And Behold, There Was Joy

I get pretty excited about most things.

I eagerly anticipate vacations for months ahead time, telling Bart over and over and over how much I can’t wait to leave.

I spent days saying “I got in to grad school!” last fall.

I am so delighted when anyone comes to visit us; my Dad and Landen’s recent visit was the highlight of my month, as was my parents and Crawford’s the month before.

So, it was a pretty big deal when last night Bart said I was the most excited he had ever seen me.

About a week ago, an email was sent to the iSchool listserv saying that the American Library Association was looking for a student blogger to write for a new blog they’re starting for the READ campaign (you know, those posters in every library with a famous person reading some book like Anne of Green Gables or The Cat in the Hat). They asked for a brief bio, including background and interests.

I thought it sounded pretty interesting and I sent my blurb along with a link to one of my book reviews on here (Bridge to Terebithia, should you be wondering, which I know you were).

I got an email back saying thanks, there had already been a number of interested people, and I’d find out by Friday.

Last night, I got an email and I could tell from the teaser in Gmail that I hadn’t gotten it – it said thanks for all your interest, a lot of people had applied and it was a difficult. . . . .

So I opened it and then my name leaped out at me. It said “I’ve selected Janssen ________. I believe her enthusiasm for the mission of the READ program, combined with her dedication as a blogger makes her an ideal candidate for increasing the visibility and buzz of the READ program.”

Well, there was much screaming and leaping around and being so ridiculously ecstatic it was embarrassing.

And I know it’s not really that huge of a deal; it’s only one or two articles a month and it’s un-paid, but wow, I had no idea how much I’d wanted it until I got the email saying I had.

The blog isn’t live yet, but they’re hoping to have it up and running before the national convention this summer, so it can’t be too long.

I’m basically beside myself with joy.

(Also, I’m beside myself with joy because I got my social security card all fixed and last night, just five minutes before the email about blogging came along, I found out I got about $1900 of financial aid. Free money! Woo-hoo!)

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27 Comments

  1. Yay for Janssen! You are the perfect person for that job. They selected wisely. And yay for free money!

  2. Congratulations!!! What a tricky way to announce it. I agree with Sheyenne, you are the perfect person for that job. :)I can’t wait to see the new blog!! (I’m guessing this is the exciting news that Bart was referring to….)

  3. Congrats! That is super exciting! The ALA is kind of like my Heaven and their DC office is two blocks from mine…I walk by it twice a day! I actually sent them my resume recently for a job that I would love and adore, as well as be fabulous at. I’ll be looking for your blog!

  4. So exciting! Congrats. You will do fantastic. I am sure you will post the URL on your blog once it is up and running. We will all add it to our google readers and be able to partake of your goodness even more 🙂 Hooray!

    And Happy Friday!

  5. Sounds PERFECT! I know they couldn’t have found a better fit. Congrats! Oh, and the free money sounds nice too.

  6. And this will look very very very good on your resume/CV. Congratulations! Are you going to the convention in Anaheim? I’ll be there since it is just down the road.

    Again, congrats!

  7. Congratulations! I can’t remember how I found your blog, but I’ve been reading it for a while now, especially once I found out you were in grad school to become a librarian. I work at a library in SLC, and as soon as I am done with my Bachelors degree I plan on getting my MLS. Anyways, congrats! I love reading your book reviews, so I am sure you will do great.

  8. Janssen, I’m impressed with them for figuring out how good you really are. Congratulations! This is the first of many things like this to come into your life.

  9. Congratulations. It is so fortunate you didn’t just delete the message without looking at it! I have been following your book reviews; I think you will do a great job. As to the financial aid – every little bit helps.

  10. Janssen, that is AWESOME! I’m so thrilled for you. Congrats on your recent windfall as well — maybe you should celebrate by seeing a matinee at the “regular” theater?!?! 😉

  11. “Enthusiasm”. To be inspired by the gods. You got it. They knew it. Story over. It’s also very contagious! Can’t wait for some of it to rub off on me! (noelle’s mom)

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