My stroke of insight ( Jill Bolte Taylor )

If you can't get this to load, use this link: http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229

Because it is a lazy day

You Are a Cashew

You are laid back, friendly, and easy going. Compared to most people, you have a very mild temperament. You blend in well. You're often the last person to get noticed. But whenever you're gone, people seem to notice right away!

What Nut Are You?

Hot Young Adult Novel

SF author Corey Doctorow's newest Young Adult book is getting lots of buzz these days (even among adult readers). If you want to check it out, it is available free for download here - http://craphound.com/littlebrother/download/

Time Off!

Two more evening/weekend shifts and the semester is over! I will have a whole month off and then we switch to summer hours so I will actually get home before 11:00 pm at night. I am a very happy camper-to-be.

Now, my plan my month off includes the following tasks. I will be making graduation gifts out of duct tape (I found instructions for a whole set of luggage), going to my nephew's graduation, reading and then...wait for it...actually posting witty, entertaining blog posts about the books I am reading. Really! I will!

Or I might nap. It's kind of hard to tell these days.

Food!

This week my friend and her husband from Switzerland (last seen at Oktoberfest) came to Kansas City to visit. She is one of my bestest friends, a blogger and is a retired librarian. Because I am still in multiple job mode until next week we mainly got together for lunch and dinner. We started on Monday night with one of my favorite restaurants, Lidia's, and I stuffed myself on wine and pasta. On Tuesday we went to lunch at The Classic Cup on the Plaza and had drinks at Mi Cocina (because they can't seem to master the margarita in Switzerland). Today, we finished off with The Thai Place in Westport.

I love my friends and wish they would move back to KC but it probably a good thing they are leaving tomorrow because it is now serious diet time:(

Names on a Map: A Novel by Benjamin Alire Saenz

I must have a thing for novels set in the 60's this year. First My Revolutions and now Names on a Map: A Novel. Names is the story of one week in 1967 that brings momentous change to the Espejo family. When a draft notice is delivered to the oldest son, Gustavo, he is forced to chose between disappointing his father and following his conscience. Mirroring the turmoil that infects El Paso and the nation, each family member's reaction to this event shapes the story of their lives. The alternating viewpoints give you a complete picture of each family member and the why the decision each makes has such an impact on the character and the family.

Novels written by poets almost always make me happy. I love stopping and looking out the window at the green, sunlit world (assuming it is out there) and thinking about a beautiful turn of phrase or a stunning description. Some days that is really all I need to have a worthwhile day.

Confused????

When I started this blog I did it so I could keep track of my reading for my Notable Committee. When a few people started reading it I felt quite a bit of pressure "to produce" and so started commenting on my life more so the few year was a mixture of book reviews, dating woe stories and rants about dead animals and mowing. Eventually I decided that since people at work read this blog I would move my dating stories and other assorted rants to my myspace page so that people who wanted to read about books wouldn't have that inflicted on them, not to mention the fact that the people at work don't really need to know that much about my dating life...or lack thereof.

But, because it is tradition, I will comment a bit on lawns. Men seem quite enamoured of them and I have learned since purchasing a home that some neighbors care a great deal about them as well. BUT, I don't get it. In a few minutes, I will go to the store and buy a weed and feed fertilizer in order to get my grass to grow...and then I will spend the rest of the summer either watering it to keep it growing or cutting it to keep it from growing too much. Does this make sense to anyone else? Why exactly are we doing this again? There are other plants, many of which are currently scattered throughout my lawn. They are green. Some have pretty flowers. Most don't seem to need any water or food. Why are these bad again?

In other homeowner news, the Roeland Park sustainability committee is having an Earth Day Open House today from 3 -5 pm at Roeland Park City Hall (4600 W 51st St, Roeland Park, KS). There will be information on Rain Gardens (which I have planned on doing for the past few years but can't seem to work up the energy to actually do), recycling and composting. All very good things in my personal opinion. Hope to see you there.

Boob cake

Last night's blogger meet-up featured the infamous "boob cake" in honor of a bloggy friend's upcoming boob job. To see the cake and read more about the meet-up, go to Janet's site. I will back tomorrow with something bookish but now I am off to do more interviews.

Librarian T-Shirts

I need a new t-shirt but can't decide which one I should get. Any suggestions?

http://www.unshelved.com/store.aspx?cat=shirts#RA

Slow post week

I am conducting interviews all week to fill one of my open positions at the library. On the plus side, I have had some really great people interview. On the minus side, I can't give them all jobs.

Sadly, it leaves me little time to post but I will be back soon....I hope.

Favorite Author Alert

I am slowly finding "free" downloadable books for all my favorite authors to post about on here so that you can all be brainwashed into thinking they are great too. Today I want to introduce Kelly Link, one of my favorite new-to-me authors. Stranger Things Happen, a short story collection can be found here (and at the library) in the freebie edition. When you are done with that, don't miss my favorite, Magic for Beginners.

See I'm Blue...the color of serenity

Your Aura is Blue

Spiritual and calm, you tend to live a quiet but enriching life. You are very giving of yourself. And it's hard for you to let go of relationships. The purpose of your life: showing love to other people Famous blues include: Angelina Jolie, the Dali Lama, Oprah Careers for you to try: Psychic, Peace Corps Volunteer, Counselor

What Color Is Your Aura?

PSA for Australian Public Libraries

I went to the Chevelle concert last night and am now tired (and a little cranky) so I thought I would post a fun little time waster for you all.

Arrrrrrrrgh! This phone posting is

Arrrrrrrrgh!
This phone posting is tricker than I thought. If anyone cares anymore, which is highly doubtful, I am blue...the color of serenity!

Posting from my phone (because

Posting from my phone (because I am out & about) so tonight it's just the link to my color. www.blogthings.com/whatcolorisyourauraquiz/

Darfur fundraiser

Concert to benefit the fight against genocide in Darfur featuring Lights and Siren, Distance to Empty, Seedlove, and Brahe

Time: Sunday, April 20 at 7:00 PM

Location:
Beaumont Club (Kansas City, MO)
4050 Pennsylvania AveKansas City, MO 64111

I can't go (work once again interferes with my social life) but I hope some of you will go, support local talent and raise some money for a good cause.

Happy National Library Week to me!

If you want to say Happy National Library Week to me in person come out to the Friends of the Library booksale this Friday and Saturday. Oh, and it is ok to bring me a cookie if you want to:)

My Revolutions: A Novel by Hari Kunzru

Warning! If you have read this author and loved him you may be disappointed because this is nothing like his other work (Well, his use of language is still superb but the plot, etc...is very different.)

Hari Kunzru explores the question of what happens to revolutionary characters after the revolution. In this page turning novel, college student Chris Carver joins the revolution in London which quickly turns terrorist causing him to leave behind his identity and create a new life for himself. Every page infuses fresh life into the often told story of 1960’s idealism and Chris’ need to change the world that abruptly erupts into violence and terrorism.

Author Talk

Hang in there until about the 4 minutes mark. It is worth the wait.

If you need more, go to http://authortalk.wordpress.com/

Duct Tape (repost from my other blog)

Today I continued my quest (in between meetings) to find a fun, easy craft for a library teen program. My problem is that I am not in a crafty mood so everything looks complicated and not very cute. I kept drifting back to the iPod case made out of Duct Tape but then I started to think. What if the teens don't have an iPod? Maybe their parents will only let them get an off brand mp3 player. What if, horror of horrors, they have NO mp3 player of any kind? So I started searching around on the web for something else to have as a back-up craft for those sad pathetic teens and found a whole website dedicated to making things out of Duct Tape. I know, I know. Will the awesomeness of our world never end? To see this magical place, follow the link to Duct Tape Guys.

As I was browsing the site it suddenly dawned on me that my gift purchasing woes are over. (Nephew's High School graduation, Dad's 75th birthday, much angst and trauma buying for boys who have everything) After all, my dad carried the handmade leather wallet I made for him in shop class around for years. I am sure he would love a wallet made out of Duct Tape. Right?