Random life-stuff again!

First off, some cool forensic work: what J.S. Bach looked like!

I think he looks kind. (I hope he was, considering the passel of kids he had!)


Ken's parents agreed to the trip to the Mutter Museum the day after Easter! So we will have fun geeking out together (probably after lunch).

I'm applying for a promotion, again--but this time to be the Collection Development Assistant for our library system. I plan on brushing up my resume and doing a cover letter this weekend. I'm very excited about the possibility--I'd love to work on buying books & media and doing other things related to our collections!

Ivan is as adorable and demanding as ever. I've never heard a cat give such a single long "Meeeeeeeeeeoooooowwww!"

geeking out and other random stuff

First off, Blacker than Black: A scientist has created a black substance that absorbes more than 99 percent of light, according to the Washington Post. The substance could render something invisible, which means yes, it's of great interest to the Defense Department. It's also ideal for highly efficient solar panels since it absorbes virtually all light. And then, one could make a Harry Potteresque Invisibility Cloak from it...
This invention has wonderful applications for science fiction stories. I'm definitely keeping it in mind. And it was invented in NY State (at RPI, not all that far from you, Dave...)

Secondly, I have a master's degree and I can't close out a frigging cash register. I must have turned the key the wrong way and once I did that no amount of hitting the "clear" key or even turning the machine off would help. Finally I called my coworker who uses the *$%& thing regularly and she got me to the point where I could get the cash drawer out and lock it up safely. Bah.

Nothing new on the adoption or home-hunting front.

I did tell you all I'm going to Anime Boston, didn't I? Have to decorate my T-shirt for my day costume. Yes, I'll post pictures. I'm going to look like the kid on the cover of this book. Well, kind of. You might even want to try reading Hikaru no Go (Ralph, it's about right for your older kids--they'll get some Japanese culture and learn about a complex strategy game as well as reading a fun story! I think it may be up Brian's alley).

Valentine's Day

We had a lovely elegant dinner last night, and when I got up this morning Ken had left me a most beautiful Valentine, rose-colored velveteen with beautiful sayings and words of his own written in his Japanese-calligraphy pen.

There's so much around about "love" today, but love is so much more than the romantic relationship between a man and a woman that I am so blessed with.


Here's to the many other kinds of love...

...to friends who support you by words or hugs or humor or whatever is needed or wanted
...to parents, grandparents and other caretakers who sacrifice so much in loving care to children of all ages, especially those allegedly "difficult" to love
...to same-sex romantic couples whose love is treated as an oddity at best and evil at worst, instead of as the blessed gift it is
...to people in unrequited love with all the bittersweetness of that particular adoration

::hugs to all::

Cool scientific advancement!

Scientists have created an embryo with three parents as part of research to prevent congenital defects that result from abnormalities in the mother's mitochondria.

Practical results are far off but the research is exciting and promising.

I loved cellular biology in school, can you tell? I love the idea of healthy babies even more.


Note to Lisa: I got the Hudson Valley brochure last Wednesday, Jan. 30. I lost your email and didn't get an answering machine when I called you, so I'm trying here...

My life--random bits

After more than a year of waiting for my very own PC at work (Every Librarian I was supposed to have one over a year ago), two weeks of it not working partially or entirely, two in-person visits and numerous remote fixing attempts by our computer staff, it finally worked yesterday.

That same day we had leaks again at work over some tech equipment. Amazingly, not over my new PC. Yes, I was in charge.

Season 2 of Torchwood started on BBCAmerica last Saturday. I've linked to Wikipedia because those bloody Brits have their link closed to non-UK people for rights reasons--and no link to an alternate site. It's a great combination of science fiction, amazing character interactions and, well, sexual innuendo galore. Not to mention Capt. Jack Harkness is totally hot.

I've applied to attend the Maryland Library Leadership Institute this summer. Gah, it was like applying to college again--six mini-essays and three recommendations. Even if I don't get in, writing out my accomplishments and what inspires me in detail was good for me, and reading the recommendations was wonderful for my self-esteem!

Still dragging our heels on adoption paperwork except that we both now have our physicals done. You'll be glad to hear neither of us have TB, our EKGs were normal and we have our diphtheria/tetanus/whooping cough shots. The psych evals come later (you think I'm kidding?)

Ken & I caught an hourlong special on The Mutter Museum on TV this morning (this is our idea of quality bonding time). Mom & Dad C, we're thinking we could all go the day after Easter for a visit. I am not kidding (Mom and Dad J. breathe a sigh of relief that they aren't being asked--yet.)

I'm going to Anime Boston in March--attending and staying with one of my anime friends and hoping to meet another one. Need to make my Amtrak reservations and haunt Goodwill for shirts to cosplay Hikaru from Hikaru no Go--the kid in front with the blond bangs. (on the right in the ancient Japanese court costume). Yes, I'm going to pretend I'm a 12 year old boy.

Going to have lunch and do laundry soon and hit Goodwill for a yellow T-shirt...