Hooray for Spring

I have not felt much like posting the past week or so. Theres just not much going on. I am so glad that it is spring. Of course today it was cloudy and chilly, but at least things are starting to bloom.

My family has been grumpy today so of course that sets me off. I seem to have this annoying little habit of channeling other people's moods. If they are grumpy, I am grumpy. And I can't get out of it like they can.

The end is nearly at hand

I just realized that I have one month til taxes are due! WooHoo! Then I can trash forms! Unfortunately my boss won't let me have a bonfire. Too bad.

I just finished listening to a funny mystery. Its called Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb. Its about a murder at a science fiction convention and pokes gentle fun at science fiction and fantasy fans. I like fantasy but I appreciate the humor. Jay Omega, new science-fiction writer and engineering professor is visiting his very first convention. While there he meets the famous fantasy writer Appin Dungannon. Dungannon has legions of fans who adore his character. Unfortunately, he is also a first-class jerk. And when he turns up dead at the convention, there is no shortage of suspects.

Monster Name

I don't know why, but this just speaks to me :-)

Get Your Monster Name

I am an idiot!

As you might have remembered from an earlier post, my CD burner stopped working when I installed Windows XP. I bought an external DVD burner. I chose the Sony because it was a name. I had enough hard disc space. My processor is fast enough. I thought I had enough RAM. I connected it and it froze when trying to burn a disc. Upon further examination of my machine I do NOT have enough RAM. I am an idiot. I have tried to look around to see if I can expand my memory in my PC, but it is so old, it appears to be too hard to find. I have the original box and egg carton material to re-pack it, but I do not have the little plastic baggies that everything came in. I guess I will try to return it to the store, but part of me thinks it was my own stupid fault for not checking my computer and that maybe I should suffer with losing the money. Plus, I don't know what to say to the store. "Sorry I have to return this. Everything is in the box, just not in the original plastic bags. No, its working fine, I am just stupid."

I went on a field trip yesterday with some other librarians in my library system and some people from the local museum. We went to the new American Civil War Center in Richmond on the site of the old Tredegar Iron Works. Then after lunch, we visited the Library of Virginia to see their special collections. It was absolutely fascinating. I have always been fascinated by history. I majored in history in college and Virginia is rich in history. Among the items he showed us was a paper signed by Lord Cornwallis during the battle of Yorktown, right before he surrendered, a history of the world printed in 1493-type hand set. It was before the printing press, and a collection of papers from George Washington. It was so interesting to see his signature on an original document. I know it sounds corny, but this is the kind of thing I love.

Beautiful Weather and a Review

After last night I was not sure I wanted to go back to work, but I did. And everything was much calmer. Yesterday, the head of circulation found a few books in the stacks with the insides razor-bladed out. They were not popular titles or subjects. I had not heard of them. It was vandalism plain and simple. This goes along with the DVDs and CD's that were stolen out of their cases a couple of weeks ago. And then the teenagers were running wild again. Our security guard was busy all night running them off. And my co-worker (whom I really like working with) was chattier than usual. Today was better. It was quieter. Its the weekend and the weather was sunny and warm so the teenagers did not hang around either.

I just read a teen book called London Calling by Edward Bloor. Teenager Martin Conway has been attending a private Catholic school that he absolutely hates. So when he gets the opportunity to do an independent study project instead of attending class, he jumps at the chance. And he knows just what his topic will be. The antique radio from world war 2 left to him by his grandmother. One night Martin falls asleep with the radio on and is awoken by a British boy who died more than 50 years earlier and he needs Martin's help. Martin is sure that it was just a dream. But the "dreams" continue and they are amazingly vivid. Its almost like he is in 1940 London during the Blitz. And when Martin realizes that the people and events that he is dreaming about are real, he begins to wonder: is he going back in time, or is he going crazy? And just what can he do to help the British boy? The book is a quick read with interesting characters and good historical detail.