This is the same as my Facebook note, so if you saw that you can skip this.





After about 6 months of rapidly declining health my father has finally found peace. He died in his sleep Monday night at 10:49pm. All of his children were there over the weekend to say goodbye. Though he lacked the energy to laugh often, he made jokes even in his last days.

The funeral will be Saturday at 11am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Appleton, WI. At 2pm there will be a graveside service at Brookside Cemetary in Brookside, WI, where he will be buried next to my mother.

The family is thankful for all of the support that has been shown during this emotionally trying time in our lives.

There are 30 questions.
Answer each question with one name.
Next to each number, write only the name of the person who fits.
Don't tell the questions to anyone who isn't doing the meme.

1. dumbsarah
2. owestcot
3. Nobody
4. thenicole
5. tom_rules definitely. :-)
6. walesnightingal I guess. These questions kinda fail.
7. chosen5x5
8. almosttomorocco
9. another1stkiss
10. dancsheep
11. canadianmayhem
12. I can't choose! ragdoll1017
13. I dunno. chosen5x5
14. piellio/agentseethroo
15. slackdaddy It would be hilarious and/or terrifying
16. terilou6983
17. almosttomorocco
18. singinbanshees / uhh....how about ejinsc
19. peripatetic_one
20. goddessleah675
21. I don't know what this is.
22. Or this. Google, you have failed me.
23. Nobody on LJ
24. sick_kitty
25. hehehe goddessleah675
26. another1stkiss
27. charlesthegnu
28. 3words4you
29. dancsheep
30. I loves you!

For those of you wanting more details, see below. I've also got a few more pictures here.

Tonight Jordan proposed. :-)

Pictures are coming, but here's one to tide you over.

I just went through and unfriended a bunch of journals that have been left to collect dust. If you start writing things again let me know and I'll re-add you. I also took the time to make it so I can read locked entries in my rss reader. This means it's more likely I'll actually know what's going on with people who expect me to know. :-) I'm working on uncluttering my life, both online and in the real world. If we rarely talk there's no reason for me to try and keep up with your life. I'm too busy to spend my time trying to keep up with everyone I've ever met.

Somewhat related to this, I'm doing the 1001 Day Project. While I technically started this in the early spring I've really started to work on it recently. Some things I've already accomplished include going to Hawaii, getting my passport, and getting into grad school. I've also got a number of things in progress and a handful that will be done over the holidays (e.g. learn to ski). Despite the fact that I've been completing things since early this year I haven't actually finished my list yet. I think I'm up to 97 goals at this point, so if you have some great ideas please share them.

I haven't really posted anything about my dad since my State of the Roxy post back in August. If you don't feel like following the link, it was really just one line. "My dad got accepted to Hastings, which means we're one step closer to an actual move. I think the hardest part is over." Ha. I was completely wrong about that. Soon after the move he was repeatedly ending up in the Minneapolis hospital and they eventually decided he should be moved to the Minneapolis home as soon as there was a bed, because they provide more care there. While waiting he stayed at the hospital. That wasn't the hardest part either.

It boils down to this. My dad is dying. IF he gets on the transplant list, one of his kids will be putting life on hold indefinitely (what a fun conversation that was). Maybe two days after that conversation we were told that unless my dad shows some independence it's a moot point. They will not put him on the transplant list. I'm not sure if he doesn't have the energy to or if he's giving up, but I don't see him getting on the list. He's basically told me as much. From what I've been hearing he could live up to 3 years IF he's trying. Best case scenario. Honestly though, this is very likely his last Christmas. I'm hoping for the best but I can't help thinking the worst. And I'm not ready to lose my dad, even in 3 years.

I can't believe I haven't posted since August. And I never gave you all the Hawaii rundown. Maybe one of these day's I'll surprise you with it.

Meanwhile, I've finished The King and I, started my weekend job at Cornell, and taken my midterms. Jordan and I have started ballroom dancing semi-regularly. I've also auditioned for another show. What can I say, I'm crazy. At least I was smart enough to realize early that I couldn't do all this and participate in NaNoWriMo. I'm still hoping to get some writing done this month (I've got over 300 words!), but I'm not reaching for any lofty goals.

I've considered making one of those mind/body/soul lists a few of you have going, but the truth is I'd never get on here enough for updates.

I'm pretty sure there was more, but I certainly can't think what.

We didn't get to Clue last weekend, so we're planning for this weekend instead. Saturday at 7:30 I think, but don't quote me. Interested parties should contact us.

Rehearsals are frustrating me to no end. I go, sit around until I come on, try and figure out what I'm supposed to be doing because our director isn't so good about making that clear, and then rinse and repeat. Yesterday I think I spend maybe half an hour "rehearsing" (which I put in quotes because it meant standing around pretending to be sleepy while the leads did their thing) and about five minutes actually doing something. I was at rehearsal for about an hour and a half. Rant over.

I've kind of applied for a part-time position at Cole. I say kind of because I haven't actually sent them anything yet, but they're already trying to set up an interview. Meanwhile I'm trying to gather up my references. If things work out, I'll be working weekends in Mt. Vernon to earn some extra cash for tuition.

My dad got accepted to Hastings, which means we're one step closer to an actual move. I think the hardest part is over.

I read an amusing article about quizzing your friends to figure out who gets an invite to your wedding and now I'm curious who knows me well enough according to their standards. If I were getting married tomorrow would you make the cut? Answer if you dare! (Comments will be screened so nobody can cheat).

1) Name the city I'm living in now.
2) Name at least two of my closest friends.
3) Name my current employer and my past employer.
4) Do I have any kids?
5) Do you know the name of my fiancé boyfriend? Bonus question: Where and when did we meet?
6) Do you know where my parents are and whether they are still alive?
7) Name at least two of my hobbies.
8) How old am I?
9) Where did I go to college?
10) Name my last boyfriend before this engagement one.

This morning the strangest thing happened. I had the urge to get up and go for a walk. Before nine on a Saturday. I'm not exactly the most active to begin with, so I'm pleasantly surprised with myself.

Sometime this weekend another1stkiss and I are hoping to go see "Clue: the musical" at the Old Creamery Theatre in the Amanas. Anyone interested in joining us?

The Hawaii slideshow is still being made. New photos were recently made available to me. I'll eventually post about my trip, I swear!

In case you haven't heard, I auditioned for the musical "The King and I" and I got a part. (I'm a wife). I've had rehearsals every day since Tuesday. My day's went like this: wake, work, eat lunch, work, eat dinner, rehearsal, get home and collapse. Right now I know I have rehearsal Sunday and Monday and I should hear about the rest of the week tonight. Here's hoping I can still have a social life, but I'm doubtful. The show's here in IC and it opens September 12. Be there or I'll know you don't love me. :-)

On a more serious note, my dad is not doing very well. The past few weeks he's been in and out of the hospital a couple times. We're working on getting him moved to a veterans home close to my sister. She's actually visiting him now and helping him go through all his stuff to figure out what he wants to take. Hopefully we can get him moved before the end of the month.

I have started compiling some Hawaii pictures into a folder to make into a slideshow. Theoretically I'll have a post about that in the next few weeks.

We has a new room! Really just a sofa bed for the guest room, an end table, lamp, and throw pillows. So our guest room is starting to look livable. Jordan took a picture but I don't think he's taken it off the camera yet.

I finished a puzzle I got a long time ago and took a long hiatus from. That's about the most exciting thing going on for me. Meanwhile Jordan has become a scooter fiend. I finally hung some clothesline and picked up some clothespins (FYI - binder clips work too) so go me on the domestic front!

Gotta run now, but maybe I'll get back into this posting thing...

I'm back from Hawaii and intend to update specifically about that at some point.

Abrams Spotlight Productions, Inc. got the loan so they can buy the church (now they just need to raise money to pay back the loan!)

Sorry for falling off the writing band-wagon recently. I'm back now!

Class = done! (3 for 3 on presentations and we didn't even run the whole time!)

Play = 2 days to opening night! I'm heading out at 1 and hope to see some of you this weekend. For all the details, check out the Facebook event.

Writing = hopefully tomorrow

Sleep = enough for now

This week and last week are probably some of the busiest ever. Seeing friends we haven't seen in forever, celebrating, shoe shopping...
My annotated bibliography was turned in last night (after not getting nearly enough work done on it last week). Tonight I get to present 3 times during class.

1) Short summary of annotated bibliography (5 min.)
2) Short presentation on MARC fields 780/785 that should have been presented over a month ago (5 min.)
3) Longer presentation on Bliss Classification that should have been presented two weeks ago (10-15 min.)

Wednesday I leave for Wisconsin so I can rehearse with the cast 2 nights before we open. I still haven't really rehearsed my gypsy dance number, and I'm hoping 2 nights are enough to pick up the choreography for the few sections of the play I haven't learned properly yet/haven't seen. Also, I'm hoping that not actively rehearsing my lines for 2 months (not counting one night of rehearsal) doesn't matter and I'll remember them despite probably not going over them until Wednesday, when I'll show up late (because I always seem to be late).

What I should do today: review presentations so that I'm not unfamiliar with my own material, rehearse!
What I will do today: possibly some review, hopefully finish some writing, likely not rehearse, definitely go to class and present (3 for 3?)
What I want to do today: play Wii!!!!, SLEEP

I feel like my life will be so much less stressful and busy next week, but I know I'll just find something else. Such is life!

I registered for my fall classes yesterday. I'll be taking 2 of the 3 required "Tier I" courses. On a somewhat related note, I'm nearly done with Advanced Cataloging! I have 2 presentations and an annotated bibliography left. I should be working on them, but I felt like updating for once.

Very tangentially related, I found the perfect icon for the librarian that I am. I also found a song for serials librarians, which I can't seem to find now. Not that you care anyhow.

Since it was so nice today, Jordan and I ate lunch and dinner outside. It made me incredibly happy. Also making me incredibly happy is knowing that we have our Hawaii flight booked! I also have my bridesmaid dress now so I just have to figure out what clothes I'm bringing and hope I can avoid checking all my luggage.

Saturday was my last rehearsal before production week. I still haven't rehearsed some scenes with the cast. Good thing I have two dress rehearsals before opening night I guess. Interested parties: My cousin has a large yard that people can camp on if you're at all interested in coming for the show. Personally I think it would be a ton of fun, but I do realize it's a bit of a drive. Also, if you even think you might come, talk to me. I have to start reserving seats and things since they've sold out shows in the past.

I have been failing in the writing department lately. I chalk it up to class/the play, but I'm worried what that means for when I'm taking 2 classes this fall. On the bright side, I think I've written more in the past 6 months than I have in the past few years (school writing aside).

My Wii is wonderful, I just wish I had more time to enjoy it.

Goodnight, and thanks for all the fish.

1. Dream that significant other dies.
2. Fail to get any significant sleep afterwards.
3. Oversleep as a result.
4. Rush to work in rain.
5. Have something left undone from the day before that the boss inevitably notices and points out 2 minutes after your arrival.

Let's just say yesterday was not looking like my day. I took a nap during my lunch because I was so tired. Luckily, Jordan knows the remedy for a crappy day (shame this won't happen every time): Wii!

I got home to find the slanket covering my usual seat on the couch. Under said slanket was a wrapped box. Inside the box was a Wii, Wii Play with bonus controller, and an extra nunchuck. Suddenly my day was looking much better and I had more energy! Of course, I still went to bed at 10.

I got a letter from the School of Library and Information Science today. It was incredibly thin and so after I started to open it I changed my mind and opened my other mail first. Iowa Student Loan sent me a dollar in the hopes that I'll fill out their survey. Sadly, I didn't have much other mail. I opened the single sheet of paper to read:

( Read more... )

One of the Rob's emailed me back the other day. Today he picked up his lost iPod. Apparently he's already lost one before and was about to give up on this one. I guess he was in a hurry to start his vacation and left it behind, so he wasn't around to retrace his steps or anything. Anyhow, karma owes me.

I have a new (as in different) iPod. It's a 30gb, black, video-capable beauty (aside from the fingerprints all over it). It includes a black case and Shure headphones. It's loaded with 505 songs and also includes some pictures of people ziplining in Alaska from this past summer. Why do I have an iPod with someone else's music and pictures? Sheer luck. An iPod was left near the IRC...2 1/2 weeks ago? and someone turned it in to us. I walked it over to the HR department and, while turning it over, mentioned that I sure wouldn't mind having one. The woman takes my comment seriously and says, "I'll write your name down." She proceeds to do so as she tells me she'll probably give it until the beginning of next month, but nobody had called about one yet.

Meanwhile, I tried not to get my hopes up and eventually forgot about it. She just walked into the IRC while I was on a call and dropped it off by my desk for me. I'm still in shock. I feel like I should try and find the owner or something instead of basking in the glory of a 30gb iPod I can store pretty much all of my music on. Anyhow, it's currently charging as the battery is almost dead and I happened to have my cord with me today.

This weekend Jordan wanted to go camping. What did I do? Crazy person that I am, I volunteered to join him. So now, after a later start than planned, I get to help him trample down the snow so we can put up our tent (his is too small for two) that we’ve only assembled once before…in the dark. This should be fun.

11:00pm Finally reach the campsite and realize that it is, in fact, the campsite. Retrieve keys (for what?) and go pick out a spot for the tent.

11:50pm Snow has been trampled/shoveled, tent has been raised and staked, and our stuff has been unceremoniously tossed inside. Jordan goes in search of the bathrooms.

12:06am Bathroom has been found, unlocked, and Jordan proceeds to chip away the ice that prevents the door from opening.

12:10am Roxy realizes the bathroom is heated and debates never leaving.

12:34am Snuggled into respective sleeping bags and hoping Roxy doesn’t die.

Sometime later Jordan squeezed in to Roxy’s sleeping bag so Roxy doesn’t die.

2:30am Despite Roxy being much warmer, Jordan is now cold.

2:47am Roxy is in the car, headed toward a real bed and Jordan is back in his super!sleeping bag.

3:25am Roxy is warming up in a real bed and thinking about this post for 20 minutes instead of going to sleep.

3:52am Roxy investigates a noise, realizes it really has been 20 minutes, and goes to sleep, hoping Jordan’s sleeping bag is as warm as he said it would be.

The statuses just seem to have a sort of flow to them in my opinion.

Roxy wishes she had stayed home.
Jeff G. dreads snow.
Betsy S. thinks her train just broke down.
Sara H. breaks things.

Waiting for work to close so I can go back home. Maybe I'll be productive in the meantime...