Tuesday marked my 3rd month at what my former co-workers have referred to as SAOU (Suck-Ass Online University). While I somewhat agree with them and the fact that we only have 3 people in a department that could use 6-8 people and the fact that the job does not allow me to be mobile unless I'm walking to the restroom, it's not that bad. I think that I've had enough library jobs to realize that things could be much much worse. A lot of people come out of library school filled with semantics and ideals and theories that they want to spout just like their professors in school did. They have unrealistic ideals and do not realize that the library profession, if it is anything, is unpredictable. That doesn't just mean in regards to questions we are asked or challenges that buck the reference interview everyday, I'm talking about environment. I've worked at big traditional reference desks, I've worked with psycho public library administrators, I've worked in a library where I and another woman were the only two people there. Each library I've worked in has been different and all seemed to be a lot worse when I was working there. I think most jobs seem like the last straw until you move on and realize that it wasn't so bad. Mostof my former co-workers might disagree about SAOU and since I've only been here 3 months I probably don't have the cred that allows me to say it's not that bad. But so far this company has great insurance benefits, took us to Dave & Busters for a team building event, sent us to a motivational speaker and had a chocolate fountain for an employee appreciation event. I also am able to look at a natural pond with waterfowl and a cute little wooden bridge from my cubicle.

So basically at this here job I'm allowed to take vacation after three months (in your face stupid old job where they tried to convince me that nowhere would let you have vacation before six months). Tomorrow Martin and I are leaving on our "get out of the country" Thanksgiving vacation. While I know that both of our families would love to see us, we are just not ready to start paying for airline tickets - which would be the only way to get to them this Turkey season. As my brilliant friend H. pointed out: if it's too difficult to get there then it's not really a holiday. I couldn't agree more.

For those of you curious enough to ask, "Hey, exactly where are you going?" We are going here. And staying here.