99 things

THE 99 THINGS MEME
Things you’ve already done: bold

Things you want to do: italicize

Things you haven’t done and don’t want to - leave in plain font

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland/world.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37.Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person.
41. Sung Karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.

End of the year posting

So I have been extremely busy and have no time to add book reviews or comments on my library experience. This past year has been very invigorating and fulfilling. I am settling into this small library and getting used to life in the slow lane. The library itself with reference questions and reading advisory is not fast paced. Most of my time is taken up by management meetings, committee meetings and training. I'm out of the library 3 days out of the week.

Anyway, I have solved my problem with the teens. They don't want to read and I'm not forcing them to do so. :) Instead I am concentrating on those I have hooked with my "Twilight" events and book clubs. I have a steady flow of 3 to 5 teens that come to the library and attend the events. It's fun having them show up just to say hi.

So I bid thee farewell in 2008 and hope that I have time to post in 2009. Happy Holidays.

Politics

I am not going to post about my positions or which candidate I will be voting for in this election. But just to say that I am confused on who to vote for and don't know where to get concise information on both sides. As a reference librarian this is very frustrating. Can't there just be a place that I can read both candidates sides without all the mumbo-jumbo? Well I was browsing through this month's issue of "L.A. Youth" and they have just that. Sometimes we get caught up on all the information out there dealing with each candidate voting history, job experience and their personal life that we just can't find what we need. Not to mention all the bogus "debates". Here is a link to the online article which I found very useful. Maybe you will too:
http://www.layouth.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issue&action=IssueArticle&aid=2364&nid=81

My guilty pleasure

I haven't done a blog entry in a while and I thought I should write about the latest book series I have been indulging in. Charlaine Harris' "Sookie Stackhouse" series is addicting. Her books: Dead Until Dark, Club Dead, Dead to the World, Dead as a Doornail, Definitely Dead, All Together Dead and From Dead to Worse, are so much fun to read. But as you can tell from their titles, they are not literary masterpieces. Each book is more outlandish than the other.

Sookie Stackhouse is a regular southern simple girl who lives in Northern Louisiana in the town of Bon Temps. She is lonely based on the fact she has telepathy. Therefore, her friends and family are suspicious of her reading their thoughts and she has never fallen in love. Until a vampire walks into her life. In these books vampires are part of everyday life since they "came out of the coffin" and made their presences known to the world. From the point that Bill Compton, vampire, appears in her life, she is never quite the same again.

The characters are not endearing nor are the plotlines captivating, but what makes this such a fun read, is all the supernatural sex. Yes, I said it. I am reading these books because of the eroticism. For some reason Sookie is attractive to every male she meets. Be they supernatural beings or humans. They can't resist her. It's hilarious to read that she attracts the most interesting characters. That's right, not just vampires are real but so are werewolves, shapeshifters, fairies, and goblins. The story is outlandish but it goes on for 8 whole books.

HBO has taken on the series with the show "True Blood" and made it into a serious drama. Which does not work. I don't like the show that takes itself so seriously.

So I recommend the books just for the fun of it. But don't blame me once you become addicted.

50 Cent book sale

QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Lady purchasing books for sale, "You don't have senior discount?"

The librarian is back.

Life in a small town library is very uneventful. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and it hasn't. Yet. Besides my pessimistic nature, I am enjoying this new atmosphere. I have come to the conclusion that my last library had made me cynical and apprehensive. I realized that I am not as friendly as I used to be which is hindering my contact with my community. So from this day forward I will be going back to my non-cynical post graduation euphoric state of mind. Where I thought I was out to save the world of their information-less selves. Hi I'm Tollula and I will be your librarian.

My new library is really small and mostly caters to young families. Therefore, the programing is directed towards children. But I have found something interesting. We are the neighborhood teen watering hole. Because our building has a front and back exit, our front entrance is facing the High School. We are in the direct path of the kids going home from school. So they walk through our library, past the circ desk, past the ref desk and drink water from our water fountain and keep going out the back door. Like clockwork after 2:30pm groups of teens walk by without a second glance. I think it's hilarious!! It is my mission to try and divert them to our YA collection or at least say hello and acknowledge we are here and we are not here just for their thirsty needs. Here is what I have come up with so far:

• Plan A: Place book "trough" in their path filled with YA titles. Results: A couple from the herd glanced at the collection.
  
• Plan B: Fill the "trough" with graphic novels that were recently made into movies. Results: Some of the "glancers" pulled away from the herd and stopped to explore more and commented on the titles. Set them back down and caught up to the group.
• Plan C: Combine popular titles, bios and graphic novels but add a "Coming soon: Cracking Dawn" banner to attract attention. (I'm hoping some of them are Twilighters and will order the book. I just placed it. So I will keep you posted on the results on Monday)

Does anybody else have any ideas? I want to approach them and start a communication with them, but don't know how. They don't stop other than to drink water. I don't want to make any sudden moves and spook them.

Twilight

Twilight by Stephenie Meyers is a very addicting series. I just finished the first book and I can't wait to get my hands on the next one. I think I may have to buy it. Every copy in all our county libraries are on hold or checked out. I am 108 on the waiting list. Yes, I can't wait any longer.

I am not into vampire or zombie books, but Meyers' writing is so enthralling that I couldn 't put it down. The physical and emotional tension between Edward and Bella, the two main characters, is so strong that you can't help feel breathless after certain scenes. What I really liked about this book is that it's about the relationship between the vampires and the rest of the humans. Mainly with Bella. In a sense it's a love story but with so many complications.

It is a young adult book, so don't expect classic literature writing. It's an entertaining book and will make a great movie. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns into a t.v. show on the CW. But of course it will be ruined and turned into a "Gossip Girl" or something. So read the books.

Now being a manager

Having worked in different office setting I know how management works. All us minions do all the work while management gets all the credit. Lucky for me I had great managers that trickled down their appreciation for all my hard work. The area of management that really bothers me is when dealing with customer service. Through college, I worked for a general contractor's office, who dealt with the reconstruction of homes after having experienced water damage or fire. It was stressful just juggling all the aspect of the construction w/out having to deal with the customer. We usually had impatient customers who did not understand how one step of the rebuilding cannot continue w/out the other being completed first. They expected everything right now! So as an office assistant I dealt with harassment, threats, foul language and general berating, until they got to their climax of "Let me speak to your manager!!" At this time I would place them on hold and explain the details to my boss, making sure and letting them know how upset they are. But when they came on the phone, the customer was as sweet as pie and very understanding. My boss wouldn't believe that people were so mean to me. The customer would always change their tune and listen to the manager while she explained to them the same thing I had just told them. I hated that!!!

But now...I'm on the other side. I am management. And people tend to speak to me more calmly since they think the person below me is incompetent. So at these times, I remember how my boss didn't believe Mr. Smith had just yelled at me and threatened me with bodily harm. I believe my employees and let them know that Mr. Smith is the incompetent twit. :)

Time off

So I am off onto a whole new experience. With a new promotion and new responsibilities, I doubt I will have time to update my blog. I probably won't have time to read as much because I will be taking work home and working extra hours. Stay tuned to my new adventures at another library which I will blog when I get a bit of down time.


Now a new rant...for the road.
If you don't want people asking you about how your feeling then don't announce it on your myspace/facebook status line. So if you don't want people asking you about your line stating, "How could he? He betrayed me." Then don't announce it to all of the cyberworld that you have been rejected or betrayed. People will ask. Either you just want some sympathy or attention. But if you don't elaborate then we are just going to come up with our own conclusions and spread them like wildfire.

Why do I "shush"?

I "shush" therefore, I am.

Reasons for which we "shush":



1. It's easier than going after each patron and asking them each individually to keep it down. We'd be following everyone around.


2. Because it's more effective than having to explaing to patrons, "You are being very loud, can you lower your voice". It pretty much gets the point across.


3. Because when people are walking/running into the library and talking so loudly they are practically screaming at each other, it's the only way we can stop ourselves from screaming back, "Hey, Shut the F up! You're in a library for heavens sake. Show some respect!"

i give up

As some of you may know I work in a fairly large library. We cater to hundreds of patrons per day (or at least t feels like it). When I first started working here I was surprised to find out that this library system has adopted the idea that having signs up banning people from doing inappropriate things in the library give off negative vibes (Seriously. That is what they think.). So we don't have any signs up. Even though we don't want people using the cell phones, eating, drinking or using a public computer with two or more people at a time, we don't have any signs up to let them know this prohibited. You know whose job it is to make our patrons aware of these invisible rules? MINE! The librarian along with other full time staff has to go up to the person who is eating/drinking/talking on the cell phones/crowded around a computer to stop doing that.

In a small library it wouldn't be so time consuming. But where I am takes up 50% of my time. Think I'm kidding? I took a count. On an average day I tell people to get off their cell phones 10 times. I ask a group of teens to go do something else, instead of standing around their one friend who has internet access 8 times. People who are eating/drinking are addressed 5 times. This is on a daily basis! This puts a huge strain on me and other staff. Don't assume that patrons just say, "Oh sorry. Won't happen again" and obey our rules. No. They argue with us or just ignore us completely. It's to the point where we have to make sure they do throw away their food/drink or move away from the computer or put away their cell phones. So not only do I have to provide great customer service, information and research guides, but I must babysit people so that our library maintains it's level of cleanliness and order; So that our patrons can use their computers without having people hovering over them and compromising their right to privacy; So that our library can stay silent and people feel comfortable coming here and studying. All this could be accomplished with some simples signs don't you think?

So after working here for almost two years, I am tired. I am tired of getting up and addressing these issues at an average of twice each hour I am the reference desk (ref desk 4 hours a day). I am a stickler for rules so this is going to be hard for me to ignore. But I am willing to learn how to ignore them. Unless, of course, they are overly disruptive by having a full on picnic on our study desks while talking loudly on their cell phones, will I approach them. I'm no pushover.

Riddle me this!

Who's bright idea was it to put a giant skylight over the reference desk in lieu of proper lighting? Hm? During the day it's awesome, but come nightfall and we are in darkness. Sure we get some light from the florescent lighting among the stacks, but not at our desks where we are actually working. It's not so great either for today. It's 80 degrees outside and the A/C decided to stop working. So we are under a giant glass with the sun beaming down on us. Not fun. When patrons come up to ask us questions they immediately comment on the heat. Yea. Welcome to my world, bring your sunblock.

I confess, I love it!

One of the things I love most is when I find a new author that I love. It's such a wonderful feeling when you find a book that is so much fun to read that you must read everything this author has ever written. The second thing I love most is when I find out that the author has a lot of other books available!! This is what happened when I picked up Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella.

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella was nothing like I expected. Her writing flows to where you can't put the book down. He characters are so charismatic and fun that you can totally relate to them or be their friends. I had previously seen her books on the Shopaholic series but the covers looked too "fluffly" and since I don't like to go shopping, these books did not seem like they were for me. But then my sister picked it for our book club and I was hooked!

Becky Bloomwood is a shopaholic who is slowing falling into debt while trying to prove herself as a financial journalist. Her life is tragic and funny at the same time and you can't help but root for her. I was frustrated with this book at first because I hate shopping and can't relate to her. But once you got to see all her adventures surviving in the world and trying to be taken seriously I couldn't help but wish that she does win the lottery and pay off her debt. Her friends and family are all unaware of her problem, but try and help her anyway.

This book was so much fun to read I could not put it down. So I'm happy to see that there are sequels: Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Shopaholic Ties the Knot, Shopaholic and Sister, Shopaholic and Baby.
******************************************************************

Kinsella also has Can you keep a secret? which is a bad title for the book. But again, I could not put it down! This book is hilarious!! I literally had to put it down three times because I was laughing so hard, tears were rolling down my cheeks. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Emma Corrigan is a struggling marketing associate who is inadvertently spills all her secrets to a stranger on a bumpy plane ride. She deals with these consequences throughout the book. I don't want to give anything away. All I have to say is pick it up!

Flyers that are not read

Things our patrons use our events flyers for rather than reading the information:

1. Scratch paper


2. Fanning themselves


3. Practicing their parent's signatures


4. Exchanging myspace addresses


5. Making confetti


6. Spitting out their gum

Pride and Prejudice frenzy

Recently I discovered that I love Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. So I decided to re-read it. Then I found out that there are contemporary sequels. Here are those that I could get my hands on:

Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife by Linda Berdoll

(LOVE THIS BOOK!!)

This book took my breath away. It did exactly what I expected. It continued with Darcy and Elizabeth and how they lived happily at Pemberley. Berdoll keeps the characters true to how Austen had originally written them. I was pleasantly surprised to see some very passionate scenes that I know Austen would have not approved of, but thankfully those of us who wished for it, were granted this. I could not put it down. In addition to Darcy and Elizabeth's lives at Pemberley, the world around them changes and all of our favorite characters as well as a few new ones are included. I highly recommend you pick this book up if you would like to read more about these great characters.

Darcy and Elizabeth: Nights and Days at Pemberley by Linda Berdoll

This was a continuation of the first novel but was not very good. It did little to add any good information about their lives and referred too much to the first novel. I guess if you can't get enough of Berdoll's interpretation of these characters you should pick this book up, but I would have done fine without it.

Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange

This is written as a daily account of Darcy's life beginning with his sister Giorgiana's almost elopement with Mr. Wickham. I was excited to read a book about Mr. Darcy's account of the events that took place but was not too happy as to how he was portrayed. He seemed to emotional and needy. The book is a written as a diary, but at the same time was giving direct quotes as a narrative. Mr. Darcy was too composed as a gentleman that he would not record in his daily diary with conversations verbatim. He would merely refer to them in passing (I assume). So it did not capture the essence that is Darcy. I didn't much like how the book didn't really explore Darcy's life and what he was doing when he was not at Longborn, Netherfield or Pemberley. It did not give more insight of what I already knew from the original novel. The ending was a bit too plain and not exciting at all. So I would pass over this book. It's not worth the read.

Darcy's Story by Janet Aylmer

This book also covers what Mr. Darcy thought and did during the events mentioned in P&P. What I liked about this one is that he was not the narrator. It explained more about the events that took place and how he came to the conclusions he did. His relationship with his sister is more thoroughly explored which adds to the mystery of how he spoke of Elizabeth to his relations of Giorgiana and his cousin Fitzwilliam, which is alluded to in P&P.

Pemberley by Emma Tennant

I did not care for this book at all. I couldn't get past the 2nd chapter. I was so bored with it because it took forever to get the story going. It concentrated more on other characters like Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Hursts and not so much on Mr. & Mrs. Darcy.

I've been seduced.

I am a big movie fan and watch classic movies till the cows come home. Mainly I watch TCM and all those listed on AFI top 100 lists. So in the process I've been meaning to watch The Graduate(1967) with Dustin Hoffman and finally got a chance to do it last week. It was pretty funny. You can feel the uselessness that Ben felt after graduating college.

What I could not handle was the endless music by Simon and Garfunkel. What the hell?! I like the song Mrs. Robinson but after watching this film I don't think I can ever listen to it again. Every time the film didn't have any dialogue Simon and Garfunkel chimed in. It was so annoying!! Stop it with your semi-hippie wanna be dreamlike songs. I couldn't handle it and fast-forwarded all those scenes. I knew when Ben was either lying about, walking or driving, those damned S&G songs will come on. So I suggest you watch it with your finger on the fast forward button. Other than that, the movie was good. I enjoyed the story and the characters. I loved Anne Bankcroft in that role. She owned Mrs. Robinson.

Gone with the Wind continues

Book Review

Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig was somewhat disappointing but helped remove the bad taste in my mouth from Alexandra Ripley's Scarlett. This book deals with Rhett Butler's life prior to coming to Georgia and meeting his Scarlett O'Hara. It covers his life in Charleston and the infamous dual that takes place which results in his being shunned from Charleston society and by his father. It's interesting to read about the back story but what I did not like was how McCaig concentrated too much on Rhett's sister Rosemary. Her character was too much like Scarlett in that she had a forbidden love while married and caused scandals by acting upon it. I'm sorry but antebellum Charleston society was way more strict with their ladies and Rosemary's actions were way out of character. I know he was trying to introduce more characters to make the book interesting but missing from the book was more historic detail. I did not like how he glazed over the scenes we are all too familiar with. For example, when Scarlett and Rhett first meet. We all know what happened from Scarlett's point of view but I was looking forward to more from Rhett's head other than, "Wow, she is like no one I have ever met". (no that is not a direct quote, but that was the gist of it.)

What I did love was the interactions between Rhett and Scarlett that he did cover in detail. Loved them! After getting bored with Rosemary and her endeavours I skipped over them right to where Rhett and Scarlett were mentioned. The conclusion of the book was most satisfying in that McCaig ignored Ripley's writings and made up his own conclusion as to how the love crossed pair of Rhett and Scarlett end up. So if you love this story of Gone with the Wind you must pick this book up. But I must warn you, you need to read the actual book of Gone with the Wind. If you only saw the movie then you will be confused.

Big Read

I'm so excited! After some hard work and a hectic schedule our library's Big Read, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts is going to happen. This weekend is our big kick off. So go here if you want to read up on it.

Book Review

Bless me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya is great coming of age story. It's full of folklore and magical realism that takes place in the Southwest.

I have to admit I only read it because of our Big Read, but it kinda grew on me. Pick it up and take a look for yourself.

The Lovely Bones;

By Alice Sebold is a very creepy book. I wasn't able to read it physically, so I listened to it. Sebold's writing is very descriptive and draws you in.


Susie Salmon, 14 year old girl, is murdered and we as readers experience her journey through heaven and viewing how her family copes with her death. It is very endearing how she describes her family and the life she lead in her small town. It makes you realize that this can happen anywhere. This creeps me out. I recommend this book because it expresses the human emotions that a family goes through during this tragedy.

Best job ever!! (one of)

Read this article from U.S. News. Turns out "Librarian" is a great career to get into in 2008. Take that, you non-believers! I knew I picked the right one. :)