Book List

As of 01/29/2008:

• Scott Pilgrim, Vol 1, 2, 3 by Bryan Lee O’Malley – Funniest manga/graphic novel ever. I hope whichever Culkin brother plays Wallace in the upcoming movie doesn’t screw it up.
• Into the Fire by Jessica Hall – Picked it up because it’s set in New Orleans, skipped to the end half way through when New Orleans and Cajun country wasn’t featured enough.
• The Miracles of Archangel Michael by Doreen Virtue – Lent to me by my good friend Anna. I need all the help I can get.
• Startled by His Furry Shorts (book 7) by Louise Rennison – Read this one as we don’t have it at BBL in audio. Must wait impatiently for book 8. Aside from laying a bunch of us off, the library is doing a system conversion, not checking in any books and putting holds on hold. If I can’t go home with 30 pounds of books after each shift, what is the point?
• The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger – Still reading. I hope Holden gets less douche-y.

As of 01/15/2008:

• Then He At My Boy Entrancers (book 6) by Louise Rennison – Listened, loved, puts me in almost as good a mood as the Sweet Potato Queens
• Grave surprise by Charlaine Harris – Thought it was the next in the series but was actually the one before the last one I read. Oh well. Still good, love the way she writes, much creepier than the Sookie Stackhouse books.
• Town of Evening Calm: Country of Cherry Blossom by Fumiyo Kouno – Manga, one of the few I can get in to, a slice-of-life about Hiroshima after WWII.
• The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger – Started. If I read this I don’t remember. Here we go again, maybe.
• The no-salt, lowest-sodium cookbook by Donald Gazzaniga – Must buy this for myself, if for no other reason than the lower sodium deviled eggs and mac N cheese recipes.

As of some time between 01/04/2009 and 01/15/2008:

• Away Laughing on a Fast Camel (book 5) by Louise Rennison – How could I have forgotten to list this? It’s why I get funny looks on the treadmill. There’s no laughing when you’re trying to walk/run and not die.

Ode to Joko

I made myself the best cup of tea this morning using just a bit more of my precious stash of Joko, brought back from South Africa. It’s the cheapest table tea in the world. The tea bits at the bottom are HUGE and, if not strained properly, not half bad. Slightly chewing with a piquant after taste. I heart Joko and will be very sad when I drink the last cup.

Book List

As of 01/10/2008:

• Why Mermaids Sing by C.S. Harris (loved this one)
• The Bride Hunt by Jane Feather
• Are you there vodka? It’s me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler

Oh Yeah

Instead of scratch paper, we set out stacks of blank index cards and nubby little golf pencils for our patrons to write down book titles, call numbers etc. Last night I found this little gem at one of the teen computers right before closing.

Tresspassed for a Day

Found this little nugget in The Book at the library (the one we have at the desk where we keep track of disciplanry hard cases.). “Frank and Dakota got in some sort of argument. I’m not sure who started it but Frank called Dakota a number of epithets, including “fat fuck”. He also remarked we were restricting his freedom of speech.” On the next page: “Dakota and Frank got in some sort of argument. I’m not sure who started it but Dakota pulled Frank ’s hair.”

Library Job Goes Buh-Bye

We’ve know for months that some of us were getting laid off. Anyone following the story of the Phoenix General Budget knew. Today we had confirmation of which positions will be going away. Still no names attached to jobs yet as there are so many factors to consider: seniority, your ability to work during the new restricted hours, if you’re willing to move to a different library. I’ve been planning on getting laid off since the first whispers of lay offs. I’ve only got one year under my belt. Even though I have known in the abstract, knowing for good and certain is a bit depressing. The thing that’s irritating is that those of us getting laid off will get official word exactly two weeks before. So, we’ve known for more than six months this was coming but we only get two weeks notice? I think that’s crap. But, lest you should worry that my amusing anecdotes from the world of the library will go away, I will be sure to continue to amuse with my stories of getting my MLS. That should guarantee good times for at least two years.

Book List

As of 01/04/2008:

• The Bachelor by Carly Phillips
• Painless Algebra by Lynette Long
• Dancing in my Nuddy-pants: Even Further Confess by Louise Rennison
• From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris – reread (2)
• Many Bloody Returns edited by Charlaine Harris and Ton L. P. Kelner – reread (2)
• Ace the GRE Writing Assessment
• 500 low sodium recipes : lose the salt, not the flavor in meals the whole family will love by Logue, Dick

New Resolutions for a New Year

Last year I didn’t make any sweeping resolutions (lose 50 pounds, make a million dollars, become a porn star). That worked out pretty well since I don’t need to lose 50 pounds, I so did not make a million dollars and my porn career, well, let’s just say it stalled. To keep the streak going, this year’s resolutions are as follows:

1. I plan to keep a comprehensive list of all the books I read this year. This will include the trashy romance novels, less-than-scintillating teen fiction (those who know me know just how I feel about “Twilight”) and GRE prep books.
2. I vow to watch more TV online. Over the holidays I’ve been addicted to watching “Trueblood” online. It’s great as long as you have something else to do during the time needed for buffering. Here’s what I do. I have a book or magzine or even stuff to do around the house. I get to the page that streams what I want to watch, get it going and turn off the sound. Then I go do the dishes or take my dogs outside. After 15 or so minutes, I come back in, drag the slider back to the beginning and away we go. Sometimes the speed of the video catches up with the buffer again so that’s what the books and magazines are for. And I always have more dishes to do.
3. Just go ahead and do the stuff I was going to do anyway. Like go to the gym more often, get into library school, find a real job-y job, keep my business going on the side, travel as much as possible (a challenge since that million didn’t materialize), read a ton, be nice and be happy.