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!)