Touching base

Wow, y'all - not being connected sucks. You know what else sucks? This Tuesday. No story time... No FMRNS... I do get to watch American Idol, but I don't get to watch it with my friend A, which is a huge part of what makes it so fun. It also sucks that my DH had to go back to Nashville without me today. *sniff*

The week has been filled with fun and adventure - lots of friends and family!! Unfortunately, we didn't get to see Bon Jovi (the tickets fell through!), but we did get to go to a water park, sing karaoke at a po-dunky little bar with some great friends, spend Easter with both sides of the family, and go out to dinner with more great friends. It's been a FAB time!!!

In case you were wondering, the phone interview on Thursday morning resulted in an in person interview this afternoon - so I must have done well! I think the in person interview went well, too, so we'll see what happens next. They said I should hear something by the end of next week... Wow - it's all going so fast!!

The interview on Friday morning wasn't actually an interview, but an Oral Examination. It was basically their screening process to see if I am cool enough to be placed on their eligibility list. I think I was impressive - I broke out some "I've been doing some research on your library system" jargon on their asses!!! Go me!

Tomorrow is my first day of PLA. I am SO PUMPED!!! I did want to go to the conference today, but because my interview was in the middle of the day, I had to choose that over PLA. But it's all good - I get to go for the rest of the week!!

Anyway, just wanted to check in and say wassup!!! I miss blogging, and I miss my internet friends. :::waving::: Hope everyone is freakin' awesome, and I'll be back to my regularly scheduled blogging on Monday!!

WHOOOOT!!!

Goodbye for now!!

I'm sad yet excited to say that I'll be away from my blog for... a while. My DH and I leave tomorrow for our trip to Minnesota!!! We've got some fun things planned while we are there!!! Lots of plans with friends (I get to spend some time with DH's friends, we're meeting 2 of my fabulous bridesmaids and their husbands for dinner, even a possibility of going to the Bon Jovi concert on Wednesday night - cross your fingers that this works out!!!), and family (Easter on Saturday with DH's family, Easter on Sunday with my family). Exciting!!!

My DH leaves on Tuesday, the day the PLA Conference starts!! I have to tell you, I am TOTALLY excited for my very first professional conference!! I am such a library geek. I can't wait for the programs, the exhibits, the placement services, and of course Nancy Pearl!!!!! WHOOOOOT!!!!

I'll probably pop on at some point and fill you in on my interview (think of me on Friday morning at 10:45!!), but other than that, I don't know how much time I'll have to blog. It's very sad to think about! But I'll be back to full time blogging on March 30th! See y'all then!

Happy Easter (a bit early)!!!

Tuesday!!

Ahh, Tuesday! As you well know, it's my favorite day of the week. It doesn't get any better than Tuesday!!! This week for story time, I decided to read books about Caterpillars!! Here are the books I chose:





And of course, it's FMRNS!!! We have 3 choices for tonight's feature. We've got a couple movies that we've actually been meaning to watch, but they keep getting pushed back because either our mood changes (sometimes you just NEED a comedy!), or we have something that had another hold on it and needs to go back to the library. Anyway, we haven't officially decided on the feature of the evening - it all depends on our mood! Our first choice is Harvey, a 'dramedy' from 1950 with James Stewart, Josephine Hull, and an imaginary 6 foot tall rabbit. The second option is Oklahoma! - which is a 1955 musical with Gordon MacRae, and Gloria Grahame. The third option is Rebecca, an Alfred Hitchcock movie from 1940 with Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine.

So, which one would you choose?




P.S. This is my 200th post!!!!! I've come a long way from My First Confession...I'm actually a Real Librarian now!!! And I'm STILL changing the face of librarians everywhere!!

Going Green @ your Library

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I want to share this blog with you. It's called Going Green @ Your Library and it's full of great suggestions!

"This blog will list ideas, practices, tools, and techniques to help libraries become more environmentally friendly, which can also save money or even raise money for the library in the process."

Check it out!!

A fabulous weekend, so far!!

It's been the most fabulous weekend so far, and I just have to share!!

Thursday, my friend A's friend Carrie (did you catch that?), had a jewelry opening, complete with mini deserts, champagne and gorgeous jewelry!!! Check out some of her amazing pieces at her website.

After that, A and I decided to have Bonus Night of FMRNS!! On Tuesday, we watched Heavy Metal, which was pretty wicked!! The feature for Thursday evening was Bill: On His Own, a made for TV movie from 1983 with Mickey Rooney, Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt. Ok, I have to admit, I was TOTALLY unprepared for this movie. Like when we watch Horror films, A always warns me, so I know that I'm going to be scared and can mentally prepare. He is also kind enough to inform me when the movie is probably going to make me cry. He forgot to warn me. This movie started out attacking my emotions - I was crying within the first 10 minutes. And it didn't let up. It was seriously one of the most emotional movies we've seen in a long time, and it truly lived up to it's fabulous reputation. If you ever get a chance to see this movie, please do. It was incredibly touching, and I am so grateful that I have now seen it.

Friday was a day spent shopping. I HATE shopping - like, with a passion. But my DH was kind enough to put up with me as we went to store after store. First looking for a suit to wear to my interview in Minnesota nest week (which we found, and it's AWESOME! We found it at Ashley Stewart), and later looking for shoes to go with it (which we didn't find...booo!). It was a looooooooooong day of shopping, and we made it through. I collapsed on the couch when we got home, and instantly fell asleep!

Saturday was the most fabulous day yet!! My amazing DH gave me the best surprise!!! My baby took the time to set up my appointment with my favorite stylist for 'cut, color, and more!' I now have FAB new hair (I'm now a hot red head!). He also surprised me with a facial, which I have never had done before. It was the most amazing experience - SOOOO relaxing!!! It was a 'congratulations' gift for graduating with my Masters in Library Science from UNT - he'd just been waiting to spring it on me until now because of our upcoming trip to Minnesota, and my interviews and conference coming up!! So, we have consideration, thoughtfulness, AND strategy!! What a guy!!!

Ohh, ohh, and I found shoes to go with my suit!!! WHOOOOOOT!!!!

I'm excited to have one more day off!! It'll be spent cleaning and doing laundry in preparation for our upcoming trip, but it's all good!!

DtheV revisited

D the Volunteen came back in to the library yesterday.

DtheV: I finished The Kite Runner - I actually read the whole thing!!
Real Librarian: That's great - good for you!!
DtheV: Yeah, it actually felt good to read it the right way. I couldn't find any Cliffs Notes or anything or I would have used that.
RL: You would have missed out on so much that way!! Did you like the book?
DtheV: Yeah, I did. And I did good on the test, too!!

Good for you, DtheV!! Congrats on your good grades!!!

A Fishy Tuesday

Ahh, Tuesdays! Filled with little kids and fun stories!! This week I chose to read books about fish and the ocean, and found some very cute books!! Here's what I am reading today:





And as always, it is FMRNS night!!! Last week we tried to watch Heavy Metal, but the tape we had didn't work (BOO!!!), so we watched Airplane! instead, and it was HILARIOUS!! We also had Bonus Night this weekend, where we watched my very first Sean Connery 007 film, Goldfinger from 1964. It was fabulous - of course!!

This week, we're going to see if we can find another copy of Heavy Metal. Wish us luck!!!

Library question of the day

A young man, a senior in high school, came in to the library today. I know this kid pretty well, he used to be one of my Volunteens (yes, I said volunTEEN. One of my very own made up words. Feel free to use it!!) a couple of summers ago. He's a great kid, very personable and likable. He didn't volunteen this past summer, because he was plagued with a real job. Bummer! Anyway, D the Volunteen is the proud patron featured in our Library question of the day.

D the Volunteen: Do you have a copy of The Kite Runner on audio?
Real Librarian: Nope, sorry - I actually just checked out our copy yesterday.
DtheV: Damn. I have to read it for class and I still have, like, 200 pages left!
RL: Well, you better get reading then!
DtheV: You read it, right?
RL: Yup, I did!
DtheV: Well, let me ask you a question, then.
RL: Sure!
DtheV: How did the setting reflect...
RL: (not even letting him finish) BWAHAHAHAHA - DtheV, I am SO not doing your homework for you. Go read.

Lists of Ten

Nancy Pearl (author of Book Lust and all around Super Hero Librarian - with her own action figure) gives USA Today a list of her favorite libraries in America in this article! I'm excited to say that I'll be going to the Minneapolis Central Library when I'm in Minnesota for the Public Library Association Conference in a couple weeks!! I'm also excited to say that I'll be attending Nancy Pearl's session at PLA on Wednesday, March 26th! YAY!!!

McSweeney has a fun post up right now - Ten Reasons to be a librarian/Ten reasons NOT to be a librarian. What a fabulous Pro/Con list - I can relate!!

In other news, I just scheduled an "Oral Examination" with a county library in MN who responded to my application! Luckily, they are holding these examinations when I am in MN already for PLA - handy, right? As far as I can tell, if I do well on the OE, then I will be placed on an eligibility list. And even though (as my blog friend The Hedgehog Librarian InfoDiva pointed out) it sounds more like dentistry than an interview, I am still kinda looking forward to it!

I'm also preparing another application and will send it out early next week. WHOOT!!

Currently Reading - Audience Participation!

I just finished reading Pretty Little Mistakes: A Do-Over Novel by Heather McElhatton, and it was so much fun!!! It is a Choose Your Own Adventure novel for adults!!! I had so many adventures (and misadventures)!! In on scenario I traveled to Europe, in another I joined a cult! I've now been to Greece, I've become a news paper reported, and so many other things. If you get a chance, definitely check that book out!!!

Now, I've decided to start the new Sophie Kinsella novel, Remember Me? Here is a review I found on Amazon:

From Publishers Weekly
Shopaholic powerhouse Kinsella delights again with her latest, a winning if unoriginal tale of amnesia striking an ambitious shrew and changing her life for the better. After taking a nasty bump on the head, Lexi Smart awakens in a hospital convinced that it's 2004 and that she's just missed her father's funeral. It's actually three years later, and she no longer has crooked teeth, frizzy hair and a loser boyfriend. Initially wowed by what she's become—a gorgeous, cut-throat businesswoman—Lexi soon finds herself attempting to figure out how it happened. As her personality change and lost memory threaten her job, Lexi tries to dredge up some chemistry with her handsome albeit priggish husband, Eric, though the effort is unnecessary with Eric's colleague Jon, who tells Lexi that she was about to leave Eric for him. Amnesia tales may be old hat, but Kinsella keeps things fresh and frothy with workplace politicking, romantic intrigue and a vibrant (though sometimes caricatured) cast. Though the happy ending won't come as a surprise, readers will be rooting for Lexi all along. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

So, let me know!! What are you reading these days?

Update: 2008 Book List

A puppy-filled story time!

It took me a few tries to pick today's theme. I started looking at books about trains, bath time, caterpillars/butterflies, and fish - only to find out that I didn't have all the books I wanted for each of these themes. So I put a bunch of books on hold - those themes will be coming in the next couple of weeks!!

For today, though, I finally found three fun books about Puppies!!! Here are the books I chose:




And, of course, it's FMRNS!!! WHOOOOOT!!!! We've decided that tonight will be one of two choices. The first option is Heavy Metal from 1981 with Don Francks and Caroline Semple. The second option is Airplane! from 1980 with Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. No matter which one we pick, I am sure it's going to be a fun evening!!! Which one would you watch?

Dexter

Last Sunday, my dear husband and I happened to catch an episode of a Showtime show that they are now playing on CBS called Dexter. If you haven't heard about it, it's about Dexter Morgan (played by Michael C. Hall from Six Feet Under), who is a blood splatter analyst for the Miami Police. He's also a serial killer! (insert creepy serial killer music here)

DH and I were so intrigued by the episode we saw on TV (which happened to be the second episode in the first season), that we decided to go to Blockbuster and rent the first two disks. We ended up watching 8 episodes in one sitting on Saturday - a beautiful March day when we probably should have been outside enjoying the weather. And, of course, after spending much of Sunday wandering around Centennial Park, we decided to go back to Blockbuster and pick up the rest of the season.

We were instantly hooked, intrigued and totally invested in the characters and plot lines. And there really is no better way to watch TV than TV on DVD!! I don't know how I live with commercials, let alone actually having to WAIT until NEXT WEEK to see what happens next!!! *gasp*

Anyway, if you are looking for a new show, check this one out!!!



Oh, and did I mention, this series was based on a book?! I'm definitely going to have to check out Darkly Dreaming Dexter, and the two other books in the series, by Jeff Lindsey.

The Oscars - a little late

Inspired by a post by both the Bigenarian Librarian and Misadventures of the Monster Librarian, I decided to go through the list of all the Oscar winners for Best Picture and see which ones I have watched. I'm also going to cross-reference them with The List of FMRNS, and see which ones I have seen only because of my friend A. The movies that were part of FMRNS will be highlighted in purple.

The Bigenarian Librarian and The Monster Librarian are both on a mission to see all of the Best Picture winners. I might join them on their quest!!

[ ] No Country for Old Men (2007)
[x] The Departed (2006)
[x] Crash (2005)
[x] Million Dollar Baby (2004)
[x] The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
[x] Chicago (2002)
[x] A Beautiful Mind (2001)
[x] Gladiator (2000)
[x] American Beauty(1999)
[x] Shakespeare in Love (1998)
[x] Titanic (1997)
[x] The English Patient (1996)
[x] Braveheart (1995)
[x] Forrest Gump (1994)
[x] Schindler's List (1993)
[x] Unforgiven (1992)
[x] The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
[x] Dances With Wolves (1990)
[x] Driving Miss Daisy(1989)
[x] Rain Man (1988)
[ ] The Last Emperor (1987)
[x] Platoon (1986)
[ ] Out of Africa (1985)
[ ] Amadeus (1984)
[ ] Terms of Endearment (1983)
[ ] Gandhi (1982)
[ ] Chariots of Fire (1981)
[x] Ordinary People (1980)
[ ] Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
[ ] The Deer Hunter (1978)
[x] Annie Hall (1977)
[x] Rocky(1976)
[x] One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
[ ] The Godfather, Part II (1974) (haven't seen this one yet, but it's on The List!)
[x] The Sting (1973)
[x] The Godfather (1972)
[ ] The French Connection (1971) (haven't seen this one yet, but it's on The List!)
[ ] Patton (1970)
[ ] Midnight Cowboy (1969)
[x] Oliver! (1968)
[ ] In the Heat of the Night (1967)
[ ] A Man for All Seasons (1966)
[x] The Sound of Music (1965)
[x] My Fair Lady (1964)
[ ] Tom Jones (1963)
[x] Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
[x] West Side Story (1961)
[x] The Apartment (1960)
[ ] Ben-Hur (1959)
[x] Gigi (1958)
[ ] The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
[ ] Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
[ ] Marty (1955)
[ ] On the Waterfront (1954)
[ ] From Here to Eternity (1953)
[ ] The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
[ ] An American in Paris (1951)
[x] All About Eve (1950)
[ ] All the King's Men (1949)
[ ] Hamlet (1948)
[ ] Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
[ ] The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
[ ] The Lost Weekend (1945)
[ ] Going My Way (1944)
[x] Casablanca (1943)
[ ] Mrs. Miniver(1942)
[ ] How Green Was My Valley (1941)
[ ] Rebecca (1940) (Haven't seen it yet, but it's on The List!)
[x] Gone with the Wind (1939)
[ ] You Can't Take It With You (1938)
[ ] The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
[ ] The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
[ ] Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
[ ] It Happened One Night (1934)
[ ] Cavalcade(1933)
[ ] Grand Hotel (1932)
[ ] Cimarron (1931)
[ ] All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
[ ] The Broadway Melody (1929)
[ ] Wings (1928)

So, I've seen 36 out of 80. Thirteen of those have been because of The List and 3 more are on the list! Thanks to my friend A for my movie education!!! If all education was like my movie education from FMRNS, I'd be in school for-evah!!! =)