Monday, March 17, 2008

Green beer anyone?

Happy St. Patty's Day, to ya!

As someone of Irish descent (if the last name doesn't give it away, the first name most certainly will!), I feel a little obligated to wish everyone Happy St. Patty's Day. My Irish lineage comes from my father's side...check out the link below to find out a little bit more about the history of my name
(we're even cool enough to have a family crest...wooo!):

http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.fc/qx/keating-family-crest.htm

Like many Irish families, mine came over during the potato famine and settled in New York before branching out. Speaking of potatoes...my mother always tells the story of the first holiday that she and my father hosted for his family shortly after they were married. My mom made a little side dish of potatoes to go along with the rest of the meal. As the dishes started to be passed, my mom soon realized that after 3 people, the potatoes were gone! My poor mother, embarrassed, went back into the kitchen to make more! Ever since then, she makes at least a triple batch of potatoes when my father's side is over for dinner! Like any good Irish family, we sure do like our taters!

Finally, I'll leave you with an Irish blessing...


An Old Irish Blessing


May love and laughter light your days,and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!

P.S. If you're going out in search of green beer tonight...please do so responsibly! (And drink one for me, because I'll be working!)




Thursday, March 13, 2008

I love ugly animals...

So, this blog really has nothing to do with the picture to the right...but I have a thing for ugly animals and wanted to share it! You may laugh, but it's true! My favorite animal in the whole world is frogs. Yep, those slimy, ribbett-y, hopping little creatures. Love 'em!

Anywho, onto more interesting subjects than my random odd obsessions...like cheap, nasty jelly beans...okay...I'm done...seriously...

I'm going to be attending the Public Library Association's National Conference in Minneapolis from March 26-29th. I'm super-duper excited about this!! You have no idea how much whining, groveling, nagging and begging was involved on my part in order to be able to go to this conference. I *literally* started begging to go to this conference over a year ago. No joke. Ask Jeaneal. I haven't shut up about it since I saw on the website that it was going to be in Minneapolis for 2008. Yeah, really excited about this one!

I mean, just think, there will be hundreds upon thousands of librarians from all over the country decending upon Minneapolis for this conference. Be afraid, be very afraid! Bwa-ha-ha-ha! Actually, in all reality, I'm just very excited to be able to network, attend workshops, and see vendors. It's going to be very cool and I'm sure ya'll are going to have to listen to me rave about it for the next 6 months. So get ready! I do want to send a shout out to our Friends group for their assistance in the registration fees. I'm very thankful!

Which reminds me, that is also the week that we will be laying down some new carpet in the library. (And me, the slacker, will get out of most of the work!) Because of the new carpet, we will be closed March 21-24 and March 31-April 1. We will be offering reduced services from March 25-30. These services are limited to: *check out of reserved items only, *returns, *Pre-printed tax forms only, *No juvenile programming or internet service. Please also keep in mind that Marion and Cedar Rapids will be offering full services during this time, so if you have a need that is urgent, don't hesitate to contact them for additional assistance. Finally, remember that you can return materials to any of the metro libraries as well as any of the Hy-Vee grocery stores in the Cedar Rapids area as well.

That's about it for now! Here's a re-cap for those of you who don't love me enough to read my entire post:

*I love ugly animals and cheap, nasty jelly beans
*I'm going to PLA in Minneapolis
*We are getting new carpet and will be closed for about a week

There you have it! Later tators!

Friday, March 7, 2008

I promise...

This is my last complaint about the winter weather...okay...maybe not...so I lied! (Hey...I need something to complain about and if it's not the library then it might as well be the weather!!) Has it not been a rough winter? I mean, seriously! I had to laugh last weekend when it was about 50 degrees out and there were *literally* people walking around in flip-flops and tank tops. (You think it's been a little rough?!)

I think my mom stated it best last night when she said, "Hey! We've gone four days without precipitation! Maybe spring's finally on it's way!" Now, mind you, my parents live an hour south of here in Washington and didn't get the crud that we did on Wednesday morning. But bless my mom for being the optimistic one...I'll just continue to whine about it until the middle of summer!

So, I found this cartoon today and couldn't help but share it because it expresses so much of how I feel right now--a little robbed by winter!

Here's to a "precipitation-free" weekend! Woo!

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Duh nah nah-nah nah nuh da dun

*They say it's your birthday* Duh nah nah-nah nah nuh da dun *Well, it's my birthday too, yeah!* For those of you who can't figure out what tune I'm singing it's "Birthday" by the Beatles.

Yeah, that's right...it's my birthday...the big 2-6. Past my quarterlife crises of the 25th year and on to the 26th. Yep, four whole years away from 30. *scary* I mean really, what do I have left to look forward to?!? My mid-life crisis? (Only if it's a good one and I get a Ferrari and lots of really fabulous shoes!) I suppose I shouldn't be so pessimistic about getting older. I'm sure there are lots of things to look forward to...like menopause...sorry...too much information! Anywho, this birthday really hasn't been a bad one. I got to eat a half a pan of really yummy cake. I received some beautiful flowers from my beau. Tonight, after work I get to go have dinner and pig out. I recieved lots of great birthday wishes via phone, e-mail and other electronic communications. So really, I should be grateful that I have so many wonderful people around me to celebrate with!

Let the party begin! Duh nah nah-nah nah nuh da dun...

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Tax Season

Ah yes...that lovely time is upon us again...

No, not the beginning of spring or the blossoming of flowers...I'm not that optimistic!

No, no...it's tax season, baby! Yep. Tax season. It's kinda one of those things you either really hate, or you really love. You either get money or you don't. I generally don't mind tax season, except for one little thing...you see, we provide tax forms here at the library. Key word: provide. This does not mean that I know what they are for or what they mean. There is a good reason I pay for mine to be done. I am numerically challenged. I admit it. I'm okay with it. I've accepted the fact that I still need to count numbers above 10 using my fingers. It's all good. If I could kiss the guy who invented the calculator, I would!

But, this "challenge" of mine, also leads to an aversion of anything even remotely dealing with numbers...including tax forms. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to get on the IRS website to look up and print off a form that you may need. But don't ask me what the heck you need it for, or even if it's the right one...because I'm clueless. Clueless! And please, please don't get upset with me when I tell you that I have absolutely no idea what form your sister's, aunt's, grandfather's, cat's, cousin needs for a form. Trust me, I am thee last person you would want any kind of tax advice from! I can't even balance my checkbook...wait, I've never balanced my checkbook...see what I mean?! You don't want my tax advice!!

But if you do need help with your taxes, we have some wonderful gentlemen from the AARP that do taxes for free. You need to set up an appointment with them by dialing 211, which will connect you with the United Way and they will hook you up.

Again...we provide forms here at the library...but we are clueless as to what the heck they are for! Leave that to the professionals...again...not us!

Happy taxing!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Children Reading to Dogs



Okay...so normally I use this space to rant and whine, but today I'm not going to...that's right you can let out a sigh of relief...


I had the priviledge last night to snoop in on a program that Alicia has been doing for a little while now called "Children Reading to Dogs."

The program is sponsored by Therapy Dogs International. The purpose behind this program is to help encourage children who may be struggling with reading or feel uncomfortable reading out loud. The program allows children a safe and comfortable place to practice reading, while also allowing them to interact with the dogs. Who doesn't love a friendly puppy?!

During a session, specially trained therapy dogs and their handlers will come in and spread out around the room. Children are assigned times and come in and sit down to read to the dogs and their handlers. It was such a joy to watch these children with the dogs and the handlers. You could see not only how happy it made the children to be there, but how excited the dogs were too! The children seemed to respond very well to the dogs and their handlers.

The dogs are specially trained to be calm and almost submissive to the children. We had a little show and tell session afterwards and it was amazing to see the dogs follow commands! (Especially since I have a dog who will follow commands *only* with a treat in plain sight!) They all were so unique in their personalities and yet as gentle as could be. I had the distinctive opportunity to meet them all before the program actually began and it was wonderful! I even got a few kisses from some of the dogs (not the handlers...ha!).

If you haven't had the opportunity to check out this very unique and wonderful program, I certainly urge you to. It is truly fantastic!

If you would like more information about this program check out:
http://www.tdi-dog.org/childrenreadingtodogs.htm

Monday, February 11, 2008

I refuse...

I refuse to get out of bed until spring...that's it...I've made up my mind...you can't make me!