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| I need to live in a world I can believe in. |
I moved about a month ago. I'm subletting for now because I plan to spend some time abroad and because my future roomie is in a lease until the end of August. I put most of my furniture and things into a storage pod, and I'll admit I'm a tad bit worried about it. They basically unload the crate full of my things, wrap it in airtight plastic, then stack it in a climate-controlled storage unit. I'm just nervous about mold or something icky growing. It was drizzling a bit when I packed. I hope it'll be fine.
After 2.5 years as an entry-level librarian, I'm ready for something new. At this point I'm eligible for GS-11 positions, which is really exciting. I'm looking for something that will allow me to utilize my newly acquired Information Design, Metadata, and Taxonomy skills. I want to stay in the DC area or move to NYC. There are a surprising number of opportunities, I've put in a few applications, and I'm waiting to hear back.
I've decided to go back to school part-time; about two classes a semester. I realized that I'm in a great position professionally. I love my job, I'm advancing, I'm well paid, and I'm not willing to give it up for 4+ years of academic study that will land me in about the same position I'm in now. I talked with some of my more open PhD friends and frankly, I feel I already have equal potential as them. I'll keep doing my thing.
I started a business last winter, utilizing the Metadata and Taxonomy skills I learned in Library School. Basically, I design taxonomies that make it easier for people and businesses to find information. Recently, I've been focusing less on promoting said business, and more on actually making sure I have the skills to run it. Creating a good taxonomy is much more complicated than it seems--more than just tagging. This summer I had two goals--learn the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite and learn as much as possible about taxonomy. I've learned the basics of Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, refreshed my Javascript skills, and studied up on some taxonomy. Before August, I hope to have completed the AIIM Taxonomy and Metadata Practitioner course--I'm still saving up to pay for it. I've also been keeping an eye on issues surrounding information policy, statistics, human-computer interaction, and natural language processing. My end of summer goals are to complete the AIIM taxonomy course and to learn the basics for the remainder of the Creative Cloud suite. <<<Commitment #1
Somehow, I've managed to read a ton. Since the start of 2013 I've finished reading Roots, the entire Stephen King Dark Tower series + It + The Shining + The Stand + The Talisman + Black House (I spent a lot of time on King novels), The Red Chamber, Fifth Business the Deptford Trilogy, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and I'm about halfway through Les Mise'rables.
On the note of entertainment, I started watching Dr. Who. I've just started Season 3, where the Dr. has Martha as a sidekick. It makes me laugh because his Martha looks a lot like my friend Martha, and they're both doctors. Yay for black girls doing their thing!
I swapped volunteering with Girls on the Run for teaching K-5 Sunday School. My church needed more volunteers and it fit better with my schedule. I was really nervous about it at first, but it's going well and I'm getting better and more comfortable with it.
I gave up Girls on the Run. I'm not coaching swim at the Y this summer, so I visit it a lot less. I have not worked out much. I've already noticed I get out of breath easier running up steps. I need to get to sweating more. <<<Commitment #2
Between moving, summer studies, and life stuff, I've managed to dig myself into about $800 of debt. It's not a huge deal, but I'd like to get that number down to $150 before the end of summer <<<Commitment #3
I need more travel buddies. Or maybe I need to do a better job reaching out to friends. I'm a bit envious of my married friends because they have a default travel partner. *sigh* Anyway, I want to go places this summer. Specifically, I want to go to Dominica for the World Creole Music Fest. I'm recruiting travel buddies :) I'll probably hit up Houston and ATL soon too.
I'm growing my hair out. For me, that means keeping it in medium sized twists with weekly deep conditioning treatments and a daily Hair, Skin, and Nail vitamin. I'm three weeks into what will probably be a three-month process. I'm usually not concerned with length, but I need a bit more of it to get a lovely Curlformers style to look right.
I'm still in braces. Will be for probably another six months, at least. The huge gaping hole is now a rather large gap--it's s-l-o-w-l-y closing. After it's completely closed, I'll be in them for an additional three months to get my roots straightened up. I am sort of sick of looking at these and am seriously hoping they won't be on when I get called into interviews. What a joke. Ugh, depressing thought.
I guess I'll end this with my opinion on the Trayvon Martin trial outcome. I'll start things with some research I helped the Center for Disease Control with before they lost funding, mostly because of National Rifle Association interference. The study basically found that people with guns in their homes were more likely to injure themselves or a family member than defend themselves from an actual intruder. I don't support guns in the home. I'm not a fan of people walking the streets with guns, and I'm certainly not a fan of pursuing, fighting, and shooting an unarmed person, then claiming self-defense. I'm disgusted by the whole situation, and I'm tired of hearing about people being gunned down like dogs. Mostly, I'm tired of nothing being done--a bit of hemming and hawing, then kneeling to kiss the butts of special interest groups. Give me a break. Gun violence is a problem--look at how many people get shot in Baltimore. I don't think handguns should be easily accessible--they're dangerous weapons in the hands of normal people and killing machines in the hands of someone with a grudge. <<<Can you tell I'm upset? Seriously, can we do something about this?
To end things on a brighter note, I love my new laptop. It is 10 types of amazing and working on it immediately makes me feel more creative.
That's it folks!
Hugs and kisses,
Bethany
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