Cravings can sometimes get the best of us

This afternoon, I felt the urge for a piece of chocolate. I was too lazy to ride the public transportation so that I could get See's Candy, Godiva, or Tom's Cookies. I decided to walk to Walgreen's and kill two birds with one stone, pick up a gallon of water and some chocolate.

As I was walking toward the corner, I noticed men dressed in black leather. I forgot the Folsem Street Fair is this weekend. Well, I received an eye full. Leather vest, chaps, and g-string. Just what I needed for an afternoon wake-up call. I was so upset with myself because had I remembered what this weekend is, I would have stayed inside. I now know why parking was kind of tight this morning.

My July end notes for this week

Today will mark the second loss for my department. Two weeks ago one of the four supervisors retired. Today, the supervisor who just came back from Medical Leave is retiring. No announcement, no group e-mail, no cake, cookies, or juice. I don't even think he will get a formal goodbye.

On to my reference desk story.

I caught the usual juvenile suspects trying to hack into the system via the online catalog and database terminals.

Next up

Ghetto Love, they parked themselves at the online catalog next to the reference desk. I wouldn't have noticed, but they began fighting over some red juice. I informed them that the drink wasn't allowed in the library.

Ol' chicky decided that she wanted to get smart. "I'm pregnant, so I need this and proceeds to pop the top and chug."

My reply whispered in her ear because I didn't want to put her on blast, " Then you need to go to the lower level to the restaurant and have that drink!"

Not fifteen minutes later.

I hear Ghetto Love arguing with an anglo patron who had asked them to lower their voices. They went on and on, telling him where and how he could stick it. I sensed that he was heading to the reference desk to request back-up because they were LOUD.

I called security. Why is it that they came two deep. When we really need security because things are looking dangerous, they send one lone ragged guard.

Security's response, " They are on the catalogs and they are arguing????" I relayed the incident to them. They spoke to Ghetto Love, who returned to their post at the catalog afterward. Soon afterward, the anglo departed.

Here we go folks my library stab at the tag

Minoority Reporter didn't really tag me, but she listed my blog as one of the ones that she reads. So in honor of her, I am going to take a stab at answering this tag. My twist will be that I will try to apply my answers to the library.

The Rules

1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
4. At the end of you blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

Here we go: 8 Things you don't know about me.

1. I made my decision to obtain a Masters in Library Science during my first day of on the job
training for the Department of Human Services Non-Assistance Food Stamp Eligibility Worker.

2. I received my MLS in 1998 from Clark Atlanta University.

3. I worked part-time as a librarian for 5 years before finally taking a full-time gig.

4. This blog was started as a way to vent. Working as a Children's librarian is no joke.

5. I work with a lot of bitter, selfish librarians! ( I had a friend say that she thought all
librarians were giving and helpful---NOT)

6. I chose to become a librarian because I found myself always talking to random people
about books and what they should read (I am always reading for pleasure and nosy people
are always asking me about what I am reading)

7. Some days, I don't want to be bothered with most of my co-workers.

8. I am constantly looking for another job.

Half of the people I wanted to tag have already been hit.

Can you imagine work without the access to a computer? That is what my days now consist of. During the time that I am on the reference desk, I have access to a computer. All that behind the scenes actual work and internet surfing, that is a thing of the past, at least for the next two weeks.



30 people are supposed to share four terminals. They forgot to factor in the hogs. The staff members who think the computers are there for them and only them.

People don't listen

I hate when you take the time to explain to someone exactly what they need to do. They then come back to you, saying there is a problem. You go over with them what they needed to do and they turn around and tell you that you didn't tell them that is what they needed to do.

When I turned around and explained exactly what I said word for word, chic go an attitude. She couldn't say that I was wrong, so she told me that my breath stank. I just had two altoids, so I knew that she was lying.

Medical Leave

A supervisor in my department returned to work yesterday, after 1 month of medical leave. Somehow, he now has a new work schedule that begins at noon. When the said supervisor arrived at work and saw that he was scheduled to work the reference desk for three hours, he had a fit. He called the head of the library and proclaimed that he was not supposed to work the reference desk.

Meanwhile, this department has been stressed during his one month leave because we are also short two additional positions.

So as a result of his rant, the five of us who were here, were forced to work an extra hour on the reference desk.

Yesterday the head of our department was out sick. Today, the big boss is here and ol' boy is as quiet as a mouse.

I left work frustrated. We had behind the scenes mess, in addition to the regular drama we get from the patrons.

I understand workplace violence

I really, really do.

Patron via telephone: "Yeah, I want to know how to pronounce a word.
pareidolia"
I put the patron on hold and looked it up in the Oxford English Dictionary, it wasn't there. I looked in the online database, it wasn't there. I searched www.dictionary.com, it wasn't there. Dictionary.com did refer me to their encyclopedia.

I told the patron that I didn't find it in any of the dictionary.

The patron said, "You can't find it on the internet?"

I looked at the online encyclopedia. So I tell the patron what I think the pronunciation is. He proceeds to tell me exactly what the encyclopedia entry says and then wants to debate my interpretation. I gave the call to my co-worker(who ended up siding with me.)

I REALLY WANTED TO PULL THAT MAN THROUGH THE TELEPHONE!!!!!