Seeing clearly

Today I noticed the good in the neighborhood I work in. There was an accident in front of the library today. A police car ran into (or was hit by I didn't see exactly what happened) a handicapped van. The collision was so great that the van flipped over. But once we heard the bam, people came out of the library. All these people went from focusing on themselves and playing on the computers to running outside to check on both cars. They got the number of the cop car, they checked on both drivers, others came out to offer CPR if needed, a guy in a mechanic shirt reached in the car to shut off the horn which was blaring on a constant loop. Others asked around and made sure that witnesses didn't leave.

I was impressed. Everyone rallied around to help in some way or another. Then later that day, I noticed that a car had stopped mid a bunch of traffic. There was a crowd of people who pulled over to help the poor driver push it into a side street. Even though I hear daily from my customers about the crime and troubles, I saw the kindness of strangers today.

Good night and thank god for kindness.

I am giving up on Explemary

Well, so I give up. I got my annual evaluation today. I got a Full once again. Every since they put this evaluation system in place, that is all I have ever gotten. It is like always getting a C. Average. To me that is someone who just comes in and does their job.

I do. But I feel like I do so much more. I mean I set up five programs to fill in for the summer programs that the committee didn't schedule. I went out and got all sorts of donations from the community to supplement the prizes for summer reading that never came. I ran the branch for a month doing both children's and management duties for the third time. I increased the volunteer hours by like 200%. I have planned an afterschool program that includes reading activties, scavenger hunts, science projects and arts and crafts activities. I feel like I kick library butt.

i know it is silly but just once I would like to get an Explemary. And that isn't even the highest I could get.

I know that the people and children I work with do appreciate it. But just once a little recogntion would be nice. As a motivational tool, this evaluation thing stinks.

Good night and I think you are doing a wonderful job.

A good day or the day I washed a cat

Today I went crazy.

Okay so technically I took a mental health day. Same difference. I take them every now and again. It is a day to take a break from my life as I know it.

I lucked out. B was able to take it with me. It turned into a really good day. We started it by eating breakfast for lunch. He had my Cowart egg sandwich. Which is just an egg sandwich with mayo. Then people came over and cleaned the house. Sweet. As I normally end up doing that on my days off.

I had already decided not to clean and instead do fun stuff so it was bonus time when the cleaning people showed. After they left, I decided we should go minature golfing. We didn't keep score. Probably a good thing for B as that last hole was a kicker. They have this high slanted ramp and he would hit it so hard that it would roll back or too soft and it wouldn't make it up the ramp. I tried ONCE to "help" and attempted to stop the ball before it rolled back down the ramp. Needless to say, I sent it flying off of the course all together LMAO. It was just fun to do with him.

Then we headed off to see Clone Wars the movie. It was decent. I liked it best when we would laugh together. After lunch, we stopped at a local pet store and got a new fountain. Not for us. For the cats. : ) I had also picked up a new comb. We'd been having a problem with fleas. Or not us exactly... the cats. And I wanted to make sure the flea stuff we put on them was working. Well, it was a 75 % success. Simba's wasn't working. Plus she had started sneezing after we put it on her.

Simba on a better day

So I washed a cat today. I figured it might help with the fleas and the sneezing. So far, yes on the fleas and a little on the sneezing. But she did a lot better than other kitties I have washed. Now before you go calling the ASPCA because I obviously love torturing my kitties with cold bathes. I don't. The last time I washed a cat was because he climbed up into a fireplace and was covered in soot. LOL He wasn't happy at the end and neither was I.

Good night and may you never have to wash a cat.

JaNene's Wish

I have just gotten back a bit ago from a run to the store. It wasn't my typical menu planned, list written trip to the store. It was all non-perishables to make sure we have enough during the storm. We are expecting a pretty bad hit from Fay.

It has been the storm that thinks it can, thinks it can, thinks it can. When I got to work today, that seemed to be the major topic of conversation.

One of my co-workers, JaNene, really wanted us to close. I thought for sure that we wouldn't. Maybe she'd get her wish on Thursday but certainly not tomorrow.

Well, I was wrong. They closed city office Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is a wait and see day. Every couple of minutes she mentioned closing and her wish. But she always seemed to amend it with a "but not for anyone to get hurt.". She is a very sweet person but a pistol. She is very funny and giving too. All the children that come through the doors of the library are her kids.

Everytime I turn around she is telling another person about Dad and his writing. She has three of his books and they are really treasured possessions. I wouldn't be surprised if she went into work just to get them so they would be safe from the storm.

I feel mostly prepared but a little fearful too. LOL Much like my wedding : D

I picked up something for P's birthday while at the store. Fear and preparing aside, life goes on. It is plastic and buggy and I hope she will like it. I have also been collecting things for B's birthday. September 13th. He'll be 35 the same as D's age. He wants turkey and stuffing and my homemade cookies : ) We had talked about doing more than that. But he wants to keep it low key. I really like giving him stuff. Just recently I worked on addding to his graphic novel collection. He has been reading a series called Exiles. But because he doesn't have any ones in a particular order, it makes it difficult to remember which ones he has. I have bought one the other day for a birthday present but he already had that one. So back into the Chamblin's pile it goes.

Speaking of Chamblin, B and I visited their new location downtown. It was super cooliness. We went on a Sunday and it was so quiet. Normally I have to fight through several people in varying sections. But here, I saw maybe four or five people in the whole place. It was awesome. We should have those last couple of bookshelf shelves filled in in no time.

Good day and stay dry.

Gomez

I know it is like 2 and 1/2 half away but I already know who I am going to be for Halloween. And what I'll be doing for Halloween.

I'm going to be Mortica Addams and we'll be having a Halloween House warming party. The Mortica ties in quite nicely with my current nickname for B. He kisses my hand and keeps going up. So of course I called him Gomez. I love the Addams cartoons.

If you can't tell, the view is of a grave yard. They are just so darkly funny.

I've always liked Halloween. My favorite costume (well, wittiest) was the year I dressed up with a Santa hat, red shirt, white skirt and white fur collar. I had everyone guess first and they would all guess Mrs. Claus. I wasn't. I was Christmas.... Eve : D LOL

B and I were talking about showing scary movies that night. I think it would be a good idea to show all the ones related to house. Tie it back into the housewarming part and I've got a castle cake form so I can make a scary house cake. It should be fun. You might have an inkling that I am a wee bit excited about it. : )

Good day and boo!

Again with the 7:00

It's like weirdly morphing into a person who actually gets up in the morning. I am trying to get used to it. I'd actually like to make it a habit again with the exercising.

So right now there is a cat on either side of the door I almost closed to keep the noise down. One wanting to get in and the other out. But they both keep batting at the door and usually at the same time. Crazy kitties.

Last night was interesting. I met up with the dean and alums from FSU College of IS. It was very cool to meet everyone. But it was more like networking meeting. But it was pretty much what I expected. We ate at a restaurant at the new mall. It was my first experience there and I wasn't thrilled. It was like a main street section and a mall. Okay so it was my first time seeing valet parking at a mall. What uber craziness is this?

Good day and me-ow!

How to go from swamped to sane

I am responsible for processing the magazines at my branch. I will usually go through to pull out any of the subscription cards and the freebie things. My title is one of the headlines on the O magazine.

That's me... swamped not sane. At least for right this moment. I think it is mainly a work slippage. I have been so busy this summer. We just finished our summer reading program and it rocked. The kids kept track of their minutes read and they read over 25000 minutes this summer. Even though B and I took a break around July, I think we need another. It is just so difficult with such a small staff to find a day that works. Right now August 27th is the only day in the two weeks with nothing on it.

I took a mentoring course yesterday. I am excited and just a wee bit nervous. But I think it will end of being a good experience. This blog reminds me that I can be asleep and still talking. LOl Something B has pointed out about me. It is wicked early for me (7:00 am). I just woke up. No alarm or anything.

I feel like the meanest nicest person. I can't tell if it's hormones or staff or the people we deal with. I just don't feel like me. It'll pass but it doesn't mean I have to like it while it is going on. I just have high expectations and expect a lot of myself.

Right now, I expect I should get up and get ready for work. Oh golly goodness, I do need a break. It has just been a busy couple of months. With a lot of changes. I think I'll take the 27th : )

Good day and gimme a break!

Running Low

This week, on a Friday afternoon, I feel tired.

Now normally, I am looking forward to a weekend off from work. But today I am just tired. I still have about 1 1/2 hours of work yet so no napping just yet.

I hope to have a bit more energy tomorrow. I am taking B to a Cowart family tradition. We are hoping to go to lunch at Blueboys. It is this great sandwich shop which we have had all sorts of get-togethers in. I have pics of us all in front of it for my college graduation celebration wearing gnome hats.

We look like a really dysfunctional dwarf family.

We had a great trip to the Kennedy Space Center over the 4th of July weekend. I've got pics to post but they are on the computer at home. We also went to the Brevard Art Museum to see the Postsecret exhibit. Supremely cool. I wish I could have gotten pics but they didn't allow photography. I loved that you could see front and back. There were several I never saw on the site and several fronts that were decorated or have more messages.

I now have a shiny new gold tooth. Anyday now I will be getting my doctorate from Muppets U and getting an invite to join the band. I could be their new lead singer. Like for sure, man. I mean I even have the blonde hair like Janice.

Good day and keep moving right along.

My first June Post

I am almost done with changes. I'd like to sit still for a while. We are all moved in at our new place and everything is on its way to being put into place.

So much has happended in what feels like a small space of time. New cars, new marriage, new house, new kitty... and possibily a new job for B. He has been filling out paper work for a new position here in town. He hasn't gotten the offical word yet but since they are having him fill out paperwork, it seems promising. He is really excited because this will put him onto the right career path for what he eventually wants to do. I love that he is excited. I get the feeling that that hasn't always been the case for him jobwise.

I am trying to stand still today. I know that I can get so caught up in everything. It is almost like forgetting to breathe. I always feel like that there is something I need to be doing. Always moving forward.

J came by the other day and helped me unpack and do some decorating. She did such a great job and has an awesome eye. I really think she should go into interior design and P into counseling.

So good day as I sit.

A Monkey Wrench

So one thing may be a concern before the move. The where... B received an email that he was on the shortlist for a position in D.C. : ) Someone else has realized just how smart and what a valuable employee he is.

But the timing is a bit of a throw off. We have already put in our notice for here. And have not yet signed the lease on the one we are interested in. Maybe for a good reason....

We're going ahead with the move here as a lot could have with the DC job. I'll be happy anywhere as long as I am with him.

Good night and many prayers.

The pre-move mode

So we've decided. LOL We seem to be doing that a lot recently. I never knew marriage would be filled with so many .... decisions. This next one is to move.

Not very far though. Still in town (unless B's job decides otherwise) but the house we have now is older and with older, we have old wiring and old plumbing. We have probably spent a half a month's rent on just lightbulbs and draino.

So this weekend will consist of looking at possible places. And maybe packing a little too. Or at least going through stuff we should get rid of.

I did a storytime for 360 people today. Okay so it was four storytimes for 90 people but still my biggest group yet. I love doing storytelling. I like using my whole body to play out a character or series of characters. I still use a book because it is comfortable and I am not yet sure enough to believe that I alone could hold their attention. Most of the kids seemed to enjoy it and the teachers told me what a good job I did.

I just love words. I love cool words. The ones that stump the kids. I told one boy that he was erudite. And gregarious. He seemed shocked that I, an adult, would call him insulting names. I just love the sound of words.

I like being funny. It is a sound that everyone understands... a laugh.

So that's being my week starting with something not so funny (dental) and ending on something funny (storytime). I wonder what next week will bring.

Good day and LOL!

Back but not talking

I have had to take more drugs in the last two days than I think I ever have.


It was all due to my dental surgery. Which went well according to my dentist. I had a somewhat different perspective. They had given me valium to take the night before and the day of. I was supposed to be asleep for the whole procedure. No such luck. They couldn't get the IV in. My hand looks like a pin cushion. They said my veins kept running. Hey if you were being poked, you'd run too.

But they removed one wisdom tooth and did two crown lengthenings. I think I like my original dentist even more. Normally my guy makes sure I am really comfortable since I am always so nervous. So all that is left is the crowns.

After all this I deserve a crown. Queen Eve.

Thus good night and long live the Queen.

Clunker

That's me. Okay so I thought that my dental woes would soon be over. First, they were going to do a crown. Then they needed to do a crown lengthening.

Now there is a wisdom tooth that needs to be removed so that they can get to the tooth to do the lengthening. It was like I was the old clunker you take in for one thing and everytime they try to fix one thing, there is another to be fixed.

After all this I may need the valium they are going to give me for the surgery : P

Good day and please dear Lord don't forget to floss.

Nerves, nerves and more nerves

Someone mentioned to me today how surprised they were that April was almost over. To me, it can't get to the end soon enough. This has been a roller coaster month. So many highs and lows that I need a day off.

I took today but it was more for my dental work stuff. He got the old filling out and then realized I didn't have enough teeth left to attach the crown to so thus I got a referral for an oral surgeon. He will do two crown lengthenings and then I get my two crowns. After that it is mainly care and maintenence. It will be such a relief. I was very nervous today. Especially after they said they were doing it without any numbing. Eeek was my first thought.

One of our highs was Simba. Our new almost 3 month old kitty.

She was very skittish when she first came out of the carrier. But as you can tell she has really relaxed.

B has also had a lot on his plate. He helped create a training for his office and has also been dealing with supervisors switching. It just drains him. He has such strength. He spends all day listening to people who are sick and trying to get them help. I am amazed. He is very cute and very enamoured over Simba. He has just put in for two positions. One is here and the other in Washington. As we walked at Mrs. White's yesterday, we discussed our plans for retirement. Grant you it is like 30 years to plan but I like to have discussions now : P I am just so excited to have him.

Good day and have a silly day.

In contrast

I just finished reading H's blog. Hers was a lovely day.

Mine was not so lovely. And lovely at the same time. I got very frustrated with B. today. Nothing seemed to go like I planned. I planned to get Bill Cosby tickets and they closed the site just as I was trying to decide my seat. I got frustrated with B because he said Let's go to St. Augustine and so I looked into going here and there. In the end, he then said he wasn't feeling well and told me I was too confusing.

The lovely part comes in here. Even though we confused each other and frustrated each other, we still talked and he told me in a nutshell that he would love me confusing and frustrating because that was still me and he loves me. I love him for that. Even though he is confusing and frustrating too.... : D

It is still so weird to have this other person to consider. I am just so used to just doing what I want to do whenever I want to do it. But I wouldn't have it any other way : P

Bonne nuit and sleep well.

I could a drinking a case of you.

I have felt myself consumed this day. And not in a good way. Simple courtesy and good parenting are rare examples that I see every once in a while.

I have seen too many times where a parent gets on the computer and totally ignores the children she brought in with her. Or tells them to shut up. I can think very hard and I don't recall a time where my parents told me to shut up. Then there was an example of a person trying to help another person and about getting their head bitten off. I know that it appeared that the person being helped was just on their last limbs and it just so happened that this was a last straw happening.

I know that it reminds me of when I read Postsecret I want to cry and laugh and get angry all at the same time. I couldn't let this feeling go. Even when I went home for lunch. I usually can and it helps me get through the day.

I just want to hug the world. All I can do is have faith and pray. I feel like I was a full cup and today was my last drop to hold. I wish I could give everyone my glasses. For you all to see what wonderous beautiful people you all are. I am constantly amazed at you all. The smarts, the compassion, the joy, the kindness, the capacity for so much... in those that I talk to daily, think of, live with, am related to, am friends with...

Good night and look through my eyes.

You take me the way I am

So work was tough yesterday and good today. Today I got to go to MAX for a meeting. It meant getting to see all my good friends there. There is such a different attitude there. I think it is a mix of the staff and the patrons and how glad and appreciative they are. I really love them all.

Afterwards I got to another library to take some pics of staff who had won awards. I told K about J putting me in for an award on a particularly down day. Even if I don't win, I still appreciate someone seeing my efforts and recognizing them. I could win an award for my stubbornness. And it isn't sticking up for anything normal. It is weird stuff.

And then I came back to the branch to work on magazines. You would think it would be a boring job. But I actually like it. It is something I haven't done before. And those tasks are really few and far between for me. I usually know or pick it up really quickly. This took a bit to get used to.

I've got most of my thanks cards out now. I have to get an address or two for a couple more and I was going to call M plus a card since I have been a horrible best friend. I haven't called her in so long.

So only 10 and a half hours of being in charge. Thank goodness. I am anxiously awaiting getting back to doing just children and teen stuff. Huzzah.


Good day and nobody expects the Spanish Inquistion...

Pleased as Punch

I am not sure where the phrase originated from but I saw an example this morning. D and H came by to show off their new rides. They both got motorcycles (okay so one was a scooter but still wicked cool). They both seem really just genuinely pleased. I really loved seeing them so happy.

I have been slow to recover from a bad cough and some back problems. I have a really hard time relaxing and not doing things around the house. But by not relaxing and taking it easy, I just make it harder on myself. It is just so hard to let go and kick back. It is hard learning to lean on anyone even my hubby. I am used to be the one that could be depended on. Not the other way around.

Okay, so I've been having fun. Filling out forms to change my name is fun. I have to list all the places I've lived since birth. I actually have to use another piece of paper to get them all listed. LOL I've never considered it before. It was super surprising. It is a little hard to think about being another name. My initials will be EMH. LOL When I first told B that he got excited. He was thrilled to have a wife with the initials for Emergency Medical Hologram off of Star Trek Voyager :P I love him but he is nuts :D

Good day and what is the nature of your medical emergency?

Evey's Believe it or Not...

It's not the life that doesn't let me blog. It is the work. For the week and a half, I have had to take on management duties on top of my normal childrens and teen work. It has stressed me out something fierce.

I don't truly want to manage. I love doing the childrens work. But I am good at it. Or at least I think I am. I used to have my staff do anonymous evals on me and they said I was good too. I am good at picking out where I am not good as well.

I have always been able to see where I need some more work. I am a masterpiece... but only sort of. I am a work done by Leonardo Da Vinci... but at age 4 : )

There is a scene in Hook where they are trying to figure out Robin Williams character. One little boy takes his face and then smooths it all out and says "Oh there you are, Peter." I feel a bit like that today. Under this management, stressed out, sick with a cold, is me, Eve.

Married life is good. The one downside current is no license. I need it to come in so I can begin the name change. Otherwise, life that way is good. B. is just great. He let me sleep until 11 pm last night when I came home early with the cold. It did me a world of good. Though I have been having odd dreams. Last night, I dreamed that I was in Paris helping a friend with his grandmother's recipe for chocolate puffs. And there was some sort of conference going on. It was cool to walk around Paris with B.

Good day and bonjour!

Changes and chances

Well, now I'm Mrs. Harm. The wedding was unbelievable. It seemed like everyone had a lovely time. And that is really all I wanted. It was just great. We had some minor mishaps like me losing my veil and the song I recorded for B won't play.

But a lovely start to our marriage. I hope it is like our wedding... full of laughs, little tears and much happiness. So far so good. Only 51 weeks and 69 years to go : D

Carnival did such a good job. I think it helped that they had so much experience. I really didn't have much to worry about. At some point I will get the pictures from the disposable cameras scanned in so you all can see.

Apparently we've started on the sickness and health part of the marriage. B has a bit of a cold. I got him like 20 cans of chicken noodle soup so he is all good. While getting the soup, I got approached in the parking lot by a woman. She wanted money. I don't normally do money. So I offered to get her something to eat. I never know exactly how to handle these situations. I want to help but it is so hard to know whether it is helping or not. I went and got her a sandwich, warm sides, fruit cup, chocolate bar and drink. I figure it would be a lot so maybe more than just a meal. I stopped at a store across the way and saw her walking across the lot. No bag. I wondered.

I always feel that my kind intentions are God working through me. Or maybe just God working on me. A masterpiece in the making. I mean the most beautiful statue starts off as a rough block of stone. I figure if I hadn't actually helped, maybe the purpose of it was to set an example for someone else to help.

Good day and be kind.