New blog address

How about that! Two posts in one evening. This is just a quick, but VERY IMPORTANT update. I have migrated my Summer in the City blog to a new web address: http://www.jbalaco.com/summerinthecity.

I playing with the look and continue to try to post more frequently. Hopefully having my own domain will be the motivation I need!

Ok, for real, good night and sleep tight. <3

Technology overload

As you can see, I’m still trying to figure out when it’s best to edit (daily would be ideal, weekly would be acceptable, yet I’m no where near either).

For better or worse, the last thing I want to do when I get home is turn on my computer. Hm. Am I interesting enough to warrant that much posting? Probably not to many, but there are a few who’d say yes.

I will figure it out, but thanks for being patient and keep checking back. I will update.  Until next time <3

New blog…

I’m going to keep this blog to continue to update those of you who care with what’s new in my life. In other words, this is my personal life. The new blog should be more professional, discussing books, publishing, libraries, who knows what else but still in my voice. I’m just getting started, but here is the link: http://blog.jbalaco.com/. Check it out if you are interested. Or share it after a bit of time – let me get it started first

Thanks!

What’s up?

As I work from the couch, trying to ignore the lingering headache hammering at my brain, I realize how happy I am. I don’t want to mislead… life is not perfect. But, I really like the things that are working and I’m ok with the things that could be improved.

So, since the last time I wrote, I attended ALA (pretty good first time experience as a vendor, although also different!) and visited home for a week. I loved my time at home, and even managed to not be my usual crabby self after 2.5 days. It’s pretty amazing how life can help put into perspective how important family is. I’m also anticipating meeting Chris’s parents in a couple of weeks. I’m both nervous and excited about it.

We’ve gone on a couple of really good hikes and had many great meals. As, I said in the beginning, I’m happy with life as it is. Although, there’s always room for improvement.

Until next time…<3

Summer…

Yesterday was the “official” start to summer, and so I’ve re-committed myself to writing more often – yah know, Summer in the City and such. You’ve heard it before, but I’ve entered it as a repeating task in my calendar. Believe it, it’s gonna happen like it’s 2008 (when I was so much better about posting ).

I’m afraid I’m already behind and we’re only 1 day into summer. I’m getting ready to travel to D.C. for a week of library fun. It’s time for the Annual Conference of the American Library Association (ALA). This is the 1st ALA that I will attend as an exhibitor, and I’m not exactly sure what to expect. I worked another library show back in March as an exhibitor, but this is so much bigger. Plus, I’m used to trolling the exhibit floor collecting an obscene amount of galleys, which I then have to ship home because they won’t fit in my suitcase. I have a feeling that I won’t have nearly the time to explore that I’ve had in the past, and that when I can explore, I’ll need to be closer to focused on the dreaded “networking.” I’m sure to amass a small set of new books regardless.

No matter what, I will have fun! It’s a gathering of librarians, talking library talk, and getting excited about information. What more can one ask for when traveling for work?!

So, if I don’t post again until next Tuesday, please know that I’m thinking of you, but simply can’t find Internet. <3

Another year…

I celebrated my birthday last week. I really enjoyed 30, but I have heard great things about the rest of the decade too. So, I guess that means that I have much to look forward to. I also have so much to be thankful for:

• good health
• lovely family and wonderful friends
• a job that I enjoy
• the Toughster
• a home

I just want to say thank you for all of you who make my life as full and wonderful as it is!

<3

Catching Up…

Why hello friends… I know. Not very good at the posting often thing. I’m not sure what happens but suddenly not only days or even weeks have passed, but actual MONTHS are gone and I haven’t updated.

I have good excuses this time. Tragedy hit my family and then a small miracle. I’m not sure I’m really to share a lot about either event, but it was very trying because in the midst of these events, life continued on and I needed to work (which included my 1st library conference in the booth and travel).

But, things have settled, and I will continue to update as I have time. I think about you often, but just can be motivated to open my computer when I don’t have to be in front of it. I’ll be back as soon as I can bring myself to sit down in front of the computer – or I get a few minutes while already sitting in front of a computer.

<3

Not sure how to title this

So, yesterday was a eye-opening day for me. One of my colleagues was laid-off. This is not the first person who was “let go” since I started working, but this is the first person who I worked very closely with to go. I have to say that I was completely stunned. We had a very small team to begin with – there were only 6 of us at the beginning of the day. Yet, supposedly it was the position they felt we could live without. I’m not sure that I agree, but it made me realize how precious each working day it, because it could be my last. This is also forcing me to look at the work I do now, to consider what I could pick up from the vacated position to make my job more robust or rewarding. I’ve been asked to think about what else I’d like to do (growth!) and what skills I have that may not yet be tapped.

I have very mixed feelings about this whole experience. I am sadden to say good-bye to a valued co-worker, but the opportunity that this might bring is still kind of exciting… Well, I felt the need to share and now am done.

I think I’m going to re-organize/give this blog some life and direction in the very near future, because it seems to be all over the place and I don’t think that it’s reflective of my life in the land of summer (at least I hope not!). I also need to update my photo feed. So much to do so little time. Until next time, xoxo

No long weekend…

Sadly, I do not have a holiday on Monday, and in fact don’t have another work holiday until Memorial Day… But, I’m going to make the weekend feel like it’s a 3 dayer. I don’t know what’s in store for this weekend, but it may or may not involve eating, reading, surfing (watching not participation), driving, and walking among other things. Oh yeah, it will probably also include pilates on Sunday morning.

Well, I hope you all have a Happy Valentine’s Day! Until my next post, <3

Reading digitally

One of the benefits of working in publishing is that I have to know about trends. We have a Kindle to help us understand the most recent “hot topic” in reading – e-readers and how our books appear on them. I took the Kindle of my trip home in October and I wasn’t impressed. I couldn’t stay focused on the books I was trying to read.

My boss is a technology lover, thankfully. She has convinced me to give the Kindle a 2nd chance by purchasing a book she knew I wanted to read. I have to say, it isn’t as dreadful as I originally suspected. Here are my observations:

1. I’ve only used it in my commute – I tried to read it before going to bed and kept accidentally pressing the Prev and Next Page buttons so that it was a fight to find where I actually was: A total failure!
2. I want a touchscreen and the ability to take notes. I bookmarked a few pages, but when I went back today, I couldn’t remember why I’d placed them
3. On Friday, when I left work, I really wanted to read and be free of technology – even my iPod and it’s draw of mindless games was disgusting. But, the Kindle felt like technology and so I was left with nothing to do on my way home.
4. I’m close to finishing the book that I was “bribed” with, and I have a strong urge to get the physical book. I’ve already requested it from the library (where it’s not yet available). I was totally surprised by this feeling!
5. I don’t think I’m ready to shell out the money for an e-reader yet, but I will definitely borrow our department one the next time I travel since I know it has a few other titles that I’d like to read.

So, the e-reader may not be a complete fail, but I don’t think that I’ll be giving up my physical books anytime soon.

<3