Pictures that Sum Up working in a Public Library

1.  Mismatched slippers are actually not the weirdest thing that I've seen worn...yesterday there was a guy wearing four pairs of sunglasses (two on his head, one over his eyes, and a fourth on string around his neck - and yes, I also wish I was faster and sneakier at taking pictures).

2.  Instruments...and other odds and ends.  Students are always bringing in (and playing) their instruments, dioramas, art projects, and whatever other projects teachers can think up.  To be fair, sometimes adults bring in weird things too.  I've seen people bring huge backpacking packs filled with food, stuffed animals (weird, right?), and we've had several homeless patrons try to bring in their shopping carts.

3.  Patrons taking off their shoes...and sometimes other clothing items that make you go, "Sir, you must wear pants in the library.  No, we don't have a sign saying that's a rule, but I'm one hundred percent certain that it is definitely a rule."

4.  Children who are able to spend hours reading in strange and unusual positions.

5.  Animals...but really.  I burst out laughing when I read the article about the woman who tried to take a peacock onto a flight as a "therapy animal" because I hear the same thing about a plethora of species every day.  I've never had a peacock, though... #lifegoals

6.  Random notes put in books, dvds, cds, and even just on the shelves and walls.  One time we had a group of girls come through and leave 32 STICKY NOTES all over the library.  It was actually pretty adorable, because they had filled them with cute uplifting notes.  Kids: 1 Librarians:0

7.  Clothes...you'd be shocked how many people walk into the library in a costume, even when it's  not Halloween.  This picture is from a snowy day on December, because why tell your kid, "Put on your coat" when you can say, "Put on your cloak".

"I don't understand that reference"

Who doesn't want to come home on their birthday to having their room redecorated with their favorite Supernatural character?

And because, what are friends for, if not to encourage unhealthy obsessions?

Happy birthday to the girl who will run a 10K last minute,  ride a dinosaur, drink unhealthily large sodas, go to the Highland Games, run a mud run, watch jousting at the Ren Faire, and play late night tennis with me.  We always laugh together and I couldn't ask for a better friend.

#SQUASH??  #KerfuffleshouldbeKerfluffle #Let'sTravelTogether

Thoughts on Tennis Players

A few weeks ago  my sister hosted the twelfth annual McTournament (it might have been sixth or seventh...it's really hard to remember...).  I was tossed into a ring of insane tennis matches and came to the conclusion that there are four types of tennis players.

The Fun Tennis Player:

This is the person who has no idea what they're doing, but you love playing with them regardless because it's a laugh fest.

The Good Tennis Player

These are the players that I know I can hang with and if it's a good day, I can win too!

The Really Good Tennis Player

These people got mad skills.  They'll make me work up a sweat.  I probably won't win the match, but I'll make them work for it.

The Scary Good Tennis Player

These people walk onto the court with the goal of making you weep copiously as you try to hide your face behind your racket.  These are the kind of people that even when they mess up, they STILL win.  And they look good doing it, too.  Which is totally unfair.

Here's to being runner up AGAIN.  At least we got beat by a girl who definitely qualified as scary good.

Wednesday with the Weasleys

LOVE.  THIS.

Can we just ignore that the person who made this can't spell mischief?  LOL

Skookum Steampunk

This is a little late in the coming...and by that, I mean like a month late...but the pictures weren't available until two weeks ago, which means it's really on two weeks late, right?

About a month ago I went to the steampunk exhibit at the Idaho Falls Museum.  What is steampunk you ask?

In short, steampunk is basically anything you want it to be, throw in some steam, throw in some punk, and maybe a few gears for good measure, and then we're good.

Basically, I am still unsure what it is.  If I'm being honest, anyways.

But it's cool.

I mean, just look at this face... 

Because Captain Nemo is totally steampunk.

Definitely  making the family calendar next year...I'm gonna
guess it goes ends up in October and Halloween

Mud Run Memes

At the risk of sounding self absorbed, I think our mud run pictures make some great memes.

Mondays be like:

If at first you don't succeed...talk your

friends into following you so you're all stuck

together.

When you make it through a work 

morning with minimal casualties...oh gosh, I still

have a whole afternoon to get through.

Friends cheer you on.  Real friends are out
there stomping on your logs trying to get
you to fall into the mud.

When you just can't deal anymore

When you get super competitive and you're like

"I will make it to the top if I have to 

crawl over a bunch of bodies to do it."

Real friends stick together, no matter

how muddy it gets. 

Weird conversations at the Library

1.  We have a couple patrons who have really interesting names. That's fine, until they expect you to know how to spell it without their help.  I had this conversation a few weeks:

Patron approaches desk: "I forgot my library card."

Me: "Do you have ID?  I can look you up from that."

Patron: "I forgot that, too."

Me: "Well, I can look you up from your name, but I'll have to ask you

several questions to verify that it's your account."

Patron: "Okay."

Me: "What's your name?"

Patron: "Mrishne Srivskansky"

Me: "Can you spell that for me?"

Patron: "No, I want to see you spell it."

Me: "Uhhh...okay... M-R--"

Patron cuts me off: "Don't you look at your computer!  Look

me in the eye while you spell it!"

Me a little frustrated: "M-R-I-E--"

Patron cuts me off again: "It's just I!  No E!  How did you ever

become a librarian if you can't spell?"

(note: I did change the name, but this

is essentially the ratio of consonants to vowels)

Dean's face when learns Misha's name is basically my face through
this whole conversation.

2.  There are some people who come to the library so consistently that they feel the need to inform me when they won't be coming in.

Patron: "I wanted to let you know that I won't be here tomorrow."

Me: "Um, okay.  Hopefully you're doing something fun."

Patron: "Actually I'm having surgery in the morning. (Insert a long

and gruesomely detailed explanation of their surgery). Could

you let everyone know so that they don't wonder where I'm at?"

Me: "Sure, why not."

3.  Proposals to the female library staff.  One of my coworkers had a patron who actually emailed the manager over ALL the county libraries to ask if he could date her...that email got passed down to the branch manager and eventually back to my coworker.  My weirdest proposal (or rather, proposition).

Patron: "Do you want to travel the world with me?"

Me: "Uh...what?"

Patron:  "You should know, I'm technically married still, but

we just stay married for tax reasons.  She wouldn't care if

you came with me."

Me:

4.  I have some form of this conversation a few times a week.

Patron: "I read this really amazing book about a year ago.

Can you find it for me?"

Me: "Sure.  What was the book called?"

Patron: "I can't remember."

Me: "Do you remember what it was about?"

Patron: "I can't remember that either.  But it had a really pretty

cover with leaves and swirls and stuff."

Me: "Uh...do you remember anything else about it?"

Patron: "No, but I remember it was really good.  Can't you find it from that?"

5. For some reason, a lot of people feel the need to announce or lie about their education when they're talking to librarians.  There's one guy who always prefaces his questions with, "I have a PhD, but..."