I can't stop watching this video. So adorably weird.

My abs are sore from Wabashing

Before:

Susan: How early do you want to get to the game?
Steven: I don't know, 30 minutes?
Long pause....
Susan: How early would be way too early to get to the game?
Steven: 5 hours?

Actual arrival time: 1:00p.m. Careful negotiation is the key to our relationship.


These were our seats. Getting there an hour and a half early has its advantages, but unfortunately I got greedy and tried to sit too low, and too in the middle. Those goal posts certainly don't wiggle when you're trying to see the snap. Another hazard of getting there too early and sitting behind the goal posts is kicking practice. We can personally vouch for the health of Kai Forbath. Every single kick made it through the uprights, though some were nearer to the third row than we appreciated. Also, they don't let you keep the ball if you catch it. Kind of crappy, if you ask me. Note for next game: choose a side.


You all know #8, and he was a BEAST up close. I can't believe how much he's grown in the offseason. But my favorite offensive player this year, because he's small and mighty and forgotten is #20, William Powell. Averaged 12 yards a carry versus UCLA and confused the heck out of the defense. It's good to have a pair, and I think this partnership will just keep getting better.

You'll be happy to know that Steven and I helped thwart the game-tying 2 point conversion, as they were threatening to score in our endzone. You're welcome. We'll be happy to offer our services again next weekend, though I think we learned another important lesson about afternoon games and sunscreen.


That's right. I've been branded by the sun.


Congratulations, Cats on an impressive opening victory. Now to face Terry Allen (everyone's favorite KU coach) and Missouri State. I'd like to see a blow-out, but I'll settle for a few more passing yards and a couple of sacks. Kick-off 6:10p.m. GO STATE!

The future?

A couple of weeks ago, this announcement popped up on one of my library listservs and I just about fell out of my chair.

The University of Mississippi Libraries seeks an Instruction/Reference Librarian to deliver user-centered instruction and reference services to the university community.

The successful candidate will:

- Participate in a general library instruction program supporting composition and freshman seminar courses and provide instruction in the assigned subject area

- Provide instruction support through web content and development of online tutorials

- Provide liaison and collection development for the School of Engineering and/or other departments as assigned

- Provide in-person and virtual reference services

- Participate in creative problem solving, take personal initiative, and work collaboratively with colleagues in the library and the university community.

Qualifications: ALA accredited master's degree by date of employment; excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.

The University of Mississippi is located in historic Oxford, a thriving community offering a wide range of literary, musical and cultural activities. For more information about the University and the community, please visit http://www.olemiss.edu/community/index.html.

I was all set to apply and break my lease and figure out how to get Big 12 football in Mississippi when I read the fine print: "ALA accredited master's degree by date of employment." So I wept. My perfect job actually exists, but I am ineligible for it because it is taking me 3 stinkin' years to finish 42 credit hours. Hopefully whoever gets the job will have some other pie in the sky fantasy job that will open in a year, leaving the position open again, mine for the taking. If nothing else, it has helped me get back in gear for my final year of graduate school.

This semester I am taking 2 classes, which is a total party after last year's 3 class per semester disaster decision. Additionally, one of the classes is in web development, which means it's less theory, more action, AND - it's an 8 week accelerated course entirely online. Heaven, thy name is electives. This is the first week of the course and I'm sort of hating the accelerated factor because this has also been the busiest week in my entire employment history. I'm used to terrible Augusts from working at the ELP with all the incoming international students, but that is nothing compared to the mental exhaustion of 8 appointments a day, athletic transcripts, summer graduation and departmental DARS audits. Add in to the mix the news that my beloved Mollie friend is leaving me for a job more suited to her kickass skills in new student services and this week has been a whole big sack of awful. At least I found some Fit Flop sandals at Penney's today for 50% off. And Steven took me to get a frosty. So there is a reason to get up in the morning.

***

Speaking of reasons to get up in the morning...

I wish you were real, so you could inherit Snyder's throne.

The Emmy's are on Sunday. Since Schindler's List won every award at the Oscars and they played that damn song over and over again, I have been sucked into the pageantry of awards shows. The Oscars and I, however, have not aged well. As I become more selective with my free time I find myself drawn to TV over movies, and TV actors over movie stars. This has grown into a full blown obsession this year, because I have latched on to the critically adored, universally ignored, Friday Night Lights.

Oh Tim Riggins. Who knew you would be the comedic heart of the show?

I could go on about the wonders of FNL, and I will. In fact, I might start a whole new blog committed to dissecting the characters, the acting choices, the dialogue, the Tim Riggins of it all. But all I'll say today, is that even though I loved Matthew Fox in the LOST finale, and I'm sure Breaking Bad is as good as everyone says, they better all take a seat to Coach Taylor. And ok, fine, it's great to see Nurse Carol back on primetime in a show with Big. I give you that. But is she as great as the inimitable Tami Taylor standing up to that snarky chump Joe McCoy? No. She's not. No one is. And no one has been, for the past 4 years. They finally got their nominations, and their fans made it through the emotional exhaustion of season 4 and we all deserve it.

Well, okay, Zach Gilford really deserves it the most but he wasn't even nominated. Seriously.

John Lithgow's got nothing on you, 7.

If you're like Betsy, and won't subject your eyes to conflict, you can also root for Amy Poehler, the delightfully upbeat and dedicated deputy on Parks and Recreation. You can mourn the snub of Aubrey Plaza by cheering for the many. many nominees from Modern Family and take heart that everyone's favorite geek, Sheldon, doesn't have to share the spotlight with Jon Cryer. But mostly, I would suggest watching, just for the clips. You might see something nominated that you've never heard of, or always wondered about, or never got around to watching. One of the greatest things that Instant Netflix, DVR, Hulu, Cox on Demand and syndication have brought us is instant and commercial free access to entire seasons of television. Indulge yourself. I dare you.

17 days

Guess who got her tickets today?


Just 17 more days until it's fill the Bill time. Are you ready? Here's a video for you, in case you're having trouble getting AMPED.

Sweet Jesus, I miss Michael Bishop. And I had forgotten all about Newman's crazy/insane/amazing return to win the USC game. Unbelievable.

Clear eyes, Full hearts, Can't lose

I discovered the secret to surviving the next 53 days.

Seasons 1-4 available instantly on Netflix.

Belated beyond belief - New house post

Steven and I have lenient landlords when it comes to decorating which means that we spent Memorial Day weekend repainting the walls. It started a dirty sad white, and ended up beautiful, bright and completely ours. We're blessed, and I try to remember that every time Larry ignores our repeated messages about the broken front window.

Dirty sad living room:


Happy gray living room:


Plain, boring white wall:


New, fancy purple wall:


Your average kitchen:


New and improved SUSAN kitchen:





Sad laundry area:


New and improved (though I still need to do something about that light fixture):



The main reason we decided on the house was all the built in storage, and this fabulous bookshelf/wall:


Which leaves all our bookshelves free for decorating:



The bedrooms and study were painted right before we moved in, but I'm still hoping to get curtains made for each of the rooms by the end of the year. I've been fabric shopping for weeks, but I can't commit to buying anything. It's much too stressful. Any color/style suggestions?






This is currently my coffee table. Though I appreciate the ability to move parts of it around as needed, it cannot last forever. Plus, the corners are sharp.


My last project of the summer is the bathroom. It requires wallpaper stripping, priming, and choosing a blue. Basically, it's impossible, because nothing matches my authentically vintage, perfectly hand-me-down, so ugly it's chic shower curtain. It will me stay with me always. Thanks, Momma.



So there you have it. No mice, quiet neighbors, close to work and colored walls. Everything I sort of knew I wanted.

Here we come

I have no reason to believe that the 2010 season will be miraculous. There's no indication that we will even improve on last year's 6-6 record. But thanks to the Where I Come From series, the Big 12 shuffle and Bill Snyder back on the sidelines, something just feels magical. Maybe it's just about having season tickets again. Or knowing that I'm back in a place where I have enough money and time to completely surrender to college football season. To get immersed in the drama and the players and the emotion and the silliness. Maybe it's because the basketball team has made us all better K-State fans again. All I know is that I have been focused on September 4th since November 21st. 56 days to go. Are you ready?