So, I suppose I can break this down... somehow...
Part A - Podcast Update!
Chris, myself, and our other two wonderful co-hosts have finished recording the second episode of "The Thirteenth Four" podcast, this episode having the wide topic theme of "Space." Everyone drew the punishment suit (clubs) aside from me, so that made things interesting; segments ranged from bad space music and books to the mental health of astronauts and the complete dismantling of sci-fi fight scenes. It was a pretty good time. The site and feeds and everything is nearing its completion, so prepare yourselves for much promotion and plentiful plugs when it's ready, because really, you should check it out. We're pretty damn funny, and rather informational.
The third episode is currently being worked on, we're hoping to release it around St. Patrick's Day so it can have an accompanying "Irish" theme. Stay tuned, readers and listeners!
Part B - Professional Update!
When I last updated, I was frantically scrambling to give my first conference presentation, and was abjectly horrified that I would somehow flop the whole thing. However, since that has all happened, I have found that the SMA Conference has given me the small boost of confidence that I needed. I feel considerably better about my job situation, and much more hopeful about finding something that better suits me. This week is going to be hellish and crazy, because I am *finally* going to finish updating the exhibits and collections in the museum, but I'm relieved that it will all be over soon, and I can throw myself into more cover letters and applications (armed with neat new credentials, like Conference Speaker and Not A Failure) and hopefully something awesome will come of it. I mean, I'm willing to move ANYWHERE (even Micronesia... and I'm still sad that I never even got a confirmation of application from there), so someone...somewhere... has to see that I'm worth their time. Contract jobs are fun and all, but damn... those benefits... they're so appetizing!
Back to Conference stuff... I met some unexpected fans, and a really awesome new friend, whom I hope I can collaborate with in the future. She has some really excellent material that are prime fodder for digitization, and I really would like to see that pan out for her and her institution. It would be pretty useful for a whole bunch of people if it all went through, and would be a fantastic and highly educational collection. For anyone that's interested in my presentation, a copy of the slides is up on both Prezi.com and the Small Museum Association website (or possibly their conference website... but you can find both at http://www.smallmuseum.org). Chris has been diligently working on a version that is true to the original presentation format (Prezi's rule!) with synchronized audio from my actual presentation, so that it's a little more easily digestible for everyone (Currently, there's a LOT of information that was given verbally, as opposed to cramming ten thousand notes and lines of information in limited slide space, making for a really visually affronting and, frankly, ugly presenation; it makes for informative slides that definitely require some outside context framing, so the audio dub should help considerably). Updates coming soon as to when and where it's uploaded, so hopefully interested parties can glean more information more successfully. Also, I was asked to teach a webinar version of my presentation, which I'm really excited (and kinda flattered) about and cannot wait to do!
On a new and somewhat exciting (for me, at least) note... this afternoon I submitted my first-ever chapter proposal for an upcoming book (edited by SUNY Fredonia librarians -- one of my alumni schools!) on digital collections and digital humanities efforts. I'm really hoping that it goes well. More information when I have it. Currently perusing a bazillion case studies and methodological reports on digitization projects for source/lit review material.
Also of potential interest - The Skeptiseum is finally a thing on Twitter and Facebook! You should really follow them, like them, and check them out. Updates on transformation will be posted, as well as information about the official launch date for the new museum display format. I've also worked out a rough schedule for types/themes of Tweets for my own admin purposes, but they should keep things less...monotonous... than they were on the CFI Libraries Twitter account, and hopefully both accounts will now be considerably more useful and interesting. Feedback on these (and any other) changes that I make is always and forever much appreciated; if you have something to say about my efforts, and think that there's something missing or perhaps something that I could improve upon, please speak up and contact me. After all, the end user opinion is one of my main concerns, and I do tend to get a little tunnel-visioned by professional needs/wants/gadgets and may not see their potential outside of what I need them for.
Oh, and I've *FINALLY* gotten my LinkedIn profile all caught up and current and professional and connected with everything else that I'm doing. Hooray.
Part C - Personal Hubbub!
- The Stabilitrak TPS/PPS sensor on my car has malfunctioned, yet again. No news here until tomorrow; hopefully it doesn't result in me pushing my car into Lake Erie in a fit of rage.
- I have a pretty decent idea of what my next podcast segment is going to be about.
- My cat's 14th birthday is coming up soon! YAY!
- Cool things I have recently viddied that are noteworthy:
- Movie 43
- Six Degrees of Helter Skelter
- Secret Disco Revolution (trust me, it's more fascinating than it sounds)
- The Mind of a Chef (the whole series... it's really really really good!)
- Nightmare Factory
- The Other F Word
- Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters
- Beauty is Embarrassing
- Marlene (she's super humble and modest and awesome)
- Last week, I learned the true value of a Keurig: instant tea on demand with very little fuss. It's been life-changing, honestly. All the fluid intake are belong to me!
- I think I've finally learned to relax. Who knew I had it in me?
- Developing an appreciation for fiction - I'm doing it! Audio books are helping considerably.
- Side note: For those who are also prone to non-fiction - I recently began Gilbert Gottfried's (self-narrated) audio book, "Rubber Balls and Liquor." It's really awesome, and it's not as grating to listen to as you'd think. I'm all caught up with my fiction books that aren't 54 hours of Thomas Pynchon (Against the Day, not Gravity's Rainbow or anything less arduous...), and I think on my next road trip I'm gonna try my hardest to rip through a bunch of the unabridged LOTR trilogy (Because I've never read or experienced it in any way! Not even the movies!), because having my very very very patient husband sit down and explain "The Hobbit" to me while we were watching it (which means that it took 6.5-7 hours to watch a 3 hour film... I REALLY don't relate to fiction!!!).
Well, I believe I'm about out of steam and information. Must crunch more data for next week's blog, which I promise will be much more punctual in its arrival. Tomorrow will be full of spreadsheets, exhibit creating, mechanic's appointments, toenail polish touch-ups, and if everything goes right, some decent news.
