Driven to Distraction

Winter is always hard on me and I always end up feeling a bit blue… and this year has been no exception.  Confounding the issue this year, has been all of the bad news we have been faced with – unemployment, crashing stock markets, shrinking 401k accounts and so on.  Normally I am a news junkie but even I have reached a point where I cannot bear to look most of the time. I decided back in January that I needed something besides talk radio and cable news to occupy my time.  So, I began a concerted effort to read more books, watch more DVDs and listen to more music.  Along the way, I realized something very important about my job.

 

Every where you turn there is another story about how library’s flourish in times of economic difficulty.  I will not argue that saving money is a major factor in the upswing in library use.  However, I will argue, that like myself, more and more people are also looking to be “distracted”.  As librarians escape from reality is one of our major commodities and people have never needed it more.  What we offer is a building full of ways to pass the time.  While that sounds incredibly simple, I must admit it cheers me up a bit to realize that my profession is playing such an important role in these difficult times.  On a personal note, I am also glad that I have such a wonderful resource to find distractions of my own.

Trouble times two?

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Originally uploaded by lmfawcett

By all accounts the first day of school was a success!

First Day of School

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Originally uploaded by lmfawcett

Jack headed off to his first day of kindergarten today. I am thrilled for him since he was very excited, but I also feel a little sad. In so many ways he is still my baby and for so long it was the Mom & Jack show. Now it will be the Mom & Emily show and Jack will be off to bigger and better things… but damn, why does time have to go by so fast!

I was wondering why the tomato plants didn’t look so good…

I only planted a few vegetable plants this year… some tomatoes, some peppers and watermelon for Jack.  The peppers have been doing well and we have about three watermelons growing right along but my tomatoes just were not taking off.  Yesterday I looked and saw that a couple of the green ones had been nibbled in half.  What the heck I thought… we live in the wild, but the veggie garden is close to house to deter our wild animal friends.  I mentioned it to my husband in passing and he mumbled something about rabbits and that was the end of it.  Well tonight Jack and I went out to look for anything that needed plucking and we found, not one, not two but three of these disgusting dudes in the picture.  Seems we have a Tomato Hornworm infestation in our midst.  They are disgusting… I am writing the tomatoes off as a loss for the year… and reading up on what I need to do to protect the peppers… and prevent the buggers from coming back next year!

The first step is admitting you have a problem…

My name is Laura and I am addicted to the Internet.  I admit it, I am spending way too much time surfing these days.   It all started innocently enough… for years now I have had several blogs that I like to read on a regular basis.  Then, around Christmas I discovered Facebook and then I found Twitter and then I found Flickr and now I call my sister on Skype with the webcam instead of using the regular phone!  Once we went high speed at home… there was no stopping me!

I am just having so much fun.  Sharing vacation pictures, catching up with old classmates and talking with cousins in Japan… is it any wonder my laundry isn’t getting done!  Pardon me while I go all warm and fuzzy for a moment, but I think the world becomes a smaller and much more friendly place when I receive Twitter updates from my friends who are walking dogs, taking road trips or making major purchases.  Believe it or not I like hearing about sick kids or car repairs because it makes me feel connected to folks I might not otherwise discuss these things with.

Just the other day I had a Facebook message from a woman I went to high school with.  She and I were pretty good friends in school but drifted apart after graduation.  I alway wondered where she ended up and what she was up to and now I know.  I am happy to report she is happy, successful and engaged in North Carolina!  My parents would have had to wait until a class reunion for such a reconnection!   Then again they probably didn’t stay up till all hours writing on their blog…

It’s all in the cards….

I would like to learn how to read Tarot cards.  The library is loaded with how to titles, but that isn’t the way I learn best.  I need someone to show me how to do it… I need to take a class.  I am hoping to find a community ed class in one of the districts nearby but so far I have not had any luck… I am not giving up yet.  I did find a web site for a woman who teaches this type of class and it looked very promising… however for the life of me I could not find a schedule.   Maybe she figures I will just “know” when the class is being offered…

Seriously People

If you are coming to ask for help at the Reference Desk… put the Cracker Jacks away.  Don’t sit there and munch while talking to me.  Also, if you want my help trying to remember a title that has slipped your mind… have at least one piece of useful information to give me.  I am not a miracle worker.  When I ask questions like “whats it about?” or “where did you hear about” have something to give me other than “I dunno.”  

Oh and while we are at it… if you want to check out materials, it is gonna require a library card.  If you don’t live in this city but have a card from another reciprocating city… bring that card with you… for the love of god… please!

Just Wondering…

Do men suffer from PMS?  If so is it like it is with women who live together and their cycles end up in sync?  If so… that equals really unfortunate timing!

Also on a different note… but not entirely unrelated, I am trying to strike a balance between asking for help with things which makes me a nag and hoping that certain people will do things without my asking – which makes me stupid for not requesting help in the first place.  Perhaps there is a work order form I could fill out or something…

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airshow2

Originally uploaded by lmfawcett

We had a fabulous time at the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow at Willow Run Airport today. It was so cool to see all the old planes and watch them fly overhead. My favorite part was the F-16… there is just something about the roar of a fighter jet… you feel the power through your entire body. I watched as the plane twirled, spun, dove and raced through the sky. It was an awesome sight…

Sleeze Bag….

 … nuff said.