She Walked Away

Still. Life.

Not even two weeks of the fall semester have passed, and I am already in need if some stillness. A holiday weekend could not have arrived at a better time.

I had a bit of a problem in my class last night. A few deep breaths, a little perspective, and a carefully written email to my instructor and I think things are smoothed out considerably. I spent a sleepless night wondering if I could drop a class and replace it with another after two weeks. I knew that dropping the class entirely was not an option.

More deep breaths.

Last week I was asked if I would consider an appointment to the Board of my art school Alumni Association. Of course I said yes. I am honored by the confidence everyone seems to have in me on so many occasions, so a setback with an instructor in library school is just that - a setback. And a minor one at that.

After my sleepless night, I was happy to see my students in drawing and watercolor classes today. I did this quick study weeks ago, but it was something I did on a week when everyone showed up late and I was early. Today, I had a very structured lesson plan for drawing class, but let the students work on individual projects in watercolors. Two students chose to have me set up a still life for them, and I made it two-sided so that while they shared objects, their paintings would be unique.

Tomorrow I work at the circulation desk in the morning, then tutor in the afternoon. After my Friday afternoon class I will attend some gallery openings around town. Then, like a gift from my fairy godmother, a three-day weekend! I have a LOT of homework, and lots to do around the house, but I will take a three-day weekend. Not a minute too soon.

CRAYONS!!

I'm working on a lesson plan for a project using crayons with my drawing students.

I am planning a crayon-related project for holiday gifts for friends this year.

My Friday class is all about teaching. I have a presentation to make to teach something simple in 20-25 minutes. I'll be using crayons.

Back-to-School time is a great time to find 24-Pack Crayola Crayons - my personal favorite, even though they don't not have a built-in sharpener in the back of the box.

I found the boxes for 40 cents at a retailer that I won't mention here - suffice to say it is not the one that I refuse to go to. Sold out. I found a solitary box in an aisle where it didn't belong and a sales associate I rarely find when I need one. Eureka! I left the store with 20 boxes.

When I was growing up, a family friend was a special education teacher. She told me the story of a child with autism who could identify the color of a Crayola Crayon by its scent alone. I sometimes take a whiff of a new crayon and declare, "Cornflower Blue!" when I think of that story. I don't think there still IS a Cornflower Blue crayon, or it may not show itself until the box is a 48, but if there ISN'T one, it is a shame. It was a favorite color for sure.

Thanks, Crayola. The other brands of crayons can't hold a candle to you.

 

Lois ponders Open Access

My class on Tuesday for Public Library Programming was an eye opening experience. I got to class really early to avoid the traffic jam on campus that occurs when staff leaves at 5:00 and people are showing up early to locate their evening classes.

It was a good thing I did, as I spent 1.5 hours before class and another two after class with the campus IT department because my computer was somehow restricted from the secure server. It's all good now, but caused me a little stress at the time.

Class discussion focused on housekeeping items like the syllabus and the schedule, but it also included a lively discussion about Open Access.

  Not THAT.

I came away from the discussion really challenged about my own views of Open Access. Working at the Circulation Desk this summer, I realize that I am not so Open Access-friendly, especially when it comes to patrons watching internet porn on the Quiet Floor all day. I tend to be the Enforcer of Rules and Regulations, and I am going to really, really, REALLY reflect on that - especially for this class. There has to be a way to contol my INFJ (emphasis on J here) personality in a professional setting.

Something as simple as the Bookmobile - which I LOVED as a kid - is Open Access I can understand and appreciate. The internet begins to cloud the issue for me, but I'll get it sorted out.

Okay, I'm old, but THAT isn't what my Bookmobile looked like at all (though a horse-drawn Bookmobile would have sent me into reading orbit)!

The PBS program POV showed a library piece the other day, Biblioburro. I was happy that I stumbled upon the program to see it, and I resolve to read my member's magazine more carefully in the future. It's worth a look if you can locate it in your area.

On the subject of Bookmobiles, and because I mentioned porn earlier, I give you this image of what must surely be the COOLEST Bookmobile on the planet.

Airstream trailers have been rolling into my dreams for years now, but this is librarian porn for sure!

 

 

Land of Assignments

Yesterday was the first day of the fall semester. I have two face-to-face classes and one online class. The online class already has me running about like a chicken with my head lopped off.

(or rooster) What!?!

One of my first online assignments actually calls on my artistic abilities. It isn't necessary to be artistic, but the artisticNESS helps make up for any lack of eggheadedness.

I am still working on it, but here's a little preview:

Take a picture of an object with a digital camera. Actually, take LOTS of them. This is no problem. I tend to take a lot of pictures anyway.

Next, EDIT some of those pictures and detail HOW they were edited. Okay, I am on my way to having finished this section of the assignment:

 

Or this:

to this:

Now, I just have to document my editing (for more examples than this). The next step is to implement the use of digital photography into a teaching tool. I had better be able to do this. I teach every week, I use technology not only to make my job as a teacher easier, but also to make the lessons clearer to my students.

As much as I enjoy the convenience of taking a class online each semester, I will admit that I might like the interraction of a face-to-face class for something so visual. I have learned, however, that the second day of the semester is not the day to start freaking out. My experience is to work out all the jitters by mid-term.

My schedule is pretty hectic, as I not only have a full-time courseload, but also three part-time jobs. Good thing for me that my crew keeps me grounded (and doesn't seem to mind me doing homework in my jammies)!

My mantra?

 

Back to the Stacks

Indeed!

Yesterday I taught and tutored, today I work at the library. Monday begins the fall semester, and it will be a full one.

My summer reading begs a bit of organization. I have items from two libraries, a healthy mix of Dewey and LOC call numbers, and have eBrary accounts with full shelves. Time for some returns.

Oh, yes. Shelving will be going on!

 

 

State Fair Update and Relaxing Day at Home

Saturday night I went to dinner with a friend. The restaurant has been owned and operated by the same family since the 1930s and I had never been there. It was a Saturday night, early for dinner, but seeing how packed the restaurant and bar were the whole time we were there, I am glad we had an early night.

Dinner was delicious.

I got home with some remnants of daylight and increasingly cloudy skies. It was supposed to have rained all day, which we desperately needed, but it seemed to be waiting for nightfall. Wilson and I took a long, but rapid walk (necessary after a dinner like that).

We got in the door at home and within 10 minutes it was dark. Then, the rain. The television was on as news of the stage collapse started coming in. What a tragic night. I live about a mile from the fairgrounds, closest to where this stage actually was. As the weather continued for the evening, the television continued coverage non-stop. I had to turn it off.

I woke in the morning at about 5:00 am and it was eerily quiet, but beautiful outside. There was a clear sky and a big, bright full moon.I tried without success to capture it, and quickly realized I needed to take a photography class to use my camera.

This is NOT what it looked like.

I took Wilson for a long walk in the cool air and the dark. At about 6:00am, when the news came on, the sound of helicopters filled the air as they hovered to get a glimpse of the aftermath. The fair was closed Sunday and the quiet was startling.

This morning the fair reopened. I have heard the train whistle a few times and I hope that the remaining days are pleasant ones - especially for the 4-Hers who worked so hard to get to the state fair level. There was a memorial today for the five people who died from the accident, and my thoughts are with their families and the families of the dozens who were injured. The video of people rushing TO the stage after it collapsed still gives me chills. I would like to think that most people given the chance to help others would follow the lead of those who ran to help.

Coffee brewed, I am taking it easy this morning. Next week begins the fall semester. My last fall semester. It should be a busy time.

Wilson provided me the opportunity to make up for my bad photography from yesterday:

Oh, those ears! That coat!

Enjoy your day and tell people you love them.

 

 

Summer and the State Fair

I have already mentioned here how oppressively hot it has been here. Today will mark 22 consecutive days where the temperature has reached 90 degrees or above - factor in the humidity and I'll need a tranquilizer.

The library was crazy this week as the summer sessions at school ended. Patrons have returned carloads of books to the book drop and the circulation desk, and some students attempting to enroll in fall classes are finding an academic hold on their account for excessive fines. This makes for many telephone calls to the library about those fines, which cannot be adjusted in any way at this point. I'm a patron, too, and I know if I owe a fine I am notified about sixteen ways to Sunday about it. Shame on ME if it gets to the point where I can't register or request a transcript.

But we aim to please at the library. I am happy to have the experience, even if I have to securely fasten my professionalism and refrain from resorting to "the straight scoop" (which I would have done in social circles for certain).

When I get home from work, I usually stay up late reading or relaxing and listening to the train whistle from the State Fair. For roughly two weeks every summer, a train takes passengers directly to the fairgrounds from parts North. While I don't need to ride from there, and the tickets are a bit pricey, I love to hear the train whistle. It ends at about 11:00 pm each night, but I wouldn't mind if I heard it later.

I'm also working on a rush commission. Somebody needs a chicken painting - STAT!

I'm making a total of five chicken paintings and offering a choice. Given the turnaround, I was limited to working in watercolor.

These are only two of the chickens. To warm up, because I haven't been painting much, I have also been sketching other things.

This is Frieda. She is one of the dogs of Bedlam Farm. I have sent a request to post the image because I sketched it from a photograph taken by Jon Katz (who is currently writing a book about her). If you haven't read Jon's books, you should. I have read the ones I hadn't read yet over the summer, and I have re-read the few that I had. I am anxiously awaiting the release of his newest book in late September. I have effectively convinced my Mom to get me a signed, personalized copy for my birthday (graduate school has made me a shameless beggar).

 

Dogs

I came across this story from NPR today that made me angry, then sad, then worried.

While I understand and respect that China has a crisis with rabies, it seems that this ban is going a little overboard - even for China.

I thought about my dogs over the years - Olive mostly. I would never be able to take Olive, or Wilson, or Vincent or Basil to a "drop-off center" to be euthanized. I would sooner quit my job and live in a tent than do that. Maybe I'm not fully aware of the brutal nature of the Chinese government, but I just can't fathom any of this ban.

My worry is for the dog owners in China, many of whom are likely to have strong and necessary attachments to their dogs, and what they might do out of desperation.

My heart is broken for the dogs and their people.

This film - from Independent Lens - is a personal favorite. It touches on the human canine bond in such a beautiful and lasting way. You'll be glad you've taken the time to watch it (26:34):

Still Life of Animated Dogs