Weather … frightful … libraries rock!

posted by Jennie C.

Tuesday is library day.  Some of the librarians know me by name; I’ve been loading my book bag up on Tuesday evenings for years now.  I just got back.  And our driveway is frightful – a sheet of ice.  I was wishing for crampons as I chased the books and dvds down it that fell out when I opened the car door.

The other day my husband made some reference to “those spiky shoes” and I said, “You mean clampons?  No wait, that’s not it … tampons?”  I eventually got it right.  Speaking of tampons, I need to go get a glass of wine.  BRB.  (Gramps and Grams – that means “be right back”).

OK – I’m back.  [Actually, I didn't go anywhere, that was just for dramatic effect.  I poured the wine before I even sat down.]

Yessiree, in my house, tampons and red wine go together.  TMI?  (Gramps and Grams – that means “too much information”).

Anyhoo, library day.  My favourite librarian is Lois.  She’s my favourite ’cause she remembers my name and chats with me and cancels late fees and gives me extensions and such.  She’s been known to extend the favours to relatives, too (ok, well just my hubby – when she figured out that he was related to me, the smashingly famous ME).

People are so worried about privacy these days, I wonder if they’ve ever thought about their library record.  My librarian knows SO much about me.  Of course, she’s discreet and doesn’t mention this.  But I know she knows.  And I think that she knows that I know that she knows.  Every interest or crises in my life is accompanied by a trip to the library.  Of course, I start with the Internet, but eventually I head to the library.

Topics through the years:  gardening, fertility, soap making, crocheting, depression, foster parenting, child rearing, scuba diving, Cuba, depression in children, home reno, fetal alcohol syndrom, adoption, puppy care, home spa recipes, teen cutting, finances, chihuahua care, porches and decks, crock pot recipes, infertility, yoga for dummies, yogurt for dummies, dieting, cleansing, crafts of all kinds, composting, surviving an apocolypse (ok, that’s a joke, but I do like books about making everything from scratch – which will be handy after an apocolypse and although you mock me now – you will be buying my homemade soap some day and coming to me for my wisdom in herbal lore).

And then there’s the stuff the kids are interested in: knights, castles, spies, magic tricks, home spa recipes, pizza recipes, mythology, mythical creatures, hamsters, mice, mermaids, fairies, drawing horses, drawing orcs, drawing mermaids, crafts, science experiments, etc.

And of course there’s all the phases of fiction that the kiddies and I all go through: LOTS of science fiction and fantasy, ponies (gag), baby animals (double gag), comic books (Archie, Garfield, and Calvin are faves), graphic novels, classics, adventure, mystery (but no ghosts), and on and on.

So, think about it – ya wanna be nice to your librarian – she knows stuff.

The cool thing about libraries (as if the books alone aren’t cool enough) is the DVDs and audio books.  We ADORE audio books.  They are essential to family road trips.  You fancy schmancy modern types might just pop down that monitor from your mini-van’s roof and zombify your children with Disney movies, but we like rockin’ it old school with fabulous readings of the Chronicles of Narnia and other classics.  (Totally kidding with the mockery – I’m megajealous of those zombifying machines – whadya callums – portable DVD players?).  You need to seriously check out the media section of your library.  And if you want audio book recommendations, just tell me the ages of your kids and I will be delighted to give you some ideas.

Now, for today’s blogging topic … Rock and Roll.  Kidding again.  I was going to talk about the fun fun fun concert we went to on Friday, but my consciousness streamed in other directions and I think I should finish up now.

Oh yeah, one last thing.  My itty bitty wee li’l puppy is having her girly bits deactivated this Thursday and I’m SO nervous.  She’s sitting next to me on the couch, obliviously chewing on her bone and periodically pouncing on the keyboard and she has NO IDEA of the fate that will befall her.  I’m totally delighted to be getting her spayed, but I just want everything to go OK.

So – if you read this, can you comment or something?  I need feedback, acknowledgement, proof of life, something PEOPLE!