What Kind of Week It Has Been

Here is a story that epitomizes the kind of week I have had. I’m trying to deal with all my bills and money stuff for the rest of the month this morning, and decide that it is time to take all the change I’ve been collecting for the past several months into the bank to convert it to cash. I keep the small plastic boxes that my face-wash clothes come in, put one by the door and keep put my spare change or a dollar in it every day. In the parking lot of the bank I gather up these three boxes of change I have and start walking to the bank. I get just to the end of the parking lot and two of the boxes slip from my arms and crash into the pavement, coins flying everywhere. Sure, on it’s own this is simply annoying. But in Chicago it happens to be in below zero outside, with a wind-chill of -28 degrees. So there I am in the freezing cold with all my saved up quarters, nickels, dimes and dollars splayed across the parking lot. Whatta ya gonna do? I’m not about to leave what I know to be a lot of money just laying there on the pavement, especially with the kind of money-needing week I’ve been having. I guess just start picking them up, but I can’t with my gloves on because the coins are too small and I need my fingers, so I have to watch my bare hands get cracked and red as I pick up all the change. This old woman stops and tries to help me but eventually says “I can’t, it’s too cold” and I thank her for her help, but not to worry and just get inside. I end up having to alternately keep one hand in my pocket as the other picks up change now grimmy change off the ground (surprising that’s not a line in an Alanis Morissette song). I eventually gather it all up, get inside the bank. I’m at the coin-converter machine, up to $64.08 thank you very much with a box yet to go, and the machine just stops and says “Malfunction, See Attendant.” Eventually someone comes and helps me, but as he uses his key to get inside the machine he sighs this unencouraging “ohhhh....” Yeah, machine is broken. Really, I tell hiim, I should have expected this, this is the kind of week I am having.
Yes, I have an account there, yes the money is in the machine and mine, and yes we can go over to his desk and he is very polite and chatty and nice and almost cute, and I appreciate everything he’s saying. But No, I will not get my money today, and they are closed on Monday, so no, it will most likely be until till Tuesday that I hear anything about it. I said, that’s ok, next week will be better anyway.

Rought Draft

I meant to post this yesterday, but time keeps getting away from me. I have this Prof. who has, via email with more information than you could ever want to know, given an assignment before class has even started. Now, I understand having something that needs to be done when you come into class the first day, hit the ground running and all that. But this was due today, a full 9 days before class even starts. A little much if you ask me. A simple assignment, but still, let a girl enjoy her break in peace please.

So, here's the assignment. I wrote an off-the-cuff response yesterday morning just to get myself going, and I thought I'd post in here. Maybe if I have time tomorrow I'll post the polished version I sent him. But here's the roughest of roughest drafts I've ever thought up -

Could each of you send me a one page statement of why you want to be a librarian in general and why you taking this course in particular (obviously, the two are related). This is also required for the course. Please send them to me, via email, by January 6 at 5pm. Thank you.

Here's my deal - worked in libraries in my formative young adulthood. Went and explored other areas such as alternative and outdoor education. Came back to libraries. I like working with the public. I'm good at it. I like the pace. I like that there is certainty and routine, while also being full of surprises. I like being surrounded by knowledge, it feeds my appetite for information and new things.
This course, is required, that's why I'm taking it. But I look forward to getting a lot out of it. I've worked in Circulation quite a bit, but also worked in Youth Services, I've held programs at libraries, but I have yet to do much with Adult Services, and I hope this course will expand my ideas of what this area has to offer. To me, it's just sitting behind a desk and answering questions, and obviously, it's a lot more than that. (just as Circulation is a lot more than checking books in and out) I'm hoping this course opens my eyes to all that reference can offer, to the doors it can open in other fields. I'm not sure really where I want to go in the library field, and I'm hoping this course helps broaden my horizons while also helping me to narrow my focus and learn more about what reference has to offer me, and what I have to offer reference.