I Didn't Know I Was So Obvious

A clerk, let's call her C, came over to my desk and with a slightly wicked gleam in her eye said, "Where is the fiction?"

I knew she was referring to a question from a patron earlier. I said, "Did J tell you?" A most charming woman had come up to the desk and said, with a particular tone, "Where's the nonfiction?" I tried to narrow it down and was blown off. I explained the J-nonfiction is along the wall, etc. and she snaps, "It's for a little kid!" So I headed her in the right direction. I asked the clerk if J said I was nice. Her reply, "He said you were much nicer than he would have been." And then added, "That's how he knew you were mad, you got nicer."

So when I was leaving the building tonight, another clerk, call him D, says, "Hey, CDL, wait. Where's the fiction?"

I laughed. So did D and C. I mentioned J's comment and D said, "Oh yeah, the madder you get, the nicer you are!"

Like I said, I didn't know it was so obvious.

Won't Actually Read It

Saw this recently - Nanny State: How Food Fascists, Teetotaling Do-Gooders, Priggish Moralists, and other Boneheaded Bureaucrats are Turning America Into a Nation of Children. It made me chuckle, but I'm thinking probably no real answers in it.

But it did remind me of a totally unrelated incident last summer at the branch. (Keep in mind the demographics of said branch.) During the summer we not only deal with the parents and the kids but also the charming teen Nannies. Yes, Nannies and they will tell you so.

Overheard this conversation between two moms with strollers.

"So, who's this?" (referring to small tot in stroller.)

"Oh, I'm nannying for a neighbor."

I almost choked. Hate to tell you honey, you are babysitting. Plain and simple.

If A Kid Recommends It To Me, I Read It

I work with kids, but not often do I really have the chance to have prolonged book discussions with them. A while back had a great family in, mom, 5th grade girl and 8th grade boy. Finding something(s) for the 5th grade girl was a snap, she liked the kind of stuff I do. The 8th grade boy wanted something fantasy/adventureish and YA. The cool thing is he liked talk about what he'd read. He told me I needed to read The Oracle Prophecies by Cathrine Fisher. So I read The Oracle Betrayed and really enjoyed it. Mirany is a young teen serving the High Priestess to the Oracle in an ancient Egypt-like setting. Shy and timid, she has to find the strength and build her own alliances to save the world. Intrigue. Adventure. Enjoyed it and at some point will probably read the next two. And if the kid comes back, I can tell him I read it!

This week I went through both books in the much recommended Dreamhunter Duet by Elizabeth Knox. I'm glad I took the time to read Dreamhunter first. It did take several chapters to pull me in, but once I was, I was also glad I had checked out both books at once and didn't have to wait for Dreamquake. Loved the subject matter and the way the story evolved with hints that helped you see the ending coming without taking away from your enjoyment of the book. The Dreamhunter Duet is my type of YA SciFi/Fantasy. I can occasionally enjoy the wizard and dragon stuff, but this is the stuff I love. Well, this and vampires.

Someone Owes Me A Paid Holiday

Allow me a few moments to wallow in self pity.

I'd been fighting the cold or whatever illness is going around all last week. Thought I was getting better. I spent Saturday and Sunday running all my errands, cleaning house, grocery shopping, all the had-to-dos. Monday was going to be my day. I had the paid holiday off, the husband had to work, so I was going to play with the stuff for the wall of the crafty room and be creative and whatever I wanted.

Yeah, right.

I was so sick. I will spare you the details; you can fill in the blanks. It was 2:00 before I could handle a glass of water. Didn't even feel like dragging myself to the sofa to listen to TV - just stayed in bed. For dinner I actually managed 4 saltine crackers, half an apple and some chamomile tea.

And of course, today, I don't seem to have any real reason to stay home from work. I'm tired, but no fever and could eat a small breakfast. (And if I stayed home, I probably wouldn't have much energy to be creative anyway - might as well be at work.)

But I want my day off!!!!!!

You're Welcome

A boy (6 year oldish) and his mom come up to the desk. He is very shy, will hardly look at me. Quiet. The kid wants a book on Orion, the Hunter. We have one. It's on the shelf.

So I walk them over and pull it out. Hand it to him. His face lights up, slowly, almost glows.

His mom says (softly), "Say thank you."

I said, "He did."

Style Vs.Substance

or, I suppose, maybe, The Medium is The Message

Anyway, the kid shared this.

Alas! Hard-core Innuendo

Alas! Not what you think.

It is merely an anagram of my maiden name (first, middle, last).

Find yours at Anagram Genius.

Worth A Look

So I was checking the local school district site looking for some info and a link on their home page interested me. It is a nice article about involving parents in their child's reading. They have a brochure they are going to send home in Feb. Although my workplace isn't actually their public library, it is mentioned. Sadly, the notes on how to find book info is for our old website.

A Day No Police Reports Were Filed

Today was the first day I was home in the afternoon since the kids were back in school. About 3:18 the Jr. High gang started to arrive in my vicinity. Ten became twelve fairly quickly. There was a change. They clumped on the island between the sidewalk and the street inches passed the school property by my back yard but never went further. They didn't even come close to camping out under the tree in the front yard. Soon the group became sixteen spilling onto the sidewalk and maybe about a foot into my yard but that was it. I'm guessing they had been given some boundaries by the resource officers and school officials. When the bell rang to let the elementary kids out at 3:35, a few headed toward the school to meet the siblings and the rest broke up soon after. No trying to climb the tree; no football games. It was a little chilly so that may have helped. I have a few weeks before I have to deal with it again.

So we picked Wednesday Wars

and I found this to be an interesting read because of the comments during our discussions. So close and yet a different view on what will/could win. I hadn't heard about the concerns for accuracy. It will be interesting to see what does win. It always seems to be a book I didn't even know about.