Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

We did it! ChicagoBoy and I did our first 5K together this weekend with his sister. Neither of us are runners--ChicagoBoy is an open water swimmer and way more athletic than I am--so our goal was just to finish in under our time goals. My goal was 55 minutes. I finished in 54.50!! And ChicagoBoy's goal was 30 minutes. He finished in 27-something. WE. DID. IT.  These are the outfits I cooked up for our Turkey Trot (pun intended). Turkey feet and turkey faces, and turkey feathers too. ChicagoBoy was such a good sport for wearing these. I love this guy. 

I am flummoxed with life these days. And equally flummoxed at how everything seems to happen all at once. After 3 years of going after the Board about getting our building renovated and an addition done--a failed project started by the Director before me--we are so close, though I am learning this is an annoyingly long process with LOTS of stops and starts. We are in the hellish limbo of them meeting our budget, so we can post it for construction bids--we are hoping to do this in October. But, then again, we were hoping to do this in September, so who knows? Just received notice from one of my staff that his last day is in a month. Normally fall is slow for us, but with the building project, a Library Renewal Levy on the November ballot (and the speaking engagements that go with that!), and the planning of our centennial activities for 2017, and all my "normal," I feel like I'm "drowning, and someone hands you a baby." (Jim Gaffigan) On top of the work st...

This weekend with Chicago Boy was woooooonderrrrrful and so hard to come back to work from--at least this is only a 3 day week, as I have a 4 day weekend in Michigan coming up Friday! Chicago Boy and I: Skillet apple pie. Tasted a lot better than it looks. :) Went to Lou Malnati's for a pizza celebrating his recent birthday I made him my first homemade apple pie. We loved it and gobbled it up in just over a day with copious amounts of ice cream. I had forgotten my pie pan and since he didn't have one I wound up Googling skillet apple pie recipes--basically the spiced apples in a buttered pan with crust only on top. Hands down DELICIOUS.  Had a Lord of the Rings-a-thon all day Saturday. Staying in pjs and air conditioning on a muggy day was fine by me. Grilled dinner on Saturday Swim practice getting cancelled Sunday morning meant more sleep and making breakfast together A PERFECT Sunday--forecasted rain be damned. We had baby blue skies and puffy clouds for my fir...

If you don't understand hangry you should watch this buzzfeed . Nailed it. While I was in Chicago visiting ChicagoBoy this weekend my hanger reared its' ugly head. Sweet ChicagoBoy asked where I wanted to go for dinner. Wherever you want to go is fine with me. Ok, there's _______ (*lists a dozen restaurants) Really, anything is fine with me, just not pub food (met an old friend for lunch and green beers at a pub earlier) There's this really good fish place... That sounds awesome! What about sushi? You like sushi, right? I love sushi! That sounds even better than the fish place!  Hey Tommy (his roomie), where do you think we should go for dinner? (Rattles off list he already told me). P.F. Changs? That might be good.   P.F. Changs it is!! I apologized later, but still felt bad, so I sent ChicagoBoy the link in the hopes that he understands me better. Aside from that lame moment, the weekend was WONDERFUL. We ate Chicago Dogs at Portillos--the BEST place...

I'm one of those I may regret it later, but I'd probably regret it more if I didn't try it, kinda girls--that is why I LOVE this. And I love Neil Gaiman.  Today's going to be a busy Friday: meeting with county library directors, hair appointment and dropping off  my car for an oil change on my lunch break, and so much Summer Reading '14 stuff to tackle. Prairie Dawn and I had our first big pow-wow yesterday, so today I'll be finalizing events on our June and July calendars, setting up our Touch-a-Truck and Summer Reading Kick-Off event, and counting down the minutes until I leave for Chicago!! And since every road trip (mini ones included) needs good music, I'll share this slice of awesome--a new take on an old favorite of mine. Happy weekend!

As Summer Reading ended I realized I hadn't yet taken a lick of my vacation time--and the year was already half over!--thus began that fun time of figuring out how to use up 12 days of vacation...Fast forward to this past weekend: 4 days of relaxing and no work, in and around the Windy City. The Boy doesn't have any available time off right now, so I'd planned time to myself in Chicago on Friday. After parking downtown--gaping at the $30+ parking fees!--I made my way over to the Art Institute. I love the Art Institute, it's pristine layout, it's carefully thought out collection. I love that when I see the Art Institute's lions, guarding the front steps, my step quickens; being on the steps of the museum affords you with one of the best views of Chicago, in my humble opinion. I love Michigan Avenue's hustle and bustle, it's proximity to Millennium Park, it's skyscrapers, and the constant flow of cars and tourists alike. To an outsider it would be a...

After rest the Boy is feeling better! So, I'm headed out on the road in the morning, pointed toward Chicago. Can't wait to see the exhibit at the Institute of Art! Can't wait to see Lake Michigan. To see downtown. To be in a big city. To get away from Sticks! To hang with the Boy! Can't wait! "Chicago" Hog Butcher for the World,    Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat,    Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler;    Stormy, husky, brawling,    City of the Big Shoulders: They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for I have seen your painted women under the gas lamps luring the farm boys. And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: Yes, it is true I have seen the gunman kill and go free to kill again. And they tell me you are brutal and my reply is: On the faces of women and children I have seen the marks of wanton hunger. And having answered so I turn once mor...

It is a truth long since recognized that time drags when there is something we can't wait to get to, and flies by all too quick when we are in life's wonderful moments. That in a nutshell is this week. I have been looking forward to my planned 4 day weekend to Chicago since back in July. Not only do I want to go see the art exhibit, " Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity ," at the Art Institute of Chicago, but there's a small chance I might get to see a fellow former Farmer, and most importantly I am going to see the Boy. But I just talked to the Boy and he was in bed at 10p.m., and had the beginnings of a cough. OH NO! I am hoping that this is not the nasty bug I had two weeks ago, which left me feeling TERRIBLE for a couple of days. I am so so so hoping and doing that Catholic thing of praying to any patron saint I think might help. Oh dear... And yet, it is hard to be worried when there is such loveliness about: "Boundaries" There is a place w...

  Out of the office all day with a meeting, then I have to go back to the Library late to speak for a local civic group. I know all week I will just be praying for the weekend; 4 day weekend coming up and can't wait!! Friday morning I will be on my way to see this exhibit.

View from one of my favorite spots in Chicago I love looking up at these skyscrapers, then down at the Chicago River Navy Pier and that monstrosity of a Ferris Wheel! I call it itchy feet: this need to be going; to get on the road, to drive away; to start all over again somewhere new. And yet, each time I start all over again I am exhausted by the actual starting all over again bit. It must be the thrill in the travel I want. And I've got it again, the itchy feet. I'm having a hard time settling and sitting still after 3 weekends in a row of going, and seeing dear friends, and of fun: Massachusetts, Chicago, Michigan. This morning we begin week 5 of Summer Reading, OVER the HALFWAY mark and we're excited about that. And everyone's tired. And I'm sitting here suffering from itchy feet, my mind wandering back to the places I've been lately and I am dreaming of more time in Chicago in particular...*sigh*

This year is the 15 Anniversary of HP and the Sorcerer's Stone-- the books are being re-released with new cover art. Temple Grandin signing books after her AMAZING lecture! On the left--children's author/illustrator Kevin Henkes! Ann Patchett--I was in the FRONT ROW! Alice Walker! The Diary of a Wimpy Kid bus Exhibitor's Hall before it opened Exhibitor's Hall before it opened My last post was Conference tips, this post will be chronicling all of the AWESOME things that I saw/did at ALA 2013 Chicago! Went to awesome sessions which gave me great ideas and left me feeling EMPOWERED! Talked to cool professional colleagues--met a guy who was the former director of a local library, so he actually had heard of Sticks! Now he's back near Cleveland--good to know if I ever decide to go back out that way... MET!! and had books signed by Katherine Paterson, Patricia MacLachlan, Kevin Henkes Got free yet-to-be-released-books wh...

Was going to post while at ALA, but 1. I didn't bring my computer and 2. though I had access to my iPhone, when I wasn't conferencing I was too busy having fun. I LOVE CHICAGO. It was so nice to be back in the city, a little over a year since my last trip in. I went in prepared to feel a little overwhelmed, which I did, initially--I mean there were about 20,000+ people there!--but, I played it smart and decided to only attend speakers and sessions that were around McCormick Place, choosing to avoid hitting the outlier sessions. Even though I came with a schedule of what I wanted to see and do, I lived in the moment and switched up my schedule if I saw something that caught my eye. I also wasn't sure how much time I would spend in the Exhibitors Hall (7 hours!?) or how tired I would be each day! Things I learned at my first American Library Association Conference: Wear comfy shoes. I chose Tevas, which actually didn't look as bad as I thought they would with skirts. ...

By the time you read this I'm either Chicago bound, or already in the city. I am sooooo excited for my 1st ALA Conference; excited for a weekend break from Summer Reading; super excited to be in Chicago! (I can't believe it's already been over a year since my last visit with the Germans!) All the swanky, big hotels were booked already by the time I decided I was going, so I'll actually be staying in the same hostel I stayed at with the Germans...fine by me, it's right down the street from Chicago Public Library's Main Branch! More details soon!

I have Chicago on the brain these days, for many reasons...I can't wait to get back...maybe July...hmm... From the top of the Sears (now Willis--LAME!) Tower Looking and standing over the city, Sears Tower The Main Branch, Chicago Public Library Oh, Library, I could have a love affair with you! I love the architecture and little bits of art around the city...these change lights!

 Under the L, lovely Chicago Chicago was a blast. We left my apt. at 1:30am Sunday, arrived there at 6:30am Chicago time; a drive that was one of those over-tired-slappy-giggly-listening to good and bad music-fun-mini-roadtrips I won't soon forget. We couldn't check into our hostel until 3:30pm, so after dropping our bags off (they had lockers available) we hit the city. We: ate at Yolk wandered through this cool sculpture exhibit (see pics below) saw Buckingham Fountain saw the glorious design of Grant Park Music Festival Went to the Sears Tower (now Willis Tower--lame!) and stood out on the glass walkout with nothing but some glass and the city below us! We saw the Main Branch of the Chicago Public Library (which was less than a block from our hostel) I wandered through every level, fell in love with Winter Garden on the top floor. WHAT A GORGEOUS BUILDING!! Gah, I could live in Chicago to just use that library!! Met up with my friend Scott for a good Mexica...