What Career?

On break between classes this morning, I popped into the library and picked up a copy of the Library Journal magazine to pass the time. What I ended up reading was a bit distressing. When I first decided I wanted to be a librarian, I looked up some stats in the government's occupational handbook. It stated that because a lot of jobs were filled by babyboomers, and there was a general lack of interest in the field, jobs would start to grow for those looking toward becoming a librarian within the next 10 years.

It didn't anticipate the recession.

I'd been reading it in other blogs for awhile, but everyone complains about how little money their jobs are paying, how funds are low, so I wrote off all of the writings. But this magazine summed it up like a smack in the face. Because of the recession, or maybe its because the government doesn't see the importance of libraries, budget cuts have been harsh. According to the LJ, New Jersey received a vicious budget cut of 43%. New York City alone got a cut of $15 million dollars in funds. On top of it all, a lot of libraries everywhere had to layoff employees, or offer retirement incentives to give employees a graceful exit.

All of this meant two things to me: will libraries be there for me, like they were when I was a child, in even just a few years? And will I even have a career to look forward to after earning my master's? My husband assures me there will be a career, that there are no worries. I hope he's right. In the mean time, read the printed word! Visit your local libraries!

In case you're interested, check out www.losinglibraries.org, and see what I mean.

Orson Again

I recently finished an anthology of science fiction short stories put together by Orson Scott Card and it was amazing. I love short stories, especially science fiction, so I was glad when I finished my books and could read my husband's. Lol. The book, Intergalactic Medicine Show, was compiled to give readers a taste of the online magazine of the same name, once again headed by Card. I can't wait until my husband reads the book, so we can chat about our favorite stories, two of which I have already chosen. One is a re-make of the story of Uther Pendragon, from a much different perspective, with a bit of a dark twist. The other is very short, but I liked the overall feel, and the little twist. It definitely had a ring of truth to it.

Well, until my hubs reads it, and unless YOU read it, you'll have to wait for more elaboration on the stories. Until then!

Commercials Misleading: Who Knew?

Like any TV viewer, I run into the occasional commercial. There's always one that talks about how great the "actual customer's" mattress is; how they used to wake up with bad backs and sore necks. I never woke up with a bad back. Sometimes my neck was sore. Usually my hips or shoulders hurt, but I never put much stock into their claims that the right mattress could solve my sleep problems. The tossing and turning; the need to nap throughout the day.

But the new mattress I bought with my husband is amazing. I've had the best nights sleep on it; it's so soft and comfortable, perfectly plush, and I have felt energized and revitalized in the mornings and throughout my days. If you're tired all day, seriously, invest in a new mattress.

Getting Grown-Up Furniture

I have reached a new stage in my life; I can now say I am officially a newlywed (even the country says so; we got our marriage license back in the mail the other day). Well, I've been able to say so for two weeks now, but still!

So, my husband and I now live in my apartment, and we were faced with what a lot of newlyweds are faced with, which is that we can't really rely so much on the college-kid furniture. We want to build a life, start having real house ware, get rid of the rolling, primary-colors storage bin (red! yellow! blue!) that served as my night stand since I was a kid. The first order of business was a bed that was more suitable for a husband and wife, i.e. one that fit more than one person over the age of six.

I'd heard a song about a wonderful store that sold great things for cheap prices. IKEA! After searching online, we found a bed we both liked, but the shipping alone cost more than the actual bed. We bought a queen mattress set, and not too long afterward we finangled a day when I was off of work and we could borrow my husband's parents' mini-van and head to the closest store, three and a half hours away.

Having never been to an IKEA store, I was a bit overwhelmed. We already knew where to find our bed, which we promptly bought and packed up. But wait. Did we want anything else? It might be awhile before we got the chance to come back, and their prices were great. Plus, we dug their style. My husband was hoping for a coffee table (because, you know, I don't HAVE one), and I REALLY wanted to get rid of that rolling plastic bin I called a night stand. We had a nice bed, and I wanted a table to match. So, we hit the showroom. It was good that we both discussed exactly what we wanted before heading in, and how much we were willing to spend, because OMG I wanted everything. "But, babe! Look at this kitchen! Can't we just buy the whole kitchen?!"

Needless to say, we came out with a coffee table and two nightstands, all matching in color and complementary in style, for under $200 dollars. I left happy as a clam. We were starving after all that shopping, and promptly headed to the closest Dave and Buster's (never been). The food was yummy, and I love arcades. My husband and I tore through Time Crisis 4 and skee-ball. We earned enough tickets to load up on candy, but the line was so long I gave up. Oh well. Maybe next time I can actually earn enough coupons for a Dave and Buster's cup.