NPR Homework

On Saturday as I was driving home after work, on my way to "Christmas Break," and I was listening to NPR when the commentator assigned us homework. I was so enthralled by the idea that I called my voicemail at work to remind myself to think about it for the blog. I just went to elibrary for the transcript to give you the exact wording:

"Melody Kramer is a producer at NPR's WAIT WAIT DON'T TELL ME. She lives in Chicago. Melody just told us what she's happy she did this year. How about you? For this week's homework assignment, I want you to send me a story about the best thing you did in 2007. What are you proudest of? What did you accomplish that you never thought you could?"

I really liked the question, especially as I prepare to review last year's 43 Things to make new ones for the coming year. High on my list of best would be the recent Disney vacation. The 4 of us had a great time and it has been a long time since I have been away with my parents. Another highlight was riding the Segway. I had a massage in a palapa on the beach in Mexico this summer. Super awesome! I never thought I would actually read War and Peace. There are a lot of things I'm proud of this year, especially Ann's quilt. Even though I was already a technogeek, I made great a great leap forward with this blog and the Professional Collection one and other technology. Overall, despite the accident, I had a terrific year. Perhaps being happy at work and home is my great accomplishment.

Want to add your bests, proudests, and surprise accomplishments?

End of Year Thoughts

I will be making some posts to close out the year and I thought I would break them into separate posts to make them more coherent and manageable. First of all...Fantasy Football. Although football season is over and some fantasy leagues still have playing time, ours concluded this past week. I came in #2 behind EG who was our "control" subject. After setting up her account and creating a super cute avatar, she never logged in again. In the automatic draft she was dealt a very solid team. She had the #1 kicker and very consistent players at the other positions. EG never shuffled players off the bench to cover bye weeks or players out for other reasons. Nevertheless, due to the consistency of her team in the aggregate, she won. As I mentioned in previous posts, I neither follow nor fully understand football. I worked hard on my team this season. I read expert reports, researched players, analyzed statistics, traded players, and moved people around. My rank was never lower than 4th, I was in 1st for several weeks, and I ended in 2nd. For my first attempt at Fantasy Football, I feel that I made an honorable showing. I will admit that I am much relieved that the season is over. On Saturday night I was out to dinner at Il Primo and on side-by-side televisions Shark Tale and the Cowboys were playing. I was watching football. Not good!

'Tis the Season

Having been on a mini vacation between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I find that I am in overdrive trying to get everything done. I returned from my trip to a package on my my desk -a book to review from LJ. Fortunately it must have only just arrived as the due date is 12/24. I hadn't yet read my book discussion book and that was for this past Wednesday. Sometimes I feel like I'm back in school reading my assignments right before they are due (oh, right...I never read my assignments). At least now I read! I have also been shopping like a fiend. I participate in the adopt-a-family program and feel very strongly that the kids all receive bicycles (and helmets). I am acutely aware of how fortunate I am. I can still hear my grandmom's voice saying, "you're a lucky, lucky girl" and I can't imagine what it must be like for the parents to have to ask for gifts on behalf of their children. When I think about how much I can blow during any given trip to Disney on funnel cake, cotton candy, pins, and whatever strikes my fancy, or my ebay habit, or amazon, I feel compelled to give back. So...I've been a busy, busy girl. Then yesterday we discovered a family fell through the cracks and needed adopting, so off to Toys 'R Us we went 6 days before Christmas (yikes). I learned all about Polly Pockets, though, and found a Barbie in a swanky living room set that didn't seem demeaning, plus assorted board games.

I have been exchanging gifts with friends, receiving awesome toys and books. I received some promises; I have a date for 2 hockey games in the new year and I'm going to be taught to play Mah-Jongg. How thrilling! Disclaimer: If your gift was not mentioned, above, it doesn't mean I'm not pleased by it :)

The other great thing about this time of year is that it is the annual selection of the book thong. Each year Bead Lady makes beaded book thongs (those string book marks) for the branch and we can select the one that most appeals to us. The beads are all different. You would think that you could have too many, but you can't. We all have multiple books going and variety is nice. I chose mine today and I love it. It's in the LJ review book. Tomorrow as I'm reading I'll probably absent-mindedly roll my new book thong through my fingers like rosary beads, appropriate given my genre. Thanks, Bead Lady.

I probably won't post again until next week. I know that I will unwrap more gifts that will make me smile, but I am most grateful for the gifts that can't be unwrapped. Thank you for your time, friendship, counsel, comfort, and encouragement. Merry Christmas.

I'm Back

I have returned from my trip to WDW and all is calm, all is bright. My lament that I would not see the Wishes fireworks was for naught. I saw them 3 times. Once from Main Street, once from one of my favorite restaurants, 'Ohana where they pipe in the audio track (did not know that), and then finally from just off the monorail. The whole trip was awesome. We went on a Segway tour of EPCOT that was amazing (and was on my list of 43 Things). I had never been on a Segway before. The castle was more beautiful than the video I posted could ever convey. I made this trip with my parents and my usual traveling companion. My parents had not been to the Disney parks in a long time and we thought it would be fun to show them what our typical trip is like with the added bonus of Disney Christmas. We brought them to all of our favorite restaurants, etc. I bought my mother Mickey ears. She chose the Year of Million Dreams with silver ears and flashing lights edition and she became a rabid pin collector. The best part was that she loves spinning rides but my father and I can't spin, but AJK can so they went on the carousel, Dumbo, Astro Orbiter, and the tea cups. Watching them on the tea cups was fabulous. We also got rides, separately, in the front car of the monorail. Each moment was perfect (well, my parents did heckle Tigger at lunch...but he was a good sport)...other than that...My cold is gone. My eye infection is cured and my knee is much improved. Best of all, joy has returned and I feel like my old self. Now I can start to enjoy the new car. The miracle of Pixie Dust.

When You Wish Upon a Star

Tomorrow I leave for a mini vacation. Not that I'm placing much pressure on this vacation, but I hope it will fix everything. You know how when you screw on a jar lid and you don't align the threads? It goes on, but not quite right. That's how I have felt since the accident. Things haven't been quite right. I get all my tasks done but I don't really concentrate and I'm not filled with joy. My knee is not entirely healed (my apologies to AC for even voicing a complaint about that) and then I got a cold and then an eye infection. An eye infection! Where did that come from?! Here's the good thing...my vacation is essentially joy rehab - Walt Disney World. I will be spending 3 days getting sprinkled with Pixie Dust, enjoying fireworks, gingerbread, and the magic of Christmas all at the Happiest Place on Earth. I can't wait. The castle has new icicle decorations this year. How can I not get my joy back? Here is a video of the castle lighting.



While we are at WDW, we will be attending Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. That should be a hoot. It is a special ticketed event with parades, cookies and hot chocolate, snow on Main Street, etc. The one thing that I don't think will happen this visit because of the holiday fireworks is the Wishes fireworks. Wishes fireworks are my favorite. They are choreographed and narrated and tell the story of wishes and hearts' desires. Of course they always make me feel very grateful and there is a part towards the end that makes me cry, on cue, every time. I even have the CD of the show and I cried at home at the "right" spot. Also, at the finale I am usually overwhelmed by the fireworks and the tears stream. You probably won't want to watch the whole video, but this is a way for me to have it now. Even in my not quite right state watching this video made me tear up, so maybe I'm on the mend.

I'm Peeved

I go from saying nothing in eons to making two posts this afternoon. Here's the scoop...Our branch had to have new pictures taken for new IDs this afternoon. It seems we will be set up with IDs that will require us to scan into things or things that will require us to scan our IDs and therefore we will join the ranks of Lanyard People. I find this highly objectionable on so many fronts. I enjoy my name tag that says, "____ _____ Library System" and my name. It clearly identifies that I work here. I also have a gold 5-year pin that I have proudly stuck through my badge. It reflects my commitment to my job. The generic swipe ID that hangs from a lanyard does not sit prominently in a way that proclaims, "I am here so that you, Patron, might know I work here, and can identify me to help you." The swipe ID is functional for me and confusing to you. It forces people to stare and try to determine whether that person is even an employee. If the ID clips to belt it forces us to go crotch stalking. We are supposed to be more accessible to the patrons. The movement is to do away with Reference Desks yet we become anonymous in a sea of office workers wearing pass cards. Years ago when every employee in hospitals started wearing scrubs, patients began having a hard time. They reported all sorts of problems because one minute a janitor in cranberry scrubs is emptying the trash and the next a nurse in maroon scrubs is changing their dressings. Fine distinction. Then the secure pass IDs with tiny print made it impossible to know whether the approaching person was a nurse, doctor, student, volunteer, or orderly. Nothing like feeling completely out of control. So now we might be joining those ranks. I suppose we might be permitted to continue to wear our LCLS name badges until "they" decide they will no longer order them and they disappear by attrition. Perhaps I'll request a handful of replacements. At $1.00 a piece...priceless.

Finally a Post

I find I am suffering from the same syndrome on this blog as I am with some of my email friends and that is that I have not written for so long that it is easier not to write anything than to decide what to include. I'm tempted to blast out some headlines at the risk of sounding like Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire." On Thanksgiving Eve I picked up my brand new car, a 2008 Honda Accord EX-L V6 sedan. The color has a dumb name - Polished metal metallic. A little redundant. It's a pretty awesome car, though. I did not intend to get a new car. On October 26th a red light runner at Bell Tower and Daniels crashed into me. In my nearly 23 years of driving I have never been involved in an accident. This one, despite being a side impact, deployed the airbags. Anyway...State Farm totaled the car and I had my rental (the exact vehicle I requested), and a check for more than I probably could have traded it in or sold it for based on the NADA I calculated, within the week. State Farm was terrific. When I bought the last car, also a Honda Accord, I said it would be the car to take me into my 40s. I missed by a few months. This new car will take me into my 50s...Eeeek!

On another note...This past week in Fantasy Football my winning streak came to an end when I was stomped by the Colombians. I am, however, still in 1st place in the league for the 4th week in a row. TFM is in 2nd place where we hoped he would be. At least for a week we are 1 & 2!

Finally, it may be immodest to mention it, but I am profiled in the current issue of Gulfshore Life magazine in an article about local book clubs. I made sure to give information about our book discussion kits for the side bar. There is even a picture. My mother is thrilled.

I had much to be thankful for last week. I hope you did as well.

Fantasy Football

I must report on Fantasy Football because we just closed Week 9 and I am NUMBER 1!!!!!!! You read that correctly, top of the heap. I know at the beginning of this season I admitted that my knowledge consisted of things like 1) Don't run a dog fighting ring, 2) route for Green Bay, and 3) stop commenting that the guy with the ball should run away from the other guys not into the dense pack. However, I have carefully studied my roster, moved my players around, read reports, etc. and never dropped below 4th. I maintain no grand delusion that I will remain at #1, but I for this week - here I am.

TP

This is FH's desk...

and Fred's. Next time give us candy :)

Happy Halloween

Today I am dressed, as I am sure millions of Halloween participants are, as Vasco da Gama. Sure, it's a common costume, but there are also millions of witches. Last year I was the Count of Monte Cristo. The year before I was Imhotep, the Pharaoh's architect. I have been Zorro, Tycho Brahe, and Galileo. Sometimes I make coordinating business cards. When I was little my mother made my costumes and they were works of art. She planned them for months and researched them extensively in the library. Our town held a Halloween parade and costume contest every year and almost every year I won. I went trick or treating only in my own neighborhood using a plastic jack-o'lantern or bag created to coordinate with my costume. Never a pillowcase. The worst candy to receive was butterscotch. We trick or treat in our branch. In fact, as I write this part (it is 1:44 p.m.) and we are in the midst of trick or treating from cubicle to cubicle. Several of us believed that the YS office did not have candy available so 5 of us TPed their office. We were almost finished when we spotted the top hat filled with candy. OOPS! The Viking said, "keep going and take the candy." I tried to reason to reason with them. Finally, I put my foot down and we decided to strip the TP and do Fred's cubicle like last year. What a hoot. Then we heard FH in TelRef didn't dress up, provide candy, and wasn't trick or treating, we TPed him, too. We're still chuckling. Ah to be a kid! Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Calling My Bookie

So the Nobel Prize in Economics was announced and 1/3 went to someone at the University of Chicago. Duh! He is the 80th person from there to be awarded the prize. I can't imagine being in that department, what must feel like the few, who haven't made the trip to Sweden. Do the others tease them or mock them? Use word play like, "thanks for reviewing that manuscript for me that was very noble." Maybe they have Swedish-themed luncheons or leave little Swedish flags here and there. In any event, if I were an economist, I would try hard to get a position at the University of Chicago. Eventually, all roads seem to lead to Stockholm.

Nobel Season

A few posts back I mentioned that I am always aware when the Supreme Court reconvenes. This is also the time of year when I eagerly launch my Internet browser in the morning so that YAHOO! pops up with the news and I can see what Nobel prizes have been announced. I love Nobel season. It doesn't matter that I don't follow the trends in medicine, chemistry, and physics. If I had to place wagers I'd bet on someone at the University of Chicago winning in economics. Of course literature is always interesting. Doris Lessing was just announced. The most exciting news has to be the announcement that Al Gore is sharing the 2007 Peace Prize. The Nobel Foundation's Web site now includes an RSS feed to provide up to the minute updates. Also of note is the new Nobel Prize YouTube channel that has the official announcements, interviews, committee discussions, and more. Everything a Nobel groupie could want. When I was in college the father of one of the Assistant Professors in the Psychology Department (we were a fairly small department) won the Nobel Prize in Physics. It was a very exciting time when it was announced and as she prepared to accompany her father to Stockholm. That may have been when my delight in Nobel season began. In any event. Here it is. Congratulations, Al.

Books in Hand

On Thursday afternoon I hosted my One Book One Community book discussion or my "Train Wreck" as my supportive colleagues were calling it. I had the cutest Florida plates, chocolate-dipped coconut patties (key lime and plain), key lime cooler cookies, old fashioned cookies from Publix, and unsweetened and sweet tea in Florida-themed pitchers. Very festive! Smashler attended to provided moral support (i.e. watch the wreck live). How many of our One Community did this One Book deliver to my door? Two. One Book One Community One to One ratio of staff to participants in my book discussion. It was a hoot. I know both women from my monthly adult book discussion. My favorite comment was, "it wasn't your fault." Grace watched The Sopranos so the violence wasn't really the problem. We talked about Kay's trip to Italy and what else we are reading and we laughed - alot. I had a lovely little tea party, despite the book.

This morning I finished The Poet of Tolstoy Park. I loved this book. There was literature within the novel. The main character undertakes a personal quest. He has a strong religious background but does not go for organized religion. I would like to have have known him and am looking forward to this discussion.

Finally, I have started a "me" book for the interim. At lunch today I began The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible. This book is going to be very interesting. As some know, I struggle with issues of faith and use my non-fiction time for this pursuit and other studies of religion. I am looking forward to seeing how the author's quest for the literal interpretation of the Bible may have lead him to faith.

If I'm reading for pleasure, Library Journal will soon come calling. Bring it on, Wilda. My November book is Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden.

Green Bag

Several months ago I bought Green Bags from Publix and have been using them exclusively. I can't remember the last time I walked out of Publix with a plastic bag. I bought 4 (for each car) at $1.49 each and so far 4 has been a sufficient quantity to see me through my biggest shopping trips, even preparing for a baby shower. I try to remember to tote them into other stores, as well. Even though I recycled my bags in the bins at Publix, I'd still rather not get the bags in the first place and these bags hold much more than the plastic bags. Plus...I feel very European when I shop with them.

Time to Catch Up

This has been a very eventful couple of days for me. On Sunday I had dinner with a friend from college. She lives in Minnesota now and was coming to Sanibel for a conference and asked me to meet her for dinner. I was reluctant because we have drifted apart and our last meeting went very poorly, mostly my fault, and I was uncomfortable with that. There are some friends you can have sporadic contact with and pick up where you left off while others seem to require constant attention or else you spend the bulk of your time explaining why you haven't been in touch. You can guess what type this friend is. Nevertheless, I felt compelled to see this person who knew me well for a short while, a long time ago, and has not really known me for a long time now. Our dinner was fine. I feel great about my life. I felt sad about parts of hers. I think it healed the last visit. Mission accomplished.

Yesterday was the First Monday in October...opening session of the Supreme Court. I am always aware of it and am always excited by it. This year we will see a major constitutional test of gun owners' rights and that should prove to be interesting.

Finally, today I was fully cleared by Internet Public Library to be a volunteer Reference Librarian. As soon as things calm down this month, I'll dive in and see what that is all about.

Renewed Dreams

Four years ago I was searching the Internet for examples of reference librarian goals and objectives and stumbles upon a PowerPoint presentation by a librarian in Miami. The PowerPoint did not really tell me what I wanted to know so I backed up the URL until I got to the librarian's Web page. Her resume was posted and I read that one of her jobs had been with Internet Public Library (IPL) Reference Center. I wondered how I could do that so I went to the IPL Web site to search for a link that would take me to opportunities. Forty minutes later, I was applying. The date was 9/18/03. I applied to IPL to be a reference volunteer but at that time, they weren't taking any applications. I think they were in a period of transition. Flash forward to last week...I was at the Reference Desk with a colleague who has just started library school and he was telling me that one of his classes is requiring that he become a reference associate with IPL. Turns out that IPL is now being run by Drexel University Library School in cooperation with the library schools of FSU and the UofI. Feeling a renewed shot at my dream, I immediately dashed off an email and initiated the application process. On 9/18/07, exactly 4 years after my initial application, I was invited to choose a username to enter the IPL system and answer the practice question, my final step in the training process. "Fairy tales can come true..."

Magical Properties

I would love to know what magical properties I seem to have that allows me to make Web sites appear or library card numbers work to allow patrons access to the computer or to make reservations or to make their print jobs appear on the print release station when mere moments ago, when I was summoned like a taxi, these events were impossible. I'm not talking about the the miraculous "num lock" key, which I swear, some days I wish I worked on a commission for that one. These patrons say they did the same thing I did, but when I do it - poof - like magic. Too bad magic fingers don't work on a slot machine or ATM.

Addy Will Know

Librarians have a new theme song by the band SNMNMNM out of Chapel Hill, NC. The song has a catchy tune. The coolest part is the call numbers at the end.

Battle of the Bands Continues

Although it has not been reported for some time, Battle of the Bands has continued on Librarian Boulevard. Since 8/15 we have had the letter "C" posted. This is the letter that started the game and amazingly, we do not have as many bands as I would have thought. The "B" bands made a more interesting list. I am officially closing "C" and opening "L" in a few moments. Let the game continue.

Fantasy Football - Week 1

I feel compelled to make a post about Fantasy Football - Week 1, although I am loathe to turn this blog into Sports Center. Still, it is my first foray into this type of thing and I feel awesome! The Spoffords beat the Statistics by a huge margin and are currently 2nd in the league. I know that will all change, but for the moment...wooohooo!!!

Day 1 of Fantasy Football

I am a proud coach today. One of my players earned 3 points for my fantasy team. I'm sure Vince Lombardi felt this way...after you create the avatar and make a semi-randomly educated substitution or two you just have to sit back and let the boys play and let the automatic scoring algorithms assign the points. I can't wait until my next games. Ah...electronic pigskin.

Fantasy Football

I am excited to report that I am involved in a Fantasy Football League this season. Do I watch football? No. Do I understand football? No. I have house-in-lawed into a rabid Packers-fan family and I have purchased the most awesome Packers-related gifts. No "Cheesehead" for me; I have a Cheese Fez that I wear when my house-in-law patriarch wears the Cheese Crown I bought him. Clearly my ability to find unique gifts and accessories qualifies me to manage a Fantasy team. Our branch league is named for the football call number. Of course I named my team the Spoffords after my favorite Librarian of Congress, Ainsworth Spofford who was appointed by Lincoln. Isn't that how everyone names a team? I'll keep you posted as the season progresses.

This is my avatar as Team Manager.

Addicted to Blogging

I have a few topics I would like to discuss and I will get back to them in subsequent posts, but I was just catching up with a couple of my favorite blogs and I found an "Addicted to Blogging" quiz. In a short time, I have I become quite the addict. How do you rate? n.b. The quiz seems to originate from a dating site. I was surprised when I linked there from my original source.
71%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Mingle² - Dating Site

Reading Dork Cool

Last night one of my most favorite dork cool things happened while I was reading. I was reading A French Country Murder, my August adult book discussion title, and as you may have noticed the date yesterday was August 6. So I was minding my own business and suddenly the main character refers to the date as being August 6. How cool is that?! I love when that happens. Admittedly, sometimes I set the order of my book discussion books based upon significant dates within the books, if I have specific knowledge of them, but this was pure coincidence and to have been reading that page at that moment...priceless!

A Blast from the Past

I may have mentioned in a post awhile ago that I have been participating in the CD trading Web site called Lala. This Web site allows you to post CDs you have and make a list of wants and facilitates trades. They provide the mailing materials and for $1.00 (+$.75 shipping) you get rid of unwanted CDs and get "new" ones. It's great fun. Anyway...I just got Patty Larkin's "In the Square" and am very delighted-here's why. When dinosaurs ruled the Earth and I went away to college I did not have an easy time of it. My original roommate was a disaster, I did not handle well complete freedom well, and my streak of melancholy was a mile wide. Fortunately for me, my roommate swapped with my new best friend who was roommates with my roommate's best friend from high school (both of whom transferred out of school by the next year). So what about the CD?!! So...I'm away and struggling and sad and my uncle sends me $8.00 with instructions to buy Laura Nyro's Eli and the Thirteenth Confession because he has the inside track to Woesville and knows I already listen to Joni Mitchell's Blue more than I should. But Patty Larkin comes to town one night to play our school. She's a Boston-based acoustic singer-songwriter and my gang attends the performance. We LOVE her. I buy the tape, yes the tape, that she sells afterwards. Her songs are witty and political. We are rallied and transported. The one about the mall makes us roll because we hit the Holyoke Mall all of the time when we want to get off campus. Her song "I'm White" is funny, especially to us privileged, intellectual, liberals. It's been almost 22 years since I first heard Patty Larkin and I am in a very different place. That other self is more like a character I recognize from a movie I have seen over and over. When I put the CD in the player and listened to those songs again, it wasn't the struggling or the sadness that I remembered. It was the goodness. It was crisp autumns that I don't have anymore. Driving in my first car (a red Renault Alliance convertible) along winding New England mountain roads with 3 best friends I would have forever (I kept 1 of them). Fresh apple cider from Atkins Farms and homemade fudge...and blue skies that when I see that color, even today, I call it Mount Holyoke Blue. Best $1.75 I spent in a long time.


Get your own playlist at snapdrive.net!

Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC)

This weekend I found out about a dance craze that is sweeping the Cebu Prison, or officially the Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in the Philippines. The prisoners, thousands of them, have recreated Michael Jackson's video from Thriller along with creating dance routines for "I will Follow Him" from Sister Act and "Radio GaGa" by Queen. These are amazing and from YouTube. Worth a look, obviously with sound.

Thriller


I Will Follow Him


Radio GaGa

Missing Harry?

Here's a little video for those of you missing Harry already. There's a whole series of Potter Puppet Pals videos, fyi.

The End...

I finished Harry Potter yesterday around 4:30 p.m., having spent the day in bed reading. Sounds like my Friday, doesn't it? Not that I anticipate great readership of this blog, but in the event that someone stumbles upon it I don't want to provide any spoilers about the book. I will say that my favorite part was the epilogue. I few tears hit my sheets, not crumbs or cereal milk, but tears. I really enjoy the wrap-up when used in films, also. Animal House is the first time I remember that device. Almost always in documentaries I hope for that last bit information. Sometimes you get more than you bargained for. Perhaps the maxim, "never look for what you aren't prepared to see" holds true even in these cases. Every Sunday night my household watches the Food Network Challenge and several months ago we were minding our own business enjoying a cake decorating challenge being held at the Mall of America in Minnesota. Susan O'Boyle Jacobson was a lovely, grandmotherly local who won the hearts of the fans and judges both on television and in my house. We routed for her and she took the prize. At the end of the show we happened to notice that the show was dedicated to her memory. WHAT!!! I immediately went online and discovered that 4 days after she won that Food Network Challenge, she suffered a fatal heart attack. I was sorry we hadn't changed the channel sooner.

It feels a little weird that the Harry Potter era is over. I have known Harry Potter for so long. I worked in a bookstore when the first 2 books were released, even participating in midnight release events. As a librarian, I am, of course, delighted by the impact this series has had on reading. To see children grab such huge books has been gratifying. Even adults who might not otherwise be inclined to read have read these books. Additionally, they have created their own sub-genre that is of interest to both boys and girls. I will also miss the anticipation that comes while awaiting the new book. I don't think I have anything else like it. Do I? ...I'll have to think about that.

Potterville

Life on Librarian Boulevard has revolved around Harry Potter, not for the patrons but for the staff. I have not had one patron interaction involving the book. Two patrons read my sign out loud, however (see previous post). We all picked up our books this morning. Those of us working today have been reading at breaks. In fact, the staff lounge at lunchtime looked like we ate books and we all ate the same meal. Throughout the day we have been providing each other with page updates. This branch is definitely competitive! ScheduleMaster is ahead at Chapter 10. I am on Chapter 6. TFM is on break now, he may pull ahead.

Welcome Back, Potter

Yesterday I was off for working today and my personal assignment was to finish Raymond Khoury's new book for my Library Journal review. Some of you may be familiar with Erica's poll, "Do You Eat in Bed?" She has been on this kick since last Saturday when this issue came up at dinner at Red Lobster. She has been asking EVERYBODY including our director (he does not). Her most recent blog post discusses this issue. The people who do not eat in bed answer no with such derision in their voices you might think the issue were sacrificing puppies to volcano gods. Those who answer yes discuss the joys and pleasures and can't believe everyone doesn't do it. Quite the divided issue. Erica will be polling until she has a landslide victory of nays. Anyway...to facilitate my assignment, I spent the day in bed (including having a bowl of cereal) reading. I finished my book and started my review. Today at work I finished the review and submitted it. Yea!!! That means that I am Potter-ready. I am bound and determined to be be done with the new Potter by work on Monday. We are so afraid of spoilers around here today that several of us have changed our Internet opening page defaults from Yahoo! to Google not to risk any news. Additionally, I posted signs everywhere requesting, "Please do not discuss the details or ending of the newest Harry Potter book (#7). Not everyone has had a chance to read it yet."

Sacco and Vanzetti Must Die

Today's book discussion was interesting. I had 6 attendees including a new participant and our intern. Jane, our Head of Circ. did not attend this month and I am not counted in that total. Only Harry, the intern, and I finished the book. Those who didn't finish couldn't get into it and found it unreadable. No one really liked it, although they kept stressing they didn't blame me. Harry had a hard time reconciling the book characters with the historical Sacco and Vanzetti because he has a soft spot for the real ones. Our discussion was interesting anyway and I brought in a Publix Cassata Cake (from Publix Web site: "Our rendition of the classic Italian wedding cake layers sweet ricotta cheese filling and rum-flavored chocolate custard in a moist cake. Enrobed in whipped topping and toasted almond crunch, crowned with a small cannoli") to celebrate the several July birthdays in my book group. The Cassata Cake also make the connection to our Italian protagonists. The cake, which I had never had before, was fabulous! Next month...A French Country Murder.

One More Book

Oh...yeah...the new Harry Potter book comes out this weekend. Add that to my book pile, as well. That's another reason why I need to finish my review book asap!

Librarian to the Highest Bidder

Yesterday I had my "lunch with a librarian" date with Harry to discuss Everything is Illuminated (book and movie). We had a nice time. I'm glad we got this over with, not because I was dreading lunch, but because books are starting to pile up again. On Saturday I arrived at work to find a DHL envelope on my desk indicating an assignment from LJ. Curiously, the due date on the enclosed form letter was July 13. Suspecting an error I pulled the shipping sheet out of the front pocket and found it dated 6/28/07. Had DHL lost the package or had someone at LJ meant to write July 23 on the letter? I immediately dashed off an email to my editor. Before tackling this new book I still needed to finish my book discussion book by Wednesday and I was 300 pages shy and I haven't cracked the spine on In Cold Blood for the Librarian Boulevard Book Discussion Blog. Turns out, DHL did lose the book but Wilda is giving me until the 23rd. On the plus side, I reviewed the author's first novel and found it highly readable so if this second novel is as good as the first, I should be able to steam through it. The cool part is that the publicity that accompanied the advanced reader's copy includes my blurb about the first book, which also made it to the paperback. So...Sacco and Vanzetti Must Die! on Wednesday, Raymond Khoury's second novel (The Sanctuary) due Monday, start In Cold Blood, then A French Country Murder for next month's book discussion.

The Highest Tide

Last week I held my June book discussion. The book was Jim Lynch's The Highest Tide. We had a great book discussion with 9 in attendance. That has to be a record for me for a non-One Book One Community event. The neat thing about my small but devoted group is that that they are not seasonal and seem to be growing. Several of my members are from Philadelphia, my favorite city, my grandmother's hometown, and my point of emigration to Florida. I'm originally from New Jersey (the nice part) and some of my members are from New Jersey. In fact, one couple is from my hometown...Small world! Recently we have been joined by our Head of Circ. who is finishing library school and wishes to experience a book discussion. Jane, like me, an R.N., has a connection to the Princeton/Philly area. Each month, invariably at some point during the book discussion we veer off course and start talking about New Jersey or Philly and where certain landmarks were when. During The Highest Tide we all contributed stories of visiting the beach, some Ft. Myers Beach before it was developed (two locals in my group), and some the Jersey Shore. I was glad I went shelling with my friend, Ann, as part of my 43 Things because it helped me appreciate the book. I had the best time this month.

Returning from Vacation

I am freshly returned from a glorious Mexican vacation. Right before I left, I read my June book discussion book, The Highest Tide. Quite an interesting book, especially given my recent shelling experiences. Also before I left, one of my loyal book discussion patrons called me to request that I read (and view the film) Everything is Illuminated because he would like to have a personal book discussion session with me about it. He offered to take me to lunch because I always provide treats during my monthly adult book discussions. This offer made me think of two things. The first was that when I was a freshman in high school I scheduled a special meeting with my English/Latin teacher to discuss Faulkner's As I Lay Dying. I had decided to read it as my foray into Faulkner and didn't get it so I asked Mrs. Beck to meet with me to discuss it. Mrs. Beck was a Wellesley graduate, had a house on Nantucket, a basket that she called "Corbula" (Latin for basket) that she carried her stuff in, a pen named "The Red Slasher," and a cat who sat on our papers - preferring some over others. She was formidable and liked the word "foibles." I took 2 years of Latin because my mother said, "of course you will take Latin!" followed by "there's no point to having only 1 year of Latin!" I'm glad her logic stopped there. When Harry asked for his private session, suddenly, I became Mrs. Beck. The second thing I thought of was those fundraisers where dates with eligible escorts are auctioned off to the highest bidders. This struck me as a funny twist...pimping oneself out for book discussions.

While I was away I was able to read 4 books for me. Until LJ comes calling again and I begin my July book discussion book, Sacco and Vanzetti Must Die, I am reading The Sushi Economy and Rethinking Thin.

New Book Club Blog

This morning I created a new blog for the Librarian Boulevard Book Club. I thought that if we were to give the experiment the best shot at succeeding, we should have a proper forum. The blog format has to be a team blog so that we can all post directly so I will be sending invitations by email to those who might participate. If you wish to participate, you will respond and create a Blogger account if you do not already have one. Of course, participation by comments are still welcome.

Musical Chairs with Books

I have been playing literary musical chairs for a couple of weeks. That is to say, reading as quickly as possible all of the books that are required of me or that I want to read because I never know when I am going to find a DHL envelope on my chair containing a book to review from Library Journal. This week the music finally stopped. I put The Fountainhead on hiatus to read Giraffe: A Novel for my adult book discussion for today's session. When I was ready to return to Rand, sure enough, DHL had delivered. The turnaround time on reading and submitting reviews is 12 days. Fortunately, my editor would have a great career as readers' advisory librarian because the books she sends me are books I would otherwise read. This newest book is the second book in a trilogy and it turns out I read the first book when it came out 10 years ago. For a while I was receiving a book to review each month. That pace was a little hectic. It has been fun, though. My reviews are starting to make it to book jacket covers. Of course, my name isn't there, but I know that "...-Library Journal" means me. When I go to Mexico next month, I'm bringing a stack of books just for me (I emailed my editor to tell her...she recommended a book).

Book Discussion Blogging

The question has come up of how we will actually conduct our book discuss in this format. Of course, I have attempted some research. Libraries have dedicated book discussion blogs that branch off of their Web sites or library/branch blogs. Eventually, our library system may move to that if we prove successful. Individual book clubs also make their own blogs. My guess is that in these situations, the blog is arranged so that everyone is invited to register with administrative privileges so that all comments appear on the front. In our case, only my mine do. I envision a discussion that bounces along at its own jagged pace. I plan to make comments about the book and if someone wants to, then I hope she (or he) will just post a comment whenever and not wait to do it as a reply to mine. We will all notice that a comment has been added and will eagerly read it. Quite honestly...this blog doesn't get too much traffic, so any number in the Comment line is notable :) We can then have a dialogue in the Comments section about a particular issue, as needed. That method may not be ideal, but we can experiment with it for awhile. What do you think?

Busy Week

This past week has been very busy. I have really been enjoying Sally's blog and have, myself, been a multi-tasking reader. The Fountainhead is progressing. I am far enough in to be engrossed by the characters plus I feel as though I am learning a great deal about architecture. According to World Literature Criticism, Rand did extensive research for the novel including working for some time in the office of a famous New York architect. I put The Fountainhead down to start Giraffe: A Novel, my June book discussion book. It is a work of fiction based on the true story of the 1975 slaughter, by Czech secret police, of the largest captive population of giraffes in the world. The book begins with the birth of one of the giraffes told from the giraffe's perspective. Very unusual. I have also just started Lee Iacocca's new book, Where Have All The Leader's Gone? His book is a scathing assault on the current administration, one he acknowledges to have initially supported, and what other leaders of our time represent.

On another note...turns out the letter "N" was realllllly, realllllly hard. We only had 41 bands and that included checking MP3 players and including Swedish Christian metal band "Narnia," which was found by guessing a band with that name might exist. I could not have imagined such a precise genre, however. This week..."F."

The More Things Change

Smashler finished All Quiet on the Western Front yesterday, achieving a literary goal she has had for some time. This edition of the book is less than 300 pages and I had wondered how much impact it could possible make on me. In general, I am not a big fan of war novels. War and Peace was an exception in my fiction repertoire. What was shocking about this little book of large font and wide margins, was how modern it seemed. Sure, it's set in 1917-18 and I had to keep reminding myself that the main characters were the "bad guys," but the story could have been about Vietnam or Iraq. About 2/3 through the book the soldiers begin a discussion about why they are at war and they finally conclude, "there must be some people to whom the war is useful" and "every full-grown emperor requires at least one war, otherwise he would not become famous" and "there are other people back behind there who profit by the war, that's certain." This book was published in 1928 and yet, politically, I could be telling you about a book that just came in to the library. The combat is brutal. The conditions are harsh. The soldiers suffer PTSD, called shell-shock then. War was fought very personally. I took this book personally and I understand why it is a classic.

Woodpecker Cam

This morning I checked in on Wavelit and found that a woodpecker cam has been added. I have not seen the woodpecker yet, but it's nice to have fresh nerd porn.

First Lines

I have started reading The Fountainhead. After Rand's Introduction, I was a little worried that this book was going to be a real chore, but the first line caught me..."Howard Roark laughed." What I like about this line, other than its simplicity, is that someday, I might be asked what that line is from, and I will know it. It has probably already been a Jeopardy question. We are officially reading this title now because Smashler finished War and Peace, 5 days faster than I did, she pointed out. When the International Olympic Committee determines that reading is a sport, I'm sure ALA will field a team. Great Britain will probably sweep the Cozy Mystery events, though. So...The Fountainhead is off and running. If you are joining us in this project, please feel free to begin reading and posting at will. I am already enjoying that I am reading it. I hope to enjoy what I am reading; I think I will.

Teachable Moment

This weekend I went up to Celebration, Disney's master-planned community just outside Orlando for two events. On Friday night the Rotary Club hosted a liquidation sale of merchandise from the Disney warehouse at 70% off! We had read online that the checkout line can last 2+ hours. Having driven after work directly to the sale in the Celebration K-8 Gymnasium, we found ourselves in the "greediest place on Earth" with a tote full of goodies that we probably would not have purchased in the parks. One of the items, however, was a box of leather juggling balls from the France pavilion at Epcot. On my list of 43 things is to teach Smashler to juggle so I picked up several boxes (at 70% off, who could resist?). There was a boy behind me, perhaps an 8th grader, who was interested in the balls, but he said he couldn't juggle. I told him I could teach him. The line was loooong; we had at least an hour to kill. I told him to put the box in his pocket and instructed him how to toss the balls. After a couple of minutes, we moved on to the next step. Our juggling lesson progressed at a quicker pace than our place in line. In a short time, Jordan, was able to add the third ball and was juggling. I juggled along with him. Eventually, his family joined him in line and in an hour we made it to the front of the line. When it was my turn to go to the next available register, Jordan said to me, "It was nice to meet you." What a polite boy. I love teachable moments.

Brought to You By the Letter...

Approximately 15 minutes ago I posted the letter "B" for the Battle of the Bands game and there has been a flurry of activity on Librarian Blvd. We already have 45 bands posted. I am the only one here at the moment. ScheduleMaster just stopped back by to check the board, but her offering was already posted. We have had participation from a first-timer this letter (Beastie Boys, in case you are wondering). In the first 20 minutes of "B" we have more groups than we had in 1.5 weeks of "R." Once again, the range of bands posted, even by individuals, is interesting. Ranging from BeeGees to Ben Folds Five, we have it covered.

Happy Birthday to Me

Today is the day that I start pushing 40. Actually, I don't start pushing until 3:47 p.m. when I officially turn 39. I just checked my profile on this blog and saw, in print, my age as 39 for the 1st time. I have seen it on cards for the past couple of days, but the blog profile is the first "official" announcement. I am also wearing my special birthday socks. My mother sent me this pair of socks for my birthday when I was away my freshman year of college (1987) and I have worn them every birthday since. This is their 20th year. They are soooo 80s, aqua and pink, but they are my special birthday socks and unlikely to wear out at one use per year.

Fountainhead Discussion Blogging

Sally's comment raises a very interesting point about the actual plans of the Librarian Boulevard Book Club. This whole group reading project started from my desire to catch up on some reading I should have done years ago. After all, you expect your doctor to be healthier and your personal trainer to be in better shape than you. I don't want my patrons to feel their librarian isn't well read. So reading War and Peace was personal and Smashler jumped on the bandwagon and then she felt she should read All Quiet on the Western Front, so I did too, to help motivate her. Now we have The Fountainhead to read and Sally, at another library location wants to join us. We have the opportunity to try out a book discussion in blog format. Both Sally and I lead book discussions at our respective locations and this will give us the chance to see how an online discussion would work. I think we can all read at our own paces and post comments as we see fit. I doubt there will be any spoilers in this book. Now that we'll do this online, anyone else want to join?

Viewing the Internet at Work

At my job I am online all day wherever I am sitting. We all are. Last year I learned about a Web site that streams live video from a game preserve in South Africa. The camera is on 24 hours a day and pans 360 degrees looking for animals, even at night with night vision. We call it the "Watering Hole" but it is really Africam. We have seen zebras, elephants, monkeys, all sorts of antelopes, giraffes, and even lions. If someone sees something awesome, emails are sent or calls are made from desk to desk. One day someone in the "the back" called the Reference Desk to say, "Elephant at the watering hole." Our on-call librarian, scrambling thinking it was some sort of emergency code she didn't know, looked surprised as the others at the desk simply maximized their Africam windows to gawk at the elephant half a world away. The next best moment occured as a group of librarians stared closely at one computer monitor behind the Reference Desk. One of the librarians, a female no less, finally proclaimed, "look at the rack on that one!" The view, of course, was a herd of gazelles. Someone almost always has the site up or minimized. You never know what you will see. It's basically nerd porn. The Web site, is out of Canada and is pretty nifty. They have 4 different nature cams. We also have been keeping an eye on the Grizzly cam on Grouse Mountain and today I found the Eaglecam up and running. The other cool thing about this Web site is that there is a music feature that plays indie artists from around the world. I found my favorite new artist here. He is a Finnish DJ named Slow. His Web site is really cool with awesome features and his album Pronto has become my favorite album.

Birthday News

Tonight officially kicks off my birthday celebration, albeit a week early. I admit that I have been having a rough time with this one. If you have not checked my profile, I will turn 39 next Saturday. Actually, my turning 39 is completely independent of your actions with respect to my profile. My 30th birthday and my 35th birthday seem like they were just yesterday. The 4 years since 35 have been terrific, just fast. Plus, I don't know if I feel almost 40 or if I know what that should be. I remember when other people, adults I knew, turned 40 and they seemed much more adulty. Perhaps 40 is very different now. There are 3 of us turning 39 this year. ScheduleMaster already tumbled. So far she is doing okay. Maybe by next April I'll be so used to the idea that 40 won't be such a shock. For now it's just really weird.

Final Answer

I did what any librarian in a quandary would do...a literature search and I believe that, despite receiving full support to switch to Atlas Shrugged, we will stick with The Fountainhead. In the course of my search I read a review (this link will only work to those of you reading this blog inside an LCLS library, sorry, membership has its privileges) of a book devoted exclusively to The Fountainhead called The Fountainhead: An American Novel that made me want to read that book as well. So...The Fountainhead. Final Answer.

Rand Revisited

I was looking at the amazon.com listings for The Fountainhead to get a better idea of which editions we have in the library and I realized that I never took into account Atlas Shrugged. Maybe we should read that. The amazon.com book description states, "Atlas Shrugged is the 'second most influential book for Americans today' after the Bible, according to a joint survey conducted by the Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club." My feeling was that we should read Ayn Rand and The Fountainhead just popped into my head. I never even thought of Atlas Shrugged before the decision was made. I emailed the knitters to seek their opinions.

The Ayns Have It

After a little discussion over knitting this afternoon (I was not knitting, but rather organizing a binder) we came up with the next book for the Librarian Boulevard Book Club...The Fountainhead. This is one of those books that you might feel like you should read and probably have not. At least that's how we felt about it. Of course, we can't start until Smashler finishes War and Peace because then she still has to read All Quiet but she is anticipating an early May wrap up with Tolstoy. The plan is a May start on The Fountainhead.

Librarian Boulevard Book Club

This weekend I finished All Quiet On the Western Front. Let me give you a little backstory on this selection. When I told my neighbor (Smashler) on Librarian Boulevard that I was going to read War and Peace she said she would read it if I did. As we talked about classic novels, she said she always wanted to read All Quiet On the Western Front. I told her I would read it. This is on the one hand. On the other hand is the fact that I never read any of my assignments in school and now I have a patron who is working his way through the Modern Library list of 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century that the NYTimes published in 1998. David has been working through the list for a couple of years and he is just a regular guy. We help him with related reference questions such as plot outlines, character lists, definitions of words etc. Whenever he approaches with a new book I feel like I want to be better read. It's not that I don't read quite a bit now. Like many of my co-workers, I find the answer to the simple question, "what are you reading now?" to be a little complex. Each month I have an adult book discussion book to read and Library Journal has been sending me a book a month to review. The book I read at work at lunch and the book I read before bed are not necessarily the same book. Plus, I usually have a non-fiction book. Despite these many books, I believe I can squeeze one more in and that's where the Librarian Boulevard Book Club fits in. Smashler and I, and anyone else who wants to participate, are going to read various "major" books we never have. I don't know what the next book will be as I have to wait until she finishes War and Peace otherwise I'll be too many books ahead. Any suggestions/votes?

Keeping Up Morale

So our little corner of the world has been rather busy lately with Spring Breakers flocking and Red Sox fans swarming. ScheduleMaster is kind enough to list game time on our weekly schedules so we can plan our driving routes to avoid the ballpark as necessary. I still drive past even during game time. I find it exciting. The software that controls and schedules our public access to the computers and printer has been giving us headaches for some time. Our library is always packed and our computers are always in use. We also have a couple of employee vacancies at the moment. To combat the stress, I decided to install on Librarian Boulevard (the aisle formed by our cubicle partitions) a written form of a car game a friend and I played on a recent trip to Orlando. We have been playing Battle of the Bands. Each week I post a letter of the alphabet on a posterboard and we write down bands, groups, or duos (just not solo performers) who are living or dead, from any era, but not fictional. You can verify the existence and/or spelling but not go looking for groups. We avoid searching our CDs or MP3 players until the end of the week. The Web site allmusic has probably seen its hits spike since we began this game. We have all discovered new music, also. The best part is seeing which staff members come up with which groups. Somehow the stress of the day melts away when you walk by and see a list that includes both Gwar and Gladys Knight & the Pips. We have done T, D, G, P, and now M. Next week is brought to you by the letter...?

Happy New Year

Yes...it is a little late to be heralding the arrival of the New Year, but my blog is new and I have quite a bit to catch soon-to-be-loyal readers up on before it gets even later. The financial guru of the 80s, Charles Givens, used to advocate making a dreams list and a strategies list. I especially like his idea of listing things you want to do, places you want to go, and what you want to be or accomplish. For the past 9 years or so I have made resolutions that sort of evolved into "life lists." Reading War and Peace has been on that list for years and I have never managed to accomplish that goal. This year as I was preparing my resolutions list, I came upon a webinar through the SirsiDynix Institute that ultimately led to http://www.43things.com/. The 43 things website has people listing goals they have. Some goals are lofty, some are small. It's an addicting site. I decided to come up with 43 things for the year of varying magnitude. In future posts I'll let you know how I'm doing. I will tell you that on January 3rd I started War and Peace and finished on March 6th. Happy New Year!

Welcome

Welcome the the first posting of this new blog. I hope you will join me on this great journey. Please feel free to comment (appropriately). Enjoy!