For Once, I Think it Really is a Sign

[unforth]

So last night, I had not one but TWO dreams about composing the letter I've been meaning to write to the school I want to go in order to set up my visit in March. I've been procrastinating like crazy on this. But I think my brain is telling me it's time if I'm having two damn dreams about it in one night. So I just wrote it and hit the send button. Thanks for yelling at me, brain.

In other news,
This making decisions about the direction of the rest of your life thing is pretty complicated! So after some thought, I've decided to add another "if, then" statement to my future plans. It's sort of a replacement of the old ones. The new set is...

If...
...I don't get into the school in Boston AND I can get a full time job in Bloomington, I'll stay in Bloomington.
...I get into the school in Boston, I'll go to Boston. Obviously.
...I don't get into the school in Boston AND I don't get a job in Bloomington, I will look for a preservation job anywhere in the country, with a preference for Boston/the East coast/any city that has a school where I can take some workshops to build my skill set (I know of places that give workshops in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and San Francisco; Ann Arbor does too, but it's smaller and there is a library school there so it's unlikely to have a position for me in conservation...there might be some others, I'll have to investigate) and move appropriately. This option scares me a little bit, but thinking about it, I think it makes more sense.

What prompted this edit? Cause it's a pretty big one, really! Well, I was looking through Lib-Bling, an awesome site that compiles librarian jobs available in Boston, and I saw a this posting for a temporary 12 week conservation position at Harvard. This is a job that I'm qualified for and that I'd be willing to do. And it got me thinking, if I just go to Boston, I might not get a job in conservation (though I'd really try) or even in librarianship (though I'd REALLY try) and then what good would THAT do me? I'd be the same as I was the year before when I applied, except a year removed from my experience. Yeah, that'll help my chances of getting in. Instead, I should be wandering about building a resume. I don't mind doing temporary positions, and they are usually relatively easy to get cause people don't apply because they aren't willing to do them. Hence, my edit. :) Of course, I'm still stuck in a time freeze until I know if I get into North Bennet Street School. I sent out the e-mail today asking to set up a visit over spring break and requesting an application. Once I know about that, I'll talk to Jim and Gary at preservation about writing me recommendations, and maybe Joel Silver too, depending on how many I need and what types of people they say they want writing the application...well, I'll get it in for sure. I just need to decide if I should do conservation binding or fine binding...ah, decisions! I want to do both!

Anyway, I'm still sick, but I feel a bit better this morning, at least so far, which is odd cause my throat is actually more sore. Ah, whatever. I'm mostly done with my parts of the first grant, too, at 22 pages. :) I wish I'd been more coherent at the interlude, though. :(

Edit: As I wander around looking for interesting jobs, I came across this student position for the "Preservation of Computer Games." Huh.

Comments

[schenker28.livejournal.com]

I'm still rooting for option A, of course. But I like the revised option C -- I think it's more career-oriented and focused than the Boston or Bust option. But I do think you should make sure you'll be happy in whatever city you think of moving to. My main complaint has been either living in highly-conservative towns or towns with very little music or theatre.

The game-preservation thing is cool, although it seems to be just a small piece of the bigger problem of preservation of digital media and software.

[unforth.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of efforts being made at digital preservation, but it's proving difficult at best. :) It's a big topic in archiving.