Well, we all are familiar with our illustrious sit down man. he walks to our building on a daily basis and spends more time here than we would prefer. He dresses in the latest basement fashion-smelly jeans with holes, a rain jacket that is more duck tape than jacket, and various ropes that are slung over his shoulder for his groceries that are carfully (not) packed in plastic bags. he ties them to his body for his walk home. But before he leaves, he has an array of questions he asks that pertain to the issue at hand. Recently, the questions were "Can you drink the water from your dehumidifier?" Well, I suppose you could if you really wanted to. "Well, how bout water from the pool?" Uh, no. "Toilet water?" Sure..go ahead and drink water from your toilet. Why are you asking? "Well, I no longer have plumbing and need a water source." This was verified by a neighbor who believes he is flinging waste into his yard. After all, it has to go SOMEWHERE.
Today has brought a few more of the regulars here. Our patron who lives about 1000 feet from the branch rides his motorcycle over to peruse the DVDs in his usual state of inebriation. His bright red hair defies gravity, coupled with a silver motorcycle jacket and today, a helmet. He is friendly. Way too friendly. He wants to talk. Apparently he drives his mother crazy as well and has been sent to live in the barn (he is easily in his 50's). So, mode of operation-don't make eye contact! Pretend he is not there. he stands in front of the information desk, staring in hopes you will look up so he can talk to you. No. Not gonna happen. He finds his victim at the circulation desk. Poor Rebecca-we give him 3 minutes and we do a rescue. he leaves, much to our relief, but returns with an enormous motorcycle helmet on. Complete with an 18 inch length of silver hair hanging out of the back of the helmet and down his back. No one dares to ask what that is. But he volunteers the information. "Do you like my tail?" "I cut it off a dead horse'" "People follow me down the road when they see my tail blowing in the wind."
I can't make this stuff up.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
summer postings
I just reached my 30 years with working in the public library system in Maryland. A milestone that is a relief..knowing if I wanted to, I could call it a day and pursue other interests. Or work a part time job doing something. Always thought counselling would be interesting, but hell no, requires another master's degree. I could be like Lucy in Peanuts and simply set up a booth in the heart of Pasadena. I'm sure I would be quite busy.
Maddie had her wisdom teeth out last week. Despite the stress of having your child go through what is equal to surgery, it sure is fun to see your kid under the influence of the remnants of twilight sleep. It always reminds me of the teen who woke up and thought she was a NASCAR driver. On you tube and worth a look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17LV6XSxVkI
Andrew is focused on getting his loom up and running. We spent some time at the Eastern Shore Fiber Arts Center speaking to other weavers, which was inspiring. His loom is ridiculously large. It was meant to be a work horse in the day when businesses were pushing out weaved pieces by the dozens. Getting it in the house was not an easy feat-had to be taken apart to get it in the house.
Our chicken population has increased to 12. Good lord.
Our small vacation will be in FLorida this year. In August. Where no one goes in the summer. it will require A/C and pools. And the gulf. Would be nice to take a side trip to Sanibel Island, which is beautiful.
I attended an 80th birthday party last weekend at the American Visionary Arts Museum. Yes, I was one of the youngest attending. I went with the flow and drank lots of wine. Food was amazing and certainly wine will help you relate to anyone. I helped that we were sitting at a table full of liberals. People are fascinating to observe. I liked the gentleman who had a huge array of great food-scallop bites, curried chicken lollipops, stuffed mushrooms, potato fritters, crab cakes, filet mignon, goat cheese salad to choose from. He ate 10 strawberries, 4 large pieces of filet mignon, 3 biscuits and 5 brownies. He explained he did not eat vegetables. or seafood. or potatoes. Or salad. The best produce in the world is right now.
People are flooding the library this summer. On program days, we are averaging 225 people. What is going on? Free entertainment? A/C building?
Let summer live on.
Maddie had her wisdom teeth out last week. Despite the stress of having your child go through what is equal to surgery, it sure is fun to see your kid under the influence of the remnants of twilight sleep. It always reminds me of the teen who woke up and thought she was a NASCAR driver. On you tube and worth a look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17LV6XSxVkI
Andrew is focused on getting his loom up and running. We spent some time at the Eastern Shore Fiber Arts Center speaking to other weavers, which was inspiring. His loom is ridiculously large. It was meant to be a work horse in the day when businesses were pushing out weaved pieces by the dozens. Getting it in the house was not an easy feat-had to be taken apart to get it in the house.
Our chicken population has increased to 12. Good lord.
Our small vacation will be in FLorida this year. In August. Where no one goes in the summer. it will require A/C and pools. And the gulf. Would be nice to take a side trip to Sanibel Island, which is beautiful.
I attended an 80th birthday party last weekend at the American Visionary Arts Museum. Yes, I was one of the youngest attending. I went with the flow and drank lots of wine. Food was amazing and certainly wine will help you relate to anyone. I helped that we were sitting at a table full of liberals. People are fascinating to observe. I liked the gentleman who had a huge array of great food-scallop bites, curried chicken lollipops, stuffed mushrooms, potato fritters, crab cakes, filet mignon, goat cheese salad to choose from. He ate 10 strawberries, 4 large pieces of filet mignon, 3 biscuits and 5 brownies. He explained he did not eat vegetables. or seafood. or potatoes. Or salad. The best produce in the world is right now.
People are flooding the library this summer. On program days, we are averaging 225 people. What is going on? Free entertainment? A/C building?
Let summer live on.
Monday, July 7, 2014
back! With great summer reads
I have had to creative flow lately. Maybe I need a phenomenal experience or something. Wonder if I joined a 'meetup' group i would find interesting people to blog about. Even the library incidents have been a big snooze.
So, I will share some great summer reads. After all I am a librarian....
1. Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman Tom and his wife Isabelle take on a job of minding the lighthouse on the island of Janus Rock. Isabelle is desperate to have children, and after 2 miscarriages, she had given up hope. Until she hears the wail of a baby. A boat has washed ashore with a dead man and an alive baby. This read is filled with moral dilemmas and hard decisions one makes in life.
2. I Know this Much is True by Wally Lamb I read his earlier works and is by far my favorite of his. He tells of a story of Dominic and his twin brother Thomas, who suffers from schizophrenia and the intense trials of being his caretaker. Maybe because I have twin brother I could relate to this so well. Not that my brother is schizophrenic, but that's up to interpretation.
3. Wild:From Lost to Found of the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed I happen to find travel books fun to read, especially ones with humor and some insight. I k=now know more about the Pacific Crest trail that I ever knew before. And I was convinced I could do what she did..walk the whole thing solo. Then I came to my senses and realized reading about it is just as good.
4. Fault in our Stars by John GreenNow don't turn your nose up to Young Adult fiction. This is a story of a 16 year old with cancer, who meets a boy in group therapy and they develop a smart, witty, tender, relationship. Green has excellent writing skills-would recommend any of his books.
5. Molok'ai by Alan Brennert Set in Hawaii a century ago, 7 year old Rachel dreams of far away places like her merchant marine father. But one day, a rose colored mark shows up on her leg and she is sent to the quarantined leprosy colony, away from her family and friends. There is warmth, humor, and, and passion that will keep you turning pages. Just an aside, we read this for my book club and we have one member who is ultra conservative and very vocal. Her only comment about the book was perhaps we should have rounded up all the AIDS patients in the 80's and did the same thing to them and we wouldn't be having an epidemic right now. Yes, really.
6. 11/22/63 by Stephen King I used to read alot of Stephen King and then he went off on a fantasy tangent and I lost interest. But he is back in full force. JakeEpping, 35, who teaches English, is told by his pal Al (on his death bed) that he had developed a time travel portal and wants Jake to return to 11/22/63 and stop the assasination of John F. Kennedy. Don't be intimidated by the size...great read.
7. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell She is quirky, odd, and living a tough life with an abusive stepfather. He is a smart, balanced Asian boy with a serious side and a love for music. Set over the course of a school year, it is a story of star crossed 16 year olds-smart enough to know love doesn't last but brave enough to try. I am NOT a romance reader, but this was outstanding.
Happy Reading!!!
So, I will share some great summer reads. After all I am a librarian....
1. Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman Tom and his wife Isabelle take on a job of minding the lighthouse on the island of Janus Rock. Isabelle is desperate to have children, and after 2 miscarriages, she had given up hope. Until she hears the wail of a baby. A boat has washed ashore with a dead man and an alive baby. This read is filled with moral dilemmas and hard decisions one makes in life.
2. I Know this Much is True by Wally Lamb I read his earlier works and is by far my favorite of his. He tells of a story of Dominic and his twin brother Thomas, who suffers from schizophrenia and the intense trials of being his caretaker. Maybe because I have twin brother I could relate to this so well. Not that my brother is schizophrenic, but that's up to interpretation.
3. Wild:From Lost to Found of the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed I happen to find travel books fun to read, especially ones with humor and some insight. I k=now know more about the Pacific Crest trail that I ever knew before. And I was convinced I could do what she did..walk the whole thing solo. Then I came to my senses and realized reading about it is just as good.
4. Fault in our Stars by John GreenNow don't turn your nose up to Young Adult fiction. This is a story of a 16 year old with cancer, who meets a boy in group therapy and they develop a smart, witty, tender, relationship. Green has excellent writing skills-would recommend any of his books.
5. Molok'ai by Alan Brennert Set in Hawaii a century ago, 7 year old Rachel dreams of far away places like her merchant marine father. But one day, a rose colored mark shows up on her leg and she is sent to the quarantined leprosy colony, away from her family and friends. There is warmth, humor, and, and passion that will keep you turning pages. Just an aside, we read this for my book club and we have one member who is ultra conservative and very vocal. Her only comment about the book was perhaps we should have rounded up all the AIDS patients in the 80's and did the same thing to them and we wouldn't be having an epidemic right now. Yes, really.
6. 11/22/63 by Stephen King I used to read alot of Stephen King and then he went off on a fantasy tangent and I lost interest. But he is back in full force. JakeEpping, 35, who teaches English, is told by his pal Al (on his death bed) that he had developed a time travel portal and wants Jake to return to 11/22/63 and stop the assasination of John F. Kennedy. Don't be intimidated by the size...great read.
7. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell She is quirky, odd, and living a tough life with an abusive stepfather. He is a smart, balanced Asian boy with a serious side and a love for music. Set over the course of a school year, it is a story of star crossed 16 year olds-smart enough to know love doesn't last but brave enough to try. I am NOT a romance reader, but this was outstanding.
Happy Reading!!!
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