Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

Best $1 I ever spent--I bought a pack of fake mustaches and left them for the kids when I left A3's house yesterday; I just asked that the kids take a picture together wearing them and someone text me the photo, as I headed out to Chicago. This is by far the best one! That's my Mom with my 5 nieces and nephews, and my sis, A1. Happy almost weekend for those of you working, as for me? I think I'm headed into the city while Chicago Boy's at work!

The other night when we were winding down our night shift, and I in particular was counting down the minutes to my looooong weekend, Prairie Dawn decided to read, Ol' Mama Squirrel by David Ezra Stein, to us. A story about tough, protective Mama Squirrel, who guards her nest and babies, offering a threatening, "CHOOK CHOOK CHOOK," at any other animals that come to close, that is until the day a bear shows up and Mama Squirrel has to call for back up...but who will help her? This book was hands down the funniest picture book I've read (or had read to me) in a long time and something I guarantee kids will love! They'll love Stein's artwork, the tough Mama Squirrel, and definitely the "CHOOK CHOOK CHOOK!!" noise that Mama Squirrel makes--they'll be making that noise every time they see a squirrel for evermore! Also, wanted to send a shout out to my Godchild, Viv, who turns 4 today! I love that kid so--what a blessing in my life. Also, hap...

In the greater Cleveland area meant "Lake effect snow," inches of the white stuff, which the nieces and nephews from SC and VA were excited to play in. Snow angels abounded! Time with family, feeling grateful for the kids: this is my chunky monkey, the youngest of my 5 nieces and nephews. Working together to produce an amazing meal...what was left of mine.

I'm at my brother A3's house with Mom, A1 and her family, A2's family sans A2 who's working, A3's family, and a couple of my sis-in-law Dayna's family for Thanksgiving. Feeling extremely grateful for many blessings this year: Bestie K's baby born on my birthday, Chris & Kate's baby born yesterday, for the many babies to be born in 2014, good friends, good family, a great job, and so many other things!  I am wishing you all a very wonderful Thanksgiving! I hope you find yourself surrounded by good friends, family, and a sense of gratitude for the many wonderful things in your life!

Holy Moses! I went and saw Catching Fire Friday night and LOVED it! I enjoyed the books, but man movies are even better! If you haven't already read the books, you're going to want to because you aren't going to be able to wait for Mockingjay to see how it ends after you see Catching Fire! Next on my list is The Book Thief, as I LOVED that book. Also, I just ordered The Secret Life of Walter Mitty --think I want to read the book before I see the movie. What books turned into movies are you excited to see this holiday season?

Anyone who's worked with me long enough has heard my bitter diatribe about how there are no GOOD Thanksgiving picture books to read with the K-2 grade crowd...yeah, there are a bunch out there, but for a variety of reasons--too long, too hokey, too boring--there are few that I actually enjoy sharing with the kids, and my philosophy is if I don't enjoy them the kids won't either, because I won't be putting my full gusto into the reading! So, getting down from my Thanksgiving book soap box, I'll share those books and be THANKFUL that they're out there! The first is obviously silly and geared toward the eating aspect, but the other two share a little more about the Indians and Pilgrims side of things--the best of both worlds! Based on I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly , Alison Jackson The kids LOVE this book. The rhymes are silly, but the pictures are downright RIDICULOUS! I laughed out loud at the picture of the kids bouncing on the old lady like a t...

At work we're preparing for our 2nd Annual Silent Auction, where local businesses and individuals donate items to the Library, which we then auction off to the highest bidder, with the funds going toward Sticks Library programs in 2014. Last year we raised over $1,300, so this years goal is $1,500 as I've hit up more businesses than last year! Wish us luck!! We're also working with Sticks College to fundraise clothing items for local families in need, in lieu of fines, we're taking said items. I know a lot of libraries do food for fines at this time of year, but our local food pantry gets so many donations at this time of year, we hit them during their drier spells, spring and fall, hence why we do a clothing drive. Busy time for libraries is definitely during summer reading, and for us at Sticks, things are slowing down with programming--aside from the normal monthly activities like storytimes and school visits, etc., we only really have a visit from Santa and ...

I'm thankful for friends and family who've seen me through a lot and helped let me become who I am. I'm thankful for my 5 little monkeys--nieces and nephews who've taught me so much about love and patience. I'm thankful for all of the babies that have arrived to friends this year, and for the babies to come this winter, especially A3 and Dayna's 2nd, my 6th niece or nephew! I'm thankful for an awesome job where I have free reign, a loving and encouraging Board, and staff who can run the place with their eyes closed. I'm thankful for Prairie Dawn's hard work and enthusiasm with the kiddos of Sticks. I'm thankful for my furball, Hemmy. And on a capitalist note, I'm thankful for these rocking boots, which I will be wearing when I see the Chicago Boy soon! I didn't know how else to share my excitement in a blog! Forgive me!

Story of day dreaming Gabriella trying to navigate her parents separation, a new school, and being an outsider because of her constant daydreaming. The story is told through poems, some insightful and some laughably grandiose, in the way that children can think and dream!  This book is for elementary aged students, it being made of poems makes it easier for younger students to read it, but its themes would make it appropriate for older students as well. Grimes has done it again! I LOVED it.   These were my favorite: "Summer Shift"   We packed our bags in June, I braced for a summer of impossible good-byes, and the dread of living without friends ever again. To chase away the fear, I flipped through a dictionary, plucked out the word hush and thought about the whisper of wind rustling through leaves. come next autumn, and the silence of their falling. Then I jumped onto a soft deep pile of them, grabbed an armful of red, gold, and burnt-o...

Mondays are rough after good weekends, aren't they? Well. any mistakes I make today, yeah, I'm turning them into birds!

This weekend Grumpy and I headed up to Michigan for a fundraiser that many of my friends back home support, this year's 10th Annual Harvest for Hope, with all proceeds going to the Pontiac HOPE Warming Shelter , an excellent facility that helps area poor. I'm sharing this with you because I know that around the holiday season people like to support local charities, so if you're interested check this place out! Thanks HOPE Warming Shelter for all you do!! Happy Sunday all, the weekend is disappearing fast.

After yesterdays grumpiness I must redeem myself with something beautiful...   "Approach of Winter" The half-stripped trees struck by a wind together, bending all, the leaves flutter drily and refuse to let go or driven like hail stream bitterly out to one side and fall where the salvias, hard carmine-- like no leaf that ever was-- edge the bare garden. -- William Carlos Williams

I hate Wednesdays, mostly because I work the late shift. But this morning I have to go in for an early morning meeting and then still close. Sucks. Being in charge sucks sometimes. The other thing I hate about Wednesdays is the whole "hump day," business. I hate when people say, "Happy Hump Day!" or when ChicagoBoy texts it to me--I may eventually tell him how much I hate "Hump Day," we're just not there yet. I also just hate that it's midway through the week, yet Friday feels so far away still. It's just got that feel to it too. And now I have this to hate about Wednesdays because inevitably someone brings it up EVERY WEEK. It's like every time I forget this , and someone mentions it and then I'm whistling it for another damn 3 days! All this thinking of Wednesdays made me think of my favorite day related things: weekday related feelings , or keeping track of where you are in the week. As for me, I'd rather be at home on a Sund...

We used to keep our ongoing used books sale in the back of the library, in the corner of the Children's Department, something that I swore I'd remedy since I started. And I finally did. I moved the used books for a variety of reasons: 1. The books took up an entire half a book shelf (like one whole side!) and space in small libraries is key, so that was a big factor. 2. We had open shelf space in our front reading room, so why not use the shelves and make that room a little cozier. 3. I'm hoping that being in a more visible place in the library will help us sell more of those used books. So, what do you think? Can you believe those shelves were just sitting vacant?!

Beef, bean, and local Sticks corn chili I love this colder weather and the food that comes with it! I made an enormous pot of chili, chock full of beef, black beans, kidneys beans, and local Sticks corn this weekend! Delicious! Here's how I make my chili, don't have measurements of spices, as I just eyeball things: Chop two yellow onions and mince 4 cloves of garlic, saute both in olive oil in a pot Brown 1lb beef in separate pan Chop green pepper, toss into onion/garlic pot once the onions have been cooking for a few minutes While veggies saute, sprinkle in chili powder, cumin, chipotle pepper (love that smokey flavor!)  Add now browned and drained beef, 1can drained and rinsed black beans, 1 can drained and rinsed kidney beans, 1-15 oz can stewed tomatoes (or fresh tomatoes that have been blanched and had skins and cores removed) Add 1 can tomato paste (15oz can)  Throw in corn (I threw in about 3-4 cups (frozen, which added more liquid) Dump in a about 4-5 c...

Today Sticks Library is closed, and while I'll be enjoying the day off--sleeping in late, drinking copious amounts of coffee and reading-- I'll be doing these things because of the sacrifices of many men and woman who've given much for our country. Thank you to the men and women who have given up much for this country, and for those now serving, I am so thankful for our country, our freedoms, and for those who serve and protect it. When did we start celebrating Veteran's Day? A brief history: "World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally...

Though I think for the first time, in all the time since discovering the Farm (over 10 years ago), I don't want to go back, but rather forward, I still miss it terribly at this time of year; miss it in that awful yearning way, the same way I miss my parents home of my childhood, now someone else's. I miss it in the spring too. The Farm in its seasonal vestments harkens me back like family, calling me back at it's dying time and for it's birthing season too. I spoke with TSO yesterday and nearly wept at his voice, so homesick for the place and for my other friends there too, and for times gone; the uniqueness of the place. I am looking for the Farm in our autumn here, and though not finding it entirely, am contenting myself in the brilliance of the crisp colors, the blustery days, the painfully beautiful sunrises, and the most splendid and silvery moons. See that wisp of a  moon? "My November Guest" My ...

Not sure what this was...? Dried tongue=I think this was some sort of fruit jerky Slimy Eyeballs=olives Zombie skin=old flour tortillas rubbed with just a little olive oil Beating Heart=whole, skinned, tomatoes Brains=a jello molded spaghetti and red jello monstrosity--this looked so real it freaked the kids the hell out! Waxy ears=dried apricots Extracted teeth=fried corn (the kernels get groady dried and brittle--never saw that before I moved here) Toenail trimmings=? Don't remember Dry bones=dried out chicken bones  I mentioned our FRIENDS of the Library's awesome pizza party and zombie laboratory, held here at the Library on Halloween night, but never shared the pics.  Super fun and super simple.

Did I share the great news that I'm going to be Aunt-ed again! My brother A3 and Dayna are expecting their second baby, my 6th niece or nephew sometime in February; trying to prepare my niece S (now 1.5 yrs!) for the new baby, they've asked me for book suggestions. Thought I would share what I've found. When Mom’s Preggo: On Mother’s Lap , Ann Herbert Scott Not Yet, Rose , Susanna Leonard Hill Waiting for Baby , Rachel Fuller Waiting for Baby , Harriet Ziefert There’s Going to be a Baby , John Burningham And for when the baby arrives: My New Baby , Annie Kubler Hello Baby! , Lizzy Rockwell The New Baby , Harold Gray Shane I’m a New Big Sister , Nora & Gutierrez Gaydos Best Ever Big Sister , Karen Katz I’m a Big Sister, Joanna Cole The New Baby at Your House , Joanne Cole My New Baby , Rachel Fuller We Have a Baby , Cathryn Falwell Also, my best friend Kim had her first baby ON MY BIRTHDAY! What a present, eh? Got to go see her ...

I fell off the map there for a few days; caught something that first appeared on my birthday, then seemed to be going away, before then turning into a terrible cough/congestion/ear ache/fever/sore throat that kept me home for a day and a half this week. Ugh. It was terrible. It's been a week and I still feel exhausted and sore, and not quite right...hoping that going for a long walk and breathing in this glorious, chilly fall air tonight will help! Just want to share this bit of gloriousness, which was passed along by the Ohio Library Council; according to the OLC: "Ohio voters approved all but one of the 26 public library issues on local ballots around the state. Unofficial election results for the library ballot issues show that four new levies, 16 renewal levies, three replacement levies, and two replacement/additional levies were successful. One renewal levy was defeated." For the unofficial ballot results, or if you're just curious which libraries had ...

HOLY CATS! The FRIENDS group at our Library hosts a yearly Halloween party and haunted laboratory and last night I think we were the hit of the town, what with the torrential downpour, and hurricane warnings. We had over 500 people show up!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! Our tiny library was packed! I was bummed, I only saw the first 100 or so, then had to sneak out to head down to the Columbus suburbs. Ohio Library Council (OLC) has a bunch of chapters, divisions, and committees ; I was elected to one of said groups this past spring, and today attended my first meeting. Aside from the fact that I ran into a colleague from my old library--awesome!--I didn't know anyone there, so spent the day with fellow committee members addressing issues and goals for 2014! Our group was a lot of fun and I'm glad I was able to make more professional connections! As a young professional I'm always seeking opportunities to learn more about our profession and I think getting involved at a state-wi...