My first day at work as a new professional did not go exactly as I imagined. Actually, this whole week hasn't really gone the way I imagined.

Originally, I wasn't supposed to begin work until next Monday, but when some issues arose that meant I might not be able to get all my orientation and training finished before I was on my own, it wasn't a big deal for me to start a little earlier. I agreed to come in this Monday and Wednesday, and then spent the weekend celebrating the end my of MLIS.

I had a tickle in my throat when I woke up Monday morning, but because I've already been sick five (FIVE!) times this winter, I figured I had just been sleeping with my mouth open or something. By part way through the morning I definitely knew I was starting to get sick. Sometime between noon and 1:00pm, I got really dizzy and could feel myself starting to faint. I managed to stagger to a chair instead of falling on the floor, and ended up having to go home. I had to go home from my first day of work as a professional librarian. What an auspicious start to my career, eh?

But it got even better: my fever kept going up and and up, despite copious amounts of Tylenol, and my throat got so sore I could barely swallow. On Tuesday night Liam took me to the Health Centre on campus, where I was diagnosed with a raging case of strep throat. Then I threw up in the doctor's office. We took a cab the three blocks back to our apartment because I couldn't walk, and I just got sicker and sicker. Eventually my fever went up to 104.5 and I started seeing inanimate objects move. It was very disturbing, and I really don't recommend it.

However, antibiotics are marvelous, marvelous things, and by the next morning I was already starting to feel better. Yesterday my fever was much lower, but in comparison to the night before, I felt a million times better. I even ate an egg! And all the furniture stayed where it's supposed to! Unfortunately, when I called work to say I was still ill and couldn't come in, I found out that Wednesday had to be the last day of work for the person I'm replacing. This means I'm going to be running a library by myself with four hours of orientation.

On top of all this, I've missed almost all of the good-bye activities for my darling Dee, including ice cream cake and her Last Supper. She leaves today for a job interview in Ontario tomorrow and then heads back to Manitoba. I'm going to miss her like crazy, but thankfully she and all her family will be here in May for convocation.

In the meantime, as I store up my energy for Secret Friend farewells and Stars on Ice (which I'm going to tonight if Liam has to carry me), I'd like to send Laura a big congratulations on a huge academic achievement! I'm so proud of her!

Today was my last day of class at SIM. We celebrated the end of an era with an afternoon in the sunshine, Tin Roof Brownie Blizzards from DQ, and a trip to the Grad House. I won't feel completely done until my last two assignments are handed in, but as people begin to talk about their travel plans and get excited about new jobs, it's hard to ignore the fact that two of the best years I've ever had are almost over.

That being said, I'm really looking forward to starting work as an actual professional and becoming a real grown-up (which Lynda assures me isn't that bad). Right now it feels like there's a world of possibilities out there. I can't wait to tackle them: hopefully the best is yet to come.

I love birthdays, and I'm a big proponent of spreading them out so the fun lasts as long as possible. This year, I had my family celebration (complete with The Birthday Cake) in February when I was home for Reading Week, even though my actual birthday wasn't until this week. Festivities on the day itself were pretty subdued because Liam was sick and I had six hours of class in a row (from 2:30 pm until 8:30 pm), but between Facebook, emails, and e-cards, I still felt an awful lot of birthday love. Thanks to everyone who got in touch - you guys totally made my day!

Unfortunately, I caught Liam's cold and have been lying on the couch in a feverish haze since Wednesday afternoon. I did watch Mary Poppins yesterday though, which never fails to make me happier. Today I'm finally starting to feel a bit better, so it's time to return to assignments: only five more to go before I'm a professional librarian!

Ladies and gentlemen, I will not be unemployed when the school year is over!

I just found out this morning that I will be working as coordinator of a resource centre for a Faculty of Education at a small university in the city. It's a one-year contract, which is perfect because I can stay with Liam while he finishes school, but still be flexible about moving next spring.

I can't even describe what a huge relief it is to know that A) I will still be able to pay my rent after graduation, B) someone actually wants to hire me, and C) I'll be doing a job I'm going to enjoy for the next year.

Hurray!

Still sick. Liam is my hero. On the weekend he brought me home a bag of mini-eggs, which I haven't been able to eat yet because my throat is too sore. Tonight he went out in the snow to the grocery store to buy me some strawberry Jello. He is certifiably awesome.

It started in January. First Liam got sick. Then he broke his arm. Then I got sick. Then he got sick again. Now I'm sick again. Vinny's theory is that we have fungus in our apartment, but I think we live in a plague house. Who wants to come visit?

This week someone left a random penguin coffee mug in my mailbox at school! The little guys are wearing red bow ties and have the cutest yellow flippers. It was a lovely surprise and just another reminder of why I'm going to miss SIM when I graduate in May.

It snowed beautiful Christmas card snow here this evening. Liam took this picture of our apartment building at about 10:30 pm. We're the three lighted windows right at the top. You can't zoom in enough on Blogger to tell, but Orla is sitting in the window sill on the left.

I handed in my evil cataloguing assignment, and I think my cold is starting to clear up a little. I'm going to have some Twix ice cream to celebrate. Life is good.

Main entry: Still sick.

Added entry: My cataloging assignment is evil.

I'm sick. Boo.

Talk about school stretching my brain! Last night I submitted a webpage for my E-Text class. That's right: I made a webpage. From scratch. Using codes and stuff. I feel so smart!

Here it is: http://myweb.dal.ca/rs918039/index.html

It's one week later and Liam can almost completely extend his arm again. The poor guy also came down with a cold the day after our trip to the hospital, so he hasn't had the greatest week.

Nothing else exciting is happening here (although lots of good excitement is happening to some very dear people!). I sit in front of my computer and do lots and lots of homework. And worry about getting a job. Thankfully, Liam is a fantastic cook, so at least I don't have to worry about eating well! Mmmm cheesy potatoes.

Well, that was an eventful weekend.

Friday night Dee, Liam, Stephen (a classmate), and I went to the Seahorse to see Old Man Leudecke (an awesome banjo player) and the Tom Fun Orchestra (a neat band from Sydney). The music was great, but unfortunately the bar was freezing. As in I-wore-my-hat-and-coat-and-scarf-and-still-couldn't-feel-my-fingers freezing. Also, several members of the crowd appeared to not believe in personal hygiene.

Last night Aine came over for dinner. She left for three weeks in Rome this morning, and Orla is staying with us while she's away. I'm more than delighted to have a kitty for a while, even if it means sticking all my plants in the bathroom and keeping the door shut. Unfortunately, Liam took a spill while running to catch the bus to pick up Aine and broke his right arm at the elbow. We ended up spending most of the evening at the hospital and now Liam is iced and Motrin-ed within an inch of his life.

Here's hoping things calm down for the rest of the week!

I've been somewhat lax in posting the last few weeks, and, unlike Lynda, I don't even have a good excuse. Here are some of the highlights of Jaunary thus far:

1. School started again -- my last semester at SIM. Although I'm excited to be an actual professional, I'm sad that this part of my life will be over in a few months. Job hunting is pretty unpleasant as well.

2. Lynda came to Halifax last weekend. We went shopping and I bought the most gorgeous pair of pants ever. Even I can tell they make my behind look incredible! And they're professional wear too, so the purchase was completely justifiable. We also baked The Birthday Cake for Dee. Thai food was consumed. Saturday night Dee, Aine, Lynda, and I went to the Neptune to see White Christmas and it was wonderful. There was lots and lots of tap dancing, and it snowed in the theatre!

3. My brother and his girlfriend were here for a night.

4. Liam creamed me at a game of Scrabble with "czar" on a triple-word square. That's 45 points! Don't play Scrabble with someone who likes to spend his spare time reading the OED.

5. Dee and I went to see Atonement. Even though it was depressing and waaay more graphic than I was expecting, I thought it was a good movie.

6. Tonight Liam and I team-cooked a roast beef dinner and had some people over for supper. Liam was responsible for the meat and gravy, while I made the Yorkshire puddings. Not only was it very tasty, it was Vinny's first ever roast beef dinner. Who gets to be twenty-five without having had a roast beef dinner?! His excuse was that his family is Italian. I'm not sure if that's a good excuse or not; after all, we're talking about the same guy who's never been sledding either.

That's all for now!

I made a snowman this afternoon. The presents are under the tree. We're getting ready to make chocolate truffles. In five hours we'll pick up my youngest brother from work and drive around Charlottetown to look at Christmas lights. According to NORAD, Santa Claus is in Berlin. This is my favourite night of the year.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Thankfully, the awkwardness has been resolved. Sometimes it's best to take the beast . . . er, frog . . . by the horns.

Ohhh, this is awkward . . .

I have definitely come to the part of the semester when my brain ceases to produce meaningful thoughts and I can unravel at a moment's notice. I was doing well until this afternoon - I actually turned in two projects early - but today I hit the wall. I could feel my shoulders getting tense all morning, and when I hit a major bump just before dinner I had a total meltdown, complete with pulling my hair (which I do when I'm upset) and using half a box of Kleenex (which did not help the sinus infection at all).

It's not even like the situation is that awful. After all, I did win six dozen cookies yesterday and I don't have any incurable diseases. My assignments will get done and I'll be at home in less than a week now. I guess sometimes the stress just has to come out, and today happened to be the day.

It's time for another end-of-the-semester tradition: Roseanne's mysytery illnesses.

In fourth year it was the incredible sickness that had all the symptoms of mono, but wasn't actually mono. Last spring it was the swollen cheeks and sore throat that seemed like the mumps, but turned out to be a bacterial infection.

When Liam got sick this fall I was sure I would be next, but nothing happened. I thought I was in the clear, but alas, it wasn't to be. After a trip to the clinic this afternoon on the advice of my mother, I have discovered that I am the proud owner of not one, but two separate infections!

I have just returned from Shoppers with several prescriptions and a large bottle of cranberry juice. At least this is a sign that it will soon be time to go home.

So it's going to storm tonight . . . Usually I really enjoy fall storms. I like being inside while the rain blows against the windows. It makes everything feel extra cozy. However, the reason my new apartment is so gorgeous is because during Hurricane Juan the roof blew off the building (ie. our apartment) and everything had to be re-done. I know that Noel is not supposed to pack nearly the punch that Juan did, but for the record I really like having a roof. Over my head. Keeping me, Liam, and our stuff dry. And I'd like it to be there tomorrow as well. Just saying.