I do NOT heart moving

In fact, I hate it with all that I am, and then a few more of me. Thank goodness up and down that I have such wonderful friends to help out. A HUGE shout out to Dawn, Charles, Chris, Aunt Kim & Jeanne for helping me out, it was a massive endeavor (at least it seemed so). But now things are getting there. I still have some stuff in the old place to take to Goodwill, as well as my food. Darn, I knew I was forgetting something important. Food's kind of important. Stupid food. I hate food.

It didn't help that I got super super sick this weekend. I started having a very sore throat on Thursday but by Friday it was basically gone. Nope, it reared its ugly head in full force. After moving, I started losing my voice, started developing a fever, muscle aches, massive congestion, the works. I got about an hour or so of sleep. So Saturday, the day I was SUPPOSED to be cleaning the old place and setting up the new, I was at home in bed sleeping all day long. Same with most of Sunday. Sunday evening I was able to go over and finally pick up the cats, which was an endeavor I tell you what. By Monday I went over and did the cleaning and most of the throwing away of old stuff. It was bad timing because of the move, but good timing with the 3 day weekend and thank goodness I didn't get sick during the work week!

It's been a madhouse around here! Summer reading has officially started and there's barely a moment to sit down and get regular work done. But at the same time it's fun to see kids so excited about reading. Yay!

On the upside of the moving extravaganza, I absolutely ADORE my new apartment!! It gets lots of direct sunlight (which the cats can't get enough of), a huge balcony, a huge walk-in closet and a great view of sunsets. It's the greatest!

That's all for now.

Potential momentary hiatus

Hello!

I just wanted to make a quick post saying I might be a bit MIA for a while. I'm at home right now feverishly packing up all that I own. Each time I move I swear I get better at it, even though I get a little more nervous each time. My next step is to turn off the computer and pack up all the wires. I am not going to have Internet for a while at my new place so I'll only be able to post during lunch break at work. I'll try to keep it up to date! Eventually I'll be getting Internet.

Be back shortly!

'Tis the season

Of bad drivers and season finales.

Seriously. What is the deal with all of those awful drivers out there? I tend to blame it on the weather. But if I see *one* more driver who refuses to use his/her turn signal, I might blow a gasket and do something really harsh...like stick out my tongue...or yell profanities with the windows up. Sigh.

But on the upside of things, it's been an exciting few weeks of TV (and otherwise) entertainment. I'm totally addicted to audio books and it has provided me with an easy way to pass the time while I'm driving (even if I am dealing with road rage). It has also allowed me to feel like I can actually catch up on reading from all those years I hated doing it. Yes, I am a librarian who hated reading until she was about a junior in high school. Currently I'm reading Acceleration by Graham McNamee which is super creepy and very well done.

On the TV side of things, first it was the Grey's Anatomy season finale (whoa), ER's season finale (double whoa), next week is the Lost season finale (I can't wait) and last night C and I watched the mini series of Battlestar Galactica (me for the first time). Of course, I LOVED it. Now I'm thinking, "Great. Now I have 3 shows I have to plan my week around. One of these days I'm actually going to have to break down and use my VCR."

A new world of telephone fun and etiquette

I love it! Today I was able to say some really fun words when I was on the phone with a customer. A woman called up, here is the extent of our conversation:

Me: Children's, this is Sally. Can I help you?

Customer: I hope so. My son is insisting that the Captain Underpants series [by Dav Pilkey] is on his school's "accelerated reader" list. Is there a way you can tell me if this is true because I have my serious doubts.

Me: Absolutely! I'll just pull up the list online and I'll check...

*Pause while I open the list online*

Customer: [to someone at home] Throw the dead fly in the trash can...how did you get that fly? I've been trying to get him all day!

*Pause while we both have a good laugh about the dead fly*

Me: Well, believe it or not, your son is right. Captain Underpants is on the list!

Customer: Really?! Wow! Can you tell me which titles? We have ALL of them.

Me: Sure thing! There's The Adventures of Captain Underpants; The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby; Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets; Booger Boy, part 1 and 2; Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants; Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman...the list goes on.

Customer: Oh, Professor Poopypants! We know that title well. My 5-year-old can't even read and he can quote this book because we talk about it so much at my house! Thank you very much for your help!

Me: No problem. Have a great day!

Ha! I love the fact that I got to say Professor Poopypants at my job!! Best ever!!

Desperately Seeking Monkeys (Not of the feline variety)

I have recently opened myself up to the world of audio books and let me tell you what, it is such a wonderful world, and that's just based on one experience. After a recommendation from a co-worker, I checked out the audio version of "The Sweet Potato Queen's Big-Ass Cookbook and Financial Planner" and I now no longer have interest in music because I just can't wait to get in my car (regardless of the length of time I will be in there) so I can hear what hilarious thing will happen next. This book is HILARIOUS!! I don't often laugh out loud to books or spoken word when I'm by myself. Not because I'm not enjoying myself, it's just unlikely for whatever reason. But I have done everything from a giggle to an outright guffaw while listening to this book. If you get the chance, definitely listen to this and be sure to get the version with the author reading it herself. I'm not sure, there may not be any other versions, but just in case I thought I'd mention it. You'll understand the title of this blog post when you get to the 4th or 5th CD.

Things at work have continued to increase in speed and frequency but it's been amazing. Yesterday and today I spent the mornings at two different elementary schools plugging our summer reading program and it was so much fun! It amazes me that I don't get flustered in front of a group of 300+ kids. In fact I felt eerily comfortable. Recently I've been thinking a lot about how much I miss performing, be it in choirs, musical groups or musical theatre. I'm not the greatest actress but I really enjoy being on stage when I'm doing something I'm confident doing.

Well that's all there is to that. I'm about to leave for a party. My friend is hosting it. When asked "what's the occasion for the party?" she replies, "I got a new blender!" Fantastic!

Cute!

A little girl, about four years old, came up to the desk. Here is the extent of our interaction:

Little girl: Can you help me find a true story about a butterfly?

Me: Absolutely! Let's take a look... (I begin to pull up the library's online catalog)

Little girl: I can count to 90 without anyone's help! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 29, 90, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35... (the little girl promptly leaves after being distracted by a lego).

Best ever!!

(Oh, and just to let you know, Sammy is currently licking a piece of cardboard. I really do feed them, I swear!)

Cats and popcorn

I have two very strange cats.

• Cat A (we'll call him "Sammy") walks around in the other room, the one you are not in, and talks to himself (at least that's what I call it, he coos and meows and hums)
• Cat B (let's call him "Monkey") eats plastic and licks my patio door... I'm not kidding.

And now for something completely different, I went on a search last night looking for giant bags of pre-popped popcorn because today at the library we're having a family movie day and showing "Aladdin", the Disney version. You can't have family movie day without popcorn! I was hoping I wouldn't have to mess with popping agregious amounts of popcorn today. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find giant bags of pre-popped popcorn? It's really hard! I'm still hoping against hope that it might work today, I have my favoritest favorite checking Sam's Club for me. He's a star! If that doesn't work I'm going to be filling the entire building with the smell of microwaveable popcorn which I find to be a nauseating concept. Oh well. Such is the life of a children's librarian, right?

Summer quickly approaches

Since I've been a librarian one of the big changes I've noticed is my complete 180 degree turn regarding my attitude toward summers. During school, summer meant time for several things: relaxing, putting in a few more hours at a job, catching up on some reading, swimming, hiking, etc. When I have been employed full-time in the past (before my current job) summer has not held too much meaning other than a change in the weather and more reasons to take vacation days. Now, where I am currently employed, summer has taken on an entire new meaning, a life of its own.

As you may already know, summer is the quintessential time of the year for children's and young adult librarians. It is a time of increasing programming, more performers than usual, an influx of children and teens in the library, and general chaos. For a while I was plain and simple nervous. I was looking as these two months as a trial by fire situation. I knew that I would have my first gray hairs by the end of the summer. Well, that is all still the case but now instead of nerves and fear, I am getting more and more excited. I will more than likely be exhausted most of the time but still...I get to do programs with names like "Backyard Bugs" and "Slither and Slink", as well as a talent show for teens! How excellent is that? This year's summer reading theme is "Paws Claws Scales and Tales" and you know me and animals...what a great theme!

I wish I had a good reference question story to pass along but at this moment, I got nuttin'. However, we do have a pretty excellent program coming up. A group of elementary school kids who play dulcimers are performing at the library. They're called "Swingin' Dulcimers." Quite a name, right?

Awwwwww....(just had to share)

Yum-Yum highlights

Change is good, y'all

I'm back I'm back! I apologize for the long delay in posting to my blog. I'm sure everyone has been on the edge of their seats just salivating at the opportunity to read a new post from li'l ol me. :)

Lots has happened! I went to Boston for a library conference. It was amazing! I hear Terry Trueman AND Jon Scieszka speak, I was in the same place as Ella Jenkins (though alas did not hear her sing) and ran into an old friend from grad school. It was an amazing, albeit exhausting, trip. I highly recommend the city if you have the means. Boston rules!

Things have been going along swimmingly around here. Work is crazy busy but incredibly fulfilling. The cats are ornery as ever. I've met someone very special to me (many of you have met this person). AND it's almost summer! Today's high I believe was 73 degrees. Although I've been inside for the majority of the day, I'm still in a much better mood. I like winter but I don't like the ickiness of between winter/between spring weather. Ew!

As you've noticed, I've changed my blog template. I decided it was time to start looking different. I was getting very sick of the old background. Change is good! I also have some pictures to post but I don't have them handy so I'll get around to them later.

A quick shout out to Aunt Norma! Thanks for the article, it was hilarious! You might be surprised as to how many cranky patrons with no manners librarians run into on a daily basis! Yikes!

More to come...

Kids these days

Slightly funny, slightly scary phone call came to the library the other day. A girl, about middle school ages (10-11 years old) called in and asked "how do I find the meaning of a word?" Whoa. I mean, is that serious? It's scary when a person that age doesn't even know what a dictionary is. Turns out she was looking for a word specific to a book by Gary Paulsen, Hatchet, but still, is that really a question you need to ask? Frightening, I know.

I'm getting more and more jazzed about my trip to Boston next week! I leave Tuesday and come back Saturday for a jam-packed weekend of librarianship at the Public Library Association conference. I can't wait!

One more funny story. I got into a giggle fit with a 2-year-old yesterday. We were walking by each other and just laughing and smiling. She was laughing probably because I was laughing. I was laughing because she was smearing chapstick all over her face. Ha!

A librarian is NOT a babysitter

I have yet another story to add to the multitude that already exist regarding the treatment of children's libraries as daycares. We're not, people. We are not daycares. Libraries do not act in loco parentis (I learned that in grad school...impressed?)

Earlier today, there was a small child of about 3 or 4 years old running amok in the children's area (as they do). Normally I don't think much of it because first of all, it's pretty typical behavior, and second of all, many parents don't seem to notice it when their child starts acting like a sociopath because they are busy looking for the next DragonBall Z DVD in the series. Go figure. However, I noticed pretty quickly that this child was different because there did not seem to be any sort of parental unit or guardian checking out for him.

One of my co-workers walked over to this little boy and said "Ummm...where's your mama? Is she here?" The little boy responded, "she dropped me off." Immediately a red flag and fire engine sirens went off in my head. I was getting ready to call the police. However, he continued with, "my mama put me on the elevator and pressed the button and stayed downstairs." Whew! At least she was in the building! Apparantely there had been a miscommunication between parental units and both thought the other was upstairs with the little boy. No harm done. But there are many people who believe the librarians exist to babysit children. We entertain, we educate, we inform, we do other REALLY impressive things...but we don't babysit (at least at the library anyway).

Another thing I've noticed? I've started to put "y" at the end of many words, mostly nouns. The other day, I held up a vest to my sister and said, "do you want your vesty?" Yeah, I'm not sure what to think about that...

One last once:
There must be some sort of school project going on because I've had reference questions about Thailand, Kuwait, Lebanon, Bangladesh, and other countries that I probably spend at most 30 minutes a year thinking about. Bizarre!

I couldn't resist

I just had to...I mean, how cute are we?? I don't know which one, but this is me getting silly with one of my cousin's twin baby boys. (Sorry Jenn, I am a bad cousin and still can't tell Dex and Jax apart).

Strange phenomenon

Florence is weird. Or maybe, I'm weird. Either way, something weird this way comes. I'm unsure whether it is where I live or not, but I'm finding that things taste differently than they used to. I automatically blame it on the geography since everything else about this town is weird, but maybe my tastebuds are changing in my old age.

For instance, I drank a Sunkist today. Granted, I normally drink diet sodas but I thought I'd splurge and drink a regular. It's Friday, after all. However, it didn't taste like orange soda. It tasted more like...Chinese noodles...but liquid. And then I splurged again (since I couldn't finish the Sunkist...would you drink Chinese noodles? I didn't think so.) and bought a bag of Pizzaria Pretzel flavor Combos. Best ever. But once again, a strange thing happened. It didn't taste the way it should taste, it tasted more like a garden salad, or maybe just spinach leaves. It was really weird.

Now I kind of feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone, but without the awesome theme song. Instead, I have "Copa Cabana" going through my head. Doesn't quite match. Is it a full moon tonight or what?

Reference question of the week

A 7 or 8-year-old approaches the desk:

"Do you have any kids books?"

Me...in my head: "Um...we might have one or two."

I turns out he wanted a picture book about a black lab. And I found one about a black lab named Sally! best ever!

Sorry I've been MIA on the blog-scene lately. Work has been wonderful, but taking up most of the space in my brain. You know how when you get in touch with someone you haven't spoken with in a long time and then when you talk you have so much to say, you just don't say anything? Well, it's kind of like that.

There is a good piece of news. My co-worker and I got a wonderful band to do a concert at the library for teens in June! They're called The High Strung and I think they're going to be a real hit. They're going to ONE library each STATE for the summer and they're coming to the one I work at! Yay!

I'm working on some more pics so I can have an actual interesting blog someday... :)

Uninspired

I got nothin'.

Sorry, I'll get there, but I'm just not feelin' it.

Except this:

cats + plastic = heaven...for them (and a mess...for me)

Reference question of the week

"Do you have any books on places?"




Turns out, this patron wanted some books about Jamaica. Library patrons are so weird and vague. However, librarians are usually just as weird but specific. Strange world we live in.

Oh yeah, and by the way. Today was highly, highly superior to yesterday. I think I turned over a new leaf while I was sleeping last night. Woke up in a fantastic mood and continued the day feeling sparkly and a-okay. I don't remember my dreams but I must have solved some big existential dilemma I was having subconsciously. Either that, or I married Johnny Depp and please...who WOULDN'T wake up in a fantastic mood?

Worst. Day. Ever.

Suffice it to say, I think the honeymoon might be over. Does embarassment qualify for worker's comp? It should if it doesn't. No need to go into details, it was just a day with a bad program, low blood sugar and annoyances from beginning to end. Tomorrow will be better. It has to. Sorry for the ootey (a great new word I picked up from my co-worker) posting.

Monkey, tell the world how I feel about today. Good boy.