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loom 1 (lōōm) intr.v. loomed, loom·ing, looms
1. To come into view as a massive, distorted, or indistinct image
2. To appear to the mind in a magnified and threatening form
3. To seem imminent; impend:
n. A distorted, threatening appearance of something, as through fog or darkness.
— American Heritage Dictionary
Or see this definition from Random House, which I actually found somehow comforting:
n. a mirage in which objects below the horizon seem to be raised above their true positions.
The job hunt. Moving. Making REALLY BIG decisions. My feelings about these things are captured perfectly in the adjectives of the definitions above; “threatening” and “distorted” are particularly nice. Friends and colleagues have pointed out to me (many times) that I have a tendency to look too far into the future and worry about things that aren’t even possibilities yet. This usually means that I’m obsessing about something 5 to 10 years down the road.
But these things that worry me now are only ONE year down the road. One measly year. A trifle more than the 365 days. In other words, they’re just around the bloomin’ corner! And I should be worrying about them, but, oh, the grief they give me!
I came into library science with fantasies of being a well-rounded Renaissance scholar, and I have had a wonderful time dabbling in all sorts of topics. I like seeing the big picture and also being able to focus on the details – like a Google Map. Unfortunately, I don’t see too many want ads out there for “Renaissance scholar” and I’m not exactly clear on what the modern day equivalent might be. Don’t say “reference desk” … just don’t do it. Not listening to you, la la la.
I think back fondly on the days when I was a newly minted high school graduate applying for office jobs and all I needed was a high typing score. But nostalgia is a one-eyed mistress – she conveniently leaves out how much I was paid in those office jobs.
So if you are delighted and happy with your job or know other people who are, I would love to hear all about them. I’m going to need lots and lots of encouragement over the next several months and it’s never too soon to start. 
Susan tagged me to do the following meme:
1. Pick up the nearest book ( of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.
So having just finished The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (who will be on campus today at4pm!), my contribution is thus:
“Well, Clare, there’s nothing wrong with my legs.”
“Okay, then, we’ll go to the Orchard.” I take her arm, and away we go. When we get to the edge of the Meadow I say, “Shade or sun?” and she answers, “Oh, sun to be sure,” and so we take the path that cuts through…”
I tag Unexpected Librarian, should she choose to accept.
I started this term full of excitement for the Latin 101 class that I was taking — “Latin!” I thought to myself, “one of the languages that started it all. The original Romance tongue. The root of almost everything we say.” How delightful, yes?I think my honeymoon phase with this language is coming to an end. I still love learning it — as I love learning any new language — but the more I learn about the ancient Roman culture (in the context of “this is where we came from”) the less thrilled I am with it. For one thing, the Romans stole a lot from the Greeks — I knew that, but I didn’t realize how much they stole. And then we start getting into all the connotations behind words … for example, did you know the word behind “virtue” originally meant “manly”? Ech.
But the connection that has forever discolored Latin in my eyes is below:
bellum : war … neuter, II decl. noun
bellus, bella, bellum : beautiful, pretty, charming, handsome… adjective
That’s right – the neuter form of the word meaning “beautiful” is also the word for “war” … WTF?! How can any culture combine these two concepts into the same word?!? “War” and “Beauty” …? I’m so disgusted and disappointed. You let me down, Latin. I don’t think our relationship will ever be the same again.
