Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

domo arigato Uncle Jesse

2008-08-07T15:39:00.018-04:00

Got sick Monday night. Really sick. Like throwing up sick. I never get sick like that. I think it was food poisoning. After a long shift I grabbed a Lean Cuisine since I didn’t want to run into El Loco local grocery and fight the dinner crowds. I blame it on that nasty, tasteless chicken. I hate chicken. I hate dieting. But I do love the 18-20 lbs (keeps fluxuating) which I have lost since Roomie M and I started this (evil) diet about a month ago. (I think being sick helped since I could keep no food down for a day and a half). Now if I can just lose 20 lbs each month I will be tre skinnier by October! We shall see.

So, as a good job for not being sick any more (really just to go out with friends), I went to Little Tree for some sushi. College K was introducing her new beau Uncle Jesse (who I named thus because when they first started dating K told me all about this dreamy guy named Jesse, yada yada, and so I named him after Uncle Jesse on Full House. K thought I was calling him Uncle Jesse after the guy on Dukes of Hazard. I don’t know, you dear readers, can decide who is SEXIER!)

And while we are on the subject, can I just pause here to say that even when Uncle Jesse (Full House) had a mullet it was kinda cute. And also John Stamos only gets hotter with age. You heard it here. I give him two paws up, "MEOW!"

Anyway the five of us sat around a table and mulled over a menu which consists of Japanese, Thai and Pilipino foods and finally decided on our dinners. It was one of those meals where conversation and laugher were mixed together like soy sauce and wasabi; ranging from mild to explosive, a flavor that is unique to its source and gets stronger with larger doses of exposure. I love my friends. I love California rolls. It was a good night…since I got both.

Proud to be a Detroit-er?

2008-08-07T14:50:00.000-04:00

For those of you who may have been following the shennanigans of Detroit Mayor Kwame "Robbing the city blind" Kilpatrick, here is the latest thing to hang on the Walls of Shame.

Go Tigers!

the Librarian song

2008-08-05T13:01:00.002-04:00

My Morning Jacket -- Librarian

"Where's weekend?"

2008-08-04T17:06:00.004-04:00

"Calling me fat isn't going to make me cry because, frankly, I have a mirror in my bedroom, honey, I know what my ass looks like and I've made my peace with that — and it gives me a great piece of insight into your body-consciousness. Call me slutty and I'll send you dozens of links to columns I've written about sex, but I'll also know who's going to be susceptible to a crack about her own sex life. Try to mock me (or fake-sympathize with me) for being single at 30 and I might not comment on all the scales under my clothes but I will find a way to slide in some snide comments about the state of your own possibly unhappy coupling. Being a bitch requires more than airing your insecurities, it requires finding out what mine are and exploiting them." ~From Jezebel, a new blog I found that has articles that left me laughing outloud and looking awkward at work today.

I am not sure why I felt like sharing this, other than the fact that I am feeling anti-many things lately and this touched on some of those things and made me laugh.

Our 10 year class reunion is this Septemeber and I have been debating back and forth as to whether or not I want to go. One minute I think, "Crickey, there are only about five people that I really wanted to see from high school." And the next minute I think, "But it could be fun."

I think the nightmare last night settled things. I had a dream that all these people I used to be friends with were chasing me around all night, yelling, "you never kept in touch with me!" UGH. Maybe I will make it to my 20th. Really how much do people change in 10 years?

Well...some people change a little. I party harder than I did in high school. This said after another crazy, busy weekend which looked like this:

Dancing Friday night at one of the local hangs: Boogie Fever in fashionable Ferndale. A night of 80s music and failing miserably at behaving. This librarian took her bun down with full force. MEOW!
Saturday morning was rough, hitting the ground running--literally. Woke up at 7:30am (this after turning in at 2am-ish), showered and headed out to corn country for our softball championships. Our team wound up losing 1, winning 1 and then being mercied in our last game, which I missed because I was already headed to work for our Summer Reading '08 Closing party, which was fun.
"Smush smash bug bash" had lots of fun things for everyone to do: fold-out butterflies, insect stamping, bee hive painting, bug squashing (simulated by having the kids stamp balloons out (NOT one of my favorite games to play when slightly hungover), guessing jars, prize raffles and my favorite--BED BUGS! Bed bugs was a game where we had kids stand around and hold up a bed sheet which held a dozen or so ping pong balls (our bed bugs), the kids had to work together to fling the "bed bugs" off the "bed." This was actually very popular and left us all cracking up and sending balls flying in all directions!
Saturday night I babysat for best friend L & K's wonderful kids L & A, while they headed to K's class reunion. The girls and I spent a mostly quiet night playing Disney Trivial pursuit and watching TV. I was too exhausted to do anything else.
Sunday morning bro A3 and I headed out to my sister's family's house to help Mom start wading through some of the junk we packed up without sifting through when we sold our family home of 20 years. Mom has finally moved into the basement of my sister A1 and b-in-law M's house, which was renovated for her. She has her own kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom (and a shared office--to be shared with A1 & M). It looks good. My bro-in-law M did really nice tile work in the kitchen and bathroom, and best friend L's Hubby K did all the bathroom plumbing. Thanks K!
The day was spent cleaning and organizing, hanging with Monster niece and nephew, watching Sleeping Beauty for the 1,000th time and even sneaking in a little nap with Monster niece before dinner. There is nothing so peaceful as waking up with a child nestled into the crook of your arm. Life is good in these moments.

"no age bands, wizards turned vampires and eco-friendly books, oh my!"

2008-08-04T15:26:00.003-04:00

A couple articles that might interest some of you readers/lovers of all things library:

The No to Age Banding declaration written by Phillip Pullman, signed by many authors, (including J.K. Rowling). Thought it was interesting...and if I were famous I would sign it! A big flourishing Monster Librarian.

New York Times article on Breaking Dawn, the 4th installment in Stephenie Meyer's Vampire series (beginning with Twilight. Some critics are claiming that this series might be the next Harry Potter in the literary world of YA's. The Twilight movie is due out in December and features Robert Pattinson, who for those of you HP fans, also played Cedric Diggory from the HP films #4 & #5. Just to give you an idea of how popular this series is right now: I was #65 on the waiting list for the library by my house which has 4 copies, and #13 on the waiting list for Library X where I work.

Thought this was cool. The Green Earth Book Award Winners were announced for '08. This is for all of you environmentalists (like me!)

Seriously?

2008-07-29T11:47:00.003-04:00

This is too funny to not share. This is an honest to God email we received from Wayne State's Listserv for the Library Science Dept.

"Students,
A hotwheels watch was left in the LIS computer lab, if it is yours please stop by 314.4 to claim it!"
Library and Information Science Program
Wayne State University
106 KresgeDetroit, MI
48202
313-577-1825
asklis@wayne.edu

Oh, and I found somebody's Captain Kangaroo lunchbox the other day in the bathroom, so please stop by to claim that too. What is this person 6?!! When did they let Doogie Howser into the program?

We Librarian's are an odd bunch.

I wonder if the person is going to claim it. I would be too embarassed. However...if you wear a Hot Wheels watch to your Master's Program how much pride can you really have?

Misadventures awarded the Golden Delete Key Award

2008-07-29T09:49:00.002-04:00

I am proud to announce that I received the Golden Delete Key from the Effing Librarian. According to Effing:

"The Golden Delete Key Award goes to bloggers who don't suck. It's for anyone who knows enough to hit "delete" rather than to post worthless crap."

Thanks Effing! Made my day!

partying like rock stars and saying goodbye to a singleton

2008-07-28T16:13:00.007-04:00

This past weekend was nuts.

Not like, "Oh my God, I had to go to my church BBQ Saturday and it was so busy all day, what with the cake walk and the BINGO for knitted doilies."

No, it was rock star nuts!

It did not stop. Friday after work I headed home for a short siesta (true rock star tip) so I wasn't exhausted later that night. First I had to go to a dinner picnic in the park. From there I headed over to friend Katie's apartment for a housewarming party. This is where the rock star in all of us first showed up.

The theme for the party was 1980's, and as I wandered amongst examples of 80's hair bands, girls in neon colors and those whorey 80s skirts and found friend Chris who was wearing the Michael Jackson jacket (but in blue) with tight jeans and a Piston's Championship t-shirt from the 80s which he wore when he was a kid. I didn't actually wear any 80s attire since I had the craziest week so I had to wear a nametag all night that said, "Hi, my name is JERK!" Nice. So glad when brother A3 showed up wearing a mullet wig with a tuxedo t-shirt and jeans. I laughed so hard. It was classy WT 80s look...though I swear I saw a similar outfit on a man not too long ago when I was out on the East side. Everyone looked awesome.

We partied all night, playing beer pong until we couldn't drink beer any more. We danced to the best 80s IPod playlist ever. We had deep conversations outside until the early hours of Saturday morning. And we even got a noise violation from the cops, who showed up at 3am with a complaint from the neighbors. We partied like rock stars, that is, until we all passed out watching The Wedding Singer. My favorite part was when Chris tried to nudge me (thinking I was awake) during my favorite part of the movie. His nudge startled me, so I dumped the drink I fell asleep holding onto the guy next to me's (who was snoring like a bear) lap. He jumped up and shouted and woke everyone back up. It was a pretty comical chain of events, like that game mouse trap, or something.

Saturday A3 woke me up (thank God--I would have slept all day) at 7am so I could head home. After a quick shower I did some early morning shopping at the Rochester Farmer's Market. Why? Why not? It was so lovely to be wandering around, buying fresh produce.

Grabbed Starbucks for two and headed to my 9:30am appt. with G.C. An hour and a half later I walked out with an updo that would make the Greek Goddesses look down with wonder. G.C. did a lovely job. Flew home and got the rest of the way ready; changed and make-up'ed by roomie M and then awaited Chris' arrival.

We were late for the wedding which was way out in the thumb (think of our Michigan "mitten" geography), near Algonac, but we made it. The church was this beautiful old-style Catholic church, complete with domed ceiling and glorious paintings of the Apostles, but all that received less attention than the fact that it was hot as the blazes of Hell in there. It is hard to imagine Heaven when you are sitting in your seat sweating as though you are in the fiery chasms of HELL!

After making our way back to Roseville and killing some time the Reception began. The wedding was for an Undergrad friend Justine, one of the OU 7N Girls (5 of us girls who stayed in touch since meeting in 2000). Justine looked beautiful, glowing in that most resplendent way that brides often do. And though I was sad to say goodbye to another possible Singleton, I was glad for Justine & Tom and the new life they are beginning. Seems like I will be saying goodbye to a lot of previously-Singleton friends in the next year with the half dozen or so weddings I will be attending. *Sigh* The Reception was fun, the food delicious, and the music fairly entertaining.

Getting home early Sunday morning--and after a long chat with Chris--I let out a huge exhalation. This rock star was calling it a night and looking forward to doing something rock stars do best; sleeping late on Sunday, blinds drawn, seemingly dead to the world.

the Culps and more at the library this summer

2008-07-28T16:08:00.001-04:00

As I may or may not have mentioned before, as a Children's Librarian, working your first Summer Reading program is sort of like an initiation of sorts. The process begins months in advance and ends with the final end of summer reading party.

This year's Summer Reading program was short, only 5 weeks, which have flown by and leave me astonished with the fact that this weekend is August! Thinking about the end of this most crazy of summers, I thought I would share some interesting things I experiences this summer at the library.

An Entymologist, who brought in bugs, alive and dead. I was dissapointed that she did not bring any bugs that could be taken out of their cages. We had had one come to a previous job and I was able to hold a giant millipede and a tarantula (not one of my finer moments, as I am terrified of spiders). Obviously there were too many kids to do that, but it would have been cool if she had some bugs she could have held up for the kids to see.

Bug Predators from a nearby science center. This was a cool (and very packed program). We were able to see things like a from, bats and my favorite (an owl).

Bug Hunt throughout the library. We handed out sheets with clues on them. Each clue forced the families to get to know our library, as we hid 12 giant rubber bugs throughout the Adult, YA Children's, and Circulation sections of the library.

A magic show, which I missed but heard it was a fun program.

Local performers (who I shall call Mr. G and Lady Q to protect their indentity) and who made Marty and Bobbi-Mohan Culp look hip. No joke. It was an almost-hour long performance that made me laugh hysterically in the back of the room with my hand over my face. Laughing because, it was not that good it was that bad.

This week, besides our normal weekly group is "our last one, our last one, our last one!" (Imagine me jumping up and down like a freak screaming this!), I am also showing A Bug's Life to go with our summer thing of bugs. Then Saturday is our end of year party complete with this bad ass pinata of a butterfly that I found at Target. NICE!

Just hope that our softball championship Saturday morning doesn't run over on time since the party is that afternoon. Hope I have time to shower after the games...or else, I might have to change the name of my blog to the Sweaty Librarian. YUCKO!!

library etiquette #106

2008-07-28T15:58:00.004-04:00

This is from A Librarian's Guide to Etiquette:

Every library's personnel roster should include someone to fill each of the following character roles:

the village idiot
the insecure scholar
the Pollyanna
the skanky slut
the pretty one

It is recommended to write these roles into people's job descriptions so that you don't end up with more than one idiot.

I would also like to add some other players, so no one is left out.

the dumper (the buck doesn't stop here! It bureaucractically gets passed on)
the constant coffee drinker/heavy breather (not always the same person, but usually there is a correlation)
the everything critic (so glad you loved that rerun of Family Guy. Excuse me if I don't laugh while you botch up the joke and the impression of Stewie's voice.)

a case of the Mondays

2008-07-21T16:38:00.006-04:00

Peter Gibbons (Office Space): "Let me ask you something. When you come in on Monday, and you're not feelin' real well, does anyone ever say to you, 'Sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays'?"

Thoughts on a Monday:

Ugh! Didn't get good sleep. (This after waking up for the umpteenth day sweating. There is zero breeze in my room. I can't get the fan to point any way useful except on my feet. And Roomie M won't let us turn on the f *$&#!ng air. Her reasons aren't environmental, hers are because she is cheap. I am an environmentalist, but the last few weeks I think, "f$*# the polar bears!"
Why won't Toby lick the yogurt off the floor!? Argh. Now I really have to clean it up.
I can't find one of my favorite earrings!! Double Argh!
This Fiber One yogurt is so good. Although...I don't think I'd eat a lot and then go on a roller coaster.
Free pizza at work?! Dieting sucks.
This crust is so good. No one needs to know. Now, if only I could have a cold glass of pop! No, no, no.
I am so sick of carrots and hummus!
The library smells weird today.
It is too humid outside. When is it gonna rain?!
I wish my life were as exciting as TSO's is lately.
Fricking fracking ten year reunion coming up. Should I go? Don't want to, but if I do I can make sure that the people I hated in high school got ugly and beer-gutty with age. Hmmm...what to do?
Email from high school friends about reunion/picnic (They added a picnic!!??! As if getting drunk and making a fool of yourself isn't bad enough, let's hang out the next day?!?) All these people I went to high school with have babies or are pregnant. Talk about pressure....hmmm...wonder if Chris is still up for being my BabyDaddy?
I hate weddings. Need to buy shoes for wedding this weekend.
I hate baby showers too. Need to get presents for baby shower.
Why do they call them baby showers? Gross. Babies raining from Heaven...I'd hate to have to run out to my car in that kind of weather. An umbrella would never do.
Why do boys have to complicate things?
Uranus is a funny name for a planet. Urbutt would be the funny name of an as(s)teroid. Ha ha ha.

Ok, I really need to go back to work. Break is over.

Detroiters and talking Jesus in the Sydney news

2008-07-20T16:30:00.005-04:00

Thought this was cool. Some friends and a priest, whose masses I attend every once in a while, made it into the Sydney news for the World Youth Day festivities.

Shout out to my peeps! Safe travels friends!! Wish I could have gone...I love Sydney.

all is right in the world

2008-07-17T18:32:00.014-04:00

Had a freakout moment on Monday with my car Harry. Thought my clutch was going and clutches aren't cheap!! So, after a frantic call to my mechanic bro A3 and some calls to transmission shops around I made two appts for free inspections. Had those to dread on Wednesday.

But, before then I went in to see my friend G.C. for a trial run of a hairdo, since he is doing my hair for a friends' wedding next weekend. There is something about someone else washing and brushing your hair that is SO relaxing. So, after some fun time spent at Daniel's Salon (Rochester Hills--it is lovely. Check it out if you are ever in that area). G.C. and I went and had dinner at Bastone's in Royal Oak! Que divinity! The food was excellent and the bartender even mixed me this lovely vodka, pomegranate and cranberry wonder. My week was improving!

The dreaded inspections began on Wednesday. The first place wanted $850 to gut my transmission and trouble shoot. I left very discouraged and trying to figure out which ovary I was going to sell to get the money for the car repairs. After work I headed

to AAMCO's in Troy to the most wonderful service ever!! It seems seldom these days that service people act like the customer matters. Not the case here. Everyone was great!

They drove my car and inspected everything and came to me with a baffled mechanic who said some of the best words I have ever heard, "I cant find anything wrong with your car!" Followed by some more great words, "You don't owe us a thing. Just do me a favor and bring your car here next time if you have any further problems." You bet I would. The kindly owner Tim is only slightly less wonderful than his dog (a half Beagle, half Chihua) who greets you when you come in. So, if you are ever in that neck of the woods and need transmission work, I heartily suggest you support that shop!!

I felt so happy I could have tap danced to my car (both ovaries in tow--no sales needing to happen) and shot home to meet college friend Stac for a night of dinner, drinks and some shopping. This week has taken a turn for the better since Monday!

Even the diet is going ok, though I firmly believe that all those bad things made me feel a lot fuller than eating healthy. POO! Holding steady @12 lbs lost, though it fluxuates. Gonna get some good working out/swimming in this weekend.

Yes, all is right in the world. Now I need to go win a softball game, so excuse me.

the fatkins diet

2008-07-13T16:16:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow marks the end of my first week dieting. I have lovingly named it the "Fatkins Diet." Roomie M and I started a bet: whoever loses more weight by October 12th gets $100 and theater tickets from the loser. (I want to go see Madam Butterfly.)

It is going well. I have already dropped 12 lbs this week. I know there is a skinny person in there somewhere trying to get out.

Losing weight is like trying to quit smoking. You have terrible cravings for the bad things that you were eating that taste so good. I gave up Coke (the drink, not the snortable kind. I mean I never did that kind anyway) and fastfood and starchy, comfort foods like potatoes and bread and pasta and red meat (which I am only going to eat in small quantities) and have replaced those tasty things with obscene amounts of fresh veggies and fruits, hummus, boca burgers, chicken (I dislike chicken) and lots of other not-as-fun-as-doritos things.

So for those of you fellow dieters (who are now also impossible to go out to eat with--"does that place have good salads?"), I thought I would share my dieting triumphs; the things that I am eating which are pretty good.

I have replaced coffee with cream and sugar for breakfast with Fiber One yogurt with 2 tbsp. of wheat germ or a bowl of oatmeal with fresh blueberries on top (I dump in about a 1/2 to 3/4 cup) and a small 6-8 oz glass of V8 and one of OJ.
Snacks: Veggies! Veggies! Veggies!(with/without hummus--the chive and garlic kind is GOOD!), slice or two of turkey or ham with mustard.
Lunches have become lots of salads full of tasty fresh spinach and tons of veggies, topped with tons of protein (chicken, shrimp). I made my own salad dressing with oil and vinegar and mustard. (A tiny bit of maple syrup for sweetening).
Snacks again.
Dinners have been hodge-podges of salads with grilled chicken or sauted (in olive oil) shrimp, steamed veggies, Boca bean-burgers with deli mustard and fresh veggies on top.

It has been interesting to pay more attention to what goes into "processed" foods and I did a lot of label reading when I went shopping. I used to pay a lot more attention to things like that when I lived out East and worked as a cook on a farm. It is nice to slide back (somewhat) into some of my past good habits.

I went groccery shopping and was proud of how much "healthy stuff" I came home with the other day. Though, I believe in a reward system, so when the day is going good as far as eating really well, I let myself have some Chocolate Silk Milk. It is all soy and tasty. Don't get me wrong it is not better than steak. I am craving steak and bacon and french fries like nobody's business, but I keep reminding myself that I will look good in my new dress that I bought for a friends' wedding which is in two weeks.

feeding the kids dirt?

2008-07-10T16:02:00.006-04:00

Today was my second "weekly session" of Summer Reading, since we had July 4th week off. My boss' group (earlier this week) had nearly doubled in size from the last meeting to this one, so I figured that my group size might also increase. Since my first two classes totaled over 110 kids, I thought that I would plan for at least 125 kids this week. That would normally be fine, because it would usually mean that I might have made some extra art projects which I would just put out as take-home extras, but this week was yummy bugs, where we got to make and eat insects...which means LOTS OF EXTRAS!!

It was a really fun day. After playing "Hot spider (based on "Hot potato") my kids made oreo spiders (recipe below) and then we all sat down and enjoyed "Dirt cups and Worms," (recipe below--I winged it a little) which I had made yesterday. We finished by playing "I spy with my bug eye," and "Red light, green light." It was a great day. A great day that I had overplanned for...making enough dirt cups for 125 kids and I only had 88 kids show up. Which means...I spent the afternoon trying to pawn Dirt cups off on a bunch of adults.

They are haunting both refrigerators.

Ugh. Chocolate is not in my diet.

“Chocolate Pretzel Spider”

Stick two oreo cookies together with frosting. Make 8 legs by sticking pretzels out (four pretzels on each side), gluing them between the oreos using the frosting. Can use M & M's for eyes on the front, 'glued' with frosting. I took this recipe from Shannon at: http://www.abqhomelearners.org/forum38/1218.html

"Dirt Cups" Recipe:

10 servings, about 1/2 cup each
2 cups cold milk
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed
15 OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, finely crushed, divided
10 worm-shaped chewy fruit snacks

POUR milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. or until well blended. Let stand 5 min.. Gently stir in whipped topping and 1/2 cup of the cookie crumbs.

SPOON into 10 (6- to 7-oz.) paper or plastic cups; top with remaining cookie crumbs.

REFRIGERATE at least 1 hour. Top with fruit snacks just before serving. Store leftovers in refrigerator. Dirt Cups can also be served frozen. Prepare as directed; freeze 3 hours or until firm.

This recipe can be found doing a simple Google search for "Dirt cup recipe." I lost the url for the recipe I used.

pranked at the library?

2008-07-09T16:00:00.002-04:00

I was prank called on Monday while I was working Reference. Right before my sister A1 came in to pick out some books for Monster Niece and Nephew. (Yeah for reading! I got Monster Niece really into read-along book/cd sets).

So, I told my sister that I was pranked and she asked me if the kids asked me if, "The books were running," (like the dreaded refrigerator). I think she is worse than the kids.

cowboys and Carrot Top...all things American

2008-07-06T14:27:00.009-04:00

As I sat under a clear, cloudless sky on July 4th I looked across a lake at displays of fireworks all across the shore line and marveled at the fact that the Fourth of July is something that most people here in the United States celebrate.

And why shouldn't we celebrate? We live in a country where we are free to worship, speak, publish, act freely. A country of abundance, sometimes excessive decadence. The country which gave the world apple pie, American cowboys, the world's largest can of spinach, Jazz music, Carrot Top, baseball, the Civil War, Saturday Night Fever, American Gothic, Mark Twain and the Justice League America. Ah, how magnificent.

I love history, and I love taking out my old history textbooks and reading about early U.S. history to commemorate the date each year.

In a letter to Abigail, John Adams wrote:

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

John was a little off. And no, he wasn't sampling his cousin Sam Adam's latest brew. In this letter he was refering to the July 2nd resolution that the Congress approved during a closed session. July 4th forever became famous because that was the day that the Declaration of Independence was signed. There is your history lesson for the day.

Good times. I hope everyone had a good 4th of July. And for more reading:

NPR on the 4th of July.

This year was different, very different than last year's 4th of July.

life is good

2008-07-06T14:11:00.004-04:00

The library last week was good.

A week off from Summer Reading program meant damage control for next week when the chitlins come back; I am now up to 212 kids for my K-2nd grade programs and have no flipping idea of how many to actually expect at the weekly programs. The library was busy this week; people gearing up for vacations, checking out materials—and that is a good thing. I am frantically trying to get a lot of reading done for the Summer Adult reading program. We are playing Bingo, reading books by genre. My goal is to have three more done by the end of the weekend. We’ll see how that goes. I already got roped into watching Monster Nephew A on Thursday and then best friend K came over for dinner and movie night with Roomie M and I.

First movie: Charlie Bartlett, which was a funny look at one high school boys attempt to be well liked which leads to him becoming the high school shrink and procurer of pills to meet everyone’s needs. As my roommate M put it, “I’d don’t need to see it again but I am glad that I saw it.” It was an entertaining, albeit strange (at times) movie. The pace was confusing, ranging from explosively funny scenes to low points. If you are looking for something interesting and witty—rent it. Robert Downey Jr. is in it and that (if you are like me) might be enough to make you rent it.

The Other Boleyn Girl was umm...well...I don't expect much from Natalie Portman movies. YUCKO! It was mostly about who was scoring with Henry VIII and honestly I could care less about that. I am more interested with world events at the time and the consequent competitions for the throne (guess I should have rented Elizabeth.)

Friday meant that my fam-dango would surface for a bit. We spent the afternoon chatting and munching lunch and I went swimming with Monster Niece and Nephew. Both are digging on the water. Getting brave(r) about jumping right in (literally!)

Friday night Roomie M and I headed to Anchor Bay for some time at her parents' HUGE "cottage," which is bigger than some houses I have lived in! We spent the weekend hanging with her family, eating and drinking good Polish food, sitting and watching a dozen firework displays over Lake St. Clair. Life is good. But weekends like this past one really remind you of that fact.

real library conversations #143

2008-06-30T21:26:00.004-04:00

A girl came up and asked for Number the Stars by Lois Lowry today, stating that she couldn't find it on the shelf. After taking her to where it was located in the Newberry winners sections we got to chatting about The Giver (another Lois Lowry book that I liked). She took my suggestion and decided to check it out.

Then her Mom came over and we got to talking about the books, Rules, by Cynthia Lord (which I had also just recently read). The Mom wanted the daughter to read the book because, like the main character, this girl also has an autistic younger brother. The girl looked at her Mom (rolling her eyes) and then at me and said,

"I only like to read books that have nothing to do with my life. I don't want to read about stuff I already know about."

I had to laugh. I know where she is coming from. If you were to offer me a mystery that took place in a library, I would probably throw up my arms and say, "I don't give a shit if Marian the Librarian was beat to death with a microfilm roll! Give me a good Steinbeck!!

Then the girl's Mother went to check out their books. My new little friend continued to stand at the desk and tell me all about herself.

"I really want to date, but my Mom won't let me (this after she told me she was not even 11 years old!!) I also want a rat but my Mom won't let me get one of those either. If you got to choose would you rather have a rat or a mouse?"

Holy crap. Who gave this kid coffee for breakfast? Ha ha ha...kinda reminded me of what I was like.

the car who lived

2008-06-30T13:11:00.006-04:00

I feel like I have been gone from Blogger world forever.

My life lately feels like a damn country music song...maybe I should rename this post, Library Honkey tonk badonka-doonk...? I don't feel like going into all the details, but to recap:

Sirius, the car that I just got about three weeks ago was totaled in an accident last Monday. (Maybe it was bad luck to name it after a character who dies!)
My rental car which I had to drive for the week wound up costing over $250...*ugh*
Family friend passed away last week and it made me sad and miss Dad. Loss is a part of life, for sure, but does it ever get any easier?
My sister's dog Bailey, (which I think of as my dog since she lived with us when she was a puppy) has gotten sick with lupus and her immune system is weakening, so we don't expect her to live too much longer. So weird how much we get attached to our pets.
The new plates for my car put me out another $100...*ugh again.*

On a happier note, life lately has also meant:

Summer Reading sign-ups continue each day and my group of K-2nd graders keeps growing. I am now at over 210 kids and still growing daily.
Summer Reading programs officially began last week and so I have truly been initiated--like a Frat Brother at a keg party...what? My first (weekly) sessions went great. I do two each week and had 67 kids show up for my a.m. program, and 45 kids show up for my p.m. program. It was slightly stressful and left me feeling like I needed a BIG drink, but it was also one of those instances where you really learn how to roll with the punches when everything you plan doesn't work as you planned.
We had a really cool program come through with insect predators (since our theme this summer is all about BUGS!). It was a great program, though for the future I think we should have had a sign-up in advance since 192 people showed (which besides being over the fire-code approved amount) made it really hard to hear and see the animals that were brought. I was actually embarrased at how poorly our PARENTS acted and apologized to the woman after everyone left. It's totally not cool to leave your crying baby in the room while everyone else is trying to hear! Agh! Otherwise, the program was informative and cool. Monster niece and nephew came and Monster niece kept telling me that the owl looked just like "Harry Potter's owl." (I accidentally let her watch the movie while I was babysitting. I had fallen asleep watching it and Monster niece--who was supposed to be napping--watched the whole thing.)
Got a "new" car this weekend (Thanks A3!!). It is a 2002 Saturn. Now I am mastering driving a manual. I haven't driven a stick shift in 12 years, but miraculously all has gone well so far. I only stalled out once the other day. Stop signs on hills are the DEVIL!! Since I had bad luck with my last choice of car name I have decided to call this car Harry in the hopes that, like the boy who lived, this car will outlast it's predecessor. It kinda looks like this:

more folk/fairy tales...nothing exciting to talk about

2008-06-19T15:53:00.009-04:00

As mentioned in this post, I am steadily reading; working my way through folklore and fairy tales alike--focusing on the stories that originate from specific regions around the world. This will benefit my Fall group...I hope.

Yesterday's three were:

The Hunterman and the Crocodile by Baba Waque Diakitre

A Coretta Scott King Award Winner for its working together peacefully solution...which I was not expecting. Would have been more exciting had the crocodile eaten the hunterman.

The Gingerbread Man by Jim Aylesworth

I loved the pictures in this book. Also, I liked how this book ended in true folktale fashion with the last page of the story containing a rhyming moral.

Cinderella by Charles Perrault,
modern retelling and pictues by Loek Koopmans and Anthea Bell

I was not really impressed with this retelling or the pictures--Cinderella and the prince looked like they were about 10 years old. I think I prefer the Grimm Brothers Cinderella story better.

Still gearing up for Summer Reading. We had our big kick-off this week and I have over 145 chitlins signed up for my program alone. That is 145 kids just in the K-2nd grade age group I am working with. Granted not all of them are going to come to my weekly program, I still feel like I need to prepare a lot more stuff for our art projects JUST IN CASE!

Our kick-off lasted for two hours and consisted of a band (comprised of one of our Pages and his friends), face-painting (bug themed, just like Summer Reading) and the kids coloring butterflies that will decorate our windows soon.

Otherwise:

We have our second softball game tonight.
Been too chilly this week, temps in the 60s = no swimming.
I am now in charge of the monthly young adult (ages 18-35) socials (with Vic) at our church.
Got rid of Will today. He was picked up and taken to be stripped of anything valuable and then sent to the car demolisher. Getting used to Sirius.

A-W-K-W-A-R-D librarians in the news

2008-06-19T15:42:00.004-04:00

Further proof that Librarians are AWKWARD! Ha ha ha...I actually laughed outloud when I read this. I mean, I hope this lady gets help, because OBVIOUSLY, she needs it. But it still was slightly entertaining. I guess I should stop using puppets as "mediators," at my staff meetings!

PUBLISHED: Monday, June 16, 2008

Fired library director sues
Fraser staffers complained of her irrational behavior
By Christy Strawser
Macomb Daily Staff Writer

Former Fraser Library Director Sherry Schmidli filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit in Macomb Circuit Court alleging she was fired for questioning the city's authority over the library.

The lawsuit claims Schmidli was also unlawfully fired for taking medical leave for a health condition that put her repeatedly in the emergency room. Schmidli is asking the court for unspecified damages over $25,000 for mental distress and lost wages.

"Defendants had a duty not to discriminate against (Schmidli) because of a disability or perceived disability," the lawsuit says.

Letters in Schmidli's personnel file that detail complaints by library staff tell a different story about her departure. Staff members said Schmidli spoke through a puppet at meetings, talked about her sex life, berated and harassed workers, asked employees to spy on each other, and moved furniture in an upstairs room in 2006 without her top, wearing only a bra.
"While she might be perfectly fine with her body, the rest of us don't particularly want to see it," one worker wrote to the city.

Schmidli was basically accused of acting irrational at work, something her attorney vehemently denies.

"Pictures of spiders drive her into a frenzy," one staffer complained.

An employee said Schmidli became angry when she called police about someone cruising pornography sites on the library computer because, she said, the patron "had every right to look at porn."

Another complained about an incident where Schmidli said she was ill and needed a ride to the hospital. She insisted on going to William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, the worker said.
On the way there, Schmidli allegedly urged her to drive faster and faster, honk the horn and veer around other motorists. Then, she turned to the driver, said she felt better, and wanted to go back.

Once at the library, she allegedly laughed at the stressed-out driver.
Beyond employees, city officials took issue with Schmidli allegedly using a city Visa card to make purchases for the library gift shop without authorization.

The finance director sent Schmidli a memo advising her to buy things from companies where the city has accounts, but Schmidli kept using the Visa and allegedly violated the city's policy of getting three bids on any expense over $500.

The lawsuit claims that when City Manager Jeff Bremer and Human Resources Director Pam Lavers met with Schmidli in January about the complaints, they "concluded the meeting by telling (Schmidli) that her behavior was 'bizarre and weird', and she was therefore required to attend counseling through the city's employee assistance program."

She refused treatment, saying in the lawsuit the allegations were "untrue, false, malicious and grossly out of context."

"They're not true, they're unverified and they were never investigated," said Schmidli's attorney, Francyne Stacey of Ann Arbor.

Lavers wrote in Schmidli's personnel file that when she was confronted, Schmidli responded by saying Bremer "is not her boss."

Schmidli allegedly asked for a week off work to consider her options, then asked for family leave, got a 30-day extension on the one-month leave, and was fired on her first day back, March 4.
Schmidli was so upset at the city's role in library staffing and budget issues that she hired a lawyer to look into whether the city was overreaching.

Attorney Laurie Kelly wrote a letter in February, while Schmidli was on leave, saying Fraser city ordinance is silent on many library issues, but higher law has plenty to say. The lawyer quoted a law that says, "(The Library Board) shall have the power to appoint a suitable librarian and necessary assistants ... and shall also have power to remove such appointees."

Schmidli did not get support from the Library Board, according to the lawsuit.
"The Library Board ... should have protested the termination and/or investigated the circumstances of it, but they failed to do this," the suit says.

Stacey asked City Council to reinstate Schmidli, which they unanimously denied. The mayor and all council members were included as defendants in the lawsuit, as were members of the Library Board.

Before the complaints, Schmidli won a glowing review from Bremer in 2006 for her "extensive professionalism." She was given a 2 percent raise in 2007 that boosted her pay to $53,040 a year, up from $52,000 when she was hired full-time in 2005.

Schmidli came to Fraser with 20 years experience. She was a library science instructor at Wayne State University, worked as a reference librarian at Macomb Community College and was head librarian in Clinton Township.

proper name for things

2008-06-16T15:27:00.005-04:00

"Always use the proper name for things. " ~Albus Dumbledore, Chapt. 17, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

I am a firm believer that everything needs a name, cars included.

After a lenghty conversation with friend Amos (Happy 22nd birthday Love!!) yesterday, I decided the name for my car. I was so glad that I got to run the name by someone else...someone who also loves Harry Potter and wouldn't judge me for the name, but rather said things like, "oh, I like that name. That is a good choice!"

I chose a name based on one of my favorite books (as I am listening to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on CD, and it was the first thing I listened to in the new car), and for a dozen more reasons which feel too silly to share. I have christened the car Sirius Remus, or just Sirius for short; named after two of my favorite characters in the books (besides Harry and Dumbledore).

The name feels very fitting since the the word seirios (Greek) means "blazing" or "scorching," (like my personality--ha ha ha) and Sirius is also the brightest star in the sky--a star which also makes up part of Orion's dog. There is also much old folklore in England which speaks to these big, looming, mysterious dogs. There is something promising in being named for this mysterious, yet bright thing, no? And Remus (along with Romulus) of course was a founder of Rome. Seemed like a strong name that speaks to adventure, no?

I was musing over my old cars and what the reasonings were for their names:

Chewbacca 1997-1999 (Star Wars, obviously--very fitting because of his brown color)
Rupert Rufus 1999-2004 (named after Rupert Everett--a favorite actor at the time, Rufus just because I always thought the name was funny)
Will 2004-2008 name split for Shakespeare and the name of the founder of the farm I used to work at (since I was living at the farm when the car was gifted to me)

And writing this, I realized that my life is so boring lately and I need some adventure. I am very jealous of what TSOldtimer and KT are up to these days! I need something better to write about. I am seeking an adventure!

Christmas in June and other highlights

2008-06-16T14:36:00.006-04:00

So many random moments made up this weekend. Here are a few in spotlight:

1. Took my Mom to see Prince Caspian on Friday night (I had given her the complete Chronicles of Narnia for her birthday). It was a fun movie, though I wish I had reread it before I had seen it. I spent part of the movie wondering how accruate it was to the books.

2. My Mom was telling me how Monster niece told her that she saw Pop (my Dad) and he told her that he is in Heaven and happy. Monster niece is 3.5 yrs. old. I believed what she said.

3. K and I went over Chris' apartment Saturday night for movies. Such a guy apartment. He actually had to clean it so that it was "ready for company." :) We spent the evening expanding my knowledge of movies that "I can't believe you haven't seen," to quote both K and Chris. My favorite part of hanging at Chris' were the jokes that came out of the fact that he never "got around" to taking down his Christmas tree!

Saw Ghostbusters for the first time...um...Stay Puft Marshmallow Man...really? I loved the scene at the beginning in the Main Branch of the NY Public Library. Though I contest that when the Librarian saw the ghost and freaked out, she was only freaking out because the ghost threw her card catalog records all over the place...not because she was actually scared!

4. Spent Sunday forgetting it was Father's Day with some low key hanging out at my house in the pool. My family, as well as Roomie M's, all came over for swimming and dinner. Everything was fabulous: the weather (after a 10 minute random thunder/lightning storm), the pool, the food.

Monster Nephew is fearless, trying to dive into the pool on his own sans life jacket or even water wings! Monster Niece, more like her mother, is very timid near the water and after much coaxing made her way in. I am trying to get both of them to learn how to swim. Never too young!

After such a lovely day, going to work today was very hard.

playing catch up

2008-06-12T15:41:00.004-04:00

I feel like I have not written in forever. Life has been busy and getting busier so this will be brief:

Dissapointments regarding CT thing. Moving on.
My car Will (which I have had for almost 4 years and put on @ 70,000 miles) has been slowly trying to die. Finally replaced him yesterday. Another old folks car, but temporary until I buy that lovely little Aveo that is calling my name...maybe next year. Any thoughts for a name? Must explain what the choice of name comes from.
Summer Reading kick-off is less than a week away. YIKES! Doing the grunt work for that now. Cutting out art project-y things, etc. Some cute things. Will def. post pics eventually!
Softball begins tonight. Chris and I have our first game. Yeah.
Pool at our house has been open for about three weeks and I have been swimming almost every day. Be envious...very envious. Still trying to learn how to dive. Oww.
Dreading Father's Day.
Reading tons.

That is me in a nutshell these days.