sublime

While happily working at the library the other day I saw a lady walk in with an umbrella in one hand, which made sense because it was pouring outside.

But then I did a double take and nearly fumbled an interaction with the patron I was helping.

In the lady's other hand was a coconut she was clutching tightly to her bosom.  Yep, a real-as-can-be coconut, complete with straw.  Once she sat down at a computer I walked by just to be sure.

So if you're looking to create that island feel on a rainy day at the library, you just can't go wrong with a coconut.  And, as you close your umbrella, you can pretend that the water that flies from it is really just the gentle mist from the ocean surf.

On another note, I created a new Staff Picks bookmark, which is incredibly exciting. Surprisingly, people are noticing our wacky bookmarks and letting us know what they think of them.  One of my favorite patrons collects my bookmarks, and because she disliked my Ms. Frizzle bookmark so much, she started replacing them with older bookmarks she had at home. Every time she saw me at the library she let me know that she didn't like the new bookmark.

I can't make this stuff up.  

Here is the short evolution of Hannah Jane bookmarks:

Old bookmark (only one person liked this one)

This next bookmark is wonderful for anyone who wants to explain The Magic School Bus to confused, elderly patrons at least once a day. Naturally, the book I always tried to explain was the one where Ms. Frizzle takes the kids to explore the human body. It was a lot of "That bus goes where?" or "I drove a bus once (for the circus) (in the jungle) (while running for Mayor)."  Seriously.  

And (are you ready for this?) here's the new one!

I am ready for anyone who walks up to me wearing a confused expression while waving this new bookmark.  They will want to talk about their dogs (hopefully), the fact that I look nothing like Fancy Nancy (whatever) and that their favorite place to read books is at the circus/in the jungle/while running for Mayor/any place that has a refreshing hairy coconut to sip while they read.  

Personally, I think the bookmark is sublime.

going to meditate... right after I watch Jaws.

When I put up the book, "Just One Thing," on my my library's staff picks wall, I did a double take when I saw the movie next to it. 

But really, it's a perfect book to read after watching Jaws.  

dangit.

I cannot help but think that this staff picks picture from last week is perfect because I am fighting off my fifth sinus infection since November.

This is our first official "death" row of staff picks (that we're aware of).  

And no worries.  I'm not going to die from these sinus infections.  I just feel a little like this dinosaur:

Dear Jackson Galaxy, I bookmark you

Another great staff picks pairing!



Though my bookmark (and heart, really) belong to Catification I highly recommend both of these. And that way there's none of that favoritism crap going on.  Although I'm pretty sure there aren't any doggies in Dogma...  Looks like I need to watch it again!

might as well jump

Another totally random staff picks pairing:

Here is a zoomed-in image of the Wild at Heart book:

Freak

Here is another wonderful and totally unplanned pairing on our staff picks display at the library:

As I walked back inside I swear I heard the guinea pig laugh at me.

The past week at work has been just a touch stranger than usual.

The other day an elderly patron asked me if I could help him find The Gift of the Magi to read to his ESL students.  Because we had a few copies on shelf I took him to the kid's section and found everything available and handed him the stack.  He started flipping through the books and one by one he handed them back, each time making noises of disgust.  I asked him what was wrong and he sighed and said that Della's hair just wasn't pretty enough in any of the books.  So, after 20 minutes of searching the internet we found the Della with the prettiest hair.  

Yesterday a coworker asked me if I knew anything about the guinea pig in the corner.  Thinking this was code for a poop-related incident (we've had two in the past week) or something equally scary, but sincerely hoping she was just being funny I shook my head no rather uncertainly.  Turns out that we really did have a guinea pig hanging out rather discreetly just inside the doors.  After a little investigating we discovered that the guinea pig belonged to a tutor.  Yes, that person that coaches your kids in whatever subject they're struggling with, the person that your kids look up to - that's the guy who brought a guinea pig to the library, not as a prop or a learning opportunity (probably not allowed I'm guessing), but simply as a buddy.  

During the guinea pig fiasco a very distraught patron came up and asked me rather loudly, "Do you know what pisses me off?" Oh boy oh boy, does it have something to do with a guinea pig hanging out in the library? I thought.  But nope, it wasn't that.  Before I had a chance to ask why, she continued on with her rant.  "You know those two guys that live here?" Oh, we have much more than that, I thought.  "And do you remember how I told you that they were begging cigarettes off patrons last week out in the parking lot?  Well you aren't going to believe what they're doing today!" This time she had me stumped.  I had guesses, but all of which were just going to feed her anger, so I kept my blank face steady.  "They're out there offering mechanical services to people!  Seriously!  They're changing someone's oil as we speak!" It took a lot not to smile, but I maintained composure and told her that the parking lot wasn't within my control and that if she had a problem she could call the police.  Naturally, she huffed and stormed off.  

I did duck my head outside, prepared for a spectacle and fully ready to ask a manager if what I said was the right thing to say, but I only saw the two gentlemen leisurely smoking together as they rested in the shade.

As I walked back inside I swear I heard the guinea pig laugh at me.  

I'll leave you with a beautiful moment shared by two books that may or may not have been a random pairing depending on whether you believe in soul mates or fate or love at first sight.