Support Your Local Library

Well, it's no secret our family depends on the Library for a great deal of our entertainment. I know that when I moved here, I complained that our Library had a poor selection of Storytimes, Young Children's books, CDs, and DVDs. However, I have since discovered the joys of the Inter-Library Loan, unlimited holds, and some wonderful librarians who love our Kiddo and know him by name. They've increased their number of Storytimes, and seen a large increase in attendance, as well. After remodeling, they've added a number of fun new toys and books to the Children's department. The funny/interesting thing I've discovered is that many of the items I've requested for Kiddo from other Libraries throughout our region have recently been purchased by our own Local Library. I like to joke with the Daddy-O that they're tracking what Kiddo reads and watches to see what makes him so special, ha-ha-ha.

Anyway, I saw these two headlines on USA Today which made me really sad.
Country's oldest public library could close this year
U.S. libraries on borrowed time?

Even sadder are many readers' comments implying that Libraries are obsolete because of the Internet. I love being able to access huge amounts of information from my own computer, but for me it could never replace the feeling I get when I wander around the Library. Nothing is better than holding, and even smelling, a new book. And I just don't trust a lot of the information on the Internet-- so much has not been verified for authenticity or even general readability!

Hopefully the Libraries in your area are well-funded, well-used, and well-appreciated. I know that our town also has two small branch libraries, and it is likely those will close soon. So, just in case, make sure to go to the Library this week-- and take a child with you, so they can experience the wonders that can be found therein, too!

brief update

Not much is going on here.

• Kiddo is still smart, still cute, still stubbornly independent.
• Daddy-O finished his summer class.
• It's been, as I like to say, too hot for humans this month, so we've been staying hidden in our house and I am still perhaps the palest person you've ever seen.
• I'm at least trying to not say cr*p in front of Kiddo, even though I still don't think it's a bad word. I'm relieved that 50% of you agree with me on this issue and will do my best to not offend the 20% who vehemently disagree. I've been trying to find a better word. Daddy-O favors "crikey," and it's hilarious to hear Kiddo say that. However, the origins of that expression are questionable, so I'm sort of leaning toward fiddly-wah-diddly. I'm actually not sure how you spell that.
• I have completed 1,777 pages of my library books, so that leaves a mere 2,298 to go. I have been good and not checked out any new books for myself, but I have not been so good about Kiddo's books and CDs. Thus, I still have 47 items checked out from the Library. Don't judge me.
• Speaking of the Library, we've completed their Summer Reading goal by having read to Kiddo for 24 hours-- not all at once, of course. ;) It's starting to show, as he is now memorizing his favorite books ("A told B and B told C..." "...he was sent to bed without eating anything..." "and those were the first words Trixie ever said..."). Tomorrow he should get his little certificate of completion or whatever other lame prize they're handing out. And trust me, their prizes are almost all really, really lame.
  
• Our town built another new Wal-Mart, the fanciest I've ever seen. It's gorgeous inside and out, for a Walmart, anyway, and yet... still full of Rednecks. We have a very large contingency of Rednecks here.
• I have decided to wait until August 1st to change my profile photo (*see post entitled "Any suggestions?"). Add your opinion now or forever hold your peace.
• When asked to predict the winner of the 2008 Presidential election based solely on their photos, Kiddo informed us that while he "likes" McCain, our next Commander-in-Chief will be Barack Obama. My guess is that he just likes the sound of Barack Obama, and it sure sounds cute when he says it. You heard it here first, folks.

My husband says I'm bugging him with all this typing noise, so I guess that's all for now. We hope you're having a great summer!

Progress Report...

So, I read and returned both of the books checked out on the Daddy-O's card-- that's 450 pages read. And little by little, I'm making it through The Green Glass Sea; so far I've read about 150 pages of that. So that SHOULD put me at 600 pages down, 2,097 to go...

EXCEPT that

"OOPS! I did it again!"

Yep, when we went to the Library on Saturday, I picked up another five books:
321 pages + 377 pages + 264 pages + 136 pages + 280 pages = another 1378 pages

Therefore, out of 4,075 pages, I've read 600. Just 3,495 more pages to go!

EXCEPT that

I've got to take Chief Smarty-Pants to Storytime tomorrow. Do you think I can make it out of the building without checking out more?

It's an illness, I tell you, a real sickness.

By the way, a friend invited me to join GoodReads last week, so I see no hope of the insanity ending any time soon. Check out my widget on the left side of the blog if you want to find out more.

A Very Fine Mess

I have a problem, an addiction of sorts. Until recently, I've reassured my husband that it's a healthy addiction because it keeps my mind active, relaxes me, gives me something to talk about other than our kiddo-- and it's free. Well, now that only 2 of those 4 statements are true, I realize that maybe I need to work on this addiction. Have you guessed what it is yet?

I check out WAY, WAY, WAY too many library books at one time. I don't know why, except that there's definitely too many books to read and too little time in which to do it. I think I'd need a whole lifetime just to read everything I'm interested in-- not to mention that I rarely take time to reread my favorites! And I just can't admit I've bitten off more than I can chew. I just keep renewing them and renewing them until I can't any more. Then, if I still haven't finished something, I try to get it again the next time, or even put it on hold again if I know it's a popular item. I don't even care if they're kids books and I'm depriving an actual child of the joy of reading them first. It's sick, I know!

I've done this since childhood, and usually I do a good job of keeping track of all of my materials, even the DVDs, CDs, and books for Kiddo... (who currently prefers being called "Chief" or "Man," or even "Old Man!") Well, now I'm losing it, I guess. I left 3 Signing Time DVDs at my Mom's last weekend, and she had to mail them to me so they won't be overdue. Now I'm even checking out items on my husband's card when I've forgotten my own or when I've wanted more than the whopping 5 movies they allow you to check out. Today I realized that I've now accrued over $6 in fines on his card because I'd forgotten to renew those items, not to mention the fine I just paid off on my own card yesterday... So now he can't check anything else out until I pay for "his."

Meanwhile, my house is a mess, I still have to make a birthday cake and card for my husband, I owe several emails, I'm exhausted, and I still have the following to read for MYSELF:

• Digging to America, 277 pages, due 7/21, already renewed 2x
• The Green Glass Sea, 323 pages, due 7/21, renewed 1x
• The Heart is A Lonely Hunter, 359 pages, due 7/22, renewed 2x
• The Host, 619 pages (WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!?!), due 7/23, doubt I'll be able to renew it
• Hungry Planet, 285 pages, due 7/23, doubt I'll be able to renew it
• These Is My Words, 384 pages, due 7/22, renewed 2x

+plus, on Daddy-O's card:

• Keeping Score, 202 pages, due JULY 1ST, can't be renewed because of fines
• Shug, 248 pages, was due JULY 1st, but now renewed until 7/24, 1st renewal

So far, I've completed 42 pages of Keeping Score. So, out of 2697 pages, I've got 42 down, 2655 to go. YEAH. Wish me luck... Anyone wanna come and baby-sit or clean my house? :) I'll be your best friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought not. See you next month or something...