Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

A lovely shot in the arm this morning "Happiness" So early it's still almost dark out. I'm near the window with coffee, and the usual early morning stuff that passes for thought. When I see the boy and his friend walking up the road to deliver the newspaper. They wear caps and sweaters, and one boy has a bag over his shoulder. They are so happy they aren't saying anything, these boys. I think if they could, they would take each other's arm. It's early in the morning, and they are doing this thing together. They come on, slowly. The sky is taking on light, though the moon still hangs pale over the water. Such beauty that for a minute death and ambition, even love, doesn't enter into this. Happiness. It comes on unexpectedly. And goes beyond, really, any early morning talk about it. --Raymond Carver

I am not sure where this came from, somewhere on the internet, if you made it THANK YOU! This made my day...this is what Tuesdays feel like, right? Also, wanted to welcome new followers Hannah from Hannah's Adventures in Europe and LeeAnn from Bits from the Bookworm --welcome ladies! Stop by often, comment much and...well, just thanks! It's nice to share these mumblings and misadventures and this journey I call life.

I would have loved to have written and turned in this letter for many of my college jobs. Enjoyed reading this and more at Letter of Note --fun site. Chicago June 25, 1918 Dear Barton: You have a man in your employ that I have thought for a long time should be fired. I refer to Sherwood Anderson. He is a fellow of a good deal of ability, but for a long time I have been convinced that his heart is not in his work. There is no question but that this man Anderson has in some ways been an ornament to our organization. His hair, for one thing being long and mussy gives an artistic carelessness to his personal appearance that somewhat impresses such men as Frank Lloyd Wright and Mr. Curtenius of Kalamazoo when they come into the office. But Anderson is not really productive. As I have said his heart is not in his work. I think he should be fired and if you will not do the job I should like permission to fire him myself. I therefore suggest that Anderson be asked to sever his conn...

By the time you read this I will be in Michigan, again, this time for the babyshower of my old college roommate, College Kim. Bestie L and I are throwing a small affair with mostly College K's co-workers. Do you see the pattern lately? Babies, babies, babies. I know at least 5 people who are pregnant now--insert unhealthy distrust of pregnant people and you can almost hear my blood pressure going up--and don't even get me started on how this will again be a summer of weddings: 3 more to go this year beginning in June. I am looking forward to a (fast) weekend away and hopefully to finishing a few books and reading some Gary Snyder poetry. Speaking of poetry, American poet Adrienne Rich passed away this past week. I came to know her work during my last sememster of my undergrad when I took a Women Poets class; the class was awesome and introduced me to the likes of: Adrienne Rich, Rita Dove, Jorie Graham, and Elizabeth Bishop. I came to know ...

“New York proved to be the spectacle I have always imagined, and the subsequent book is my response to this wonderful city.”   Salvatore Rubbino Reading Rubbino’s book, A Walk in New York, made me so homesick for the east coast; homesick for living close enough to NYC that I used to actually be able to take a train into the city and be there in about 3 hours—the book even begins with the father and son getting off a train and making their way to the upstairs level of Grand Central Station, just like I used to! Reading this book was like taking a walk down memory lane, looking at familiar buildings and some of the places I loved:   New York Public Library, Union Square Park, the Hudson River, and the book wouldn’t be complete without a taxi cab ride! What I loved about the book: Rubbino’s use of subdued colors allows the reader to slowly take everything in and enjoy his attention to detail, and no detail is left out—down to the taxi cab drivers’ licensing number—with every...

I recently lead a Kids Cooking program for 24 Kindergarten-2nd graders. I say 24 kids, but what wound up happening was a lot of the grown-ups stayed too so we had 37 people at my program--which was great...but chaotic! It was a little stressful, but a lot of fun. I had a couple parents tell me they had as much fun as their kids. I got many thank yous at the end, and even one hug. All in all, it was a success. The kids made bugs out of healthy snacks, borrowing and slightly modifying ideas from Disney's Family Fun website . (I put my slightly modified recipes below!) After we were all finished making our bug snacks I read two stories: The Wolf's Chicken Stew , Keiko Kasza and Whopper Cake , Karma Wilson--the kids LOVED the stories (and made me laugh when some of them thought Whopper Cake was about a cake made out of Burger King Whoppers. :) PEANUT BUTTER FLY: Ingredients: Peanut butter Apple Carrot Instructions: Simply make a nut-butter sandwich using apple sl...

Some Spring themed resources for Family Storytime (or for the Pre-k crowd): Spring Books: And then it’s spring , Julie Fogliano Bear Wants More , Karma Wilson I See Spring, Charles Ghigna In the Spring , Craig Brown Inch by Inch , David Mallet Little White Rabbit , Kevin Henkes One Windy Day , Jane Caraway Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit , Il Sung Na The Very Busy Spider , Eric Carle The Very Hungry Caterpillar , Eric Carle Waddle, Waddle, Quack, Qauck, Quack , Barbara Ann Skalak Wake up, it's Spring!, Lisa Campbell Ernst Ryhmes: 5 Little Kites 1 little kite in the sky so blue, Along came another then there were two, 2 little kites flying high above me, Along came another , then there were three, 3 little kites, just watch how they soar, Along came another, then there were four, 4 little kites, so high and alive, Along came another,then there were 5 ! Five Spring Flowers Five Spring flowers siting in a row. The first one said, “We need rain to grow...