Being a librarian, I get my share of reference questions. These range from the usual, kind of information searching questions to the bizarre. I've had two very weird phone conversations today:
The first one went something like this:
Me: "North Liberty Library, this is Elaine."
Patron: "Yea, I want to know what vegetables you have there."
Me: "Vegetables? Well, we don't sell vegetables here, sir......."
Patron: "Well, don't you have something where you can get different vegetables?"
(Ahhhh haaaa. This guy is asking about the Farmer's Market)
Me: "There is a Farmer's Market, every Sunday, from 1-4pm, in the back parking lot."
Patron: "Yes, that is what I needed to know! Have a good day!"
The second call went something like this:
Me: "North Liberty Library, this is Elaine."
Patron: "Yes, this is Jane Doe, and the last time I returned books at the library, I may have returned one of my own books. But I don't remember the title of it."
Me: "I can look in the lost and found and see if there are any books......" (rustle through lost and found box.) "No, no books in there."
Patron: "If I did return it, what would you have done with it?"
Me: Well, it probably would have gone into our book sale, but without the title, there's really no way of finding it." (Seriously, are you kidding me?)
Patron: "Ok, then. Thank you."
Just a day in the life.....
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
GREAT Day
Today has been one of those relaxing, "free spirit" kind of days. After a hectic weekend last weekend, it's nice to have a weekend with no set agenda.
My best friend Janice and her friend David came out to visit yesterday evening. We had dinner at Red's Alehouse, a great restaurant/pub in North Liberty. David is visiting from the DC area, and they came out to spend time with Janice's mom, who lives in Dewitt. We had dinner, hung out, talked, and had a lovely time. I haven't seen David since I visited Janice when she lived in DC, so it was very nice to see him again. He's a good guy.
This morning we went to the Farmer's Market in Iowa City. Melanie went with us. Even Gillian went, mostly to people watch. She recently read Harriet the Spy and now she wants to write down everything she observes. Not unlike me, when I read it years ago! Melanie and I wandered the market, bought some delicious fresh produce. Then we grabbed an iced coffee at Java House, and walked around downtown.
It's wonderful to get a jump on the weekend and get up early. The day seems to last forever, and I've enjoyed every minute. We had a little thunderstorm in the afternoon, and then I headed out to run a few errands. This evening we've just been hanging out, reading and watching some tv. I just came in from enjoying some porch time. It's a beautiful evening, and I sat out on the porch and enjoyed the twilight. Gorgeous.
Here's to a relaxing and lovely long weekend! Cheers!
My best friend Janice and her friend David came out to visit yesterday evening. We had dinner at Red's Alehouse, a great restaurant/pub in North Liberty. David is visiting from the DC area, and they came out to spend time with Janice's mom, who lives in Dewitt. We had dinner, hung out, talked, and had a lovely time. I haven't seen David since I visited Janice when she lived in DC, so it was very nice to see him again. He's a good guy.
This morning we went to the Farmer's Market in Iowa City. Melanie went with us. Even Gillian went, mostly to people watch. She recently read Harriet the Spy and now she wants to write down everything she observes. Not unlike me, when I read it years ago! Melanie and I wandered the market, bought some delicious fresh produce. Then we grabbed an iced coffee at Java House, and walked around downtown.
It's wonderful to get a jump on the weekend and get up early. The day seems to last forever, and I've enjoyed every minute. We had a little thunderstorm in the afternoon, and then I headed out to run a few errands. This evening we've just been hanging out, reading and watching some tv. I just came in from enjoying some porch time. It's a beautiful evening, and I sat out on the porch and enjoyed the twilight. Gorgeous.
Here's to a relaxing and lovely long weekend! Cheers!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
This Weekend Wore Me Out!
This was a tiring weekend. I don't know why, I didn't do anything exhausting. I think mentally and emotionally it was a draining weekend.
Friday night was relaxing and a good start to the weekend. We did our grocery shopping and got that out of the way, and then my friend Janice and I IM'd and discussed our trip to Amsterdam this November. She's been going there every November for years for her job, but this will most likely be the last year she goes. I've wanted to go with her for a long time but the timing has never worked out. This year it will work. I'm going to MAKE it work. So we talked about the trip, the hotel where we'll stay, etc. I started to get a little excited! November is a long way off, but I'll use the time to save money, etc.
Gillian had a party Saturday afternoon, so we spent the morning cleaning up and getting ready. Some friends came over early to help her set up, and then there were 7 of them, boys and girls, having a great time all afternoon. Gillian had everything under control so I didn't have to do a thing. I just let them have fun and checked on them periodically. Remind them not to run in the house, don't bang on the sliding glass doors on the porch, stuff like that. They had a good time, but it was a little exhausting, mostly because one of the girls was a "screamer" and screamed about everything. When you're 11 you don't notice things like that, but it gets to you after awhile!
Today was audition day for Gillian. City Circle, the acting company the she did Schoolhouse Rock with is going to perform a school edition of RENT. It's just for junior high and high school students, and since Gillian is going into 7th grade, the director said of course she could audition. Well. She did a fine job with her audition, but she was by far the youngest in the room, and the other kids trying out easily had 5 or 6 years of muscial theatre experience and/or choir under their belts. There was a little stage fright going on, and it was a rough afternoon. A good learning experience, but not a comfortable learning experience. We'll put it that way. It was also a time consuming experience, and we were both exhausted when we finally left. I think she's feeling better now, but she's disappointed, of course. I was blown away by the talent in the room. Some of those older teens can really sing. And in a few years, Gillian will have a stronger voice. She needs patience.
So, it was a learning weekend. Sometimes those growing pains can really hurt. But, we learn from them and we're better off from the experience. In the meantime, we'll focus on the summer, and Disney World, and warm weather!
Friday night was relaxing and a good start to the weekend. We did our grocery shopping and got that out of the way, and then my friend Janice and I IM'd and discussed our trip to Amsterdam this November. She's been going there every November for years for her job, but this will most likely be the last year she goes. I've wanted to go with her for a long time but the timing has never worked out. This year it will work. I'm going to MAKE it work. So we talked about the trip, the hotel where we'll stay, etc. I started to get a little excited! November is a long way off, but I'll use the time to save money, etc.
Gillian had a party Saturday afternoon, so we spent the morning cleaning up and getting ready. Some friends came over early to help her set up, and then there were 7 of them, boys and girls, having a great time all afternoon. Gillian had everything under control so I didn't have to do a thing. I just let them have fun and checked on them periodically. Remind them not to run in the house, don't bang on the sliding glass doors on the porch, stuff like that. They had a good time, but it was a little exhausting, mostly because one of the girls was a "screamer" and screamed about everything. When you're 11 you don't notice things like that, but it gets to you after awhile!
Today was audition day for Gillian. City Circle, the acting company the she did Schoolhouse Rock with is going to perform a school edition of RENT. It's just for junior high and high school students, and since Gillian is going into 7th grade, the director said of course she could audition. Well. She did a fine job with her audition, but she was by far the youngest in the room, and the other kids trying out easily had 5 or 6 years of muscial theatre experience and/or choir under their belts. There was a little stage fright going on, and it was a rough afternoon. A good learning experience, but not a comfortable learning experience. We'll put it that way. It was also a time consuming experience, and we were both exhausted when we finally left. I think she's feeling better now, but she's disappointed, of course. I was blown away by the talent in the room. Some of those older teens can really sing. And in a few years, Gillian will have a stronger voice. She needs patience.
So, it was a learning weekend. Sometimes those growing pains can really hurt. But, we learn from them and we're better off from the experience. In the meantime, we'll focus on the summer, and Disney World, and warm weather!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Just Can't Win
You know, when you're the mom of an almost 12 year old, nothing you ever do is good enough, or right, for that matter..........
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Update and a Little Happy Dance, Part II!
Being the last day of the month, I weighed in today. I've lost another 2 pounds, for a total loss so far of 7 pounds!
Not as much as last month, but hey, still working in the right direction! I'll take it!
YAY!
Not as much as last month, but hey, still working in the right direction! I'll take it!
YAY!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
It Can Only Mean One Thing.....
I just read that Arlen Specter, Senator from Pennsylvania, has switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party. He has served in the Senate since 1980.
Last year, 200,000 Pennsylvania voters changed their voter registration from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party.
This can only mean one thing, folks: Hell has frozen over, and that means......
The Cubs WILL win the World Series this year!!!!
HA
Last year, 200,000 Pennsylvania voters changed their voter registration from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party.
This can only mean one thing, folks: Hell has frozen over, and that means......
The Cubs WILL win the World Series this year!!!!
HA
Thursday, April 16, 2009
FURIOUS!!!!!!!
I am so angry right now I could just spit. Or cry. Or throw something.
Gillian woke me up in the middle of the night, very stuffy and with a sore throat and having trouble sleeping. I gave her some cold medicine and she went back to bed. When it was time to get up this morning, it was obvious that she was sick. Sore throat, stuffy, and puffy from not getting a good night's sleep. So, I sent her back to bed and called her in absent at school. Poor girl, and on such a beautiful day, too.
Now, I'm not angry that Gillian is sick. I feel bad for her 'cause it's never fun to be sick, but being sick is not something you can control.
What I'm so angry about is the way I was just treated by my boss when I called in to say I would not be in. How does it help ANYTHING to be rude and unkind to your employees when you call in because your kid is sick? Her tone was mean and she pretty much hung up on me.
I don't understand -- what is the point of behaving this way and treating people with such disrespect and unkindness? I don't deserve to be treated this way - NO ONE deserves to be treated this way.
She is back to all her old ways, and well on the way to creating a hostile work environment again. When you treat people like this, you don't get the best, do you? How do you expect people to be motivated to do their best and give their best when you treat them horribly?
I am so incredibly tired of this. Something has GOT TO CHANGE.
Gillian woke me up in the middle of the night, very stuffy and with a sore throat and having trouble sleeping. I gave her some cold medicine and she went back to bed. When it was time to get up this morning, it was obvious that she was sick. Sore throat, stuffy, and puffy from not getting a good night's sleep. So, I sent her back to bed and called her in absent at school. Poor girl, and on such a beautiful day, too.
Now, I'm not angry that Gillian is sick. I feel bad for her 'cause it's never fun to be sick, but being sick is not something you can control.
What I'm so angry about is the way I was just treated by my boss when I called in to say I would not be in. How does it help ANYTHING to be rude and unkind to your employees when you call in because your kid is sick? Her tone was mean and she pretty much hung up on me.
I don't understand -- what is the point of behaving this way and treating people with such disrespect and unkindness? I don't deserve to be treated this way - NO ONE deserves to be treated this way.
She is back to all her old ways, and well on the way to creating a hostile work environment again. When you treat people like this, you don't get the best, do you? How do you expect people to be motivated to do their best and give their best when you treat them horribly?
I am so incredibly tired of this. Something has GOT TO CHANGE.
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