June - Slightly Different than 2 Weeks Ago

So, two weeks ago, things looked like this -

Spring has finally decided to grace us with her presence. The new leaves on the trees look yellow in this picture because of the sun, but they are really green.

Flowering Trees! (there are a lot of these in town)

A close up of the flowers

I like this tree. Before the flowers bloomed, it looked like it had dark red leaves if you weren't paying attention.

See how pretty!

This is my miniature stargazer lily, growing in a trash can (hey, I needed deep and skinny, and it worked). This is May 19th.

This is June 7th. I'm anxious to see if it'll bloom. It seems to be liking its trashcan home. (yes, you can call it Oscar....)

Spring At Last!!!!

April Fool's Day, Thrifting, and Gratuitous Callie Pics

St Patrick's Day Parade

Since we did inventory on St Pat's, I didn't truly experience the craziness of Butte. We did go watch the parade, and by the time we were done with the day at 5pm, I was too tired to try to go out into crazy central. Next year, I may take the afternoon off and try going around to some of the bars to hear music.

Chinese New Year Parade

Butte's Chinese New Year's Parade is billed as the shortest, highest in elevation, and loudest (something like that, anyway). They claim to have 10,000 firecrackers. After hearing it, I tend to believe that. There were lots of people walking with the parade who had bags of firecrackers and who were lighting them like crazy. The video at the end gives you an idea of the noise involved with this parade.

I tried to stay on the sidewalk, but that's where they light the firecrackers, so you have no choice but to go into the street and follow along with the parade. As you can see from the coats, it was a cold day, so it's a good thing it's a short parade. So far, it's been my favorite parade in Butte.

Time flies when you neglect your blog...

Hmmm, April already. A lot has happened in the last 6 weeks or so. After talking with the director about leaving, an opportunity came up to switch to a different job at the library, one that fits my interests and skills better, and one that gets me away from some of the stress-inducing crazy.

I was able to train with the librarian who was leaving the job before I officially applied for it. It's not perfect, and since it's still at the same library, it has some of the same people issues. It does move me away from crazy central, though. The new job is in tech services with a digital focus. I'll get to do some teaching and some outreach, too. The balance fits me well. I'll be able to pick up some of the skills I need to make a serious bid for an academic job when this grant is finished. So, for better or worse, I'll be in Butte until next summer (2011).

The frozen shoulder continues to improve. Callie has been issue-free for awhile, and will hopefully continue that way.

Until someone is hired for my old position, I'm straddling two jobs. It's been frustrating to be doing two things part-time, and only doing what NEEDS to be done. I'll be happy when I can focus on the new job.

Since I haven't posted for a ridiculous amount of time, I'll be putting up some photos and videos from various things that have happened. I'm hoping for spring, which doesn't look like it will be anytime soon (as we're lucky to get into the 40s, and have had some snow). I'm also hoping to make it through April, because once April is over, a lot of the programming stuff from my old job tapers off. Then, even if I am straddling two jobs, it shouldn't be quite so crazy.

Wellness

So, the rotator cuff tear is not a rotator cuff tear. It's a frozen shoulder, and a small cyst on the front of the arm. I got a cortisone shot, which felt weird the first few hours, then hurt that evening and next day, then stopped, and has been pretty amazing every since. It's not a cure, but I can move my arm much more, the pain does not last as long, and I am actually getting decent sleep. For just the sleep alone, it would have been worth it.

Callie is doing well. Both of us are mending well. Mentally, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted. Even though I've been applying for other jobs, I was still sort of straddling the fence, holding on to this job for security. I've let go, though. I talked with the director and told her that while there were things I liked about the job and Butte, it was not where I needed to be, personally or professionally. It went better than I expected. At least I'm not carrying that secret, and pretending to be something I'm not. And I'm not holding on to something that isn't good for me, either, just in case. And I have a phone interview Friday for a job that seems like a much better fit. So, changes are happening, and I'm hoping I've cleared some space for good things to come and perch.

Sun, Snow, Cats, Life

It snowed here for a few days, enough to get a nice, white coat of fresh snow over things. Apparently Roof Cat used to be a mail carrier in a former life - neither rain, snow or whatever stops him from climbing to his perch. If we don't see him, we see his footprints in the snow.

Nothing exciting has been happening - just life. Laundry, baking, nurturing the collection of plants that's been accumulating in my apartment, writing, listening to music, and waiting. I'm applying for other jobs, and much of that is the game of wait and see.

Stress at work is taking its toll. I'm now in physical therapy for some sort of rotator cuff problem. Tear or impingement, whichever it turns out to be, stress plays a role in the situation. This just joins the long list of signs pointing away from this situation. My plan is to remain positive, try to recover some of my health, and get out before things get any worse. Any and all good thoughts toward this end are appreciated.

Friday snow - dogs on top of dog house

Friday snow

more signs of the roof cat

signs of the elusive roof cat

Callie, grass, and writing

music

papers and plants

laundry pile up

clean laundry

lemon poppy seed bread

new jade plant start

Geranium

Sun