Wow. I've wanted to see a production of Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater since I was in high school. (Okay - not a terribly long time... eight years) Tim and I got to the park super early to get the free daily tickets (how democratic!) and got to spend the whole day frolicking until the show. We did everything from strolling through the Shakespeare Garden, visiting the Central Park Zoo and Belvedere Castle, gazing at the beautiful Bethesda Fountain, and even going to a free "Summer Stage" concert featuring Tegan and Sara. Could it get any better? After all of that, Tim bought us some picnicking foods and we went to see a fabulous production of As You Like It. Do you recognize the two actors in the picture? That is Lynn Collins (Rosalind) who was recently in the film "Merchant of Venice" and Richard Thomas (Touchstone) who is otherwise known as "John-Boy!" (He was actually really good as Touchstone!) Not that the production focused on having an all-star cast, but a marriage of the play to talented actors. The most noteworthy character was Jacques, played by Brian Bedford who was the voice of Disney's Robin Hood way back in the day. He had an amazing sense of presence! Other pictures from the show, the Tegan and Sara concert, and the rest of this day can be found here.

So another week has flown by and I am three credits richer in the world of academia. I finished my first summer session of school - I took a storytelling class. This was a challenge for me, as I am a self-professed rambler. I leave obscenely long phone messages and I have difficulty in concisely giving the events of my day. But I am honestly proud of how my final project unfolded in front of my classmates. (Although, half way through, I visuallized my family members yawning and begging me to wrap it up!) So I am now about a fourth of the way toward my degree.

In other news, I found a cool new group to listen to: Tegan and Sara. They are Canadian Folk sister-singers that are really talented. You can link to their homepage here. Tim and I are going to see them do a free concert at Central Park tomorrow (and hopefully we can also get in to the Delacorte Theatre and see Shakespeare in the Park, too!). I am really looking forward to it - it's been a while since we have gone into the city and Central Park is just an amazing place.

I have been thinking a great deal about family lately, especially since we just returned from a visit to Canada two weeks ago to see my sister and her new husband. I am wishing that she lived closer and that I could take her to tomorrows' events. (She is always telling me her new favorite "Canadian Musician," not to mention her love for the Bard...) But we all live so far apart and each have our own private lives. (Little brother physically lives upstairs but he is actually a resident of Andy Land, which one must travel great distances and fight many battles to reach.) And I know that these distances have helped me leave the comforts of what is known and develop into the person I am meant to be, but when is it time to go back home? When I think of how much I miss my family, I envy those families that live close together because sometimes visits just aren't enough. But for now, it seems I must resign myself to "Pizza Nights" and holidays and just know that at least I can't take my family for granted.

So this is it. My very first "blog." Isn't it funny how you think you have so much to say and when you go to say it, you are left speechless. I don't understand it. Anyway, a bit about me, I guess, is the appropriate way to begin this thing called "blogging."

I am married, with two cats, and in grad school for Library Science (I know what you are already thinking - crazy cat lady librarian - but at least give me a chance, eh?). Technically, I am not a librarian yet, just a librarian in training. And believe me, the face of librarianship is changing. Anyways, who says your job defines who you are? If that were so, then what would you be? (Food For Thought...) Maybe I would be either a Children's Book Illustrator or a Travel Guide Writer, maybe even an Interior Decorator, Master Gardener, or a Costume Designer (who says I can't dream?!?). But alas, I draw as well as I dance (Bill Cosby Style or even "Elaine" from Seinfeld) and I fear writing "professionally," not to mention that I despair in constructive criticism. So, I guess one could say that being a librarian is almost a means to an end. This way, I can do all of those things that define me without the pressure of permanence. I wonder if this is a rational thought process...

Other Suzy tidbits: I like to sing really loud in the car when I am alone; my favorite colors are still my childhood faves - pink and purple; my cats play fetch with me with balled-up post-it notes; I have an extensive PEZ collection; my favorite sculptor is Rodin; I have "shy moments;" my favorite flower is the blue himalayan poppy - but I've never actually seen a real one; I am a list maker so I can feel like I accomplish things; I don't like coffee or fishy foods; and when I sweat, I get a sweat-moustache (grrr). These are all pretty revealing things, yes, but I think that honesty is the best hook for a reader. Are you hooked yet? Well, stay tuned for more then.

The Face of Librarianship!