I could do for the rest of the day was head to the dump. Whew!
Now it's Palm Sunday and that means nothing to me. I had planned to go to RI for Easter but the decision was made that I'd skip it since I'm going back in May. It will be the first Easter I've spent by myself--will I care? Impossible to know. I'm half-tempted to go to RI anyway but then I think about how much driving that involves and how nice it's supposed to be here so I think I'll stay put. It will be strange, this much I know.
Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment, will take my filthy new car to the car wash and will buy an Easter lily for my friend Patricia. I ordered one to be sent to my mother, I always take her one. At noon tomorrow I'm meeting someone at the thrift store because they want me to start working in receiving, where they need more help than the Book Lady I usually work with needs. Do I want to work in receiving? Not so much but I do want to be helpful. Some of the stuff is priced automatically but other stuff has to be priced when it comes in. OH NO!!! I don't want any responsibility. I'll see how it goes tomorrow--the thrift store is only open Weds. and Saturday so we'll have a chance to go over everything easily.
Not much else going on this week for me. There's a class coming to the Archives on Tuesday, 7th graders I think. The teacher doesn't seem to know exactly WHY they're coming but she said she wants them to know what's in the Archives. Luckily my colleague Margaret will be there, SHE can be the expert.
Weather is supposed to get exciting this week, temps in the 40's and maybe even some rain. I should walk to camp this afternoon, it's a beautiful day and the dogs would like it. But no, I doubt I'll do that. Mostly I'll tidy up the living room and maybe do some work in the bedroom.
I'm a lucky girl.
Had an exciting day yesterday--on my way to the gym at 7 a.m. I came across a dead bobcat in the road, hit by a car but unmarked. I went on to the gym & asked my friend if she'd seen the cat and she screamed I ALWAYS WANTED A STUFFED BOBCAT so we raced back to the dead animal and put it in her car. Back to Stewarts to ask the regulars (we knew they would know) where a good taxidermist could be found. Plenty of "Can I see the bobcat?!!" and suggestions about what to do next, final determination was that she should call DEC (Environmental Conservation) and they would tag the animal for her so she could take it to be stuffed. Well, almost. DEC said they couldn't tag the animal because the trapping season ended in February, even though she didn't trap it. Rules are rules. The Forest Ranger went to her house and picked up the 1-year-old female absolutely gorgeous specimen, said they would have to send it to Albany for testing but then would donate it to an educational institution. Which is what my friend runs, so we're hoping they'll return the cat to her. It is really just a beautiful animal, in perfect condition. That was just too much excitement for yesterday, all I could do for the rest of the day was head to the dump. Whew!
Now it's Palm Sunday and that means nothing to me. I had planned to go to RI for Easter but the decision was made that I'd skip it since I'm going back in May. It will be the first Easter I've spent by myself--will I care? Impossible to know. I'm half-tempted to go to RI anyway but then I think about how much driving that involves and how nice it's supposed to be here so I think I'll stay put. It will be strange, this much I know.
Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment, will take my filthy new car to the car wash and will buy an Easter lily for my friend Patricia. I ordered one to be sent to my mother, I always take her one. At noon tomorrow I'm meeting someone at the thrift store because they want me to start working in receiving, where they need more help than the Book Lady I usually work with needs. Do I want to work in receiving? Not so much but I do want to be helpful. Some of the stuff is priced automatically but other stuff has to be priced when it comes in. OH NO!!! I don't want any responsibility. I'll see how it goes tomorrow--the thrift store is only open Weds. and Saturday so we'll have a chance to go over everything easily.
Not much else going on this week for me. There's a class coming to the Archives on Tuesday, 7th graders I think. The teacher doesn't seem to know exactly WHY they're coming but she said she wants them to know what's in the Archives. Luckily my colleague Margaret will be there, SHE can be the expert.
Weather is supposed to get exciting this week, temps in the 40's and maybe even some rain. I should walk to camp this afternoon, it's a beautiful day and the dogs would like it. But no, I doubt I'll do that. Mostly I'll tidy up the living room and maybe do some work in the bedroom.
I'm a lucky girl.
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Spring NOT
Although it was -6 yesterday morning, today it was +3. Yeah, that's
spring all right. We do have bright warm sunshine with a sun that's
remarkably higher in the sky, yeah that's spring for real. There is
just a whole lot of snow here. Life is good anyway but I got a report
from Michigan that crocuses are blooming there, and in RI the daffodils
were up and snowdrops were blooming. Hard to imagine that happening
here but then I do have a good imagination...
I've been getting to the gym but with mixed results. This morning we did an honest 30 minutes, other days we've stopped at 15 minutes for various reasons. My friend will be out of town tomorrow morning so I'll need to decide whether to go alone or bag it. Gee, I wonder which I'll do. Oh I may surprise myself (but I doubt it).
I worked this morning in Keene Valley, that was good. Lots of scanning old photos with a smattering of being charming to board members and patrons. My colleague and I have a good time, a very good time together and it's always a treat to see her smile. She has a great sense of humor (which matches mine nicely). I've registered for a workshop on metadata in early April to see if I'm entering the metadata I'm entering correctly or not. Since I've only entered data for 200 images it's a good time to look into this. The other, really important thing I need to do is write instructions and descriptions for what I'm doing. When I started there was no one who knew how to scan or what the scanning project was (the previous archivist died suddenly last summer). Now, swell, there is someone who knows how to do it but once again there is only ONE person with the knowledge. I'm not irreplaceable, I've proven that, but I do believe in manuals and handbooks.
I hosted book group (The tea girl of Hummingbird Lane)(at least I think that was the title) on Sunday. We had a good time, one of us had ordered a cake of tea to go with our discussion, I cooked shrimp and broccoli that was supposed to be Chinese-ish (but wasn't, ultimately) and we had a good time. Lots of food and good conversation (some of it about the book, even). Next up is a Brunonia Barry book, title of which I can't remember.
I'm not going to RI for Easter this year. The first time in modern history I won't be spending the holiday weekend with my mother. or anyone. How will that be?
I've been getting to the gym but with mixed results. This morning we did an honest 30 minutes, other days we've stopped at 15 minutes for various reasons. My friend will be out of town tomorrow morning so I'll need to decide whether to go alone or bag it. Gee, I wonder which I'll do. Oh I may surprise myself (but I doubt it).
I worked this morning in Keene Valley, that was good. Lots of scanning old photos with a smattering of being charming to board members and patrons. My colleague and I have a good time, a very good time together and it's always a treat to see her smile. She has a great sense of humor (which matches mine nicely). I've registered for a workshop on metadata in early April to see if I'm entering the metadata I'm entering correctly or not. Since I've only entered data for 200 images it's a good time to look into this. The other, really important thing I need to do is write instructions and descriptions for what I'm doing. When I started there was no one who knew how to scan or what the scanning project was (the previous archivist died suddenly last summer). Now, swell, there is someone who knows how to do it but once again there is only ONE person with the knowledge. I'm not irreplaceable, I've proven that, but I do believe in manuals and handbooks.
I hosted book group (The tea girl of Hummingbird Lane)(at least I think that was the title) on Sunday. We had a good time, one of us had ordered a cake of tea to go with our discussion, I cooked shrimp and broccoli that was supposed to be Chinese-ish (but wasn't, ultimately) and we had a good time. Lots of food and good conversation (some of it about the book, even). Next up is a Brunonia Barry book, title of which I can't remember.
I'm not going to RI for Easter this year. The first time in modern history I won't be spending the holiday weekend with my mother. or anyone. How will that be?
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Snow but a winning team
I was in Rhode Island for my mother's birthday last week--she turned 92 on 3/13, and we had a really lovely time together. We always enjoy being together and I don't know what was so special about this visit but it was just extremely pleasant. There was BARE GROUND when I got there and stayed that way for the next 3 days. Day number 4, however, my mother's actual birthday brought a snow storm and power outage. I was glad to be there when the power went out, that is one of my mother's greatest fears, lack of power. She has no heat or water without electricity so I sure do understand her fear. Anyway the power was out for most of the day but came back on in late afternoon so Mark and I could cook her birthday dinner and celebrate. It was a nice time.
Before the storm Mark and I took the dogs to the beach and had a really nice walk. Bear romped in the water and tried (several times) to drink it. No, Bear, it's salt water everywhere, no matter how far down the beach you go.
My trip coming home was uneventful until I got to Wilmington when the roads turned suspiciously crappy. There had been a storm here too and we ended up with more than 23" of snow. What a struggle getting up my stairs and into the house. Road and driveway had been plowed so that was no problem. I hate shoveling snow but did shovel a path to the steps and most of the steps. It snowed some more that night and the next day. Yesterday and today were beautiful sunny days--warm sun high in the sky but the temperature this morning was -4 and the high was 16. Not a nice day, really but not the cold winds of previous days. Another cold night tonight but not sub-zero.
We're trying to get back into our gym routine, both of us had scheduling issues last week but went this morning and are meeting tomorrow morning at 6:30. I need to get back to regular treadmilling.
I watched the Syracuse basketball game this afternoon--I've enjoyed watching college basketball's March Madness for a long time. I have 2 good friends who are avid (rabid) SU fans so I'm interested in the games. What a great game today's game was! Wow, a real nail-biter but Syracuse won by 3 so all is well. On they go to the Sweet Sixteen.
Before the storm Mark and I took the dogs to the beach and had a really nice walk. Bear romped in the water and tried (several times) to drink it. No, Bear, it's salt water everywhere, no matter how far down the beach you go.
My trip coming home was uneventful until I got to Wilmington when the roads turned suspiciously crappy. There had been a storm here too and we ended up with more than 23" of snow. What a struggle getting up my stairs and into the house. Road and driveway had been plowed so that was no problem. I hate shoveling snow but did shovel a path to the steps and most of the steps. It snowed some more that night and the next day. Yesterday and today were beautiful sunny days--warm sun high in the sky but the temperature this morning was -4 and the high was 16. Not a nice day, really but not the cold winds of previous days. Another cold night tonight but not sub-zero.
We're trying to get back into our gym routine, both of us had scheduling issues last week but went this morning and are meeting tomorrow morning at 6:30. I need to get back to regular treadmilling.
I watched the Syracuse basketball game this afternoon--I've enjoyed watching college basketball's March Madness for a long time. I have 2 good friends who are avid (rabid) SU fans so I'm interested in the games. What a great game today's game was! Wow, a real nail-biter but Syracuse won by 3 so all is well. On they go to the Sweet Sixteen.
Thursday, March 08, 2018
I'm back!
Not sure why I haven't been here. I've been busy but is that an excuse? Not really.
There have been many visitors to Hawkeye, that's been nice rather un-winterlike. Some friends with a camp here came up from Albany and we went out for dinner and had a good visit. Other friends from Scarsdale were here at their house/camp and had other friends and me come for dinner. The Holts were here and had friends and me come for dinner. Joe was here for The Burn (we went out for lunch but skipped dinner). It has been a busy time. Nice.
I'm still going to the gym most mornings followed by coffee at Stewarts. Yes, we're regulars there and see other regulars regularly. It's a regular thing.
I'm still working in Keene Valley at the Archives. Scanning photos and entering metadata about the images. The other woman who works in the Archives makes me laugh, and I make her laugh and we have a good time working together. The work sometimes gets a little monotonous but it's only 3 hours twice a week and I am very enthusiastic about the project and about the Archives in general so all is good.
I haven't spent much time at the thrift store, other things have been taking my time. Doctor's appointment (I'm healthy), trip to Burlington to buy a new car (2018 Subaru Crosstrek), trips to Plattsburgh to get the car inspected and registered and next a trip to RI for my mother's 92nd birthday. I leave tomorrow morning, return on Wednesday.
We've been hit by both nor'easters but nothing overly dramatic. We got snow last weekend and more snow last night and all day today. It's hard to believe we had bare ground recently, there's at least a foot of snow on the ground now and it's still snowing. No power issues here but my poor mother lost power for more than 2 days--which is a long time for someone her age with electric heat. My sump pump is running often so I know winter is moving along and the ground is thawing.
Dogs are fine, they think the new car is hard to jump into but don't really seem to care much about it otherwise. I like it a lot but it doesn't have snow tires and that makes me nervous so I drive slowly. It had a "break-in period" of the first 1000 miles. I knocked that off, no problem. It doesn't have a CD player and I've almost figured out how to load music from my phone. I have a lot of CDs so getting this set would be way cool. I've got music loaded to my computer. I've almost got the music loaded to my phone. What comes next? Hello YouTube...
There have been many visitors to Hawkeye, that's been nice rather un-winterlike. Some friends with a camp here came up from Albany and we went out for dinner and had a good visit. Other friends from Scarsdale were here at their house/camp and had other friends and me come for dinner. The Holts were here and had friends and me come for dinner. Joe was here for The Burn (we went out for lunch but skipped dinner). It has been a busy time. Nice.
I'm still going to the gym most mornings followed by coffee at Stewarts. Yes, we're regulars there and see other regulars regularly. It's a regular thing.
I'm still working in Keene Valley at the Archives. Scanning photos and entering metadata about the images. The other woman who works in the Archives makes me laugh, and I make her laugh and we have a good time working together. The work sometimes gets a little monotonous but it's only 3 hours twice a week and I am very enthusiastic about the project and about the Archives in general so all is good.
I haven't spent much time at the thrift store, other things have been taking my time. Doctor's appointment (I'm healthy), trip to Burlington to buy a new car (2018 Subaru Crosstrek), trips to Plattsburgh to get the car inspected and registered and next a trip to RI for my mother's 92nd birthday. I leave tomorrow morning, return on Wednesday.
We've been hit by both nor'easters but nothing overly dramatic. We got snow last weekend and more snow last night and all day today. It's hard to believe we had bare ground recently, there's at least a foot of snow on the ground now and it's still snowing. No power issues here but my poor mother lost power for more than 2 days--which is a long time for someone her age with electric heat. My sump pump is running often so I know winter is moving along and the ground is thawing.
Dogs are fine, they think the new car is hard to jump into but don't really seem to care much about it otherwise. I like it a lot but it doesn't have snow tires and that makes me nervous so I drive slowly. It had a "break-in period" of the first 1000 miles. I knocked that off, no problem. It doesn't have a CD player and I've almost figured out how to load music from my phone. I have a lot of CDs so getting this set would be way cool. I've got music loaded to my computer. I've almost got the music loaded to my phone. What comes next? Hello YouTube...
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