Tuesday, September 25, 2007
On My Way
7:00 a.m. / 07:00
I must say I'm extra-groggy this morning, but I really wanted to report, since I didn't get to it last night, that I did my new job all day yesterday. Thanks to that, I'm feeling much closer to settled in than I was before, although I'm still not there yet, and today I'm back to splitting my time between circ. and ref. If I'm remembering the schedule correctly, after today, I don't get to go back to reference for any significant amount of time until next week! I hope they hurry up with hiring the two part time people who're supposed to fill my old spot.
I must say I'm extra-groggy this morning, but I really wanted to report, since I didn't get to it last night, that I did my new job all day yesterday. Thanks to that, I'm feeling much closer to settled in than I was before, although I'm still not there yet, and today I'm back to splitting my time between circ. and ref. If I'm remembering the schedule correctly, after today, I don't get to go back to reference for any significant amount of time until next week! I hope they hurry up with hiring the two part time people who're supposed to fill my old spot.
Labels: on the job
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Stone Soup Writing
11:00 p.m. / 23:00
So, I had this all planed out, but it's as though the contents of my brain drained out when I logged into Blogger, so I guess I'm just going to have to wing it. Drat. Let's see...
Money! I've spent too much of it, and will be almost broke until Friday when I get my first bigger paycheck for my new job, which will be great. Since I haven't moved yet, I should be able to put some in savings, make a hefty credit card payment and still have some left to spend on something I don't really need. Anyway, I took advantage of a big framing sale at Michael's on Friday and bought two nice frames for small Georgia O'Keeffe posters I bought in Chicago last month and another poster and a frame for it. Earlier in the week I bought a nice frame and a mat for a one-of-a-kind original print my friend EvilDucky made in college and gave to me for Christmas several years ago. Saturday night I went on an accidental, totally unplanned clothing purchasing spree at Target, which I blame completely on EvilDucky, even though it really wasn't her fault at all, especially since I'm the one who steered the car to the store in the first place. Tonight I went to my favorite giant, corporate bookstore, the mighty Barnes & Noble, just to get out of the house for a short bit, and ended up buying books I don't need. I'm supposed to be not buying books for a bit, since my collection is already kind of a pain in the ass to move.
I had a request from j-dog that I write about my new job, but now that I think about it, there's not a lot to say yet. I'm still doing more hours in circulation than reference. There's a lot of stuff to remember. I've learned how to finish processing the new fiction and new magazines when they arrive at my branch, but I keep skipping steps and then I have to go back and fix what I screwed up. I haven't made any major mistakes yet, which is very good. I have this big fancy chair that is really too big and fancy for my little desk. I need to figure out how to adjust it so it isn't so high and I don't feel so much like I'm sliding out the seat all the time. There's also this gel wrist rest thingy in front of my keyboard, which I've decided I like, but it's ancient and gross and coming apart, so I think I might use some of my new earnings to buy a new one. Something tells me even though it was there when I got the job, requesting a new one isn't an option. What else... I haven't answered a lot of questions yet. I did have a request for books on tuck-pointing the other day that my manager helped me with. Seems there's not much on tuck-pointing alone, so you have to direct people to masonry. I think I'm supposed to do reference all day tomorrow, which is a little odd since it's a Monday and circ. will be hoppin', but maybe I'll have more to say about the job after doing it for a whole day.
I guess that's it for now since it's late and I still have some laundry to finish up and I'm refusing to go to sleep without reading a little more of one or both of the books piled next to my pillow.
So, I had this all planed out, but it's as though the contents of my brain drained out when I logged into Blogger, so I guess I'm just going to have to wing it. Drat. Let's see...
Money! I've spent too much of it, and will be almost broke until Friday when I get my first bigger paycheck for my new job, which will be great. Since I haven't moved yet, I should be able to put some in savings, make a hefty credit card payment and still have some left to spend on something I don't really need. Anyway, I took advantage of a big framing sale at Michael's on Friday and bought two nice frames for small Georgia O'Keeffe posters I bought in Chicago last month and another poster and a frame for it. Earlier in the week I bought a nice frame and a mat for a one-of-a-kind original print my friend EvilDucky made in college and gave to me for Christmas several years ago. Saturday night I went on an accidental, totally unplanned clothing purchasing spree at Target, which I blame completely on EvilDucky, even though it really wasn't her fault at all, especially since I'm the one who steered the car to the store in the first place. Tonight I went to my favorite giant, corporate bookstore, the mighty Barnes & Noble, just to get out of the house for a short bit, and ended up buying books I don't need. I'm supposed to be not buying books for a bit, since my collection is already kind of a pain in the ass to move.
I had a request from j-dog that I write about my new job, but now that I think about it, there's not a lot to say yet. I'm still doing more hours in circulation than reference. There's a lot of stuff to remember. I've learned how to finish processing the new fiction and new magazines when they arrive at my branch, but I keep skipping steps and then I have to go back and fix what I screwed up. I haven't made any major mistakes yet, which is very good. I have this big fancy chair that is really too big and fancy for my little desk. I need to figure out how to adjust it so it isn't so high and I don't feel so much like I'm sliding out the seat all the time. There's also this gel wrist rest thingy in front of my keyboard, which I've decided I like, but it's ancient and gross and coming apart, so I think I might use some of my new earnings to buy a new one. Something tells me even though it was there when I got the job, requesting a new one isn't an option. What else... I haven't answered a lot of questions yet. I did have a request for books on tuck-pointing the other day that my manager helped me with. Seems there's not much on tuck-pointing alone, so you have to direct people to masonry. I think I'm supposed to do reference all day tomorrow, which is a little odd since it's a Monday and circ. will be hoppin', but maybe I'll have more to say about the job after doing it for a whole day.
I guess that's it for now since it's late and I still have some laundry to finish up and I'm refusing to go to sleep without reading a little more of one or both of the books piled next to my pillow.
Labels: on the job
Friday, September 21, 2007
Need A 2008 Calendar?
8:10 a.m. / 08:10
Northern Sun is selling Out of Office Countdown calenders so that you can countdown the end of the Bush administration while keeping track of all your appointments in 2008!
click here for the wall calendar
and click here for the page-a-day calendar
Northern Sun is selling Out of Office Countdown calenders so that you can countdown the end of the Bush administration while keeping track of all your appointments in 2008!
click here for the wall calendar
and click here for the page-a-day calendar
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Book Report
1:05 a.m. / 01:05
In the past five or six weeks I've read five books, which means I really haven't been reading all that much. I read:
There's a Slight Chance I (Might) Be Going to Hell by Laurie Notaro
I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle
It Had to Be You by Sarah Webb
The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Of the five, There's a Slight Chance I (Might) Be Going to Hell is my favorite, followed by I Love You, Beth Cooper. I have enjoyed essays by Laurie Notaro, but I believe I enjoyed There's a Slight Chance... much more. It's different from most other books I've read and a bit quirky; especially for something I think could be considered chick-lit. Beth Cooper continues the quirky theme. Dennis, the main character and major geek goes on a roller coaster of stereotypical high-school experiences in the 24 hours following his high school graduation, after he tells the head cheerleader, Beth, that he loves her in the middle of his valedictorian speech. He even managed to do it somewhat tastefully. I think this book would have been even better if I'd had more time to sit and read it with fewer breaks. Anytime I had time to read several chapters in a row, I noticed a certain momentum building that added to my enjoyment of the story. Storm Front is the first in the Dresden Files series. I enjoyed it, but I don't think I'll be rushing to read the other eight books before the tenth one comes out in the spring. Harry Dresden, the lead character, is a modern-day wizard and also a private investigator in Chicago. He's pretty cool, but once or twice a tad dramatic. It's a little weird to read a whole paragraph describing how sapped of energy he is, only to have him perform some unnecessary spell in the next paragraph. I think Storm Front is Jim Butcher's first novel, so maybe the series improves as it goes on.
In the past five or six weeks I've read five books, which means I really haven't been reading all that much. I read:
There's a Slight Chance I (Might) Be Going to Hell by Laurie Notaro
I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle
It Had to Be You by Sarah Webb
The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Of the five, There's a Slight Chance I (Might) Be Going to Hell is my favorite, followed by I Love You, Beth Cooper. I have enjoyed essays by Laurie Notaro, but I believe I enjoyed There's a Slight Chance... much more. It's different from most other books I've read and a bit quirky; especially for something I think could be considered chick-lit. Beth Cooper continues the quirky theme. Dennis, the main character and major geek goes on a roller coaster of stereotypical high-school experiences in the 24 hours following his high school graduation, after he tells the head cheerleader, Beth, that he loves her in the middle of his valedictorian speech. He even managed to do it somewhat tastefully. I think this book would have been even better if I'd had more time to sit and read it with fewer breaks. Anytime I had time to read several chapters in a row, I noticed a certain momentum building that added to my enjoyment of the story. Storm Front is the first in the Dresden Files series. I enjoyed it, but I don't think I'll be rushing to read the other eight books before the tenth one comes out in the spring. Harry Dresden, the lead character, is a modern-day wizard and also a private investigator in Chicago. He's pretty cool, but once or twice a tad dramatic. It's a little weird to read a whole paragraph describing how sapped of energy he is, only to have him perform some unnecessary spell in the next paragraph. I think Storm Front is Jim Butcher's first novel, so maybe the series improves as it goes on.
Labels: books
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Fine Line Between Being Excited And Being Nervous
10:10 p.m. / 22:10
I am so excited! I am so freaking nervous. Remember when I said "Normally, I love covering the reference desk. I need the practice, since I hope eventually I'll work there all the time"? Okay, probably not, but I did say that in my July 9th post. Well, the thing is, I will be working at the reference desk all of the time. I've been promoted! Tomorrow morning I'm officially a readers' advisor. I'll still be working as a circulation clerk some, if not a lot, for a little while though, until they fill the spot I'm leaving. But I get the higher salary no matter what I'm doing so, that won't bother me too much.
I have a lot to learn. For the most part I'm looking forward to learning it all, but I'm also a little nervous. Oddly, I haven't required this much training since I got my first job at an ice cream shop. I started as shelver with the library, and honestly, that's just an easy job. Then, I learned extra stuff slowly over time so that when I was promoted to part-time clerk, I didn't really need any new training. Next, I transferred to a full-time spot at a branch so again I needed very little training; I just had to learn some things specific to that location. So while I know I'm going to be good at this new job, I hope I don't mess up a bunch at first and make everyone think it was a mistake to promote me.
I am so excited! I am so freaking nervous. Remember when I said "Normally, I love covering the reference desk. I need the practice, since I hope eventually I'll work there all the time"? Okay, probably not, but I did say that in my July 9th post. Well, the thing is, I will be working at the reference desk all of the time. I've been promoted! Tomorrow morning I'm officially a readers' advisor. I'll still be working as a circulation clerk some, if not a lot, for a little while though, until they fill the spot I'm leaving. But I get the higher salary no matter what I'm doing so, that won't bother me too much.
I have a lot to learn. For the most part I'm looking forward to learning it all, but I'm also a little nervous. Oddly, I haven't required this much training since I got my first job at an ice cream shop. I started as shelver with the library, and honestly, that's just an easy job. Then, I learned extra stuff slowly over time so that when I was promoted to part-time clerk, I didn't really need any new training. Next, I transferred to a full-time spot at a branch so again I needed very little training; I just had to learn some things specific to that location. So while I know I'm going to be good at this new job, I hope I don't mess up a bunch at first and make everyone think it was a mistake to promote me.
Labels: on the job
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Goodbye & Good Luck
6:35 a.m. / 06:35
In just a little over one month's time, three of my friends have moved away. One moved to Wyoming. Another and her husband moved to the central part of my state, but still too far away to call them up and say "Hey, come to dinner!" or anything like that. Today the Apathetic one, the one of the three I've known the longest and hang out with most often is moving to Ohio. So, to her I say goodbye & good luck; don't forget to come back and visit! To those still in town I say okay, no one else gets to go running off for at least six months!
In just a little over one month's time, three of my friends have moved away. One moved to Wyoming. Another and her husband moved to the central part of my state, but still too far away to call them up and say "Hey, come to dinner!" or anything like that. Today the Apathetic one, the one of the three I've known the longest and hang out with most often is moving to Ohio. So, to her I say goodbye & good luck; don't forget to come back and visit! To those still in town I say okay, no one else gets to go running off for at least six months!
Monday, September 03, 2007
Just To Prove I'm Not Dead
10:50 p.m. / 22:50
"Friendship is when people know all about you but like you anyway"
--anonymous
And Bonus! Random cat pictures:
Merlin
Gizmo
"Friendship is when people know all about you but like you anyway"
--anonymous
And Bonus! Random cat pictures:
Merlin
Gizmo
Labels: random quotations
