MENU

September 30, 2010

Signed Sealed Delivered...

Yesterday I got a voicemail from "Favorite Page #1" telling me that she received the box-o-goodies that my Department Head and I sent her -- We sent her one of those flat rate boxes from the post office filled with things that we thought that she'd like. She sounded so happy and I was just ecstatic about it. After I listen to her voicemail I called her back so that everyone in the Department could say hello to her and so that she could hear some familiar voices. I think it brightened up everyone's day.

In addition to speaking to "Favorite Page #1" yesterday, we had a crêpe party in the office. I brought Justin' crêpe maker to work and made a bunch of crêpes. My coworkers supplied the filling and we had a ball. Yesterday was an awesome day.

September 29, 2010

Overdue Archives: New York Comic Con 2009...

Because I'm super excited for New York Comic Con (NYCC) next week I thought I should revisit my NYCC 2009 experience.

I attended New York Comic Con 2009 on February 6th at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. I was sent along with two of my coworkers after I submitted a fifty page proposal to our Director -- The proposal included a lengthy letter and lots of documentation showing why librarians should attend a comic book convention.


At NYCC we attended several professional panels about purchasing comics/manga/graphic novels for libraries, the best of the three for young adults and about classics that every library should own. After the panels we went straight for the swag, and oh did we end up with tons of stuff -- We even ended up with stuff that we shouldn't have gotten for free but since vendors found out that we were librarians we got extras. We met authors, artists, publishers, etc. We got sneak peaks at tons of forthcoming materials. It was awesome. Unfortunately I only got to go one day even though I had a three day pass because I had to work the Saturday and Justin had pneumonia.

I'm so excited for the Con this year. I cannot wait for next Friday!

September 28, 2010

Library Articles: Banned Books Week Edition...

10 Graphic Novels And The Shocking Reasons They Frequently Come Under Fire
Banned Books Week Should Thank Twitter
Banned Books Week: Controversial Books Brought to Front Shelf


Epic Fail...

I had like the most epic of all fails today. I was attempting to clean my bedroom when I found these old Epipen that I had been prescribed after my throat had closed up in college from eating in the dining hall. Being a curious cat I had to open it and look at it and you can just guess what happened next... Yup, I accidentally stabbed myself in the palm with epinephrine. Yeah, I know...



So, hours later my palm still hurts when you touch it and my right hand still feels a bit funny. Yup, that was my epic fail.

Flat Stanley...

I just realized that I never posted my pictures of Flat Stanley around Europe. Unfortunately no one e-mailed me any photos of the Flat Stanleys that I left scattered across Europe -- C'est la vie! At least I have my own photos.


Manic Monday...

Monday I spent my whole day at the library. I worked from 9:00am-5:00pm and then I interned until 9:00pm. It was a long day. Thankfully I have off today and I will spend the majority of the day sleeping until I have to drive to my university and pay my tuition. I'll probably end up going shopping also, but I don't know yet.

I must note that New York Comic Con (NYCC) is in 10 day and I cannot wait. My friend Chas is also coming to visit next week from Cali and I have off a few days from work to hang out with her. So, epicness shall occur next week.

Saturday Drawing...

While I had my headache on Saturday I drew this picture to express my annoyance at all of the people I had to yell at while in pain.



I honestly say that every time someone is running and I'm dead serious, I will not give anyone who got hurt doing something they shouldn't be doing an ice pack. I don't give a damn, people need to learn to listen to the rules.

September 26, 2010

September 25, 2010

First Saturday...

So, today is/was my first Saturday not working with "Favorite Page #1" and it is epically sad. I miss her and I want my Page back! Her replacement can't hold a candle to her and she isn't anywhere near as interesting.

Headache...

I am currently trapped at work with a wicked headache and a music festival going on outside of the doors to the department. It's tragic. I can't wait for this day to be over.

Library Articles: Banned Books Week Edition...

Celebrate the Freedom to Read Banned Books
Banned Books Week: Banned and Challenged Manga of 2009-2010
Banned Books Week 2010: Which Books Drew the Most Fire Last Year?
Celebrate Banned Books Week at Wolfsonian with a Film About Smutty Literature
In Missouri, Banned Books Week Starts Early
Banned Books Week 2010
Youth Author Talks About Censorship at Library Program

Top 100 Banned or Challenged Books from 2000-2009...

Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009

1 Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
2 Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
3 The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
4 And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
5 Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
6 I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
7 Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
8 His Dark Materials (series), by Philip Pullman
9 TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Myracle, Lauren
10 The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
11 Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
12 It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
13 Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
14 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
15 The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
16 Forever, by Judy Blume
17 The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
18 Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
19 Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
20 King and King, by Linda de Haan
21 To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
22 Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar
23 The Giver, by Lois Lowry
24 In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
25 Killing Mr. Griffen, by Lois Duncan
26 Beloved, by Toni Morrison
27 My Brother Sam Is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier
28 Bridge To Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
29 The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney
30 We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier
31 What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones
32 Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
33 Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson
34 The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
35 Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging, by Louise Rennison
36 Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
37 It’s So Amazing, by Robie Harris
38 Arming America, by Michael Bellasiles
39 Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane
40 Life is Funny, by E.R. Frank
41 Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher
42 The Fighting Ground, by Avi
43 Blubber, by Judy Blume
44 Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher
45 Crazy Lady, by Jane Leslie Conly
46 Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
47 The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby, by George Beard
48 Rainbow Boys, by Alex Sanchez
49 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey
50 The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
51 Daughters of Eve, by Lois Duncan
52 The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson
53 You Hear Me?, by Betsy Franco
54 The Facts Speak for Themselves, by Brock Cole
55 Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Green
56 When Dad Killed Mom, by Julius Lester
57 Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause
58 Fat Kid Rules the World, by K.L. Going
59 Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
60 Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
61 Draw Me A Star, by Eric Carle
62 The Stupids (series), by Harry Allard
63 The Terrorist, by Caroline B. Cooney
64 Mick Harte Was Here, by Barbara Park
65 The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien
66 Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor
67 A Time to Kill, by John Grisham
68 Always Running, by Luis Rodriguez
69 Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
70 Harris and Me, by Gary Paulsen
71 Junie B. Jones (series), by Barbara Park
72 Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
73 What’s Happening to My Body Book, by Lynda Madaras
74 The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold
75 Anastasia (series), by Lois Lowry
76 A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving
77 Crazy: A Novel, by Benjamin Lebert
78 The Joy of Gay Sex, by Dr. Charles Silverstein
79 The Upstairs Room, by Johanna Reiss
80 A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck
81 Black Boy, by Richard Wright
82 Deal With It!, by Esther Drill
83 Detour for Emmy, by Marilyn Reynolds
84 So Far From the Bamboo Grove, by Yoko Watkins
85 Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, by Chris Crutcher
86 Cut, by Patricia McCormick
87 Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
88 The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
89 Friday Night Lights, by H.G. Bissenger
90 A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’Engle
91 Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Graighead George
92 The Boy Who Lost His Face, by Louis Sachar
93 Bumps in the Night, by Harry Allard
94 Goosebumps (series), by R.L. Stine
95 Shade’s Children, by Garth Nix
96 Grendel, by John Gardner
97 The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende
98 I Saw Esau, by Iona Opte
99 Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume
100 America: A Novel, by Frank, E.R.

Library Articles: Banned Books Week Edition...

10 Ways to Celebrate Banned Books Week
Can Censoring a Children’s Book Remove Its Prejudices?
'Celebrate' Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week Poster...


September 25−October 2, 2010


Banned Books Week...

Banned Books Week (BBW) starts today and I thought I'd get the word out seeing as my library doesn't actually acknowledge it. Here is the information that the American Library Association (ALA) provides on their website about it:


September 25−October 2, 2010

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.

Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—provides the foundation for Banned Books Week. BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them.

The books featured during Banned Books Week have been targets of attempted bannings. Fortunately, while some books were banned or restricted, in a majority of cases the books were not banned, all thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections. Imagine how many more books might be challenged—and possibly banned or restricted—if librarians, teachers, and booksellers across the country did not use Banned Books Week each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.

Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association; American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression; the American Library Association; American Society of Journalists and Authors; Association of American Publishers; and the National Association of College Stores. It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

For more information on getting involved with Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read, please see Calendar of Events and Ideas and Resources. You can also contact the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4220, or bbw@ala.org.

September 22, 2010

Bitchy Patrons...

I'm working a split shift today. I already work 9:00am - 12:00pm and I have to go back later to work from 5:00pm - 9:00pm. Fun, I know...

Working this split has provided me with a work related bitch post and it goes as follows... Earlier as I was getting ready to leave work there was a woman standing at the reference desk, so I asked her if she needed any help even though I had all of my stuff in my hands. She said that she needed help finding books for her son in college and she shows me the list. It was a list that said crap like "find a Caldecott winner" or "find a picture book for children in 3rd to 6th grade." I looked at this lady and I was like "Your son should have done the research ahead of time because you handing me this list is asking me to do his homework..." That is when she got bitchy and I refused to help her -- I pawned her off to my coworker and left because I knew I was gonna get into a fight with her.

I need the World to know that I don't do people's homework. If you don't come into the library with some of the research done I am not doing anything for you. Teachers actually do the same thing, they come in saying they need to do a lesson on X, Y & Z but have nothing done already or any clue about what they want. It is so annoying and frustrating, and it is the exact reason that I refuse to work as a School Media Specialist even though that is what I went to school for.

September 21, 2010

Library Vocabulary...



I figured I'd throw in this vocabulary word because last night while I was interning one of the Adult Librarians and I were discussing that lack of use of databases by the patrons that visit the Youth Services Department.

Larry The Loud Librarian #2...

Library Article...

New Libraries Offer New Way of Learning

Busy Busy Busy...

I've been extra busy now that I've tacked 10 hours of internship on top of my normal work schedule. I've been using my lunch hour to do intern-ish stuff and I've been staying after work so that I can bang this thing out as soon as I can -- I was in the library from 9am - 9pm yesterday. I need to get this internship done and finally become a real librarian.

On the plus side I'll have more to write about in terms of odd things that happen because there are some freaks downstairs. Speaking of freaks, yesterday myself and the two librarians I was with were yelled at by a little Hispanic lady who is always asking for people to recommend movies to her and denies everything you hand her after wasting twenty to thirty minutes of your time -- One of the librarians thinks that she is illiterate. She was yelling that we were "useless" and asked us why we were there because we weren't helping people and we should be helping people, blah blah blah blah blah...

So, yeah... it should be interesting downstairs. I'll keep you posted.

September 20, 2010

Self Check Out...

So, my Library got a self check out computer a few weeks ago and apparently one of the head Clerks name the machine after me. Exciting, I know...

How did this machine come to be given such a lovely name you ask? Well, I'm pretty sure I've mentioned in the past that I used to work half as a Clerk and half as a Librarian Trainee until my Director decided to put me in the Youth Services Department full time. Well, they made me full time over six months ago and the Clerk in question was recently asking the Director when he was going to replace me. And being a smart ass my Director told her he did already, he bought a self check out computer. Thus the computer was named after moi!

September 17, 2010

Library Articles...

Library in an Airport
Vatican Library Exposed
Reading Agency Defends Libraries' Impact on Literacy

This Is The End...

Last night was the beginning of the end for me in terms of being a Library Science student. I started my final course, my internship. Which I'll be doing in the Adult Services Department of my library in addition to my normal hours as a Youth Service Department Librarian Trainee (Now I'll really be living in the library because I need an additional ten hours, unpaid, a week tacked on to my normal work schedule).

The actual class itself was quite boring because the battty old Library Science professor that everyone dreads was in charge of the class. But it was only an hour and fifty minutes long, so it could have been worse. The best thing about this course is that I only have to physically go to class three times, so I don't have to deal with my professor that often.

But yeah, I'm exited to almost be done with school!

September 14, 2010

Boisterous Weekend...

The minute I walked into work this morning I was greeted by my Director who found the need to say to me "You shouldn't call in sick after such a boisterous weekend." I was instantly enraged (Not that I was in a great mood coming into work) and I went straight to the Children's Department, turned the computers on and deleted all but two of my coworkers from my Facebook™ friends list. When they figure it out and ask me why I did it I'm going to tell them it is because they are a bunch of big mouthed bitches and that me going out Friday and Saturday had nothing to do with me calling out yesterday.

I was feeling better for a while at work, but my ear eventually started to hurt and I got dizzy -- This is one of the things that can happen when my temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) flares up. I tried to wait it out to see if it would go away and it didn't, so I had to call my father to bring me home because I wasn't going to drive dizzy. So, I lasted all of three hours and went home sick. So, no interesting stories for today.

Larry The Loud Librarian #1...

Library Article...

Library Gets Book Back After 35 Years: Outrageous Overdue Fine

September 13, 2010

I Love My Librarian...

Every year the American Library Association (ALA) with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York and The New York Times sponsors the "I Love My Librarian Award" -- Which I cannot be nominated for but I thought I'd mentioned it in case there is another librarian out there that you would like to nominate.

Here is some of the information from ILoveLibraries.Org on the award:

There are nearly 123,000 libraries nationwide, and librarians touch the lives of the people they serve every day. The award encourages library users like you to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians. We want to hear how you think your librarian is improving the lives of the people in your school, campus or community.

Up to ten winners will be selected this year and receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque and $500 travel stipend to attend an awards reception in New York hosted by The New York Times. In addition, a plaque will be given to each award winner’s library.

Nomination Links

Library Article...

Vatican Library Reopens After 3-Year Restoration

First Week Of September...

I would like to apologize for not updating in almost a week. I've been crazy busy all week and the only reason I really have time to blog right now is because I'm home sick -- I feel super blah today. Funny thing about me not going to work today, I called in sick at 8:30am before the library even opened, I called and spoke with the Director and he said he'd tell my Department Head. An hour later I get a phone call from my Department Head questioning me about whether or not I was coming to work. I ensured her that I called and spoke with the Director which in turn made her mad at him. So they had a big communication fail. But enough about that, let me update you all on what was my past week work and play related.

Lets start off with work... As I mentioned in an early post we got new carpeting and tiles in the library, so I've been super busy helping my department head putting things back were they belong. Which has been a super shitty job because "Julia" and the other librarian "Amy" are unable to help us for whatever bull shit reasons. In addition the other ladies in my department just flat out refuse to help, leaving all of the work for my department head and I. So, that has eaten up a decent chunk of my time at work.

Aside from my "other assigned tasks" I've also had the pleasure of having to deal with the first day of after school tweens and teens -- The school year starting means that I'll have way more posts about chaos going on in my department because all of the amusing stuff happens during the school year. So, Wednesday was the first day of school here and it was also the first time I've had to deal with a huge group of teens in months. These particular teens decided to park themselves in our picture book room -- they did had two small children with them -- and be super loud. One teen in particular wanted to use our computers and when he was told he didn't have permission forms filled out by his parents and that he couldn't go on the computer he walked over to the group of teens and started asking them to fill out the forms and pretend to be his parent. He asked them quite loudly and within my earshot. I looked at all of them and informed them that I am neither deaf nor dumb, and that I could hear everything they were saying. They laughed when I said this and continued, only one of them was like "Hey guys, she can hear you and I don't think she is going to accept that permission form..." C'mon, what is wrong with these teens?! They really must think that they are guinuesses and that the rest of us are stupid. I just couldn't believe what was going on.

Later on the same kid that was trying to get on the computers asks me for two pieces of paper and I had him two pieces of white computer paper. He gets snippy with me and was all "I need lined paper!" My responce to him was "I'm not Staples, go buy yourself a pack of loose leaf for .99¢" He made a face at me and told me not to be sarcastic. I informed him as I walked away from him that that wasn't sarcasim, that was me being snarky and mean.

In addition to these fun incidents, on Friday our biggest problem teen returned and was back giving us all attitude. I look forward to seeing how she behaves this year. I'll keep you updated.

That's enough with the bad teens. On Friday one of my favorite kids brought her pet duck into the library for a quick visit, which only caused minor problems because I failed to inform my department head about the possiblity of a duck visit. Aside from her everyone else was excited to see the duck, which had a dress, diaper and leash on. It was super cute.

In terms of my personal life; I got a hair cut and dyed my hair black on Thursday, I hung out with my college friends Friday & Saturday (My roommate jumped on me and wrapped her legs around me and she wouldn't let me go for a good ten minutes) and Sunday Justin and I went to a Mets game, then out for Cuban food after the game.

September 6, 2010

Crossing Things Off...

So, I've just realized that I've actually accomplished several of the items on my list of Twenty-Five Things To Do! Time to cross them off!
Twenty-Five Things To Do By March 3rd 2011:
  1. Get Thrown Out of a Nightclub (#6)
  2. People Watch in Paris (#52)
  3. Drink Only Water for a Month
  4. Take Up a Hobby – Just for You, Just for Fun (#86)
  5. Do Something that Scares You (#69)
  6. Take a Dance Class
  7. Explore Religious Teachings for a Tradition You Weren’t Raised In (#16)
  8. Buy a Princess Dress (#35)
  9. Love Your Body (#25)
  10. Mail a Postcard to Post Secret
  11. Learn a Foreign Language (#80)
  12. Go to a Shooting Range
  13. Finish Unfinished Business (#14)
  14. Go Inside the Statue of Liberty
  15. Eat Too Much in Italy (#60)
  16. Learn to Walk in Three Inch Stilettos (#30)
  17. Go Wine Tasting
  18. Say Yes to a Night Out with Locals (#53)
  19. Swim With Sharks (#47)
  20. Learn to Drive Stick Shift
  21. Indulge in a Great Work of Literature (#88)
  22. Get a Tattoo
  23. Go Ghost Hunting in England (#59)
  24. Create a Cookbook of My Recipes
  25. Learn to Get a Good Night’s Sleep (#99)

Labor Day Weekend...

This fine Labor Day weekend was spent attending a nine-year-old's birthday party/a block party, visiting the Old Bethpage Village Restoration and going to the 64th Shinnecock Nation Pow Wow with my family. It all might sound lame, but I had a lovely weekend with my boyfriend, his family and my own family. I actually feel like all of the things that I did this weekend went along with all of the other odd things I ended up doing throughout the course of the summer. I guess it was a fitting way to end the summer.

September 5, 2010

Photos From Europe...

Here are some of the 1,600+ pictures I took throughout the course of my stay in Europe.




September 3, 2010

March Of The Librarians...

Box Bitch...

I don't know if I've mentioned this in the past or not, but I end up doing a lot of things that I wasn't told I'd ever do in Library School. Yesterday was one of those days were I ended up doing randomness that has nothing at all with my job description. I moved boxes for hours because new carpeting is being installed in the building -- Our Director didn't want to close the library down, so the old carpeting is being ripped out and the new carpeting is being installed at night after the library closes.

So, I spent my shift moving boxes back into our half carpeted department, cleaning and making new signs. It was an interesting evening I guess... I wouldn't have minded as much if the other two librarians actually helped, they both had some bull shit reasoning as to why they couldn't help move the boxes. Apparently I have the same in store for me today. Oh joy!

September 1, 2010

The Prodigal Librarian Returns...

The prodigal Librarian has returned from her travels in Europe! Here is a day by day breakdown of what I did while I was away.

August 21st 2010: Erin and I arrived at Heathrow Airport in London at around 8:30am after an almost seven hour flight. Once through customs and after retrieving our baggage from the correct belt we were met by a representative from the company we booked our trip through and were taken via coach, along with other customers to the hotel in London -- Novotel West. Once there we signed in with the company, chose a few excursions to take while in London and checked into our hotel room.

After changing our clothing and sprusing up after our long flight we hopped onto a coach to take a drive around London, as well as vist the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels. Later on that evening we went to The Prospect of Whitby "London's Oldest Riverside Inn" (1520) for dinner and we took a night time river cruise up and down the Thames River.

August 22nd 2010: We woke up, had breakfast and headed out to see the Royal Mews and take a tour of Buckingham Palace.

After the tour Erin and I got off at the hotel closest to the London Eye so that we could go on it and then wander around London. We took a bunch of pictures in front of Big Ben, went on the Eye, ate ice cream, wandered through a sea of street performers on the South Bank of the Thames, walked to Trafalgar Square to take pictures with the lions and headed over to Piccadilly Circus before going back to the hotel for dinner.

August 23rd 2010: We took a coach from London to Dover so that we could catch the ferry to Calais, France.

Once in Calais we were greeted by our tour director and driver, then we headed to Brussels, Belgium. Unfortunally it was mighty windy outside and we had to stop for about an hour while the driver tried to fix the coach's side view mirror, which had been blown out of place by the wind. Eventually we arrived in Brussels and headed for the Grand Place to shop, eat and sight see. We ate waffles, drank beer, ate chocolate, saw Manneken Pis (the statue of the little boy peeing) and encountered a pick pocket who caught Erin's attention before he was able to strike. And we did this all in about an hours time before we had to go back to the group meeting point to go back to the hotel.

When at the meeting point our tour director noticed that someone was missing and we waited around an extra thirty minutes for them to show up and they didn't, so we left them. Once at the hotel the tour director gets a phone call from the woman that was lost and she went crazy. She threatened him, blah blah blah... I honestly didn't care about her, so I went upstairs to the room to chill out. After a while Erin and I got hungry because all we had for dinner were a waffle a piece and beer, so we went in search of food. Unfortunately the hotel restaurant was closed so we ended up going to the vending machine and getting chips and beer -- The beer was an accident, I really wanted a soda but nothing came out when I pressed the buttons. So, I pressed the button for the beer and it was the only one that worked. I had beer, chips and sleeping pills for dinner, which I consummed as I flipped through the channels -- We go to see The Jersey Shore (2009) in English with bad Flemish dubbing over it.

August 24th 2010: We headed into Germany and took a river cruise down the Rhine. It was so beautiful, I loved it. After the cruise we headed towards the "Frankfurt Area" to our hotel -- It was forty-five minutes from the heart of Frankfurt, which was dissapointing. Once at the hotel we hung out in the sauna and the pool before going to the hotel bar for drinks. It was at the bar that we met our new friends and the nicest black cat ever.

August 25th 2010: We visited Rothenburg, Germany before heading to Innsbruck, Austria -- Which was my favorite destination throughout the course of the whole trip. In Austria we (Myself, Erin and our new friends) wandered around on our own and ended up in a bar in the New City where we drank until it closed. When it did finally close we went walking around and we were beckoned into a bar called Orangerie by locals. We drank until 3:00am with the locals, taught the bartender what a mimosa was (he called it a "babushka" and a "papusa" for the evening), had songs dedicated to us, got grinded up on by an Austrian Brian Bell look-a-like, got chanted at "New York! New York! F@%k Tokyo!" After we left the bar we went to the center of town to take drunken pictures before heading back to the hotel.

August 26th 2010: I woke up drunk from the night before -- I only spent for two hours asleep that night. After stumbling around during breakfast, we hopped on the coach and headed towards Venice, Italy. We took a boat to the island were we went shopping, took a gondola ride and went shopping some more. After the day on the island we went to the hotel, which blew. The staff at the hotel was super rude and they pissed everyone off. The highlight of the area was the pizza that Erin and I found after a lackluster dinner.

August 27th 2010: We headed to Verona, Italy where we wandered around, saw Casa di Giulietta (Juilet), the statue of Giulietta, went shopping, peed in a hole in the ground, ate crepes and strawberries and took pictures.

Once we left we headed to Switzerland. We ended up at a bar named Moskito in the evening, where we played quaters forever before walking over to the Lake Lucerne. One of our new friends fell into the lake and Erin went to help her, then she got pulled in -- It was the funniest thing I have ever seen.

August 28th 2010: We went shopping in Lucerne before taking an excursion up the Stanserhorn Mountain -- It was neat, but it had been raining out so we ended up in a cloud, thus we weren't able to see anything. We went shopping and ate while on the mountain, since we couldn't see.

After we finished at the mountain we went back into town to get the tour members that didn't join us on the excursion and then we headed to Dijon, France. In Dijon we went to dinner at an outdoor restaurant that forgot about my food, and where rats were fighting under the sidewalk. Once we were done with dinner we ended up at a France Karaoke bar, which was super funny. When we left the bar we went back to the hotel and I sat in the lobby beause they had free Wifi, so I checked my e-mail and such.

August 29th 2010: We woke up late and still managed to get dressed, get our luggage out on time and eat breakfast -- We are ninjas. We left Dijon and headed to Paris, where we had a local guide show us around; we wandered around by Notre Dame, bought trinkets, saw all of the big tourist sites and took pitures by the Eiffle Tower -- This is where I was called an animal by a black Parisian who was trying to set us up to be robbed.

Eventually we went to the hotel, where we got ready for the farewell dinner (we decided to go because there was unlimited drinks). We went to dinner, got drunk and went to Montmarte. When we arrived back at the hotel we decided that we should go to a local bar and we did.

August 30th 2010: Those who were left (a lot of people were leaving from Paris, while we were leaving from London) hopped on the coach to head back to Calais to take the ferry bak to Dover. Once back at Dover we got on a coach and drove back to London.

When in London we all changed our clothes, got on the Underground and went to London's Chinatown to have Vietnamese food. After dinner we went shopping and watched street performers at Piccadilly.

August 31st 2010: We slept in, made sure we packed everything and took the seven hour flight back home.

52 Ways To Use Your Library Card...

52 WAYS TO USE YOUR LIBRARY CARD
One For Each Week Of The Year!

1. Get to know your librarian, the ultimate search engine @ your library.
2. Update your MySpace page.
3. Research new job opportunities.
4. Find a list of childcare centers in your area.
5. Learn about local candidates for office.
6. Pick up voter registration information.
7. Check out your favorite graphic novel.
8. Pick up a DVD.
9. Get wireless access.
10. Participate in a community forum.
11. Find out how to navigate the Internet.
12. Prepare your resume.
13. Get new ideas for redecorating your house.
14. Get a list of community organizations.
15. Attend a lecture or workshop.
16. Hear a local author reading his/her latest novel.
17. Join a book discussion group.
18. Attend preschool story hour with your child.
19. Get homework help.
20. Look up all kinds of health information.
21. Research the purchase of a new car.
22. Trek to another planet in a Sci-Fi novel.
23. Call the reference desk if you have a question.
24. Research your term paper.
25. Learn about the history or your city or town.
26. Decide which computer to buy using a consumer guide.
27. Check your stock portfolio.
28. Borrow or download an audiobook for your next road trip or commute.
29. Use the library’s resources to start a small business.
30. See a new art exhibit.
31. Volunteer as a literacy tutor.
32. Find a new recipe.
33. Ask for a recommended reading list for your kids.
34. Make photocopies.
35. Get a book from interlibrary loan.
36. Enroll your child in a summer reading program.
37. Take a computer class.
38. Hear a poetry reading.
39. Take out the latest fashion magazine.
40. Enjoy a concert.
41. Trace your family tree.
42. Check out a special collection of rare books.
43. Check out a legal question or issue.
44. Find out how to file a consumer complaint.
45. Learn about home improvement.
46. Borrow some sheet music.
47. Learn how to use a database or computerized catalog.
48. Find the latest romance paperback.
49. Pick up tax forms.
50. Connect with other people in the community.
51. Find a quiet spot, curl up with a book and enjoy.
52. Read a newspaper from another country.

NOTE: I didn't write this, I got this off of the American Library Association (ALA) website here.

Library Card Sign-Up Month Proclmation...

Library Card Sign-Up Month 2010 Proclamation

Whereas, the smartest card is a library card;

Whereas, in times of economic hardship, Americans turn to – and depend on – their libraries and librarians;

Whereas, libraries nationwide design and offer programs tailored to meet their local community’s economic needs;

Whereas, public library staff help students learn how to perform age-appropriate Internet searches, online tutoring and Web-based resources for homework help using free, public-access computers;

Whereas, children who have library cards and use the library perform better in school;

Whereas, by motivating children to read, librarians create lifelong readers, and that makes for better citizens, which makes for a healthier democracy;

Whereas, the most important school supply of all is a library card;

Whereas, be it resolved that I, the Misfit Librarian, proclaim September, Library Card Sign-Up Month and encourage everyone to sign up for the smartest card @ your library.

NOTE: I didn't write this, I got this off of the American Library Association (ALA) website here.

Library Card Sign-Up Month...