Musings on My Sabbatical

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2005-08-11T17:10:00.000-07:00

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All Good Things Must Come to an End

2005-01-09T22:19:00.000-08:00

My sabbatical has come to an end. What a wonderful experience! How fortunate to be granted a sabbatical. It seems only yesterday that my sabbatical began in the heat of September. Now it is rainy and cold and I must return to the saltmines! I am glad I had the opportunity to learn new skills, implement new ideas, and become an expert on fashion plates!

I am especially happy that I now have an exercise program in place, a beginning yoga practice, and increased spiritual awareness.

It was great to take a pause in life, ponder where I am, and where I want to be. I now have an idea of what retirement could be!

Nameste!

Thanksgiving Week

2004-11-22T18:13:00.000-08:00

I have a great book to recommend, Fumbling by Kerry Egan. The subtitle says it all: A Pilgrimage Tale of Love, Grief, and Spiritual Renewal on the Camino de Santiago. After reading this book when we were at the coast, I have decided that my sabbatical is like a pilgrimage. I have broaded my mind, strengthened my body, and tried new endeavors such as yoga and chakra class. I was just saying to my sister that I wanted to do the pilgrimage for my 50th birthday and she was interested in the idea. Then, I come across this book in a bookstore! Marianna is very jazzed about this. I plan to walk but also take trains/bus to make this easier. Marianna will be 15 when she does this which I think is a good age. We have 2 1/2 years to plan this journey.

I have completed my fashion plate Content DM portion of my sabbatical. It is uploaded, need to be proofed, and then awaits Tammy's approval before making public. I am addding lots to IM. After the Thanksgiving week, I will create my online exhibit and in house exhibit. This precious time is moving way too quickly!

We are having 2 Thanksgivings this year. Our mother/daugher ethnic cooking club is having a Danish Thanksgiving. I am bringing the appetizer of gravlax served on pumpernickel break w/ a honey mustard sauce. I am bringing the aquavit which is what Danes traditionally drink w/ Gravlax. I will use the vodka shot glasses my sister gave me for Christmas last year. We are going to freeze the aquavit in a water and flower ice block so it should look very festive. While at the coast, I found some good wine that will go w/ the main course of goose. Our article proposal to Gourmet on our club was rejected as "too educational" but I have sent the proposal off to Working Mother. We are having a slumber party on Thanksgiving and then will prepare the traditional meal the next day using all my organic produce from TD Willey Farms. I will be making a shallot and cranberry relish, sweet potatoe fluff, green bean casserole, and teaching the girls how to make a real apple pie w/ real piecrust.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Week 8

2004-10-29T13:53:00.000-07:00

I have spent the week adding sites to Infomine and also working w/ Content DM. I have changed the template to reflect the fields that are important to the Fashion Plate Collection. I am deleting the ones that aren't very helpful. All of the images are uploaded and I will be entering data. I am meeting w/ Tammy on Monday am to get feedback before I proceed further. I have begun my online web exhibit on the fashion plates using Dreamweaver, but this has taken a backseat to CDM and IM.

Santiago and my sabbatical

2004-10-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

Santiago spent from October 13th through 23rd at Dr. Hills being treated for the aftereffects of his operation for his fibrosarcoma. He came home Sunday night and was happy and purring but in the morning hid under the bed. He threw up so I brought him back to the vet. I told Dr. hill I was running out of financial and emotional resources and she is keeping him this week gratis. What a saint! He will come home, hopefully get well, and then will have to have the new growth taken out of his head. We are hoping it is a simple cyst and not more of the cancer. I visited Santi daily, hand feeding him and keeping him company. I was only able to work on my sabbatical in bits and pieces but it seems to have come together today.

On a lighter note, my sister and niece visited this past weekend. We had lunch at Oaxaca (which I highly recommend). She had chicken mole negro and I had pork mole colarado. The highlight was the rows and rows of calaveras for Day of the Dead. We had them made with all of our names. Claire has already eaten hers but we are saving ours. We also purchased small ones for all of Marianna's soccer teammates. She wants to give them out at the Halloween tournament. I was also able to pick up a candle of the Virgen de Juqila http://www.johntoddjr.com/09%20Juquila/juquilaharvey.html. Too bad we didn't know of this shrine when we were in Oaxaca. However, she keeps me company when I am working on my computer. Another find was the Shinzen Japanese Garden in Woodpark. I can't believe I've never been there--what at oasis!http://www.shinzenjapanesegarden.org/

Hard Week

2004-10-17T23:29:00.000-07:00

My cat, Santiago, had surgery on Thursday to remove a growth between his shoulder blades. A fibrosarcoma was removed by Dr. Hill. This is one of the worst cancers that an animal or person could get. The growth has tentacles and Santi's had gone down around his spine. It was removed but the biopsy showed a low to intermediate fibrosarcoma w/ a 22% chance of recurrence. If it recurred, it would probably be in the spine, etc...We brought Santi home Saturday and I thought being at home would be the best for him. However, it didn't seem to do much and I brought him back Sunday am. He is being forced fed, has an iv for fluids etc, etc, etc...I will go and visit him tomorrow as I have done since he was hospitalized.

This coming week, I plan to focus on learning Content DM so I can input the fashion plates and their data and get this part over w/ I also plan to continue entering sites into Infomine.

I attended a new yoga class tonight: Restoration Yoga. Basically, you use a bolster and a blanket and hold poses for 5-7 minutes. Very relaxing--great way to end the weekend/begin the week.

I had my numbers run at GEMS and I have lost 4 fat pounds and transformed them into muscle pounds. Apparently this is quite good for one month. I have lost bust/waist size but nothing at hips/thighs! Must continue to work at it!I plan to increase yoga from 2x/week to 3/week and GEMS from 3x/5x week.

Quote for the week: Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. Confucius.

Healthy Eating

2004-10-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

I am adding to my repetoire of recipes while on sabbatical. I am trying new recipes w/ soy or are lowfat. Try the following

Chicken Parmesan from WW Simply Delicious Cookbook. This is one of Marianna's new faves.
Serves 4/7 points per serving

4 (1/2 lb) skinless chicken breasts. I substitute chicken tenders
1/2 t salt
2 T reduced mayo
1/2 C italian bread crumbs
1 sliced tomato (I used romas as they fit better on the tenders)
1 T olive oil
1/2 C shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 T grated parmesan cheese

1. Preheat over to 425. Spray baking sheet w/ nonstick spray.
2. Sprinkle chicken w/ salt, the brush both sides w/ mayo. Place the crumbs in ziploc bag. Shake pieces 1-2 at a time in bread crumbs.
3. Place chick on baking sheet. Top with tomatoe slices; sprink with the oil and mozzarella cheese. Bake until cooked thru, about 12 minutes. Sprinkle w/ parmesan.

This is the best broccoli soup ever. From The Okinawa Diet Plan Cookbook.
Healthis Cream of Broccoli Soup
Serves 4/1 (yes 1) pt/serving

2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 C thinly sliced onion
3 C broccoli florets
1/2 C chopped celery (I add red pepper too!)
1 1/2 C veggie broth (I used Trader Joes brand)
1 1/2 C soymilk, plain
1/4 C flour

Spray bottom of stockpot w/ canola oil and heat over med heat. Cook garlic and onion for 5 minutes, or until onion is tender and 1/2 transparent. Add the broccoli and celery, stiff, and add beggie broth. Cover and cook for 8 minutes or until all veggies are tender. Transfer to the blender and process until pureed. Return the soup to the stockpot and add the soymilk. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Do not boil.

In the meantime, combine the flour and 1/3 c water and mix until smooth. Add this to the soup and stir. Simmer for additiona 1-2 minutes, or until soup has thickened.

Also good as a leftover. Enjoy!

Weeks 4 and 5

2004-10-07T21:03:00.000-07:00

I have completed the finding aid for the LB Fashion Plate Collection and am awaiting any editing comments from Tammy. Completing this task allowed me to become very familiary w/ the collection and I discovered we had 3 plates by Anais Toudouze, a famous French artist. I feel well prepared to work on my exhibit. I am comfortable w/ Infomine. Margaret Mooney has provided feedback to my entries and I am ready to start entering on a systematic basis.

I have had some technical setbacks. My wireless has not worked after the first week. I have one of our bright Reference Desk students, Joe, to troubleshoot this weekend so hopefully he can get this going again. This is crucial, as Systems is setting up a special way for me to ftp to Content DM (so I can work at home). I haven't been able to enter the info yet, because I would have to come into the Library, which I would prefer not to do.

I love going to yoga! It is wonderful. I feel taller and more fit. Marianna is coming to check out a class, so it can help her become more flexible for soccer. My teacher is going to offer a class on chakras which I hope I can take. I am getting used to circuit training. At first I thought I would die, but now I am beginning to get more energy and strength.

A special aspect of my sabbatical is how available I can be to Marianna. Last week, I took all the measurements for orchestra uniforms. It was great to see Marianna at the double bass. Her classmates told her I was nice and I guess I didn't embarass her too much, as she told me some of the parents come early to jazz band practice, so I was able to drop in and check her out playing jazz! I was also able to organize the embroidery of the soccer teams bags and jackets! So I now have 13 bags/jackets in my trunk to take to California Embroidery tomorrow am! Marianna's soccer pals are going to a football game at Clovis High tomorrow night, spending the night here, seeing the new Hilary Duff movie, and then having a soccer scrimmage! She is making lots of great friends at Odyssey Soccer.

Nameste!

Fabulous Week of Serendipity

2004-09-23T22:10:00.000-07:00

This has been an interesting week. First, Margaret Mooney, one of my former colleagues at UCR trained me on the advanced features of InfoMine. I was very impressed w/ MiY and the themes. I think they have great potential for dynamic use of the WWW. Margaret used the term "exhilirating" for IM and I think she is right! I have entered my fashion/costume MiY terms and MM has approved them.

I have spent alot of time on the finding aid for the collection. There are many jewels there--one is a plate hand-colored by Anais Toudoze; a very famous family of women involved w/ fashion plates!!! Hopefully, I will finish my draft tomorrow (b4 having to travel to Morgan Hill for yet another soccer tournament!!!!) and can submit it to Tammy. I am so blessed to work w/ these beautiful images!!!!

I signed up for the Yoga Studio. Their entryway desk has a beautiful mosaic. I asked who was the artist? Turns out it is the co-owner. She said it was very easy to do and I could get the materials at Home Depot. One of my sabbatical goals was to create mosaics--so this is definelty serendipity!!! I have many plates etc..from my family to use.

I have been listeneing to Lhasa de Sela's cd, "La Llorona" which is fabulous! Her first track is used in John Sayles, "Casa de los Babys" which I highly recommend if you have travelled in Latin/Central America. While nowhere as powerful as LoneStar (one of my favs) it is still worth viewing. Check out http://www.vaxxine.com/artline/books/lhasa.htm she has a very interesting bio.

I enthusiastically recommend "Angels in America" which I got thru Netflix as I do not have cable TV. Very powerful and Jeffrey Wright is a fabulous actor!!!

Nameste as my yoga pals would say!

2 great articles

2004-09-16T20:51:00.000-07:00

I read Jerry Adler's Dining Out: Back to the Future in the 9/6/04 issue of The New Yorker (which is a fabulous food issue, btw). This article was about Futurism and their cookbooks and about an Italian restaurant which has reconfigured these impossible recipes into something possible! Many of these ideas from pre-WWII have made it to the faddy food restaurants!

On a different note, I read The Blended Librarian in the July/Aug issue of CRLNews. Many great ideas for the future and a great bibliography of additional articles I will need to get!

The almost end of the second week

2004-09-16T20:35:00.000-07:00

I input my first record into Infomine and had Margaret Mooney critique it. She made a few suggestions and I will have my offical advanced training tomorrow am via phone! I will spend alot of time next week adding entries.

I have looked over the fashion plates--what is especially interesting is the diversity of publications; we have them from all over, even Spain! Next week will be devoted to writing the finding aid. We are running into snafus with the Content DM interface, so it looks like that will have to be put on the back burner.

I tried out GEMS and promptly threw my back out. My chiropractor his seeing me 2x this week! I am still going to give it a go; he advised me on certain apparatus to NOT use! I also visited the Yoga for Living studio in Clovis (www.yogaforlivingstudios.com) and took a basic class! I am definitely joining and plan to take 3-4 classes/week! The studio is fab--purple painted walls, candles in the studio; great ambiance!

I have found the ideal place to do my professional reading---Marianna's soccer practices. I sit in the shade, watch her and read my librarian literature.

Thanks

2004-09-12T01:12:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who has looked at my blogg and sent me personal email! It is great to hear from you and be encouraged! Thanks for your feedback!

Theme Song for My Sabbatical

2004-09-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

Of course Van the Man has just the song for me to play while working on my projects. It is "A New Kind of Man", which I have changed to A New Kind of Woman. This song is on his "A Sense of Wonder" CD. Check out the lyriccs at:

http://www.metrolyrics.com/lyrics/202925/Van_Morrison/A_New_Kind_of_Man

or http://www.emp3finder.com/dlyric.aspx?id=119113&rID=mO0iyc

New article on art web sites

2004-09-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

This just came over the arlis listserv. Great article on image databases and art web resources:

http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/sep04/mattison.shtml

The end of the first week

2004-09-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

This has been an interesting week adjusting to life on a sabbatical. I have received training from Kimberley on Infomine, and will receive advanced training next week from Margaret Mooney at IM. I have many sites I want to add.

I will be picking up the Little Bower fashion plates on Monday and taking them home so that I can create the finding aid. Tammy will edit etc...and then I should be ready to go w/ entering data into Content DM. Systems is trying to fix it so I can do this at home!

An especially nice benefit of being on sabbatical is my availability to Marianna who is in her first month of Junior High. I can pick her up after school and be sure she has a snack etc...before going on to her intensive soccer practices 2x/weekly. Her long day is Tuesday when she has school from 7:45-2:45 which includes choir, orchestra, jazz band practice at lunch, jazz band practice from 3-5 and soccer from 6-7:30 http://www.californiaodyssey.org/cysateam_u12gw.asp. I am tired just writing this!

Being wireless is a beautiful thing!

Other aspects of my sabbatical

2004-09-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

I believe that there are spiritual, personal, and health aspects to a sabbatical. To this end, I get up w/ Marianna and do yoga and then walk the dogs. After motoring her to Alta, I then take the dogs to Starbuck's to get my coffee and where they are given whipping cream by the staff who adore them and go home. I am reading Phyllis Tickle's Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0385492863/qid=1094577150/sr=8-2/ref=pd_ka_2/103-4345361-6309416?v=glance&s=books&n=507846four times daily. These are updated readings/prayers based on Benedictine monks prayers. It is a great thing to do and puts me on a higher plane during the day. Here is a recent reading by the Jesuit, Jean-Pierre de Caussade:

All that happens to me becomes bread to nourish me, soap to cleanse me, fire to purify me, a chisel to carve heavenly features on me. Everything is a channel of grace for my needs. The very thing I sought everywhere else seeks me incessantly, and gives itself to me by means of all created things. In other words, if it doesn't kill you, it will make you stronger!

Next week, I am beginning my free membership at GEMS (women's half hour weight training circuit) with Marianna and returning to WW.

In addition my dogs are getting much longer walks. Delilah is no longer considered overweight and Dr. Hill thought she looked the best ever!

Setting the groundwork for my sabbatical

2004-09-07T10:03:00.000-07:00

It was challenging to go from vacation to sabbatical mode. I want to be very organized so that I can accomplish all my goals during my sabbatical. I had to totally reorganize my office and closet to be more productive. In addition, my brother-in-law spent alot of time making both Marianna and I wireless as well as updating my personal (not work) computer and even installing a wireless mouse!

Over the summer, I collected many readings on fashion plates as well as written material to help me w/ content dm, dreamweaver, and infomine. Here is what one of them look like from UW's Special Collection Library:
http://content.lib.washington.edu/cgi-bin/viewer.exe?CISOROOT=/costumehist&CISOPTR=198

Randy has digitized the Little Bower collection as well as our earlier fashion plate collection and I have the images on a cd as well as thumbprints in a folder.

My hope is to accomplish all from home!!!!!

Skill sets to master

2004-09-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

I will be learning many new skills on my sabbatical.

1. I am learning Content DM in order to catalogue and input the Little Bower fashion plate collection. I met w/ Tammy Lau, Head of SC for an overview. I will go through the tutorials so that I can begin working on this project. The only worry is that I may not be able to connect from home. Patrick is looking into this and seeking a solution. I am also registering for the cdm user listserv which will help w/ my education.

UW has already used cdm for their 400+fashion plate collection. I have contacted Ann Lally, SC, to see if they used a specialized thesaurus for their plates. I will also use them as a model for indexing.

2. Dreamweaver. I have already taken DWI and will be taking DWII next month. I am using this software to create an online exhibit of the fashion plates. I also have also purchased Teach Yourself Visually: Dreamweaver MX 2004 to add to the documentation given from the ITS class. Randy has already digitized them in two sizes so once I get the collection catalogued I will start working on the display. To support the display I have many articles/books on fashion plates that will provide additional background knowledge for me.

3. Infomine. Kimberley is giving me an intro on how to input sites etc...this Wed. I will then have a conference call w/ my Infomine liaison, Margaret Mooney for advanced training. I already have a list of sites I want to add; but need to learn the technique for adding them.

It should be a busy week!

Readings for my sabbatical

2004-06-07T16:30:00.000-07:00

I am reading as much as I can published on fashion plates. I have expanded to information on womens' magazines. I am currently reading, A Magazine of Her Own: Domesticity and Desire in the Woman's Magazine, 1800-1914. In the introduction, the author states, "As a clever middle-class girl I was taught that I should despise women's magazines as silly if not pernicious". I have always loved women's magazines and am fascinated by their history. This author investigates women as consumers, readers, and the periodical as a feminine form. Alot of interesting ideas here.

more ideas

2004-06-03T15:22:00.000-07:00

Today I read an interesting exhition catalogue on American prints--gave me some ideas on my exhibit.

First Post

2004-06-01T16:29:00.000-07:00

I will be beginning my sabbatical Fall Semester 2004. I am excited about the two projects that I'll be working on. I will be cataloguing a gift of fashion plates to Special Collections, as well as creating a finding aid, and both an in-house and online exhibit of the fashion plates.

In addition, I will be evaluating and adding links to fashion and costume resources to Infomine.

What a blessing to have four months to be creative and to reenergize!