Heather’s Blog

There always seems to be a ton of those “year in review” lists out there that highlight the best parts of the year, so I figured I’d develop my own.  Overall, I’d say this has been a great year.  I feel like I’ve had more life changes this year then any other.  As silly as this sounds, I feel like I’ve finally made that transition into adulthood…and for the most part I’d say it’s a pretty good place to be.  So here’s my reasons for 2008 being a great year…

• Jan 10:  I turned 25.  Somewhat of a milestone.  This year was pretty awesome cause we had a triple birthday bash (Lisa and Kenny and myself).  That was one of my best memories of the year.
• March 15:  I got married.  After months of planning, an unnecessary headaches, Chris and I finally had our wedding!  we had a great time and I’d say the day was just about perfect.
• Late March:  I took my first cruise.  for our honeymoon Chris and I were sent on a cruise through Central America.  We hit up Honduras (where we zip-lined), Belize (where we rode ATVs and floated through a cave), Guatamala (where we visited some Mayan ruins), and Mexico (where Chris snorkeled and I laid on the beach).
• May:  I graduated.  For the third, and I’m thinking final, time in my life I adorned a cap and gown and graduated.  I got a Masters in Library Science from Mizzou, and thus ended my educational career.  I think.
• May 31:  I quit.  For the first time since I was 16, I stopped working.  I quit both (I always have more then one it seems) my jobs.  My days of working circulation at the library and monitoring recess at the elementary school were behind me!
• June 1: I moved.  I left good ole MO behind me and headed to Texas.  Not something I probably would have done on my own, but my husband is a Grad student in Houston, and I think life is better when he is around, so I packed it all up and moved.  I still miss home, my parents, and my friends, but I can’t complain about Houston too much.  I like it here.
• Mid-June:  I started a company.  I guess it’s called a company.  It’s an LLC and all I do is some contract work for a company back in St. Louis, but overall it’s a good fit and it helps pay the bills so I can’t complain.
• Late June:  I became a resident.  My car got new plates, the thrid set of plates I’ve ever had.  It has a spaceship, oil derrick, and a cowboy on it so I’d say it’s a worthwhile event.
• Summer (and Fall):  I was, for the most part, employed. During the time, I hated it.  All I wanted to do was find a job.  But now, I kind of miss my days of taking it easy and watching Dallas (9 seasons down!). I mean I had my LLC going, but I was sort of itching to put my degree to good use.
• August 12:  I got a job.  I interviewed with the Houston Public Library, and I was offered a job on the spot!
• Mid-Sept:  I survived a huricanne.  Ike came to Houston.  We rode out the storm and it was pretty intense.  We got through it with a leak in the roof (fixed a month later) and no power (came back 4.5 days later).  So overall, no huge problems.  We got through it and perhaps we’ll stay for another one….unless it’s bigger, then I’m out of here.
• Nov 3:  I started my job.  Didn’t know it would take three months, but it did.  I guess it just takes awhile to process the paperwork?  I still can’t figure out what took so long.  But now I am a Children’s Librarian for the Houston Public Library.  I do crafts and this summer I’ll do the Electronic Kids Club.  Overall, it’s a good place to be.
• Mid-Nov:  I went to Hawaii.  My brother had a beautiful wedding in Maui, and Chris and I were lucky enough to attend.  We spent 10 days in Hawaii, and we hiked in the crater of a volcano, saw Pearl Harbor, and snorkeled (and saw a shark!).  We also got to spend some quality time with my family.  Overall, it was an awesome time.

After Hawaii, we took a couple trips back to St. Louis (Thanksgiving and Christmas) were we got to spend some time with family and friends back home.  And now we’re looking forward to another amazing year!

A few weeks ago, I was helping out on a school tour at the library.  A group of high school kids came in, learned how to use the library, and then were supposed to do research on their project.

Their topic:  Take any political figure, and compare/contrast them to a character in Hamlet.

Kid: “I can’t find any books on my person.”

Me: “Alright, well let’s see what we can find.  Who are you looking for?”

Kid:  “Lil Wayne.”

I was serious about starting this thing and I was determined to keep up with it.  In the last month, I started my new job (which I think is going pretty well), spent a week and a half in Hawaii (amazing place) and went back to St. Louis for Thanksgiving.  Needless to say, things have been rather hectic, but I plan on picking this up, and keeping with it.

One thing that I really wasn’t used to is seeing lizards everywhere.  Back home they aren’t usually something you see scurrying across the sidewalk.  But down here these little guys are everywhere.  At first it sort of creeped me out, I mean really, they are just one step away from being little snakes.  They just have feet.  But they have grown on me and I sort of like seeing the little things.

There’s a couple that live on the side of our apartment and every night they hang out by the light eating all or bugs.  Usually they run away when we come up but I was finally able to catch a picture of one.  (This took about two weeks of stalking  them.)  But isn’t he kind of cute?

I’ve been meaning to start one of these for awhile, but never seem to get around to it.  So I figured nows as good of a time as ever.  I’ve made attempts at blogging before, but it never lasts long. We’ll see how this goes…