This week I started my new job at the Natural History Museum. I’m working on digitizing those books within the collection that are out of copyright, so that people will have access to them on the internet. I’m technically working for the Internet Archive, which I’ve used many times at 3am in order to finish a paper that is due the next day. So I’m thinking of this job as a way to return the favor. I get to handle some pretty cool stuff, and I’ll gain lots of great experience while working there. More than I got from my waste-of-space digitization class anyway. Besides being awesome, the job is also completely intimidating and slightly overwhelming. It might take me a few weeks to get the hang of it.

Besides learning all the ins-and-outs of the job I’ve also been struggling with my new, more adult sleeping schedule. Of course by struggling I mean not at all following a new, adult sleeping schedule. I have a feeling it might catch up with me soon.

The picture above is of a Banksy found not too far from my house. It’s a pretty famous one. And my favorite.

Someone please give the mayor of London a pair of scissors, because this man is in desperate need of a haircut. I can think of nothing else when I see him on TV every night. At least run a comb through it.

I have a new work blog that I am updating weekly in order to get credit for school. I’ll still be posting personal stuff here, but if you’re interested in the library business I’ll be posting every Friday to A Librarian in London.

Today was a crazy day. I started my job at The Women’s Library doing preservation. The picture above is the view from the roof of the building. Not too shabby. It was the first time I braved the Underground during rush hour, and that is something I won’t easily forget. I definitely became much closer with some people than I would have liked. Once I was able to actually get on a train, that is.

The job itself is great. I got to clean and sew together old pamphlets, and relabel some journals from “the vault”. The collection is just amazing. It’s like they made an entire library only filled with books Gemma would think are interesting. The people seem really friendly, and I even got a tour of the surrounding areas. And I get reimbursed for lunch when I work there. No more involuntary anorexia for me!

Oh! And the building I work in is right next to the site where Jack the Ripper murdered one of his prostitutes, so there are tour groups passing by all the time. History is fun!

When I got home from work, Sheila told me she came upon two tickets to the Royal National Theater for tonight. So we went and saw a play called Fram. The first half was very funny, and the second half was exceptionally depressing. Overall, though, it was a great experience and I really enjoyed it. The sets were insane, and the acting was fabulous. And the best part- Mr. Snape himself, Alan Rickman, was sitting only a few rows over! I showed much restraint by not running over to him and asking him to sign my “Snape is Loyal” moleskin that I conveniently carry around in my purse.

I love my bike. I especially love my bike basket, for reasons that I’m sure you understand. I mean, it’s a wicker basket. And it’s on my bike.

But what I love most about my bike is that I can ride it to work. Not only do I get to go to a library almost every day, but I get to peddle there on my lemon-colored, basket-endowed dream machine. Life is good.