Editing a day off

Doing a bit of computer checking this morning, email, bloglines, stats, and the like, before heading out on this sunny Friday, my day off. Yes, this upcoming weekend is my second, and blessedly last, of the semester to work reference; 10 - 5 Saturday and 3 - 11 Sunday. Probably more than most, I realize even after my requisite whining, that two weekends and two Tuesday evening shifts are definitely not detrimental to my health in any way, shape, or form. I managed a retail store(s) ten years ago (aaargh!). I remember working six days a week and not having weekends off from Halloween to New Years Day. Add in mandatory 12-hour "iron" days plus, if I was lucky, one weekend off a month and the two-a-semester gig is "so bright I have to wear shades". Understanding does not breed happiness, unlike familiarity breeds contempt, so I'm dragging myself through two weeks of weird scheduling muttering and listening to student worker say "you're not here again tomorrow?" Obviously I'm not the only one who has to suck-it-up concerning the scheduling aspects of weekend work.

So, halfway through I'm still looking at off today, working Saturday and Sunday, off Monday, working a 14-hour Tuesday complete with 180 miles on my car, and close to three hours out of the day, driving to and from a second workshop in Columbus and then closing the library that night, and finishing off the week.

I'm also looking at that last paragraph and getting a senior high school english teacher flash back of "one sentence does not a paragraph make." Sorry, but in this instance I think it did. Now, moving on to the editing portion of this post.

One of the checks I did was looking over the collaborative blog project, specifically scanning over some of my longer posts for writing. Is that cheating? Does anyone else look over recent posts and wish they had been written? I have not deleted posts, it seems against the whole blogging purpose, but I have edited a post or two after the fact. I don't edit posts on this blog because it's informal in nature and I am practicing my writing here after all. But the collaborative blog and the book review blog often receive a second look. And yes, I do often run posts through Word before publishing. I don't want to look like an idiot after all, at least not in print.

I'm off to do some of the weekend chores on a non-weekend day. Since I'm the only one off, I only have to please myself with a few of those choices. One of which includes lunch; maybe Skyline Chili is calling. It's funny how a post with little to say ends having 463 words (not counting the Technorati tags).

Tags: Working weekends, Weekend reference duty, Academic library schedules, Editing blogs

"Are You Quite Polite?" and "The Boy Who Looked Like Lincoln"

David Catrow is one of my favorite illustrators. His newest collaboration in the Silly Dilly book series with author Alan Katz is Are You Quite Polite? As with yesterday's picture book posts, I just finished a short review for the blog and have decided to add it here as well. But, there is a bonus. In addition to Polite, I bought The Boy Who Looked Like Lincoln. No real review, but I will blather a bit in subsequent paragraphs.

Not your traditional book on manners and etiquette, this recent entry in the Silly Dilly book series is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Catrow’s delightfully irreverent watercolor and ink illustrations add just the right touch to each poetic entry and are guaranteed to induce a fit of the giggles. Katz’s limericks are flawlessly set to such well known childhood songs as “Alouette” for Writing Thank-Yous, and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” for Quiet in the Library. This is a book that begs to be sung and is a definite starter for lessons on good, and bad, manners.

There are so many hysterical entries in this book it's difficult to pick only one as a favorite. So, I've narrowed my choices to two: Don't Chew Gum in the Classroom (sung to "Take me out to the ballgame") and the obvious librarian selection of Quiet in the Library (sung to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"). As with the other Dilly books, you really can't just read them. Once the song is in your head, and since most of them are very well-known, they have to be sung. After looking through this book, I took a quick look at other titles the library might need to have. One that jumped out at me was The Boy Who Looked Like Lincoln. One of the perks of being in charge of a children's literature budget is the opportunity to sometimes buy a book because I just want to. This is one of those books.

A collaboration with Mike Reiss, The Boy Who Looked Like Lincoln is a title that does not tell a lie. Bless his heart, poor little Benjy is a child with Abraham Lincoln's head. A quick look at Benjy's parents does explain things to some extent, but he is bound to go through life wearing stove pipe hats and defending himself against school yard bullies. Benjy's parents send him to Kamp What-cha-ma-call-it, "a camp for kids who looked like things." Catrow's illustrations boggle the mind, imagine the child who fits this description, "There was even a kid who looked like the back of a horse. But after a while, you didn't even notice." Everyone makes a friend or two at camp. What keeps this book from becoming a slightly sappy feel good story (no offense intended), is the humor. I read this book this morning and shared it with four students who wanted to know what I was laughing about. As with many of Catrow's illustrations, you have to know your audience and look beneath the surface. Benjy's little brotherlooks like Richard Nixon and has a tape recorder next to him on the blanket. Not everyone would get that detail, or know why it was there.

Tags: Are You Quite Polite?, Alan Katz, David Catrow, Mike Reiss, Picture books, Juvenile literature, Children's book reviews

Water Street

This afternoon at lunch (where else?) I finished reading Water Street by Patricia Reilly Giff. Even though I had not read any other books in this particular historical fiction series, this one is a definite stand alone title. As with the preceeding picture books, I did a short review for my library blog on this title.

This lush historical novel takes place during the summer of 1875 and spring of 1876. We are introduced to two diverse immigrant families, the Mallon’s’ and the Neary’s, both of whom are able to see the Brooklyn Bridge being built from their apartment on Water Street. Bird Mallon, one of three children to working class Irish immigrants, is an eighth grader in her last year of school who wants to be a healer like her mother. Thomas Neary, a new neighbor and classmate of Bird, is the only son of an alcoholic and lives his life writing in his journal. Giff takes readers through a year in their life, providing a chapter for each voice, eloquently depicting the hardships of poverty, street gangs, education, and unemployment. Readers will be enthralled by the hope Bird and Thomas have in the future. A possible classroom read aloud, Water Street would effectively enhance lessons for this period of American history.

In my opinion, one of the most outstanding aspects about this book is Giff's understanding of the time periods hardships and her understated manner. Students reading this book are going to get a fine glimpse of what life might have been like during 1875. They will be entralled and horrified by the fact that 8th grade was graduation, that children of thirteen were working in factories, and that books were a luxury not everyone could easily afford. Also of interest was the "happily ever after" portion of this book. It could have been overdone, but we are treated to simply a glance of Bird and Thomas's life as adults and allowed to imagine what we would like. Or, quite possibly, wait until the next book in this collection is published. Well done historical fiction, it reminded me in some ways of Out of this Furnace, by Thomas Bell.

Tags: Water Street, Patricia Reilly Giff, Children's literature, Book Review, Brooklyn Bridge - juvenile fiction

"Wolves" and "Hattie Hippo"

I recently added the following two picture book reviews to my library book review blog. I've also added book reviews from that blog as part of my Library Thing account. It's a simple way to keep track of what I've read. An additional bonus is when student ask, "did you read?" I can check library thing (yes, another bonus to my widget affection). For some reason I have been limiting book comments here to middle grade and YA literatuare. Now is as good a time as any to include a few of the picture book reviews and opinions. Today's entries are Wolves, by Emily Gravett, and Hattie Hippo, by Christine Loomis.

This is a story about a rabbit that goes to the library for a book about wolves. What makes it captivating are the visual, it is printed on thick cream colored paper and includes vivid mixed media elements, and the sophisticated layered story. Rabbit chooses his book, Wolves, from the stacks in the public library. Immediately readers see the book is bright red, stained from repeated use, and worn at the edges. Rabbit learns more about the wolf, his habitat, and physical characteristics; but as he reads, the predatory wolf inside yearns to get out of the book and do what comes naturally. The wolf increases in size and menace until Rabbit learns wolves like to eat meat, and “they also enjoy smaller mammals, like beavers, voles, and … rabbits.” Never fear, the author has provided an alternate fairy tale ending. Written in the fractured fairy tale theme, this book is not something recommended for the very young.

The artwork in this book is fabulous. As mentioned in the "review," the paper is heavier weight than most picture books frequently are and the paper itself is a rich creme color. Following Rabbit through this book as he is subsequently stalked by the wolf is a wonderful journey. Like Weisner's The Three Pigs, neither wolf nor rabbit are confined to the book page. Towards the end, an artfully rendered double page spread where rabbit realizes wolves eat ... well, rabbits .. is priceless. The wolf is large and harshly drawn in charcol or ink pen and rabbit is a distraught pink, dainty, tasty treat. It's very much in the fractured fairy tale genre and not for the faint of heart. For any child with a sense of the absurd, Gravett's alternate ending is not to be missed. I really enjoyed the nuances presented throughout this book.

Meet Hattie, an engaging young hippo who approaches life with a joyful abandon that will resonate with young readers. Charming watercolor and ink illustrations highlight four vignettes of simple rhyming text with a dose of humor, allowing readers to see Hattie in all her glory. Each story highlights Hattie as she attends to her day, and whether dressed for a tea party or performing the ballet, her sheer enjoyment of the activity shines. Fans of Ian Falconer’s Olivia will find Hattie a kindred spirit.

Since I had the word "cute" removed from my review vocabulary during a children's literature course in grad school (see Dr. Kimmel, I remembered), I have to say this is a very sweet book. The best part is Hattie's complete joy in everything she does. It matters not that she is a hippo and has issues with her swim suit, because readers see only how she lives life. Each of the short stories within the book have a similar, yet distinct, beginning, middle, and end. What fun. If I were still doing pre-school story time this would be a winner.

Tags: Wolves, Emily Gravett, Hattie Hippo, Christine Loomis, Robert Neubecker, Children's literature, Picture books, Book review

Blogging @ lunch @ breaktime

I'm half way through a full day workshop on using Dreamweaver MX, not MX 2004. It's a very intimate workshop with myself, the instructor, and one other participant. Talk about one-on-one learning! There are a few differences between the MX version we are using at OSU and the MX 2004 version I have at work. However, I think the differences are slight and have already learned a few basic things I probably should have already figured out given the number of books I purchased for the library on using Dreamweaver. Must go, lunch is over.

Later in the afternoon ...

The instructor knows her students; we just had a short "snack" break enabling trips to the restroom and vending machine area. If we are to begin working with site navigation, something I am looking forward to learning, I need chocolate (raisinets are fruit and healthier dark chocolate) to survive. I only hope it includes drop down menus of some sort. One of the best resources from this workshop will be the book, Element K: Dreamweaver MX Level 1 and accompanying CD for refreshers. A downside is the problematic issue of much being specific to the web site we are "designing" in class. To utilize the elements, several constraints would be placed on existing design. For example, using the table and images to create a shadow rely on the gif's created for the color palette existing in the sample. I would not be able to work with these unless they are modified for the current library colors. It is something to consider.

End of workshop update ...

I survived the trip back and as usual it took significantly less time for the return. Everyone is always in a hurry to get home, more so than to arrive at work in a timely manner. Next week I may have to leave earlier than 6:45 am because of the annoying logjam on 315 around Columbus. Unfortunately, the type of navigational features I hoped we were going to cover are part of the advanced course next Tuesday. I have signed up for session two and am at this time not considering the third advanced class.

All in all this was a positive session. After looking over the syllabus posted on OSU's continuing education web site, I had considered not attending the beginner class. I was slightly concerned a few of the elements covered would be necessary building blocks for the following week workshop. This was a nice refresher, gave me a few web ideas, and will help with next week's class Dreamweaver MX, level 2.

Tags: DreamWeaver MX, OSU Continuing Education, Web editor

Help! Addicted to my statscounter

Today it's the other me. Or is it two sides of the same me? Either way, instead of blogging about books, my first love, I am going to blog about technology obsession. No, not about the article I read this morning on the Chronicle Wired Campus Blog, Email is for Old People, but about counters and (gasp) statistics. I placed StatCounter, the free invisible web tracker, on this blog and three different professional blogs about the same time last month. Since I am not dragging out the stats I printed, I would say my best guess is early September. I have been looking daily, yes she says sheepishly, daily, at the statistics for three different accounts and four different projects.

There were and are good reasons to place counters on the professional blogs. First is the ability to verify usage beyond posted comments and blogger profile views. Often people read blogs, sometimes daily, and do not comment. They are lurkers! I, myself, was a lurker for quite some time before joining in the fray with various blogs. I remain a lurker with some blogs because that is what I want to do. Why not comment? Sometimes I don't want to, sometimes I have nothing to say, and sometimes I have no interest in leaving my two cents worth for God and everyone to see. In many cases, I am reading for content as opposed to participation. Since I am happily average, I realize the average person may be reading my professional blog offerings (two just me, another a collaborative effort) with the same attitude. No matter the reason, someone is reading and utilizing the information presented on these professional blogs. StatCounter lets me see how people are finding the professional blogs, whether via Technorati Tags or Google blog searches.

A second reason for counters on the professional blogs is to be able to see what people are reading. What is of interest? And, if we want to drive more traffic to the blog, focusing upon reader interest is a good way to start. My library blogs have very different reasons for existing. I have one blog that is simply a news and update blog that includes all of the book purchases made by me for my area, the college of education and resource center. I do not expect or even care about comments on this blog, its purpose is informational only. Another work blog is children's book reviews. While I would like to have comments from students using books reviewed in the classroom, just knowing they are actually reading the reviews is enough for now. I have also recruited professors and another librarian to write reviews as well. A third blog is a recent project, a collaborative effort with another academic librarian at a different institution. In all honesty, I would like this one to evolve into a more public forum than the others, but since we have only been working on it for a month, time will tell.

Then, I slapped a counter on this blog at the same time. Just as a test subject of sorts. I fully expected the others to out perform this lovely little personal blog, run rings around it if you will. Much to my surprise, the interest in this blog is almost three times that of the others. What a hoot! With the StatCounter free account having a 100 log minimum, it rolls over at 100 and you only see 100 at a time, this blog is well on its way to 300 and the professional blogs hit 100 this weekend. I am sure there are varied reasons for the differences and I undoubtedly will peruse and look at them all. Just not today; though, I am sure to look at the stats once more before signing off later tonight.

Tomorrow will be a day away from the computer, at least the Internet and blogosphere. I am heading to Columbus, The Ohio State University to be specific, for the first of two workshops on using Dreamweaver MX 2004. I am dreading the early morning drive, who starts a workshop at 8:30 am, but am also looking forward to the instruction. My library web page redesign project looms in the near future and I need actual instruction as opposed to learning on my own. I am basically self-taught with any sort of web design (one whole class in grad school) and am lucky to have a bit of aptitude for the project. I am also a serious crank with a plethora of snarky comments waiting to be uttered if I hear one more web page bashing remark from peers who don't know the first thing about web design.

Addendum: 10/3/06

Do not be misled by my comments about profile view and think I don't keep track of them as well. Like that's going to happen. I have weaned myself from weekly checks, limit myself to bi-weekly, and am aiming for once a month. It's easier to disregard these numbers because they lack specific rhyme or reason regarding when it is updated or what kind of logarithm, system, blah, blah, blah, is used to establish the numbers. Profile view numbers will be stagnant for weeks and then change by leaps and bounds. Yes, yes, yes; I know the more comments I post on other blogs increases the number of potentially curious bloggers looking at my lovely profile, such as it is. I digress somewhat. A case in point, in the last two weeks I have not been more active, nee opinionated or mouthy, than in the previous month. During that time period, profile view stats have jumped by 58.

Go figure. I can't.

Tags: StatCounter, Free web tracker, Blog statistics, Personal vs. Professional Blogs, Tagging blogs, Tracking blog use, Blogger profile view

Post 150: A milestone of sorts

I've been blogging, Hypothetically Speaking, for six months now and this post is number 150. I suppose it is a milestone of sorts, especially since I created this blogger account simply to comment on other blogs and maintain some sort of identity beyond anonymous. I should have something profound to blog about (notice I said "should" not "do"), but instead propose a three short sports vignettes.

It is October 1st and baseball season is officially over, at least for Pittsburgh Pirate fans. We are used to putting the bats away in October, and are able to look at a few season bright:

• Freddy Sanchez has won the National League batting championship ending the year with a .344 batting average. Not bad for a guy who did not begin the season as a starter. According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Post-Gazette, "The Pirates have won more batting titles than any team in Major League Baseball, eight of those belonging to Honus Wagner, but Sanchez is the first since Bill Madlock in 1983. His average was the highest of any Pirates player since Roberto Clemente batted .345 in 1969." (Sanchez photo, c. Peter Diana, Post-Gazette)
• Jason Bay was voted in as a starter for the 2006 All-Star game, held at PNC Park. It was the first time since Andy Van Slyke that a Pirate was voted in as a starter. Plus, I enjoyed watching the home run derby participants try to hit homers into the Allegheny.
• I saw the Bucs sweep the Cardinals in mid-August. It was an awesome sight.
• And hey, they didn't lose 100 games this year (only 95) and didn't finish last in their division (the Cubs did this year).
• The Pirates open the 2007 season against the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
• It's only five months until spring training in February for the pitchers and catchers. If the Pirate ownership doesn't trade away every prospect on the team, refuse to sign current roster players at a reasonable rate, or continue in their tight-fisted way throughout the winter, spring will once again be a seaons of hope for baseball.

It's October 1st and football season is in it's fourth week; the Pittsburgh Steelers have a bye this week and a less than stellar record of 1 - 2. It is too early to bemoan the not so super play of the champions, but the team needs to get healthy. I will probably miss the NBC Sunday night game next week because it's my weekend to work (again). As late as those games run, I may get to see the fourth quarter. On the plus side, I was able to enjoy seeing the Bengals lose this week. Even better, I still have plenty of time to get a Pittsburgh Steeler flag to hang outside my apartment and annoy the neighbors.

It's October 1st and they are playing hockey! I know, I know, hockey doesn't really count until after Christmas, but I am interested to read a bit about the "new" Pittsburgh Penguins team. I am of the Mario Lemeiux era (dang, how is he 41?), and have seen Stanley Cup Championships. What is on the ice now is very far from that calibar of team. Plus, the moron Penguin ownership fired Mike Lange. What were they thinking? Mike Lange IS the voice of the Pens, how else will there be a HOCKEY NIGHT IN PITTSBURGH!

Tags: October sports, Pittsburgh Pirates, Freddy Sanchez, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins

A two book day

Knowing that I would finish reading, Things Hoped For, by Andrew Clements, I also took Dear Max, by Sally Grindley, to lunch this afternoon. Though part way through the Clements title, I started with Dear Max figuring I could read through the book pretty quickly. I was right. This does not mean the book is without substance, far from it, but the age level (3rd or 4th grade), larger print, and clever pencil drawings sprinkled throughout the book facilitated a quick read.

Dear Max is a compilation of letters written between a young boy, Max, and his favorite author, D.J. Lucas. We learn Max is small for his age, has recently lost his father, and possesses a vivid imagination. Nine-year-old Max is wonderful and his life complicated with everyday issues at school including a bully, a best friend, and his "odd" teacher. D.J. becomes friend, mentor, and confidant to Max during a rough year at school. Through their letters, we learn about both Max and D.J. as they share happenings in their daily lives. As the pen pal relationship progresses between the two, Grindley deftly weaves writing tips for budding authors into D.J.'s correspondences and we realize Max's letters contain more than a young boy's yearning to write. Dear Max ends with a clever twist leaving readers to wonder how much of the book is part of, well, the book.

Things Hoped For begins as a daily narrative from Gwen, a talented violinist who has moved to New York City to live with her grandfather and study music, her passion. Their relationship is both simple and complex:

"Grandpa and I don't talk much, but over the past year and a half we've gotten used to each other. he has his routines, and I have mine. I know he likes having me around. he doesn't say things out loud, but he's been so kind, mostly little things, but some big ones too." - Clements, Things Hoped For, P. 13-14

It is obvious they have a deep affection and respect for each other, a fact aptly illustrated when Grandpa disappears one afternoon leaving only a cryptic phone message with instructions for Gwen to carry on like nothing is wrong. Though afraid, Gwen chooses to honor her Grandpa's wishes and proceed with her practice and lessons.

During the next few days Gwen meets Robert, a trumpet player with like ambitions, and they strike up a friendship. What is subsequently revealed about Robert is a portion of the book I found somewhat unnecessary. Robert, it seems, was at one time rendered invisible and now is able to see other shadows who suffer the same malady. Gwen trusts his story, aptly noting that it does not matter if she believes it has happened, Robert believes it is the truth regardless of her feelings, and the story continues. The writing is clean and concise when discussing Gwen's music obsession; she is focused, but not selfishly obsessed. We learn what precipitated Grandpa's choice, and the feelings evoked when Uncle Hank, Gwen's Dad, Gwen, and Robert all must deal with when truths are revealed.

All of this could have been accomplished without the invisible sub-plot for Robert and another intruder who wants to learn how Robert became visible again. All in all, Things will undoubtedly strike a chord with teenagers who have yearned to have the opportunity to fulfill a dream.

Tags: Sally Grindley, Dear Max, Andrew Clements, Things Hoped For

My attitude? Funny you should ask

This arrived with my other bloglines feeds today and after reading the title, it was fate. From Blogthings ..... How's Your Attitude?

Your Attitude is Better than 70% of the Population

You have a good attitude. While a realist, you do see the positive side of most things. People love to be around you.

How's Your Attitude?

Update: 9/29/06
Actually, my attitude would have been significantly better if, when publishing yesterday, this particular post had not appeared three times on the blog and twice as a draft. Evidentally the blogger gods were angry yesterday afternoon.

Tags: Attitude, Blogthings

Tuesday evening shift, one down

It's nearing the end of my first Tuesday evening reference shift. Once we got past several wacky circulation issues, duplicate entries, invalid ID's, non-existent borrowers, and bizarre government documents, all that was left to deal with were rambunctious football players (they were studying .... really) and a water fountain that would not quit running. With slightly over a half an hour left, and my personal snarkiness not withstanding, it has been determined we will indeed survive.

As my father is often tells me, today my attitude sucks. Therefore, I'm once again choosing children's poetry as my post. Tonight's entry is another favorite, Jack Prelutsky:

Awful Ogre Goes to Bed

My awful day is ending,
I've ranted, roared, and raved.
At best, I've been unpleasant,
And greatly misbehaved.
But now I'm growing weary,
It's time to rest my head
Upon the stony pillow
A top my rocky bed.

Good night to silent vipers
That slither in the mud
Good night to tiny parasites
Whoose touch can curdle blood.
Good night to furtive spiders
That lurk in murky wells.
Good night to loathsome vermin
With nauseating smells.

Good night to lowly rodents
That gnaw on rotting waste.
Good night to nasty maggots
Good night to savage raptors
And beasts that claw and bite.
Good night to Awful Ogre -
Good night, good night, good night

Awful Ogre's Awful Day, p.36
by Jack Prelutsky

Tags: Juvenile poetry, Jack Prelutsky, Awful Ogre's Awful Day

No blog kind of day

Instead of blathering endlessly about my crummy day, lately everyone wants a piece of me and I have been far from gracious in response, I am going to do something different.

Alexander's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad, Day

By Judith Viorst

Beginning ...... "I went to bed with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day"

To end ...."It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Some days are like that. Even in Australia."

If I Were In Charge of the World

By Judith Viorst

If I were in charge of the world
I'd cancel oatmeal,

Monday mornings,

Allergy shots, and also Sara Steinberg.

If I were in charge of the world

There'd be brighter nights lights,

Healthier hamsters, and

Basketball baskets forty eight inches lower.

If I were in charge of the world

You wouldn't have lonely.

You wouldn't have clean.

You wouldn't have bedtimes.

Or "Don't punch your sister."

You wouldn't even have sisters.

If I were in charge of the world
A chocolate sundae with whipped cream
and nuts would be a vegetable
All 007 movies would be G,
And a person who sometimes forgot to brush,
And sometimes forgot to flush,
Would still be allowed to be
In charge of the world.

Tags: Judith Viorst , Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad, Day, Judith Viorst poetry, If I Were in Charge of the World

Unfinished book guilt

This topic has been discussed on various blogs, definitely on Running With Quills though I currently lack the patience to look back and find the post. Can you put down a book if you don't like it? Or are you compelled to stick it out and finish? It took me a long time to give myself permission, if you like, to not finish a book; especially hard when it's a book I have plunked down good money to purchase. But there comes a time when you have to realize there are a lot of books waiting to be read and my time is important. Just because I am not enjoying a particular title does not mean someone else won't find it the best book they've read all year. Right? So, put it down and move on.

I wonder if high school honors English plays a part in the determination to finish a book regardless of reader enjoyment? Being forced (oops, required) to read classics and then dissect all of the fun out of them. Probably why I am not a big literature classics reader to this day. As usual, I digress.

My first of two weekend reference duty shifts occurred following the Labor Day holiday. I mentioned I grabbed several books from our recreational shelves; The Day Trade by Stephen Frey, It Might Have Been what He Said, by Eden Collinsworth, Ricochet by Sandra Brown, and You've Got to Read this Book, by various authors. I didn't care for any of them and they have been subsequently returned to the library. Yes, I am glad I did not buy them, but I am still disappointed, especially with the Sandra Brown title.

Don't get me wrong, Ricochet was the best of the bunch and Sandra Brown crafts a great story. I have several titles of hers in my personal library including The Switch, Envy, Hello, Darkness, and The Crush. But after reading the first three chapters of Ricochet I realized I had already read the book, at least metaphorically. There was an honest, dedicated, and slightly burnt out police detective (cute in a grungy way), his understanding and supportive partner (this time a woman), a corrupt judge (married to the beautiful heroine), a bad guy in cahoots with the judge (a slime), and a married woman (ethereally beautiful and misunderstood) destined to be with the hero. I knew how it would end before finishing the prologue. While at times that is a comfort, there are instances where it is just old. I read the last chapter and put down the book.

Yes residual unfinished book guilt remains. I consol myself with the growing pile of "to be read" titles currently languishing on my nightstand, living room endtable, kitchen counter, and at work. This afternoon is FOOTBALL, but as I finish laundry tonight somebody is getting lucky.

Tags: Popular novels, Recreational reading, Unfinished books, Book guilt

Troll Bridge: A Rock 'N Roll Fairy Tale

I recently finished reading Jane Yolen (see her online journal) and Adam Stemple's novel Troll bridge: A Rock 'N Roll Fairy Tale. I am not usually a fan of collaborative novels, especially one that features an author I have read, because I often spend an inordinate amount of time trying to determine who wrote what. It takes away from the magic of reading. So I approached this book with some trepidation. I need not have worried.

In this modernized fairy tale we meet Moira, a music prodigy and somewhat of a music snob. She is one of the twelve Dairy Princesses in the small town of Vanderby, Minnesota. There is a longstanding tradition of creating butter sculptures of each princess, placing them on Trollholm Bridge after the fair. This year a new major has eliminated the practice. Moira is on her way to a Dairy Princess photoshoot at the bridge and is running late. Arriving at sunset, she witnesses Anemarr, the troll, carry away the other princesses to Trollholm where they are fated to become troll brides. Moira is befriended by Fossegrim; an enchanted fox with his own agenda.

Next we meet the Griffsons, a popular boy band taking a much-needed vacation from their touring schedule. Jakob, Eric, and Galen are captured by Anemarr at the bridge,destined to become troll dinner. Foss explains, "Trolls, crave meat. Fresh meat. And human meat most of all." The townspeople had made a pact with the trolls, each year the dairy princess butter sculptures were given to the trolls and in return the trolls did not eat the townspeople. The new mayor's edict against the tradition has resulted in the pact being broken. Jakob escapes from Anemarr, and together with Moira and Foss work to save his brothers, rescue the princesses, and retrieve Foss's magic fiddle (being held by Anemarr).

Cleverly juxtaposed throughout the book are local radio news bulletins detailing the events in the non-magical realm as they unfold. Working together, Moira and Jakob make life-changing decisions that effect the fates of all involved. What follows is an updated fairy tale including quests, magic, tricksters, music, and the ultimate question of happily ever after.

Tags: Jane Yolen, Adam Stemple, Troll Bridgge: A Rock 'N Roll Fairy Tale, Young Adult Literature, Fairy tales

Technology & Libraries, plus PrintShop

Thursday morning is prime time to accomplish anything that will take time, make a mess, or involve technology. This morning was no different, I was able to get rid of a dead scanner, give it a proper burial (all the while scheming to keep it's cords), move in another scanner to take it's place, and test out the restore shortcut on the computers. Generally speaking, nothing that would take me more than an hour to finish. Really.

Unfortunately, I did not take the Thursday morning technology weirdness factor into consideration. As I was testing the new restore capability I notice someone had absconded with a mouse; it happens though not very frequently. An hour later I had finished all sixteen computers, restricted network login's mean I work on five at a time, and went back to the two Dell's. The mouse was back .... but the network cable was gone. Just fabulous. I have just about every type of cord a computer would need, but no network cable. Luckily, my boss saved the day giving me cable from his office cache.

PrintShop 20 is loaded on a dozen computers, a purchase courtesy of the technology grant noted yesterday. Additional disks are locked in the resource center and students request them as needed. After lunch a student needed the CD's for a project, only problem was the computer no longer had PrintShop. Yet another innocent byproduct of the computer reimaging project; all of the network programs, even adobe professional remained, and PhotoShop was MIA. Luckily, the technician who originally installed the software left me the install CD's (he shouldn't have - I'm grateful) and we were able to install PrintShop on the computers. Naturally as soon as we restore the computers again it will vanish.

All's well that ends well. At least until I get back to work on Monday, utilize the online help ticket option, and ruin someone's day.

Tomorrow? A day away from the library and a meeting in Columbus. Still library related, but different people, different libraries, different technology issues, and lunch with a healthy sprinkling of gossip.

Tags: Academic Library, Libraries & Technology, HP Scanner software, Partitioning Computers, Computer restore & reimage, Mouse theft, PhotoShop