Sunday, May 04, 2008
I Wore Plastic Underpants to my Husband's Graduation
I hope nobody noticed. The package claims that they are "discreet" but they seemed awfully lumpy and crinkly to me. So I dug out a skirt that is rather too big and tried to wear tops that would cover up any unusual bulging.
Luckily, it rained. So my mom went and got herself a green Wayne State umbrella, and me a clear plastic "reusable" poncho. I was glad of the poncho because I figured it would disguise any crinkly noises.
My mom and I got there pretty early, and were herded to the walker-not-wheelchair area. Yes, the handicapped people were being segregated from each other. It rained off and on, but the array of colorful umbrellas was actually pretty festive. As were the escaped mylar balloons, which, when I first saw one, I was convinced was either a flying rubber raft or a UFO.
I've been ruined forever by science fiction.
We nearly sat through the entire ceremony, but lost fortitude as the last of the people were crossing the stage to get their faux rolled-up diplomas. They won't actually send the nice certificates until later. But it doesn't matter. I am so proud of Brian and of what he has accomplished.
Navigating the regulations of the LIS degree and having to negotiate with the head of the program to be allowed to continue (due to time issues), working full time, taking care of a sick wife who was hospitalized many times during his academic travails, and just managing to get the actual academic work done...I don't know that he believed he could do it...but I did. I know what kind of man he is, even if he isn't sure himself.
I am particularly haunted by a ghost who isn't mine. There is a person in Brian's past who chose to throw her own life away, who was so mired in despair that she couldn't imagine anyone else's success. She told him he would fail when he said he was going to Detroit to be in the LIS program.
This has tormented me. When Brian and I met, it was partly the fact that I was a librian and he was in library school that brought us together--we didn't actually have that much in common at the time.... When I got very sick the first time with my broken hip, it was his impulse to quit school, quit work, and do nothing but spend all day, every day, taking care of me.
I didn't want that. I wanted Brian to continue, to do what's best for him and to silence that voice that haunted me, that I never heard, that I was only ever told about afterwards.
"You won't succeed."
Wrong.
My Husband, Brian James Elkins, on the day of Saturday, May 3, 2008 did receive his Master's Degree in Library Information Science from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, while his wife, Janet Lee Elkins sat in the audience whooping with joy, wearing plastic underpants.
This is Brian's accomplishment, not mine, but I feel vindicated and I don't mind telling that stupid ghostly voice: "toldja so."
Luckily, it rained. So my mom went and got herself a green Wayne State umbrella, and me a clear plastic "reusable" poncho. I was glad of the poncho because I figured it would disguise any crinkly noises.
My mom and I got there pretty early, and were herded to the walker-not-wheelchair area. Yes, the handicapped people were being segregated from each other. It rained off and on, but the array of colorful umbrellas was actually pretty festive. As were the escaped mylar balloons, which, when I first saw one, I was convinced was either a flying rubber raft or a UFO.
I've been ruined forever by science fiction.
We nearly sat through the entire ceremony, but lost fortitude as the last of the people were crossing the stage to get their faux rolled-up diplomas. They won't actually send the nice certificates until later. But it doesn't matter. I am so proud of Brian and of what he has accomplished.
Navigating the regulations of the LIS degree and having to negotiate with the head of the program to be allowed to continue (due to time issues), working full time, taking care of a sick wife who was hospitalized many times during his academic travails, and just managing to get the actual academic work done...I don't know that he believed he could do it...but I did. I know what kind of man he is, even if he isn't sure himself.
I am particularly haunted by a ghost who isn't mine. There is a person in Brian's past who chose to throw her own life away, who was so mired in despair that she couldn't imagine anyone else's success. She told him he would fail when he said he was going to Detroit to be in the LIS program.
This has tormented me. When Brian and I met, it was partly the fact that I was a librian and he was in library school that brought us together--we didn't actually have that much in common at the time.... When I got very sick the first time with my broken hip, it was his impulse to quit school, quit work, and do nothing but spend all day, every day, taking care of me.
I didn't want that. I wanted Brian to continue, to do what's best for him and to silence that voice that haunted me, that I never heard, that I was only ever told about afterwards.
"You won't succeed."
Wrong.
My Husband, Brian James Elkins, on the day of Saturday, May 3, 2008 did receive his Master's Degree in Library Information Science from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, while his wife, Janet Lee Elkins sat in the audience whooping with joy, wearing plastic underpants.
This is Brian's accomplishment, not mine, but I feel vindicated and I don't mind telling that stupid ghostly voice: "toldja so."
Labels: Brian, depends, library, Wayne State
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Early but Sleep=Success!
I am slowly tapering of the decadron, which has been keeping me up at night and has made me extremely cranky during the day.
This is a relief.
My itchiness is gone; I have some dry skin where the shingles were, but that is much improved as well.
Yesterday we had a visit from a special home-program where my insurance will offer as little or as much home support as we deem necessary--this could be home nursing visits, occasional accompaniment to appointments, light help around the house, all-hours medical advice and assistance, and the social workers are helping to look into transportation options that might be a good idea for now. They were incredibly nice, and I'll be interested to see if I can actually think of stuff I'd like help with.
I like to be independent, so it's tough for me to think of things for people to come do, although if somebody wants to vacuum, I could totally get behind that!
We also went to a lawyer's office yesterday where we got help setting up some basic documents that everyone should have. This I don't like thinking about, but it's useful for people to have power of attorney and wills and living trusts and what not. I found the experience refreshingly non-smarmy, and it's good to have things arranged even if they're unpleasant to think about.
We also stopped at Zingerman's again--this time the potato salad was swiss and we got some excellent macaroni and cheese. The deli seems weird to find if you're not pedestrian, but we will make a heroic effort to take any guests there who come and visit. I swear to you, the food really is phenomenal.
Monday is my last radiation visit (for now, although the neuro-onc, Dr. Lisa Rodgers, did indicate she would speak to Dr. Hayman about whether two lesions in my spine needed to be addressed before they begin intruding with my spinal column).
Monday is also Brian and my second wedding anniversary. :D
We both failed to believe when we got married that I would get to this point. I am so very happy to be wrong. Celebration, alas, will have to wait for a day Brian is not doing his practicum at Plymouth Public Library. It's his last semester in the LIS program at Wayne State, and I'm so very proud of what he's accomplished.
We will celebrate Wednesday, I think.
We also totally forgot about Baxter's birthday on the 21st, but he'll be getting a nice, juicy bone on Sunday so maybe he won't mind.
This is a relief.
My itchiness is gone; I have some dry skin where the shingles were, but that is much improved as well.
Yesterday we had a visit from a special home-program where my insurance will offer as little or as much home support as we deem necessary--this could be home nursing visits, occasional accompaniment to appointments, light help around the house, all-hours medical advice and assistance, and the social workers are helping to look into transportation options that might be a good idea for now. They were incredibly nice, and I'll be interested to see if I can actually think of stuff I'd like help with.
I like to be independent, so it's tough for me to think of things for people to come do, although if somebody wants to vacuum, I could totally get behind that!
We also went to a lawyer's office yesterday where we got help setting up some basic documents that everyone should have. This I don't like thinking about, but it's useful for people to have power of attorney and wills and living trusts and what not. I found the experience refreshingly non-smarmy, and it's good to have things arranged even if they're unpleasant to think about.
We also stopped at Zingerman's again--this time the potato salad was swiss and we got some excellent macaroni and cheese. The deli seems weird to find if you're not pedestrian, but we will make a heroic effort to take any guests there who come and visit. I swear to you, the food really is phenomenal.
Monday is my last radiation visit (for now, although the neuro-onc, Dr. Lisa Rodgers, did indicate she would speak to Dr. Hayman about whether two lesions in my spine needed to be addressed before they begin intruding with my spinal column).
Monday is also Brian and my second wedding anniversary. :D
We both failed to believe when we got married that I would get to this point. I am so very happy to be wrong. Celebration, alas, will have to wait for a day Brian is not doing his practicum at Plymouth Public Library. It's his last semester in the LIS program at Wayne State, and I'm so very proud of what he's accomplished.
We will celebrate Wednesday, I think.
We also totally forgot about Baxter's birthday on the 21st, but he'll be getting a nice, juicy bone on Sunday so maybe he won't mind.
Labels: anniversary, Baxter, Brian, Decadron, Dr. Hayes, Dr. Lisa Rodgers, insurance, lawyer, library, Plymouth Public, shingles, Wayne State, WBR, wedding, Zingerman's
Friday, August 10, 2007
I Love Meebo! And Cool, an Opportunity to Blather About Systems Librarianship
People leaving Meebo messages need to provide an email address or something so I can do this more easily...but you asked me some questions, and since I am a librarian, I feel a compulsion to answer.
I fell into Systems Librarianship purely on accident. I got my MLIS at Wayne State University (unlike SOME institutions, Wayne isn't afraid of "the L-Word"), which at the time I attended, had very little to offer in the way of computers or anything systems related. There was a basic Internet for searching class, a basic class on computery things like using word processing programs, and then I took two electives from the same professor which repeated a lot of content and had to do with making web pages and learning a tiny amount of unix. I once accidentally wiped out the Wayne State LISP website on the web server because my instructor didn't specify that we should upload our files into a new directory, and I had very conscientiously named my index file "index.html." My instructor was responsible for that page at the time and since he did all of his editing live on the server, had no backups. This was a great lesson in backing up one's work.
I will state for the record that I very cleverly repaired the problem by figuring that at least one of the computers in the LISP lab would have a cached copy of the webpage. Crisis averted.
Wayne seems to have improved its offerings as far as computer classes go, but it really is difficult to prepare someone for the job "Systems Librarian" because many of the specific duties and requirements are going to depend on which automated library system a given library uses and what the IT environment is like.
I would recommend learning as much as you can about: computer workstation hardware and software, networking, unix, managing a server, web design; with the caveat that as a Systems Librarian you may end up working on all or none of those things. Also, do whatever you can to improve or build on your teaching and training skills.
I started as a reference librarian who, in addition to providing reference for patrons, also offered training classes for staff on things like PowerPoint and PhotoShop--I loved reference and teaching. When the person who supervised the "techy" people left for greener pastures, my library director said to himself, "Hmmm, Janet kind of likes computers. SHE can be the Systems person!" I was sent for Solaris training and training that is specific to Innovative Interfaces system management.
I still end up doing a fair amount of reference because my office is the first door people come to when they look for the librarians. I had the chance to move my office, but I find it helpful to know what people are searching for, what problems they are having, and if the computers or printers are on the fritz, I will hopefully hear about it very quickly. The website coordinator is actually a member of the reference department, and I work with her a great deal on site design, user testing, and trying out new software.
I am not required to actually fix computer workstations: the dudes who report to me generally do that (and they do it better than I could). When we have server issues, we hire contract employees to deal with the Solaris box, or the dude who has the most experience with Windows handles those servers. Mostly I coordinate things; sign paystubs; make sure that things are getting purchased; and communicate with the director (who does not necessarily understand my employees when they try to explain something...I think he hears what the grown-ups sound like in the Charlie Brown cartoons: "Wah waaah wah waaaah..."), other departments in the library, and the campus IT department.
Some Systems Librarians will find themselves only working on the automated library system and will have no say in how computers are set up because the computers/servers/network may be managed by an IT department that doesn't want anyone to have administrative privileges. Some Systems Librarians will find themselves doing absolutely everything, including maintaining the phone system.
Just try to be somewhat knowledgeable (or able to fake it really well) and be prepared to keep learning as you go.
Finally, I don't mind that your question was seemingly unrelated to my blog content--being able to continue working has actually been very good for my health and sanity. And thanks for the compliment, although I think I'm pretty much just doing what I have to do.
Hello, I found your blog after clicking around on people's blogs related to library stuff. You mention you are a Systems Librarian. I was wondering what your background schooling was. Did you go to Wayne State or U of M or was it out of state. Also, I am interested in possibly going the Systems Librarian route. What might I do to prepare myself for such a position? I'm sorry this was not related to the subject matter of your blog. You are an inspiration, you should know.
I fell into Systems Librarianship purely on accident. I got my MLIS at Wayne State University (unlike SOME institutions, Wayne isn't afraid of "the L-Word"), which at the time I attended, had very little to offer in the way of computers or anything systems related. There was a basic Internet for searching class, a basic class on computery things like using word processing programs, and then I took two electives from the same professor which repeated a lot of content and had to do with making web pages and learning a tiny amount of unix. I once accidentally wiped out the Wayne State LISP website on the web server because my instructor didn't specify that we should upload our files into a new directory, and I had very conscientiously named my index file "index.html." My instructor was responsible for that page at the time and since he did all of his editing live on the server, had no backups. This was a great lesson in backing up one's work.
I will state for the record that I very cleverly repaired the problem by figuring that at least one of the computers in the LISP lab would have a cached copy of the webpage. Crisis averted.
Wayne seems to have improved its offerings as far as computer classes go, but it really is difficult to prepare someone for the job "Systems Librarian" because many of the specific duties and requirements are going to depend on which automated library system a given library uses and what the IT environment is like.
I would recommend learning as much as you can about: computer workstation hardware and software, networking, unix, managing a server, web design; with the caveat that as a Systems Librarian you may end up working on all or none of those things. Also, do whatever you can to improve or build on your teaching and training skills.
I started as a reference librarian who, in addition to providing reference for patrons, also offered training classes for staff on things like PowerPoint and PhotoShop--I loved reference and teaching. When the person who supervised the "techy" people left for greener pastures, my library director said to himself, "Hmmm, Janet kind of likes computers. SHE can be the Systems person!" I was sent for Solaris training and training that is specific to Innovative Interfaces system management.
I still end up doing a fair amount of reference because my office is the first door people come to when they look for the librarians. I had the chance to move my office, but I find it helpful to know what people are searching for, what problems they are having, and if the computers or printers are on the fritz, I will hopefully hear about it very quickly. The website coordinator is actually a member of the reference department, and I work with her a great deal on site design, user testing, and trying out new software.
I am not required to actually fix computer workstations: the dudes who report to me generally do that (and they do it better than I could). When we have server issues, we hire contract employees to deal with the Solaris box, or the dude who has the most experience with Windows handles those servers. Mostly I coordinate things; sign paystubs; make sure that things are getting purchased; and communicate with the director (who does not necessarily understand my employees when they try to explain something...I think he hears what the grown-ups sound like in the Charlie Brown cartoons: "Wah waaah wah waaaah..."), other departments in the library, and the campus IT department.
Some Systems Librarians will find themselves only working on the automated library system and will have no say in how computers are set up because the computers/servers/network may be managed by an IT department that doesn't want anyone to have administrative privileges. Some Systems Librarians will find themselves doing absolutely everything, including maintaining the phone system.
Just try to be somewhat knowledgeable (or able to fake it really well) and be prepared to keep learning as you go.
Finally, I don't mind that your question was seemingly unrelated to my blog content--being able to continue working has actually been very good for my health and sanity. And thanks for the compliment, although I think I'm pretty much just doing what I have to do.
Labels: library
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Impending Scan Results
I got so excited by the Posterior Crisis that I forgot to dwell on my CT scans and the joy and delight that is the barium preparation. I don't know why UM Hospital doesn't use the powder that can be mixed with clear liquids. I've been advised by other people to ask for it; I may try to bargain the next time scans are due.
Bargain? Who am I kidding? I will try to beg and wheedle. And cajole. And whine. And plead.
Anyway, I do not have the results of the scans pertaining to my more serious medical issue, although I do know that the CT scan of the pelvis did not show a horrible problem of the rear endal area.
I have an appointment scheduled for Tuesday morning with Dr. Hayes, which I am absolutely NOT going to be able to make. I have hired a consultant from our library's automation system vendor to come to our library to help look at system codes and database setup things. I have been working towards this for a very long time and feel that I absolutely HAVE to be there.
Am I being ridiculous? Isn't my health more important?
I submit that my sanity is equally important to my physical health. Last year I was ill and depressed and really didn't start to feel "normal" until I went back to work. I've been sidelined in the last several months with stupid immuno-compromised illnesses and now my issue of the area upon which I sit, and want to put it all behind me (pardon). I want work to be normal. I want work to not just be normal, but to be effective. What difference will it make if I have to wait a few days or a week to get scan results? I'll have to deal with the results anyway.
This visit is a two-day thing that will not be repeated any time soon. If I miss it, there's no way to wait two days and do it then, instead. I can't reschedule the consultant's trip. I can't fail to show up one day and expect to have people take my opinions seriously.
I don't have TIME for this cancer crap right now.
Bargain? Who am I kidding? I will try to beg and wheedle. And cajole. And whine. And plead.
Anyway, I do not have the results of the scans pertaining to my more serious medical issue, although I do know that the CT scan of the pelvis did not show a horrible problem of the rear endal area.
I have an appointment scheduled for Tuesday morning with Dr. Hayes, which I am absolutely NOT going to be able to make. I have hired a consultant from our library's automation system vendor to come to our library to help look at system codes and database setup things. I have been working towards this for a very long time and feel that I absolutely HAVE to be there.
Am I being ridiculous? Isn't my health more important?
I submit that my sanity is equally important to my physical health. Last year I was ill and depressed and really didn't start to feel "normal" until I went back to work. I've been sidelined in the last several months with stupid immuno-compromised illnesses and now my issue of the area upon which I sit, and want to put it all behind me (pardon). I want work to be normal. I want work to not just be normal, but to be effective. What difference will it make if I have to wait a few days or a week to get scan results? I'll have to deal with the results anyway.
This visit is a two-day thing that will not be repeated any time soon. If I miss it, there's no way to wait two days and do it then, instead. I can't reschedule the consultant's trip. I can't fail to show up one day and expect to have people take my opinions seriously.
I don't have TIME for this cancer crap right now.
Labels: barium, bone scan, CT scan, Dr. Hayes, fissure, library
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Taking Away my Eyelash Glue is Keeping America Safe
I had heard that the airlines were being a bit more lax regarding how many fluids, gels, creams and goops one can take on a plane, so I was not terribly paranoid about packing my makeup in my carry-on bag.
As I stood in line for the security screening, an airline employee held up a one-quart plastic baggie to demonstrate how many liquids can be taken on a plane. "No more than three ounces of any particular substance," she said. "If your drink is more than three ounces, you cannot take it on the plane." I don't know of anyone who would carry a drink smaller than three ounces. "If what you have does not fit into a ziplock baggie, you cannot take it on the plane."
When I got up to the security gate, I decided to risk wearing my hoodie and scarf instead of taking them off with my jacket. (I've gained some weight recently and am feeling blobby.) My carry-on fluids, gels, creams and goops would fit easily in a ziplock baggie.
I got through the screening, only to have my bag searched--it turns out that not only must your fluids, gels, creams and goops fit into a ziplock baggie, but you must have the ACTUAL BAGGIE. So I watched as many dollars' worth of cosmetics got confiscated. The airline screener tucked my lashes back into my makeup bag, but kept the glue that I need to hold them on. My foundation, eyeliner and two lip glosses (one of them was Clinique, which is the real bummer) were likewise confiscated. She explained to me that I could put them in one of my carry-on bags and check it through.
You mean my open-top striped half-tote, or the library's laptop case?
America, you may rest easy and feel more secure in our fight against terrorism knowing that I will spend the weekend at my library conference in Nashville looking ugly.
As I stood in line for the security screening, an airline employee held up a one-quart plastic baggie to demonstrate how many liquids can be taken on a plane. "No more than three ounces of any particular substance," she said. "If your drink is more than three ounces, you cannot take it on the plane." I don't know of anyone who would carry a drink smaller than three ounces. "If what you have does not fit into a ziplock baggie, you cannot take it on the plane."
When I got up to the security gate, I decided to risk wearing my hoodie and scarf instead of taking them off with my jacket. (I've gained some weight recently and am feeling blobby.) My carry-on fluids, gels, creams and goops would fit easily in a ziplock baggie.
I got through the screening, only to have my bag searched--it turns out that not only must your fluids, gels, creams and goops fit into a ziplock baggie, but you must have the ACTUAL BAGGIE. So I watched as many dollars' worth of cosmetics got confiscated. The airline screener tucked my lashes back into my makeup bag, but kept the glue that I need to hold them on. My foundation, eyeliner and two lip glosses (one of them was Clinique, which is the real bummer) were likewise confiscated. She explained to me that I could put them in one of my carry-on bags and check it through.
You mean my open-top striped half-tote, or the library's laptop case?
America, you may rest easy and feel more secure in our fight against terrorism knowing that I will spend the weekend at my library conference in Nashville looking ugly.
Labels: airlines, airport, conference, library, makeup, Nashville, terrorism
