EXCELLENT NEWS!!!

I have a new baby neice!! Elaine (Lainey) entered our world at 3:50pm today at a staggering 8 lbs 5 oz. I don't have any pics yet but when I do, I will post them immediately! The family is doing very well and I hope to meet Lainey soon...maybe tomorrow.

YAY!!!

Recommended audio book

I am just about to finish the audio version of M.T. Anderson's Feed. It is phenomenal and a wonderful version of a wonderful, disturbing and incredibly well-written book.

The first stage of reflection

We're nearing the end of the year. Some of you may be thinking, "what?! Is she crazy? It's barely Thanksgiving!" But the way time has been moving for me, the next thing I know we will be wildly ushering in the year 2007. I always like to think back on a few things I've learned the past year. I'm sure there will be more of this, but I wanted to write these before I forgot.

• I learned the hard way not to go grocery shopping when you're hungry.
• If it doesn't look good to you in the store (be it produce, clothing, or a halloween costume for your cat), do not purchase it and bring it home. I guarantee you will not see it again until many months in the future. If this is the case with food, gross. Believe me. Gross.
• Do NOT, under ANY circumstance shave your legs when you're angry. Really REALLY bad idea. (I imagine this is the same principle with shaving one's face but that is something that I don't know firsthand).
• When you're trying to pinch pennies and save in any place you can, don't worry about cat litter. Seriously. Splurge and get the really good stuff. You'll thank me later.
• Along the lines of saving money, be careful if you have a new child in your life. In my case, it's a niece (or two). Once you start buying them gifts, it's extremely addictive. Especially as a librarian whose niece loves books. How can I NOT get her books?
• There's no point stressing about the whole "so many books, so little time." It's undeniably true and both depressing and exhilarating at the same time. But it's completely futile to lose sleep over this. It's just a fact of life. I feel like it's extra hard since I'm so far behind on classics. I hated reading as a kid so...well...I didn't. Now I'm trying to make up for lost time.
• Dancing is the best thing and should be done all the time.

A short update

Well, things are moving along as usual. We had an excellent Halloween costume party for teens with some super creative costumes and lots of fun and games.

I can't taste or smell anything because I have the dreaded cold/flu that has been going around all of Boone County. I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. Working in a library is almost equal to working in a daycare. Germs germs germs. Eventually my immune system will catch up. Here's hoping.

I had a dream last night that I sailed around the world on a boat. I know there were two other people on the boat, I just can't remember who. (Hopefully one of them was Johnny Depp). Anyway, during the dream we all drifted off to sleep and awoke to the realization that no one put down the anchor so we ended up somewhere north of Alaska. Where would that be? I have no idea. Does this new dream usurp the old one where I bike across the U.S.? Absolutely not. That is still in my head. I even have a new bike to prove it (don't tell anyone I haven't actually ridden it yet).

I had a disturbing conversation the other day. I found out an elementary school teacher told her students that Puerto Rico could've been the 52nd state. When she was asked, "what is the 51st state?" She replied, "I thought Alaska was the 51st state!" Sigh.

I don't think I have anything else at this point. I'm going to go back to my snot-induced coma and stare at people as they ask me questions.