Just So You Know

So I'm having internet troubles. Hopefully they will be resolved shortly, but here's a mini blog post since I wasn't able to write one Friday and probably won't be able to tomorrow.

A few of my favorite things this past week:

• Wearing flip flops for the first time this year!
• Turning the heat off and opening the windows.
• Making chocolate chip cookies with Oreos inside (for the recipe, click here).
• Painting my nails with Hunger Games nail polish.
• Reading amazing reviews of The Hunger Games movie, which I will be watching at midnight this coming Thursday!
• Taking an ice cream walk.
• Getting great deals on groceries like fresh fruits and vegetables. Because I'm an excellent shopper.
• Listening to sessions online at work from the Public Library Association's Virtual Conference about social media and iPads.
• Catching up with my best friends.

Despite not having internet much this week, I managed to have a good time. Have I perhaps learned something? Anyway, who wants to stay inside when there's so much to do in such beautiful weather!

Happy Sunday. :)

Cruisin' On Thru

So I'm scared of drive-thrus.

Maybe "scared" isn't quite the right word. I'm just not totally comfortable using one.

When I go to McDonalds or Taco Bell or whatever (NOT often because these places are poison. Poison I tell you!), if I'm the one driving I always park and go inside. In fact, I can state with almost 100% certainty that I have never even driven through a fast-food window before.

Why is this, you may ask? Well, it just seems weird. And I am nervous I'll pull up too far away. Or too close and I'll graze the curb. Or the person working won't understand me through the speaker. Or I'll drop the money onto the pavement and have to open the door.

You're right. Once I actually write it out it does look kind of stupid.

It's just, why bother? Why not get out, go in, interact, see the obese families sitting at the tables? Slip past the caution sign and the guy with dreads mopping the floor? Actually stand and talk to the fourteen-year-old taking my order? (Seriously...when did I get so old? I swear, everyone is younger than me now.)

I don't know, I just have a thing about drive-thrus. Maybe they also seem lazy to me. Like, look at me I'm already killing myself with this greasy food, why bother to get up off my butt at all? Just flop in the car, calling for food.

I'm sure you all go through drive-thrus and live happy, fulfilling lives, but this is not meant to be for me.

As always...
Don't judge.

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.

Easy There, Sport.

I talk to myself on occasion.

95% of those times, I'm driving.

I guess in those cases I'm really talking to other people, though. They just can't hear me.

There's something about driving that makes me a teensy bit crazy. And sarcastic. Talking to other drivers and complaining to myself takes the edge off. I just have to make sure my windows aren't rolled down.

I know I can get overly annoyed with other drivers. I'm working on it. Let's just say that, as a very sarcastic person, I can usually keep myself in check unless I'm on the road with total NUTjobs who can't drive worth BEANS.

Honestly, I'm surprised I haven't gotten in an accident yet. Cars shooting out of nowhere, weaving around me like we're in the Indy 500. What's your hurry, crazies?

And the cell phone users. Don't even get me started...too late! What in the world is so important that you have to text it as you're passing me? It's so incredibly dense to me. Despite seeing how many accidents are caused by texting and driving, you still feel the need to do it.

I'm sure my area isn't as bad as some, but there are bad drivers everywhere. And my frustration manifests itself through muttering under my breath at their ineptitude. And lack of judgment.

Sorry, this is a complaining post! Stay safe on the road, enjoy being able to roll down your windows again with the springish weather (but no yelling at other drivers while they are...), and have yourself a pleasant weekend. :)

Monkey See, Monkey Do

So I was behind the desk at the library and got to listen in on this gem told by a mother to her kid, who must've been misbehaving in some way:

"The librarian's going to yell at you. They won't let you come back to the library."

Excuse me?

You're going to point to the librarian as a type of bogeyman to threaten your kids with? And this isn't even the first time I've heard comments like this. Is it any wonder that so many kids don't see how the library is relevant to their lives? Sure, if you see librarians as the bad guys who want to squelch all your fun, of course the library will seem like a dismal place.

Dear parents: Your kids are learning from you. Whether they're watching what you do or listening to what you blatantly say. This includes your feelings towards the library. For instance, if you stand in front of us lying to get out of a fine in front of your child, what exactly do you think you're teaching her?

I've seen too many parents here negatively contributing to how their kids view the library. It baffles me, because HELLO this is a free, awesome place. 

Obviously, most parents are great about showing their kids a good time in the library. I'm picking on a small percentage here. Nothing makes me happier than hearing parents getting their kids excited about finding books. Moms reading to their kids in the children's area. Dads bringing their kids to story time. My favorite is whole families coming together to the library.

So please don't spoil the library for your kids!

I'll Be Ready

I'm waiting anxiously for spring. March is a very confusing month, and it kind of makes me crazy. Give me real sunshine already!

A couple days ago the weather was gorgeous, and I had to sit outside and read. I had to sit in the direct sunlight, though, because it was positively frigid in the shade, with the wind blowing and all.

Spring-like weather has me thinking about spring-like activities. So here's a list of what I simply must do when it's *really* spring.

1. Play frisbee. (note to self: learn how to throw a frisbee.)
2. Go on an ice cream walk. (Get ice cream. Go on a walk.)
3. Sit in the sun until my hair gets warm and my nose gets red.
4. Chase butterflies.
5. Chase squirrels.
6. Chase children in the park. On second thought...
7. Go on a hike. Do not complain about the bugs.
8. Look for flowers starting to come up. Encourage them.
9. Spend as much time outside as possible. When inside, spend as much time as possible looking outside.
10. Frolic!

Well, that's good. I always feel more prepared for something when I've made  a list. Now I know exactly what to do when the days get warmer and longer and sunnier.



Who's with me?

May I Help You?

So the other day I was helping a gentleman find books on Alzheimer's. He explained to me that he found out there wasn't a cure, but he hoped to find books on things that could help keep his mind sharp.

So polite, so nice. I wandered through the stacks with him and pulled out a selection of what he wanted.

After I had checked his books out for him, I went back to the office, talked to a co-worker about it, and got a little upset. It's not fair. It's not fair that this man who could've been my grandfather has to go through this frightening time. And here I have this responsibility to help him at the library.

People come to the library looking for answers. Sure, most of the time they come for romance novels or school projects or recipes. But there are other reasons people come.

I've searched for books on addiction, on cancer, on divorce. I've seen who gets the books on losing your spouse, or coping with difficult kids. It breaks my heart to give a book on recovering from sexual abuse to a patron, and I've done this more than a few times.

The fact is, people still depend on the library for answers. For serious issues, it can be helpful to have an actual book rather than whatever you find just cruising online. And I, as a librarian, feel like even though what I do is small, it is helpful.

I don't judge, I don't do double-takes, I don't make anything out to be a big deal. Someone needs my help and I give it to them. No questions asked.

Most of the time, I don't know what patrons are going through when they step inside the library. But once in a while, I get a glimpse. That's enough to keep me working hard to ensure everyone gets what they're looking for.

Even the tough stuff.