Things I learn at work

They are very big on training at my job. But sometimes the things I learn don't exactly fall under training per se. I learn about how some have come long distances and sacrificed much to come to this country. One of my coworkers is from Kenya. Her parents moved her and her siblings here to give them more opportunity. They gave up a lot to be here. I really like hearing her talk. To me, her accent sounds so cool. She is willing to talk about everything under the sun.

Another one of my coworkers has three kids. They are all around my age. She goes through trials, joys and the in-between with them. But through it all she wants the best for them. It is a good lesson to show someone who has not had the courage to have kids yet. With her, everyone who comes through the doors is a possible family member or friend. She fusses at and for them.

I am in awe of my library kids sometimes. They are so curious and so want to help. They are so smart too. They crowd around my station sometimes. Just wanting someone to listen. It is interesting to see the world like they see it.

I had the chance to talk to my coworker about being a parent, buying a house and Christmas. She told me about how her father would write handwritten notes to her and her siblings as from Santa and he would put Santa bootprints around the fireplace. She is somewhat in the same boat as me. Both newlyweds, both renting, both no kids. It is good to talk to someone so alike me and so different. She has been saving up for a house and the where to go from here. She is really helpful and a good example in customer service.

Good day and hi, ho, hi, ho, it's off to work I go.

Feeling Better

The last couple of days, I was feeling a bit off. Mainly just tired and a bit off. Today was better.

The worst part of it all was we had dance class on a day when I didn't feel good. I was determined to go though. But now, I can hardly remember the steps we learned. It is such a shame. We had begun on turns and spins. Not a day for a headache and being dizzy already.

But we head back again on Tuesday. We have talked it over and are thinking of continuing. We finally got to dance on the beat that day. It just felt so cool to dance with B.

Today I also got to make turkeys in storytime. They were oreo turkeys and they were super yummy! I made a couple for the staff too. I think we are going to use them in a craft program on Tuesday too.

I am taking Wednesday off to get supplies and get cooking. We aren't doing a big family thing but B and I will be having a Thanksgiving dinner together. There is so much to be thankful this year.

Good night and I sure hope I can remember the steps this time.

The food of the soul

I live for music, rhythm and dance. I sing and dance while I drive. I hear songs in my head and will usually sing at the drop of a hat.

I got a real thrill tonight though. B and I went to our first ballroom dance lesson. It was such fun. He was really nervous though. I can usually tell. He barely let my hand go as the owner told us about the lessons and setup. But he did great. The teacher was really patient with us.
We started on the basic steps and then moved onto a box step and then a basic foxtrot. We didn't do it for any particular reason. It was just something fun and active to do together. It reminds me of our marriage. We are having fun, not knowing all the steps but learning them together. Sometimes toes get stepped on or someone goes the wrong way but it is all about the dance.

Afterwards we went out to dinner at the other Country Cabin. They have beef stroganoff on Wednesdays only. It could easily become my favorite day of the week. Dance AND beef stroganoff...

Good night and may I have this dance?

October in A Nutshell

Earlier this month, B and I headed out to Kingsley Plantation on a very windy day.

I love driving with him. And we spend a lot of time talking and laughing on the drive.

Dad always likes to say that history is in every step you take. And I loved stepping here and imagining what it might have been like to live during that time.

Could have the mistress of this house stood on her lawn contemplating the water and sky just like me? Could she have loved the feel of the wind pushing her hair to and fro like I did?

In the middle/end of the month, B and I went to a Star Wars in Concert. We got to listen to a live symphony orchestra play the Star Wars score and watch a montage of the movies all together.

During intermission, I got a picture of Star Wars' bad guy and my good guy. I had tried to get the tickets as a surprise. But ended up telling him about it before the end of the night... it is so hard for me to hold onto surprises.

This is the fall book display towards the end of the month of October. I really love the season and holiday so I put a lot into it.

Including adding some of my own decorations from home (i.e. the black cat among others).

I am always surprised at what things I find in the back room. These were a tie dye type of banner of fall leaves we wrapped around the circulation desk. Everyone kept checking to see if we had finally put candy in the pumpkins. : P

I am a Florida pioneer woman (or cracker) for Halloween. I was able to use my grandmother's basket (she makes beautiful ones). It made me laugh as people tried to guess who I was. I got everything from Holly Hobby to Mother Goose.

Apparently because being a pioneer woman wasn't cool enough I decided to add shades to my ensemble. Well, not really. I had been to the eye doctor earlier and gotten the slip ons for my glasses due to my eyes being dialated.

This look got me called Granny for the rest of the afternoon.

All in all, a very good month was October. I wonder what November will bring...

Good night and good night.

What was waiting for me when I came home tonight...

I have been fighting a bad cold this last week. Last Friday I had no voice. And this weekend was no weekend. I spent it all in bed asleep. But tonight when I got home, I had the most lovely surprise waiting for me.

The card is a get well card entitled "Meee-Ouch!"

The note pad has this written above it:

When I Look at You...

I see a remarkable woman with a kind and caring heart who is beautiful in every sense of the word. You are everything wonderful and if I had just one wish it would be that you could see what I see when I look at you.

Thankfully I had tissues galore...

Good night and lucky me!

De-stressed

Mark took me away this last weekend. We headed down to St. Augustine Beach. We had a lovely room with a view of the beach and jacuzzi tub in the room.

Why? Well, after months of pins and needles, we are still open the same hours at the same branch. Somehow the people spoke up and wanted us open. It was humbling how many people came into the library to tell us how we were important. Some signed or created petitions, some contacted the local politicans, some wrote the paper. It was so cool.

It is amazing to me just what an importance libraries have everywhere. I remember being at a meeting recently and hearing about Philadelphia's library system. Basically if they didn't get the budget passed, they were going to close the entire library system. Every branch. Even though I don't live anywhere near there, I responded by contacting the local goverment. I just checked their page. The bill keeping them in business passed 32 to 17.

And yea gods, have we been busy! I secretly laugh when I get the gate count now. The reasoning they gave for us being the ones under the knife was that we weren't being used. I have only been with the system for 7 years this upcoming February. I think that I have been at this branch for maybe going on 3 years. We got a gate counter within that time and when I checked it tonight it was over 266,000 people who have gone and out. Even halfing it, it would be 133,000 people coming in.

And we aren't busy? Yep, that's us... just a bunch of library slackers twittling our thumbs.

Good night and Yay for Libraries!

Limbo

I feel a bit stuck. Although good news appeared on the library front, I am still holding off on an celebrations until knowing for sure. There are still changes on the horizon. I am just not sure how it will affect me.

I want to make plans. But being stuck I can't. It makes me feel a bit frustrated and sad. I rather like moving forward. I feel like a hamster on a wheel. A bit like Bill Murray's character in Groundhog's Day. Nothing changes.

Luckily life with B is always changing. We had a good talk the other night. I like that we are still figuring each other out. I could only go one way down a road before having to pull on a side road to turn around. I was sure that it was a way full of mutant zombies. They were going to pop out of the ground at any moment. Not only could he understand my fear but we started figuring out battle plans and laughing. It is lovely to have someone to laugh with like that. Not only that but the talk we had was about some of my not so laughable fears and he just held me tight and told me it would be all right. That we would figure it out together.

Good night. Guten tag : )