Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

I won't post my resolution, because it's been the same the last few years: MARRY RYAN GOSLING. And I won't say how sweet the time with ChicagoBoy was: could he say more ADORABLE things, like when I told him I was going to be the youngest State Librarian ever, and he said, "In Michigan!" I almost thought I heard Celine scream, "MY HEART WILL GO ON!!!" somewhere in the distance--now you're totally looking that song up on Youtube. You're welcome. Nope, I will just post a lovely e.e. cummings poem I've had in my head all day. Happy New Year, may it be grand for us all. "I have found what you are like" i have found what you are like the rain,             (Who feathers frightened fields with the superior dust-of-sleep. wields easily the pale club of the wind and swirled justly souls of flower strike the air in utterable coolness deeds of green thrilling light            ...

I love love love John Green; I am so grateful to JBean for telling me to read, The Fault in Our Stars , which has now become the book I tell EVERYONE to read. Everyone. My sister. My Mom. My favorite aunt. My best friends. Folks at the Library. Prairie Dawn. Before Prairie Dawn had even read it I made her put it on the fall lineup for our Teen Book Group. (More on that soon!) I love that John Green writes real teenage characters, tangible to real teens. These characters are coming into their own and trying to understand the world, sometimes poetically, other times emotionally stumbling through it like a weaving drunk. Green's characters are sometimes sweet and funny, sometimes self loathing or self deprecating, sometimes funny as hell, other times over the top dramatic, sometimes raw as hell, but always BELIEVABLE! I love that John Green celebrates nerds, and being honest, and wearing your heart on your sleeve, and has the most quotable lines and lovely sentiments. And ...

I am ex ha usted . Th is week has been: Interviewing Orders : books, DVDs   S cou ting for new vendors an d pricing for new rugs, new print ers, new computer s, a new projector Meetings : Board, FRIENDS, Sa fe Routes to School Committee  Storytimes   Updating website/ Facebook /Twit ter    And all the stu ff that comes up along the way It is on ly T hursday and I've already worked 47 hours. I can' t do tomorrow... I can't , I can't, I can't . You can't make me . The ONLY thing that helps during times like this is poetry. "i go to this window" i go to this window just as day dissolves when it is twilight(and looking up in fear i see the new moon thinner than a hair) making me feel how myself has been coarse and dull compared with you, silently who are and cling to my mind always But now she sharpens and becomes crisper until i smile with knowing -and all about herself the sprouting largest final air plunges inward with...

"Spring is the mischief in me..." --Robert Frost After most of the snow melting in the last weeks of March, and grass becoming visible again, the first of April brought us snow--a bad April Fools Day joke. However, I feel hopeful. It is warmish today, though there are still traces of Friday's snow on the ground; I began my planting already (two weeks ago potting some flowers) and planting always makes me feel hopeful. I'm experimenting with sun flowers started in a green house--I am still not sure why this seemed like a good idea, as they are already 2 inches high and I am not transplanting them for at least another month. I also planted pansies which I hope to use as decorations on cakes and maybe in the house. Yesterday I began the next batch of planting, putting into seed planters my first (only?) batch of tomatoes: Romas, Rosso Sicilians and Gold Medals and Tomatillos--all seeds which I purchased from the wonderful Seed Savers Exchange . Isn't there somet...

I love e.e. cummings. Some of his poems make me sigh and smile, some make me feel jumbled up and confused, and some poems just make me think...hmmm... "i am a beggar always" i am a beggar always who begs in your mind (slightly smiling, patient, unspeaking with a sign on his chest BLIND)yes i am this person of whom somehow you are never wholly rid(and who does not ask for more than just enough dreams to live on) after all, kid you might as well toss him a few thoughts a little love preferably, anything which you can't pass off on other people: for instance a plugged promise- the he will maybe (hearing something fall into his hat)go wandering after it with fingers;till having found what was thrown away himself taptaptaps out of your brain, hopes, life to(carefully turning a corner)never bother you any more ~ e.e. cummings

So much about this time of year speaks to light and darkness, even for those who don't believe in Christmas or God. While many Christians believe that Christ, the light of the world, comes at Christmas time--helping usher us out of this time of darkness--Pagans believe that at this time of year, the winter solstice is a something which allows us to celebrate light and the rebirth of the sun. Whatever your belief, how can you not be absolutely enthralled by the presence of so much light?: holiday lights sparkling, twinkling; or if you are sans-city lights, just look at how bright the stars seem to shine against the black sky of winter! I was seeking inspiration, and as I always do, turned to poetry, this time to e.e. cummings (another old favorite who seems almost a friend). This poem made me think of light and glory and the vast hugeness that this time of year can feel like to me; a dark world just waiting to swallow me whole. Go find some of your own light out in this beautiful ...

Today is dreary and I feel mopey, so I went in search of something lovely and I found it. Props to Amos for turning me on to e. e. cummings what seems like a million years ago in another life I lived. i carry your heart with me -- e.e. cummings i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling) i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)