Uncertain, as usual

       Even with the approaching vaccine, uncertainty is a constant of my miserable little life. At least the library is open again. I would like the holds I placed to be ready and waiting for me. As far as I know, the three holds are all checked in. Even a sign of TRACE would be welcome at this point. Then I could look for another book to hold. Anyway, I just finished reading Asimov's 'End of Eternity' and I really did not care for it. I suspect I might have liked it when I last read it. That would have been when I was in my teens a couple millennia ago. 

      Now that I'm a bitter old hag, I kinda shake my head at it. Maybe it's just that the book is so superficial. Asimov just mooshes the woman with the main character and expects the reader to fill in the gaps. There was no discernible reason for the main character to fall for her other than the fact that she was a woman. The time-travel concepts were pretty good and I kept thinking about H.G. Wells when the main character went to the year 100,000. The main character in 'The time machine' did the same in the movie. Here's a clip from that fantastic movie, anyway. While my first glimpse of Yvette Mimieux was in 'The black hole', here she's pretty good here as well.

 

       Thanks to Classic Movie Guy for posting this clip. There are other 'The time machine' clips on this channel as well as clips from other movies. Go take a peek, if you would.

       Where was I? Oh yeah. Not Asimov's best showing. Maybe it's just the decade or just his age. Not going to post any Sims stuff today. Just not feeling it, folks. Hope the two or three of you incredible people are having a good day. When it comes, get the vaccine, keep masked, keep yer distance, and stay safe. Just because the vaccine is the thing does not mean the pandemic was stop being a thing.

BYE.

So my grey cells are going out my ears

    I am an introvert so this physical distancing stuff ought to be second nature for me. The only time I go out is for groceries or to the Subway/Freshii/etc... and for a occasional walk. I worked from home the week before Spring Break; which went okay. Then I was off for Spring Break and that was fine. This week looks like it's going to be another work-from-home deal. I know it's better to stay home and stay healthy rather than risk going too much in public and possibly getting sick, but man o man. My brains are going out my ears.

     Yesterday I wrote about how much I would love to just spend a couple of hours in my library this week. I'd be alone and I'd have more to do. That is how desperate I am for a change of scenery. And this whole corona-saga isn't even a month long. Well, not where my school division is concerned. It's not boredom that I'm complaining about - it's a need for a different place to see. I'm in library withdrawal because my public is still closed. And who is to say when it will be open again. Is this pity? Definitely. Of course there's illness and plenty of desperation out in the world and my problems are definitely less than amoebas. Still, this is my blog and I am going to complain here if I wish.

     I'm typing out one of my old journals and reading about the Charleswood Library - my public, as it were. Naturally, I find myself yearning to go there. Augh. Anyway, with China and possibly Italy reporting fewer cases, things might start looking hopeful for Canada. Maybe somebody can open up the schools for a couple of weeks to I can go and work there for a bit. Maybe the the WPL will open up again. Geez, it hasn't even been a month but it feels like so much longer.

     Yeah, so that's what's going on with me. Easter's coming but it's doubtful that I'll be going anywhere to celebrate. Maybe the family will come together on Skype or whatever to have a meal. That might be nice.


BYE. 😷

Working Chick

Mainly a post about life and work today. I was going to say a few words about the Tibetan sage Milarepa, but I've been so caught up in the usual whirlwind of day-to-day life that I'm just going to have to lay Milarepa by the side of the road. February has just begun, and I came to the conclusion that I've been working for approx. six months at my two school libraries. Still feeling very good about the job, and actually a little more sure that I can do this job. I sent off book orders the other day, and all I need to do now is wait for the books to arrive. I've also sent off a list of books I want to weed out of existence. Books written in the 1960's and 1970's, for the most part. Some of these books have been damaged beyond repair and I've set about ordering new copies, but most of these books are older than some of the teachers. As I understand it, anything older than 1990 is OLD, and should be weeded. Especially the technology and social science books. Yikes!
I just need the okay from the principal to go forward. Just touching base and making sure that the collection remains solid. I've ordered about 50 new books and plan to order another 100 for 2009-2010. At least another 100. I just had to get the okay from the principal to send the book orders to the Media Centre and they take it from there. It's SO much better than what was going on at my previous job. I felt good about ordering books and began to feel my footing was a little more solid this time. There is no doubt that I like this job much better than my previous one. If all goes well, I will stay at this job for the next five years (or so) and then move on to two other schools. I want to stay part of the school division for as long as possible. Just a thought: if I was ever offered my old job again, I would accept it with two conditions... take me permanent right away (none of this probation stuff) and find a different Teacher Librarian to rule me!
Of course, I'm more or less my own ruler (in the library) as it is, and I might not want to return to serving a T-L. I also get paid more at the job I have right now. Why give something like that up to serve a T-L? Okay, I guess I'm done blabbing for now. Back to Trollope and the fox-hunts I go. (He never gives up!) BYE.

They're Baaaaaack!

Classes started at the schools I work at today, and the halls at Stevenson were alive with chatter. I heard at least one heart-rending screamed plea a Kindergartener made for her mother and I sighed. Ah, Kindergarten. I don't recall if I threw any fits like that. I took the bus to school from day one, as far as I can recall, so I hope I didn't throw any fits like that. It makes me want to hug my mom and thank her for putting up with me. It was quiet in the library for the most part, with occasional visits from teachers and EA's. Some of them brought their classes in for a visit but did not stay long. I did have a sit down with a Grade One class today. I read them a Munsch book and things went quite pleasantly. The teacher was there all the time, and he kept them in line far better than I could.
I also met with a Grade One/Two class and observed them reading in the library - again with the teacher close by. While I want nothing to do with having children of my own, there were more than a couple of these kids who were just so CUUUUUUTE! Almost elfin at times, you might say. They are all shorter than I am - another reason I enjoy working in an Elementary setting. There was a morning assembly and all the staff were introduced to the children, including myself. I rejoiced in being a Ms., although it will take some getting used to being called by my last name by all these kids.
I work with a library system called LibraryWorld, and it, like all computer programs, has some kinks that need working out. I finally nailed down the secret art of printing out barcodes (not hard once you know what you're doing) today but I had some trouble with printing out patron barcodes for the dozen or so classes at Stevenson. Hopefully I'll get it all ironed out at Brooklands tomorrow and then on Monday I can do the same thing for Stevenson. Apart from that little kink, things were pretty good today. I met with the woman who volunteers in the library for the two schools. I hope we'll get along all right.
I've already started checking books for the teachers as well and keeping a running tally for when I have to work on the stats and monthly report for the principals. I also have parking spaces there now. No plugs but I don't mind running out during my lunch break this winter. That's the scuttlebutt so far.

My hot gig

More to the point, my new job. I started work this Tuesday, and I've gotten such a good vibe from my surroundings and the people there that I can't help but feel good. I work as a library technician for two K-5 schools on the other side of the city. Brooklands School and Stevenson-Britannia School each have awesome qualities about them that really make me happy to be working there. The division runs on the 6-day cycle, and I'm working at one school days 1, 3, and 5, while I work at the other days 2, 4, and 6. 50-50, you might say. I got a new car so I could drive out to these days, as it would take 2-3 buses to get to either of the schools.
A few details about each of these schools would be in order. Stevenson's library is on the second floor and man, it's huge! High ceiling makes the library look larger, and it has a lamination machine and a die press machine (which has to be the most amazing and fun doo-dad in the history of the world). I understand the library goes through a lot of lamination plastic, so I should get ordering some more in a few months. The secretary seems nice and the teachers were extremely welcoming. I got my billboard up and it looks all right. I'm no expert on billboards, but some of the teachers and some of the other library techs are, so their advice will be wonderful.
Brooklands is an older school, with part of it having been built in 1911. It's also a much smaller school than Stevenson, with a library just a little larger than our living room. The paint job in the library could be better, but I'm not complaining. The neighbourhood is made up of diverse ethnicities and tons of school spirit. Again, the teachers were really welcoming and offering me whatever help I needed. The principal is new and he wants me to figure out ways to improve the library. First on my recommendation list will be a phone in the library for me. The library computer system has its kinks, and it will be hard to troubleshoot if I'm always running back and forth from the office to the library.
Despite several kinks (I've only been at this for three days, so kinks are expected), I'm excited about the new job and ready to make tons of recommendations and see what happens. I also have to talk to my predecessor and see what she's done. Bye-bye.