Working from home is sad sometimes because when funny things happen, I can't lean over and share a giggle with my neighbor. But, being the resourceful creature that I am, I have developed a method for sharing my giggles. I get on google and start a chat with Mark. Sometimes, he doesn't respond right away, but that is actually better. I get to imagine how he is reacting to my little funnies and then, when I get his actual reaction, it's like I've shared a laugh with two different people: imaginary Mark and real Mark. Now, even though I know my husband pretty well and usually know about how he will react, I let imaginary Mark have all kinds of reactions, just to spice things up. I might even give imaginary Mark a completely different name, so as to further separate his identity from that of the real Mark. But, I hesitate, feeling like this coarse of action may start me down a slippery slope that could deliver me to the unfortunate land of serious personality disorders. Speaking of naming people, though, here is a peak at the giggles shared by me, imaginary Mark, and real Mark:
me: So, you have a daughter and want to name her after two different women named Alice...is the answer to name her Alice Alice? Some people think so.
me: Here's another. You want to name your daughter after a woman named Jeanice, but you want to call her Jean...is the answer to name her Jean Jeanice? Some people think so.
me: And there are people who can't decide between the names Charmayne, Lydia, Wilma, and Mildred...and they think the answer is to name the child Charmayne Lydia Wilma Mildred. Horrible.
me: ...and no matter how you spell it, you can't name your son Ferry. I am trying to convince myself in says Terry, but...
Mark: I kinda like ferry
me: you would
Mark: yes I would
me: do you like "Alice Alice?"
Mark: yeah, but I think that another alice would be good
Alice Alice Alice Valentine
maybe a hyphen
me: Or AliceAlice Alice Valentine
Mark: Alice Alice-Alice Valentine or Alisalice
me: Alice is starting to look like a funny name...like if you say shampoo or chicken over and over.
Or Alisa Alice...which reminds me that Jean Jeanice is also an option
Mark: Jeanalice-Jeanice Alicejanice Valentine
its a keeper
me: i like it
don't you feel better now that we have that on hand?
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Books
It all started when I was 16. I decided that I wanted to have my own copy of all of my favorite picture books...you know, the classic and sentimental ones that evoke thoughts of my childhood like candy canes do of Christmas. Innocent enough. But somewhere along the line it got out of control. I am letting you all into my sick, compulsive world and showing you all how many books I have amassed in the last seven years. What you see below is a (relatively) complete photo-documentation of my book collection:
A special shout out to Grandpa Knapp who constructed the above bookcases, and to Mom and Cindi, who are loaning them to us.
Another shout out goes to the neighbors across the hall. We thought they were reverse immigrating, but 5 months later they still live across the hall. I guess some people just furniture purge...we found the above bookcase in the hall and were not too proud to snag it.
Above: The top of the hall closet where we keep the children's books.
Above: the bottom of our bedroom closet
Above: the shelves in our kitchen where we were forced to shove all of the cookbooks
And to prove to you all that this really is an obsession, I refer you to:
Barrett, Careen. "Books." In 50 Things That Really Matter to Latter-day Saints, ed. Britney Rule, 61-63. Sandy, Utah: Leatherwood Press, 2007.
“What’s that on your face?” she asked. Her facial expression made me a bit self-conscious. She leaned in more closely and laughed.
“What is it?” I demanded.
"Book,” she replied, “You have book on your face.”
We had just come from visiting a friend who had loaned me a book he’d just bought. I must have stuck my face in too far when I stopped to smell it. Yes, that’s right, I smell books. It helps me feel close to them. I love the smell of books. People keep trying to convince me that I am just smelling paper and dust. But even paper and dust smell magical when bound with glue and thread.
My love for books began when I was in high school. My grandmother was an English teacher before she died and my mother inherited her books. I learned how wonderful it was to have a home library. When I left for college I realized that I didn’t have books on hand anymore. I determined to remedy my situation. My endeavor to create a personal library had evolved into an obsession with bound paper. My battered and worn copy of Walden by Henry David Thoreau is one of my best friends. I also have a large German atlas that I love so much that sometimes I will hold it like a teddy bear or blanket.
I’ve realized that my books are an important part of my identity. Elder Douglas L. Callister said, “If we know the books located at the bedside, we know much about the man.” If you asked me to tell you a little about myself, I would be tempted to tell you to go scan my bookshelves. In my experience, one of the best ways to learn about another person is to read a book they love.
A friend recommended I read his favorite book, East of Eden by John Steinbeck. As I did so, I began to realize why we understand each other so well. On the other hand, my roommate loves Willa Cather’s books. This one piece of information convinces me that no matter how much I love her, I will never fully understand her.
Then again, who am I to complain? Very few, if any, people understand why I hold books, and smell them, and wear their dust on my face.
A special shout out to Grandpa Knapp who constructed the above bookcases, and to Mom and Cindi, who are loaning them to us.
Another shout out goes to the neighbors across the hall. We thought they were reverse immigrating, but 5 months later they still live across the hall. I guess some people just furniture purge...we found the above bookcase in the hall and were not too proud to snag it.
Above: The top of the hall closet where we keep the children's books.
Above: the bottom of our bedroom closet
Above: the shelves in our kitchen where we were forced to shove all of the cookbooks
And to prove to you all that this really is an obsession, I refer you to:
Barrett, Careen. "Books." In 50 Things That Really Matter to Latter-day Saints, ed. Britney Rule, 61-63. Sandy, Utah: Leatherwood Press, 2007.
“What’s that on your face?” she asked. Her facial expression made me a bit self-conscious. She leaned in more closely and laughed.
“What is it?” I demanded.
"Book,” she replied, “You have book on your face.”
We had just come from visiting a friend who had loaned me a book he’d just bought. I must have stuck my face in too far when I stopped to smell it. Yes, that’s right, I smell books. It helps me feel close to them. I love the smell of books. People keep trying to convince me that I am just smelling paper and dust. But even paper and dust smell magical when bound with glue and thread.
My love for books began when I was in high school. My grandmother was an English teacher before she died and my mother inherited her books. I learned how wonderful it was to have a home library. When I left for college I realized that I didn’t have books on hand anymore. I determined to remedy my situation. My endeavor to create a personal library had evolved into an obsession with bound paper. My battered and worn copy of Walden by Henry David Thoreau is one of my best friends. I also have a large German atlas that I love so much that sometimes I will hold it like a teddy bear or blanket.
I’ve realized that my books are an important part of my identity. Elder Douglas L. Callister said, “If we know the books located at the bedside, we know much about the man.” If you asked me to tell you a little about myself, I would be tempted to tell you to go scan my bookshelves. In my experience, one of the best ways to learn about another person is to read a book they love.
A friend recommended I read his favorite book, East of Eden by John Steinbeck. As I did so, I began to realize why we understand each other so well. On the other hand, my roommate loves Willa Cather’s books. This one piece of information convinces me that no matter how much I love her, I will never fully understand her.
Then again, who am I to complain? Very few, if any, people understand why I hold books, and smell them, and wear their dust on my face.
My new client
I got an email last week from an attorney in Chicago asking for my help with some research. The city of Chicago wants to put in a new runway at O'Hare airport, which means bulldozing a 150 year old German-American protestant cemetery. The church is trying to prevent the city's proposed destruction of the cemetery. Their latest effort involves locating as many descendants of the interred as possible and providing them with legal representation in opposing the runway plan. This is where my expertise with German-American protestant church records comes in quite handy. I am conducting descendency research within the records of the church and forwarding my data to a couple of due-diligence/heir searching researchers from New York that I selected to do the work of actually locating and contacting the living descendents.
This is an amazing opportunity for me because I am specifically trained and qualified to do the work, I can work from my home computer, I can put in as many hours as I want (the more the better actually because the research could get cut off by the court at any moment), and it will be a great addition to my CV. So, wish us luck. Hopefully, we can save a cemetery.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
I'm back.
I have received several complaints about the state of my blog. It is shameful. I admit it. I've just been feeling like my life isn't very interesting. But I am encouraged by the complaints, proving that some of you care what I am up to, even if it's dull.
I read other people's blogs and am annoyed by posts sans pictures. But we haven't taken many lately, so sorry if the offering is bland.
I'm sure you are wondering why I posted pictures of my feet. Well, they are actually representative of an important part my day. I am ALL alone, ALL day....and, actually, very lonely. I am no longer working for HR imaging (it wasn't a good fit and after 3-4 tries, I have finally quit). My work is all at home or in a library. I never see or talk to anyone other than Mark and the nursery kids at church. Our friends, the Kauwes, and my sister Laurel have moved leaving Mark and I friendless. Mark goes to work everyday and, therefore, doesn't suffer as much as I do from the isolation. But when he gets home, and would probably appreciate some solitude, I am desperate for some sort of human interaction. So, while he is on the computer for his afternoon internet ritual (emails, online surveys, and looking at the money in our bank accounts) I lie on the floor next to his feet like a cat. As I lay there, I notice things...like how the afternoon light plays with the objects in the room, like my feet. And that is why I have shared with you all this photographic study of my toes. Enjoy!
If you want to see some GOOD pictures, visit my friend Jessie's website (http://www.jessiealexisphotography.com/). She is a fantastic portrait and wedding photographer and always posts new pictures of pretty people. For GOOD pictures of a different variety, visit my sister's blog (www.johnandemmanyc.blogspot.com). There you can see my niece, Evelyn's, PRIZE WINNING Halloween costume. It is amazingly cute. Make sure you scroll down and view the videos of her new brave walk (and waddle). And don't be a stranger, leave a comment. Emma and Evelyn love to know what you think of their wardrobes, waddles, and witty writing. Here is a sneak preview...
About a month ago, Mark and I went to the mall to shop. Usually, we only go to the mall to see movies. (We go to a lot of movies.) He needed new clothes. So, we did as much shopping as you can do in 45 minutes. When we got home, Mark decided to get rid of all the clothes he had been holding onto in case he ever needed or wanted to wear them. I guess he realized that he would never WANT to wear them, and now that he has new clothes, will never NEED to wear them. We made a big pile for charity, but as I was folding all of his old button down shirts, I decided I liked the colors and patterns. So, I am currently in the process of cutting them up so I can reuse the fabric for quilting. (Yes, I quilt.) That is what I work on while Mark plays his new xBox game (Star Wars: The Force Unleashed). Some times I offer him pieces of his shirts back. And sometimes, he takes them. Below is a picture of Mark wearing what was a sleeve, as a hat. (This was last week when it was really cold here and I wouldn't let him turn on the heater.)
If my return to blogging has entertained you even a little, be sure to check back. In honor of Hallowe'en, Samhain, and the Celtic New Year, I have made a resolution to be a better blogger. Coming up...the current state of Careen's career.
I read other people's blogs and am annoyed by posts sans pictures. But we haven't taken many lately, so sorry if the offering is bland.
I'm sure you are wondering why I posted pictures of my feet. Well, they are actually representative of an important part my day. I am ALL alone, ALL day....and, actually, very lonely. I am no longer working for HR imaging (it wasn't a good fit and after 3-4 tries, I have finally quit). My work is all at home or in a library. I never see or talk to anyone other than Mark and the nursery kids at church. Our friends, the Kauwes, and my sister Laurel have moved leaving Mark and I friendless. Mark goes to work everyday and, therefore, doesn't suffer as much as I do from the isolation. But when he gets home, and would probably appreciate some solitude, I am desperate for some sort of human interaction. So, while he is on the computer for his afternoon internet ritual (emails, online surveys, and looking at the money in our bank accounts) I lie on the floor next to his feet like a cat. As I lay there, I notice things...like how the afternoon light plays with the objects in the room, like my feet. And that is why I have shared with you all this photographic study of my toes. Enjoy!
If you want to see some GOOD pictures, visit my friend Jessie's website (http://www.jessiealexisphotography.com/). She is a fantastic portrait and wedding photographer and always posts new pictures of pretty people. For GOOD pictures of a different variety, visit my sister's blog (www.johnandemmanyc.blogspot.com). There you can see my niece, Evelyn's, PRIZE WINNING Halloween costume. It is amazingly cute. Make sure you scroll down and view the videos of her new brave walk (and waddle). And don't be a stranger, leave a comment. Emma and Evelyn love to know what you think of their wardrobes, waddles, and witty writing. Here is a sneak preview...
About a month ago, Mark and I went to the mall to shop. Usually, we only go to the mall to see movies. (We go to a lot of movies.) He needed new clothes. So, we did as much shopping as you can do in 45 minutes. When we got home, Mark decided to get rid of all the clothes he had been holding onto in case he ever needed or wanted to wear them. I guess he realized that he would never WANT to wear them, and now that he has new clothes, will never NEED to wear them. We made a big pile for charity, but as I was folding all of his old button down shirts, I decided I liked the colors and patterns. So, I am currently in the process of cutting them up so I can reuse the fabric for quilting. (Yes, I quilt.) That is what I work on while Mark plays his new xBox game (Star Wars: The Force Unleashed). Some times I offer him pieces of his shirts back. And sometimes, he takes them. Below is a picture of Mark wearing what was a sleeve, as a hat. (This was last week when it was really cold here and I wouldn't let him turn on the heater.)
If my return to blogging has entertained you even a little, be sure to check back. In honor of Hallowe'en, Samhain, and the Celtic New Year, I have made a resolution to be a better blogger. Coming up...the current state of Careen's career.
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