Love in the Library

I was looking for wedding songs and found this, so I had to post:

Love in the Library
Jimmy Buffett, from the album Fruitcakes

On the corner of Government and Bay Avenue
The old doomsday fanatic wore a crown of kudzu
Sirens were wailing in the gulf coastal heat
And it seemed like the whole world was in forced retreat
I paid no attention, revolved through the door
Passed the newspaper rack on the worn marble floor
Near civil war history my heart skipped a beat
She was standing in fiction stretched high on bare feet

Love in the library, quiet and cool
Love in the library, there are no rules
Surrounded by stories surreal and sublime
I fell in love in the library once upon a time

I was the pirate and she was the queen
Sir Francis and Elizabeth the best there's ever been
Then she strolled past my table and stopped at the stairs
Then sent me a smile as she reached for Flaubert

Love in the library, quiet and cool
Love in the library, there are no rules
Surrounded by stories surreal and sublime
I fell in love in the library once upon a time

She gathered her books, walked while she read
Words never spoken but so much was said
You can read all you want into this rendezvous
But it's safer than most things that lovers can do
Well stories have endings and fantasies fade
The guard by the door starts drawing the shade
So write your own ending and hope they come true
For the lovers and strangers on Bay Avenue

Love in the library, quiet and cool
Love in the library, there are no rules
Surrounded by stories surreal and sublime
I fell in love in the library once upon a time

Blessed Yule, Everyone!

Wishing everyone a very merry yuletide season and all the best in the new year!

Love, light, laughter, and peace.

Empty

My uncle was diagnosed with terminal cancer today. We just found out it was cancer a couple of weeks ago. It was initially located in his throat and stomach, meaning it was operable, but it has now spread to his liver. Essentially, that means that there isn't anything they can do and he has about a year left to live. I love my uncle and I am close to him. I feel such heartache for him, my aunt, and my cousins. I can't imagine how to deal with news like this. I can't decide whether it's better to know you have a time limit or if it's better to be surprised. I wish I knew how to feel or react...terminal illness is just...it leaves me empty. I just hope I can provide support and love for my family when they need me to give it.

For all my friends and family reading this right now, I wish you love, light, and happiness. Hugs and blessings to you all.

Fairy Godmothers do Exist!

...at least in the guise of fairy-godbosses. What an odd phrasing. Anyway, I got into the gala and found my seat at our table with my boss and several board members and explained that Jake wouldn't be able to make it. Then, two minutes later, my boss pointed out that he'd shown up and seemed to be looking for me. Even though they were down staff at work (the flu has hit us really hard in town), his boss came in to help out and rearranged some staff so that Jake could get out early and make it to the event with me. Jake had actually tried to phone me earlier to let me know he'd be there but I missed his message...so it turned out to be a really nice surprise after a crappy day. I was all set to try and get through the night on my own and mingle like a pro...but it turns out I got to have back up after all. Hurrah! I am very grateful to the fairy-godbosses for the help. :)

Disappointed

I've been invited to a Christmas Gala. I have never before been invited to anything with the word 'gala' in the title, so I was kind of excited. There are cocktails, followed by dinner, followed by a dance and it's all formal and everything. It sounds so grown-up. I know, I know...I have two kids and a mortgage, so I should be used to being grown-up, but up until last April, I was just a university student living on my own in an apartment off of Whyte...so it's still a little shiny and new and confusing for me. Anyway, as the brand-spanking-new librarian in town, the library board wrangled me an invitation to this event so that I could mix, mingle, and hobnob with city council.

So what happens? This morning my babysitter called in sick, so I haven't had a lot of time to get ready for tonight...I've been too busy chasing after an overly hyper (is it Christmas yet?) four year old and taking care of a fussy baby to spend time doing my hair and nails or trying to find a dress in my closet that actually fits my post-baby body. My little boy was fairly disappointed too since today was the dayhome's Christmas party and it was cancelled. I've been pacifying him with cheese sandwiches and coloring pictures of dragons. To top it off, Jake found out that one of his managers is sick, so he'll have to work an extra long shift to cover...meaning that my Prince Charming isn't coming to the ball. This thing is looking a little more intimidating with no date. I know it's just a stupid party, but I'm pretty disappointed since it was one of the first big 'go out nights' since the baby arrived. Life does not suck, I should be cheerful and merry...but right now, I kind of wish Cinderella wasn't hogging the fairy godmothers. Some of us working Moms need a little help too. The only thing left is for my parents to have an emergency and not be able to take the kids tonight...I better go find some wood to knock on now that I've typed that.

Hurrah!

I fit into one of my pre-baby skirts! Woohoo!

I have a Nametag!

Proof positive that I am a real librarian...the nametag has arrived and business cards are apparently on the way. I also have more keys than I know what to do with. My first "week" went okay. I'm on a rotating 2-day/3-day per week schedule. In November, I attended a PD-Day, a board meeting, and a managers meeting for all the libraries in the system. As of December 1st, I actually started shifts. December 1st was a half-day of training (this is where stuff is)...and then I started working alone on December 2nd. Basically, I am THE librarian for my shifts while the head librarian does part-time work for the system HQ. On my first day, I was already making collection development decisions, doing programming work, working on website development, making decisions on new shelving....and I still haven't really figured out the computer system yet. I get a month of leeway before I have to start doing scheduling and learning some of the more administrative work. It sounds a bit scary, but I'm actually loving it so far. Everybody is really supportive (and a little sarcastic - but in a nice way - I get teased for being the young'un). I'm even able to go home for lunch so that I can see the family for a midday break. It's nice to know that my schooling is backing me up so far (thank heaven for advanced management's emphasis on budget...and I never thought I'd be grateful for that class). I'm finally out of the house, I'm finally a librarian...and it's exhilirating. Hurrah!

Secret Agent Lily

LilyMab has decided that she is a secret agent, born to do battle against the forces of evil. Every time we set her down for some "floor time," she immediately strikes a ninja pose: little hands balled into fists, legs kicking in Matrix-like action sequences. Now all she needs is a kick-ass theme song...


Back Evil Fiend! Don't make me use my super ninja powers!