Today I saw that ABC Family, or one of those strange cable channels that I watch, was starting a "countdown to the 25 days of Christmas" movie marathon in a few weeks. So basically, a countdown to a countdown. I know everyone complains about this, but I really do not like being harassed about Christmas five seconds after Halloween.
Even Beverly Hills is harassing me to come to their Christmas events (which start in two weeks). They sent out all these little cards, I guess to people who live in and near the city. Apparently my zipcode is fancy enough to be included. It kind of reminds me of the time when we were all invited to take dance lessons in middle school and by "all" I mean people who went to my independent school, our rival independent school, and the one middle school on the west side of Portland. Needless to say, my sister and I boycotted ballroom dancing.
In other news, I almost died driving home from juvey yesterday. I made a right turn onto a street and the car I turned in front of was going about 75 miles an hour on a surface street. It was dark, so I couldn't really tell how fast he was going before I turned. I'm just assuming it was a him because of the reaction I got, which was some intense honking and tailgating. And I'm not talking "beep beep" more of a sustained I'm going to kill you honk. I'm a wuss, so I just turned on my blinker and pulled over to let him go by, wherein he proceeded to slow down and honk some more at me, before pulling away. I think my no eye contact rule basically saved me from getting shot by this SUV driving jerkface. Of course it was an SUV.
But I love Los Angeles! I mean, I could get burned up in a wildfire, crushed to death in an earthquake or killed on a surface street in the Valley. But! there is a fruit stand in Sylmar (home of juvey) in front of a gas station where we partook of pineapple with chili powder, lime and salt. So at least you can be well-fed.
Another great thing about Sylmar is that people just randomly ride horses around on the city streets. One of my fellow volunteers told me this, and I didn't quite believe her until last night. Yep, there came a man with a cowboy hat on, riding his horse down the street in the dark. Sylmar also backs up against the San Gabriel mountains and is very picturesque. So the moral of story is, if you can stand daily near death experiences, there are some nice things in LA.
Friday, November 02, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
down here in the raging inferno
Maybe you haven't heard because you live in a cave, but there are some major conflagrations going on down here in my neck of the woods. Also, it is about a million degrees. I'm not myself affected by the fires except for the haze in the air, off to the south, but I am affected by the high temperature. Today I practiced avoidance by driving (ha, that will help the climate become not so off-kilter and dry, right?) to the mall (yes) and admiring the wool coats and sweaters at Nordstrom. I actually went there to get some pants hemmed, but then got caught up in a Fall reverie.
Even though Fall actually lasted for about two weeks during my four year residence on the East Coast (sandwiched in between the September humidity and the late October snow), it was really really great. Those leaves that you see in pictures? It really looks like that. The pumpkins are really in a patch, you can wear your cozy wool sweater, the sun shines.
Of course, then it starts to snow for four or five months. Oh, selective memory.
Even though Fall actually lasted for about two weeks during my four year residence on the East Coast (sandwiched in between the September humidity and the late October snow), it was really really great. Those leaves that you see in pictures? It really looks like that. The pumpkins are really in a patch, you can wear your cozy wool sweater, the sun shines.
Of course, then it starts to snow for four or five months. Oh, selective memory.
Friday, October 19, 2007
remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return
Yesterday, after visiting the Farmer's Market, my new favorite place, I went to my local branch library to return a DVD. Outside my library I saw one of my classmates, an intern there, waiting for teens to show up for a Halloween program, a cemetery tour at this cemetery, which is right behind the library. I've always seen it back there (it's visible from inside the library but not the street) and knew it was relatively famous, but had never visited it. But, as no one was showing up for the tour, I volunteered to go along. Well, wasn't it interesting!
Not only did I see the final resting place of Marilyn Monroe (the most famous resident), Truman Capote, Jack Lemmon, Rodney Dangerfield, Natalie Wood, and others, but, and most interesting to me, learned quite a few things about the cemetery world. This is a very small and, for Los Angeles, old cemetery and it's right in the middle of the city, surrounded by office buildings. It was started in 1905 for Civil War veterans and now contains a wide variety of burial and cremation situations among some nice old trees and lawn. Given that it is now a site for celeb burials, the few "in ground" plots left run in the $100,000 range. If you want to go with the more cost effective option, they have a way for your ashes to be "co-mingled" with other people's in a "vault" and your name placed on a rock (a "pillow rock").
I learned that some people prefer to be interred above ground and some below. I learned that you should choose your tombstone granite carefully, because some types make it hard to read your name and other information. I learned that, if you choose to share your tombstone with another person, it is easy to engrave the second decedent's information on granite, but if it's in bronze, they must add a plate, because they can't recast it. Huh. Also, they only allow two potted plants per tombstone and no glass vases.
I have never really been one to be scared of cemeteries. I mean, we all die. No, really. I hadn't gone back there before because it seemed a little disrespectful to just wander around. But it was good to go on the tour with the woman who manages it (who was a very nice woman, wearing a black skirt suit with black tights and black Crocs--must be the tour shoes). I felt like I was seeing the real side of the cemetery, not the kitschy celebrity side.
It was also interesting to get a little window into the cemetery industry and see how people choose to be remembered. Even in death, money and fame are the most important things to some who wish to be buried there. Hugh Hefner has bragged that he has the space next to Marilyn Monroe in one of the mausoleums. Please, just burn me up and scatter me in a nice place, thank you very much.
Not only did I see the final resting place of Marilyn Monroe (the most famous resident), Truman Capote, Jack Lemmon, Rodney Dangerfield, Natalie Wood, and others, but, and most interesting to me, learned quite a few things about the cemetery world. This is a very small and, for Los Angeles, old cemetery and it's right in the middle of the city, surrounded by office buildings. It was started in 1905 for Civil War veterans and now contains a wide variety of burial and cremation situations among some nice old trees and lawn. Given that it is now a site for celeb burials, the few "in ground" plots left run in the $100,000 range. If you want to go with the more cost effective option, they have a way for your ashes to be "co-mingled" with other people's in a "vault" and your name placed on a rock (a "pillow rock").
I learned that some people prefer to be interred above ground and some below. I learned that you should choose your tombstone granite carefully, because some types make it hard to read your name and other information. I learned that, if you choose to share your tombstone with another person, it is easy to engrave the second decedent's information on granite, but if it's in bronze, they must add a plate, because they can't recast it. Huh. Also, they only allow two potted plants per tombstone and no glass vases.
I have never really been one to be scared of cemeteries. I mean, we all die. No, really. I hadn't gone back there before because it seemed a little disrespectful to just wander around. But it was good to go on the tour with the woman who manages it (who was a very nice woman, wearing a black skirt suit with black tights and black Crocs--must be the tour shoes). I felt like I was seeing the real side of the cemetery, not the kitschy celebrity side.
It was also interesting to get a little window into the cemetery industry and see how people choose to be remembered. Even in death, money and fame are the most important things to some who wish to be buried there. Hugh Hefner has bragged that he has the space next to Marilyn Monroe in one of the mausoleums. Please, just burn me up and scatter me in a nice place, thank you very much.
Monday, October 08, 2007
boo columbus
I'm not sure who celebrates Columbus Day (my postman?), but I don't recall ever getting the day off or even doing anything "Columbus-y." Despite this, it is a federal holiday, providing a good opportunity to talk about why Columbus wasn't really that great. Here are a few findings in honor of Columbus day.
Remember all those scary Indians in Little House on the Prairie? You can find better stuff at American Indians in Children's Literature.
From her blog, I also found Oyate, a non-profit that does various things to promote respectful portrayals of Native Americans in literature and curriculum.
The American Indian Library Association (an ALA affiliate) has the American Indian Youth Services Literature Award. Speaking of ALA, the current president is a Native American woman. Go ALA.
Non-literature related: some of the Nez Perce originally lived in Oregon's Wallowa area (hence the name of the town, Joseph, after Chief Joseph) and they are engaged in an effort to return to their land and build an interpretive center. Info here.
And last but not least, information on the effort to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day.
Remember all those scary Indians in Little House on the Prairie? You can find better stuff at American Indians in Children's Literature.
From her blog, I also found Oyate, a non-profit that does various things to promote respectful portrayals of Native Americans in literature and curriculum.
The American Indian Library Association (an ALA affiliate) has the American Indian Youth Services Literature Award. Speaking of ALA, the current president is a Native American woman. Go ALA.
Non-literature related: some of the Nez Perce originally lived in Oregon's Wallowa area (hence the name of the town, Joseph, after Chief Joseph) and they are engaged in an effort to return to their land and build an interpretive center. Info here.
And last but not least, information on the effort to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day.
Monday, September 24, 2007
tata jesus is bangala!
For those not in the know, that is a line from Poisonwood Bible. The father/missionary character shouts it repeatedly to his skeptical congregation in the (former) Belgian Congo, and it either means that Jesus is precious (which is what he thinks it means), or Jesus is the poisonwood tree (not a good thing to be). I have been thinking of this line approximately once every minute in the current incarnation of my job. I am going through some donated materials, most of which come from Nigeria, and most of which were published by mid-20th century missionaries. You want the whole Bible in an indigenous African language? Got it! Just want the Gospel of Mark? Got that too. Or maybe you want a concordance of the New Testament. You're in luck! It's pretty amazing to me that these people went to the trouble of learning all of these languages just so they could publish a Bible. And I don't mean amazing in a good way.
Moving on from that, not only am I depressed about proselytizing in Africa, I am also depressed about the state of the environment. I am reading yet another Barbara Kingsolver book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and it is making me feel like I would never want to bring children into our terrible world. I don't think it is supposed to make me feel this depressed. I think it's supposed to make me want to do more gardening and more shopping at the farmer's market. And I really do like it and agree with it, but I just feel despair. This is why I can't bring myself to watch An Inconvenient Truth. I know I would just want to throw myself in front of a car (in an ironic twist).
And for even more depressing news, undergrads are back at UCLA. I was very much enjoying the peace and quiet of the summer. Now I have someone moving into an apartment across the street with a moving truck. Seriously, is your mom's Explorer in the shop?
Moving on from that, not only am I depressed about proselytizing in Africa, I am also depressed about the state of the environment. I am reading yet another Barbara Kingsolver book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and it is making me feel like I would never want to bring children into our terrible world. I don't think it is supposed to make me feel this depressed. I think it's supposed to make me want to do more gardening and more shopping at the farmer's market. And I really do like it and agree with it, but I just feel despair. This is why I can't bring myself to watch An Inconvenient Truth. I know I would just want to throw myself in front of a car (in an ironic twist).
And for even more depressing news, undergrads are back at UCLA. I was very much enjoying the peace and quiet of the summer. Now I have someone moving into an apartment across the street with a moving truck. Seriously, is your mom's Explorer in the shop?
Friday, September 21, 2007
it's raining, it's pouring...
If you don't know the rest of the words to that song, you must not have grown up in the NW. The promised "storm" has arrived this evening and it is raining beautiful rain outside. I opened the window just so I could listen to the sound. Which reminds me that I wanted to promote a business that we found when we were in Joseph. It is a very cute little bath and body products store...and, get this, the founder/owner/man who was behind the counter making soap is actually from Joseph (pop. 1095). If you have ever visited any rural small town, you can imagine our astonishment that the (male) owner of a cutesy bath and body shop would actually be a native. Anyway, it's called beecrowbee and I am currently enjoying their lavender/geranium soap and their spearmint/fern (whatever "fern" smells like) candle (which does not smell minty, because I would hate that).
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
back in the saddle again
I am pretty sure I only update when either Katie or my sister bug me about it, so good thing I have them. Last time I graced you all with my presence, it was five million degrees outside. Now, we are apparently facing a storm of unprecedented force (for September in LA). That means...rain! I just read the weather alert and it said it will be "more like January than September," which I think means it will be 55 degrees and drizzling.
I had a lovely little time while I was at home en vacances. Spent some time at the beach, witnessed Dad catching a chinook salmon while I read Gourmet. I had to cringe and look away at the whole part where the fish gets sent to a better place. Not to be too graphic, but there was definitely some fish blood in the boat. My main thought was that this never happened at the goofy trout farm my parents used to take us to when we were little. I'm pretty sure the fish just expired the minute you reeled them up out of the water.
Mom and I also took a trip out to Joseph, OR, which is in the northeast part of the state. Practically Idaho! There are some beautiful mountains, a lake, and lots of varying scenery. We overheard one woman say "this is just like Lake Tahoe," which is true in that there were trees and a lake and not true in that there is not one casino. Sadly, we just had to settle for taking walks, reading, driving to scenic locations, putting our feet in the river, watching trout swim upriver to spawn, learning about the Nez Perce's effort to return to their land, and checking out the very small public library.
For the final portion of my vacation, Dad took us to his new favorite Portland taco truck, Mom and I went to a plant show, and we all went out to a yummy dinner.
Back in the real world, the world of impending stormy doom, I'm on a kick of making dinner. My mother has successfully nagged me enough to get me to do this. I mean, I always ate dinner but it was not necessarily anything I slaved over for very long. So far this week I've made rosemary chicken drumsticks and a broccoli mushroom casserole with wild rice on the side. Anyone want to come help me eat all this food?
I had a lovely little time while I was at home en vacances. Spent some time at the beach, witnessed Dad catching a chinook salmon while I read Gourmet. I had to cringe and look away at the whole part where the fish gets sent to a better place. Not to be too graphic, but there was definitely some fish blood in the boat. My main thought was that this never happened at the goofy trout farm my parents used to take us to when we were little. I'm pretty sure the fish just expired the minute you reeled them up out of the water.
Mom and I also took a trip out to Joseph, OR, which is in the northeast part of the state. Practically Idaho! There are some beautiful mountains, a lake, and lots of varying scenery. We overheard one woman say "this is just like Lake Tahoe," which is true in that there were trees and a lake and not true in that there is not one casino. Sadly, we just had to settle for taking walks, reading, driving to scenic locations, putting our feet in the river, watching trout swim upriver to spawn, learning about the Nez Perce's effort to return to their land, and checking out the very small public library.
For the final portion of my vacation, Dad took us to his new favorite Portland taco truck, Mom and I went to a plant show, and we all went out to a yummy dinner.
Back in the real world, the world of impending stormy doom, I'm on a kick of making dinner. My mother has successfully nagged me enough to get me to do this. I mean, I always ate dinner but it was not necessarily anything I slaved over for very long. So far this week I've made rosemary chicken drumsticks and a broccoli mushroom casserole with wild rice on the side. Anyone want to come help me eat all this food?
Monday, September 03, 2007
baby, it's hot outside
That's a cute little Christmas song joke there. Since I last posted, I have read at least five books, I think. I also had my last day of summer school and had an interview for an internship that I will be doing next quarter at a nearby public library. It's a small city system, so I'll get to involve myself with lots of the workings of the library.
Lauren, Beadle, and I went to a "white party" on Saturday night. I discovered I basically didn't own anything white. It was amusing to be with lots of LA film industry people--the people who did Wordplay were there!
Given the fact that it has been incredibly hot around here, I had the good luck to be invited to hang out at the beach this weekend. I lay around on the sand in Newport Beach all day Sunday and today. Life is hard. Actually it is, because when I got back to my apartment today, my thermostat said it was 90+ degrees in here. Now we are at 86, so that is more bearable. Apparently it's supposed to cool off later this week, but I will be home where it will probably be raining or something!
Lauren, Beadle, and I went to a "white party" on Saturday night. I discovered I basically didn't own anything white. It was amusing to be with lots of LA film industry people--the people who did Wordplay were there!
Given the fact that it has been incredibly hot around here, I had the good luck to be invited to hang out at the beach this weekend. I lay around on the sand in Newport Beach all day Sunday and today. Life is hard. Actually it is, because when I got back to my apartment today, my thermostat said it was 90+ degrees in here. Now we are at 86, so that is more bearable. Apparently it's supposed to cool off later this week, but I will be home where it will probably be raining or something!
Friday, August 17, 2007
shaking off the dust
Whew! Basically what just happened is that I finally hung some prints in my living room (I've only had them framed and sitting on my floor since October), decided I needed a new table to go under them, felt dissatisfied about life, changed up the blog a bit, felt much better!
I also got an email back from a librarian about doing an internship in the Fall. I was feeling like I had waited too long to do this, but she doesn't seem to have an intern lined up yet. Classes don't start until the end of September, so I'm not that S.O.L.
Now I just need to buy that table!
I also got an email back from a librarian about doing an internship in the Fall. I was feeling like I had waited too long to do this, but she doesn't seem to have an intern lined up yet. Classes don't start until the end of September, so I'm not that S.O.L.
Now I just need to buy that table!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
membership has its benefits
My number one favorite benefit to being a member of the American Library Association is American Libraries Direct, their e-newsletter. Normally I hate e-newsletters because they are incredibly boring. ALA, however, has the world's best e-newsletter. This is based on the scientific fact that I actually read it. It's not just me either: my library school friends have confirmed that they read it as well. Here is something that I learned from today's: Iraq National Library Director Resists Military Intrusions. How would you like to have that job? I also learned that a man in a Fort Worth prison was just sentenced for smuggling meth inside. His girlfriend placed it into the spines of books the prison received via inter-library loan from public libraries. Lastly, I learned about a book written by an archivist, based on a document from 1830 that he discovered in the Burlington, VT town archives. It was an inquest into the "untimely death" of an unmarried 23-year-old woman, caused by a botched abortion. The most interesting part was the attitude of the townspeople, who were apparently mostly just disturbed that this "private" matter was being made public. Thank you American Libraries Direct!
In other library membership news, I just signed up for my first library conference. I will be attending the California Library Association conference in Long Beach. I am so excited--I am really hoping for some advance reader copies, some tote bags, some pens and pins, and hopefully some librarian cocktail hours. Woo hoo!
In other library membership news, I just signed up for my first library conference. I will be attending the California Library Association conference in Long Beach. I am so excited--I am really hoping for some advance reader copies, some tote bags, some pens and pins, and hopefully some librarian cocktail hours. Woo hoo!
Friday, August 10, 2007
books
I just added a little "books i am reading" list to the side of my blog. Now you can see how unintellectual I really am! At the moment, some of the books are for my reader's advisory class (we're doing horror right now), some are for the fact that I feel like there are certain books I need to have read to be a public librarian (ie, Harry Potter), some are just for me! You can probably tell which is which on that list right now.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Well, I haven't posted for a little while, but that's ok, you haven't missed anything. The lovely newlywed Gibbs-Beadle family has moved back down to my neck of the woods, so that was exciting. I have gotten to spend some time at Crate and Barrel and other such places. I'm pretty sure Beadle hates me, because I convinced Lauren to buy an expensive vacuum cleaner and also did not unconvince her to buy a really cute antique cabinet. Oh well, he has to pretend to like me at least.
My biggest news is that I was awakened at 1:00am last night by an earthquake. Yes, my worst fear re: living in Los Angeles has come true. Not that I haven't experienced a few earthquakes in my day, but this was an LA earthquake. It was a 4.5! I actually convinced myself that I just dreamed it, so I did not get out of bed to stand under a door frame, which is what a sensible person would do. I just lay there in bed. Good thing there was no horrific aftershock. I obviously did not convince my subconscious, however, because I had a dream right after that Lauren and I were in some giant apartment building and were caught in a big earthquake.
And that's about all the news that is fit to print around here. School, work, juvey, reading lots of books, pretty much just a day in the life of me. And now it's off to bed, since I'm an old lady and tire easily.
My biggest news is that I was awakened at 1:00am last night by an earthquake. Yes, my worst fear re: living in Los Angeles has come true. Not that I haven't experienced a few earthquakes in my day, but this was an LA earthquake. It was a 4.5! I actually convinced myself that I just dreamed it, so I did not get out of bed to stand under a door frame, which is what a sensible person would do. I just lay there in bed. Good thing there was no horrific aftershock. I obviously did not convince my subconscious, however, because I had a dream right after that Lauren and I were in some giant apartment building and were caught in a big earthquake.
And that's about all the news that is fit to print around here. School, work, juvey, reading lots of books, pretty much just a day in the life of me. And now it's off to bed, since I'm an old lady and tire easily.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
nice people live in la too
Sometimes I get grumpy about speeding cars that almost mow down children walking in a crosswalk, or loud-voiced television people bragging about their careers while on a peaceful hike, or, you know, the fact that the sky isn't really blue. But yesterday I did experience a brief moment of niceness at the grocery store. This was not my usual grocery store and I did not, therefore, have the little membership card that allowed me myriad discounts. I said as such to the check-out lady because usually they have a little card up there that they'll swipe for you. This one seemed to be a stickler for rules, because she nervously informed me that they didn't like for the cashiers to do that. Oh well, I thought. But! Then the nice lady behind me put her phone number into my little machine, thus entitling me to my whole $4.00 worth of grocery store discounts. I attribute most of this niceness to the fact that I was not in my own neighborhood, where the person behind me would have impatiently sighed and tapped her foot during this encounter.
Monday, July 16, 2007
wedding time!
This weekend was the Big Event of my summer, aka Lauren's wedding. We arrived on Thursday night and had a yummy dinner in Berkeley. Friday was cupcake baking day. With a few trusty assistants, I made cupcakes for the reception. I made approximately 150 chocolate cupcakes and frosting--yes, from scratch. They turned out just fine, despite the fact that I was concerned afterwards that I had forgotten to add sugar to a few batches. No one complained, so hopefully I didn't actually do that.
The wedding itself was on Saturday. In the morning my family and I headed over to the Oakland Museum of California where we saw some California art and history. Then we headed off to San Leandro for the wedding! The ceremony was perfect. Touching but not cheesy readings, poignant sermon, funny and sweet officiant--what more can you ask for? Some of the UCLA people and I were laughing afterwards because their dates were Catholic and were shocked when the ceremony was over in under an hour--and they didn't even have to go up for Communion! Meanwhile, we were thinking it was longer than the 20 minutes of most non-religious weddings we were used to. Reception was wonderful too with fabulously yummy Filipino food, a tasty cake, and, of course, cupcakes! Beadle broke it down for us on the dance floor and a good time was had by all.
Sunday, the Wellesley peeps and I went to her family's house for a brunch and present-opening. I got to be the official gift recorder, a job that I am not really that good at, because I have bad handwriting. I think Lauren is up to the job of reading it, though. After the happy couple departed, we headed off for some brief San Francisco tourism and then to the airport!
Now I am back to the real world, suffering from a cold I acquired from Lynne, and trying to get back into the swing of things. Oh yes, and wishing I could be on a Hawaiian vacation like Lauren and Beadle!
The wedding itself was on Saturday. In the morning my family and I headed over to the Oakland Museum of California where we saw some California art and history. Then we headed off to San Leandro for the wedding! The ceremony was perfect. Touching but not cheesy readings, poignant sermon, funny and sweet officiant--what more can you ask for? Some of the UCLA people and I were laughing afterwards because their dates were Catholic and were shocked when the ceremony was over in under an hour--and they didn't even have to go up for Communion! Meanwhile, we were thinking it was longer than the 20 minutes of most non-religious weddings we were used to. Reception was wonderful too with fabulously yummy Filipino food, a tasty cake, and, of course, cupcakes! Beadle broke it down for us on the dance floor and a good time was had by all.
Sunday, the Wellesley peeps and I went to her family's house for a brunch and present-opening. I got to be the official gift recorder, a job that I am not really that good at, because I have bad handwriting. I think Lauren is up to the job of reading it, though. After the happy couple departed, we headed off for some brief San Francisco tourism and then to the airport!
Now I am back to the real world, suffering from a cold I acquired from Lynne, and trying to get back into the swing of things. Oh yes, and wishing I could be on a Hawaiian vacation like Lauren and Beadle!
Saturday, July 07, 2007
saturday morning in la
That title has nothing to do with anything, other than the fact that it is a Saturday morning in LA. I am running a bunch of errands this morning and decided it would be a good idea to get to the mall right when it opens. I am pretty sure I inherited this tendency from my mother. Anyway, here is an article about how librarians are cool. It is the number one most emailed article from the NY Times right now. At first I was like, wow, how exciting, people really care that librarians are cool. And then I realized it was just that all the librarians in the country were emailing it to each other.
Friday, July 06, 2007
here i am!
According to my loyal fans (ie, my sister), I have not been updating enough recently. I'll start with an important news story. In case you don't want to follow that link, a UCLA professor received a "suspicious envelope" causing the bomb squad to shut down part of Sunset Blvd. this afternoon. Let's turn to how this affected me, since that's obviously the most important thing. I had decided to be lazy and drive to school to investigate the Dictionary of American History for my Advanced Reference class (yay librarians). This road shut-down totally ruined my laziness and it probably took me longer to get there and back than if I had walked. But oh well, at least I didn't have to use my legs. Also, I pretty much thought that Paris Hilton had crashed her car again before I read the news, and was kind of disappointed it was just animal rights activists causing trouble.
I have been a world traveler in the past few weeks. Two weeks ago Mom and I visited Lynne in NYC. We saw Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends at the New York Public Library, walked through Central Park, watched a ballerina fall at the New York City Ballet, and became fans of flamenco in the East Village. We also helped Lynne get a new air conditioner, which is considerably more difficult in New York than in a normal place where you can drive your giant car into the giant parking lot of a giant big box store and just get a new AC. Instead our trek involved lots of carrying and a taxi. Geez! I don't know how people survive out there.
Last weekend I went up to Lauren's spa day/lunch in San Francisco. I got to stay with Kate in her new and beautiful apartment and the weather was delightful! Spa-ing was great, lunch was delish and Kate and I visited Green Apple Books, so I was a happy camper. I may or may not have acquired a new book, which is just what I need since I already have a nightstand pile of at least six.
This weekend I'm sticking around home base and then next weekend is Lauren's wedding! Other than my travels, I am working at my library job and taking two classes. Don't want to get bored, you know!
Oh also, last week (I think?) I got my hair highlighted in Beverly Hills. I am fancy. I read good reviews of this place online, all of which mentioned their "coffeehouse" music. Indeed, they played a satellite radio station called "Coffeehouse." A Tracy Chapman song came on and my hair lady commented on the fact that everyone likes Tracy Chapman, but no one you know actually has one of her CDs. I informed her that I, in fact, own a Tracy Chapman CD. Of course.
I have been a world traveler in the past few weeks. Two weeks ago Mom and I visited Lynne in NYC. We saw Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends at the New York Public Library, walked through Central Park, watched a ballerina fall at the New York City Ballet, and became fans of flamenco in the East Village. We also helped Lynne get a new air conditioner, which is considerably more difficult in New York than in a normal place where you can drive your giant car into the giant parking lot of a giant big box store and just get a new AC. Instead our trek involved lots of carrying and a taxi. Geez! I don't know how people survive out there.
Last weekend I went up to Lauren's spa day/lunch in San Francisco. I got to stay with Kate in her new and beautiful apartment and the weather was delightful! Spa-ing was great, lunch was delish and Kate and I visited Green Apple Books, so I was a happy camper. I may or may not have acquired a new book, which is just what I need since I already have a nightstand pile of at least six.
This weekend I'm sticking around home base and then next weekend is Lauren's wedding! Other than my travels, I am working at my library job and taking two classes. Don't want to get bored, you know!
Oh also, last week (I think?) I got my hair highlighted in Beverly Hills. I am fancy. I read good reviews of this place online, all of which mentioned their "coffeehouse" music. Indeed, they played a satellite radio station called "Coffeehouse." A Tracy Chapman song came on and my hair lady commented on the fact that everyone likes Tracy Chapman, but no one you know actually has one of her CDs. I informed her that I, in fact, own a Tracy Chapman CD. Of course.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
not the best week, so far
I did have a fabulous weekend at Lauren's sister's home, where I attended her wedding shower. I got to meet her lovely niece, Beadle's family, and catch up with my college friend Kate.
Unfortunately her baby niece had a little stomach bug that I managed to catch. I haven't been as sick as I was yesterday in many years and I hope to not be that sick again in a long time! I'm feeling a bit better today--well enough to blog, at least!
In addition to the unpleasant tummy situation, my parents put our dearly beloved Piper to sleep yesterday morning. He was over fourteen years old, had increasingly weakening back legs and a case of doggy dementia that caused him to spend a large amount of time barking for no reason. He wasn't getting any better and it was just time. I did get to see him over Memorial Day weekend, so that was good. He is the one looking intently at the microwave in that picture--it was his fourteenth birthday and he was eagerly awaiting his birthday treat of toast and cheese. We hope he is getting to eat lots of cheese toast in doggy heaven.
Today I am resting up and working on a take home final--thought I would be able to get started on it yesterday, but that obviously did not happen. Hopefully the week will get better!
Unfortunately her baby niece had a little stomach bug that I managed to catch. I haven't been as sick as I was yesterday in many years and I hope to not be that sick again in a long time! I'm feeling a bit better today--well enough to blog, at least!
In addition to the unpleasant tummy situation, my parents put our dearly beloved Piper to sleep yesterday morning. He was over fourteen years old, had increasingly weakening back legs and a case of doggy dementia that caused him to spend a large amount of time barking for no reason. He wasn't getting any better and it was just time. I did get to see him over Memorial Day weekend, so that was good. He is the one looking intently at the microwave in that picture--it was his fourteenth birthday and he was eagerly awaiting his birthday treat of toast and cheese. We hope he is getting to eat lots of cheese toast in doggy heaven.
Today I am resting up and working on a take home final--thought I would be able to get started on it yesterday, but that obviously did not happen. Hopefully the week will get better!
Saturday, June 02, 2007
wellesley, wellesley, only to be there!
I'm feeling a bit nostalgic currently, as it was one year ago this week (June 1, 2006!) that I graduated from old WC. I think I have started to annoy my library school friends because I keep bringing up Wellesley, and I don't want to turn into one of those, "Well at MY college..." people. Oh well.
Anyway, I've been thinking about it for that reason and also because of this Management class I'm taking--it's an MLIS core class, don't worry, I haven't decided to get my MBA or anything. We have talked a bit about mission statements and I always want to mention Wellesley's (I don't, because, again, I don't want to be one of those annoying people) which is "Wellesley College provides an excellent liberal arts education for women who will make a difference in the world." That's it! Succinct and to the point. We've also been talking about the symbolic management style, which has a lot to do with the culture of an organization. Again, I was thinking about how the mission statement and the motto (Non ministrari, sed ministrare--not to be served, but to serve) affects the culture so much.
Since I'm being all nostalgic and rose-colored-glasses about it, I think that the culture really centers around creating people who do want to go out and do something good in the world. Numerous recent grads have "I'm not being a good Wellesley woman because I'm not doing anything great in the world" crises. Might not be such a great thing to inspire guilt in your alumnae, but at least it's guilt that pushes you to try to create positive change! Anyway, here are some words from our departing president in her charge to the class--it's very Wellesley:
"I hope that life of learning for you – so that you will be doing your part to transform the world from the inside out, seeing your first and most sacred task as the work of transforming yourselves — not once and for all, but over and over, greeting with an open mind and a courageous heart the hard questions that life will continue asking of you."
Anyway, I've been thinking about it for that reason and also because of this Management class I'm taking--it's an MLIS core class, don't worry, I haven't decided to get my MBA or anything. We have talked a bit about mission statements and I always want to mention Wellesley's (I don't, because, again, I don't want to be one of those annoying people) which is "Wellesley College provides an excellent liberal arts education for women who will make a difference in the world." That's it! Succinct and to the point. We've also been talking about the symbolic management style, which has a lot to do with the culture of an organization. Again, I was thinking about how the mission statement and the motto (Non ministrari, sed ministrare--not to be served, but to serve) affects the culture so much.
Since I'm being all nostalgic and rose-colored-glasses about it, I think that the culture really centers around creating people who do want to go out and do something good in the world. Numerous recent grads have "I'm not being a good Wellesley woman because I'm not doing anything great in the world" crises. Might not be such a great thing to inspire guilt in your alumnae, but at least it's guilt that pushes you to try to create positive change! Anyway, here are some words from our departing president in her charge to the class--it's very Wellesley:
"I hope that life of learning for you – so that you will be doing your part to transform the world from the inside out, seeing your first and most sacred task as the work of transforming yourselves — not once and for all, but over and over, greeting with an open mind and a courageous heart the hard questions that life will continue asking of you."
Thursday, May 31, 2007
with my hand held out
I've been remiss in not posting this earlier, but life has been a bit busy recently. Our volunteer group, along with UCLA's Graduate Student Association, are doing a book drive for juvenile detention facility where I volunteer and if any of my devoted fans would like to donate a book or two, the kids and I would be ever so grateful. Tonight we had a taker on the Malcolm X autobiography, a Stephen King, a Walter Mosley and oh so many more. One kid booktalked this book, which I was a little surprised about. We often have a difficult time getting kids to read fiction that purports to tell a story about a kid with a hard life, but our reader enjoyed this one. I noticed that the Amazon review thinks that the book's hard luck story is implausible, but our reader mentioned no such thing--sadly, it probably seems completely plausible to him. Anyway, here is the little book drive spiel--sorry that it is kind of long. Thank you in advance!
BEYOND 4 WALLS BOOK DRIVE
Greetings, UCLA Community,
Reading changes lives. We ask you to partner with us to impact and improve
the lives of incarcerated children and teenagers, by purchasing books for
the BEYOND 4 WALLS BOOK DRIVE.
The Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Detention Facility in Sylmar houses 600+
children and teens. The members of the Nidorf Collective, a group of
students from the UCLA Information Studies graduate program, have been
volunteering at the facility for the past year, bringing books to this
underserved population. The Beyond 4 Walls Book Drive, sponsored by the
GSA Community Service Commission, will further the work to give the gift
of reading to these kids.
How can you contribute? Here are several ways:
1) The best and simplest way is to use this link to select books for the
kids from the “Beyond 4 Walls Wish List” on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/3GB06L568M0Y3
The books on this list have been requested by the teens at Nidorf and/or
recommended by the library students in the UCLA MLIS program, who have
seen what a difference books and reading make to this population. After
you use the link, please forward this email to others who might also like
to make a fundamental difference in this ongoing literacy program. The
email campaign will run from Friday, May 18th to Friday, June 8th. (Please
note and make use of all the tools Amazon gives you to view the books by
highest priority, by price, in detail, or in summary.)
2) Bring new or used books to our BOOK DRIVE PARTY on Wednesday, June 6th
from 5-9 p.m. at Kerckhoff Art Gallery (Kerckhoff 214). We will serve
food, beer and wine, and celebrate the success of the Beyond 4 Walls Book
Drive. (Paperbacks are preferred.)
3) Finally, if you cannot attend the event but want to make a book
donation, please deliver your new or used books to the GSA office in
Kerckhoff 316.
The GSA Community Service Commission, the members of the Nidorf
Collective, and the kids at Nidorf thank you for giving your time and
energy to community service. Your donation makes a big difference.
========================================
The Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Detention Facility in Sylmar (north San
Fernando Valley) houses children and teens ages 12 to 17, who are awaiting
adjudication. About 70 percent of the kids rotate in and out quickly
(within 28 days)—either sent home or placed in other facilities—but the
rest are at Nidorf long-term, a more stationary population of about 200
minors who may remain at the facility for up to several years.
The only library at Nidorf is in the on-premises LACOE school. The library
is only accessible to the kids during school hours, and then only if their
teachers bring them in for a class visit. They are not allowed to check
the books out and take them back to their rooms, with the result that they
have nothing to read during the hours they need it the most.
For that reason, the UCLA students of the Nidorf Collective have made it
their priority to collect books from wherever they can—mostly libraries
and schools who donate their discards—and deliver boxes of books to the
living units. Additionally, they have started five bi-weekly book
groups—one each in the Boys’ and Girls’ Special Handling Units (SHUs), two
in the lockdown units, and one in the girls’ school—for which they
constantly need more books, since they take books in, book-talk them and
give them away, also taking requests from the kids for specific titles and
then trying to track those down and acquire them cheap or free.
One restriction is that only paperback books are allowed in the living
units. Hardcover books can go into the school library for more limited use
there. The Nidorf Collective’s hope is to eventually provide a stocked
rolling book cart to each of the 15 living units, and a part- or full-time
librarian to visit all the units and also continue the book groups. But
for now, book drives such as Beyond 4 Walls are their best hope of
bringing books to eager readers in this marginalized population. We hope
you will help.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/3GB06L568M0Y3
======================================
BEYOND 4 WALLS BOOK DRIVE
Greetings, UCLA Community,
Reading changes lives. We ask you to partner with us to impact and improve
the lives of incarcerated children and teenagers, by purchasing books for
the BEYOND 4 WALLS BOOK DRIVE.
The Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Detention Facility in Sylmar houses 600+
children and teens. The members of the Nidorf Collective, a group of
students from the UCLA Information Studies graduate program, have been
volunteering at the facility for the past year, bringing books to this
underserved population. The Beyond 4 Walls Book Drive, sponsored by the
GSA Community Service Commission, will further the work to give the gift
of reading to these kids.
How can you contribute? Here are several ways:
1) The best and simplest way is to use this link to select books for the
kids from the “Beyond 4 Walls Wish List” on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/3GB06L568M0Y3
The books on this list have been requested by the teens at Nidorf and/or
recommended by the library students in the UCLA MLIS program, who have
seen what a difference books and reading make to this population. After
you use the link, please forward this email to others who might also like
to make a fundamental difference in this ongoing literacy program. The
email campaign will run from Friday, May 18th to Friday, June 8th. (Please
note and make use of all the tools Amazon gives you to view the books by
highest priority, by price, in detail, or in summary.)
2) Bring new or used books to our BOOK DRIVE PARTY on Wednesday, June 6th
from 5-9 p.m. at Kerckhoff Art Gallery (Kerckhoff 214). We will serve
food, beer and wine, and celebrate the success of the Beyond 4 Walls Book
Drive. (Paperbacks are preferred.)
3) Finally, if you cannot attend the event but want to make a book
donation, please deliver your new or used books to the GSA office in
Kerckhoff 316.
The GSA Community Service Commission, the members of the Nidorf
Collective, and the kids at Nidorf thank you for giving your time and
energy to community service. Your donation makes a big difference.
========================================
The Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Detention Facility in Sylmar (north San
Fernando Valley) houses children and teens ages 12 to 17, who are awaiting
adjudication. About 70 percent of the kids rotate in and out quickly
(within 28 days)—either sent home or placed in other facilities—but the
rest are at Nidorf long-term, a more stationary population of about 200
minors who may remain at the facility for up to several years.
The only library at Nidorf is in the on-premises LACOE school. The library
is only accessible to the kids during school hours, and then only if their
teachers bring them in for a class visit. They are not allowed to check
the books out and take them back to their rooms, with the result that they
have nothing to read during the hours they need it the most.
For that reason, the UCLA students of the Nidorf Collective have made it
their priority to collect books from wherever they can—mostly libraries
and schools who donate their discards—and deliver boxes of books to the
living units. Additionally, they have started five bi-weekly book
groups—one each in the Boys’ and Girls’ Special Handling Units (SHUs), two
in the lockdown units, and one in the girls’ school—for which they
constantly need more books, since they take books in, book-talk them and
give them away, also taking requests from the kids for specific titles and
then trying to track those down and acquire them cheap or free.
One restriction is that only paperback books are allowed in the living
units. Hardcover books can go into the school library for more limited use
there. The Nidorf Collective’s hope is to eventually provide a stocked
rolling book cart to each of the 15 living units, and a part- or full-time
librarian to visit all the units and also continue the book groups. But
for now, book drives such as Beyond 4 Walls are their best hope of
bringing books to eager readers in this marginalized population. We hope
you will help.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/3GB06L568M0Y3
======================================
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
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