not necessarily in this order

This month, I tell ya! <<gestures to the state of the world>> Work getting worse before it gets better. My first paper in my MLIS program. February school vacation with the week after having no school because of a blizzard. So much overwhelm.So much functional freeze. AND the   February FIG challenge   that has been such a bright light. Here are my final FIGs of the challenge, which include some stories about being back in school, parenting, puppies, and smiles. 14   How well Lil Momma did when school was canceled for the entire week after February vacation (sigh, thanks Blizzard of 2026 and the 30+ inches of snow in my backyard). School vacations are hard for only children and then to have another week off while the Mr. and I had to work was rough - but, she totally rallied! One day, we made a deal if she got 10k steps on the treadmill she could have ice cream for dessert, 12k and she could have fast food for dinner, and 15k to choose what we watched on tv fo...

  Friends, work and parenting and taking a class and being a human in this world is a lot.   I’m a little behind on a lot and a lot behind on a little. I’m haunted by tasks. I may have taken on too much, but the only way out is through.  I am loving the class I’m taking and I’m not loving the fact that I have not yet been able to get a week ahead in assignments. I know this is not exactly the format of the  February FIG challenge , but it’s where my heart is at and I think that is FIG-gy enough.  One  I’m taking  Introduction to the Information Professions  and this week’s chapter was all about the history of libraries and I really loved it.  Two  Work has been so oof but my work best friend and I have been randomly sending what we call “memes of hope and solidarity” throughout the day and they really help me keeping going through these long days.  Three  Maysie is just the best. She’s 50 lbs of love and joy (and jumping) (trai...

It’s hard to write when the world is on fire. My heart and my head are so heavy. Besides the general * gestures at everything *, January has been a month of churn and change here. So, I thought I’d share a new path I’m wandering down and then regroup and reframe for February. (I saw some FIGgy news headed that way…) So, what’s changing? Who’s changing? School started (for me) What’s that? It both feels so random and so right. As work became more and more uncertain and taxing and miserable last year, I started doing some thinking about my future. I’m almost 50, my child will be graduating in 5 years, and I’m in a moment of figuring out who I am outside of my job and caretaking and being injured…  I seem to be right in the right place to navigate a personal pivot, a third act with agency and purpose.  When I was a child, I wanted to be a librarian. The safety and possibilities of our small town library helped build me into the reader and the mom and the human that I am. When I ...

 It’s one of those transitional years for me: Lil Momma turns 13 this summer, my work has drastically changed and I’m no longer seeing staying as a given, and I’m building back from these injuries and stress and sadness. This list is more to keep my head in the game (some new games, actually) and to remember to be present in these moments - and maybe even have some fun. Who knows? Stranger things have happened… I’ll elaborate more when I check in about them here and there, but there’s the whole list as a start. 1 do my PT exercises multiple times a week 2 clean my office and set up my desk 3 give myself time to enjoy school 4 send 12 cards 5 do my own estate planning  6 that vacation I owe LM  7 take a long walk in the woods 8 read 100 books 9 go see a movie 10 hang pictures  12 listen to more music  13 eat dinner at the table  14 bake 10 loaves of bread 15 see people more 16 take a solo trip  17 dip my toes in the ocean  18 play more board games ...

  Well, we made it through the holidays! On the other side of New Year’s, I’m happy to “countdown” a few favorites from the Christmas —> New Year’s season! 4 advent calendars The Mr got a snack one with flavored nuts and meat sticks. It was good for the first 6 (varied nut mixes) and meh for the latter 6 (the same 3 meat sticks repeated.  LM got one of her favorite YouTuber’s Christmas advent which had 12 little plushies of some of the characters in holiday outfits. Now, as a Moriah Elizabeth forward family, there was some sadness with missing favorites, but overall a huge win and great for decorating LM’s pink tree.  I had a 24 day calendar with miniature versions of classic literature each day. It’s super cute - each one has a quote on the back and a loop from the spine so I’m going to make a garland for my office - and I may have squealed when I opened  Anne of Green Gables .  As a family, we also did the  Taskmaster  Advent calendar which was th...