Volunteering
I have volunteered with three different local libraries. The first was at the Fletcher Free Library, where I had two positions. One was at the library's Computer Center where I would help patrons with problems, sign people up for guest reservations, and occasionally act as a police officer when someone had their music playing too loud or started talking on the phone. I dropped this position due to starting classes at the University of Illinois. The other position I have is helping the librarian in charge of putting on programs for the Fletcher. She was also the Outreach librarian for a while, and I helped with that, too. I have had a variety of things to do, from making and hanging posters and making deliveries to making book displays to ordering books. You can also see some of my posters and book displays in the Projects Section. After receiving my Master's degree I volunteered at Brownell Library and Deborah Rawson library, where I worked on cataloging projects, like reclassifying collections and working on merging duplicate records.
I also volunteer with H.O.P.E. Works, an organization that helps survivors of rape and sexual assault. I helped with fundraising events, like sending out mailings to people who had donated before and Phone-a-Thons. My favorite thing of all, however, was participating in my city's Mardi Gras celebration. A local brewing company created Mardi Gras after they printed something that was offensive to rape survivors on their bottles. H.O.P.E. Works protested and the brewing company created Mardi Gras and agreed to give the proceeds to H.O.P.E. Works as compensation. I usually had two roles on Mardi Gras day. I would be at one of the booths selling beads for several hours, and then I would be a float walker in the parade. It was always a lot of fun, but the crowds and the noise made it exhausting, too.
Things I do by myself
I like to design web sites. I have hard coded this whole site, for instance.
I also like to read. I enjoy mysteries, or stories with riddles and puzzles to solve, like the Redwall series and the newer and less well-known Expeditioners series. I also love books with independent and spunky female characters. I tend to avoid romances, though if there is a romance as a side plot I am okay with that, and I can be happy for the main characters if they want to be in a romantic relationship with each other and they end up in one.
I also like to do crafts. I like plastic canvas and stenciling, and I have software that lets me design my own plastic canvas projects that I enjoy using. I occasionally also make soap. When I make soap, it's what is called "melt and pour" meaning I buy the base, scents, colors, and molds and then melt the base, add the scents and colors, and pour into the molds.
I also like to write stories. Most of what I write is based off of an original work and is called "fan fiction". I tend to get obsessed with certain movies and boos, and writing fan fiction helps me find an outlet for the obsession without driving everybody around me crazy by talking about it all the time. I have also come up with original stories. Even though I like writing, I have no desire to be a writer professionally.
I also do digital photography. I sell some of my photos online. There are links to my profiles on several photo selling sites below.
Listen to music. While this is currently something I do on my own, I wouldn't mind going places to hear live music at some later point.
I take a walk every day, and while this is not exactly what I would call a hobby, I do enjoy doing it and I hope someday to be somewhere where I can walk to work and back.
Things I do with other people
I enjoy going apple picking. I usually go two or three times a year because everybody in my family likes a different kind of apple. My dad likes Macintosh, my mom likes Cortland, and I like McCoun.
I love going to see plays at the theater, though I don't have much opportunity to do so. I hope this will change.
I also enjoy playing board games. This is another thing I don't have a lot of opportunities to do. My favorites are Jenga, Uno, and a game called Herd Your Horses.
I also enjoy going miniature golfing. Here are the scores from this year's game with my father:
| Rachel | Dad | |
| Practice Hole | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hole 1 | ||
| Hole 2 | ||
| Hole 3 | ||
| Hole 4 | ||
| Hole 5 | ||
| Hole 6 | ||
| Hole 7 | ||
| Hole 8 | ||
| Hole 9 | ||
| Hole 10 | ||
| Hole 11 | ||
| Hole 12 | ||
| Hole 13 | ||
| Hole 14 | ||
| Hole 15 | ||
| Hole 16 | ||
| Hole 17 | ||
| Hole 18 | ||
| Total |