Photo of the Day: Holy Places

Looking for the light? Looking for sanctuary? Look for the library. Look for the librarians.

Katonah Village Library at dusk, with the planets in alignment with perfect light.

Libraries can be holy places.

 

~ photo by iPhone, NO filters.

Officially Done with Grad School, 13 Years Later

Back in November, I wrote a check that I hoped would close a chapter of my life that seemed never to end: paying off my grad school loans.

My original loan paperwork for my repayment of US Government Student Loans was for a 10-year repayment cycle.

But all of my professional life I have worked for one non-profit and/or school or another. Things were a little tight, and this was long before this outgoing federal administration had put new measures in place to forgive loans. Instead, I inquired about an additional five-year extension.

So, after graduating with my Masters of Library and Information Science from the Palmer School of same at Long Island University in 2003, at the end of 2015, I managed to pay my loans off late/early, depending on how you look at it.

But...something was ... unresolved. After a monthly relationship for nigh on 12+ years, there was a distinct lack of closure. I was expecting SOMETHING to commemorate the end of this back and forth dance of paperwork. But, nothing ... For weeks. And weeks.

Until today.

Two loans.

Two pieces of paper.

NOW I have closure!

Finally.

Now I can spend that budget line on paying off this iPhone for the next two years.

Easy come. Easy go.

~some photos and entry by iPhone

Auntie Nettie Reads A Lot 2014 - 2nd/3rd Quarter

Well, usually I read a lot. This has been an interesting, let's say, transitional regrouping year, wherein I have had to re-prioritize my energies.

Now that the Summer Festival is well over, the 3-day Fall Festival is over, and the calm before the fall schedule really picks up, I have been enjoying the library again and reading on the commute. I'm reading a bunch of what would be considered "summer beach reads." No prize-winners or "best ofs X lists" for now. Just fun reads. At the beginning of the summer I had huge stacks of books that I just kept renewing because I couldn't get to, or into, them. It was, as the librarian and I both agreed as I shamefacedly returned them at the end of the allowable renewal cycles, a bit too ambitious. So ... this instead. A mix of fluff, chick-lit, some ARCS, some of my collections, and some books from friends.

c. 9/6/2014

I'll get to some of my serious series soon - once I reread the 500-800 page books leading up to the end of the 3-7 book series (maybe the holidays?).

The usual caveat applies: If you are just finding the blog, please note that this list was maintained mainly so that I could remember what I've (or NOT) read this year. The record does not fully represent me or all of my interests, so don't judge my reading habits. My interests change quite frequently. Also, as a general rule, I don't do book recommendations or link to major retailers or publishers. Except for the ARCs listed below [thanks major publishers!], most of these books came from MY library (now noted) or a public library. 

Go forth and READ! 

April through September 2014 (2nd/3rd quarters' worth)

A Fine Romance: Falling in Love with the English Countryside by Susan Branch (mine) 
The Fault in our Stars: A Novel by John Green [Do NOT read in public - and DO NOT READ WITHOUT TISSUES] (mine) 

Stitch in Snow by Anne McCaffrey (mine, reread)
Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery (mine, reread)
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (mine)
Since You've Been Gone by Anouska Knight (ARC)
Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery (mine, reread)
Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery (mine, reread)
Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey (mine, reread)
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (mine, reread)
The Family Man by Elinor Lipman
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (mine)
If I Stay by Gayle Forman (mine, reread)
Where She Went by Gayle Forman (mine)
Famous Last Words by Annie Sanders
Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Jill Monsell 
The Fortune Hunter: A Novel by Daisy Goodwin (ARC)
Ghost Gone Wild (A Bailey Ruth Ghost Novel) by Carolyn Hart
Curtsies & Conspiracies (Finishing School Book the Second) by Gail Carringer
After Dead: What Come Next in the World of Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris
Joy for Beginners: A Novel by Erica Bauermeister
The School of Essential Ingredients: A Novel by Erica Bauermeister (reread)
Shadow Spell: Book Two of The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy by Nora Roberts
The Lost Art of Mixing: A Novel by Eric Bauermeister 
The Undead Pool (A Hollows novel) By Kim Harrison

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick (mine) 
Confessions of a Latter-day Virgin: A Memoir by Nicole Hardy 

Skin Game (A Dresden Novel) by Jim Butcher

(did I skip a few? Apparently, maybe yes?!)
The Other Half: A Novel by Sarah Rayner (didn't finish)
Made to Last by Melissa Tagg
The Apple Orchard, A Novel by Susan Wiggs
For Once in my Life: A Novel by Marianne Kavanagh (didn't finish)
The Bridesmaids: True Tales of Love, Envy, Loyalty ... and Terrible Dresses by Eimear Lynch (ARC)
2 a.m. at the Cat's Pajamas: A Novel by Marie-Helen Bertino (ARC) 
The Last Breath by Kimberly Belle (ARC) 
Elemental Magic: All-New Tales of the Elemental Masters edited by Mercedes Lackey (mine) 

Elementary (All-New Tales of the Elemental Masters) edited by Mercedes Lackey (mine)

Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life is Your Hidden Strength by Laurie Helgoe, Ph.D. (mine)
A Shiver of Light (Merry Gentry Novel) by Laurell K. Hamilton
A Good Year for the Roses: A Novel by Gil McNeil
Rare Bird: A Memoir of Loss and Love by Anna Whiston-Donaldson (ARC) (Also have tissues handy)
 The Sweet Spot: A Novel by Stephanie Evanovich
Driving with The Top Down: A Novel by Beth Harbison
The Last Original Wife: A Novel by Dorothea Benton Frank
The Last Summer of the Camperdowns: A Novel by Elizabeth Kelly (didn't finish)
Bet Me: A Novel by Jennifer Cruise
Love Water Memory by Jennie Shortridge 
To the Letter: A Celebration of the Lost Art of Letter Writing by Simon Garfield (mine, non-fiction) 

Sweetshop of Dreams: A Novel with Recipes by Jenny Colgan 

Etta Mae's Worst Bad-Luck Day by Ann B. Ross 
Goodnight June: A Novel by Sarah Jio 
The Glass Kitchen: A Novel of Sisters by Linda Francis Lee 
Night Broken: A  Mercy Thompson Novel by Patricia Briggs 
That Summer: A Novel by Lauren Willig 
The Geometry of Love by Jessica Levine (didn't finish) 
Heroes Are My Weakness: A Novel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips 
Charlie Glass's Slippers: A Very Modern Fairy Tale by Holly McQueen 
The Summer Kitchen: A Novel by Karen Weinreb (didn't finish) 
The Appetites of Girls: A Novel by Pamela Moses (didn't finish) 
a couple of e-books from my iTouch

Photos of the Day: Unexpected Art Happenings

Discovered while wandering around 125th Street, outside the Cloisters, and around Washington Heights

Memorial Day, 2014

photos via iTouch

National Library Week: Be Nice to your Librarians

via the Twitters

Auntie Nettie Reads A Lot 2014 - 1st Quarter

The first quarter of 2014 has been an interesting one. To recap (again): First there was the return from the epic holiday journey, the projects from heck at the Big J, 7 day a week schedules of about 60-80 hours, informing the Big J that I was leaving, leaving (FREEDOM!), starting the new job at the "little c", dealing with the learning curve, dealing with the weather, traveling AGAIN, the weather, the commute, and OH YEAH, trying to deal with the rest of my "stuff."

Appropriately titled: UNFINISHED BOOKS

Apparently, I did try to use the other side of my brain and read, but only occasionally. Not nearly enough.

You know the other sad thing from this period?

And I am appalled to even type it?

I haven't been to a library - to check out books - since January.

JANUARY!

HOW? What? Sputter!

Read the above. Compute it.

Know that I have a backlog of titles on my bureau, shelves, and e-reader.

And not enough time - obviously - to even blog in a timely fashion.

The usual caveat applies: If you are just finding the blog, please note that this list was maintained mainly so that I could remember what I've (NOT) read this year. The record does not fully represent me or all of my interests, so don't judge my reading habits. My interests change quite frequently. Also, as a general rule, I don't do book recommendations or link to major retailers or publishers. Except for the ARCs listed below [thanks major publishers!], most of these books came from MY library or a public library. 

Go forth and READ!   

January through March 2014 [The lack of titles here saddens me.]
True Love (A Nantucket Brides book) by Jude Deveraux
Big Girl Panties: A Novel by Stephanie Evanovich
The Midnight Witch by Paula Brackston (ARC)
Bellman & Black: A Ghost Story by Diane Setterfield (ARC)
some e-books I don't recall
The Housemaid's Daughter: A Novel by Barbara Mutch (ARC)
After I'm Gone: A Novel by Laura Lippman (ARC)
Longbourn: A Novel by Jo Baker (mine)
Otherhood: Modern Women Finding A New Kind Of Happiness by Melanie Notkin (mine)

Auntie Nettie Reads A Lot 2013 - 4th Quarter

Winter 2014 Snow Days = More reading? Maybe.

I don't think it needs to be said AGAIN that the last quarter of 2013 was a bit busy. There just weren't enough hours in the day to work 12-14 hours a day, commute, craft, or read a good book.

Though, apparently, I did try,  occasionally. But not enough.

The usual caveat applies: If you are just finding the blog, please note that this list was maintained mainly so that I could remember what I've read this year. The record does not fully represent me or all of my interests, so don't judge my reading habits. My interests change quite frequently. Also, as a general rule, I don't do book recommendations or link to major retailers or publishers. Except for the ARCs listed below [thanks major publishers!], most of these books came from MY library or a public library. 

Go forth, use your library card and READ! 


October - December

[Surely I have read more than this?]

Jane by April Lindner
Long May She Reign by Ellen Emerson White (reread)
Dark Witch (Book 1 of the Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy) by Nora Roberts
The Cherry Cola Book Club by Ashton Lee
A Cookbook Conspiracy (A Bibliophile Mystery) by Kate Carlisle
Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times by Jennifer Worth

some e-books I don't recall

Photos of the Day: Sacred Spots and Spaces

P-Town Library

Wellfleet Preservation Hall

  The Majestic Oaks

 Nature's little monuments

 Cape Cod, October 2013