The latest and greatest from the local Sheriff's Report in the newspaper....
*Car filled with smoke, occupants passing pipe back and forth
*Caller advised woman came to door and wanted ride, caller refused now 80 year old man has picked woman up and caller is concerned for welfare
*Neighbor cut down tree on property line and it fell on caller's doghouse
*Caller advised broke into house to go to the bathroom, now dogs won't let her out of the house
I never cease to be amazed by what we believe law enforcement can solve...
*Car filled with smoke, occupants passing pipe back and forth
*Caller advised woman came to door and wanted ride, caller refused now 80 year old man has picked woman up and caller is concerned for welfare
*Neighbor cut down tree on property line and it fell on caller's doghouse
*Caller advised broke into house to go to the bathroom, now dogs won't let her out of the house
I never cease to be amazed by what we believe law enforcement can solve...
The Women's Migraine Survival Guide by Christina Peterson, MD
As a long-time sufferer of migraines - sparked by weather changes or changed sleep patterns - I was interested in this guide to see if it had any new treatments, ideas, or concepts in treating migraine pain.
While thorough and written in a clear, easy to read style, I found little in this guide that either didn't know, hadn't already tried, or dismissed out of hand. This is a good guide for "new" migraineurs, but of little use to me.
Honeymoon by James Patterson
This novel (the "2005 International Thriller of the Year") is fast, furious and totally engrossing.
John O'Hara is an FBI agent hot on the trail of a woman who seems to have a lot of rich - and dead - husbands and boyfriends. But as he closes in on her game, he finds himself falling for her...
This was an edge-of-the-seat, fast, sexy, crazy thriller, and I loved it!
Note: I listened to the audio edition, narrated by Hope Davis and Campbell Scott (Woot! Singles!), and the narration, music, and interplay was excellent. I really enjoyed listening, rather than reading, this novel.
Confessions of a Backup Dancer by Anonymous, as told to Tucker Shaw
This is a fun, frothy YA novel, filled with all the gossip you would expect if you were suddenly touring with Britney's latest concert circuit.
Kelly Kimball survives a summer of scandal, dancing woes, boys, a catfight between divas and more in an effort to make some money, dance some moves and see the world. She's not perfect, but she's not the villian she is eventually painted to be...
Cute!
Thank goodness that full moon is behind us...I think everyone went into a sort of tailspin last week...
However, this week is looking up.
Why?
List O' Good Things in LFM's Life:
Goodnight, all!
However, this week is looking up.
Why?
List O' Good Things in LFM's Life:
- How much does my Board of Trustees rock? They are sending Carrie (our sys admin) and I to Monterey, CA for the Internet Librarian Conference in October! I'm sooo excited! Maire, we're doing drinks. ;-)
- I just downloaded the new Depeche Mode single, Precious, and it's hott.
- I created my very first Wikipedia page! I'd never even edited a page before, so starting a new one was a challenge. Three guesses what it's about. ;-)
- Everyone at APL got a two hour lunch today, courtesy of our Director. Just because. That's a nice thing. :-)
- Now this is graffiti I can get behind. I'm so ordering a phrase or two one of these days...
- Thanks to this link, I'm a CoverGirl! (via Michael)
Goodnight, all!
It's time for another installment of my favorite "Sheriff's Complaints and Arrests" report from my local paper!
This week's highlights (as printed):
There are worse things than living in a small town.
This week's highlights (as printed):
- Neighbors are fighting, loud and crazy, one hit the other with a shovel
- Log truck backed into barn
- Caller received papers in mail saying he has applied for Discover Card but caller hasn't applied
There are worse things than living in a small town.
A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber
A yarn store, a knitting circle, women's lives and trials, and how we end up inextricably twined - what's not to like?
This gentle tale is not earth shattering or page-turning...it's simply a nice story about different women and how they cope with difficult parts of life, learn to rely on each other, and knit some great socks. ;-)
A warm and fuzzy read...
Note: I listened to the audio edition, ably narrated by Linda Emond.
1st To Die by James Patterson
I've never read much Patterson, but since he's a suspense superstar and everyone at the library reads Patterson, I thought it was high time I checked out one of his series!
This was the first in the "number" series from Patterson, featuring four women who solve mayhem and murder - a cop, an ME, a reporter and a district attorney. Though Patterson is a man, he wrote fairly convincingly from the feminine voice.
The story was fastpaced and interesting, and though a few threads ended in a way I disliked, I overall liked the story, and would read more in the series. I wonder if the other books are from the other points of view - this one was primarily from the "cop" point of view...
Things They Never Told Me in Library Science School Would Happen at a Public Library, #42:
That I would be called at home on a Sunday morning to decide what to do about the public toilets in the library that have been stuffed full of paper towels and clogged up.
Things They Never Told Me in Library Science School Would Happen at a Public Library, #67:
That a patron would threaten me if I didn't purchase a $150+ video set that I've never heard of.
Things They Never Told Me in Library Science School Would Happen at a Public Library, #94:
That microfilm readers can (and will) be possessed in manner of Linda Blair in The Exorcist
That I would be called at home on a Sunday morning to decide what to do about the public toilets in the library that have been stuffed full of paper towels and clogged up.
Things They Never Told Me in Library Science School Would Happen at a Public Library, #67:
That a patron would threaten me if I didn't purchase a $150+ video set that I've never heard of.
Things They Never Told Me in Library Science School Would Happen at a Public Library, #94:
That microfilm readers can (and will) be possessed in manner of Linda Blair in The Exorcist
My mother is an amazing cook.
I've heard time and time again the story that "when I came to this country, I couldn't even boil water!", but one taste of a meal on her table, and you'd never know it.
Growing up with a gourmet chef is a little intimidating, and not exactly a good learning environment.
No helping, no suggestions, no way to learn. It was always easier for her to "just do it herself".
For years after moving out of my parents' house, I was intimidated to cook. To try anything less than a box of macaroni and cheese or ramen noodles.
I mean, how could anything I make even compare?
And so, for years I subsisted on tinned soups, boxed meals, microwave meals.
And then something changed - I got my own kitchen, a few more dollars to spend at the grocery store, and apparently, a little more courage.
Since moving into Highland Cottage, I've tried recipes I never would have dared, fully knowing that if I fail, it's not a crisis. I won't starve. I won't embarass myself by having to serve it to anyone. I won't decide never to cook again.
I've had disaters, sure. The scallops that just weren't QUITE right, the baked casserole that turned into an icky, crunchy mess, the mousse that ended up more on the walls than in the bowl.
But I've had a few triumphs as well...especially on meals that were never made in the house growing up.
A great fried rice, a kickass meatloaf, a lemonade pie to die for in the middle of summer.
And as I've cooked more and more, I've learned that I really enjoy it - whether the meals turns out or not, I enjoy the process. No, I wouldn't want to make four course meals every day, but I enjoy the smaller nuances of cooking that used to be so elusive...
Seasoning with more than just table salt - now it's kosher salt, garlic galore, oregano, parsley and more.
Timing parts of a meal to come out at once - the chicken being just done when the broccoli is ready to serve.
Examining a new recipe, gathering the ingredients, and then saying to hell with it - and improvising with what I like.
A couple of years ago, I never would have made Potage Parmentier (potato and leek soup) out of a Julia Child cookbook. I never would have bought tilapia. I never would have experimentally breaded zucchini and baked it to golden goodness.
I'm learning that cooking isn't chemistry, it's not an exact science - it's a feeling, a hunch and some flair.
And it's good therapy.
I'm not professing to be a great cook, or even a good one.
Instead, I'm more of a brave cook than I ever was.
And maybe I'm beginning to enjoy the process of turning on some music, assembling ingredients, chopping and mincing and tossing things together more than the end result.
Which can only bode well for my diet, in any case.
My mother is an amazing cook, and more than anything, I want to make her a meal that makes her say "That was wonderful!"
Because that is more validation in my eyes than anything else.
I want to cook for her, and show her how much I enjoy the process she mastered so many years ago.
I've heard time and time again the story that "when I came to this country, I couldn't even boil water!", but one taste of a meal on her table, and you'd never know it.
Growing up with a gourmet chef is a little intimidating, and not exactly a good learning environment.
No helping, no suggestions, no way to learn. It was always easier for her to "just do it herself".
For years after moving out of my parents' house, I was intimidated to cook. To try anything less than a box of macaroni and cheese or ramen noodles.
I mean, how could anything I make even compare?
And so, for years I subsisted on tinned soups, boxed meals, microwave meals.
And then something changed - I got my own kitchen, a few more dollars to spend at the grocery store, and apparently, a little more courage.
Since moving into Highland Cottage, I've tried recipes I never would have dared, fully knowing that if I fail, it's not a crisis. I won't starve. I won't embarass myself by having to serve it to anyone. I won't decide never to cook again.
I've had disaters, sure. The scallops that just weren't QUITE right, the baked casserole that turned into an icky, crunchy mess, the mousse that ended up more on the walls than in the bowl.
But I've had a few triumphs as well...especially on meals that were never made in the house growing up.
A great fried rice, a kickass meatloaf, a lemonade pie to die for in the middle of summer.
And as I've cooked more and more, I've learned that I really enjoy it - whether the meals turns out or not, I enjoy the process. No, I wouldn't want to make four course meals every day, but I enjoy the smaller nuances of cooking that used to be so elusive...
Seasoning with more than just table salt - now it's kosher salt, garlic galore, oregano, parsley and more.
Timing parts of a meal to come out at once - the chicken being just done when the broccoli is ready to serve.
Examining a new recipe, gathering the ingredients, and then saying to hell with it - and improvising with what I like.
A couple of years ago, I never would have made Potage Parmentier (potato and leek soup) out of a Julia Child cookbook. I never would have bought tilapia. I never would have experimentally breaded zucchini and baked it to golden goodness.
I'm learning that cooking isn't chemistry, it's not an exact science - it's a feeling, a hunch and some flair.
And it's good therapy.
I'm not professing to be a great cook, or even a good one.
Instead, I'm more of a brave cook than I ever was.
And maybe I'm beginning to enjoy the process of turning on some music, assembling ingredients, chopping and mincing and tossing things together more than the end result.
Which can only bode well for my diet, in any case.
My mother is an amazing cook, and more than anything, I want to make her a meal that makes her say "That was wonderful!"
Because that is more validation in my eyes than anything else.
I want to cook for her, and show her how much I enjoy the process she mastered so many years ago.
Candyfreak by Steve Almond
This has been on my "to be read" list for a while, and I'm so glad I finally go around to reading it - especially since it was a fast, fun read!
Jessy told me this was a great book, and she was right! I found myself alternately smiling, laughing and salivating as Almond describes his childhood of candy, his candyfreak tendancies, and then begins touring different candy-making companies in an effort to fully understand the industry.
This book brought back candy memories from my childhood, made me yearn for chocolate (a rare craving in my world), and made me wonder about the off-kilter passions that we all carry with us.
A great read!
Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory
I thought this was an interesting premise for what was surely going to be a "preach it, Mister!" Christian fiction novella.
Nick receives an invitation to be a guest to dinner - with Jesus of Nazareth.
Naturally, Nick is a flawed character who has gotten away from God, and this dinner is a way for him to answer questions about his faith and Christianity as a whole from a man who should have the complete story - Jesus.
And while I like the way Jesus is portrayed as a regular man (he hates neckties, he digs dessert, etc) and it posed some interesting questions for me (especially considering recent convos with McMinister), it had several tragic flaws.
Most notably, declaring that every other faith on earth is WRONG. Not partially right, not "to each his own", just misguided, stupid and WRONG.
Doesn't sound like a very Christian approach to life to me - but then, people have tried to convert me more times than I can count, so maybe I'm just not as receptive to the "no god but OUR god, we're right, you're stupid, you better convert to us or you'll burn in hell for all eternity you useless non-believer, you" mentality that Christians seem to think have some sway over folks who might, just MIGHT have an opinion differing from their own, or are still searching for answers on their own timetable.
Also troublesome was Jesus' telling Nick that every word of the Bible is true and accurate - more accurate than people think, and that they should live by every word. If this be true, then there is a famous speech from President Bartlet of The West Wing I'd like to revisit...bear in mind, President Bartlet is a DEVOUT Catholic who's faith is never questioned:
BARTLET: I like your show. I like how you call homosexuality an "abomination!"
JACOBS: I don't say homosexuality is an abomination, Mr. President. The Bible does.
BARTLET: Yes it does. Leviticus!
JACOBS: 18:22.
BARTLET: Chapter and verse. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I had you here. I wanted to sell my youngest daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She's a Georgetown Sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be?
(Bartlet only waits a second for a response, then plunges on.)
BARTLET: While thinking about that, can I ask another? My chief of staff, Leo McGary, insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself? Or is it okay to call the police?
(Bartlet barely pauses to take a breath.)
BARTLET: Here's one that's really important, because we've got a lot of sports fans in this town. Touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads? Think about those questions, would you?
(The camera pushes in on the president.)
One last thing. While you may be mistaking this for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Tight-Ass Club, in this building when the president stands, nobody sits.
This might be just the right novella for you, or for someone searching for guidance in their faith, but it sure as hell wasn't for me.
To The Nines by Janet Evanovich
I swear, this series gets better and better!
Stephanie Plum is back and wackier than ever! This time around we visit Vegas, try to fend off a killing game, buy shoes, and Lula goes on Atkins.
Oh yeah, and then there's Ranger and Joe. ;-)
A fantastic read, a great series!
Note: I listened to the audio edition, narrated by the incomparable CJ Critt. Her narration is so good, I can't stand to READ these books anymore, and that's saying something for a reader!
Reunion by Jenny Carroll
This is the third in the "Mediator" series by Jenny Carroll, otherwise known as Meg Cabot.
This series continues to be sharp, funny and fast paced. I'm intriqued by the continuing relationship between Susannah and Jesse (especially since, you know, he's a ghost), her family, and her command of her abilities.
It's like Buffy meets Meg Cabot! Rawk!
And....we're off!
We officially launched our IM Reference services today at the Alexandrian Public Library!
I updated our website, updated our blog, and began talking up the service with a few teens, who immediately indicated that it was really cool, and they would totally use it.
Several jotted down our username, so that's a good sign. :-)
I'm going to submit our name to the LibSuccess Wiki, so that other, smaller libraries can glean hope that they too can IM!
And since Michael asked, I've posted the PowerPoint I wrote to train our front line reference staff on conducting IM Reference. The biggest concern for our staff was a total unfamiliarity with IM, so I wrote a very basic, very "bare bones" training so that they can see this stuff really is easy to do. Everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief after the session, and were willing to dive in and try it out.
I take that as a good sign too. :-)
The rest of the staff will be training within a week or two - though they won't be conducting any IM Reference, I want them to have a familiarity with what we're doing in case they get questions or need to explain it to our patrons. I want everyone at APL to own this, and realize this is a cool thing we're doing. I know there will be detractors, but that's okay. There always are. :-)
Plus, our director has given us the go-ahead to use IM for interstaff communication, which is GREAT. We have no intranet, no staff email accounts, so I think this is a great way for us to use technology to save a few steps, save a few minutes, and keep us all on the same page with each other.
Now, we'll just have to see if that actually happens...
In any case, I'm really, really proud of this service. I've championed it from the start, and now it's finally come to fruition.
Whew.
:-)
We officially launched our IM Reference services today at the Alexandrian Public Library!
I updated our website, updated our blog, and began talking up the service with a few teens, who immediately indicated that it was really cool, and they would totally use it.
Several jotted down our username, so that's a good sign. :-)
I'm going to submit our name to the LibSuccess Wiki, so that other, smaller libraries can glean hope that they too can IM!
And since Michael asked, I've posted the PowerPoint I wrote to train our front line reference staff on conducting IM Reference. The biggest concern for our staff was a total unfamiliarity with IM, so I wrote a very basic, very "bare bones" training so that they can see this stuff really is easy to do. Everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief after the session, and were willing to dive in and try it out.
I take that as a good sign too. :-)
The rest of the staff will be training within a week or two - though they won't be conducting any IM Reference, I want them to have a familiarity with what we're doing in case they get questions or need to explain it to our patrons. I want everyone at APL to own this, and realize this is a cool thing we're doing. I know there will be detractors, but that's okay. There always are. :-)
Plus, our director has given us the go-ahead to use IM for interstaff communication, which is GREAT. We have no intranet, no staff email accounts, so I think this is a great way for us to use technology to save a few steps, save a few minutes, and keep us all on the same page with each other.
Now, we'll just have to see if that actually happens...
In any case, I'm really, really proud of this service. I've championed it from the start, and now it's finally come to fruition.
Whew.
:-)
He's one of our "regulars"...a 13 year old boy who I believe to be smart and polite - until he's around his friends.
Then he tries to be tough and "cool". Talks a little too loud, too fast, too hard.
Every Monday, he comes in and asks about the fines on his card - his card is blocked for having excessive fines, but without fail every Monday, he asks anyway.
As if hoping they will magically go away so that he can check out books.
He asks quietly while his friends aren't around, indicating that he wants to read, but obstacles stand in his way - both monetary and peer-related.
Just like every other night, he approached the circulation desk and asked, and the situation was explained just like usual.
A few minutes later, the circulation clerk stepped over and pulled him aside.
"The lady behind you in line said you sounded like an intelligent young man. She has paid the fines on your card so that you can check out books again."
His eyes got big, and a flush crept into his cheeks.
"Really?" He whispered.
She nodded and smiled. "She's gone now, but next time you see her, you should say thanks."
"Yeah. I will." He replied with a grin.
As he turned around, his friends caught sight of him, and you could see him morph from grateful teen to wannabe-cool-guy.
I love the goodness of this anonymous samaritan.
I love that he wants to read.
I love that he asks every Monday, needing to believe that this week was the week.
And I hate that he's trying so hard to be cool.
Because he would be cool...with or without them.
Then he tries to be tough and "cool". Talks a little too loud, too fast, too hard.
Every Monday, he comes in and asks about the fines on his card - his card is blocked for having excessive fines, but without fail every Monday, he asks anyway.
As if hoping they will magically go away so that he can check out books.
He asks quietly while his friends aren't around, indicating that he wants to read, but obstacles stand in his way - both monetary and peer-related.
Just like every other night, he approached the circulation desk and asked, and the situation was explained just like usual.
A few minutes later, the circulation clerk stepped over and pulled him aside.
"The lady behind you in line said you sounded like an intelligent young man. She has paid the fines on your card so that you can check out books again."
His eyes got big, and a flush crept into his cheeks.
"Really?" He whispered.
She nodded and smiled. "She's gone now, but next time you see her, you should say thanks."
"Yeah. I will." He replied with a grin.
As he turned around, his friends caught sight of him, and you could see him morph from grateful teen to wannabe-cool-guy.
I love the goodness of this anonymous samaritan.
I love that he wants to read.
I love that he asks every Monday, needing to believe that this week was the week.
And I hate that he's trying so hard to be cool.
Because he would be cool...with or without them.
Need a new sweater or shirt for autumn? Stop on by!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Love Creeps by Amanda Filipacchi
I thought this sounded like a cute, cutesy story...a man stalks a woman, so she decides to stalk another man, and the three become entwined in this weird stalker relationship.
In reality, this was a superweird story with stilted writing and characters that, frankly, I didn't like that much.
Eh.
Okay, it's not much, but at least I've produced SOMETHING in my container garden this year...One perfect tomato.
Unfortunately, I've neglected my flowers for the last few days, and since it's been 8703450 in the shade, the flowers were a bit on the crispy side.
I'm sure they'll bounce back, though, right?
Right?
;-)
At least I have a few more tomatoes ripening on the vine...
You really can never be bored watching the political machinations of this country...
*What else has John Roberts "forgotten"? The Democrats try and find out...
*And in a followup,the Democrats post more about our Constitution-ducking president...
*Has anyone watched "The Situation Room" on CNN yet? I'm hoping for a review, since so far I only know that Wonkette is already creating a drinking game out of it. ;-)
*And in perhaps the most bizarre political news today, Christopher Walken (yes, THAT Christopher Walken) is running for president in 2008.
Yah. I think I'm just going to go rewatch The West Wing again...
*What else has John Roberts "forgotten"? The Democrats try and find out...
*And in a followup,the Democrats post more about our Constitution-ducking president...
*Has anyone watched "The Situation Room" on CNN yet? I'm hoping for a review, since so far I only know that Wonkette is already creating a drinking game out of it. ;-)
*And in perhaps the most bizarre political news today, Christopher Walken (yes, THAT Christopher Walken) is running for president in 2008.
Yah. I think I'm just going to go rewatch The West Wing again...
Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
I was drawn to this title after reading an "upcoming" blurb in one of my review magazines, and when I was able to snap up a galley at ALA, I was stoked!
Julie's approaching 30, in a drone job, unable to have a baby, and unsure where her life is going. In a desperate attempt to do *something*, she decides she is going to cook all the recipes in Julia Child's groundbreaking book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
524 recipes, 365 days, 1 tiny NYC apartment.
Julie's story and writing are raw, honest, funny, horrifying and engaging. You really feel as though you are reading about the trials of a close friend, and not some author somewhere. Plus, the book just makes you hungry for some kickass cooking.
The day I finished the book, I checked out Julia Child's cookbook for myself, and though I may only conquer one recipe, that's one more than I would have ever tried.
A great read.
Note: The book is due for publication on September 28th.
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
This book received lots of critical acclaim and praise, and sounded really intriqueing from the dust jacket. Three seemingly unrelated mysteries, one detective, and a twisted tale of family, death and honesty.
When you get to it, though, it's just really weird. Strange premise, stranger characters, uneven writing, and a constant feeling of being offkilter. I'm sure this novel is right up someone's alley, but unfortunately, not mine. I was initially intriqued, but found myself skimming and saying "let's just finish already!".
A lukewarm reception from me...
Samurai Girl: The Book of the Sword by Carrie Asai
This is the first in a YA series that follows the trials and tribulations of Heaven, a girl who survived a plane crash when she was a baby. Since then, her destiny has twisted and turned until her wedding day, when the world comes crashing in...
This is a great debut for the series - it has action, adventure, culture, and ends with unresolved issues so that the reader wants to pick up the next copy. Plus, Heaven has a kickass sword. Cool.
You know you're having a weird week when you can't summarize your past weekend until Thursday.
*sigh*
In any case, here we go!
I cruised home on Friday to see the parentals and my sister and bro-in-law,
Don and Michelle, with nothing in mind for the weekend except racing.
After going to see The Wedding Crashers on Friday night ("Let's go kill something! I'm psyched!"), we pretty much went back to Don and Michelle's and went to bed.
Because we had to wake up at 4:15am.
Every year, Don loads up his motorcycle (a beauty of a CBR 929) and goes to several "track days". Basically, a bunch of studs in leathers and helmets go out on a road coarse and drive around - fast.
Kick.Ass.
I'm totally there.
Because we decided to forgo Brickyard quals this year, this was my very first track day, and I was superstoked.
After breakfast at a truck stop with the crew of guys we were going to be hanging out with all day, we roll into Putnam Park and set up our pit, meeting other racer boys and scoping out the entire setup.
Michelle and I decide to go to the driver's meeting, only to find we were the only chicks there, and apparently were the main source of entertainment for the drivers ("You guys got pork chops around your neck? What's with the staring?").
The guys finally suit up for their first session (Don and his friends, The Other Don (TOD), Randy (otherwise known as Boomhauer), Rudy and several others are all riding intermediate. Roddy, a flashy spinner of tales, is riding expert) and take off.
Michelle and I watch the track from pit road, and it's AMAZING to watch these guys fly by at 140mph on the straighaway, and then bank into the turns with their knees on the pavement.
Of course, as soon as the first session is over, all the guys flock together to discuss every nuance of the track, every throttle, every brake. Michelle and I have already nicknamed half the guys at the track...Skater Boy, Brit Man, Ducati Guy, Mohawk Boy (who put a mohawk on his helmet!), Obey...
Finally it's time for the second session (there are three groups, and each spends 20 minutes on the track every hour from 9am to 5pm). TOD and Boomhauer have never been to Putnam before, but had been screaming around the track during the first session. Don tends to be a pretty conservative driver - wanting to find his marks and sweep the turns than to run full out.
Not so much for Boomhauer.
I saw the whole thing.
The bike highsided and flew through the air one way.
Boomhauer flew at least 10 feet in the air the other way.
Ambulances went screaming out, the guys loaded into a pickup to get Boomhauer's bike, and his son hopped into the care center with his dad.
Turns out, Boomhauer didn't break, rupture or destroy anything, but he's going to be really, really sore. Flying off a bike into air for ten feet then rolling for a while will do that to you.
Of course, this became the main topic of conversation for hours after the wreck, because Boomhauer's bike was TOTALLED.
This, apparently, is a really rare event at Putnam. I tried to take some photos of the carnage, but these hardly do it justice.
Finally the excitement died away, and everyone retreated to their tents for lunch. Not that the tents were any cooler than the open air...
Also, I'm pretty sure we were the only pit dining on peel and eat shrimp, potato salad, and rice krispy treats. Let it be said the Priddis clan always travels in style...
After the next session, Don discovered that the brace that holds his brake fluid in place had snapped in half during his last run. Good thing Boomhauer was still around...we managed to salvage the one good piece on his bike. ;-)
After some creative problem solving and a lot of twisting with a wrench, we managed to fit the bolt to Don's bike. Let it be said that this member of his pit crew was on the ball that day!
A couple more session go by, one in which Roddy (in the expert class) overevved himself and ended up dropping a rod out of his bike. And then there were two...
Don goes out for the second to last session, and Michelle and I decide to watch the run from the tower, which is higher up - and air conditioned!
The guys are all circling track, and I'm trying to watch speeds for some of the guys when Michelle gasps and pointed to turn 9.
A biker had slid off the track and into the grass, and had bounced and rolled about 20 feet.
Yeah, it was Don.
He'd caught a bump in the track (which all the guys agreed was treacherous), and the bike just couldn't correct. His flight was nearly as spectacular (or painful) as Boomhauer's, and his bike is in much better shape.
So we do we have to end the day at Putnam? Yeah, another damn ambulance ride...
Don's now the proud owner of a sprained ankle, a bruised knee, a broken rib, an achy shoulder and a bout of wounded pride. All the guys were great about helping us load up, examine damage, brace the bike and everything else we had to do to pack up. Michelle had to drive home, and did a kick ass job of driving with the trailer for the very first time. The bike is salvageable, but not exactly pristine...
But then again, I guess the same can be said about poor old Don:
Despite all the drama of track day (two ambulance rides, three broken bikes, 100 degree heat, less riders than usual, and a group of guys unlike any other), I had a freakin' BLAST! It was so much fun, and I'm totally signing up to go next year.
Assuming I'm not bad luck.
Wanna see all the Putnam Park pictures? Click here.
The rest of the weekend was great too - the fam got together to watch our HOMETOWN BOY, Tony Stewart, win the Brickyard. Columbus was mighty happy for their native son. :-)
And now I'm back home in TinyTown and the days seem to be getting shorter and shorter, but with more and more to do. Such is the end of summer...
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go find out more about motorcycle schools so I can learn to ride...
*sigh*
In any case, here we go!
I cruised home on Friday to see the parentals and my sister and bro-in-law,
Don and Michelle, with nothing in mind for the weekend except racing.After going to see The Wedding Crashers on Friday night ("Let's go kill something! I'm psyched!"), we pretty much went back to Don and Michelle's and went to bed.
Because we had to wake up at 4:15am.
Every year, Don loads up his motorcycle (a beauty of a CBR 929) and goes to several "track days". Basically, a bunch of studs in leathers and helmets go out on a road coarse and drive around - fast.
Kick.Ass.
I'm totally there.
Because we decided to forgo Brickyard quals this year, this was my very first track day, and I was superstoked.
After breakfast at a truck stop with the crew of guys we were going to be hanging out with all day, we roll into Putnam Park and set up our pit, meeting other racer boys and scoping out the entire setup.
Michelle and I decide to go to the driver's meeting, only to find we were the only chicks there, and apparently were the main source of entertainment for the drivers ("You guys got pork chops around your neck? What's with the staring?").The guys finally suit up for their first session (Don and his friends, The Other Don (TOD), Randy (otherwise known as Boomhauer), Rudy and several others are all riding intermediate. Roddy, a flashy spinner of tales, is riding expert) and take off.
Michelle and I watch the track from pit road, and it's AMAZING to watch these guys fly by at 140mph on the straighaway, and then bank into the turns with their knees on the pavement.
Of course, as soon as the first session is over, all the guys flock together to discuss every nuance of the track, every throttle, every brake. Michelle and I have already nicknamed half the guys at the track...Skater Boy, Brit Man, Ducati Guy, Mohawk Boy (who put a mohawk on his helmet!), Obey...
Finally it's time for the second session (there are three groups, and each spends 20 minutes on the track every hour from 9am to 5pm). TOD and Boomhauer have never been to Putnam before, but had been screaming around the track during the first session. Don tends to be a pretty conservative driver - wanting to find his marks and sweep the turns than to run full out.
Not so much for Boomhauer.
I saw the whole thing.
The bike highsided and flew through the air one way.
Boomhauer flew at least 10 feet in the air the other way.
Ambulances went screaming out, the guys loaded into a pickup to get Boomhauer's bike, and his son hopped into the care center with his dad.
Turns out, Boomhauer didn't break, rupture or destroy anything, but he's going to be really, really sore. Flying off a bike into air for ten feet then rolling for a while will do that to you.
Of course, this became the main topic of conversation for hours after the wreck, because Boomhauer's bike was TOTALLED.
This, apparently, is a really rare event at Putnam. I tried to take some photos of the carnage, but these hardly do it justice.
Finally the excitement died away, and everyone retreated to their tents for lunch. Not that the tents were any cooler than the open air...
Also, I'm pretty sure we were the only pit dining on peel and eat shrimp, potato salad, and rice krispy treats. Let it be said the Priddis clan always travels in style...
After the next session, Don discovered that the brace that holds his brake fluid in place had snapped in half during his last run. Good thing Boomhauer was still around...we managed to salvage the one good piece on his bike. ;-)After some creative problem solving and a lot of twisting with a wrench, we managed to fit the bolt to Don's bike. Let it be said that this member of his pit crew was on the ball that day!
A couple more session go by, one in which Roddy (in the expert class) overevved himself and ended up dropping a rod out of his bike. And then there were two...
Don goes out for the second to last session, and Michelle and I decide to watch the run from the tower, which is higher up - and air conditioned!
The guys are all circling track, and I'm trying to watch speeds for some of the guys when Michelle gasps and pointed to turn 9.
A biker had slid off the track and into the grass, and had bounced and rolled about 20 feet.
Yeah, it was Don.He'd caught a bump in the track (which all the guys agreed was treacherous), and the bike just couldn't correct. His flight was nearly as spectacular (or painful) as Boomhauer's, and his bike is in much better shape.
So we do we have to end the day at Putnam? Yeah, another damn ambulance ride...
Don's now the proud owner of a sprained ankle, a bruised knee, a broken rib, an achy shoulder and a bout of wounded pride. All the guys were great about helping us load up, examine damage, brace the bike and everything else we had to do to pack up. Michelle had to drive home, and did a kick ass job of driving with the trailer for the very first time. The bike is salvageable, but not exactly pristine...
But then again, I guess the same can be said about poor old Don:
Despite all the drama of track day (two ambulance rides, three broken bikes, 100 degree heat, less riders than usual, and a group of guys unlike any other), I had a freakin' BLAST! It was so much fun, and I'm totally signing up to go next year.
Assuming I'm not bad luck.
Wanna see all the Putnam Park pictures? Click here.
The rest of the weekend was great too - the fam got together to watch our HOMETOWN BOY, Tony Stewart, win the Brickyard. Columbus was mighty happy for their native son. :-)
And now I'm back home in TinyTown and the days seem to be getting shorter and shorter, but with more and more to do. Such is the end of summer...
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go find out more about motorcycle schools so I can learn to ride...
You Are 55% Left Brained, 45% Right Brained |
The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports. |
I've often heard that left handed people tend to be more much "down the middle"...
This warms my heart...
A lady came into the library looked a bit harried and hot. She asked to use a computer, and told me she only needed a few minutes to check her email - her own computer had just died.
All my computers were booked, and all of my walkups were being used.
I was explaing to her that it would probably be a few minutes before a computer was free, when the boy sitting a few feet away stood up and pointed to the computer.
"You can use this computer for a few minutes, ma'am. I'm not doing anything important."
"Are you sure?" She replied, looking hesitant.
"Sure. Go ahead - you need it more than me."
She gave him a grateful smile, and he stepped away, heading for the book stacks to browse for a few minutes.
He's 13 years old.
And when he grows up, someone is going to be lucky to have him.
A lady came into the library looked a bit harried and hot. She asked to use a computer, and told me she only needed a few minutes to check her email - her own computer had just died.
All my computers were booked, and all of my walkups were being used.
I was explaing to her that it would probably be a few minutes before a computer was free, when the boy sitting a few feet away stood up and pointed to the computer.
"You can use this computer for a few minutes, ma'am. I'm not doing anything important."
"Are you sure?" She replied, looking hesitant.
"Sure. Go ahead - you need it more than me."
She gave him a grateful smile, and he stepped away, heading for the book stacks to browse for a few minutes.
He's 13 years old.
And when he grows up, someone is going to be lucky to have him.
Wow, I'm getting all blushy and everything.
First, Michael over at Tame the Web links to my blog and Flickr set about our end of Summer Reading Program, and then today he and Maire agree that our IM Reference project and language is "hot", and then even links my humble project for the world to see.
Who's a rock star now, huh? :-)
I love the immediacy and the camraderie of the electronic library circle. There is such an air of cooperation and sharing - Maire could have knocked me silly for basing my IM page on her original site, but instead, she and Michael compliment the ever-growing nature of this new service that more and more libraries are offering.
I also love the fact that any library can do what we're doing...sure, the time I devote to things like our library blog, our new IM service, our (soon to be) Flickr account, our website, and our aspirations to offer things like online card registration and so forth, do take away from the 17 hats I wear at the library. But the return on investment is totally worth it...if for no other reason than because we'll be ahead of the curve as more and more of our users come from the under-20 set, rather than the over-60s.
Seriously, any library can do this stuff.
Compared to a St. Joseph County or a Marin County, we're tiny. Less than 7500 people live in our city limits. But we have a few key things on our side...
A director willing to listen when I start rambling about new techy bits.
The courage to try something and see if it works out.
Me, willing to jump off a cliff and give it a try.
The ability to be forward thinking while maintaining our best assets - our building, our collection, and our people.
The willingness to believe that just because it's free doesn't mean it won't work, or work well.
I love that a library, any library, even a small public library, can take these things on, make them work, and get a few words of encouragement along the way.
I just love that.
First, Michael over at Tame the Web links to my blog and Flickr set about our end of Summer Reading Program, and then today he and Maire agree that our IM Reference project and language is "hot", and then even links my humble project for the world to see.
Who's a rock star now, huh? :-)
I love the immediacy and the camraderie of the electronic library circle. There is such an air of cooperation and sharing - Maire could have knocked me silly for basing my IM page on her original site, but instead, she and Michael compliment the ever-growing nature of this new service that more and more libraries are offering.
I also love the fact that any library can do what we're doing...sure, the time I devote to things like our library blog, our new IM service, our (soon to be) Flickr account, our website, and our aspirations to offer things like online card registration and so forth, do take away from the 17 hats I wear at the library. But the return on investment is totally worth it...if for no other reason than because we'll be ahead of the curve as more and more of our users come from the under-20 set, rather than the over-60s.
Seriously, any library can do this stuff.
Compared to a St. Joseph County or a Marin County, we're tiny. Less than 7500 people live in our city limits. But we have a few key things on our side...
A director willing to listen when I start rambling about new techy bits.
The courage to try something and see if it works out.
Me, willing to jump off a cliff and give it a try.
The ability to be forward thinking while maintaining our best assets - our building, our collection, and our people.
The willingness to believe that just because it's free doesn't mean it won't work, or work well.
I love that a library, any library, even a small public library, can take these things on, make them work, and get a few words of encouragement along the way.
I just love that.
A big thanks to Michael over at Tame the Web for the shout out on our Summer Reading Program block party!
We're planning to start an APL Flickr account so we can upload all our other photos, and share them with all our patrons. Plus, we have some choice photos of the dunking booth, the jumpy castle (I'm sure that's a trademarked phrase SOMEWHERE), my boss calling bingo and kids picking up marbles with their toes.
Those definitely belong online somewhere...
Michael, you're a rock star. :-)
We're planning to start an APL Flickr account so we can upload all our other photos, and share them with all our patrons. Plus, we have some choice photos of the dunking booth, the jumpy castle (I'm sure that's a trademarked phrase SOMEWHERE), my boss calling bingo and kids picking up marbles with their toes.
Those definitely belong online somewhere...
Michael, you're a rock star. :-)
It's been a spectacularly bad week on the workfront (not me personally, just some issues at the library as a whole), so instead of focusing on that, I'd like to focus on fun stuff from this past weekend: a good play, a dunking booth, and a plan for next weekend.
Friday night, Becca and I once again ushered up at New Harmony Theatre, this time for a much better play...The Odd Couple. We thought it was ironic if that you put us next to each other, we tend to be the odd couple ourselves...
(Uh, one of us is top heavy, and the other is...well, not so much...)
I finally got to catch up with the sis and bro-in-law about this coming weekend...I'm heading home (per tradition) for Brickyard weekend, and Michelle had originally proposed the two of us going to the race on Sunday. We're going to a "bike day" with Don on Saturday (where they whizz around the track on motorcycles with those little hockey pucks on their knees to stop them from falling over. Can't.F'n.Wait!), and then the race on Sunday, and then kickin' around on Monday.
Unfortunately, upon further review, we decided the Brickyard was a tad cost prohibitive this year, and with the way Quals viewing has been restructured, it looks like I'm not going to the track at all. Sunday, I think we'll spend all day on the boat instead - but we'll see. :-)
Saturday (once again the hottest day in all of creation) was our end of Summer Reading Program luau block party. It was hours of work, but everyone had a good time, and Becca got some really great photos from the event. My first task was to man the dunking booth while Jessy (our fearless YA librarian) took the fall over and over and over...
I also worked a couple of other booths in the tent, and generally helped take stuff down afterwards. I work with such great people. :-)
A few of my favorite photos...
Carrie and I in pre-show mode...
Manning the dunk tank and heckling Jessy...
Jessy, the Hecklee...
Working one of the game booths...
Look Ma! I got a tattoo!
(Don't worry, Mum, it's a fake.)
I know Becca took about 200 hundred photos, so I think I'm going to create an APL Flickr account to load them all. I know more and more libraries are using Flickr for photo sharing, and I think that's rad. :-)
Speaking of the Hecklee, Jessy linked to Grokker in her blog, and it's totally fun to play with! Go check it out!
Get well soon, De. I hate when Princesses get sick. :-)
Good night, all!
Friday night, Becca and I once again ushered up at New Harmony Theatre, this time for a much better play...The Odd Couple. We thought it was ironic if that you put us next to each other, we tend to be the odd couple ourselves...(Uh, one of us is top heavy, and the other is...well, not so much...)
I finally got to catch up with the sis and bro-in-law about this coming weekend...I'm heading home (per tradition) for Brickyard weekend, and Michelle had originally proposed the two of us going to the race on Sunday. We're going to a "bike day" with Don on Saturday (where they whizz around the track on motorcycles with those little hockey pucks on their knees to stop them from falling over. Can't.F'n.Wait!), and then the race on Sunday, and then kickin' around on Monday.
Unfortunately, upon further review, we decided the Brickyard was a tad cost prohibitive this year, and with the way Quals viewing has been restructured, it looks like I'm not going to the track at all. Sunday, I think we'll spend all day on the boat instead - but we'll see. :-)
Saturday (once again the hottest day in all of creation) was our end of Summer Reading Program luau block party. It was hours of work, but everyone had a good time, and Becca got some really great photos from the event. My first task was to man the dunking booth while Jessy (our fearless YA librarian) took the fall over and over and over...
I also worked a couple of other booths in the tent, and generally helped take stuff down afterwards. I work with such great people. :-)
A few of my favorite photos...
Carrie and I in pre-show mode...
Manning the dunk tank and heckling Jessy...
Jessy, the Hecklee...
Working one of the game booths...
Look Ma! I got a tattoo!
(Don't worry, Mum, it's a fake.)
I know Becca took about 200 hundred photos, so I think I'm going to create an APL Flickr account to load them all. I know more and more libraries are using Flickr for photo sharing, and I think that's rad. :-)
Speaking of the Hecklee, Jessy linked to Grokker in her blog, and it's totally fun to play with! Go check it out!
Get well soon, De. I hate when Princesses get sick. :-)
Good night, all!
Today, I'd like to discuss something really important.
My hair.
It was recently brought to my attention that "dang, you're hair has gotten really long!" Since this hairdo (such as it is) has been 2.5 years in the making, I thought a hair retrospective would be in order.
I'm a nerd. It's okay. I already know.
All through college I had fairly short hair. Then in grad school, I had really short hair. With a few comments and disasters in between, I've arrived at hair that's longer than I remember it being in at least 10 years. Let's see how we got there, starting with 2.5 years ago....
Enjoy the show, and don't forget to tip your waitresses!
My hair.
It was recently brought to my attention that "dang, you're hair has gotten really long!" Since this hairdo (such as it is) has been 2.5 years in the making, I thought a hair retrospective would be in order.
I'm a nerd. It's okay. I already know.
All through college I had fairly short hair. Then in grad school, I had really short hair. With a few comments and disasters in between, I've arrived at hair that's longer than I remember it being in at least 10 years. Let's see how we got there, starting with 2.5 years ago....
Enjoy the show, and don't forget to tip your waitresses!
The Devil's Teeth by Susan Casey
The irony isn't lost on me that I suffer from fish fear, and yet wanted to read a book about great white sharks. ;-)
This book reads like fiction, but is a true account of the Farallones - a group of islands not far from San Francisco that are among the most fertile natural hunting grounds of great white sharks. The islands are inhabited by scientists each fall who monitor the great whites and the surrounding animal life. It's no coincidence that the front cover features a shark fin and blood red water - this is normal fare for the Farallones.
Casey's story is immediately gripping and it was hard to put this story down. She writes with interest and intensity, and you feel as though are you right beside her, gasping in horror and amazement. This is a great read, and truly deserves its place on the current bestseller lists.
Message in a Bottle by Jahnna N. Malcolm
This YA book is not to be confused with the Nicholas Sparks book of the same name. This particular title is frothy, fun and fast. Quinn finds a message in a bottle the same day she meets the author - but 9 years have passed since he wrote the note...
This is a great YA "beachy" read. :-)
Yellow by Janni Visman
This is one of those "literary fiction" books that is characterized by weird characters, a nonmoving plot, an exotic love affair and a lack of resolution.
It was a little too "literary" for me, I guess. I hated the main character within pages, and grew bored with the lack of forward movement.
I'm soooo not literary, apparently. ;-)
