... I don't like about the "Holiday Season" is that people feel compelled to make or bake or buy cookies, cake and candy and share them with others. It's good to share, but too tempting to overindulge on empty calories. In past years I've been known to consume all of those edible gifts as quickly as possible so that I can be rid of them and begin eating more healthfully again. I've managed a more sane approach lately and don't bring any "leftovers" home.
But I remember two things I like about this time of year.
1) It's a reminder to communicate with people I know and like but rarely see. Every December I sit down at the kitchen counter and write personal notes to my friends who now live in Maine, Buffalo, California, Dallas, Minnesota, Washington state and other far-flung places. I let them know what I've been doing and inquire about them and their families. Most of them also send a card to me with an update of their lives
2) We sometimes get to leave work early with a full day's pay. No Bah-Humbug there!
Friday, January 2, 2015
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
What a Curmudgeon!
Finally the "Holiday Season" is almost over and I'll be able to get back to somewhat of a routine. I'll be able to work regular hours and not have to telecommute or try to fit work around the MLS-west office being closed.
I'll be able to attend the senior exercise class and not have to cancel because the Senior Center needs the time and room to set up for the annual holiday party. I'll be able to go to the supermarket and buy ordinary things like toilet paper or eggs and not have to circle the parking lot looking for a parking space. The traffic is horrible and everyone's nerves are on edge.
I won't be subjected to all that schmaltzy Christmas music. UGH!
The one thing I really like about this time of year are all of the lights. The houses are lit up (sometimes a bit overdone, but ...), the trees have lights and I even have a few strings of mini-lights around windows and doors which I plug in every evening. That's so cheerful.
As for gift-giving, I give gifts when I see something I think someone else would like. Remember "Peace on Earth, good will toward men"? I try to be kind, considerate and thoughtful all year long. Unfortunately, the "Holiday Season" sometimes brings out the worst in me. I'm so glad it's almost over.
I'll be able to attend the senior exercise class and not have to cancel because the Senior Center needs the time and room to set up for the annual holiday party. I'll be able to go to the supermarket and buy ordinary things like toilet paper or eggs and not have to circle the parking lot looking for a parking space. The traffic is horrible and everyone's nerves are on edge.
I won't be subjected to all that schmaltzy Christmas music. UGH!
The one thing I really like about this time of year are all of the lights. The houses are lit up (sometimes a bit overdone, but ...), the trees have lights and I even have a few strings of mini-lights around windows and doors which I plug in every evening. That's so cheerful.
As for gift-giving, I give gifts when I see something I think someone else would like. Remember "Peace on Earth, good will toward men"? I try to be kind, considerate and thoughtful all year long. Unfortunately, the "Holiday Season" sometimes brings out the worst in me. I'm so glad it's almost over.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Who Are You Reading?
I've always been a reader.
Maybe it's because I'm a librarian. Maybe it's why I became a librarian.
Regardless, I read every night before going to sleep. It's the best way I know to separate the work and worries of the day from the relaxing and refreshing aspects of sleeping.
I'm a pretty eclectic reader, though I do love mysteries (in all their forms: hard boiled detective, police procedurals, cozies, legal thrillers, etc.) and I lean toward female authors. I also like biographies. I've read all four volumes of Robert Caro's The Years of Lyndon Johnson. I recently finished Lyle Leverich's biography of Tennessee Williams which ends with The Glass Menagerie becoming a hit on Broadway. I plan to read John Lahr's biography of Tennessee Williams, but I wanted to read them in order (being the OCD-ish person I am).
I've read a lot of Rita Mae Brown's book. I'm not that fond of the Mrs. Murphy mysteries (written with the assistance of her cat Squeaky Pie; they're pretty light), but I do like the foxhunting mysteries. Even better, are her non-mystery fiction works such as Alma Mater and Bingo. The latter book is a sequel to Six of One. Not knowing that, I read them out of order. I've know of her first book Rubyfruit Jungle for about as long as I can remember, though I never knew exactly what is was about. I was reminded of that book when I saw the play (and also the movie) Educating Rita. Rita (whose real name is Susan) is a hair dresser from a working class family who wants to become educated by taking classes at the local college after reading Rubyfruit Jungle. The book has made such an impact on her, she even changes her name.
Well, it's a little dated (a lot has changed in 40 years) and I'm not going to change my name, but I loved the book.
Now on to the stack of tomes sitting on the night table next to my bed. What will be next?
Maybe it's because I'm a librarian. Maybe it's why I became a librarian.
Regardless, I read every night before going to sleep. It's the best way I know to separate the work and worries of the day from the relaxing and refreshing aspects of sleeping.
I'm a pretty eclectic reader, though I do love mysteries (in all their forms: hard boiled detective, police procedurals, cozies, legal thrillers, etc.) and I lean toward female authors. I also like biographies. I've read all four volumes of Robert Caro's The Years of Lyndon Johnson. I recently finished Lyle Leverich's biography of Tennessee Williams which ends with The Glass Menagerie becoming a hit on Broadway. I plan to read John Lahr's biography of Tennessee Williams, but I wanted to read them in order (being the OCD-ish person I am).
I've read a lot of Rita Mae Brown's book. I'm not that fond of the Mrs. Murphy mysteries (written with the assistance of her cat Squeaky Pie; they're pretty light), but I do like the foxhunting mysteries. Even better, are her non-mystery fiction works such as Alma Mater and Bingo. The latter book is a sequel to Six of One. Not knowing that, I read them out of order. I've know of her first book Rubyfruit Jungle for about as long as I can remember, though I never knew exactly what is was about. I was reminded of that book when I saw the play (and also the movie) Educating Rita. Rita (whose real name is Susan) is a hair dresser from a working class family who wants to become educated by taking classes at the local college after reading Rubyfruit Jungle. The book has made such an impact on her, she even changes her name.
Well, it's a little dated (a lot has changed in 40 years) and I'm not going to change my name, but I loved the book.
Now on to the stack of tomes sitting on the night table next to my bed. What will be next?
Saturday, November 8, 2014
If Everything is on the Internet ...
... why is my desk at MassCat stacked with books, etc. that need cataloging? Sorry, I didn't take a picture.
I've been inundated with requests for bibliographic records for books, DVDs, even a local serial publication. Self-publishing is the main reason for me to create original records. Someone in town publishes a book and donates it to the public library which now needs information in its online catalog so that patrons can find the book and it can be circulated. This is in no way intended to imply they're not worthy of publication, but because these tomes are not going through the commercial publishers, they lack bibliographic records in the traditional sources.
It's not just new items that lack records; some old publications never received them. Some of the MassCat libraries are special libraries with historical collections such as the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in Wellesley, or the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History.
As staff go through the process of retrospective conversion, making sure that all items are accounted for in the catalog, it is not unusual to find some for which no cataloging record exists. These are the things you won't find on Amazon.com. And you may not find them in Google books. The only record of some of these historically significant items will be in MassCat.
I've been inundated with requests for bibliographic records for books, DVDs, even a local serial publication. Self-publishing is the main reason for me to create original records. Someone in town publishes a book and donates it to the public library which now needs information in its online catalog so that patrons can find the book and it can be circulated. This is in no way intended to imply they're not worthy of publication, but because these tomes are not going through the commercial publishers, they lack bibliographic records in the traditional sources.
It's not just new items that lack records; some old publications never received them. Some of the MassCat libraries are special libraries with historical collections such as the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in Wellesley, or the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History.
As staff go through the process of retrospective conversion, making sure that all items are accounted for in the catalog, it is not unusual to find some for which no cataloging record exists. These are the things you won't find on Amazon.com. And you may not find them in Google books. The only record of some of these historically significant items will be in MassCat.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Working at Home
Today I am telecommuting for my job at MassCat. I could actually telecommute almost every day because just about everything I do is on the computer and I can log in from anywhere. Since the office isn't far from where I live and I'm out already at the senior exercise class, I choose to go into the office.
Both scenarios have their advantages.
At the office there is free coffee and sometimes snacks. I'm not distracted by dirty laundry, dirty dishes, floors that need vacuuming, plants that need watering, etc., etc., etc.
At home, however, I can work a whole different way that is actually more productive. Since I'm doing a lot of detailed computer work, I work intently for about an hour. Then I do something else (laundry?) for a while. Then I work intently for another hour and then do something else (dishes this time?).
Since it's hard to concentrate on the sort of work I do for much more than an hour, I find that at the end of a day of working at home, my stats are much higher than the same number of working hours in the office where I need to take frequent, though short, breaks. The big difference is that at home I begin early in the morning (sometimes even as early at 6 a.m.) and I'm still working into the evening.
At home, I often work my first shift while still in my nightgown and that first "do something else" involves getting dressed. That's definitely different from working in an office.
Both scenarios have their advantages.
At the office there is free coffee and sometimes snacks. I'm not distracted by dirty laundry, dirty dishes, floors that need vacuuming, plants that need watering, etc., etc., etc.
At home, however, I can work a whole different way that is actually more productive. Since I'm doing a lot of detailed computer work, I work intently for about an hour. Then I do something else (laundry?) for a while. Then I work intently for another hour and then do something else (dishes this time?).
Since it's hard to concentrate on the sort of work I do for much more than an hour, I find that at the end of a day of working at home, my stats are much higher than the same number of working hours in the office where I need to take frequent, though short, breaks. The big difference is that at home I begin early in the morning (sometimes even as early at 6 a.m.) and I'm still working into the evening.
At home, I often work my first shift while still in my nightgown and that first "do something else" involves getting dressed. That's definitely different from working in an office.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Back to the Real World
I spent 4 days in Provincetown and caught the last day of the Tennessee Williams Theater Festival. Saw 2 plays on Sunday plus a talk by John Lahr who has just written a biography of Tennessee Williams.Then we spend a couple of beautiful days walking around, taking advantage of "end of season" sales and sampling clam chowder (though the second day was cloudy and sometimes drizzling). The day we left was raining, which made packing the car a challenge - especially with all our packages of sale stuff.
Now it's back to work and I'm having a hard time facing regular day-to-day stuff after my biggest worry was having to move the car in the early a.m. to a non-street-cleaning portion of Commercial Street.
Today, I'm leading the Senior Exercise Class. I'm hoping lifting weights will be a conduit to my regular life - which isn't so bad.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
The Downside of Senior Exercise Class
I've thought about writing this post for a while.
I thought about it when M., a woman I've known and admired for several years stopped coming to exercise class. She and I had served together on a town committee. She was smart, physically active, and had a fun sense of humor. She also had dementia. She was clearly having trouble in class following directions and would do her own variation of the exercise. I didn't worry too much as long as she wasn't doing anything dangerous. However, her family felt she couldn't be left alone during the day and the last I heard she's attending senior day care where she has more supervision than I could give her.
Something similar happened with J. I didn't know her well, but she had recently moved out of her own house and in with her daughter. She was sometimes confused and not always sure she was in the right place. A few months later I was told that she was now in senior day care.
D. started with exercise class at his doctor's suggestion. He was only there a few weeks and then entered the Soldier's Home. A few weeks later, I saw his obituary.
And most recently, there was R. A friend of hers told her about the exercise class. R. was sassy and funny and talked a lot during class, complaining about how hard the exercises were. She made everyone laugh. I was so surprise to get a phone call one weekend telling me that R. had had a massive stroke and died 2 days later. The class on Monday morning was just not the same and I had a hard time concentrating on it.
I've lost a lot of friends from that class during the last couple of years. I only knew them in that context, but each of them added something special. It's very sad.
But there is an upside - a very big upside - and that is all of the people who share with me their successes. "I tripped and was able to regain my balance. I didn't fall!" "I picked up the bag of groceries and carried it inside the house." "I stood up from the sofa without a problem." And many, many more.
I thought about it when M., a woman I've known and admired for several years stopped coming to exercise class. She and I had served together on a town committee. She was smart, physically active, and had a fun sense of humor. She also had dementia. She was clearly having trouble in class following directions and would do her own variation of the exercise. I didn't worry too much as long as she wasn't doing anything dangerous. However, her family felt she couldn't be left alone during the day and the last I heard she's attending senior day care where she has more supervision than I could give her.
Something similar happened with J. I didn't know her well, but she had recently moved out of her own house and in with her daughter. She was sometimes confused and not always sure she was in the right place. A few months later I was told that she was now in senior day care.
D. started with exercise class at his doctor's suggestion. He was only there a few weeks and then entered the Soldier's Home. A few weeks later, I saw his obituary.
And most recently, there was R. A friend of hers told her about the exercise class. R. was sassy and funny and talked a lot during class, complaining about how hard the exercises were. She made everyone laugh. I was so surprise to get a phone call one weekend telling me that R. had had a massive stroke and died 2 days later. The class on Monday morning was just not the same and I had a hard time concentrating on it.
I've lost a lot of friends from that class during the last couple of years. I only knew them in that context, but each of them added something special. It's very sad.
But there is an upside - a very big upside - and that is all of the people who share with me their successes. "I tripped and was able to regain my balance. I didn't fall!" "I picked up the bag of groceries and carried it inside the house." "I stood up from the sofa without a problem." And many, many more.
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