the sea

now, it is Iris Murdoch time. 'the sea, the sea'. there have been very few booker prize winner's works i've enjoyed, to be honest. so i am very curious to see how i feel about this. it's started well. so far. there's something i'm not sure of... a roughness, a speed to it, the pace, that i'm still getting used to - it is jittery in a way i don't know if i like.

also got a copy of an awesome anthology 'revolting librarians' - have also ordered copy of 'revolting librarians redux.' i've developed something of an obsession with subject headings.... there's a paper in that's around the corner.

i'm working through two main work related areas of interest - LC subject headings, and cataloging in general, and the 'aftermath' for people working with deeply disturbing material. mulling them over a lot, and i think something will grow out of both of these.

see, i don't catalogue. i'm in reference, or special collections, or... i've been in a few areas, really. work wise, my skills are broader, but i do have good attention to detail... but my better skill is in project work - i excel there. it's definitely my strength; strategy, application of strategy... my 'professional' networking needs some work - my 'professional persona' in general is still unpolished - i am too immature, too reckless, have taken personal risks reflecting back into my professional life that i deeply regret. i get distracted easily, bored easily. but i am stubborn. if i decide i want to do a good job on something, i'll not rest until i have.

but subject headings. that's less of a professional interest, and more of a research issue i hold. and i know, it's huge. the revision and application of 'proper' subject headings to a collection of over three million, Three Million titles, is not feasible. but. but. hm. ponder.

i have, i think anyway, sunstroke. i got severely burnt on my back, while sitting in the shade. it hurts. a lot. it didn't at first, i didn't notice until i turned and saw a shoulder, glowing red, and then my back, an even deeper shade... on arriving home, i found myself woozy, and slow. and hot. and then... the pain. it's painful, digging, bloody. not nice.