Carrie Pulls a Paula

I know, I know, its been a week since episode two premiered, but I only got around to seeing it last night. New job is still shiny fyi.

So, Project Runway meets SJP. It was inevitable really, but second episode? Seriously? Where are the days of designing with flowers or for Barbie? Are they trying to class the show up? It makes my sad. The early days are absolutely when you should do the recycling challenge. Save the SJP episode for halfway through.

Spit-Mark should be toast. We all know the story line that goes along with her elk, but she's less creative then Santino and not nearly as manipulative as Wendy. Bottom line is she would never survive in a real fashion environment so cut her free before really good designers get sent home.

Angular Hair's taste is highly questionable and he's already wearing me down with his 'tude. I thought it was cute at first, but now it's just irritating.

I really like the pudgy guy. I liked that he admitted to being nervous around SJP.

And the lady herself? As the title says, she pulled a Paula. She had very little negative to say and looked deeply uncomfortable when Nina and Michael went into their usual song and bitchy dance. She also defended her choices constantly talking about how it wasn't what she had seen in the sketch. Methinks she is a little uncomfortable being around fashionistas after her own tastes have been picked apart so often.

That's all for now, heading out of town Friday morning to return Sunday night.

Peace,
CGL

Up a Tree

Greetings from my new job. Given it's entirely wooden, second floor balcony access only way, I've dubbed my new joint "Library Treehouse" or Treehouse for short. Once again, I am the sole librarian here. I currently have one work study though two is the usual number.

I spent my first day getting down and dirty and plan to repeat that tomorrow. It is dusty up in here. I also plan on throwing out a whole ton of junk. There are binders full of information from the eighties. Probably will waffle over their potential importance for a while before promptly chucking them. I'm also getting a new computer as the current one has definitely had better days. Hopefully I will also get a new printer as the current one takes up a lot of desk space.

It is dead silent here. There are no computers in here to draw in the internet zombies and the collection is far too specialized to draw on the greater community.

Oh, did I mention that we're still on the card catalog system? Yes, yes we are. Do I know how to do the card catalog system? No. No I don't. And I will learn only temporarily and then we are going electronic damnit. I will find the cheapest software available if I have to, but we are going to barcode this place up the wazoo and throw the card catalog down a flight of stairs or something.

Rock on,
CG:

Outie like a bellybutton

This is me leaving! Gave in my keys, said my goodbyes....it hasn't quite sunk in yet.

Happy Thanksgiving! Next time I post will be new job central!

Of Queens and Crazy Ladies

Ah, the first Project Runway of the season. The return of Hedi, Tim Gunn looking upbeat and the judges grumpy and bitchy. Does anyone else think that the contestants are way more experienced and qualified this time around?

It was actually nice to let the designers just design for their first task. It gave a much clearer impression of what they were capable of. The loser for instance. You couldn't make time on a simple dress to sew in a zipper? I knew she was doomed even before the critique. I was still hoping against hope that they would cut the crazy lady with the train of doom free though. It looks like a Santino meets Wendy situation there. It could get really ugly, annoying and repetitive. Though it did allow Heidi to get in a joke.

I really like the pudgy queen. He's like Jay v.2.1 and I actually liked his design better then the kid who won. Who is definitely Jeffery v. young and flaming.

I refuse to learn their names yet. Still far too disposable.

In real life, things here at VSL are getting intense as I prepare to leave. My last day is Tuesday and yesterday it dawned on everyone that they have made no preparations for my departure. Good job. So today was a hundred questions, but I've mostly checked out mentally. I have to run a training session on Monday and since Tuesday is when Thanksgiving is celebrated here, it looks like I'm not going to get my goodbye luncheon. Oh the fuck well.

Catch you on the flipside,
CGL

Mmm....reality tv....

It tastes as good as candy and is just as bad for me. I had a chance to watch a lot while I malingered on the couch. Here are the highlights:

1. Project Runway returns this week! My fave reality tv show evah. And as if in honor of this Santino was on Amercia's Most Smartest Model. I miss that season. Nick and Daniel were so doing it.

2. America's Most Smartest Model....this is brain crack for anyone who has any kind of common sense and midlevel IQ, but never made it in the looks department. Geeks created this show. It's great. Watch dumb, pretty people fall on their dumb, pretty faces. I am petty. I don't care.

3. Shot of Love with Tila Tequila...... I didn't want to watch it. There was literally nothing else on. Not even BBC's Cash in the Attic which is my stand by sick day show. It is truly horrifying. She sticks all her potential dates (twist: they are men and women! Bi people should suffer horrible reality torment too! Yay, equality?) in one bed. And then tells them they shouldn't do anything physical with each other. And then is utterly shocked when they do. Given that there is more alchol then in a pub, no place for privacy and everyone on the show has an intense desire to be desired and watched..... what was she expecting?

4. I Love New York.... Are her implants growing from show to show? She has entered into the world of scary scary breasts. They look like they might explode. I miss Midget Matt already. He was the voice of reason.

5. I just used the word reason in conjunction with reality programming....shoot me.

I am going to try to do a weekly update of Project Runway that I hope will be interactive! I want to act with you! You make me active. You are special.

I swear that I still have deep thoughts. It's just been a very long few weeks.

Outie like a belly button,
CGL

And so it goes....goes BOOOYAH!!!!

I have got a letter, I have give notice.

This actually all happened on Monday, but then my immune system imploded and I've been to busy coughing, sneezing and sleeping to say anything. Sorry if I left y'all in suspense.

The reactions so far to my leaving have been very interesting. Despite the fact that I never publicly grumble, no was surprised. Everyone has more or less said 'good for you' and really meant it. A few have said they were sure that it was going to happen at any minute. The track record isn't very good here for keeping librarians.

I am still terrified about what the new job might hold. They are much more relaxed at this place, but I hope they are not so relaxed that nothing gets done. I like to function and I would like a job that if not challenges, then at least stays at my level of competency instead of drifting down to the level of file clerk.

I am already recovering from the Cold of Doom. It gets the of Doom because what I thought was pink eye was actually mucus coming out of my eyeballs. That's right, my eyes were leaking sneeze juice. SO GROSS.

Next week is mostly going to be spent wrapping things up, letting people know that I'm leaving who need to know and then dealing with whatever they come up with.

It's going to leave the library ridiculously understaffed. I have mixed feelings about this. My boss left about a month after she hired me. I really resented that and resolved that I would not do the same. I almost did. We were searching for a part-time person and I found a great canidate, so great that I wanted to snatch her up. Her hours wound up not meshing with ours and I was surprised about how relieved I was about that.

On the one hand, being without any librarian at all means that the library will probably be closed a lot. People that I like here will have to take on an additional burden of keeping its doors open and they are already busy enough.

On the other hand, what my boss did felt like a trap. I was looking forward to working with her and might not have taken this job over the other offer had I known what was going to happen.

All in all, it's been a good experience. Next week I will dedicate myself to getting my office and papers in order. I have instructions to type out on everything that I do here. Some if I already have documented, it just needs to be cleaned up.

Catch you on the flipside,
CGL

The W word

That's right, I'm still waiting. I have verbal confirmation of the job, but they are procrastinating on sending me a letter of employment. The letter is key because without it, I simply won't resign here. I can't. I would be too afraid they'd flake out and then I'd really be left with my pants down.

The bad part is that my boss here at the VSL resigned today effective by January. If I don't get out now, I might get caught in the middle of shitstorm. Seriously. There will be restructuring and I'm honestly already tired of it and nothing has even happened yet.

-CGL