Resarch clinic

If you are a librarian, you are aware of the library listservs. In one of the threads, it discussed "Research Clinics" in the library. This is where you would set up a time and have people drop by the library for some research assistance. This would be different than the research assistance since this would be done in a large group instead of one-on-one.

For the next five Wednesdays, we will be trying out these research clinics to see if we can bring in the students.

Today for our first Wednesday, we have had one student. Hopefully more will come.

Facebook woes

Right now I'm down on Facebook. It has nothing to do on the technical end, but more on the emotional side. The past couple of weeks, all I saw were posts praising the Obama health care bill that eventually passed. It is your right to support it and write about how great it is, but your rights end when you start slamming the other side who do not share your same sentiments! My people on Facebook are supposed to be my friends and I don't appreciate attacks on what I believe in.

Politics aside, I also see Facebook as a way to advertise your troubles. Don't get me wrong, I will help all of my friends in times of trouble; however, it breaks my heart when I read them and wish I could make their hurt go away!

My hope is to try to make Facebook a more supportive group by offering insights, book reviews and words of encouragement when needed. Is anyone else up for this challenge?

Pampered purse

My friend Ed and I were discussing home parties that women have been invited to lately: from Arbonne makeup to crayola craft boxes and anything in between. We discussed that women are drawn to these parties because they feel obliged to come since their friends or family members are the ones having them. Plus, they then feel guilty to buy some over priced items that they can find at a retail store.

I feel these parties are like the quilting bees of long ago. Women need a way to bond, gossip and share life stories with the ones in their lives. Plus, while they are hosting, they also can make some money on the side.

You don't see men sitting around passing around the newest power saw tools or athletic equipment that they must own. No, if men what those items, they go out and buy them.

Don't get me wrong, men do have bonding nights where they drink, play cards and say goofy things.

Will there be a day when somebody markets one of these home parties to the manly population? If they did, and a man was invited, he would probably say, I'll have to ask my wife; she, takes care of those things.

Ed, thank you for the title of this blog. Pretty pithy!

Blogs

I know I have two followers on my blog, three if you count me, but I know some of you are reading it, but have not logged in to become a follower. If you are following me anonymously, drop me a line on FACEBOOK or @ michele.mrazik@desales.edu.
I would really like to know what you think about the blog, not me.

Think Twice

I went to another Lisa Scottoline book signing with Aunt Nancy today at Sam's Club of all places.

This was the fifth time that I had seen her: two at her home, one at Cedear Crest, Barnes and Nobles and today. I mainly went because Aunt Nancy became a fan through me and this was her first signing; so, I was glad to take her.

Out of all the book signings, this was probably my least favorite. It had nothing to do with Lisa, but the overall atmosphere was not conducive to a book signing. Sam's Club is just a warehouse and having a book discussion there was not soothing or stimulating. Plus, you had to receive a one day membership pass at the Club, if you wanted to purchase the books.

Although the atmosphere was not perfect, Lisa was gracious. Always giving hugs and treating you like one of the family. In addition, she also brought her two little dogs with her. This was a first for a signing for me.

This book signing put me in the mood for Book Expo which will take place in May.

Anybody else have a book signing story similar to mine?

Going Solo

I'm going to a Pampered Chef bingo charity event tomorrow at Northampton High School. Even though I'm not into Pampered Chef, it is a great way to win some valuable prizes. Plus, I'm supporting my sister-in-law Tara who is sponsoring this event for her Marketing DECA club.

I'm the only one going from my gang. Everyone else seems to have plans; so, it will be me and a couple hundred people. I don't mind going by myself. It gives me a chance to relax and I don't have to make sure that anybody else is having a good time.

I've gone to many charity events by myself. It is so refreshing. Are we so afraid of being in our own element that we can not stand the moments when we are alone? How many of you out there have done things solo?

Economics online in two weks

New posts...

Good grief. I haven't been keeping up with my blog due to a myriad of things going on. One being is my MBA class is over and the last couple of weeks I expended a lot of time and effort towards it. Thank God it is over.

Twelve weeks were enough of the course. It was starting to become boring and stale.

I'm looking forward to my next class, Economics with Dr. Amy Scott which is online. This online class will have many challenges to it, but having done presentations through Elluminate, I know I won't have many problems.

Even though I'm a people person, I am looking forward to the anonymity of just being a voice out in cyberspace. It will give me experience and a feeling of how online classes work.

Another reason I'm excited about this course is that it is being taught by Amy Scott. I know Amy is great teacher and person; so, I'm lucky to be part of her classroom.


Knowing that I'm not the only one to have signed up for an online class, I wonder if my experience will be the same as all of you who have done it................

March Madnesss Baby

Today 64 of the best college teams around the country will be participating in the annual college basketball playoffs. This two week eventwill culminate with the final four in Indianapolis.

About twenty years or more, I used to love watching these games. I used to fill out the brackets, predict winners, watch the games with family and make it another holiday.

Again, how can an uncoordinated woman like myself become involved in all the hoopla? I think the main reason is my brother played basketball and it was a way to connect with him, my father and the rest of the family by talking bball. Plus, through my brother and living in the Lehigh Valley at the time when basketball was creating dynasties, we were able to see talented men and women play in these games. We had a connection to to them either by knowing them personally such as the McCafferys, Marciniak, Polaha, Peapos, and Lisicky or just knowing them in passing, like McQueen.

I was so good at talking basketball I knew a lot of stats, the players names and everything in between.

Anyway, one moves on and I stopped watching due to becoming too busy in my own life and apathy. I developed resentment towards these athletes who would be receiving a great education and squander it by dropping out and going on to the pros. Although they would not finish they would receive multimillion contracts from playing in the NBA.


As everyone matures, I did too and I no longer harbor these feelings; however, I agree with Dick Vitale and think there should be a feeder program in the universities for these young men that take them to the NBA.

So, as the tournament proceeds, I will be looking back at my own basketball viewing history with nostalgia, and thinking, it's been a fun ride baby!

click click hurrah!

Here a letter, there a number, a character all exploding in my brain as I try to remember my passwords for a litany of functions I end up doing every day. It's not that these strings of key strokes are hard to remember, but seem to unravel in my head that when impulses go to my fingers to type away, they end up coming out wrong.

So sometimes it is my fault; however, it can be the fault of the site that changes with no advanced warning or they do not like your password anymore.

Mix this techno combo of mistakes which then half the day is spent trying to find the correct login, calling support and then do it again for the 100th time.

How many of us out there does it happen to on a daily basis? Are we a sea of mindless sheep just typing, going through the hoops and trying to complete our work for the day?

MBA

I was officially admitted to the DeSales MBA program and I almost have one course under my belt. Time has gone fast and now with only two weeks remaining I'm finding myself starting to stress. I told myself at the beginning of the course I wouldn't take it seriously, but still I want to do well.

I still have a major paper due and a marketing plan to finish. I'm not worried about the test. Although I feel a bit unsure on how to proceed with the marketing plan,I do have an example of one, but it is not fitting my specific industry.

Only eight days remaining. Help!

Miracle of St. Anthony

A friend of mine wondered why I did not place more entries about books on my blog and I did not know the answer. Therefore in honor of my first book entry blog and a timely title for March Madness, I would like to comment on the Miracle of St. Anthony.

This book title was recommended by my brother. Even though I m a librarian, one of my job duties is not ordering titles in the top twenty genre; so, I gather my book titles from friends and family members.

By the sound of the title, Miracle of St. Anthony's one would think it is a religious story. Far from it. This is a basketball journey about a group of young men destined to go nowhere. However; this all changes as these adolescents try to become part of Bob Hurley's basketball dynasty as St. Anthony's high school in New Jersey.

Now one would wonder why I a white middle class woman would want to read a story like this. Well I was not a fan of Bobby Hurley Jr. when he played for Duke, and since he played for his dad, Bobby Sr. at St. Anthony's when he a was a teenager, I wanted a reason to like him or dislike him even more.

The story, focused on the present about these man children with all the problems of living in the gritty city, they try to overcome their problems and play basketball which they know best. Nobody expected them to win a game let alone become undefeated. Even though the story focuses on the present, we are brought glimpses in of the past when Bobby Jr. played for his dad and it was no picnic.

This winning streak is no accident. They needed the guidance, skill and tough love from their coach, Bob Hurley Sr. Bob did not treat them with kid gloves but gave them the desire to win and fight on the court as well as to make their lives better on the outside.

This story gave me respect for all the hard work it goes into in making championship teams and coaching vulnerable youth. It also gave me a new respect for the Hurley family as well.

So if you are watching March Madness this year, take the time to think where these young men have come from.

Lost

Even though I have not been a faithful Lost viewer, I do think it is brilliant television. I was having a conversation with a friend who was telling me how Twin Peaks in the 90s was all about God.

I could not make a valid statement about it since Twin Peaks was on after my bed time; however, I could say the same about Lost.

One is the island that they are on is a utopia where certain individuals maladies and insecurities are all washed away and they could start anew. Locke came in on a wheelchair and after the plane crash he was able to walk without any assistance; while another character was suffering from cancer and on the island she is no longer having any pain from it. Is the island heaven?

Or could the island be purgatory where the survivors are faced with their past sins? Sawyer's seedy past is always haunting him; while Kate is always looking for redemption since she burned her house down with her stepfather in it.

The topic of God is covered in the character of Jacob. Some of the survivors and the inhabitants seemed to have followed him and he knows their past present and future. Unfortunately, Jacob is dead and the search is on for his replacement.

Splatterings of Lost's religious undertones has continued on. In the last episodes, it seems that Armageddon has taken place. Evil spirits have taken on Locke's dead form and he is gathering his followers. Unfortunately, these people have lost their free will such as Sayeed and Claire and have now gone on to the dark side. The people who have not joined such as Hurley and the Doctor are coming together and preparing for the battle. This will be interesting where the last 9 episodes will go.

Big Bang Theory

Although I usually do not much television except for LOST and sometimes Dancing with the Stars or anything on the lifetime channel, I did tune into the Big Bang Theory under the ravings of Friends.

It is about four geeky guys who find a ring that was used in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy by Peter Jackson. These four friends become obssessed about the ring and each have plans for it. Three go so far in literally hanging onto it; the last one on gets to keep it; while another takes on the form of the golem and calls it "my precious." This is where the male psyche came in with bathroom humor and sexual innuendos.

At theis point, I could not wait for it to end. I must admit it was a clever idea.

On that note, I wonder how it would turn out if the four friends were women. They would probably give it to each other, saying "No, I don't want it you can have it." This selfless attitude, would probably be superseded by mailing it back to Mr. Jackson.

My green beetle AKA Dear Little Friend 1714

I had to take my lime green beetle aka DLF 1714 (number on my license place) into the garage for some work. It seems that when I had gone over a few potholes, it loosened the belts on one of the tires. This is an easy fix, just by replacing the tire.

While here, I am having my inspection done. Plus, I called Erie Insurance to tell about my mishap in regards to having the cracked fender fixed. With little trouble, I have an appointment set up with the Auto body shop, which has a satellite office located right in Gilboy Ford.

I can not believe how simple the process of working with Erie has been. I told them about the mishap and within an hour, they were working on the claim.

I have brought my office to the garage and have set up shop. It's a new experience seeing the people coming and going all concerned about their child.

Additionally, from time to time I am visiting the showroom. The VW cc is a fine sleek looking car and had my pics. taken in it by one of the sales reps.

My beetle has almost 52,000 miles on it and it is going on six years ago. Although, I am not up for a new vehicle, the cc is one I would be interested as well as the Subaru Legacy. When out in Yellow Stone, I rented a Legacy and was just blown away by the luxuriousness of it. I guess I'll find out in a few years.


With the major items being taken care of, I can get down and start washing it.

Oscar Who?

There are many people named Oscar. Oscar Wilde, Oscar De La Hoya, Oscar Mayer, and Oscar the Grouch to name a few. Although people may or may not know the above mentioned names, it seems society remembers the golden award, named oscar to the Hollywood elite for their award winning roles they undertook this year. This Oscar award event, known as the Academy Awards makes it's way to our television set every year around the first weekend in March.

Last night March 7th 2010 was no exception. This television event was on for three and a half hours; I did not watch any of it.

The main reason I did not tune in is I am apathetic in seeing these actors receive another award and we as society are to bow down to them for this achievement. Don't these entertainers receive a big enough salary for their work? Don't we pay enough money at the theater for their sacredness?

Okay, my biggest complaint is that they are grossly overcompensated. My next annoyance is that some of them are too political. Sure we can all have our political views, but don't espouse them on tv and make us think that the world is bad a place. They are not politicians and I do not want to hear their jibberish any longer.

I'm not trying to paint all entertainers as whiners. There are a few good ones such as Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller. I use their names maybe because Christine graduated with my brother and she makes the Lehigh Valley proud. With that said, I am proud of our alumni who are making their way into the big screen. Zack on It's Complicated and Marnie S "As In the World Turns" make DeSales look good. I hope to hear more about this talented, humble couple.

Even though I do not watch the Award ceremony anymore, I do participate in our awards contest for our students. We offer them two movie tixs to the Rave for the one student who can correctly name the winners in the top categories. It is fun and circulation supervisor Gloria Biser creates displays for this event.

I guess the Oscars can be fun if you make it that way. Maybe one day I'll receive my satisfaction when a librarian receives an Oscar statue.

It all began

I saw the movie, Julie & Julia this past year and thought I could do the same. However, I did not know what I could do my daily posts on. Then as a whim, I thought I could do a daily dosing of what the psychic had said almost a year ago and see if any of it came true. This was more in jest and it was not to come off like I'm into the New Age movement or nothing of that sort.

During the time I have been posting, I did run out of steam and have been putting my life's battles and victories in it instead. It has been much better reading and more exhilirating.

Ten Days

In ten days it will be St. Patrick's Day when everyone will have the luck of the Irish on their side. However, for one of our alumna, Joanna A. has another countdown she is looking forward to. She will become a postulate in the Carmelite order in Denmark, WI.

I think it takes great courage and strength to devote one's vocation to God. By becoming a Carmelite, this young lady, will no longer be able to use the phone, the computer, send email or snail mail. She will only be allowed to see her family three times a year and during these times, a screen will separate them.

Meeting her parents and brother years ago when we were going on the Michigan Habitat Humanity trip, I know how hard it will be knowing they love her so much and want to show their affection.

God bless this young woman and all people who choose their vocation of being God's servant. It is not something I would want to do. At least I now have someone being a spiritual hotline to our Creator.

Ten years ago

It was ten years ago last month that my friend Jeff walked off the face of the earth and did not tell my friend Deb T. or me where he was going. All I got on the phone was this number has been disconnected and the new number is .... Well the new number was in Davie, Florida, but I copied the new number down incorrectly; so, when I called the Fl. # it was wrong.

Well being the librarian I am, I did find out he was a business librarian in a Florida college and that was about it. Recently, I did find out he was married to the woman he was seeing while in WV.

Knowing Jeff, he did not want to tell Deb or methat he got married.

Considering the three of us were friends and that we helped him get through grad school, you would think he would have told us, or for that matter invited us to the wedding. Nah, he was on the cheap side and we always told him. Plus we always ragged on him that northeastern PA was so much better than the state college area and the western part of the state.

I'm glad he's working and that someone else is nagging him. I'm not mad at him, but a little annoyed he would not think of sharing his good news with his friends.

Yes, it was a little immature, but hey I did some childish things and I'm trying to repair the hurt that I caused.

Two postings.

Sometimes I'm such a moron. I had two postings, one was blank and the other one was about me feeling like Job, from the Old Testament. Of course I deleted the wrong one.

Mr. March

Ok, my psychic said I would meet someone in March. Did that include someone I used to date? Hmmm...... I'm wondering because I have been in contact with one of my old flames.

Friday nights

I work Friday nights at Trexler Library. This is my one night to work a week. Sometimes it bothers me to be cooped up here when everybody goes home a 5pm for their weekend; while at times I enjoy being the only one on. It's really peaceful.

Let's face it the library is not busy on a Friday. The students are already starting their weekend the night before. The ones that do come in are the lonely patrons who need someone to tell their troubles to. Fortunately, I strategically have our students listen to them.

Besides the lost souls, there are the frantic folks who come in around dinner time and stay to the bitter end working on projects that are due that next week.

Anyway I've been doing this almost eleven years. You got to love it!

Cataloging

Even though I am not a cataloger I do have to catalog the DVDs that come into the library after they have been purchased. Who would guess of how much time goes into preparing them for the shelves.

We have our DVDs set up like a video store. The original cases are left in the circulating section; while the DVDs themselves are stored behind the Circulation Desk.When processing I have to find a duplicate case for the DVD as well as photocopy the cover.

As of now, we ran out of duplicate cases and I had to ask Phyllis to order me a 100 single and 100 double cases. We're ordering that many since next year there will hardly any money available.

Just another insight of a librarian's daily work.