Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

After 4.5 years at Sticks Library, it is finally time to say goodbye. This week is my last, and I prepare to pass off Summer Reading, the Library's Centennial celebration, and the building expansion and renovations that I've been working to get going for 3+ years. These past weeks have been jam packed with activity, me in my office hurriedly going through notes and leaving as much information behind for my replacement--who is yet TBD. This weekend I've run the full gambit of emotions; so sad to leave behind a wonderful job and coworkers, excitement to finally be living with ChicagoBoy and seeing him EVERY DAY, and nervousness about my new job. I dread tomorrow, my final Board Meeting, because I don't want to blubber like a baby when I say goodbye to these wonderful people. I am so tired from all of the moving and living in an empty apartment, sleeping on a cot--I keep telling myself that my catson and I are glamping--and so tired of feeling emotional. I am just goin...

Since I am going to the ALA Chicago Conference next weekend, and will be putting in loads of extra hours, my LOVELY Board approved giving me time off this week. Can I just say, I LOVE my Board, and am so thankful for them! Decided to take my long weekend at the Farm; to see my beautiful Berkshires in summer; to get together with RugbyGirl and KellyBelly and Eliza--my girls who I miss so much; to come to say goodbye to a friend who's moving on; to take a break from the flat Midwest and see the lovely rolling hills of New England again. I left yesterday and stopped en route in Syracuse, NY, where I stayed with my friend Christy--it was a nice time catching up and enjoying a couple meals together. But I was glad to get on the road today, as I was impatient to get back to the Farm; to see the sun shining down upon my beloved Farm, as my last glance of it had been a bleak and snowy day--Christmas Day in fact . When I turned on the road leading to the Farm, I was awed by how beau...

The Gardener LXI: "Peace, My Heart" Peace, my heart, let the time for the parting be sweet. Let it not be a death but completeness. Let love melt into memory and pain into songs. Let the flight through the sky end in the folding of the wings over the nest. Let the last touch of your hands be gentle like the flower of the night. Stand still, O Beautiful End, for a moment, and say your last words in silence. I bow to you and hold up my lamp to light you on your way. (Rabindranath Tagore) Well, looks like I will be changing my blogs' name back to: Misadventures of the Monster Librarian.  Two and a half weeks ago I slipped away--a quick weekend back to the Midwest; a weekend of spending time with my best friends in Michigan, but also time spent visiting a library in Ohio and interviewing for a Children's Librarian position. And can you believe it?? I got the job...and so I begin to say goodbye to the Farm; begin to watch sunsets and sunrises over mount...

Sunday, the day after the wedding, we had a breakfast brunch at Laura & Matt’s house with everyone, then said our goodbyes to B1’s family: her parents, brother and his girlfriend, and aunt, uncle and cousin. After they’d left we farmers headed back to B2’s parents’ house for damage control: unloading and reloading the dishwasher, washing dishes, scrubbing counters and stove top, putting tables and chairs back into storage, repacking food items. When our cleaning was done we all sat down for another feast—a lunch of wedding leftovers. Later that day we managed to take in a quick tour of Hershey World and had naps all around before B2’s parents came over for dinner. We all crammed into the living room and played Apples to Apples until B2’s parents and CJ & Amos had to leave. It was hard to say goodbye to everyone. B2’s parents are so wonderful. I had told them that weekend that normally after spending a day with anyone else’s family I am ready to go home, but being with them wa...