i got my first library job at a private boys school + weeknight tofu tahdig 🌿

Hey friends, so I got that library technician job I mentioned last month and I've been acclimating to it for pretty much all of May. It's 3 hours a week (although they're already asking me to do more shifts) at a private boy's middle-upper school library. I've had two shifts so far. The first was draining! New environment, lots to take in. I had a little cry when I got home and tried to purge the gross (sexual) things I overheard from the pubescent patron group from my mind! Spent that week reflecting with different people and realised the teenage boy ew-ness I was feeling is probably a me problem (as they weren't saying anything concerning or that bad, it was just gross (no, I'm not going to repeat here)). Second shift was so much better. I had more to do so it went faster, was less tiring and I met more sweet prepubescent year 7s, so that helped tip the scales.

While it's only 3 hours, the commute is really kicking my ass. It's a 40 min drive there, 50 min-1 hr drive back (in the dark), and no, there's no public transport options. While I'm under no illusions my first library job would be round the corner – it's a bit of a wake up call that a) driving in heavy traffic takes such a toll on my body, and b) agreeing to last minute shifts is going to be doubly hard because of that.

As for the actual library work – the part you're probably waiting for – it's been pretty straightforward so far. I'm there when the library's open for afterschool private study and the main librarians are heading home for the day. So it's been a lot of tidying the collection, re-setting the library for the next day, refreshing displays, light customer service and supervising students. I'm still learning how to communicate with these hormonal monsters (said with love...). So far I've found thanking them for doing the right thing has a positive effect on how often they do the wrong thing. But any advice is welcome. Hopefully once I get my lanyard I'll look like a member of staff and not just a kookily dressed member of the public who's walked off the street.

Speaking of professional dress, the above pic is what I wore on my first day! I'm on the look out for more options though. My vintage Doc Marten Mary Jane's make my feet ache and that top and pants are cute but not very practical for bending down 30 times a shift. So that's a work in progress.

I've felt much more grounded this month (compared to early autumn), but to no one's surprise have been totally fatigued by this new routine. My gut issues are still out of whack and while I'm making some progress there (I hope), this year's felt like one long stint of showing up as much as I can while feeling either exhausted or super uncomfortable. I'm over it!

I'm ahead with my library diploma coursework though. Meaning I'll likely have a 4 week break from content before term 3 starts. I passed the cataloguing unit this week (joy!), which was a clunky coding crash course that welcomingly-challenged and pissed me off in equal measure. Not sure if i'll ever be putting all this knowledge into practise honestly... but happy to be crossing units off.

For now though, I need a weekend of naps, stillness and quiet. I hope you get what you need this weekend as well.

YOUTUBE.

Posted a day in my life which has a bit of everything!

KITCHEN.

L-R: A deconstructed burger bowl, cheesy kimchi tofu rice and this month's crispy Persian rice recipe that I made a few times, because it's just that good!

L-R: My favourite comfort noodle soup, Greek-style meatballs with pesto pasta and Greek salad (I Want Dopamine for Dinner recipes) and another veggie tofu curry.

L-R: Meal-prepped slaw that I used in different ways throughout the week (it lasts well), seriously good Full of Plants jackfruit dumplings and Gaz Oakley's potato and leek soup with a macadamia-chive dressing (which was just ok).

L-R: Bon Appetite's sesame soba noodles with crispy tofu – which was frustrating to follow and tasted just ok. Had to mention this olive oil hazelnut coconut rough spread I found at the health food store – tastes like blitzed Ferrero Rocher in a jar.

L-R: I love microgreens, I just wish I get through the box quick enough! Coconut quinoa pudding I've been having for breakfast, by Full of Plants and some healthy-ish protein bites I made (from a mix of recipes).

L-R: Another white chocolate mud cake test, some weetbix chocolate-chip cookies and another buckwheat chocolate chip cookie test run that turned out a bit flat (but still good).

WATCHED.

Saw The Devil Wears Prada 2 and loved it! It was exactly the trashy escapism I needed. I enjoyed the fast-paced plot, (perhaps unrealistic) character growth and more-human side of Miranda we got to see. The stereotyped portrayal in that one scene (you know the one) was so disappointing though. Like how did that not raise any eyebrows in the writers room? Honestly studios, do better!

Following the backlash around Anne Hathaway's love interest in The Devil Wears Prada 2, I decided to finally go watch Colin from Accounts S1 + 2. Aka the show that the actor is most known and loved for in Australia. It made for excellent escapism over the last two job-onboarding weeks. The dog Colin is seriously neglected at points though (like left for hours with his wheels on so he can't sit or lie down?!!!!!) and the characters give you the shits every episode. But it's also laugh-out-loud funny and very binge-worthy (I routinely forgot what day it was when I finished a few eps). Eager for season 3 later this year.

READ.

Autobiography of a Marguerite by Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle is a darling wee work of poetry-memoir that explores themes of family dysfunction and chronic illness. I loved the first half more than the second, which has a lot of footnotes that I wasn't sure how to digest. But a beautiful short read, I'd highly recommend!

I struggled with Amber Husain's Tell Me How You Eat: Food, power and the will to live. It's part memoir, mostly researched non-fiction about the author's experience developing an eating disorder in 2020 and their journey to understanding how appetite is linked to hope, politics and life-purpose. At least that's what I took from it. It felt lacking in direction/contention. I think a balance of more memoir and more curated research would have resonated more strongly with me. Rather than (what felt like) a summary of everything the author learnt about the topic, stuck together with a few personal anecdotes.

Shark Heart: A Love Story is an awesome (ADHD-friendly) work of fiction about a couple living in a world with rare animal-mutation conditions that can kick in at any time! The husband of the couple starts mutating into a Great White Shark (lol) in the first few pages and the story goes from there. It's endearing, bizarre, hilarious, heart-warming and unique. Although it's a thick book, the chapters are short, with some pages only hosting a couple lines of prose – making it a super dopamine-filled read.

On Being Ill is a wonderful collection of essays from contemporary authors, Virginia Woolf and Audre Lorde. I'm not happy with myself over this, but I really struggle with the stream of consciousness writing style Woolf is known for. It's really not ADHD friendly! I can't process super long sentences. So I struggled with her essay, but I felt seen (in a non-triggering way) as I zoomed through the rest of the collection.

RECIPE.

This month's recipe is for Tofu, Lemon & Dill Tahdig! A one-bowl, golden-bottom comfort dish – inspired by the Persian classic – that will make you feel nourished, safe and held. I first published this recipe in Straightforward, but decided an updated version deserved a place on the blog.

Thank you for reading & supporting my work,

– Phoebe 

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