Old Favorites

 I've been reading a lot of new authors and I've enjoyed their books. 

But sometimes, I just want to read books by my old favorites: Marcia Muller (the Sharon McCone series), Carolyn Hart (the Death on Demand series with Annie Laurence Darling), Donna Leon (the Commisario Guido Brunetti series), J.A. Jance (currently reading the J.P. Beaumont series), Rhys Bowen (the Royal Spyness series), Faye Kellerman (Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series). Janet Evanovich's latest book was just published and I'm now on the wait list. There are 297 holds on 122 copies, so it may be a while.

Actually, I'm getting less thrilled with Janet and her character Stephanie Plum with each book. It's as if she's trying too hard to be funny. But I keep reading them because there's a certain level of comfort with these old favorites. 

I'm seriously considering beginning the alphabet with Sue Grafton's books. I read A is for Alibi within the last couple of years; I'll probably start with B is for Burglar. I'm up-to-date on Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski series, though I may start back at the beginning with Indemnity Only. It's been a long time since I read that.

I have a list of my favorite authors and I'm dependent on the site Fantastic Fiction to keep abreast of their works (and to read them in order on my retrospective jaunts).

I've also borrowed about a zillion old movies on DVD that I've been watching: Birdcage, as well as the original La Cage aux Folles; Hannah and Her Sisters; 9 to 5; Cinema Paradiso; Amadeus. 

M. and I are spending more time at home because it's too cold to be outside in the evenings. That means less (maybe no) inviting a couple of friends over for dinner. Or being invited to others' homes. I'm mentally preparing myself for 6 months of "down-time".

One bright spot is being able to go into the MLS office one day each week. I get to talk with another person who is across the room. We don't spend much time talking, but at least she's there. And I get to see different walls and a different view out of the window. The computer is better, the monitor is bigger than the ones at home.

Today is a work at home day. Guess I'd better get to it. I'm now up to "The flight ..."

Back to the Office

For the last six months I've been bemoaning the fact I cannot go into the MLS office. I miss my familiar routines and the structure they provided. Sometimes I feel adrift and the result is I don't do much of anything useful. Yet there are so many things I'd like to do. Mostly housework and yard work. Well, not really LIKE to do, but that need to be done.

I've finally been given permission to go back to the office and I'm finding my familiar routines are no longer familiar. They feed quite odd. I need to pack a lunch, and make sure information stored on my home computer is sent to my work computer. 

I have to plan my wardrobe for the day since it's Friday and the senior exercise class will be meeting in it's new location outdoors on the lawn of the Town Hall. I could just go to the office in my t-shirt, sneakers and baseball cap, but this is my chance to wear real clothes even though no one else will be in the office to see me.

I could almost resume my pre-COVID-19 routine, but I'm not sure I want to. I've gotten used to not having to plan my day because I'll be gone from home and need to bring things with me.

Last week, I went "shopping" for the first time in six months. My 15-year old sneakers were falling apart and I bought a shiny new pair. Yesterday, I went to the dentist to have my teeth cleaned. On the way I stopped at one of my favorite clothing stores and bought a new skirt at 50% off. I could wear that today in the office, though that's more changing than I would usually do. 

One thing I've learned in my 70+ years on this earth is that life is full of surprises. I could get used to that, but I don't think I really ever will.

Back at the Beginning

 Most of my job is spent working from a spreadsheet: a list of potential duplicates in the MassCat catalog given in alphabetical order. However, the program used to spot duplicates, doesn't recognize initial articles. I am now reviewing titles that begin with the word "The".

There are a lot of them.

In a way, it's a little discouraging. It's taken me years (six? seven?) to slog my way through the alphabet to arrive at the letter "T" - only to end up back at "A". Actually, I'm at "B". I feel like Alice in the looking glass: I think I'm going toward something, but in reality, I'm going away from it.

Actually, it's not that bad; it's more ironic.

After five months of working from home, I've finally developed a sort of schedule. I try to do my MassCat work on Monday, Wednesday and Friday like I did in the "old days". That gives me two full days plus the weekend, to do other things like housework or yardwork or just sitting around reading.

But as of last week there has been a change: I'm leading my exercise class again! This is sort of an experiment. I'm leading it once a week and virtually. The first week, we used Microsoft Teams because that is what the Town Hall uses for it's meetings. However, only 3 people managed to log on. And I could only see myself in a tiny box which kept disappearing. In a meeting, seeing oneself in a tiny box is no big deal, but I need to know that I'm lined up so that exercisers can see me and what I'm doing. 

This week, we used Zoom, but after 35 minutes of what was supposed to be a 45 minute class, the program shut down leaving me in mid leg lift. The plan now is to schedule 2 half classes (upper body, lower body), one right after the other and consider the time in between as a break. Beginning tomorrow, there will be an outdoor class in the park next to the Town Hall.

As happy as I am to be back (even virtually) with my class, I now have to review my work schedule. Given that I don't much like to do housework other than dishes or laundry, I could always give that up. But who else will clean? My housekeeper has not been here since mid-March. 

I miss her as much as (maybe more than) my exercise class.

Tackling the Letter T

Here it is July 7 and I'm still working from home.

I'd like to be in the MLS office, but the administration is being very cautious about opening the offices. I appreciate caution. I'm also looking forward to being out and about, even just a little.

M. and I have been carefully venturing out. We've met with friends (no hugging) at outdoor venues, shared take-out meals, and on one occasion actually ate dinner around a dining room table with 4 other people. We had planned to eat outdoors, but it was pouring rain.

Fortunately, no one I know personally has become sick with the virus. I know others who have friends, relatives, or neighbors who have contracted it. I know of two who have died. I've been watching the data on confirmed/probable cases in Massachusetts. I'm happy to live in an area that has relatively few. Most of my close relatives live in the eastern part of the state which is more densely populated and more vulnerable.

As much as I miss working in my cubby in the office, I miss my exercise class more. I'm still getting exercise, perhaps more than in the Healthy Bones and Balance class, but I miss the people. They're my friends. And even though we're not close, there is still a connection that I find comforting.

Back to the title of this post. Yes, I've finally reached the letter T. It amazes me that I still find duplicates and incomplete records that begin with earlier letters. Why haven't I found them before now? Clearly I will never totally finish cleaning up the MassCat catalog.

When I finish with Z, I'll start with A again.

I'm Getting Tired of My Play Clothers, or, What Day of the Week Is It?

Play clothes are those pants and shirts that are old, worn, stained or otherwise not something I would want to wear in public. They are, however, perfect for cleaning house or working in the yard. So what if they get dirty? They're already dirty. Wearing play clothes for dirty work keeps my other clothes cleaner longer.

But since I'm now wearing play clothes every day, all day, I'm getting a little tired of them. I'm looking forward to wearing my office clothes again.

Another side effect of staying home all of the time is that I tend to forget what day of the week it is. For so many years I've had a routine. I like routines. I'm a routine kind of person. Monday, Wednesday and Friday I get up, go to exercise class, then go into the office to work on the MassCat catalog. Tuesday and Thursday are for various appointments, meetings and stuff like that.

Now there are no meetings or appointments except, perhaps, by telephone. I exercise most days, as soon as I get up. After that I work on the MassCat catalog in 1-2 hour shifts and make sure by the end of the week I've worked the same number of hours I would have had I been in the office.

It's a strange time and a strange feeling.

Still, I have a lot for which to be thankful. I'm still healthy. I have a lovely home and a lovely yard. I have an income and continue to pay my bills.

Not a lot has changed since my last post. I'm still waiting for May.

Onward to O

Yes! On Friday, I finished with the letter N. That's the fastest yet for completing a letter. I was so close to the end I really wanted to get there. I did not start O because I had a lot of requests from libraries that had arrived on Thursday and I needed to attend to that task. I pride myself on MassCat's (my) turnaround time.

Since I only work in the office 3 days/week, it's not a good idea to let the requests sit around. Forty-eight hours is a reasonable limit. Also, the MLS-Northampton delivery days are Monday and Thursday. Some of the requests were sent to me in "person" on Thursday. I always try to get them done and back into the bin for Monday's pickup.

I have something to look forward to when I arrive in the office at 11. That letter O.

This will be a busy week.

Monday: a lecture at the Sci-Tech cafe on Future Foods, including 3-D printed foods (?). This is a series of very technical topics presented for the general public. They're usually way over my head and the people I know who attend them say the same thing. But the talks are still interesting. The research that's going on in universities is truly amazing.

Tuesday: a documentary on Hedy Lamarr, the actress who was also an inventor. Amherst Cinema has
been showing films of women who have made significant contributions in scientific research. Of course, being women, they tend to be ignored or not taken seriously.

Thursday: a meeting of all the Healthy Bones and Balance (HBB) Leaders. We have these meetings 3 times/year. It's a chance to meet some of the other leaders, learn about new exercises, and ask questions. I still think about becoming a personal trainer and/or wellness coach.

Friday: LaRK Jazz Trio is playing at Bread Euphoria. The L of LaRK is a friend of mine whom I met when she started to attend the HBB class at the Hatfield Senior Center. Now M and I socialize with her and her husband and have also become LaRK groupies. It's a pleasant night out and we often invite friends. We sit around, chat, drink wine and munch on pizza or soup and sandwiches. Very nice.

Saturday: M and I are hosting a dinner party. We haven't had one in a long time and are looking forward to this. Of course, there is some stress: what will I serve 8 people? What's easy to make so that I can still spend time with my guests? And I want to impress them with my culinary skills.

As spring continues its envelopment of New England, more signs pop up. Yesterday, a mother black bear and her yearling came onto the deck. No doubt, she was trying to get to the bird feeder, which is too far from the deck for her to reach. It's taken us a lot of years to place that feeder in a way bears and squirrels cannot get to it. That doesn't stop them from trying, though. The bear climbed a tree (which was still too far away) and then settled for picking up the seeds that had fallen to the ground. As fascinating as they are to watch, I don't want to encourage bears to spend time in my yard. After a few minutes, I stuck my head out the sliding glass door and told her to "go away".

She did.

Aches and Pains

As the years pass, I find my body is less agile and supple than it used to be. When I do injure myself, it takes longer for things to heal. Little (and not-so-little) aches and pains appear with more frequency.

Not so long ago, my knees decided they just didn't want to work very well. They stiffen up easily, and if I squat deeply, I just plain can't get up. So much for lifting and using my legs rather than my back. At one point, I was having trouble walking down stairs. I began to wonder if I needed new knees. Fortunately, my knees are feeling much better, though not as well as they did 10 years ago.

Now it's my shoulders that are making themselves known.

A few months ago, I slipped on a puddle of water on the floor and wrenched my left shoulder. I also bruised my tailbone. I went down so fast I don't even remember exactly what happened. My tailbone healed, but my shoulder still hurts when I move it in certain directions. About 20 years ago, I was diagnosed with arthritis in my right shoulder. It stiffens up quickly and I have to be careful how much stress I put on it. Because of the arthritis, I use a left-handed mouse.

Actually, there are many advantages to using a left-handed mouse. Since my dominant hand is my right hand, using my left hand helps to stimulate the right side of my brain. Everyone's brains need more stimulation. And I also find I can work faster on the keyboard: I can highlight a phrase with my left-handed mouse and delete it with my right hand. Or keep track of my statistics with the pencil in my right hand.

However, using the mouse was irritating my sore left shoulder, so I switched to a right-handed mouse. Now my right shoulder is irritated, too. I'm having trouble sleeping because I sleep on my side. Either side hurts a sore shoulder.

I'm doing two things that I think will alleviate the sore shoulder situation:
1. I've asked for a computer keyboard tray to lower my keyboard at work. I noticed that I need to hold my arms up to use the keyboard and mouse. The tray is supposed to arrive and be installed this week.
2. I've already installed the software program Stretchware. This is a program I used when I worked at CMRLS and loved. Other people do too. You can set it for every 30, 60, or 90 minutes (or anything in between) and when the bell (or harp tone or something else) sounds, a box with between 4 and 6 exercises appears. Each takes 8-15 seconds to do, a total of perhaps 2 minutes. Then you close the box and go back to work till you hear the sound again. Just that brief break, stretching my wrists or arms or shoulders makes a big difference.

If only I could get something like Stretchware for the rest of the challenges in my life.

It's June again!

Finally! Until last week, the weather was mostly cold and rainy, but then there was the heat wave and the last couple of days have been clear, dry, and refreshing.

Well, this is New England - noted for its variety of weather. Isn't that why we live here? So we won't be bored with beautiful sunny weather day after day?

June is the month of anniversaries: M and I were married 6 years ago, began living together 26 years ago, had our first date 28 years ago. It's been an adventure living with M. and sometimes I wonder how I got myself into this situation. But then I remember it's because I wanted some variety in my life and I need help with that. If it were up to me, I'd have nothing but smooth routines - a little like that perpetually sunny weather described above.

June is the month of my birthday. This is a big one - another decade. Fortunately, I'm not nearly as upset about turning 70 as I was when I turned 60. I have lots of positive role models much older than I: most of the people in my exercise class and also M. I think he keeps me young.

And June is when I was laid off from my job in 2010. Shortly after that, I began this blog as I was looking for another job and, as it says in the tag line, maybe another career. I've found both.

Fortunately (wow, that's the second time I've used that word in this post), I'm old enough to collect Social Security and can afford to work only part-time. After many, many different part-time jobs during these 7 years, I've settled into being the MassCat Cataloger - probably the most perfect job for me I could imagine. The work can be tedious, but it's only part-time. I might go crazy if I had to do it 40 hours each week; I can manage 18 hours.

And then there's my exercise class. True, I don't get paid to lead it, but if I were the entrepreneurial type (which I'm not), I could develop those skills into something to produce income. I do get several free meals each year from the appreciative organizations for whom I volunteer.

Sounds as if things are pretty sunny after all.

The New Office

MLS-Whately is now MLS-Northampton. We've moved into our new office and are getting settled.

My work space is much larger than the one I had before. I don't know what to do with all the room! The downside is that I don't have a separate office. Well, I never actually had a separate office. When I first became the MassCat cataloger, I shared an office with my boss Nora (who is now Director of the Emily Williston Library in Easthampton). However, Nora was pretty quiet and she was there if I had a question about how to do something in Koha.

When Nora left MassCat for her new job, the town of Whately had already purchased the building and began moving offices into it. The remainder of the MLS crew all moved into one office, but that was usually only one other person.

Now I'm in a big room with dividers and can hear other people's conversations. Fortunately, not many people are there most of the time and I'm in a corner, so I play classical music as background.

Here's an image of the Pot Pourri Mall. We have the office in the upper left hand corner.

Resistance

I don't know why I have so much trouble posting to this blog on a regular basis. It's not as if I don't think about it. It's not as if I don't have (in my opinion) interesting posts to make.

During the day, I'll see or hear something that provokes a thought that might be interesting to develop on this blog. After all, that's why I started it - as well as chronicling my journey through a possible career change. The career change, though, is slowly but surely morphing into retirement.

Perhaps impending retirement is a good post for today.

Over the last few months, I feel as if my interest in being a librarian is seeping away. Once upon a time it was all I wanted to do. I have opportunities to work, but I am totally uninterested. I could give more continuing education programs, but just don't want to put the effort into marketing.

At the moment, I am perfectly content working 18 hours/week at MassCat where I correct typos (see the Portuguese Picket Dictionary), upgrade incomplete records, merge duplicate records, find records when member libraries cannot, or create records if they do not exist. The work is very detailed and requires lots of concentration. Many would find it boring. I get into the Zen of it.

I still enjoy leading the senior exercise class twice each week (and attending a third time). I sometimes think that some area of exercise or health would be a good career for me. Recently, I saw an article in the local newspaper (I still read a newspaper every day) about wellness coaches and I had a burst of enthusiasm for becoming one. However, after reading information about the training and requirements, I began to realize it would be a major commitment. And I'm not very good at bossing people around; at insisting someone do something he/she doesn't want to do. I don't think I could be firm enough to be effective.

So, for the moment, I'll continue my current schedule, enjoy reading lots of books, and make resolutions (which I sometimes keep) to clean the house more often.

Time or Money?

Which do I value more? Which do I need more?

It appears, time wins - at least for now. I'm perfectly content with my 3 partial days-per-week job at MassCat. There have been the sporadic continuing education workshops in Connecticut. And two partial days at Springfield City Library and that's plenty. I could be working more, but attending chair yoga, reading, and watching my fish seems to take up an awful lot of time.

Of course, I'm doing many other things. We managed a trip to the Clark Art Institute to see the Van Gogh and Nature exhibit (wonderful) and will be heading back to the Berkshires next week for a production of Comedy of Errors by Shakespeare & Company. Sunday, we did the annual "Vermont trip". We went to the flea market in Jacksonville where we spent money on things we do not need (although everyone can use 2 more beer glasses). Then visited the fun shops in Brattleboro where we managed not to buy anything except an excellent dinner on the deck of the Whetstone Brewery.

Friday, we're heading east to my hometown for my 50th High School reunion. I'm feeling a little odd about it. I have not seen any of these people since the 25th reunion. I didn't keep up with any of them for more than a couple of years, and even then, only a few.

Where did those 50 years go? I've spent much of them working. Now it's time for fun and relaxation.

June

June is my favorite month. Lots of good things happen in June.

June is when Summer officially begins. On June 21, 2015 at 12:38 p.m. it was Summer.

I was born in June which may be why I've always preferred warmer weather. I'm not a winter person. Why do I live in New England with snow and cold? I don't know. Maybe it's so I'll appreciate Summer.

June is M's an my anniversary - all three of them. We met, moved in together and got married on June 17. It kept things simple and we didn't have to remember a lot of different dates. This year, he was away on business on the 17th (it happens some times), so on the Sunday before, we booked a couple's massage at East Heaven and then went to dinner at East Side Grill where we renewed our relationship for another year. This process seems to work as we've been together now for 26 years - one year at a time.

And, as I mentioned above, June is my birthday. On our birthdays, M. and I take each other out to dinner, sometimes with friends. This year, we went to Chez Albert, where I splurged (it was my birthday, after all) and ordered escargots.

June is also the month when I was laid off from a job I liked very much and was plunged into a new adventure which, as it turns out, I'm also liking very much. June 30, 2010 was my (and everyone else's) last day at the Central Massachusetts Regional Library System. State finances mandated that the 6 Regional Library Systems merge into one. Interestingly, I'm now working at that one and enjoying my limited responsibilities as MassCat cataloger. When I worked for CMRLS, I told my supervisor that the one thing I missed in that job was cataloging and I would like to do more. I got my wish.

Working at Home

Today I am telecommuting for my job at MassCat. I could actually telecommute almost every day because just about everything I do is on the computer and I can log in from anywhere. Since the office isn't far from where I live and I'm out already at the senior exercise class, I choose to go into the office.

Both scenarios have their advantages.

At the office there is free coffee and sometimes snacks. I'm not distracted by dirty laundry, dirty dishes, floors that need vacuuming, plants that need watering, etc., etc., etc.

At home, however, I can work a whole different way that is actually more productive. Since I'm doing a lot of detailed computer work, I work intently for about an hour. Then I do something else (laundry?) for a while. Then I work intently for another hour and then do something else (dishes this time?).

Since it's hard to concentrate on the sort of work I do for much more than an hour, I find that at the end of a day of working at home, my stats are much higher than the same number of working hours in the office where I need to take frequent, though short, breaks. The big difference is that at home I begin early in the morning (sometimes even as early at 6 a.m.) and I'm still working into the evening.

At home, I often work my first shift while still in my nightgown and that first "do something else" involves getting dressed. That's definitely different from working in an office.

July 1

It's been 4 years since I was laid off from CMRLS and began this blog. Am I still a Cataloger in Transition? Yes.

There's a new transition every few weeks or months. Today, I'm beginning a project for DGI that will last the rest of the summer. I'm sure the project will last longer, but in September I'll have another transition - teaching at Simmons GSLIS-west again. I've already agreed to teach LIS415 for the 2014-2015 academic year.

I liked my job at CMRLS. I very much liked the salary and benefits. I liked less the commute (an hour and twenty minutes each way). However, I like the way my work life has evolved since leaving CMRLS.

I like the variety and the flexibility. The main benefit is that I have a lot of control over what I do and when I do it. I can't ask for much more than that.

A New Phase

It's been a very busy summer, proven by the fact I haven't posted for 2 months. Today is September 2, the Labor Day holiday and I'm preparing for class on Saturday.

As of last week, I've "retired" from 2 of my part-time jobs. Now that school is back in session and I'm working more hours at MassCat as well as leading the senior exercise class 3 times each week (up from 2), I no longer have the time to work at Springfield City Library or Donohue Group. I'll miss the camaraderie at those places, but I'll savor the shorter commutes. I'll still be presenting the occasional continuing education workshop just in case I get the urge to do some traveling.

Another reason I'm able to work less is that I'm now old enough to collect Social Security payments with no deduction for other earned income. Of course I have mixed feelings about this. I love what feels like "free" money, but isn't Social Security for old people? Fortunately, I'm healthy and active enough to enjoy the new bounty.

A good reason to continue those exercise classes.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Tomorrow is July 1 - the new fiscal year.

On June 30, three years ago, I was laid off from my job at CMRLS. It was sad and scary, but I tried to look at the situation not as an end, but as a beginning. I've been a librarian my entire adult life. My first full time job was as a library assistant. I was 20 years old.

While I've made some attempts at career changes (traveling sales representative for a publishing company; fitness instructor; administrative assistant for a small consulting firm), all three times I ended up back in the library field. Since I had (and still have) a few productive years left, I figured the layoff would be a good opportunity to finally make that leap.

Fast forward to today. The career change has not happened; I'm still a librarian, and a happy one at that. While it would be nice to have the security of one full-time job with benefits, I can't complain. I have several jobs that I like. My hours are flexible; I can often work at home, although I usually work on site; there's lots of variety even though the jobs are strongly related; I'm learning a lot and meeting some really interesting people.

I am looking forward to looking back on this post on June 30, 2014 to see what has or has not changed. Stay tuned.

Timesheets and Invoices

In order to get paid for all of my various and sundry jobs, I need to submit timesheets and invoices.

Springfield City Library gets a weekly timesheet and I'm paid weekly.

The Massachusetts Library System gets a timesheet every two weeks and I'm paid the following Thursday.

I submit a timesheet weekly to the Donohue Group, but I receive a check every 2 weeks.

There's no timesheet for Simmons College. I sign a contract at the beginning of the academic year and they trust me enough to deposit money every month in my checking account.

When I give a Continuing Education workshop, I need to submit an invoice in order to be paid.

Even jobs for which I don't get paid need timesheets. RSVP, the coordinator of the Senior exercise class, wants to know how many hours I spend leading the class. The Hatfield Senior Center also wants to know those hours, so they can include them in their annual report to the town.

I'm hardly the only one volunteering at the Hatfield Senior Center. There's an assistant who is paid for a few hours each week, but works many more hours which are included in the volunteer report. Then there are the people who help serve meals, deliver meals, distribute monthly "brown bags" (supplementary food for income-eligible seniors), and far more activities than I even know about.

For those people who volunteer a certain number of hours during the year, RSVP holds a grand volunteer appreciation lunch held at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. I've been to many recognition lunches and dinners, and I can say that this one is the BEST. The food is excellent and there are a ton of door prizes as well as fun and interesting people to talk with.

The Hatfield Senior Center also has its own recognition event with food and gifts. Among other things, I received a screwdriver - but not just any screwdriver. This one has a handle that looks like a small, rectangular box that opens, revealing several magnetic screwdriver heads. Each one fits into either end of the handle. It's cute and it works really well. I've used it several times. It's now my favorite tool.

So who needs to get paid dollars for everything?

It Seems Like So Much More - Redux

Working all of these different jobs means that I receive a lot of different checks, or get money deposited in my checking account. It feels as if money is pouring in. Unfortunately, each check or deposit is not a large amount as it represents somewhere between 8 and 20 hours of work.

The Mass. Library System pays every two weeks. So does the Donohue Group. Their pay day falls on different weeks so there is a deposit one week from MLS and a check the following week from DGI.

The Springfield City Library pays weekly. That's another deposit.

Simmons College pays on the first of the month, although only during the academic year when I'm teaching. My last deposit happened May 1 and I won't get another until October 1.

And then there are the continuing education workshops I give for MLS, the Connecticut State Library and occasionally another organization. Those are checks that arrive a couple of weeks after the workshop.

While the total of all these checks/deposits does not add up to the full time position I had at CMRLS, they represent a steady income on which I can depend and that makes my life (and paying bills) a lot easier.

It Feels Like So Much More

I work 6 days a week - or at least parts of those 6 days. Sometimes it feels as if I get up, go to work, go home and go to bed, get up, go to work, ...

When I total the hours that I work each week, though, it's not 40 or even 35.

There are other factors, however, that make it seem as if I'm working all the time. One is that many of the work days are not "full" as in 7.5 or 8 hours. The remaining hours get absorbed by unmemorable things like food shopping or running other errands.

Also, prep time for the Information Organization class is several hours and then I arrive on campus early so that I can do some photocopy and get set up before the students arrive. I spend time on "background professional stuff" like reading AUTOCAT posts so that I can keep up with what's going on in the cataloging world.

And there are the senior exercise classes. Only 2 hours each week, but again I arrive early to set up the room and stay until it's put back together again. Even with exercisers always helping, I feel that it's my responsibility to make sure it's done well.

Other activities to remember include serving as Chair of the Hatfield Library Board of Trustees (monthly meetings) and serving on the Board of the Friends of UMass Amherst Libraries (meetings twice a year). Both of those offices involve more than just attending the meetings. As Trustee Chair, I spend some time preparing the agenda and making sure it is posted according to Massachusetts Open Meeting Laws.

All-in-all, it looks as if I easily work (including volunteer work) a full work week.

So that's where all the time goes!

Juggling

Mostly I really like my life right now: I'm busy doing interesting things, I'm meeting new people, I'm doing useful things, my body is getting exercise, and my brain is getting a LOT of exercise trying to keep my schedule straight.

I have 4 part-time jobs that pay money and 2 volunteer positions. Here's what my week looks like so far:

Monday was a state holiday so Springfield City Library was closed. However, DGI was not, so I drove to Windsor, CT and worked there for the day. Monday at DGI is "soup day" when two people bring in soup and two bring bread and we have lunch together. Usually I'm not in that office at lunch time and don't get to share the soup and bread. Since this was one of the few times I'd be there all day, I volunteered to make one of the soups. The meal was tasty and fun.

Tuesday I went to MassCat and hunted for bib records that the members could not find. Then I merged duplicates. I only work there for 5 hours so I had some time at the end of the day to visit my insurance agent who is reviewing the various policies to see what needs changing.

Today is Wednesday and I need to stop by the library to sign warrants and deliver them to Town Hall so that bills can be paid. This is one of my responsibilities as Chair of the Library Trustees. Then it's on to lead the Senior Exercise Class - my other volunteer position and then on to MassCat.

Tomorrow, Thursday, I'll spend the morning at Springfield City Library cataloging music CDs and then the afternoon at DGI cataloging e-books.

A symptom of my juggling life is that I wrote the above post a week and a half ago and I'm now just getting to finish it.

So now it's Saturday. Yesterday I led the exercise class, went grocery shopping and then home to prep for today's class on Information Organization. That's my typical Friday (it may or may not include grocery shopping). However, yesterday afternoon, my husband (it still seems awkward to call him that) went to visit our financial advisor to begin planning for April 15 - tax day - and beyond.

In a few hours I'll be heading out to Simmons-west to teach budding librarians about organizing information resources. Today's topic is metadata.

Sunday is the day my husband and I spend quality time together. I have a nice breakfast planned - Mediterranean Baked Eggs. I hope to get some housecleaning done, too.

And next week? What's that phrase? Rinse, repeat.