Book of the Week: Tattoo A Banana

I was wandering through a large mall with my brother one day, and saw this book sitting out in a store called Fuego. The title was so bizarre that I couldn't help but notice it and see what it was about. It turns out the book is full of many fun and amusing projects. Whether or not you actually do the things printed betwixt it's pages, you will have fun looking at the ideas it presents!

Author: Phil Hansen
Title: Tattoo A Banana
Synopsis:
Entertaining, clever, witty -- Tattoo a Banana is an innovative approach to creativity by internationally recognized artist Phil Hansen. This fun and captivating guide will have you creating art with anything at hand - like a piece of toast, your own fingerprints, or a stack of marshmallows - showing how to develop everyday creativity with offbeat techniques.

Whether you want to jumpstart, rediscover or further your creative pursuits, this book will help you build your creative muscles by experimenting with the unexpected. Once you tattoo a banana, print on marshmallows, or mold a Mona Lisa sugar cookie, you'll definitely be curious about what else is possible!

Link: tattooabanana.com

Some Thanks and Giving.

Ahh, I love this time of year. Thanksgiving is a terrific holiday, both in theory and practice.

This year, it was certainly started off on the correct foot. My brother and I were invited to a friend's church for "Pie and Praise" night the evening prior to the holiday, in which we got to sing a lot of Christian hymns, everyone got to share things from the year that they are grateful for, and following that we enjoyed many different kinds of home baked pie!

It has been one of the few Thanksgiving days where being thankful for stuff has truly been at the forefront of my mind, and it was thanks to that Wednesday evening at the church. Most years the main thoughts I recall have been "Oh, that's a cool parade float!", "When is dinner going to be ready?", "Mm that smells GREAT!", "Will I beat everyone in Upwords this year?", "What's on sale tomorrow?". So, I must say, even though it seems like it should be kind of a given, I highly recommend tuning your mind to keep thinking of things that you're grateful for- and not just on Thanksgiving, but every day. I know that's a little cliche to say, but it's true. You'll find yourself in a better state of mind for it, I promise.

Another way to keep Thanksgiving relaxed, pleasant, and peaceful is to avoid Black Friday shopping until it is actually Black Friday. One of my friends said (and rightly so) that Thanksgiving is becoming "Gray Thursday". C'mon, are those deals seriously worth ruining a perfectly good holiday over? I think not. Just enjoy your day and let the events of the next day stay in that day. Or, if you want to make it a step better, when Black Friday hits, try going to your local thrift store instead. If they are like the ones where I live, the thrift stores run sales too, and the prices on clothes are guaranteed to blow the likes of JC Penny and Macy's out of the water if you are unopposed to previously owned outfits. Not to mention, the lines are practically nonexistent!

I know this advice is a tad late, being that it is nearing midnight on Black Friday of 2013, but hey, this way you know these ideas have been pre-tested. Just bookmark this post and read it again prior to Thanksgiving next year ;)

Anyhow, I hope your past few days have been at least somewhere as good as mine!


A Few Things I Am Thankful For [in no particular order]:

• The library always lets its staff have two and a half days off for Thanksgiving.
• The nursing home where I work did not schedule me for Thanksgiving OR Black Friday- I didn't even ask. Just turned out that way. Yay!
• I have an awesome little family that all gets along really well and enjoys each other's company.
• Church. It's easy to take for granted, until you have a job that takes you away from it most Sundays.
• Super amazing friends (and blog readers!).
• The ability to read and write proficiently. Not everyone has it.
• For all of God's blessings to me, and knowing that He is always in control over everything.

Oh The (Times And) Places You'll Go!

November 23rd. Today's the day!

"What day?" you ask. 
I stare at you, flabbergasted that this could even be something to wonder. "Why, the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who!" I reply with an over exuberant smile, "Surely you must have seen a Facebook post from someone about it!"

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Really, the BBC knows how to work the fans. They've been making posts about their special episode for just about the entire year, slowly building up the excitement for today. One of the coolest things is that The Day of The Doctor is broadcast all over the world at the same time. How cool is that?! Millions of people- different ages, stories, races, countries- all watching the same movie at the same time, and likely with similar levels of excitement. It's a neat thought, especially when you can pop up your internet browser and see all of the posts from ecstatic fans all over the globe. 

Oh, and in case you are wondering, The Day of The Doctor completely lives up to it's hype!

Because I know too many people who are waiting to see it until they get caught up in the series, I shall refrain (oh, so difficult!) from posting any spoilers. Rather, I will post up bits of fun Doctor Who fandom goods for what will hopefully be your enjoyment :)

 

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 (art credit to dynneekx @ Deviant Art)
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Google made a really fun logo and flash game for the day! Had such fun with this.
So far I haven't been able to find a link for you to go back and play it once it is removed, but here is a link with some fun animated variants of the Google Doodle:
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/22/doctor-who-50th-anniversary-the-story-behind-the-google-doodle

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(WARNING: Depending on how touchy you are with seeing tidbits of Doctor Who prior to watching the episode, this video may contain SPOILERS. But not many. It also links to other interesting videos. Have fun, if you so choose.)

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Okay, I've sufficiently had my nerd moment. If you are not a Doctor Who fan, my deepest apologies. Don't worry, I do not generally go all fan-girl on this blog. A 50 year anniversary, though? That's something special, and special times call for special measures!

Now, you may go on with your life. Or you may go find another means of gaining your Doctor Who fix, depending on what sort of person you are ;)

Book of the Week: The Grimm Legacy

Frequently when shelving the library's newly added books, I like to flip them open and read the cover flaps to find out just what sort of books we have on hand. Upon discovering that this one was about a young library page, it immediately grabbed my attention. 

The storyline is unique and fun, with a little romance, action, suspense, and magic. What more could you possibly ask for? Oh, and call me nerdy if you wish, but at the start of each chapter there is a fairy tale item pictured with it's call number for where it would be found in the library; I looked at each call number and was able to identify (by memory!) that the author put the correct Dewey Decimal number on every item. Bravo Polly Shulman, you did your library research well :)

Bottom line: I HIGHLY recommend this book.

Author: Polly Shulman
Title: The Grimm Legacy
Synopsis:
Elizabeth has a new job at an unusual library—a lending library of objects, not books. In a secret room in the basement lies the Grimm Collection. That’s where the librarians lock away powerful items straight out of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales: seven-league boots, a table that produces a feast at the blink of an eye, Snow White’s stepmother’s sinister mirror that talks in riddles.
When the magical objects start to disappear, Elizabeth embarks on a dangerous quest to catch the thief before she can be accused of the crime—or captured by the thief.
Polly Shulman has created a contemporary fantasy with a fascinating setting and premise, starring an ordinary girl whose after-school job is far from ordinary—and leads to a world of excitement, romance and magical intrigue.

Link: http://www.pollyshulman.com/grimm.html

And Then There Were Seven: Part 4

I have come to a conclusion: every workplace needs a kitten room.

If you ever feel out of sorts or just not in the mood to smile, it seems near impossible to keep that countenance when surrounded in fuzzy, adorable baby cats (well, unless perhaps you are allergic). Going into the library director's office after work became a favorite pastime of all of the staff and volunteers. Needless to say, I came home later than expected many a time due to happenings such as depicted in the below photographs:

Book of the Week: The Boy Who Was Raised By Librarians

I stumbled upon this little gem while helping the volunteers shelve children's picture books this week. Being the kind of person that I am, the title immediately caught my eye. It is an adorable story of a little boy growing up going to his local library, starting off as a young child and progressing onward through his adult years. If you could imagine a girl version of this book, it could practically be my life story in a nutshell.

Author: Carla Morris

Title: The Boy Who Was Raised By Librarians

Synopsis:

Every day after school Melvin goes to the library. Everything has its place in the library and Melvin likes it that way. And his favorite people--Marge, Betty, and Leola--are always in their places, behind the reference desk.

When something interests Melvin, his librarian friends help him find lots and lots of books on the subject. When he collects creepy bugs in a jar, they help him identify, classify, and catalog the insects. When he is cast as the Enormous Eggplant in the school play, Betty reads aloud from Organic Gardening to help him find his motivation. As the years pass, Melvin can always find the answers to his questions--and a lot of fun--in the library. Then one day he goes off to college to learn new things and read new books. Will he leave the library and his friends behind forever?

Link:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Boy-Who-Raised-Librarians/dp/1561453919

Chucking Clocks From Windows

I was once told that a scientist threw his clock out of an upper story window. The reason? He wanted to see time fly.

Har, har. Yes, I know, nothing like starting a blog post off with a lame joke, eh?

While I haven't thrown any clocks lately, I've certainly experienced how time can fly! Things have been rather fast paced and exciting in my world lately, thus contributing to my lack of posts in the past week or two. If you care to know why, you may continue reading. If not, then I implore you to go read one of my other posts- that or perhaps get off your computer entirely. If you're anything like me, I suspect you may be procrastinating on other activities ;)

Exciting thing #1: I got a full-time job!

Alas, said full-time employment is not in the library. In order to obtain the amount of money necessary to sustain life, I recently accepted a full-time housekeeping position at a local nursing home. It's been working out well; similar to being a library page, I get to push a cart around all day, make my own hours (to an extent), meet lots of people, keep things orderly, and in general am appreciated by many people. Of course, the best part about this job is that my hours work out such that I can keep up employment as a Library Page. Hooray!

Exciting thing #2: I got my first car!

 I am ecstatic to announce that I am now the proud owner of a black 2004 Honda Element! Upon getting the above stated job, it enabled me to have the money to afford the upkeep of a vehicle. Paid for in full, up front, because I hate debt. While my original thought had been to go for something like a little Toyota Corolla, I discovered this thing on the lot and realized it had the amazing handling of a small car, but has so much more potential for adventure due to it's larger space and collapsible back seats.

Exciting thing #3: Christmas is coming soon!
While I believe firmly that Thanksgiving comes before Christmas and therefore has every right to be celebrated and thought of first, it is an undeniable fact that Christmas will be upon us before we know it, and therefore I have (for once in my life) been trying to get some of my gift shopping done before December. Every year it gets to be two weeks before Christmas and I realize I haven't done anything for anyone. Now that I am working a full time job AND a part time one, I need to make the most of my few days off and get stuff done before the end of December sneaks up on me like it usually does. So far that's all going really well! I have my brother, boyfriend, and two of my best friends shopped for. Now to figure out what to do for my parents...hmm.

Exciting thing #4: I've been introduced to a genre of music I've never heard before!
While less exciting than my other statements, I thought I would let you in on this just in case you would like some fun music to hear. As I write this, I am happily listening to a Pandora station of Caravan Palace. A good friend of mine recently introduced me to this interesting Jazz-Techno combination, and I thank him for it. You have to be in the right mood to hear it, but if you're in one of those moods, you and your tapping toes will enjoy it.

To Prove It Happened...

The popular Youtube channel, Blimey Cow, will forever make me laugh with their irony.

I noticed a Facebook post the other day from them, stating that they would feature a fan in the introduction to their next Messy Mondays video. Today, the video is released, and the title is "If I Don't Post About It Online, Did It Really Happen?".  

I am incredibly excited to say that I am the one who got featured! So, of course, the natural reaction is to post about this fact online to prove it really happened. I can't help but chuckle to myself over their witty planning of this. I also cannot help but to share with you the video of which I speak. Also part of their brilliant plan, I am sure! Good job, Jordan, Josh, and Kelli (aka, the Blimey Cow Team).

 

Merry Belated Costume & Candy Day

Blah, I'll pass on the dark old pagan roots- but being the sort of person who never passes up an excuse to dress up in something otherwise outlandish, I would still end up categorized as one who joins the festivities of Halloween.

This year must have been quite fun for the librarians: they got to have a pajama day at work (all in the name of costumes, of course). As for me, I was sent out with my coworker, Katherine, to the main street of our little town to hand out library themed goodies to the costumed kiddos, and therefore needed something warmer than my PJ's. This is what I came up with:

 

 I never planned to be a specific detective, but by the end of the evening, I was dubbed by popular opinion as Inspector Gadget. I also got Nancy Drew, Columbo, Dragnet, and a couple others which I cannot recall and had never heard of. While we were out on the street, one costume went by that just stole the entire show. I've never before seen an outfit more representative of where I live:

Yes, that's a tumbleweed. a GIANT tumble weed. Photo credit on this one to LB Miller Photography.

Not only were the members of the library team dressed up, but the cats were too! Much to our surprise, Carmen and Mikey seemed quite content to wear their food-themed disguises. 

Also, for one last parting picture, I promised earlier in October via my Facebook page to show you what I made using "Easter eggs, a roll of duck tape, paint, and $10". This is the answer to that question:

For those of you who do not immediately recognize the character, I am a Dalek from the popular British sci-fi, Doctor Who.

Book of the Week: United We Spy

I am not one to frequently do that girlie squeal, but I almost could have done it when I saw this book on my cart. Of course, being in a library, I still couldn't bring myself to do it aloud, but I was certainly doing it in my head.

Finally, Ally Carter published the next book in the Gallagher Girls series! I have been reading these books for the last two years, and always find myself ecstatic when the next installment is released. While the second book in the series (Cross My Heart And Hope To Spy) is my favorite, I would recommend the entire lot in a heartbeat.

Title: United We Spy
Author: Ally Carter

Synopsis:

Cammie Morgan has lost her father and her memory, but in the heart-pounding conclusion to the best-selling Gallagher Girls series, she finds her greatest mission yet. Cammie and her friends finally know why the terrorist organization called the Circle of Cavan has been hunting her. Now the spy girls and Zach must track down the Circle's elite members to stop them before they implement a master plan that will change Cammie-and her country-forever.

Link: http://gallaghergirls.com