…however do you want it, however do you need it”…..ok, so I admit, I really like this song and pretty much can sing it on cue, but as embarrassing as that is, it is so appropriate this week!  After being away for what seemed like a decade, I am getting back in the swing of things. 

R and I returned on Friday evening to a very happy puppy that was glad to be home again. She actually seemed to grow stronger over the week we were gone so I guess it was a good thing she went to the kennel (although her guilty parents almost break down every time we have to leave her).  Her back leg and muscles since her last ‘episode’ seem to have taken much longer to adjust, but I really hope I am that spry at 14 ½ dog-years!! (what is that, like a million people years or something!)

Saturday I had my Archives and Manuscripts class all day – one of the few classes I feel like I have actually been challenged in so far.... (and I am more than ½ way through the program) My professor, Lori Lindburg, is very inspirational and I wish I had even a ¼ of her energy – she is currently a PhD student (about to defend her dissertation this fall), full time SJSU faculty member, full-time paid archivists, and a wife and mother of 2!!  I don’t think she could possibly have time to sleep!!!!

On Sunday I ran our annual Society of American Archivists Student Chapter meeting.  In addition to preparing for the meeting for several hours, I had to trek to campus to conduct the meeting.  Should be a good year, we had several enthusiastic people volunteer for our executive team – always good to have people around you which want to be there!!

Monday was my very first day at Stanford – this is where I am doing my internship for school.  I am working at the Hoover Archives doing Library of Congress Subject Heading classification, as well as short summaries, of audio tapes from the Commonwealth Club of California.  The tapes go back to the 1930s, but I am starting with 1970.  I really am going to learn my CA political, social and economic history!!  The archivist for whom I am working, Lisa, is really great – she is going to be a wonderful mentor and I think I will learn a great deal about the ins and outs of the archival industry from her.   I will be working there every Monday for the rest of the semester as well as a handful of other days to make my 135 hours for 3 credits of class work. 

Wednesday night we celebrated Dick’s Birthday at the House o’ Prime Rib  in SF– what a fun evening of laughter and high-jinx.  We were the table every waiter dreads – in addition to our decibel breaking laughter, we had a table full of comedians which took pleasure in making the waiters fulfill all our ‘special requests’ including my “warm” pecan pie. (which was fabulous I have to say!)  I really wish we lived closer to the city, but until then, a short drive is very little cost to enjoying our good friend’s company.

Last evening was a wonderful excursion into the culinary delights of Hawaiian fusion at the restaurant Roy’s in San Francisco.  We were there to celebrate not one, but four birthdays including Trina, Shan, Rob and Sharon’s.  The choice of restaurants was Trina’s as this is one of her favorite spots.  Indeed the food was wonderful!  I had a tasty Mahi-Mahi in a lobster butter sauce and the bites I had of friend’s Butterfish were divine!  The chocolate soufflé for desert was a decadent oozing pool of warm sauce surrounded by creamy cake.  In addition to their wonderful food the bar menu was equally impressive.  Several of us had a creation called the Big Hawaiian which when poured is a layer of Blue Curacao and a top layer of orange juice which eventually mixes to form a lovely share of grass-green!  Capped off with a garnish of pineapple and maraschino cherry and you have you self quite the girly-drink! (although Mike enjoyed it just fine!)  

Good food and fine compay led to a fun eveing had by all!  

Over the past couple weeks life has taken over and my ability to blog became unavailable.  However, it has all been worth it!

First, my good friend Any visited from NYC.  We had such a wonderful time touring Northern California!  A few of the highlights as follows:

• Dinner at Navio the main dining room at the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay with our friends Leslie, Rob and Sharon and of course my wonderful hubby Reeves
• A couple days in Carmel including hiking and tide pool gazing on Point Lobos, a picnic lunch on the beach at 17-mile-drive, a yummy dinner at Porta Bella and the day at Monterey Bay Aquarium
• A great and relaxing afternoon at Burke Williams following by a lovely dinner with friends
• Union Square shopping following by an amazing dinner and delightful conversation hosted by our friends Omar and Lora, attended by Dick and Trina as well.
• Wine tasting at David Bruce (where I am a new member!) and Byington in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

After recovering for the day from our extremely taxing and strenuous schedule (!) I had my first orientation for graduate school!! Monday then started classes for a 'QuickStart' programs that begins 2 of my 3 classes for fall semester - 11 grueling days of 9-5 lessons as well as a paper and 2 oral presentation all in the first week!

Now that I have three (full!) days of school under my belt I have to say I am feeling more confident at my own abilities.  I had held out hope that the stereotyped ‘librarian’ (you know them, shy, introverted, no social skills, unattractive and insecure) would be absent…well, unfortunately, with only a few exceptions, my hopes were dashed, and every low expectation was exceeded in the stereotyped department.  Don’t get me wrong, these are intelligent people, many with Masters already, but none are going to win with in the personality department.  However, I can’t eloquently express how excited I am for the future and the prospect of the new path I am creating for myself.  It is going to be a few challenging years of intellectual gymnastic for which I am really looking forward!

This past weekend has been quite action packed with lots of fun stuff!  On Friday evening my friend Leslie and I went to an art lecture on Donatello at the Institute. 

The Institute (really called the Institute for the Study of Western Civilization, but that is too too long to use!) is the same place where I have been taking what I call my 'culture' classes for a while now.  It is associated with UCSC Extension, but now have their own location and name.  The professor who started all this really is a wonderful and entertaining lecturer so I drag some of my friends along from time to time to be 'cultured' along with me.  :)

On Saturday evening Reeves and I attended The Buddy Holly Story in San Francisco.  The music really took me back to my childhood as my mother loves music, especially the biggies like Elvis, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Doris Day, etc. etc.  - I don't think a day went by without the 45s going for a spin!   The show had lots of energy and the performers were very musically talented.  Thanks again to Trina's sister, Tiffany, who enabled us to see the show! 

To celebrate the 4th of July we went back up again to SF for a great BBQ with our friends Mo & Patrick.  It was our first trip to their new Eichler home from the mid-1960.  They are doing some great bold colors that are fond to my heart - I love color!  We ate so my much good food we had to roll ourselves home.  I had grilled Oysters for the first time (I couldn't get Reeves to try one) and I have to say I am hooked.   They were so tasty I can add them to my list of shellfish I love.  I can't wait to do my own! In addition we had sumptuous pork, shrimp, and scallops off the grill - yumm-ie!  A good time and good food was had by all!!