cathy the librarian

Moving...

2006-04-05T22:05:00.000-04:00

I'm slowly moving all of my posts to my new blog... here. However life has been so crazy, I haven't had much time to move anything.

To some of my fellow listeners...

2005-11-12T19:48:00.000-05:00

To Savvymoo, I don't like shushing people, and I wasn't the one in that circumstance doing the shushing. It was the mother, but only because she couldn't be bothered to speak directly to her children. I don't feel that it should be my job to shush. I don't like continuing the very old fashioned idea of librarians. Librarians, in fact are very cool PEOPLE. :) They are not little old white ladies in sensible shoes who want to be able to hear a pin drop. On the other hand, I want all people who come into the library to respect others. This past week there was VERY LITTLE respect held by any of the people under 18 that came into the library. Wednesday and Thursday's antics continued on Friday, so by the end of the week I was very sad. So I had a Japanese beer. It was yummy.

To Adrienne, thank you. As an uber librarian (not me, you), I value your opinion beyond words.

To Patty, I was at Ogden on Thursday and Anne told me about the mother allowing her child to climb on the puppet theater (and laughing about it). To make matters worse, it sounded like they didn't even apologize for breaking it. I think there must be something in the water on that side of the city, or disrepect was just floating in the air. Sad really.

Even so, I LOVE being a librarian. The hugs that I sometimes get (when parents are in the room) from story time kids make everything better.

A few last things...

2005-11-10T22:19:00.000-05:00

(1) I had to kick teens out of the library for being way too rowdy. I hated doing this, because it made me feel like that cranky old librarian, shushing people and running anyone who couldn't be absolutely quiet out of this library. This is not the type of person that I am, but they were driving everyone crazy. It made me feel weird, but it had to be done.

(2) There were two small children who insisted on yelling at each other and jumping on the new bean bags we got about a week ago. The mother did NOTHING AT ALL about it, SHHUSHing ocassionally, but never leaving her spot at the computer. After asking them not to bounce on the bean bag chairs one last time (of about literally 10 times), I noticed that they had mananged to bounce some of the bag beads right out of the bean bags. I was so mad that I had to leave, and luckily it was time for me to go anyway.

(3) I have decided that because of this, I am going to ask Sally (the director) if we can put some "rules" up. I think I want them to go something like this...

RESPECT...

(1)Each Other
No yelling, screaming or fighting in the library
(2) the Library
Throw away your garbage, don't jump or put your feet on the furniture
or in anyway purposely try to damage the furniture.
(3) Yourself
Don't act in a way that you know is inappropriate,
you are only disrespecting yourself by doing these things.
(4) Library Staff
Treat us as you would want to be treated, we are only here to help.
Thank you!

I'm going crazy!

2005-11-10T22:15:00.000-05:00

And I'm going to Disney World (in Florida) with my husband, parents, two sisters and my son who will be NINE MONTHS AT THE TIME. Yee gads, I don't know what I've gotten myself into. At least I'll be able to ride the Dumbo ride with him. I have no idea how we are going to do this. Oh well at least you will get all the sordid details at a later (we are going in January) date.

Wish me luck!

Operating Instructions

2005-11-10T21:54:00.000-05:00

I'm in the middle of reading Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott. I cannot speak more highly of this book. She thinks the way I think. She is a very liberal woman, who is also very religious. I try to be as religious as I can, but sometimes the skeptic in me comes out. As you can see from my religion test I took a while ago, I connect closely to religions that accept a lot of interpretation. Anyway, I wanted to talk about the book, not religion.

I love this book. While Anne seemed to have a harder time than I have been, I feel like I'm out of my mind. I also look at Jack and am utterly amazed. I cannot believe that this little guy is someone that I had inside me at one point. I made this little imp! I find that it is getting harder and harder to let go of him every morning. I love my job, but sometimes, I think that I might like to quit and stay at home to play with Jack.

Anne talks about writing, and I've started getting the writing bug. I really want to write a novel now. Specifically, a teen novel. Okay, get scared now. I want to write a teen novel about oral *gasp* sex. There's been a lot of talk among YA librarians about this book entitled Rainbow Party by Paul Ruditis, and what a load of crap it is. However, some librarians think that maybe their library should carry it, because its the only one on the subject. Well, thanks to Operating Instuctions, I plan on changing that. Of course that means that I need to find time to write the great American novel. Gawd, like that will ever happen.

Oh well. I love this book, and I will savor every single word.

I know I know...

2005-11-10T21:36:00.000-05:00

People have emailed me, letting me know that they actually read my blog! This seems unbelievable, but I'm quite honored. Unfortunately, I have this issue... its called a very active seven month old. You may have heard of these things (people I think some people call them), but its all new to me. I get home from the library, and change a diaper, heat up some yummy *stinky* (cough-cough) peas, feed them to the imp (that is his nickname, since both Jeff and I think he practices looking impish) clean him up, feed ourselves, clean the diaper again, play with him, give him a bottle, change him into pajamas, and put him to bed. By this time I'm ready to pass out and its only 9:30 pm. I also try and fit in some Dance Dance Revolution, so I can be all fit and sexy, so when Jack gets older he has a MILF. Okay, I guess that last part is a little creepy, but I would like to be in shape so that I can keep up with him when he starts walking. So anyway, I hardly get any time at all to myself, but I guess that's okay because I love Jack to pieces and would do anything at all for him. I don' t want to be put in this kind of situation, but I understand when moms kill for their children. Not that I agree with killing or anything, I'm just saying that I understand.

The Accident

2005-10-25T08:04:00.000-04:00

By clicking on the title, you will be able to see the accident my first car was in. This is why I NEVER use my cell phone when I'm driving. I was turning into the parking lot of my apartment complex, and some idiot was too busy looking at his cell phone and drove right into me. I bought this car in August and the accident occured in October. I was in a state of shock for almost an hour afterwards. I'm so grateful that Jeff was there because he was able to calm me down. This has been the only accident I was ever in, so I think it was that much more shocking for me.

Please tell me about all the idiot drivers that drove their cars into you!

Here are a few of my favorite... movies!

2005-10-23T13:56:00.000-04:00

I don't really want to try and decide which of these are my VERY favorite movies, so I'm just putting them as they come to my head. I know, I know, as a librarian I should at least put them in alphabetical order, but I don't wanna. Before you say anything about all the links, don't click on them. Especially you Jenny since you just made fun of my blog you mean sister poopy butt.

Labrynith
Hero
Kung Fu Hustle
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Batman
LA Story
Being John Malkovich
Auntie Mame
O Brother Where Art Thou?
Dangerous Liaisons
Ravenous
Evil Dead 2
Little Women
Music Man
Run Lola Run
A Little Princess
Young Frankenstein
Kill Bill 2
Brazil
Adventures of Baron Munchausen
Fog of War
Secret of Roan Inish
Whale Rider
Amelie
City of Lost Children
Breaking the Waves
Pillow Book

Okay, so I put a link to all of these movies. So freaking what! As you can see from my above statement, my sister made fun of me and made me read a stupid website that made fun of blogs. I DON'T CARE! Plus I'm too tired to continue listing more movies anyway.

Adrienne, if you're out there I still promise to show you what happened to my car after some jerk on his cell phone drove into me.

I'm going on a "diet"

2005-10-11T19:20:00.000-04:00

I am so so so sick of all these "diet" books that make you take out all carbs or all sugar or eat nothing but protein. Blegh. After a long conversation with some of my co-workers, I decided that I am going to follow the food pyramid, which was changed this year. It's set up completely different, with all of the sections showing vertically instead of horizontally and exercise is included on the pyramid. I think that if you look on the website, the section for exercise is the biggest part of the pyramid, and this is the part that most people are missing, including me. You can diet as much as you want, and unless you balance it out with exercise, you aren't going to do yourself much good. If you cut out too many calories, your body will go into starvation mode and conserve all the calories you do take in. I think the FDA is basically trying to tell us that everything is about BALANCE!!! Therefor, I am going to follow the guidelines for the food pyramid and DDR every night for 30 minutes. Hopefully, I'll be healthy in no time. Really though, all I want is to be able to keep up with my kid(s). I don't want them to be embarrassed of me. Maybe someday I'll even be a MILF. If you don't know what that means, I'm not going to tell you because its not nice to say.

Anyway, beginning yesterday, according to MyPyramid.gov - United States Department of Agriculture, I should follow this (plus around 30 - 60 minutes of exercise each day).

Your results are based on a 2000 calorie pattern*.

	6 ounces
	2.5 cups
	2 cups
	3 cups
	5.5 ounces

¹ Make Half Your Grains Whole

Aim for at least 3 whole grains a day

² Vary Your Veggies

Aim for this much every week:
Dark Green Vegetables = 3 cups weekly
Orange Vegetables = 2 cups weekly
Dry Beans & Peas = 3 cups weekly
Starchy Vegetables = 3 cups weekly
Other Vegetables = 6 1/2 cups weekly

Oils & Discretionary Calories

Aim for 6 teaspoons of oils a day
Limit your extras (extra fats & sugars) to 265 Calories

I always appreciate encouragement, because while I think that this shouldn't be TOO had to follow, I still think I'm going to need to watch myself to make sure I don't go too crazy.

Avert your eyes children!

2005-10-04T07:55:00.000-04:00

I occassionally read this librarian's blog and she had taken a test to see what tarot card she was (she got the death card). So I thought it would be aptly unappropriate to post what tarot card I was directly after posting what religion I'm closest to. I love the Internet! Maybe the tarot card test was so good it was able to tell that I just semi-recently had a baby, because I got a naked pregnant goddess card. So of course I had to post it!

You are the Empress card. The Empress is the
archetype of the Mother. She creates and
nurtures life. She represents the abundance of
Mother Earth. The Empress is capable of using
nature in a productive way. She espouses art
for art's sake. Her planet is Venus, and she
embodies love of beauty and a strong value
system. Here is also found initial sensation.
This is the first really physical experience of
the world that The Fool has entered. The
Empress has a rich understanding of the world
based on her five senses. In a reading, The
Empress represents pregnancy, actual or
metaphorical. She indicates an act of creation
and a sensual experience of beauty. The Empress
is a nurturing force that wishes to see the
product of her experiences reach the next stage
of development. Image from A Photographic Tarot
http://www.bluewitch.com/healingtarot/healtar.htm
Deck

Which Tarot Card Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

What religion should you be?

2005-10-03T22:37:00.000-04:00

I took a test at Belief-O-Matic, and it told me this:

1.	Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2.	Liberal Quakers (98%)
3.	Secular Humanism (89%)
4.	Neo-Pagan (88%)
5.	Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (83%)
6.	New Age (83%)
7.	Reform Judaism (77%)
8.	Mahayana Buddhism (70%)
9.	Taoism (67%)
10.	Theravada Buddhism (67%)
11.	Bah�'� Faith (61%)
12.	New Thought (58%)
13.	Sikhism (58%)
14.	Nontheist (56%)
15.	Jainism (55%)
16.	Scientology (51%)
17.	Orthodox Quaker (49%)
18.	Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (45%)
19.	Hinduism (43%)
20.	Orthodox Judaism (37%)
21.	Islam (30%)
22.	Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (24%)
23.	Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (23%)
24.	Seventh Day Adventist (22%)
25.	Eastern Orthodox (15%)
26.	Roman Catholic (15%)
27.	Jehovah's Witness (11%)

I found it thrilling! I grew up Roman Catholic (of which I agree 15%) and right now I'm Presbyterian, which I don't see at all, but I will assume is the liberal Protestants (83%).

Good Night!

Something lost is found

2005-10-03T22:02:00.000-04:00

I found a pathfinder on the Erie Canal that I made when I was at University at Buffalo, getting my MLS, or Masters of Lunkhead Studies for those of you that don't know. Nah, I'm just kidding. Its amazing how life can change you in just a couple of years. In the last five years I have:

(1) graduated from SUNY Geneseo - June 2001
(2) married Jeff Kyle - August 2002
(3) graduated from University at Buffalo - December 2002
(4)bought first home - March 2003
(5) started my first librarian job at Parma Public Library - May 2003
(6) first job goes full-time - August 2003
(7) acting director at Parma - August 2003 (until Sally took over...)
(8) buy first brand new car - November 2003
(9) brought Buster, our first dog, home - June 2004
(10) first child is born - March 2005

Needless to say, I am exhausted. However, as my husband likes to continually remind me, I am not unhappy. In fact, I don't think I've ever been happier in my life.

I just wish that I spent some of the time doing all these great things with friends. I don't really spend time with people other than co-workers, my husband or my child. I know this is going into that danger zone all blogs have to worry about.

BEEP! BEEP!
Danger!Danger! Blogster feeling sorry for herself!
BEEP! BEEP!

Okay, so I am. But, one of the most important things in the whole world for me, besides a loving husband and happy baby are friends. I like to have people to talk to, to hang out with and drink coffee or to do all those stupid things that are silly when you do them alone, but fun if you do with with a couple of other girls. It gets worse because all around me (maybe because I'm looking for it) I see people who have a really tight group of friends, and I get to watch from the sidelines.

I think that a little of this stems from seeing how my parents don't have many friends and they really only spend time with eachother. I think that if something should happen to one of them (if one of them should die) and not the other, it will be ALOT more devistating than if they had a close group of friends. I love Jeff with all my heart, but I would like to have the option of someone else's shoulder to cry on. Please don't get the wrong idea, I do have friends, I'm not a total outcast. But it always feels like there's a distance between us. They don't see the world the way I do. Those people that I think I do see a connection with... we aren't all that close and I don't want to force myself upon them. Then I'd be a total tool. Life can be so very complicated, but its so simple. AIGH!

...On an interesting and sad side note, I know that we decided that we were giving Buster up, but it was still strange to see that he was available on the website. It made the whole thing seem more real and depressing. I think its better for everyone involved that Buster is going to a new home, but I still feel weird and horrible.

If you're thinking about doing something, go do it.

2005-10-02T20:31:00.000-04:00

We are all so busy all the time. Life just seems so crazy and we get caught up in so many busy little things, that we never have time for all those things we really want to do or all the really important things that we should do. Take the time to get in touch people that you've lost contact with and been thinking of.
Okay, so I know that I'm rambling, but this all comes from finding out that my choir director passed away. Well, really she was my ex-choir director. She became a lay pastor and joined another church. Then quite suddenly, she found out that she had cancer. The last time I had seen her, she didn't seem sick at all, so while I knew that she was sick, I had no idea how sick she was. I had been meaning for a while to visit her, or write her a letter, something... anything. But, then I found out that thinking and maybes are worth nothing if you don't actually do anything about it. All my good intentions were for naught, because she passed away anyway.
I don't really know what to say, but I guess I should say something about her. She wasn't nearly that old. But I guess most people are ever old enough to die. She had young grandchildren who should have gotten to know her better, but they never will get to know her as well as they should have. She had so many ideas and such creativity. She was caring and wonderful. She had a story (sometimes a little too long, but no one's perfect) to tell about everything and for every situation. She loved music and loved sharing it with everyone. I am so grateful that I have gotten to know her, but I don't think I ever had enough time. Do we ever have enough time? Its at times like these that I think how petty everything is sometimes. We get caught up in the lives of Hollywood stars and need to have every new purse and shoe that comes out. Then something like this happens and BAM everything seems to wrong.

Here's to you Jane. I love you.

Bender, Jane Breitkruz October 1, 2005. She is survived by her husband, Richard A. Bender; daughter, Catherine (Gregory) Zalewski; sister, Martha (Al) Durrell; grandchildren, Alexander, Lukas Zalewski. Friends may call Wednesday 2-3 PM at the Union Presbyterian Church, 1 Browns Ave., Scottsville, 14546. A Funeral Service will be immediately following at 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Grace Urban Ministries, 860 Dewey Ave., Rochester 14613. Anthony Funeral & Cremation Chapels 2305 Monroe Ave., 244-0770

Do I have style? Take this HGTV test!

2005-09-30T08:07:00.000-04:00

As an aside to all this sad book banning stuff, I was reading someone else's (who happened to also be a librarian) blog and she had taken a style quiz. I, of course, HAD to take it. I'm "classy". Looking at my house, I don't really see that. In fact, if anything I would say I'm more crowded, messy modern. I like funky colors and straight minimialist lines. I really hate all that fru-fru flowery patterns, all the busy lines... The site tells me that I'm drawn to timeless lines, and neutral colors with rich accents. Umm take one look at my house and no, that's not me. All primary colors: bright and cheerful and crazy. Nothing trendy or faddish? Well, I guess that's true. I'm more about comfort.
I had to go grocery shopping last night, so I didn't have time to write about a banned book. Therefor, I'm going to write about two tonight! Stay tuned.

The Witches by Roald Dahl

2005-09-28T17:24:00.000-04:00

I read Roald Dahl books when I was younger, but I didn't realize how much I loved this man until I became an adult. I loved the BFG, and of course Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach. Upon looking at the list of the most often challenged/banned books in America from 1990-2000, I saw that #27 was The Witches. Okay, so the book is called "Witches", but the witches themselves aren't even really human. At the very beinning of the book, Dahl differentiates them from people by saying that they don't have toes. Dahl also makes witches bad creatures that need to be disposed of. You really don't feel any sympathy for the witches, in fact you really hope that the main characters do defeat the witches. Of course, if you don't like the idea of magic, good or bad, you still won't be pleased with this book. Since this is my personal blog, I will say that I don't think that there's anything so horrible as using your imagination in order to allow you to be a more creative individual. Well at least in my humble opinion.

It's okay. I know I'm crazy.

2005-09-26T23:05:00.000-04:00

I'm going to try and get another grant... or two. I can't remember if I posted earlier about this, but I was involved in a homeschooling grant with Cathy Henderson, the librarian from Greece, Jennifer Lindsey, the librarian from Chili and Adrienne Furness, the librarian (or uber as I like to call her) from Webster. So we officially got this grant for $35,000. Woe. Anyway, each of us was supposed to specialize in a different area. Hilton was going to specialize in the Arts. Then I found out about the grants available through the Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester. There's two of them: one for specific programs and one for advancing a cultural institution. Both sound great, but I'd have to have them in their office by November 10 at 5 PM. This does not give me much time to get everything set down on paper and completed. EEK! Needless to say, I would have to get started on this, whatever I'm going to do, almost immediately. I would like to do some Art History or Art classes for people that would relate to the homeschooling program. I would also like to get money for classes for one of the staff members to learn html, so that our website can be better developed. I just need to start writing everything on paper and sorting it out in my head so it makes sense.
Okay. Time to go to sleep. I can worry about this tomorrow.

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

2005-09-26T22:18:00.000-04:00

In all honesty, I can't remember much about the book. I read it when I was in college at Geneseo, when I was an English Lit major and reading a lot of books at the same time. I do remember that I loved it, especially at the end when I distinctly remember crying quite a bit. I felt that the book was excellent, and fully intend on rereading it as soon as I can.

According to the American Library Association's website:

85 Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Reason for challenges: racism, sexually explicit, offensive language

It seems weird that a black author could charged offensive by writing "racist" language. I mean, sure I know its possible for a black person to be racist, just like its possible for a white person to be racist. However, considering that almost all the characters in the book are black, it seems strange that Morrison would be considered racist against black people, which is where I assume they are trying to go with it. I'm also getting really bored with the "sexually explicit" claim. People have sex. Sex is life. That's all there is to it. Granted, the main character, Milkman is in a relationship with his cousin, but that doesn't stop it from being real life. Also the "offensive" bit. I'm going to assume that the "n" word is probably used quite a bit, since the book is not supposed to take place in the present. But even if it did, young black people still say the word, you can hear it in the music etc.

I am of the opinion that people need a reason to complain. They can't handle it when a book that takes them out of their own comfort levels is really, really good. So they complain and try to wipe the existence of the book off the face of the planet. All I have to say is, shame on you. Shame shame shame.

I will remember to read this book again, because at the time of reading it in college, it was really good. Take that book burners!

BTW...

2005-09-24T23:15:00.000-04:00

I just looked up uber in wikipedia and found out quite a few things:

1) uber should have an umlaut, which, imho is pretty freaking cool

and

2) it means super in Latin

and

3) it means over or superior in German

and

4) it means super cool in English

and

5) it means awesome librarian in Rochester...

Okay so I made that last bit up. Who cares.

Good night again.

Walter the Farting Dog

2005-09-24T23:05:00.000-04:00

Yup. Walter the Farting Dog. He was banned (or challenged) this year. Poor Walter. He can't help his flatulence. But somebody out there didn't like the idea of a farting dog. Or probably a farting anything. But kids love farts and they love dogs! Who could imagine a more perfect combination. Granted the family in the book doesn't really care for his flatulence, but they learn to appreciate it when the gas saves their lives from some evil robbers. There's really not much more to say, except everyone in the world should read Walter and I'm really bad at book talking... which is why I will quite soon need the help of Ms. Uber-librarian herself, Adrienne from Webster Public Library.

Good night!

Banned Books Week

2005-09-24T22:55:00.000-04:00

Today started banned books week, and I thought that each day, I would talk about a different banned book that I have read... I just came up with that a second ago and I love it! I had some of the pages and one of the clerks go through the list of banned books from 2004 and find the ones that we had in the library for a display I wanted to put up. My director and I decided that we would put all the books in some sort of cage or chain them up somehow. We wouldn't let anyone check them out, to give them a small taste of what it would be like to be told you couldn't read certain books. Unfortunately, while we were looking for the books we couldn't find quite a few. They were supposed to to be there but no one could find them. People looked about five times, but no one found them. Personally, I think it was because people didn't want us to find the books, which included: Doing It, It's Perfectly Normal, and Holly's Secret. SEX, SEX, SEX. People want to "protect" their children from everything. Teenage sex, their own sexual organs and homosexual sex. Anything to do with sex is out of bounds for these teens, and their parents are going to make sure that no one else gets to see them either. Or else its just some crazy teens who were too embarrassed or wanted to keep the books for their own collections. Needless to say, I'm pretty ticked off. I thought I would go back through the list of banned books and make a list of all the books that are "supposed" to be their, but aren't. I thought it would be a good way to show everyone that a few people had to ruin everything for everyone else and now no one can read it. BTW, if you haven't guessed by now, I'm pretty ticked off. I am all about parents monitoring what their kids read, and if they don't think its appropriate, not letting their kids read certain books. However I am NOT for a small group of people deciding what everyone reads. That's why when I purchase books for the library, I buy christian fiction, science fiction, mysteries, war fiction, romances and lots of other kinds of books. I try to take into account that there are lots of different people with lots of different tastes and I need to respect everyone's opinions. Whew! Now that I've got that off my back, I can go on with my life!

We spent most of the day today at the Riverside Convention Center watching Battlebots! My tushy hurt after a while, because the seats were REALLY uncomfortable, but the robots were pretty awesome. There were a few good fights, but quite a few fights ended really quickly. At about 1 pm we took a lunch break and went to Bennigan's Restaurant. Our food arrived, and after the waitress put my salad on the table, Jeff's hamburger somehow flipped over off the tray and fell on my jeans and my nice new soft sweater. The rest of the day I walked around with hamburger greasy clothes. Yuck. They didn't even give us a discount or free desert or anything. It took us almost an hour and a half to get out of the restaurant. Beh. Oh well. Jeff and I had a lot of fun watching robots kill each other. Oh and one of the teens from my library was there too, so we got to chat for a little while too. Fun, fun!

I love being a parent!

2005-09-15T23:15:00.000-04:00

I know I could never be as awesome as these guys are with their kid (you need to click on the title to see what I mean) but I've decided I really need to try. I've seen so many "teen coming of age" movies where the parents are complete losers who seem to have no idea what these things called teenagers are doing living in their house. The parents are completely out of it, don't know how to talk to their kids, and if they do talk to them, they never know what to say. After watching all those 80's teen movies, I don't know how there are any people alive who are in their thirties.
This whole rant all stems from watching the movie Whatever, which actually came out in 1998, but takes place in 1981. Everyone is completely f**ked up, smoking up, snorting blow and drinking gallon jugs of Jack Daniels. The whole time I watched the movie, I was fascinated by it, yet completely disgusted at the same time. Does anyone talk to their kids? Do parents tell their kids about these great new things called CONDOMS? I mean Gawd! if you're going to have sex with every friggin person in your school, you could at least make sure that they used a condom!
Jack if you ever read this, I hope that you like me enough when you're 17 to talk to me about all those taboo teen things that parents and teens don't talk about. I mean, if I'm going to be honest, I'm not the purest angel in the flock! I'm quite sure that I gave my dad most of the white hairs he's got right now. I wasn't horrible of course, but I did some stuff that makes me shake my head even now. ANYWHO! I really don't think I'm going to turn a complete 180 in the span of time that it takes Jack to become a teen. If I do, well... I apologize now for having to jump off that bridge.
Wow. Talk about rambling.
If you read yesterday's post about Buster, we did talk it over some, and we decided to return Buster to the greyhound group that we got him from. It really sucks, but I think that we'll all be happier in the long run. I still feel like shit though.

Okay, Adrienne. You asked for it...

2005-09-14T23:11:00.000-04:00

(Damnit! My computer died and I lost my post. Now I have to remember what the heck I was writing. Feh)
Once a month all the j librarians in my library system meet for "discussion". I try to keep up, but mostly I like to listen to them spout their beautiful and maniacal mouth music. Today, I was lucky enough to sit near the uber-librarian, Adrienne, who has a blog of her own. I think that at once point, I decided that I would much rather live vicariously through her blog than write in my own, disappointing blog (and in turn, life.) Anywho, it turns out that sometimes she looks at my blog. Needless to say, she was a little disappointed in me because I hadn't posted anything since coming back from California. I did try though! Last night I stared at my computer, asking it what there was that I could write about my trivial and boring life... Obviously, by the lack of a post last night, my computer was little help. I've recently been physically sick and thinking that compared to all those poor souls in New Orleans, I've got nothing to complain about. I'd actually been meaning to muse about my personal feelings towards New Orleans, but I haven't decided how to put my thoughts together. (Don't worry Adrienne, there will be a post!) I'd also thought that maybe I'd write about how I wanted to buy a Play Station, two dance pads and Dance Dance Revolution for the library.

All those thoughts went out the window, when I came home and smelled poop (so strong that I could smell it immediately, even though I've got a cold and can't smell a damned thing).

We put our dog Buster in his crate when we aren't at home, because if we don't, he has a tendency to eat books, Jack's clothes and toys, video tapes and DVDs, or anything else he can get his lips around. At first we tried to let him stay out on his own, because we thought it might be a little cruel, but our greyhound group explained to us that they spend quite a bit of time in their crates, and feel safest in their crate. Please try telling that to Buster. He hides upstairs when we try and get him to go in his crate. He howls when we are coming home. He is not a happy dog, one way or another.
This is where the poop comes in, he has no qualms about pooping and peeing in his crate. This is a weird thing because it would be like you pooping (on purpose!) in your bed. So tonight, we came home and he had pooped and peed in his crate, then sat in it and got the poop nice and deep into his back paws. I really don't know anymore.
After all this, plus having Jack who is only about 6 months old, plus a cat that likes to vomit everywhere, plus having a job that causes me to run about like a chicken with its head cut off quite a bit, I don't know if I can handle the whole dog thing. I really don't know if Jeff and I have a life that supports a dog, especially such a high-maintenance drama queen kind of dog such as we have. I'm really at the point where I think we need to give him up back to the group, where he can go to a family that deserves him more. Unfortunately, part of me is really concerned with what other people think of us. I know it seems pretty shallow, but I don't want people to think that I'm shit. But then, I really want him to be somewhere he would be happy. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO FREAKING DO! We've already agreed that we are never ever getting another dog, but other than that... I'm sad. Now he cringes and whines when we try and pet him, plus he puts his tail between his legs ALL THE TIME (like now).
OKAY explain this to me. He poops in his crate when we aren't home. This says to me that he DOESN'T like his crate. Then, when we're home, he keeps going into his crate. This says to me that he DOES like his crate. ARGH! What the hell!
Cats, I understand. They come to you when they want to be petted or want food. They piss in front of the litter box when they want the litterbox cleaned. Thats about it. Dogs, I don't understand. I think that they might be too complex for me.
Okay, Adrienne. You wanted me to post in my blog. PLEASE HELP ME! I promise that my next post will be happier... or at least more entertaining.

California part deux

2005-08-21T13:19:00.000-04:00

The wedding was great! It was so much fun. They had it on the beach at the ocean, and there were dolphins and starfish and lots of sand. At one point after the wedding a vente mint mocha chip frappuccino sized group (mmm... coffee, with lots of calories! eek!) went out to the beach and one of them (not from our party) was baptized.
It was fun and casual, two of my favorite things! One of the friends of the bride, who on a normal day is an airline pilot, instantly became an ordained minister online so that he could marry Robin and Aaron. I don't know which online church he became a minister of, but it seems you can do this through many websites. As a practicing Presbryterian, I SHOULD probably be offended by how easy people make it to become a minister, but I thought it was really sweet.
Disneyland and California Adventure isn't nearly as nice as Disneyworld, but we still had fun. Disneyland is smaller, older and not as capable of the large crowds that Disneyworld can handle.
I also went through the bride's (Robin) bookshelves and found out that she might like Charles de Lint even more than I do. (and I love him!) Once a librarian, always a librarian I guess!

California

2005-08-18T12:25:00.000-04:00

I'm in California! Yippy! Today my husband and I are going to Disneyland, tomorrow California Adventure, Saturday we're going to a wedding, Sunday we're going to hang out with my husband's famous cousin and late Sunday night we're leaving to go back to Rochester.
I miss my little guy so much, but I'm having fun, although Jeff can't pass up any excuse to argue with people and its only 9:25 AM California time and he's already started an arguement with the guy that we're staying with (and going to his wedding on Saturday).

Evil evil week

2005-08-14T22:43:00.000-04:00

I can't even remember what happened this passed week... lots of programs and running around and being tired. Very, very tired. Oh and Friday after everything was done, I finally had time to realize that I've been having weird dizzy spells, so I get to go to the doctor tomorrow morning. I was talking to my friend Molly tonight, and I told her that I don't know how people can be Youth Services Librarians... (which is both children's and young adult) and she told me its because there aren't any other librarians in Monroe County that do both children's and young adult services. Oh. Well there you go then. So thats why I haven't posted any messages. As soon as I get my senses back, I will be back as good as new.

Is it terrible when...

2005-08-08T22:07:00.000-04:00

Is it terrible when you have a summer reading program for teenagers and the only books that they can come up with to read is Mary Kate and Ashley books Calvin and Hobbs books and Saddle Club books? I'd like to throttle these guys, but then it occurs to me that at least they're coming into the library and handing in a review.
Also, I called all the teens that participated and told them that they had a prize they had won and could pick up any time. Do you think that they would be happy, excited or grateful? If you said yes, you were sadly mistaken. They spoke to me the same way you would speak to a dentist after being told that you were going to be having some teeth pulled. I guess all I can do is keep trying.
Our library competed against three other library's teens to see who could read the most. Parma read about 500 hours and two of the other libraries read almost 2000 hours each. I haven't heard from the last library, but I'm thinking that she's just as embarrassed as I am (because the two of us are much smaller communities than the other libraries) and doesn't want to let us know what her total is.

Okay, I decided to look this up: (according to 2000 census)

Ogden population: 18,492
Parma population: 14,822
Hamlin population: 9,355
Brockport population: 8,103

Well, I guess that didn't help me at all. Ogden won this year, but Brockport won last year. Oh well, I've only been working with the teens at my library for two years, and they've had a lot more time as well as, established TABs. All I have is occasionally five or six teens show up and want something to do.

I almost cried :( An unappreciated librarian story

2005-08-07T21:52:00.000-04:00

So, if you don't already know, I do children's and young adult services for my library. That means that I have to do all the ordering, all the programming, all the reference, and anything else that comes up and is related to children or young adults. Needless to say summer is WAY busy for me. I do one children's program, one young adult program, one movie day and the summer reading bits every week during the summer. Plus I do random story times or whatever as neccesary. I do this because I love it. I love working with kids and teens because they are fun, laid back and you don't need to put on an act for them. Not to toot my own horn, but I think that the kids like me. Some of the teenagers got Jack a baby gift and one of the moms told me that sometimes when her son says his nightly prayers, he prays for me. This is not why I wanted to cry at work. This story need a little more background before I tell you why I almost cried.
The previous librarian was a lot different from me. She was the only librarian (as well as the director) and she did all the programming for the kids, she didn't have any programming for teens and she was known to be mean to the kids/teens and sometimes even make them cry. Her idea of arts and crafts was using toilet paper rolls to create something that the parents would throw away as soon as it got home. During the summer she paid a performer either once a week or once every other week and she had a summer reading club for kids in 3 - 6 grade, which was a scaled down summer reading program, except she never used any of the NYS summer reading manual... you know now that I think of it, the club wasn't much of anything except making "crafts" each Wednesday that the pages were forced to come up with. There may have been one story time thrown in there too, but I can't remember. The rest of the year she did story time and some programs (mostly paid performers) during breaks.
I have story times, and some groups that usually meet all year round: 3 - 6 grade book club, anime group and teen book club. During the summer, I usually do a mixture of paid performers and programs that I have come up with. This summer I had a 80s costume competition (which was cancelled since no one showed up) a DDR competition, a music appreciation program and a bunch of craft programs. Needless to say, I keep myself busy! We're getting closer to the crying bit now.
The craft kits come from Oriental Trading. They are each individually wrapped and I have a limited amount of space, since I only buy one or two sets. I make one as a sample and then the kids sign up. I have been having trouble with kids signing up, but not showing up, so I called everyone up a few days before hand. Then at 1:15 pm, when only three people showed up (and one was from the waiting list and the other just showed up and started doing it before I could tell him that you needed to sign up) I had the page re-call the kids. I had forgotten about H. Her step-brother had come in a week ago and told me that H was going to be at Soccer Camp and had already signed up, could he take the craft home to her. I told him "No, I had only made the exception LAST TIME because she said she was sick." He said, okay and left. I HAD FORGOTTEN TO TAKE HER NAME OFF THE LIST. You can guess what happens next. The page calls H, her mother answers and the page says that she'll try and set one aside for her. Other kids show up (some showing up ONE HOUR LATE!) and I do the craft with all of them. I even (STUPID ME) gave the craft to one of the kids who wanted to give it to some German kids who were living next door to them. I even gave the craft to them. But then a kid asked if we had extra craft kits from a program I had done with the teens two weeks ago. I did, but I told her that I couldn't give that out. I got a little upset that I had put the time, energy and money into these craft kits and people just wanted to take them home. I told all the clerks that I wasn't going to be handing out any more craft kits.
Friday, H's mother shows up for her craft kit. I told her that we didn't have anymore and that the page had made a mistake. She got furious and asked me why the girl on the phone would say that we would set one aside if we weren't going to give one to her. She got all self-righteous and angry and stormed off to the children's area. She then came back, told us that she was never coming back, and that the new librarians were not nearly as nice as the previous librarian. She was friendlier and .... you get the picture.
So then I got upset, tight and unhappy. I try my damndest to make everyone happy with the library and me and I take it way too personally when people tell me I'm not as nice as the librarian who threatened to throw the shoes of one of the Story time kids into the middle of the street and made another kid cry during ST show and tell because she didn't want to see the Pokemon doll because she hated Pokemon.
To top it all off, one of the clerks went on break at the same time as one of the pages and the clerk kept telling the page that I should have just given her one.
Luckily, Sally, the director, told me that the craft programs are meant to entice people to come into the library and are to be done here. Since they really have nothing to do with summer, the library or reading, that I didn't have to do them any more. I like Sally.

Luckily, my husband gave me a link to this website. It cheered me up immensely, and now I know that I was meant to worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster! Mmmm.... Spaghetti.

They like me, they really like me!

2005-08-04T10:52:00.000-04:00

I just googled myself to see if anyone linked to me, and so far two couragous people have done it:

Rabid Librarian & Loopy Librarian

The Loopy Librarian might not even be so loopy because she mentions me, and she likes me! Unfortunately, upon closer inspection, I found out that she/he wrote this over a year and a half ago, and they don't really care for children's/young adult public librarian work. Oh well, we can't be perfect :(

But here it is anyway. If you can't be bothered to click a link...

Must garden in the blog because I haven't pu the link to Cathy the Librarian up on the roll yet. This is a crime because she's a refreshing read about a secor I never want to go near and she digs some cool music. I notice the change of template too, another template messer. Cool.

There's a new secret society in town...

2005-08-03T19:27:00.000-04:00

Anorexia Bracelets Reveal Secret Society

Pro-Ana Links

I just heard about this at work today. There are special bracelets you can wear to let other anorexic people know who you are. I mean wouldn't people know by looking that you're anorexic? I mean skinny is one thing, but starvation is quite another. Upon searching deeper, there is a whole pro-anorexia internet society out there. They don't feel that they have a mental issue that needs treatment, and are quite happy the way they are. After reading site after site, I just felt sad for them.

I would like to have more control over my life. Right now I feel so completely overwhelmed with baby, summer reading, baby and my completely unorganized house. I deal with this by making lists. Hundreds and hundreds of lists. Unfortunately it doesn't work at all. Fortunately there are others like me (including one lady st work).

Faster than Kudzu

On a slightly different note... watch out for the sex bracelets! Different colors mean different sexual favors. Yippie!

Sex Bracelets

In conclusion, Jack has been sucking on my hand this whole time and its completely numb and soggy.

Thank you.

Thanks a lot Erin

2005-07-29T15:44:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Erin, I have new links! I had to go on her blog and look at all her links. They were like precious jewels. My precious. Mmmm. Yes I am crazy, but that's okay because so are you.
BTW Erin if you read this, I want to know more about your zine. It sounds interesting!

The new mayor of Rochester? NOT

2005-07-27T23:01:00.000-04:00

My husband has a bulletin board, and someone posted a link to this guy who wants to be our next mayor of Rochester. I was personally flabbergasted. I mean, GAWD! Who does this guy think he is? I grew up in the city, and I think that if he were to try and enforce some of these ideas of his... well lets say its just stupifying.
I shall give you some examples:

Education:

The “separate but equal” attitude needs to be put to death. City schools must be fully integrated with their suburban counterparts.

Umm. No. This was attempted in the 1970's, and it failed miserably. You are sending a message to students that the city isn't good enough. That in order to succeed, you need to go to school in the suburbs. Kids want to go to school with their friends that they live with in the same neighborhood, not people that live on the other side of Monroe County. The line between the haves and have nots will become even greater.

Crime:

Declare an end to the War on Drugs in Rochester. It's a failure. Here's how to start reducing the harms caused by drugs and help make our streets safe again:

Create a 25% tax on all marijuana transactions within the city. Increase the tax to 50% on all transactions with non-city residents. Require $500 annual licenses for all marijuana producers. Only arrest those who fail to pay the fees.

Instruct city police officers to actively oppose federal or state interference. If necessary, organize militias of city residents for protection from federal or state interference.

Use the re-allocated police resources to tackle violent crime.

Let's see, you're letting kids know that, Hey! It's okay to smoke pot as long as you pay your pot tax, and if you live in the suburbs, you deserve to pay even more taxes! Oh yeah, and lets start a militia, so that we use our guns to keep out all those evil federal and state personnel by shooting them. They they're just interferring in our pot smoking.

Fiscal:

Rochester must recognize that victimless crimes are less harmful when taxed and regulated.

Require all sex workers to register with the city and submit a $500 annual license fee. This fee will be applied towards health care for the local sex industry as well as general revenue.

Say no to taxation without representation and terminate all collection of county, state and federal taxes not approved by the city. This explicitly precludes collection of taxes destined for New York City.

Oh good. Prostitution is legal now, as long as they pay their fee. So all those kids going downtown to catch the bus to school can see prostitutes in action. Why can't you send these women to a trade school so that they can learn something useful and give them a sense of pride and accomplishment?

Last time I checked, county, state and federal officials were elected representitives of the people. Those people that we elect to run our government have been chosen to represent our ideals. We have given them the right to make use of our taxes in the best way they see fit to operate the city, state etc.

Technology:

Rochester needs to push forward further its position as leader in the still evolving digital information technology revolution.

Create a secure citywide hi-speed wireless network for use free of charge by all city residents.

Replace all city computer systems running Microsoft Windows and other proprietary operating systems with free and open source alternatives like the GNU/Linux operating system. Draft students from area universities to first assist city government officials in the process, and then keep them in the loop as the changes are rolled out to city schools. Provide them with housing incentives to stay and work in the city upon graduation.

I don't even want to think how expensive and immensly impossible it would be to get high-speed internet to all city residents. Would you also be providing computers, since a vast majority of them can't afford to buy computers. (I would know this because they all come into the public libraries to use the internet).

I don't want to imagine moving from Microsoft Windows to another operating system. All the training involved and trying to find compatible programs that can replace currently used ones. Plus some of the city, town and county systems are interconnected (at least from my experience working at the library). The cost in manhours would be staggering.

This guy mentions somewhere in his platform that we should offer abandoned houses to people under 21 and college students under 30. I'm thinking that many of the abandoned houses in the city are not in any shape to be lived in, let alone by young people that can't afford the costs for improvements.

He also wants to charge suburban residents 10% more to use the ferry, and he wants to toll suburban residents to use the highways.

I'm thinking that this guy really hates people who live in the suburbs. I really don't know what his beef is, but I wish he'd stop acting like us non-city dwellers are spawns of satan or something.

Anyway, I highly recommend reading his site. I found it insiteful and frightening.

If you really loved me...

2005-07-24T00:06:00.000-04:00

I was just wandering through the internet and found the site for the magazine Bust. I like that it looks like they discuss all the normal woman stuff like crafts, food and style (and it sounds like its not that creapy Vogue kind of unfed waif style). I also love that they sell sex toys and tampon cases on their site. Its so cute! So if you love me and want to give me nice stuff, I think I'd like this.
I also noticed that they sell the book Stitch n' Bitch, which I received for my last birthday and love. Granted I can't knit worth a damn, but I still like trying to and I love looking at patterns that I could make if I tried hard enough.

Oh, and I keep trying to remember to write about the gay penguins in Central Park and, as I found out, around the world! I shall soon tell you more, but so that you know how much I care, I will tell you that everything started when I saw this book in Publisher's Weekly.
...
Yes, I did buy it for the library. It was too damn cute not to.

Like having sex with a relative...

2005-07-23T23:20:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I didn't find this site myself (thanks Adrienne), but I found myself so utterly repulsed, that I needed to share it with those unfortunate enough to fall upon my blog. I apologize now. These are truly repulsive. So repulsive that I need to say repulsive a few more times.
I am so scared by these recipes that I really can't think of anything else to say, so I won't. Well I take that back. I will say that food has taken on a whole new meaning for me, and its not pretty.

I thought that I was alone

2005-07-19T20:26:00.000-04:00

For years I have had an irrational fear of escalators, and I thought that I was all alone in this. I have no idea how it started, but for years, even looking at an escalator I would get sweaty and my hands would get clammy, my heart starts racing and I start freaking out. It really drives my husband crazy, because sometimes we have to go out of our way so I don't have to go on the escalator.
I read an article in the New York City News and found out that my fears aren't unwarranted. At a movie theater, one kid's pants caught in the escalator and the escalator was stopped. The kids behind fell "like dominoes" and they toppled down on one another. Some of the kids had to go to the hospital.
Okay okay, I know its still crazy, but I really don't know what to do! Just because I know its crazy doesn't mean that I know how to stop from being afraid of using the escalator.
Travelling is interesting. In California, the Universal Studios has a multi-story escalator that horrified me and there wasn't an elevator alternative. There was a handicap van that took you down to the lower lot. It was completely embarrassing, but because I have this completely irrational fear, I had to use the handicap access. It completely embarrasses me even to talk about it, but I guess this is just a part of life, so I might as well share.
BTW I just found out that the world's longest escalator is in Hong Kong. It's called the Central-Mid-levels escalator.

People do the weirdest things!

2005-07-19T17:37:00.000-04:00

I was reading Publisher's Weekly from May 16... yes I know this is like two months old, but anyway. They had a review of the book Everything I Ate: A Year in the Life of My Mouth, this book is exactly what it sounds like. The guy photographed everything he ate and made it into a book! This must be like ultimate reality tv, but in book form. I cannot even imagine doing this and expecting that other people would care what I ate, although its usually not that interesting.

Breakfast: egg and cheese in a bagel with orange juice
Snack: craisins, chocolate and nut trail mix
Lunch: Frappucchino and tossed salad
snack: piece of cheese and chocolate soy milk
snack: yogurt
snack: granola bar

Anyway, it seems pretty boring, but all the dairy will be interesting later on!
Needless to say, I checked the catalog and no one owns the book. Big suprise. However not to my suprise, I found a web site where someone did the same thing!

Gross gross gross

2005-07-19T14:20:00.000-04:00

I'm not yet done with this, but I wish I was. This piece of gross contemporary american literature is Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk. What's worse is that I'm listening to it on cd. Somehow it seems worse when you are listening to people talk about cutting off toes, fingers, hands and penises (well only one so far). I think I'm pretty good about handling my gore, but this is pretty nasty and unnecessary. Some of the stories (the book is a collection of short stories told during a "writer's workshop". I only have about 1/2 a cd left, and I'm still pretty amazed that I managed to get through it without crashing my car into a tree. Its neat that there are quite a few different speakers throughout the book to tell the characters' stories, but that doesn't make it any better when you listen to the description of the character pulling off fingernails. I almost decided that enough was enough when I found out that one of the women, who was pregnant, has her baby at this "retreat" and she is later fed special soup. Soup that I will never ever eat, and let me tell you, as a mother of a three month old, I almost threw the cds out the car window (not caring that it belonged to the library). I would tell you about each of the individual characters' stories, but as they finished their tale, I tried to block it out of my mind.
I haven't read Guts which is supposed to be by far more disturbing; making people vomit and pass out, but I'm not sure that I can handle it. I'm sure curiosity will get the better of me, and I'll listen to it, but probably not for a while.

Less than an hour...

2005-07-15T23:06:00.000-04:00

In less than an hour the new Harry Potter book will be "legally" available, except for all of you sneaky people who have already gotten your hands on it. I've only read the first three Harry Potter books, so I'm not in any rush to read it yet. As I've said in a previous message I don't really care for the series that much, but I'm really glad that it gets kids to read, and they keep talking about the books. In the news right now I'm watching the line at the Pittsford Barnes and Noble as people wait for the newest book. Sheesh.

Oh well, I guess it's good to see people go crazy about a book instead of a movie or a video game.

Weeding Hell!

2005-07-11T20:38:00.000-04:00

I spent most of the day weeding the childrens non-fiction. MY GAWD! It was horrendous. I found books from the 1930s and 1940s. The books felt icky to the touch, they had terrible pictures and covers, and some were just falling apart. I decided that I would run through the collection quickly and go by condition and looks alone, but this is turning into a bigger pain than I thought it would be. I have a whole cart of books to delete, and I've only been through a tiny section. I kept thinking these poor kids. I wouldn't want to check one of these books out if I was a kid. As a parent, I'd be afraid of diseases or other terrible things.
By the time I left work, my eyes felt dry, my teeth were gritty and my hands had a gray film on them. YUCK! These poor kids. They deserve better. My opinion is smaller collection of nice stuff rather than a library full of junk. We do have some really great books, but you can't really see them for all the terrible ones surrounding them.
Maybe tomorrow I'll find lost texts from the bible! Wish me luck!

I have a problem...

2005-07-11T20:13:00.000-04:00

I think that I need to go to purses anonymous. I already have about 20 purses, but I'm not happy. I need more purses. I tell myself (and others) that I won't ever buy another purse, but then I see another cute purse or bag and I get hooked. Right now, its a little bookbag at Target and a tote (that looks like it has purple olives on it) at Old Navy... but neither are online, so I can't show you :*( Argh!
I wish that there were others that could feel my plight! On Sunday, I went to Target with my husband because I wanted a pair of flip flops, and as we walked passed the purses, I saw the cute little bookbag, and I knew it had to be mine. Of course I only just glimpsed it out of the corner of my eye. If my husband saw me looking at the purse, his head might start spinning around like the demon child from the Exorcist. Why does Target do this to me? The purses are right there just as I walk in. I have to look. I can't help it. The purses call to me, like some sort of call of the wild, except
its purses, so I must be crazy.
I think I should write a screen play about purse addiction. There must be others out there, otherwise purses would be put in the back some place and I would have to hunt for them. Maybe then I would see them all the time and I wouldn' t have to imagine how much purses delight me.
I wonder sometimes, what the hell is the reason for the purse addiction? Is it because I want to be more organized? Is it due to not being spoiled as a child? Maybe its to make up for the fact that I can't fit into small stylish clothes, so I compensate for finding cute purses... except now that I think about it, I buy tom-boyish bags, that aren't small and danty at all.
I thought that motherhood would cure me of this crazy addiction, but it hasn't slowed down at all. I thought, hey! Now that I need to take care of this small little guy, I won't want anything for myself anymore. Hah! That's a bunch of rubbish.
Maybe I should have a photo gallery of all my purses and I can focus on a different one each week... that would be interesting.
Hey, I need help! Email me if you share my delusions or want to make fun of me.

PBS in trouble

2005-06-25T23:20:00.000-04:00

PBS was in danger of losing all its funding recently. That would mean no more Sesame Street, Cailou, Nova or This Old House. There would be no more NPR or my local PBS station in Rochester NY, WXXI. I listen to the WXXI radio station as I'm falling asleep every night. I want my son to have nice educational programs to watch, such as Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers, whic I grew up on. He wouldn't have the radio station, which is the only one in Rochester that plays classical music, to use as background music when he's dancing around in the living room like my sisters and I did when we were younger. As a kid with both parents working full time, PBS was something we had when we couldn't go outside or we didn't want to play inside. People have been saying that PBS is biased and leans to the left, but I don't really think that Barney, Mr Rogers and Big Bird had some secret agenda. Luckily, through places like MoveOn.org the word has gotten out and over a million people added their signatures to a petition to restore funding. Granted, on look at the website and you'll know that MoveOn.org hates our current president and obviously pretty liberal thinking, I don't think that PBS had that intention.

In closing, it was really freaking hot today! According to the local newspaper it only got up to 92... but I think it was hotter than that.

Oh well, I must be going. My baby is giggling!

I'm WHAT movie? Jeez...

2005-06-23T23:08:00.000-04:00

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Reading Lolita in Tehran

2005-06-23T22:55:00.000-04:00

I wanted to read this book when it first came out, but I never had the time. Now however, it seems a very appropriate time to be reading this book. In the current state of our own country, I think we should take heed of what this book is letting us know. Giving up simple freedoms such as whether or not you wear a head scarf, may not really be that simple. Once these so called "little things" are decided for you, other things soon take their place and you are eventually left with no freedoms at all. Hmm, can we say patriot act? The people in this book live quite similar lives to our own in America, but the government starts taking more and more control away from the individuals until they are left with no freedom at all. They can't do so much as shake hands with people of the opposite sex or read certain books.
I was watching an episode of Penn & Teller's Bullshit about "Big Brother" and they talked about the USA Patriot Act. This act was apparently the quickest one ever passed, and a lot of Congressmen (& women) didn't even read it!

This is making me depressed... I need to go look at my son... You should too (but not in any dirty ways, thats gross, and not in the Michael Jackson kind of way, that's creepy)

What children's author wrote me? I'll tell you who!

2005-06-02T22:02:00.000-04:00

Dr. Seuss

Which Children's Author Wrote You?
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Jack's new room... complete! All it needs is Jack!

2005-03-29T14:49:00.000-05:00

The glider was a gift from my mother-in-law, and the quilt was made by my paternal grandmother for her first great-grandchild, before she passed away.

2005-03-29T14:47:00.000-05:00

The room is yellow with a space border, so that it can be sort of gender neutral, in case the second baby is a girl.

2005-03-29T14:46:00.000-05:00

Changing table of doom!