Earthquake...

I'm sure by now you all know that there was a 5.8 magnitude earthquake that shook the east coast and we sure as hell felt it here at my library. Myself, my Department Head and "Marie" were all sitting in the office when it happened, "Amy" was stuck in the elevator and "Julia" was in the staff room microwaving something. We had patrons freaking asking if they should evacuate -- I actually told someone that they'd just end up dying outside instead of inside.

All in all it was pretty interesting, especially since our Director is away on vacation and the person in charge freaked out -- She was screaming for everyone to get out. I wonder what our Director would have done if he was here.

Splats On Paper...

I was bored at work and I ended up drawing/painting this by connecting the multicolor splats and letting it my odd mind take over. "Amy" asked me if it was supposed to be Alice and it kinda looks like her, but that wasn't what I was going for.

Accidentally Alone...

I got into work at 11:00am to find "Julia" sitting at the reference desk with nothing but her computer turned on. After putting my stuff down she comes into the office and apologizes that nothing is turned on because she got into a car accident before she got to work (Apparently she didn't get in until after 10:00am) and she was still flustered. I pretended to care about her story and told her if she needed to leave early to deal with things that I'd be fine by myself. Obviously she took up my offer and ran out of the building as quickly as she could. In the process she forgot to tell anyone remotely in charge that she was leaving and she left her wallet on her desk (I wonder how long it'll take her to call in about it).

I'm so happy she ended up leaving because I was dreading being alone with her until "Amy" came in at 5:00pm. Now I'm free to do as I please, which means I'll be updating my blogs and reading my favorites.

Carpet Cleaning Hell...

It's that dreaded day of the year again... The day before the carpets are deep cleaned. Why is this such an evil day you ask? Well, because we (Mainly myself and my Department Head) end up having to move tons of boxes and random crap that typically live on the floor up on to desks, carts, etc. Then I end up having to vacuum under everyone's desks. It's basically a day full of bitch work that we're all overqualified to do, but still are forced to do.

While cleaning under "Amy's" desk I was poked in the eye by a giant "Thank You" card that some idiotic patron gave her God knows how long ago. In addition to that, I got a face full of dust because she doesn't understand the concept of periodically cleaning under ones desk.

"Julia" was being useless. She parked her fat ass at the reference desk and pretended to be a real librarian.

We moved a lot of stuff into our program room after putting whatever was under our desks on top of them. We had to move spinners, book displays, shelves, etc. It was annoying, but the silver lining was that I don't have to put everything back on Monday because I'll be in Miami.

Malnourishment...

In other "Sarah" related news, she is mad at me because I asked my Department Head in front of her if she wanted anything from one of the local pizzerias (Lenni and I were going out to lunch) but I didn't ask her. What the hell?!?!! Why would I ask her if she wanted something, we both don't like each other... Plus, why would I waste my energy carrying something to nourish her?

I really don't understand why there is so much food related drama in my department (I mean, I kinda do because everyone is a flipping fatty). Why do these bitches think that I have to ask them if they want something if I ask someone else? I am not a delivery service and I am not friends with them. They don't call around the building asking people if they wanna order food. Nor do they offer to pick something up for anyone else typically ("Amy" is the only one that kinda does this). So why should I?!?!!

I need to stop mentioning lunch in front of these women.

Craft Breakdown...

Apparently there was a cluster fuck of confusion going on in the department while I was on my dinner break yesterday. Our Department Head had left for the day without assigning someone to do the craft that we had going on. So "Julia" and "Amy" were left to figure this out on their own. They decided that "Julia" would do the craft, but apparently neither of them knew what the craft was supposed to be (It was a Father's Day craft) and they were running around trying to figure out what to do. At some point "Emily" realized what the two of them were trying to figure out and gave them the craft.

It doesn't end there, the geniuses couldn't find the key that opens our supply cabinet -- I was on my desk because I was going in and out of it today getting things to work on my decorations for the reading club. So they were freaking out trying to figure out how to do the craft, blah, blah, blah... "Emily" handed "Julia" some of the glue from the stash hidden under her desk, some markers and told "Julia" to deal with what she had. "Amy" obviously had to call our Department Head to inform her about what was going on and to try to get her help. She was no having it and told her they had to figure it out on their own.

I came back from my break after all of this happens. "Emily" tells me and I inform her that I have tons of paint and brushes under my desk, and that if they had called up into the staff room for me it all could have been avoided.

Moral of the story, I know where everything is and the two of them suck.

Cramps? Really?!...

I was informed by both "Amy" and "Marie" that "Julia" has somehow gotten away with getting out of doing various work related tasks because she claims she is having extreme menstrual cramps once a month. Really?!?!!! That is a load of bull shit, especially seeing as the entire department is comprised of females.

I'm assuming my rage over this and a bit of confidentiality kept my Department Head from telling me this when she begged me to cover a school visit for "Julia" about a week ago. Because I'm pretty sure she knows if she told me I would have went crazy and cursed up a storm.

I honestly cannot wait for "Julia" to mention so I can tell her off. I think it is the biggest load of crap ever. I'll let you know how things go next month.

Certified Librarian...

I received my New York State Public Librarian certificate in the mail today. I was so excited to bring it to work (along with my diploma and other official piece of paper work) and show everyone that I am officially, according to New York State, a public librarian -- Everyone was super happy for me.

Now all I have to do is take a couple of more classes for CEUs and apply for the Librarian I civil service exam. That way I can finally become an appointed librarian and I can tell "Julia" and "Amy" to go to hell. I can't wait!

Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind...

Okay, I'm pissed. It's raining out so I suggest to "Amy" and "Marie" that we order in food. They agreed that we should and I ordered what everyone wanted. This was all agreed upon while "Julia" was on her break, so I wasn't thinking about her -- Out of sight, out of mind. Five minutes ago "Julia" walks up to me after I ask everyone how much change they want back and she starts telling me I hurt her feelings blah blah blah... I don't know what she expected of me because I flat out told her that if she wanted something when "Amy" mentioned it to her she should have said something and that I had placed the order over an hour ago. She retorted with how could she have known I had placed the order blah blah blah... I just looked at her and told her I am never asking anyone to order anything ever again because I don't wanna listen to her complain about stupid crap. I really hate her.

Mini Rant: Graduation...

I swear "Julia" is one of the nosiest and stupidest people that I have ever met. I am sitting at my desk talking with "Amy" about my upcoming graduation ceremony and "Julia" decides to chime in -- No one was talking to her. She starts stuttering, asking when it is and talking about when she graduated a million years ago like I care. It says in big letter on our weekly schedule that I'm graduating on Friday, she has had this schedule since the beginning of last week. Stupid bitch.

Outbreak Child...

We had a mother come in today with an eight-year-old with a stomach virus. She wanted to leave him in the computer rooms playing games while she took her toddler into one of our programs. When "Amy" found out that the child was sick she told the mother politely that we urge parents not to bring their sick children into the library because we don't want to infect a room full of children and adults. The mother was so angered by this statement that she started arguing with "Amy" and "Marie" about it. Flustered "Amy" called the Director, who told her there was nothing she could do about the mother's lack of common sense or courtesy. The mother heard her on the phone and got extra pissy with them. She started demanding that they help her child if he asked for help while she went into the program with her other child, blah blah blah... And that she couldn't believe "Amy" tattled on her.

I was away when this all happened, but when I came back into the room "Amy" told me all about it. I proceeded to call our Director and told him that I refuse to help her child because I am not going near anyone with a stomach virus. I told him that if he made me go near the child and I was to get sick that I would be a pain in his ass about it for the next three months. He sighed and said fine. Once I was off the phone with him "Amy" told me how awesomely ballsy I am and that she wishes she could be like me.

After the program the mother came and got her son, asking him if we had helped him or whatever and then she left. After she walked out I went into the room and sprayed it down with disinfectan.

I don't understand why parents think it's okay for their children, that they obviously didn't think were well enough to go to school to come into the library to hang out on the computers. If you didn't want them to go to school they should stay at home in bed. They shouldn't be in the library contaminating the air like little outbreak monkeys. Especially on a day were their are tons of toddlers around for programs. These parents are so inconsiderate.

Access & Request Denied...

I somehow managed to avoid an angry patron today -- Yay for me, even though I would have liked to watch. Apparently "Amy" and "Marie" both had separate encounters with a lady complaining about various aspects of our library in regards to her special needs grandchild.

"Amy" got reamed out by the woman for denying her and her grandchild entry to a program because it was filled to capacity by families that had registered. The woman was apparently acting as if her grandchild was being denied because of being special needs, which is obviously untrue.

After dealing with the woman "Amy" was extremely paranoid about her going to the Director and getting her in trouble. I had to keep assuring her that she did nothing wrong and that the woman was just being a bitch.

Once the woman was done with "Amy" she went into the Youth Services Department and began to complain to "Marie" about one of the foam climbing toys that we have in out picture book room. She claimed that it was being uses inappropriately and wanted it removed because she didn't want her grandchild playing on in. "Marie" denied her request and told her that if she had a problem with the toy she would have to speak to the Department Head about it, which the woman didn't do because she stormed out after no one bent to her will.

I'm so glad I didn't have to deal with this woman.

Kindergarteners Listen Better...

One of most annoying things about "Amy" was shining bright today, the fact that she does not listen. My Department Head is always getting into arguments with "Amy" because she never learned how to listen and she is constantly twisting everything that she says.

Basically, "Julia" got stuck doing a storytime that "Amy" typically does and instead of getting three & a half year-olds to five-year-olds she was bombarded by nannies with children of all ages because "Amy" lets anyone and everyone come to her programs. So, "Julia" complained to our Department Head about it -- Apparently our Department Head had NO idea that "Amy" was doing what she was doing. So, when "Amy" go back from lunch she got in trouble for not following the ages set for programs. "Amy" (Who never listens or lets go of an issue) spent forever trying to figure out what she "should do" and what the "real rules" were despite everything myself, the Department Head and "Julia" said to her. She claimed that everyone was inconsistant in what they do, when in reality she is the inconsistant one. I really wanted to smack her today.

Delayed Split Shift...

Today there is yet another delayed opening thanks to the ice rink outside. They postponed the opening until 11:00am, which benefited me because I was supposed to work a split shift today (9:00am-12:00pm then 5:00pm-9:00pm) and now I don't have to go into work until 4:00pm. Thank you Ice Gods, even though "Amy" called me at 6:30am to let me know.

The only bad part about later is that I'm stuck working alone with "Sarah" which I'm not looking forward to. I'm just gonna have to practice my ignore people right next to me powers.

Phone Chain...

Last night "Amy" called me to tell me that the library was having a delayed opening, so I proceeded to call "Emily" who is my person to call on the chain and she didn't answer. So I was forced to call "Sarah" about the delay. She answers the phone, I say what I gotta say and in her bitch tone she replies "Well, opening at 10:00am doesn't affect me..." I told her I was just playing the phone chain game and that she just needed to call the next person. She made another rude comment and I hung up on her. After I called my Department Head so quickly to tell her there was no way in hell I'd be calling "Sarah" ever again about anything. She just laughed at me.

Thankfully this morning when the next phone chain call was going on "Emily" answered so I didn't have to call "Sarah". I did tell "Emily" about what "Sarah" had said to me when I called her last night so that she was warned about her rude answers.

No Elevators Or Internet...

Today was my first day back at work since my unfortunate injury. Thankfully it was a slow day, this was mainly attributed to the fact that the library's elevator broke and our internet was down for hours. It was awesome telling all of the bad teens I deal with that no they couldn't go on the computers because the internet was down. A few got pissy with me, but the majority of them just up and left. I think we should start telling them the computers don't work on a biweekly basis.

Also, I only had to answer the question "How did you hurt your back?" about six times, which was way less than I expected. Huzzah! All in all it was a decent day. "Julia" and "Amy" left me to my own devices and I finally got to see "Favorite Page #1" (we went out for lunch) who returned from college on Monday. Very good day minus random back pains.

Not Home Sick...

I am an idiot who goes to work when she is sick because I'd feel guilty if I call out. I blame this on every other individual in my department -- "Amy" & "Julia" plus several others because they never are on time, so someone has to be and because of my Department Head, who constantly talks about the importance of not wasting sick leave blah blah blah.

As you can probably guess, I'm still sick. It has been over twenty-four hours and I still have a sore throat, cough and some chest pain. I really hate the people at the library at this point in time.

Christmas & New Years Day...

Oh, here is another example of how stupid "Julia" and "Amy" really are. Today my Department Head and I were looking at the December schedule because I still had a day of annual leave left that I needed to take and we needed to schedule days off for Christmas and New Years since they both fall on a Saturday -- Since both holidays fall on a day when it is unclear who would be working everyone in the building is entitled to an additional day off during the pay period. She called "Julia" and "Emily" in to explain this to them and have them start off by picking one day off each, then we'd worry about the other day. Apparently it was an extremely hard concept to follow because we spent the next hour and a half trying to tell them what was going on and how they had to schedule their days.

"Amy" kept asking if she could save the days like they were earned holiday or annual leave days (which they aren't...) and when my Department Head said no "Amy" was up in arm saying that she needed to talk to the Director because her mother is sick and she doesn't know when she might need days -- Whenever my Department Head says something she doesn't like she runs to the Director and goes over her head, it is really annoying. She kept saying she needed to speak with the Director and we kept trying to tell her if he made an exception for her that he'd have to do the same for the other fifty people on staff -- She still didn't get it.

"Julia" was overjoyed at the idea of extra days and was trying to use them in the beginning of December. It had to be explained to her like she was a child that she couldn't do that. After watching "Julia" flip through her day planner (that I wanted to throw away the other day when she left it at work, but was stopped by several different people from doing so) my Department Head looks at her and says you have X days off, wait do you even have any annual leave left? You used up all your sick time and dipped into your vacation when you took the extra half a week off from work for your "recovery," you need to check with pay roll if you even have any days. "Julia" just stuttered and ran to the pay roll office. What did I do? I took one of "Julia's" days off to be a bitch.

So, unlike my stupid coworkers who don't know how to properly use their time I have the following days off:

• Friday, December 17th
• Monday, December 20th
• Thursday, December 23rd
• Friday, December 24th
• Monday, December 27th
• Tuesday, December 28th
• Wednesday, December 29th
  

In addition I have half days off on Tuesday, December 21st and Thursday, December 30th. They can all suck it and bitch about not having the holiday week off to someone who cares.

People Who Dress Like Librarians? All Sex Addicts...

Apparently it is hard to fathom that someone with pink hair would be in charge of a program at the library. While I was doing video game night I had a mother question the fact that I was the person responsible for the program. After she sat in the room for a bit she left and she told "Amy" that she could believe that I was in charge and that I knew exactly what I was doing -- Apparently that was a compliment.

FYI: Just because I have pink hair doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing. I'm actually more aware of what is going on and how to do things than anyone else in the damn library.

Retirement Party...

Yesterday we had a retirement party at the Library for one of the ladies that works in my department. After sixteen years of employment here she is leaving to do whatever it is that old people do after they retire.

It was a nice party thanks solely to me. My Department Head went on vacation last week into the middle of this week and left me with the task of harassing the entire staff for money to buy the retiree a gift & a cake. I collected all of the money, picked up the gift (an iPod Touch®), ordered & picked up the cake, as well as put together, order and pick-up lunch for my Department. I did everything for this woman's retirement party without any help from my coworkers.

As I was walking in yesterday with my huge purse, the gift, the half sheet cake and lunch (after being soaked by the rain) I got stupid comments from "Julia" and "Amy" about needing help or not doing something. "Julia" had the nerve to say to me that I didn't order her lunch -- That stupid stuttering bitch didn't tell me what she wanted or give me any money (I'd rather die than spot her a penny) , so no I didn't order her lunch. And "Amy" was all "Why didn't you ask us for help?!" Maybe because you are two of the stupidest people I have ever met?

Aside from my stupid coworkers the party went well. The retiree loved the gift and the whole party. She actually just called me here at the library to tell me how much she appreciated everything that I did and how much she enjoyed it. That made all of the bull worth it.