Archive for April, 2006

I can’t wait until September!

Friday, April 21st, 2006

I am so behind in my work! One minute it was December, and the next thing I know its practically May. What is up with THAT?!? So you may ask, why do I wish it was September? Please take note of the name of my blog… As a public librarian who works with kids and teens, our busiest time of the year is the summer. I have almost no idea of what I’m going to do. Plus the NYS theme this year is Books: a Treasure. The only thing that is worse than what is for the kids is what they have for the teens. Its is all about the bling for teens, and that is so five years ago. I find the whole thing offensive.

Therefor, I’m going for the whole Jack Sparrow/Johnny Depp theme this summer for the teens. That and I’m going to try and give food away as prizes for reading books this summer. Once another teen librarian told me “Feed them and they will come”. Sure enough, it works. So that’s what I plan on doing. Food for the guys and Johnny Depp for the ladies.

For the kids I’m going to do Princesses and Pirates (and books) oh my… I figure if the girls can dress up and be princesses and the boys can act like pirates, they will come by the droves. Especially if I sweeten the pot with tiaras and eye patches.

Still, lots more planning to do, and I need to be fleshed out and ready to go before the end of May. That doesn’t give much time…. Cripes, I better get to bed. I’m exhausted just thinking about it!

A post about a birthday card and something else, but I really haven’t figured it out yet.

Monday, April 17th, 2006

How to say this without feeling like an idiot? Although when I am at work and I’m forced to be extroverted in order to make patrons comfortable, I’m really very shy and socially inept. I have a lot of trouble talking to people, completing sentences, starting conversations, and generally trying to put myself in social situations. I think sometimes its even worse when I’m in social situations, because its so very obvious that I’m trying to be extroverted.

Oh and did I mention, I have trouble putting thoughts together.

ANYWAY. I don’t have too many friends. I have a couple, but with the baby and my inability to drive, I don’t get around much. I see the people at work, the people at my church, Jeff and my sisters. Not much socializing. I think that the things that’s are really keeping me from making friends are all that I just mentioned. I’ll blame it on my parents because they are introverted too and they don’t have very many friends either.

Posts like these remind me why people don’t have electronic journals, but regular paper journals. I should probably be one of those people right now.

I hate it! I want to get other people’s opinions. I want to know what other people are thinking about. I want to be able to say, “Hey come over and play (DDR, Hearts, Spit, Catch Phrase…). I have a cabinet full of tea and coffee and Sirius so we can listen to new wave music all night long.” Yeah, that would be nice. I can’t even remember to introduce people when they don’t know eachother.

I can’t believe that I’m still typing. I think I must be forgetting what I’m typing as soon as I write it. But I’m still typing, aren’t I… I think I need someone like Jimny Crickett to watch over me.

Anyway again. Now that you know that I can’t hold a conversation worth beans, I don’t really know where to go with this post… hmm, sadly appropriate, I guess.

How this post started was from a card that I received. Actually, this has been the third card that I received, and I’d like to try and officially be her friend… that sounds stupid. Unfortunately, I’ve really never just become friends with someone. Anyone that I actually (ocassionally) “hang out” with, I’ve known since high school. I don’t just go up to people and say “Gosh your a nice lady, can we be friends?”

I received my one (and only) birthday card in the mail today (besides the sappy ones from my mom and grandmother, the one with death in the rear view mirror and the caption “Items in the the mirror are closer than you think” from my aunt and uncle, and the email one from my sister with a farting frog. So I got some cards from my family, but it was nice to get a card from a “non-family”. It was the neatest card, with Olivia the pig. Jack loved it, because I’d like to believe that he remembered that Olivia was the pig in his board book. Olivia was exercizing, and she really likes exercising, but she REALLY likes accesorizing. (What girl doesn’t?) I was very happy to get the card, and it reminds me why I think that the person who gave me the card is a very cool person.

Thank you for the card, if you read this post… and ever speak to me again, since I sound like I’m off my meds and need to get back on. I guess I may have to listen in on the journal writing program that I’m having at my library on Thursday. Maybe the presenter will help teach me how to write and not sound like an idiot.
(Jeff, I know that you are reading this, and since we’re married, I know that you know that I’m a crazy chick, but you can stop shaking your head, or whatever you are doing…)

Oh well, its almost my birthday. We’re all allowed one day to become total crack heads, right? Still, I should probably stop while I’m ahead… if I’m even ahead anymore!

Graphic Novel program finished

Monday, April 17th, 2006

Well, its over now. I had gotten so worked up about making sure that everything was perfect… well that I survived the program without dying of embarrassment at any point. Jason (the other presenter) was a little worked up as well (in my opinion). I think that he really wanted to make sure that everyone learned something and really enjoyed themselves. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen him talk so much or so fast. (This is why I think he was nervous). Unfortunately, between his talking and spending so long having everyone look at the graphic novels (all of which were good things, so I’m not upset) but that meant that I really didn’t get much time to talk about the site that I created. I just put a lot more work into this site than I thought I would, and I had hoped to explain a bit more about the site. I know that the others could look more on their own, but I thought that it was really important for me to catch their attention so that they would remember to take the time to look on their own. I had just enough time to quickly go through the sections of links and the categories that they are divided into. I think people sort of got the idea that this could really help, but a little more time… ah well. I think people learned a lot, and thats the important thing. Although people were still very reluctant to embrace the manga. I guess its just one baby step at a time. Someday they will understand how important graphic novels could be for connecting with kids. Its just like telling the kids that you know who Boots or Magenta are. Sure everyone knows who Dora and Blue are, but you know Boots! Tell them that you’ve read Naruto, and you’ve caught their attention. Then they’ll know that you really take the time and you care. And isn’t that what being a public librarian is really all about? I’d like to think it is.

Sometimes it stinks to be an adult

Monday, April 10th, 2006

Sometimes I wish that I had no responcibilities except going to school and handing in my homework. I’m involved in this grant, which is really great because I get to work with other librarians and it helps homeschoolers, but its hard because there are parts that I need to do, and unfortunately, I don’t really have any help. One of the biggest downfalls to a small library is that when you do things, its just you doing everything, there isn’t a helpful assistant that will pop out at your bidding. Therefor, I have a lot on my plate. I hate even saying it anymore, because complaining is really getting old. I’m getting tired of saying “whaa whaa” “I have to do all the ordering and programming for kids and teens” “Whaa, feel sorry for me” I mean, puh-lease. If I heard someone else say that, I’d tell them to grow up.

Still, I had to create 30 art kits on different topics (15 for K – 2 and 15 for 3 – 5), and I was having a hard time figuring out how to divide up the kits. At one point I had everything divided by time period and type of art. Then one of the pages (who is an education major) slapped me in the face (not really, but she should have) and said umm.. Cathy? How about colors and shapes? Kindergarteners don’t really need to know about the Baroque and Renaisannce time periods. Well how about stating the obvious? At least it should have been. But I just kept getting more and more complex and I really didn’t have any idea what I was going to do. At least now I just have to get books on colors, ballerinas, instruments, play-doh. You know kid stuff.

Oh well. Time to DDR now. Nighty night.

Update (2 minutes later): Too late to DDR since its already 10 pm. 🙁

Getting older

Sunday, April 9th, 2006

Nine days until I turn… 27. I know this may not seem a big deal to some people, but to me, okay so its not a big deal. But really, I’m actually pretty satisfied with my life. Okay, so I’d like it if I had more friends (that actually called me) or that it would be easier to lose weight (okay so skim Starbucks does not equal low calories) and it might be nice if work was closer/I made more money/didn’t have to break my butt working, and I wished that I’d never had a seizure, but otherwise, I’m satisfied.

Some things that make me happy right now:

1) I love love love my son. He giggle when he sees me, cries when I walk away and rests his head on my shoulder. I love when he sleeps on me, gets all sweaty and his hair gets curly. I love when I take him to choir practice and he sings with my father-in-law. I love that he has tons of toys and he would rather look at his books. I love that he sleeps all night long. I love that he makes my mom happpy.

2) I love my husband. Granted he can be a pain in the ass, but he really cares about me and that is so cool. He doesn’t try to understand everything about me, but that’s okay because I know that I’m weird. And just because he loves me, that doesn’t mean that he gives in to my every whim. Sure, I’d like it if he would let me buy every purse I want, every pair of shoes, and he wouldn’t bitch when I buy fancy Starbucks coffee, but if he did, then it wouldn’t really be who he is. Funnily enough, that doesn’t stop me from buying purses, shoes and coffee. Anyway, Jeff is funny, he has strong hands that are very assuring and protecting, he makes me aware of lots of things going on in the world and he loves: Buster Keaton, the Marx Brothers, George Burns, Gracie Allen and Laurel & Hardy. How many people can say that their husband does an awesome Stan Laurel impersonation?

3) I have a brand new car and house… I HAVE a BRAND NEW car and house. We drive home (since I can’t drive my nice new car right now because of the seizure) and I’m still amazed that this is my house. Its not clean very often, what with a 13 month old, and both of us working full-time (and Jeff having to pick me up), but that’s okay.

4) I love my job. Everyone’s nice, most of the regulars are nice, the kids and teens are great, and a lot of times it doesn’t feel like work. This is really important, because sometimes, when I realize how much work I really do have, it makes me faint. Don’t be fooled by the old woman with bun, thick glasses, millions of cats, likes to read stereotype librarians have. Being a librarian is a lot of work. Thank god that I love working with people and encouraging young people to read. Otherwise, I’d probably slam my head in a car door. Oh I’m positive that there are other jobs that are more stressful, more work, more of a pain-in-the-butt, but (tee-hee) it can still be overwhelming.
Librarians need to order books, plan programs, conduct tours, encourage reading, balance budgets, fix toilets (yes that’s right) perform CPR (you heard me right) make sure no one is drinking beer in the bathroom (yup) and make sure that no one gets hurt. Still, I love being a librarian.
Speaking of which, I need to get up early and go to work. Good night!

Guys Read

Thursday, April 6th, 2006

Found this on Webster Public Library’s blog for children’s services and it looks pretty interesting. I will have to investigate more when I have the time.

Guys Read

Health woes continue.

Wednesday, April 5th, 2006

On Friday (March 31) I was trying to swallow my multi-vitamin. I had some troubles, as I often do, and I couldn’t swallow it too well. I suddenly felt some tightness in my chest, and as I leaned up against Jeff, I passed out. Jeff said that it looked like I shook once as I fell. I came to really quickly, but it still sucked and it was scary. Then I had to go right to a school for a career day that I promised to do. I’ve been feeling under the weather for about a week and a half, and that morning I just didn’t need any added stress. My head was a little banged up and my nose was really sore. I couldn’t let anyone down though! What if because of me, one of the kids (2nd to 6th grade) had a life changing experience and decided that they wanted to be a librarian? Um, yeah right. I’m not really sure that anyone listened to me. I mean really! Who thought that young kids like this were going to sit still for a half hour to listen to the likes of me? Then, I got to the library where I was supposed to talk (appropriate, I guess) and I didn’t have a teacher or an adult of any kind in the room with me. Okay, I thought, that’s alright, I can handle it. Well I handled it fine until two of the kids decided to hide under the book shelves. I really couldn’t think of much to say for a whole half hour. I told them about how much education you need to be a librarian. I explained what I did, and what important things you need to know (Math, people skills, reading and writing skills, friendly outlook on life). I also read some books. I had originally brought the books to show the kids that reading didn’t need to be boring, so I brought books like The Truth About Poop, My Librarian’s a Camel, Magdelena Catelina Hoopensteiner Wallendiner Hogan Logan Bogan is her Name, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and The Terrible Underpants. I read some of the books and I made the kids shake their wiggles out. Unfortunately, between the cold and the dizziness of passing out, I wasn’t a thrill a minute. Luckily, I brought in my school yearbooks from when I went to the school (I was an alumni of this particular school) and since some of the teachers that were there when I was a kid, are still there, they got a kick out of that and wanted to keep looking at the yearbooks.
I was exhausted the rest of the day and spent the rest of the day at my parents’ house hanging out and reading. I don’t think I could handle having someone’s kids all day long, especially if I didn’t know the kids (or the parents) at all. That would be insane.

Good Night all. I’m really sleepy, and I want to look my best tomorrow!

Blogs gone wild

Wednesday, April 5th, 2006

I was spying on someone else’s blog (you know who you are) and they found this great article on Information Overload… I looked and looked. And then I noticed that all the links were created on April 1st. Ohhh. The evils of blogs and the internet. For shame.

Presentation on Graphic Novels for those librarians

Tuesday, April 4th, 2006

Next Wednesday I have to give a presentation on graphic novels with another librarian, Jason. I have put so much time into this that I really haven’t done much else, but honestly, I have no idea what I’m going to talk about. I am so exhausted. I wanted to edit the style of the blog a little, but I haven’t the foggiest idea on how to do that. I’ve moved everything over to a better looking blog “theme” as they call it, but I have so many links, it takes forever to actually get to all the categories so that you can select which reviews you want to look at… In reality I guess its pretty similar to this theme. Oh well. I guess that’s the last thing I need to worry about. What I really should be thinking about is that

1) I have a presentation to give next Wednesday in front of tons of librarians
2) I have a great (I think) blog full of information, but I don’t have the foggiest idea of what I’m going to talk about.
3) I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M GOING TO TALK ABOUT!
Jeeze. Plus I’ve heard that Jason doesn’t feel very confident about the whole thing either. This should be very interesting. I would stay tuned if I were you.

you can call me twitchy

Saturday, April 1st, 2006

a small sparrow
hides itself
from those larger
not wanting to be eaten
as a cat’s whiskers twitch