Lies I Tell Myself

Here are the top 3.

1. I can lie down on the couch under a blanket and watch a movie without falling asleep.

2. I can just eat one cookie. Then I will have no problem stopping.

3. I don't need to write that down; I will remember it.

Obviously, I lie to myself all year round. But of course this is Christmastime, so I'll make it seasonally applicable!

1. Is there anything quite like reclining on the couch under your favorite blanket, the only light coming from the tv and tree lights? No, I say. For some reason, I always think I can watch a movie curled up in what is essentially my favorite sleeping position. And maybe I'll just rest my eyes a moment during this slower scene. No problem. Plus, Christmas movies are just so relaxing. And comforting. And usually have at least one quiet, peaceful, snowy scene with Silent Night playing gently in the background...

2. Oh, sure. Of course it's true. If you have a craving, just eat one! Then go on your merry way, mouth filled with lingering sweetness, stomach asking for more, fingers already absentmindedly stretching towards the Santa plate. Fine, cookies. You win. I just need to make sure you all taste as good as the first one.

3. Yep, back in September she said she'd love a new toaster. But come December, do you think I remember? Oh, I might have a vague memory of him wishing aloud he had a pair of warmer gloves. But guess what? I had such confidence in my good memory that I never wrote it down. Oh, I'll rememb...what?

'Tis the season! Heh heh.

It's Closing Time, Yo.

When I work at the library on Saturdays, it's usually pretty quiet. People drift in and out, study a bit, make a few copies, snag a movie for the night. But for some reason, around 4:45, fifteen minutes before we close, patrons decide to storm the doors. It has suddenly become a necessity to rush into the library: wild eyes darting around the shelves, relieved smiles when they see they have some time left.

No. No, no, no. We'd like to have everyone gone at 5, not have you read your newspaper until then before swinging by the men's room, thank you very much.

I don't have it much anymore, but when I worked in my college library I used to have this recurring nightmare. I would be walking around the library trying to close up and people would just keep coming in and coming in and I couldn't get anyone to leave. Students would keep wandering around trying to get books or study and I couldn't round people up to get out so I could go home.

Honestly, sometimes it's like herding cats trying to get patrons to vacate the premises. Seriously, all of a sudden the library is so important to you that you have to wait until 5:02 to attempt to check out your books?

And don't smile condescendingly like of course I know the library is closing when I remind you because you clearly. needed. a. reminder.

I'm so pleased you love your library and that you're visiting it. But we're open 71 hours a week. That's right, 71. Pick your time, my friend.

And if you do find yourself in a unique situation and have to run in at closing (our library is open until 9 on weeknights), it's nice to express how grateful and sorry you are. A little grovelling never hurt anyone, is all I'm saying.

I'm thankful I don't work in a grocery store or restaurant. I'm sure if I think getting people to leave the library is tough, these places have got to be worse. More people, more awkward situations, more late nights.

I try to be extra conscientious and leave early when I'm somewhere close to closing. These employees have lives, ya know!

Dark-Eyed Junco Pie, Anyone?

I get confused every morning.



Around 4, 5, 6 o'clock. I wake up, light streaming in the window and birds calling like it's the middle of the afternoon. I grab my cell phone, worried that my alarm didn't go off. But it's an hour or TWO earlier than I'm set to get up. I leave my window open for the breeze, but get all sorts of light and noise as my reward too early in the morning.

I love summer and everything, but days start a little too soon for me. And the weird thing is, I don't even feel tired, like I could spring right out of bed, fling the curtains open, and sing right back out at those stupid lovely birds.

And there is this one bird. This one bird that seems to live right outside of my window. He calls out all morning. Possibly all day. All night? I have vivid fantasies of shooting him down. His song never to be heard again 'round these parts.

I even scoured the internet this morning, listening to random common birdcalls to find his.

It appears to be the dark-eyed junco. Take a listen.



So that's my little guy. Or at least a little guy that sounds just like him.

My own personal alarm clock. I just wish that I could SET him to a decent time.

We Must Save the Daylight!

So, got a little less sleep this weekend.

No biggie.

I still got up to go to the early service at church which begins at 8 (meaning it felt like 7...) but I put myself to bed early to make up for it. Where I stayed awake for an hour anyway.

It messed with me a little bit yesterday, but boy was it nice to see sunshine for so long. And since I have a later shift at work today I got to sleep in this morning instead. Like a rock.

I'll take a little less sleep if it means spring is coming! Honestly, with the weather the way it is I just want to keep going on walks. Yesterday I wandered around my neighborhood and saw purple flowers! And lots of dead grass, but that will grow.

Changing the clocks in spring is definitely better than changing the clocks in fall. Sure, you might get an extra hour of sleep, but it's the kickoff to coldness and darkness. Yuck.

I hope that wherever you live it's as beautiful as it is here. If you need me, I'll be either outside or inside staring outside.

Christmastime is Here

Aaaaah! Christmas!
Hope everyone has had a magical time leading up to this spectacular day. You only get to do some things once a year:

-Get to read lots of different Christmas cards. Yes, we know your child is an accomplished genius...Wow - thanks for sharing all your issues!...Who ARE these people, anyway??

-Get to sing loudly in public without people wondering why. "JOY TO THE WOOOOOORLD!"

-Get to watch lots of heartwarming movies and cry! Unless you do that year-round, in which case, pace yourself.

-Get to eat a LOT of food in the name of tradition. "These calories don't count! It's Christmas!" "Of course I'll try the dessert you made! It's Christmas!" We at the library feel very appreciated this time of year, when our beloved patrons shower us with baked goods and boxes of chocolate. Especially boxes of chocolate. I just pick out the coconut ones.


-Get to see people you only see during the holidays! Enjoy it. Stay up late, get out of your routine, and enjoy it. You can sleep in January...



-Get to go to church on Sunday on Christmas Day! No, this doesn't happen every year. But it's pretty special that it happens this year. Give me some old Christmas hymns and let's celebrate the birth of Jesus! Woo-hoo!

To all my faithful readers (even the ones in Saudi Arabia and Czech Republic who accidentally stumbled upon this blog...), Merry Christmas! Thanks for reading! May your weekend be filled with joy.

The Changing of the Time

What?! The time is changing this weekend?

That's right. Daylight Savings Time officially ends this weekend. And that means we gain an hour! Also, it gets dark earlier...

This post is to remind YOU and it's to remind ME to not get completely confused. Because sometimes a person will forget and get up when she doesn't need to and show up to church an hour early and no one's there. I'm just saying. It could happen. To someone...

So what type of person are you?

1. Time to Sleep
This person is ready to log some extra time in the ol' sleep bank. She has been waiting for months to get this hour, and she's going to enjoy every.single.minute. She goes to sleep at her regular time (even earlier, maybe!) and wakes up feeling refreshed and just so stinkin' proud of herself.

2. Time to Party!
Whoa - we get an extra hour! This person is going to spend this hour enjoying life! He stays up an extra hour just because he can. And then is having so much fun, he stays up even later and wakes up the next morning wondering why he's so tired if he just got an extra hour...

So don't forget to fall back this weekend! I'll catch you next week when we will discuss Christmas music: Too early? That depends on how stressful your days have been!

Just Five More Minutes...

I could be waking up to the biggest day of my life. Some huge event. Some enormously important moment.

But in that moment of waking up, I could talk myself out of anything.

Dream...dream...dream...BZZZZZZZT! Ugh. Grab phone. Open phone. Squint at numbers on phone.

Okay, let’s see. What’s going on today...work in two hours? Two hours? Who needs two hours? I’ll just cut back on my workout...Snooze. I’ll just snooze for 8 loooooong minut-

BZZZZZZZZT! Ugh. Grab Phone. Open phone. Squint at numbers on phone.

Really? That was it? 8 minutes? Eyes...start...closing...

Okay, now I really need to get up. Or hit snooze again. Hmm...

I’m just so warm and cozy...then my alarm rudely grabs my arm and pulls me out of sleep and tells me I need to get up. In that moment of decision – go back to sleep or get up – I would pretty much give up chocolate for a month so I could sleep for five more minutes.

And that’s saying something.