Blame it on the boogie.

Current time: 10:59 PM
Location: Couch
Background: NCIS: Los Angeles

What can I say about today? It flew by rather quickly, even though the majority of it was filled with flustered staff and frustrated patrons.

We run on an open source ILS system which means we're completely dependent on the internet, so when any part of that goes down we're screwed. This time I guess it had something to do with Amazon or something that took us down, but we didn't have access to patron records or our catalog from about 12 to 7.

That was fun.

Also fun? Making computer reservations manually by staff because the reservation station was down as well.

Anyway, I guess some of the branches used the offline utility version that you can just upload later, but for some reason both of the branches that I got to work at today - work and home - both decided to write everything out, you know patron barcodes plus the barcode of every checked out item?? on these "downtime" logs.

That was a fun last hour, manually inputting all that data. And I'm guessing it will be more of the same tomorrow since I don't think Koha was back up and running by the time the work branch closed - I left there early to close out at the home branch.

But, I got a lot of other stuff done when I was scheduled to be checking in. Since the system was down all I got was the circle of death - you know when something is supposed to be loading but it just keeps giving you the circle and never loads? - so I stocked supplies, updated by TAB website, got ready for the volunteer that comes tomorrow, filled out my time sheet, applied for leave on Wednesday, etc.

Oh yeah, I register for classes on Wednesday morning and apparently the ones I need fill up in like minutes so I'm staying home in the morning and going in after registration. This way I get time to set everything up and then I can just hit add and be done without the stress.

Cause you know there will be stress, I'll be freaking out cause it's a new system and I don't remember what I'm doing, and it's a big thing, and yes usually you can talk to the professors and ask them to manually add you if the classes are filled, but pretty sure they aren't big fans of doing that.

If I don't make it into those ones maybe I'll take Romance Reader's Advisory instead.

I'm joking, but I'm sure Queen of the Known Universe would be all over that one.

And yes, that's a legitimate class added this year.

I'm making today sound awful, actually it wasn't awful. I got a lot accomplished and yes some of the patrons were impatient but most of them were understanding. I love my job even when the system goes down, I get yelled at by angry patrons, the heat doesn't work, and creepers hit on me.

Cause I'm making a difference and what I'm doing matters and I like the place and the patrons and the material and the atmosphere and my teens and my coworkers and really everything about it. Except for when creepers follow me around the building, not a big fan of that. Which reminds me how grateful I am for security guards!

I remember when I first walked in for the interview and went, "really? a security guard for books?" Oh my god, what an underestimation. I don't know how the other branches function without one.

And I'm happy cause I got to work at the home branch with my Glee-Loving Boss. Who sends me FluMist Nasal Spray stickers through interoffice mail as a practical joke.

It's on.

Long story but I'm sure it's on here somewhere.

I don't know where I was going with all this. Basically the day should have sucked because of what happened but didn't suck cause I like my job?

Does that sum it up?

After work I came home, did some laundry, ate supper, and of course watched the Voice. Only one more night of battle rounds left - tomorrow - after that it's the knockout live shows so I'm pumped.

Many of my favorites faced off tonight and rocked it of course. Let me find my list, it's on here somewhere.

Okay, here's my top 20. I should count how many times this gets posted.

Cassadee Pope

Trevin Hunte

Nicole Nelson

Aquile

Avery Wilson

Bryan Keith

Brandon Mahone – eliminated after first battle

Michelle Brooks-Thompson

Adriana Louise

Collin Mcloughlin

Terisa Griffin

Suzanna Choffel

Nelly’s Echo – eliminated after first battle

Melanie Martinez

Gracia Harrison

Celica Westbrook

Mycle Wastman

Mackenzie Bourg

2Steel Girls – eliminated after first battle

Joe Kirkman 

Tonight was huge cause many performed and only one was eliminated, and that was to someone higher on the list, aka Brandon Mahone lost to Nicole Nelson. Cassadee dominated her battle though I was bummed cause they didn't air the whole thing, will have to find it online, and Joe Kirkman also won his battle so that just leaves Adriana Louise and Avery Wilson who have yet to take the stage in the battle rounds.

Looking at who's left Adriana will probably face off against Disney music star Jordan Pruitt and as for Avery I think Lady Gaga backup singer Chevonne is the only one left, but I may be wrong.

So I think there are three battles left and only Xtina has a steal, I'm wondering who she's saving it for. I'm shocked no one grabbed Brandon, he was great but a bit outranked by the awesomeness that is Nicole Nelson.

Watch this if you have no idea what I'm talking about.



Alright, my mother says I'm obsessive and crazy about the Voice so I will stop rambling about it because it's late and I should be sleeping and at this point you probably don't care

SO, on the actual music rec of the night.

It's been stuck in my head, well a version of it has been stuck in my head, ever since seeing Pitch Perfect and I'm totally bummed that their version didn't make the soundtrack cause it's fantastic.

Blame it on the Boogie - Jackson Five

can't go wrong with a classic. even if the video is a bit acid trip.

another legitimate pre-midnight post. holy crap tag in use.

"like sea salt and cool ranch"

Today feels like two different days meshed together cause there was the leaving the apartment at 6:30 to get to class by 8 and staying there until 11:30 to learn about ILS systems.

And then there was the later day when I came home and did a bunch of homework and played Lords of the Realm 2 for like an hour.

Which I blame on my brother cause he's the one that gave me the game in the first place.

But I have to play it on Kate, cause Ziva is Vista and Vista hates all my games.

I figured I needed a break. You know the homework is madness when it makes me space out on a WMC day.

Not the official day, but the day it first came out.

Yes, I'm a nerd but you knew that already.

October 12th, 2007 it's on my door on a giant picture drawn for me by Sketch of Lindsay, Cindy, Jill and Claire. It's pretty sweet.

Or you could go with this version.

This is what happens when your best friend is an artist and you sit in the same position for a while.

It doesn't help if you have the blase personality that leads you to say, yeah go for it.

You should have seen the time she attacked my entire arm with a stack of highlighters it was ridiculous.

But I like it cause it's got all the symbols for Claire the ME and Lindsay's got the badge, Jill's got the scales and Thomas has the AP for journalism.

Dig it.



Anyway, so it's madness if I space something that big.

Cause I'm a nerd and am still crazy about a show that got cancelled in May 13th, 2008.

And it's what? October 13th, 2012.

So it's been a while.

And most of them have moved on, Lindsay Boxer has moved from San Francisco to Boston and has developed an accent, adopted a crazy family and befriended a new ME.

Jill Bernhardt defied gravity up in a space for a season, then donned Mata Hari's stockings on Warehouse.

Claire Washburn gave up the scalpel,  divorced Ed and got married to Leon Vance. She's also made appearances on Bones (again as a wife though her husband was murdered), then became a Doctor on Parenthood.

Cindy Thomas has stopped by Ugly Betty, The Good Wife, Person of Interest, and Blue Bloods. She's  currently hitting it off with the Botwin family on Weeds.

Even Jacobi made an appearance last week on Castle. I saw him and went good god, don't make him the murderer please.

They attempted to do that with Myka Bering on Castle a couple seasons ago but I was having none of it.

Anyway, the one season is all we had and for some reason they're refusing to release it on DVD which is weird because Rizzoli and Isles is huge - or it was - so you'd think that would help DVD sales.

Oh well, it'll happen eventually.

I still have yet to watch the unaired pilot just because if I do then it's officially over and I've seen everything.

Like I said, nerd.

What else can I talk about that's not Women's Murder Club or Lords of the Realm related?

Oh right, class.

Left at 6:30, stopped and got some much-needed coffee - "that's not coffee that's diabetes on ice" yes I had to have at least one WMC reference in this post - and learned all about ILS systems aka Koha, Millenium, Evergreen, Apollo, etc.

Oh, ILS stands for Integrated Library System. I forgot I'm not supposed to use jargon, my bad.

It's basically the automated systems that libraries use to keep track of who has what checked out, when things are due, what's available in the catalog, etc.

So we learned about different options available and then had some interesting discussions.

And see, discussions in that class are especially fun because the teacher also works for the same library system that I do so whenever there's some sort of reference she looks at me and smiles. Like today we were talking about the difference between the libraries so die-hard on being first that they voluntarily become guinea pigs to test out programs and the libraries that hold on to their old programs until they die. But we agreed we were more like the former when we took on Koha. And then how after we got it and made them get like 20 million updates it was safe for everyone else to join in.

I believe my exact quote was, "yeah everyone's like this system is great! and we went, what the hell are you talking about? our transition was miserable!"

But it's all good now. We've all adjusted to the new system and have learned the shortcuts to teach the patrons.

And actually it's nice now with all the updates because when you do a search on the PAC computers it doesn't pick up results that are located in other libraries in the consortium.

Cause that sucked. People were coming up claiming we had stuff but it was actually in Beatrice, ugh they were not happy.

Anyway, enough library ramblings. You should watch this clip because it's fantastic.

Like immediately, I'm still dying.



"only a woman would call someone their friend and then bitch about them for ninety minutes"

Wildly inappropriate but highly entertaining. Had to go back and tape it. Nasim Pedrad is hysterical.

I haven't watched SNL in ages, I'm so behind but I saw Christina Applegate was hosting and I'm up so why not.

Though my favorite Christina Applegate SNL episode was of course the Matt Foley episode.

"I wanna live in a van down by the river" they totally lost it.

I don't think that table was supposed to break.

Alright, on to the music before I start rambling about something else.

Song You Know But Forgot You Knew It

Cold Day In July - Dixie Chicks live

it's actually a hot day in October but it came up on shuffle tonight and is now stuck in my head.

"but if you've seen any lifetime movie you just know he's gonna kill you."

cause this ain't no life or death situ-way-tion

"That sounds more like 'We're a tall, thin woman who wants to make a coat out of your Dalmatians'." 

Spent the morning at the home branch, afternoon at the work branch, and the evening with the boyfriend. 

The system was down so we couldn't search anything so I cheated and used Worldcat. It's a worldwide that says which libraries own the item you're looking for. Then if our library is listed you know it's available at one of the branches. Most of the time. Then if you know the author or the subject you could lead them to the section. Hopefully it'll be up and running by tomorrow morning.

At least the internet was working. Whenever that's down it takes the system down with it, and the patrons freak out cause they can't get to whatever website they're wanting to get to.

Got to see Sensei for about a minute, had fun working with some friends talking about old times.

Watched some Big Bang Theory with the boyfriend.


"Stick that in your speedo, Jacuzzi Bob."

I find myself falling back to that when I'm stressed.

Not that I'm stressed now, aside from work, school and camp I'm pretty relaxed.

Cause you know, none of those are time-consuming.

Especially when you're 40 hours at work plus taking a class that meets every Saturday and in the meantime you have homework to go with it.

Tomorrow night some family are going for pizza but I'm gonna have to finish my homework afterward since it's due Thursday. I have the majority of the reading done, just a few more pages then have to add the books to goodreads.com and find a pre-reading strategy to write a paper on.

"I'm not even gonna ask why you're pimping me out for cheese."

I haven't watched any episodes with Sheldon's girlfriend and as an avid fan that makes me a bit pathetic. Especially since she came in like end of 4th season, right?

Funny story is that she actually has a phD in physics or whatever, so she is what she plays.

Though she's probably a bit less awkward.

Music: You should go here: April McLean's Head Over Heels such a great song but only on myspace and itunes.

and the youtube that has it is all fanvideos.

sappy and gross and blah.

"After All" Saving Abel

love this one.

OUT!

Forgetting all I'm lacking, completely and complete...

Homework.

Ugh.

3 hours later and we're still not done.

Ugh.

Even worse? We ended up with more questions than answers which made the homework bite the dust.

Ugh.

Oh well, it's not due for a while so we can come back to it. And she's cool so that's always good for a partner.

As of now I'm gonna eat chocolate, as that heals all, and go to bed.

Looking forward to tomorrow, gonna see Titanic with the boyfriend. Will probably be packed but whatever.

Other than the frustration that is homework today was good. Staff meeting in the morning - I felt like such a nerd cause this whole cataloging class has taught me a lot about our operating system and really how to search for things and what terminology to use.

So yes, I'm a nerd and we're supposed to share stuff with our coworkers but how can I explain without making me sound like a total nerd that you can search "Explosive 18" and "Explosive Eighteen" and get results either way because the cataloger included the 246 tag meaning it has the alternate title in the bibliographic record.

Or like if you type in an episodes title - depending on the cataloger - you'll be able to find the DVD because all the titles are listed in the added entries contents tag aka 505.

Or actors names/subject topics under added entry in the 600's.

But basically if you can't find something it's not necessarily the system that's not listing it just to tick you off, the system depends heavily on the cataloger and how much information was input.

Or copy-cataloged from OCLC.

Which I think is the easiest and most common way to add something to your catalog.

Anyway you can find all that in the bib record on the MARC option which shows you how many letters are skipped in order to be properly cataloged and where information is located on the book by using code.

Which I guess is irritating to people because they're about to switch over to RDA where everything i spelled out and easier to comprehend.

The only reason they use codes now is that it takes up less memory space.

And once you get the hang of them they're easy enough.

Nerdola.

Sorry, ramble-nation.

Yes a whole nation of rambling.

Can you imagine a whole nation of rambling?

We'd never get anything done!

I'm losing my mind.

This whole dewey decimal/added entry stuff is messing with my brain.

And I get to do a whole project on it and how to teach it to other people.

Which should be fun.

I'm rambling again.

What else today?

Yes, staff meeting, desk work, lunch, another meeting, more desk work, tomorrow will be more of the same, except without the meetings so I'm out.

"A Thousand Years" Christina Perri


"Hanging By a Moment" Lifehouse

I guess she’s an X-Box and I’m more an Atari

But the way you play your game ain’t fair.

True dat.

The writer monkey has struck again - keeping this semi-short so I can get back to that while the muse is still here.

I’m in a quandary. A Sophie’s Choice sort of situation. Sort of. I mean, I might be in one. It depends. There are two things that I might have to choose between. And it’s hard to choose between two things that mean a lot to you, you know? And it’s like Sophie’s Choice – except that Sophie’s Choice is long and depressing and then longer and more depressing and then you think it’s over but it’s actually not cause you’re only 2 hours in and haven’t even gotten to the part where she has to make the freaking choice let alone know what she’s freaking choosing about so you stick with it even though it gets even longer and even more depressing. Then! After she makes the choice it’s too painful to watch the rest of the movie – which is at least another half an hour long – so you change the channel and put on a comedy just to get those awful thoughts out of your head. Sorry Mom, I refuse to watch it ever again. Just no.

See, rambling, writer monkey, moving on.

SQUARE!

But this is a whole Might situation, maybe I won’t have to choose because you know there are other people out there who are smarter and qualified and all that… but still, it’s there, looming in the background. Now it just depends on what the Library Goddess has to say. After that it’s Superwoman and then me. But I have a few days to get it all figured out.

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You know how hard it is to be in 3 places at once? Today I was on the phone on the second floor while helping a patron on the first floor and checking other patrons out at the desk. I find that I’ve changed a lot since I’ve started working there just because it’s so hectic all the time and if I don’t know what I’m doing I have enough acting ability to pretend like I do. It’s like the me vs. qualified people thing again. I’m a Professional BS-er which really is just another term for “English Major”. I’m owning up to it. Before I was just a nerdy loner chick who ate lunch in her car. Oh don’t awww me, it’s better than the cliché lunch tray in the bathroom thing.

But it’s best if you seem confident in what you’re doing and remain positive, especially about the new system - it just makes us look bad if you bash it in front of the patrons. I use the words “quirks” as in “we’re still figuring out its quirks”, “wonky” as in “since we switched over the self-checks have been a bit wonky” and “we’re working on it” as in “we’re working on it” – well, “they’re working on it” a lot but it seems better than just bashing it and hoping to go back. Cause we’re not going back. I spend the majority of my downtown just figuring out shortcuts and doing random searches to see how best to navigate the catalog, but I’m a nerd like that.

And somebody! I ain’t mentioning names! Has branded me “Koha Whisperer” and 1-800’s me whenever there’s a problem. So I have to at least know a little bit about what I’m explaining. One of these days I’m just gonna write a handbook, print it off, highlight stuff and hang it around the desks. Then I can just walk by, point to a piece of paper and continue shelving.

But I like being the expert, it makes me feel useful, especially since I’m lowest on the food chain there. I don’t think I’ve ever been the expert on anything relevant to daily life. I mean other than movies, TV, music or anything Drew Barrymore. Which was daily life before I got the job. Jobs.

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So, remember how yesterday I ended with the whole gonna finish that freaking puzzle thing? And then of course I didn't finish the freaking puzzle, I watched a movie instead - my motivation can only last so long which is why I'm typing so fast in hopes that I'll keep working on that damn apartment story after posting this, where was I?
Oh right, well I'm glad I didn't finish it cause this morning I woke up and Carter had destroyed the whole freaking thing. Like there are pieces of it all over my living room. So yeah, either he's taking out his rage/energy on tiny chunks of cardboard because they're a stationary target or he's some sort of cosmic judge saying that I've taken too long to put together a "simple" 300 piece puzzle and now as punishment for putting it off I get total annihilation instead. Thanks dude.
Or maybe he just knows me well enough that he knows I'll keep putting it off and putting it off and eventually get tired of it being in the way so I'll put it back in the box and throw it in the corner anyway. So really, he could be saving me hassle in the future. Or he's a punk.
It's an either/or situation.

It's not actually.

I already know he's a punk. Much like my work friends already know I'm crazy. There's no either/or involved in that.
..
....
.....
....
..
At least he's a cute punk. A big, fat, lazy, sleeps on my stomach, cute punk.

SQUARE!

Songs of the day:

“Imagine” Glee version

This scene still makes me cry.

“Forget You” Glee version

Totally have been neglecting my Gwyneth’s One Name Campaign thing as in “that’s so Gwyneth!” - will have to start using that again. It’s pretty much the equivalent of Wicked Awesome.
Everyone can use some Gwyneth in their life. Especially now that school is starting again and all that. People are in this sort of mood. Like somber mood. Gonna shake them up with some Gwyneth. Maybe that'll be my slogan for the campaign. "Shake up your day with some Gwyneth." She does have a multi-million dollar music deal on the table. She will soon be gracing our radios - and my ipod - huzzah!



ps-if you have no idea what the squares mean go here: My Life in Closed Captions: Circles, Squares and Ugly Women, Oh My!

I'm the butler, I like to keep the kitchen tidy.

I love that someone typed "exploded babysitter" into google and got to my blog. That's fantastic. Also amusing, another person's search for "O Lord of Light" ended up with 2G's version. Hope we didn't scar them for life.

Wore my 2G shirt to work today. Well, tonight anyway. I usually wear jeans and a nice shirt if I'm headed to the main branch since I'm like a professional there. Or para-professional. Their words not mine. This is why I love camp. Got back to my roots and wore t-shirts and sport shorts the whole time. That's the actual me. I used to wear tear-aways, t-shirts and a backwards hat every day to school for years. This whole jeans and a nice shirt thing is like prom to me. Every day. Which is why it's nice to throw in a superhero shirt or funny reference one every once in a while when I'm just an Aide.
Besides, I've learned not to wear those shirts at the other branch. If they're going to stare at my chest I would rather them do it in silence and get it over with instead of staring and overwhelming me with conversation about the symbol emblazoned across my chest. That's just awkward.

Staff meeting this morning where my Koha Whisperer thing was made known. Now I'm just nervous they're going to ask me actual questions. Go to someone smart. I'm just a cronie. After that it was covering at the other branch while they had their staff meeting. Okay, I'm calling favorite cause at which branch does she bring pizza to a staff meeting? Yeah. But I got two pieces. Cause it's my branch too. And it was my lunch hour. And that branch is obsessed with all things bread. I blame Space Cadet. Her baking skills got us hooked. They're constantly finding recipes in books and trying to bribe her into making them. It's amusing. She says she'll slip me a few easy recipes that I won't burn down my apartment with. That should be interesting.

After all that fun it was lunch hour - yes a whole hour! that I didn't have to spend finding parking! - so I ran back to the apartment and watched Bonekickers - "like graveyard jenga down here" c'mon you knew that was coming - then went back for three hours and shelved in my bright orange shirt. Joe Studley said I needed to turn it down. It's that bright. I'm proud. Then dinner with Second Sister, got my leftovers in the fridge! I'm stoked for chicken tikka and rice at 3AM. Yes, small children sleep more than I do, get over it.

Then we hit up Barnes and Noble which...okay I used to make fun of it because it was a big bookstore and then they started selling all this other crap and I was like, "get that out of my bookstore!" Now I work at a library, so they can sell whatever they want. Anyway, so I go in, and okay, remember how I'm a nerd. And I got a raise. So what does a nerd do when they get a raise? They buy a wand. That lights up. And is awesome.

Yes a raise. It's interesting in these budget times but I'll take it. Another fun work thing - got my year evaluation! Which is amusing cause I still haven't gotten my 6 month one yet. Again, I'll take it. As long as he doesn't say that I suck. Which, I don't think I do. People are generally glad when I'm there. But I'm a nerd and make them laugh so maybe that's part of it.

Anyway, right, so in between the chicken tikka and the wand-buying was the driving from place to place and I pulled out of the parking lot following her and she's driving and suddenly pulls in the parking lot and starts waving all frantic and flailing. "Why are you following me?!" She was lost. And technically I live like less than a few miles from the place so I guess it would make more sense if I were to lead. So, I led, and got us on the right road and I'm calling Oldest Sister to see if she can meet us and I see Second Sister pass me in the lane next to me. I was like, "What?! She's in the wrong lane!" like chanting it, "She's in the wrong lane, she's in the wrong lane" all while being on the phone with Second Sister when we pull up to the stoplight and she turns...which makes me realize that it was me in the wrong lane. It's another one of those zombie moments, you know when you're driving on a road you take often but to a different destination and you're just used to driving to that place. Anyway, she turned but I was able to switch lanes and turn behind her. Meanwhile Oldest Sister was probably making fun of me the whole time.
OH! BTW - she has threatened to come to my apartment and steal a piece out of all my puzzles. That's just mean. I don't need any help from you to not finish the thing.
"Are you trying to make me look stupid in front of the other guests?!"
"You don't need any help from me sir."
"That's right!"
name that movie. if you were at camp you'd be all over it.

I blamed my poor sense of direction on being on the phone. "I can only remain sane when not involved in actual conversation." quote of the day. true story.


It was a Lily Allen kind of day. Yes, I've posted a lot of hers since she's my favorite, here are a few new ones.

"The Fear" Live version at The Sound on BBC 2

"Smile" official video
awful. love 2:21. was she eating candy with the wrapper still on it? i totally have those headphones.
these are both two of her biggest hits, yes she's british but she's awesome. we like british people, they're cool and have fun accents.


"But he was your second husband. Your first husband also disappeared."
"But that was his job. He was an illusionist."
"But he never reappeared!"
"He wasn't a very good illusionist."

OUT!

touch and go with your white lies

So, we have this new system at work. It's called Koha. It has its benefits, we're still trying to find the bulk of them, but...
Anyway, I've been dubbed as the smaller branch's Koha Whisperer and Sensei has been joking about me writing the handbook for it. It was hysterical, I sent out an email to the branch about how to cancel a hold in transit and she said it would make a great first chapter and that she would add in the color commentary. We're throwing ideas back and forth.


I never realized how cool phone conversations are. I mean, I rarely talk on the phone but like, you can hear someone's voice. And they're not really there. Sorry, Gilmore Girls, Emily: "I still think transcontinental calls are a bigger deal than they are."


Today I was total zombie autopilot - 4 hours of sleep for a 9-6, not smart - but when you're in public service it's like you say the same things over and over.
Them: "Nice watch"
Me: "Thanks, my sister got it for me for Christmas. She thought it was time I wore one that wasn't broken."

Them: "Oh, I have fines?"
Me: "It's cool, I have fines and I'm here every day."

Plus all the basics, "Can I help you find something?" "Do you happen to have your card with you?" "Do you have a photo ID with you?" "Anything else I can help you find?" "Do you want a bag for those?" That's what screwed me over today. Pretty sure I asked a lady if she wanted a bag twice and she said no both times - but of course I didn't realize I'd already asked her until the second time she said no and looked at me funny. Technically, the looking at me funny thing isn't all that out of the ordinary so maybe I didn't screw it up zombie-style.


"You know, people are calling you 'the blur'"
"That's mean. Or is it? What is that?"


Alright, out early, staff meeting tomorrow. Hope tonight is better. Last night I laid in bed for like hours and couldn't sleep. 4AM to 8AM was all I got. Blah.


"I kept reaching in for strawberries and coming out with liver, that's not pleasant!"


Songs of the day:
Stacy Clark's greatest hits as promised.

Song 1: "touch and go"

the taking random pictures of strangers part confuses me, but awesome song.

song 2: "white lies"

no video yet but she does have her own channel now, huzzah!


"Please erase this from your brain."
"I will definitely try."


staff meeting tomorrow morning, possible dinner with sisters to follow work, then friday is more work and harry potter with the boys. 3rd time, gonna be awesome.
still actually working on my puzzle. surprised i haven't thrown it in the closet yet. this one is kicking my butt. i did all the faces, and the outline and all that but i have all these blank pieces now with no distinguishing markers so i'm screwed.


"The blur is off!"

Circles, Squares and Ugly Women, Oh My!

I was told today that I'm "social". Yuck! That's just mean. And they wouldn't take it back! But it got me thinking, in that building I'm a totally different person. It's funny, Superwoman told me once that being in public service is a lot like being an actress. And it's so true. I get it now. Me, outside the library, totally different than the "actress" on the inside. Not that I'm a bad person. I'm just...antisocial. I prefer being by myself at my apartment not talking to people. I mean, I like my friends and I like hanging out with my friends and my family they're fun. But being told that I'm suddenly this extraverted social person is like a slap in the face. Like a big wake up call. I don't know how else to describe it and I know that sounds ridiculous, but it just proves how much I've changed. In college I had like 3 main friends. And they were pretty much the only people I talked to until senior year. Everyone else was a friend from high school. Then again I hated college so maybe that was a part of it.
And now I'm just rambling in a big circle that really has no point. Cause that's what a circle is. A never ending round thing with absolutely no point. So I should jump out of the circle and into a square. Cause that has like, four points. Yeah, didn't see that coming did you? Neither did I, moving on.

None of this post is going to make any sense whatsoever, just so you know. You should probably just skip down to the bottom right now.

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So, a supervisor at work, who I didn't know before we switched to the new system but now I think is awesome - the supervisor, not the system but I'll get there - anyway, I follow her around with applause literally because she's saved me on multiple occasions. But yeah, she told me today I "done good." I was like super excited. Cause I'm a nerd. And social apparently, but mostly a nerd. She said she knows she can count on me to test stuff with the new system. And this week I've decided that I'm going to stop complaining about the new system. Because, guess what, we're not going back to the old one. So either you can whine and complain because of the change or you can just go with it. I've decided to just go with it and find out any shortcuts I can and pass them on. Which is why the supervisor likes me. Cause I don't complain about the system. Or I've stopped complaining about the system, let's go with that. More rambling, freaking circle.

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Our security guard asked me for gum and while I went to get it I said to cover for me. So she came around and sat at the desk - decked out in her security uniform - and pretended to work. I snapped a picture and sent it to Superwoman. Her response was Quote "Damn the place is going to the cops." End Quote. I died.

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Maintenance people came over to put curtains up today but could only do the ones in the bedroom cause the brackets weren't long enough to cover the blinds in the living room. Then, I went over to Oldest Sister's place and we got new brackets and then pizza and beer and all that stuff then they came back here and we watched Match Game while oldest brother-in-law attempted to put up the curtains with the new brackets...which were now too small. So first too short, and now too small...and now I just have a bunch of brackets that don't work. So hopefully oldest-brother-in-law will be able to return the ones we got tonight. Cause yeah, brackets, what am I gonna do with brackets... freaking circle.

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Pretty sure it was Jack the pigeon dead in the parking lot last night but the cool aunt says that Jack simply left because he wanted a hot dog or to go and drive a bus. I was proud of her Mo Willems references. Made me smile.

Oh crap! I gotta email a chick about camp forms. And text mom about the curtains cause I forgot. Circle! Geez!

This is like another one of those write as you go along ones like I did with the booktalk writing. Usually I have things planned out. Not tonight. Circle.

Hey look, four SQUARE points. I should really just end this post now. Cause it's not gonna go anywhere else. We watched the boobs episode of Match Game tonight while they were here. It's funny. And yes, that's the only way I can name that episode, I'm pretty sure I posted that clip yesterday...or the day before but you should watch it if you haven't already. Fannie is awesome. "I said berries" I died.

Okay, before I ring around the circle again I'll hit you with a music rec and get the heck offa this keyboard before I say something stupid...er... than I've said earlier.

hmmm.... music.... oh!

I've heard this song like five times in the past couple weeks. And before this week I haven't heard it in like years. I mean, I have it on my computer cause it's from a soundtrack I own. But yeah, today brought it all back yet again this week.
Enjoy.

"If you wanna be happy" Jimmy Soul

this song is just mean. but funny. but still really mean. I like the screaming part from 1:38-the end. "YOUR LIFE!.....YOUR WIFE!....OF VIEW!....get an ugly girl to marry you...."


Name that soundtrack. I'll give you a hint.
"The moment I wake up.........before I put on my makeup........"

Way passed bananas...

and closing in on the Twilight Zone.

Oh the joys at work. We are up and running. Hooray! But that means checking in everything that we couldn't when we were down - which was multiple days - and learning all the new procedures as the day went on. I'm pretty sure I drove my supervisor nuts with all my questions. But they put me and my 'big brother' coworker in charge of the holds. And teaching the aides how to do them. And it's just funny, because I was teaching one of my favorites - he's hysterical and super smart - and he was asking all these questions that I had no idea the answers to! But with some help from a supervisor we figured it out. At 5 I basically ran for my life. And tomorrow I get to do it all again! This time at both branches, huzzah! But now I know what I'm doing - partially - so it's okay.

Quotes of the day:
-"This shirt is older than you are!"
my coworker, who I like to think is the ultimate true librarian, was wearing a 'barcode blues' shirt today which was something they got printed when we switched over to barcodes on books instead of cards in the back. and it was dated 1987.

-"Do I get a cute nickname?"
i think i busted out laughing at this question because he just doesn't seem like the kind of guy who uses the word 'cute' but yes, he needs a cute nickname. Oldest sister brought to my attention tonight that I am much like my dad in that respect - giving everyone nicknames - mine from him is Dude. I have no idea where that came from, I think that's cause I used to say it a lot. I'd share my siblings' but they'd kill me.

-"So is everyone driving you bananas with all their questions?"
-"Oh, I'm way passed bananas..."
This woman is totally my hero. She has been able to talk me through almost all of my questions on the new system - and the ones she can't are questions of her own. And she does all of this voluntarily which makes her even more awesome. I don't think I would be able to manage all this pressure but she seems to be doing it quite well. I think she would be the Sky in our Dirt system mentioned here: My Life in Closed Captions: "Cause even after three text messages, four missed... and in many previous posts.

Songs for the night
"Idiot Boyfriend" Jimmy Fallon

since people were digging the troll doll's post, here you go. i think this was the only other 'song' on the CD other than the Hammertime thing where he sang a bunch of 80s songs over a background of Can't Touch This.

"Need You Know" Glee

slowing it down a bit before I head off to bed. love this version.


think i'm gonna eat some frozen fruit, put on a movie and crash. have a good one.

I'm the star of the keytar.

Apparently I need a social life. That's what I was told today. But I work in public service. What is more social than that really? By the time I get home I don't want to be social anymore! I'm exhausted and all I want to do is turn on a movie and crash. Apparently that's abnormal. Must be another quirk. Like having the urge to talk back to someone who has an accent in that accent. Or mis-matching my socks as my one workplace rebellion. Or wearing 8 rings, 3 necklaces and a giant watch. Or carrying around the same piece of concrete in my pocket for 2 years. Random lucky charm, I'm aware, moving on. All of these things are abnormal, but they're me.
And I have friends, but that's not the social life he was referring to. I don't have time to date! I have books to shelve, classes to study for, a camp to direct, skits to write, forms and schedules to reconfigure, a play to direct. Plus, this whole dating thing... you know, when someone flies 2000 miles just to break up with you, it gives you a whole new perspective on relationships. And the last relationship I was in...let's not even go there. I don't have time for the drama. And I'm fine with that. If he's not then that's his problem.

What else is new, oh Koha is officially up and running. After shelf-reading and organizing carts all day it finally started working my last hour. Hooray! Tomorrow I will have carts and carts to shelve. I'm excited. Wow, I really do need a life outside of work. But when you've been sitting around doing like nothing for the past week because there's been nothing to shelve this is big news. Something to do! And I get to go to both libraries tomorrow instead of just the one like I've been doing since Monday.


Music recs for the night are pure awesomeness.
Okay, so if you haven't seen Yes Man you have no idea who this band is. Munchausen by Proxy is a fantastic combination of Zooey Deschanel and Von Iva's musical stylings with awesome lyrics and fantastic costumes.

Here are a couple of their videos and link to a third if you're interested.

"Yes Man"

badass birds man.

"Keystar"

i especially enjoy 2:16.

"Uh-Huh"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbej2SFRFBk
which is pretty much my thoughts on dating right now.

Also, the movie is pretty funny as well. Jim Carrey is always fun to watch, and they come to Nebraska! Well, they filmed it in LA but they watch a Huskers game - nevermind that we got womped by Oklahoma and it was back in the Callahan era. It was funny, when we saw it in theaters everyone booed when they saw him.

As for homework I got almost halfway through my first book this afternoon - now just have to finish that one and locate/read the second one. Which I think is longer. But it should be interesting. I'll give you my thoughts on them later.

Oh, speaking of the Scale of Awesome - Black Swan 8/10. Creepyfest man. Natalie Portman was brilliant, as always, but dude, there was some weird creepy stuff in there. Loved watching the behind the scenes stuff listening to Mila, too funny.

Okay, gonna make food, turn on the tv and then crash. you gonna judge me too?

Hello Koha!

And Ziva, my first official post from my shiny red laptop. Although it's not actually all that shiny anymore. I've had it since like I don't even remember, like 2 years ago and all I've used it for is camp stuff. Forms, schedules, website, pictures, etc. Now I have all my files transferred over - music included, that took the longest - all that's left is to hook up my ipod and it will be official. Except it can only be synced to one computer at a time and if I switch it to here it deletes everything. Which is fine because I have everything on here now. But it like deletes my playlists too. Which bites, because I have a lot of them. I know, my life is so rough. *I can hear my sister's voice saying that to her dog...or cat...who's dumb as a post...* I'll figure it out.

Okay, first day with Koha, our new fancy system at work. Yeehaw? Well, so far we're only on its offline component since not everything has transitioned from the other system. So I got to spend the day staring at barcodes. No names, no titles, just barcodes. Oh, and I hit "enter" a lot. That was exciting.
Plus sent out the motherload of all explanation emails. But no one else was doing it. I mean, Superwoman set us up with some basic guidelines but then she left and all this other stuff came up. So I man-ed up. Or Woman-ed up. Let's go with that. Female solidarity and all that crap we say when we're playing softball. "Back up! Their women can hit!" my favorite quote from another team's pitcher.

Anyway, I basically came up with detailed instructions about what to do with all the stuff that was incoming to our branch and outgoing and all that while we can't check anything in or process any holds. Then sent it to the whole branch - but just the one, not all the staff at all the branches, that would be horrifying. I did that once about a missing item and am still spazzed out.
After all that joy I spent the rest of the afternoon in the backroom organizing the delivery, packing up donations and avoiding that dude that is trying to find a loophole on getting me to date him. Mentioned here: My Life in Closed Captions: This Magnet Moment... I don't date patrons! Well, not anymore. Just say no. That's what "big brother" coworker says. So I told him no, I don't date patrons. Now he's looking for a loophole. So, while he tries to find that, I'll continue to avoid him. Which is why this afternoon, after I separated all the delivery on to carts, I decided it was time to pack up the donations. And it worked!...until I ran out of tape. It was funny, because I really wanted to get through them all because we're going to need the space, so I scavenged the supply cabinets and found ducttape! But then I ran out of that too. Which sucked. So half the donations are boxed up and the rest are still on the shelf.
I had avoided him all afternoon until I ran out of tape - the second time - but as I was emailing Space Cadet, as she is in charge of supplies, I could see him coming to the desk out of the corner of my eye.
He comes to the side of the desk,
I get up,
go to the other desk,
open a drawer,
look for an imaginary object,
don't find one,
see him coming to that desk out of the corner of my eye,
also see Joe Studley approaching on my other side,
I turn around and head back to the original desk when I hear,
"Can I help you?" Not the person he was wanting to talk to but it'll do.
Aww, Joe Studley. My hero. He's the lead singer in our work band, btw - "Joe Studley and the Lost in Transit". Mentioned here: My Life in Closed Captions: Joe Studley and the Lost in Transit

Aside from barcodes, emails, delivery, donations and avoidance I don't think there was much else. Oh wait, I forgot. Barf chips and Face Aerobics. That pretty much sums up my day. Haha. I found the "barf chips", as someone had labeled the deodorizer stuff, when I was searching for tape - the first time - and the Face Aerobics was a VHS tape part of the donations. I didn't know there was such a thing as Face Aerobics. But apparently there were all the rage in the exercise scene. Back when VHS was still a viable format. I'm joking. I don't know anything about exercise trends. But I do own a bicycle. That counts right? Nevermind that it only has one wheel. Which is more of a long story. That I think I've told you already as well. My Life in Closed Captions: "Cause even after three text messages, four missed... Yep. Definitely told you before.
Crime-ony. Have I seriously been blogging since November? I'm going to run out of amusing anecdotes here soon. Next it will be all, "this one time, at the library..." That was my best American Pie impression.

I'm going to hit you with a music rec (or 2) before I crash and burn. Songs for the day, aka the ones blaring in my headphones while I boxed donations in the back, are older. Not like old but older.

Coldplay "Yellow"

and yes, second sister, i am currently singing jimmy fallon's troll doll lyrics.
I actually like Coldplay. I think this was their first major hit that put them on the board. Definitely worth listening to.

The Beatles "I Saw Her Standing There" performed live in '64

"How could I dance with her mother when I saw her standing there...." WHAT?! You mean those aren't the words?! Kidding. I sing it like that anyway, it's more amusing that way.


Out!