Diary 03/31

I had a blast last evening with my YA group on Skype. I really like those ladies and I am positive that our project is going to be the best of the bunch.

Thankfully, I had that one hour of frivolity last evening because TODAY has been no laughing matter. I have been off and on all day working on the draft of my DL paper - yes, I'm still working on that- and I am mentally drained. I have seven pages of words that some might call a draft but it is rough to say the very least.

I'm going to take a nice long soak in the tub with a book, not even remotely related to school, then get back to it. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I feel like I am crawling towards that light on bloodied hands and knees.

Four weeks to go before this mess of a stressful semester is over. Hallelujah!

Diary 03/27

Phew! I have just finished populating my final DL for LIS 2670. Thank you JESUS! I sent the instructor an email to let me know if I did it correctly before the 04/01 due date. I get nervous when things fall in place. I start thinking I missed something...

I've also added 17 suggestions to the YA collection my group and I are trying to develop. Our budget is $1000. I'm sure I went way over cost but we have a couple of weeks to discuss and make changes.

I am now (well after a bit more YA work) going to fully focus, fingers crossed, on the 1st draft of my DL paper. As you see, I turned in the outline earlier this week. Getting that done was almost the end of me. I have one week from Sunday to get this next portion of the paper submitted.

I need those good vibes and fervent prayer again.

Diary 03/26

I've moved on from my DL paper outline, successfully submitted on time, to the 50 items that need to be input into the CONTENTdm DL and developing a teen collection for fitness/health my group and I are building for my YA class. I've made significant progress on both but I really resent the lack of down time I have.

I will be spending all weekend on this work. This snap of cold weather is working for me. If the sun was shining and temperatures were high, I'd really be despondent.

I still have another version of the DL paper to turn in as well as the final submission and TONS! I mean TONS of work for the YA class. I know complaining won't solve a thing but it makes me feel slightly better knowing that someone reading this probably feels my pain.

I'm off to bed. I have to work Saturday and then return (grumble) to these two assignments...

BTW, today I received an email about an assignment to write a five page paper prior to one of my three summer courses. The paper has to be handed in on DAY 1.

WHEN DO I GET A (any curse word will do) BREAK?!?!?!?

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Diary 03/24

Still not done with outline of DL paper.

ARG!

Diary 03/23

Here I go again procrastinating! I have a DL assignment due Wednesday. My mind keeps wandering away.

Case in point is me blogging away when I need to be working on this project.

The problem is that I am feeling overwhelmed which is causing me to lose focus.

Sigh... I am going to make my 100th attempt to focus and get back to this dag blang paper.

I need some luck. Please send me some.

Diary 03/21

I survived FTW- I AM HOME!!!!! I kiss the ground :oD I actually enjoyed meeting the people in my classes. I also enjoyed seeing a number of people from my cohort. One of my faves is pregnant with baby #2. I wish her a healthy, uneventful pregnancy. I probably won't see her in July due flight restrictions when in a state of advanced pregnancy.

Our remaining cohort(9) is planning a get together during July's FT weekend. Feel the love (smile)

Okay, moving on, there's lots to do. In my YA class I am part of a group, a seemingly excellent one, to develop a core collection of nutrition, fitness and health books.

When I got home, I quickly sent the group an email and opened up a Google Docs page so we can get started.

I am now moving on to the DL paper that will take over my life until 11:59pm Wednesday evening latest. My new title is, drum roll please, Intellectual Property Laws: How do they affect digital library development. Sounds tantalizing doesn't it - LOL!

I have a deadline of this Wednesday by 11:59pm to have a preliminary draft in place. By midnight I will be consumed with the YA collection.

This has been how the entire semester has been. Non-stop. No rest. One obsession after another.

Thankfully this semester will be over in around five weeks.

I need a break before I break.

Diary 03/20

Two days down. One to go! Today was a good day that flew by. I was happy with my class performance.

What helped I think was my morning work out and the 20 minute walk to campus in the spring air. I arrived at the LIS building in good spirits that stayed with me throughout the walk back to the hotel.

Tonight, I am going to try getting some much needed sleep. I got NONE last night. The slightest movement wakes me up. Plus, there was something in the room that was causing me to sneeze and blow my nose continuously. I finally gave up the effort and went to the gym at 4:45 am.

Before I go to bed this evening I'll go to the fitness center and hopefully wear myself out as well as build a calorie reserve. Donuts are being provided for breakfast in Sunday's class - YEAH! I love donuts.

Also yeah! I saw some of my fellow cohort nine members. It is always nice to see and catch up with people you like :o)

Diary 03/19

Thank you! All of your positive vibes must have helped.

I think the instructor and I had a very productive meeting. We did not see completely eye to eye but we had a very civil/adult conversation. When I left I was satisfied that we understood one another and respected each others point of view.

On another note, one day of the three is complete. I did my book talk for the YA class. It went okay. I could have done better. Maybe not, I am my own biggest critic.

Now, I must make it through Saturdays Posters and first simulation.

I'm taking it one day at a time.

5 weeks to go before the end of the semester, YEAH!

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Diary 03/18

Only 24 hours until FTW. Sigh. I really don't want to be negative prior to getting to Pittsburgh but, I am not looking forward to the many hours of classes and course work. Everyone keeps emailing that they can't wait to meet each other. Am I (ab)normal? I have no desire to meet anyone. I am content with our online relationship. I can't be feeling this way by myself here...

One good thing is in my DL class we were given an extension on the outline. THANK YOU GOD!!!! I really needed it. I am comatose with YA work and preparation for this weekend.

I have a preliminary DL paper outline but it is not up to what I think the instructors standard will be. I need these extra days to get my rear in gear. I think I'll take my initial version to Pitt and show it to him for feedback and suggestions. Hopefully that will get me movin'.

One way that I have been procrastinating is by taking on line quizzes. I found an "are you a librarian test" on the blog of a fellow cohort 9 student. There were 29 hard (!) questions.

According to the test I would do best as a bookstore employee - LOL - at this point I tend to agree. I scored 34% on knowledge of librarianship (which was higher than 26% of my peers). They claim, "You know more than most about library stuff, maybe a lot more, and maybe there's a library job in your future...You might look the part of a librarian, but you're not one. Consider joining your local Friends of the Library group.

If you too want to ignore upcoming assignments, here is the link to the quiz http://www.okcupid.com/tests/the-are-you-a-librarian-test

I'll see everyone soon. I'll try to seem excited ;oD

Diary 03/15

Four days until show time.

For my YA class, I have completed my LE 11 info sheet and poster assignment. I am now waiting for my props for the LE 9 book talk and reviewing my role in the LE 10 simulation. We are doing all of this during the three days of FTW. I'm not even in Pittsburgh yet and I'm already ready to go home! Sigh...

I am trying to whip up interest for the DL outline. Thus far little luck. I have somewhat of an outline together but I am not satisfied with it. I keep changing my mind about what direction to take with the assignment. It is due during class on Friday. I have four days to quit my dithering.

On a happier note I am getting all sorts of things accomplished at work. My spring trip is finalized. My students and I are all set to participate in a plate tectonics program. I have almost completed my summer curriculum and sent out confirmations/payments to a majority of the vendors I am using through August. That is a load off my mind.

On a final note, I forgot to say in my last post that I read two books for pleasure over Pitts spring break. I enjoyed both immensely. One was a Victorian mystery and the other was fiction (not romance) based in England. When this semester ends, to unwind, I am going to read the John Edwards tell all. I have it beside me on the bedside table...So exciting!

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Diary 03/13

I got quite a bit of my "to do" list accomplished this week. I am no longer driving on an expired DL and I got my CEC's and renewed my exercise cert. I am scheduled to have my taxes done on Sunday as well as wash a few loads of clothes. All in all a very productive, restful(ish) week.

Spring break is over Monday. I did pretty well keeping my word to myself about not doing LIS work this week. I fell off the wagon a few times but they were minor infractions. I even went an entire 48 hours without turning on my computer. I fell off completely on Friday. With FT in less than one week I had to get crankin' on the YA assignment !

I am diligently working on my info sheet and poster for my YA class. So far what I have looks pretty good. I can only hope it is what Biagini wants. I found out today that there are three, yes THREE, more assignments due for that class during that weekend. I've said it once, I'll say it again - NEVER AGAIN!!!! I enjoy the instructor but the workload is too much.

I am also working on my DL assignments due during FTW. I am unable to gain access to the DL that I should be populating and I cannot find motivation to complete the outline. I have got to get my rear in gear.

TTYL.

Diary 03/05

I am determined to enjoy this Spring Break.

I am working like a devrish trying to finish my submissions to the DL. I have removed more than I have submitted - very frustrating.

I made it to the bank today. I have not been since November 09 (!!!!) I now have spending change for FTW in two weeks. I have been unknowingly driving around on an expired license. Thankfully, the state sent me a notice or I would be clueless and if pulled over, SCREWED.

Saturday, I will continue working on my outline for the DL paper due during FTW.

Sunday, no matter where I am in the scheme of things I am taking off until at least Friday.

Next week I will get my license taken care of as well as my taxes.

Then, back to the old grind of Pitt and my next project of getting that poster and information sheet done for my YA course.

When I signed up for this degree, I knew not what I was in for...

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Diary 03/04

Spring break is next week. No break for me. I have to catch up/start on two projects due during Ft weekend. I also have personal items that need completion like getting my taxes done, renewing my license, going to the bank - way over due. I have been able to do NOTHING this semester but LIS work. This summer won't be much better with the three classes I'm registered for. I'm sure I'll be kvetching all summer in this blog about how stressed and overwhelmed I am.

On that note, there are two weeks until fast track weekend where I have three hours of YA class every day we are down there. A total of nine hours! Ugg. I might only have six hours of YA. My DL class time overlaps on Friday evening but, it sounds like the instructor of the YA class is trying to get students out of any classes that conflict with YA. I'll know more when we get down there.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I'm still trying to figure out what to do for my LE 11 presentation. I have my topic but do not know what direction to go. I also have to have my DL paper outline ready by FT weekend. The outline is started but, recently I have had no time to work on it.

B R E A T H E... I have to keep telling myself that.

Diary 03/02

The word of the day is PERSEVERE

Persevere as defined by Wicktionary: To persist steadfastly in pursuit of an undertaking, task, journey or mission in spite of distraction, difficulty, obstacles or discouragement

Used in a sentence: The MLIS student persevered against all forms of discouragement, compelling her professor meet with her over fast track weekend.

LOL - Go out today and persevere!