Cataloging, Computers and Cars, or, I can now relax (I think)

It's been a stressful couple of months, but I think things are settling down. I hope this post is not a jinx.

Last fall, I agreed to lead an intensive RDA training. It was a good opportunity for me to delve into the new cataloging rules and finally learn them. It's that thing about teaching what we need to learn, and it works. I've been teaching cataloging and related subjects for close to 30 years, but was very nervous about this workshop. It haunted me. I kept thinking I could learn more and include more. I agonized over the best way to present the material. It was a difficult time for me.

I gave the workshop and it all went well. However, that was not the end of my stress. The night before the workshop, my computer died. All my (and my husband's) material is backed up on Carbonite, so that wasn't the problem. Neither of us could get to any of it, though. I was about to be tied up for two days with the workshop and I couldn't attend to the computer. (I'm the IT person at my house.)

As I said, the workshop went well, but on the way home, my car died. I was about halfway home when I lost my power steering and the battery light came on. I tried to make it to the Subaru dealership, but the battery ran out of charge about 4 miles away. I called AAA and my car was towed to the dealership - Friday evening just as they were closing.

Interestingly, the car is the least of my stress. Though it cost me a good portion of my workshop fee, I knew the car could be fixed. It wasn't much more than an inconvenience.

The computer, however, is a more difficult issue. After agonizing over my options, I bought a new computer. I set aside an entire day to get it set up, install software and download files. After a few glitches (Carbonite tech support is EXCELLENT) things seem to be working, though I kind of hold my breath every time I turn on the computer. I feel vulnerable when it comes to these things. So far, everything seems to be where it's supposed to be.

Saturday and Sunday I got to stay home and just relax. I know it'll be a short one, but I'm very much enjoying this plateau.

A Reasonably Productive Day

It's best for me to exercise first thing in the morning - before I have a chance to think about what I'm doing. This morning, I walked to the end of the road (1 mile, inclined downward) and back (1 mile inclined upward). It takes me about 40 minutes to make the trip and I'm always very warm by the time I return home.

The assignments are ALL GRADED!!! There were twice as many as usual because the students worked on these individually instead of in pairs.

And, I vacuumed the inside of my car. It looks lovely. When I bought this car a year ago, it was in pristine condition. I regret to say it does not look quite as nice as it did then, but I want to maintain it physically as well as mechanically. It's the nicest car I've ever owned and I want to take care of it.

I have a big day tomorrow, which I'll elaborate upon later.

A Dead Car

I knew it was going to happen in the near future. I was just hoping it could hold out for a little while longer. My 2000 Subaru Impreza with 245,000 miles is dead. A new(er) car was next on my "to buy" list when I learned that I was getting laid off from CMRLS.

At least the car had the good manners to die not too far from home. I wasn't out of state or going 70 mph in the left lane of the Mass Pike. I was pulling into a parking lot at UMass/Amherst in the early afternoon when the engine shrieked and stopped running. I had planned to carpool with some people to a meeting in Boston, but that was not to be. They went without me.

I called AAA and a tow truck with a very nice driver took me and my car to the Subaru dealer in Northampton. From there, the dealer's chauffeur service brought me home. Today I learned that the car is beyond repair. Now I need to buy a car. How?

Can I get financing with no job? I have savings, but not enough for a decent car and I was planning to use those savings to pay the mortgage and utilities and things like that. Is this the time to dip into my IRA? Lots of questions to ask before I find any answers.

Periodically I wish I lived closer to town and near mass transportation. This is one of those times. Living in the Hatfield hills (yes, Hatfield has hills) I'm totally dependant on a car. Even my newspaper box is 1/2 mile away.

The good news (and there is good news) is that I've been hired as adjunct faculty in the Simmons GSLIS satellite program at Mount Holyoke College. I'll be teaching Organization of Information. I start in the spring - as long as I have a car to get me to So. Hadley.