Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

I am at the Farm! Oh, supreme joy! I can't post much as I am about to go to the weekly Community Meeting, but did want to post a wish of Happy Thanksgiving to all! I try and focus on the being thankful part...not the "we traded the Native Americans, in what we called the Louisiana Purchase, with some shiny objects and then pushed them off their other lands" aspect. Or the "take these pox infested blankets...it's cold out!" aspect of our history!  That said,  "I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land."  ~ Jon Stewart   HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

This exhausting week in LaLa Library Land: Monday my 15-23 months old group was so much fun! (I am going to miss this bunch of parents when their kids move up to the 2 year old group). Our current theme through January is Favorite Children's Authors. I chose to start with Eric Carle, who is my favorite illustrator, and thus introduced the kids to The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Brown Bear, Brown Bear (both favorites of mine). The kids loved the stories and that for Brown Bear, Brown Bear, I actually had enough copies for everyone. We also pulled out our huge parachute for the last 5 minutes of class before toy time and had so much fun. The kids excitement and laughter is so contagious. Had my last Ancient Civilizations group Wednesday, where we learned about Pueblo Indians . After talking about the who, what, where and when's of the Pueblos, each kid began the task of making coiled bowls (w/Crayola air dry clay--WONDERFUL!) Then while we let the bowls dry a little I read some...

This past weekend did little more than to wear me out the very week that I feel I will be scrapped thinner than butter over too much bread. Friday night, after running errands for a couple of hours, best friend K came over and we watched a movie. Saturday my family celebrated Monster niece S’s 4th birthday,—where has the time gone?!—then I babysat for best friend L&K’s two daughters L (6.5 years) and A (nearly 4 years). Then on Sunday Roommate M and I headed to Detroit to see an opera; a first for both of us. The day was ideal for going to an opera; it was a lovely day with the feeling of magic in the air: as we drove down to Detroit my eyes ate up each of the old buildings in the city. I admired each fat snowflake, downy in its very touch both to face and city surfaces, resting but seconds before melting. Walking in dress clothes along the streets in an old section of Detroit, near what is now known as Greektown, it was hard to not smile as one watched the other opera goers walkin...

Need a reminder to CONSERVE!? Try placing one of these sad Al Gore stickers in places where people might need gentle reminders! Because, as the website says, "Everyone knows that climate change is real and dangerous, right? And that each of us can fight global warming by making smart energy choices Yet we're human. We sometimes forget to be environmentally responsible. It's hard to change longstanding, energy-wasting habits. And our foolish ways surely make our favorite climate-change guru, Al Gore, very sad." Thank you Bill! Check out his hysterical blog (on my blogroll), Reason Gone Mad!

These were made of sugar cubes and paint. I will provide details later. Just wanted to post the pics!

"The master of the "techno thriller," Michael Crichton, has died at the age of 66. He was battling cancer. Crichton was best known for scary stories of science gone wrong in popular books like The Andromeda Strain and Jurassic Park." ~ Lynn Neary, NPR I just found out (while reading Lynn Neay's reflection) that Michael Crichton had died last week. Growing up I was introduced to Michael Crichton by my best friend K. It was the spring of 1993, I was 12 years old and hopelessly looking for something good to read. I had read through much of the teen books we had at our library and most of the books I found at home. I was delving into the adult section of the library, looking for something that I could enjoy. It was around that time that my best friend--after much hemming and hawing on my part--convinced me to read Jurassic Park . And that is all it took. It was that simple. I read the book and loved it. Loved that Crichton's, John Hammond, had created this whol...

So, the chitlins in my Cooking/Folktales class learned a little about Russia this week, and began the steps for Russian apples this week. Talking to the kids about Russia was so interesting, as the former U.S.S.R. fell when I was the same age as some of the kids sitting in front of me. It's interesting what you remember about history--living it as it happens really changes the way you think about a huge world event. I love that each time we have one of these classes I learn so much about the country to be covered, since I do research to see what I can teach the kids. Like, did you know that Russia was taken from the Mongols in the 12th Century and was called "Muscovy?" Interesting, right!?! I also learned this week that I love Russian folktales. If you are interested read, Onions and Garlic, Baba Yaga, or The Fool and the Fish. Anyway, this week it was cool to note that the kids were doing the measurements a lot faster; even the younger kids now seem to be understanding h...

GETTING TO ELECTION DAY 2008: Below are some of the facts about elections that I posted for the kids, so that all the hoopla made a little more sense. I also did a display of books/DVDs regarding Elections in the U.S. and all things presidential. Once the National Conventions have been held, and the candidates have been nominated and chosen the presidential election begins! The candidates travel throughout the country, appearance and giving speeches. The candidates use TV ads and other means to persuade the voters to choose them. The candidates campaign right up until Election Day, when the nation votes for its President. In our national Presidential election, every citizen of legal age who has met the voting requirements, (such as registering to vote) has an opportunity to vote. However, the President is not chosen by popular vote by the people. The Constitution requires that a process known as the Electoral College ultimately decides who will win the general election. When a person c...

I had an Election Day gathering at my house last night, so that we could watch as history was happening. We watched the Daily Show and cheered as Jon Stewart at 11:01pm EST announced that Barack Obama is to be our 44th President. There was cheering from all of us and a bottle of champagne was opened and a toast to "making history," was made. We sat down and listened intently to both speeches, but I only had ears for Obama's. It moved me and gave me goosebumps. I had tears in my eyes. I know somewhere in Heaven my staunch Democrat Dad was dancing, and that thought made me smile. I am ready for a change. My best friend L called me on her way home and said she'd seen a falling star while she was driving home. A hopeful sign, I think. Without further ado: Obama's Victory Speech, found here . (McCain's Concession Speech can be found here .) If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the...

I find that there is a solution in poetry to almost any inner feelings that I have. I shared this with TSO today and thought it was too lovely to not share. Self-Knowledge by Kahlil Gibran "And a man said, Speak to us of Self-Knowledge.And he answered saying: Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights. But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge. You would know in words that which you have always known in thought. You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams. And it is well you should. The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea; And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes. But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure; And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line. For self is a sea boundless and measureless. Say not, "I have found the truth," but rather, "I have found a truth. "Say not, "I h...