Work!

My job hunt... I sent out several resumes. I looked in 7 different counties in Ohio and Kentucky. And sure enough, I had interviews with 2 systems. These interviews led to offers. One for a youth services librarian (birth - teen) and one for a teen services librarian. I was floored. Both are great systems, just outside of Cincinnati. Youth services would give me great experience working with all ages. In the end, I chose the teen services position. Teen services is where I want to work. The staff I met were extremely nice. The previous teen services librarian was promoted to the information services manager, so my boss is a teen advocate. The branch itself is new, but still offers a diverse population. The location is more convenient, and is only 10 minutes from where I used to live. It just seemed like a good fit, a place I could stay for a long time.

My advice is super cheesy: be yourself and do your best to show your passion. I can think of a million things I would do better in my interviews. But whatever I did do, it worked. My nerdy stories and portfolio couldn't have hurt ;o)

I start next Wednesday. This works out really well, since my mother is having surgery Monday. I'll be home to help Monday and when she comes home Tuesday. The weekend rotation should even work out for Buckeye football season, but I'll know for sure once I start.

DysFUNctional families

In an effort to keep me from watching Law and Order (my new addiction), my boyfriend was watching Gene Simmons' Family Jewels. Let me just say that Gene really, really annoyed me during The Celebrity Apprentice. I don't do well with people who think they know everything. But Family Jewels is actually pretty good. Everyone is quirky, as being rich will allow you to be, but it's not the extreme madness of The Osbournes. The kids are almost normal, and everyone rags on Dad Gene. Is this a show I will follow? No. But when nothing else is on, hey, it's entertaining.

Brats are good for a laugh

Isn't it funny how we enjoy characters in books/tv shows/movies who we wouldn't be able to tolerate in real life? I just finished the two Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, and when reading reviews on goodreads (Books 1 and 2) some people have commented about what a brat the kid is. And he is. And that's why he is so hilarious. He says things and does things that none of us would dare. It reminded me of Michael Scott on the TV series The Office. Insane and shameless. And that's why we love (or hate) them.

Laughing & Crying

So I read over half of Diary of a Wimpy Kid during my dinner break the other day, and couldn't help but laugh out loud. While it is a lower reading level, it is hilarious! Anyone in middle school or beyond has to read it.

And in my car, I'm listening to Before I Die. For the last couple of discs, all I can do is cry. I'm not even finished, and find myself bawling at even the shortest drives. I love the accents (it takes place in the UK) and the cultural differences are not often noticeable. There is a lot of sex and love. It is beautiful.

The end of our world, and the insanity of our (fake) past

On page...

Do you ever read/listen to a book that really gets into your head? I'm listening to Life as We Knew It (Susan Beth Pfeffer). Well, as part of the moon being closer to Earth and the world coming to an end, gas prices skyrocket. Since transportation is difficult and the oil wells are destroyed by tsunamis, volcanoes, and more, gas is difficult to come by. So after listening for a while during a long car ride, I pulled into the gas station to fill up my car. Something about just being there and it being so easy made me feel uneasy. I know I was being crazy, but the feeling was still there.


On screen...

We watched National Treasure 2. It was decent for action, but still as hokey as the first one. And I just have to say that if it were a true story, these historical figures had waaaaaaay too much time on their hands. Treasure hunts, hidden compartments, and secret doorways. Come on now.

I have two more days of class left until I can consider myself to have an M.L.I.S. With interviews and more positions coming open, I am hopeful of finding something in the Cincinnati area. I will be sad to leave my current job, but I feel I have come as far as I can as a Library Assistant here. I'm excited at the prospect of returning home and being near my family again. There is a lot of competition for employment in libraries, so I have spent a great deal of time worrying. I'm doing my best, and hopefully, it will pay off.

After compiling a pretty decent portfolio, I am buffing up my materials for youth services. I have planned a pretty cool preschool storytime (bugs, of course) and brainstormed a good list of future topics. I have an elementary-age program series on weather. I've always been a fan of what I call "2nd grade science"--all the cool stuff without too much detail and jargon. And with classes ending, I might actually get a chance to put a dent in my to-read list. I will feel a lot better once I have a full time job (preferably as a librarian), but for now, things are looking up. My many years of library service are paying off.