Summer Days drifting away...

It's only the beginning and yet I'm already having to work on being really in the moment rather than seeing my summer slip away.

Yep, that's the kinda gal I am, I suppose.  A planner.  A do-er.  A more-interests-than-I-possibly-have-time-to-complete kinda gal.

I really, really wish I was a spontaneous, totally live in the moment girl sometimes.  I kept thinking I might turn into one, but at 41 I'm beginning to come to grips with who I am vs. who I sometimes want to be.  Sort of.

Lately I've read a book or two that have really spoken to this element of my personality.

One of them, The Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison, felt like a series of conversations with a long-distance, but long-time friend.  Now, I've owned this book for a while but have been so caught up reading YA lit for my work (okay, my pleasure, too) that it has remained in my to-be-read stack for quite some time.  I finally allowed myself some grown up reading time---feeling a little like I was cheating  on my YA loves----and I loved it.


After re-reading Eat,Pray, Love followed by The Gift of an Ordinary Day, I have these questions floating in my head:

• What does it really mean to accept yourself and love yourself where you are? Not any trite answers...I mean, how does one really get to that place and stay there?  Is that even possible?
• How do you improve yourself while at the same time carving out time to meditate, think, and be? 
• How do these two ideas fit together? I mean...accept yourself AND improve yourself?  Really?

'Cause here's the thing...I'm a striver by nature.  I'm from solid Puritan stock from way back.  Seriously.

 I  believe in the American Dream and my parents instilled an incredible work ethic.  For all of these things I am grateful.  And yet..

I feel in my soul a need for quiet meditative/reflective time.  I know in my heart that my life is filled with many blessings: a great family of origin, a wonderful husband, two adorable kiddos, a job that makes my heart sing, an awesome church and friends and activities that are fulfilling. 

I also know that I have master's degree debt to be worked off, Girl Scout activities to plan, a perpetually messy house and more than a few pounds I'd like to lose. 

But, I did leave work on time yesterday and got a pedicure before picking up my youngest.  I didn't have an appointment.  I just walked on in.  

*a side note here to mention that it has been over 2 years since my last real pedi--I was preggo with baby girl when I got it, and the fella at the nail salon was cussing me in Vietnamese for my horrid heels...but honey, my feet do look gooooood today!  ;) *

Let's call that a start.

visit http://www.katrinakenison.com/ for more info on The Gift of an Ordinary Day.

Read on, gentle readers.  Read on.

Mrs. S

SHOCKING!!! THIS JUST IN...

It's the end of the school year and we are all tired.  I get that.  I'm tired, too.  Yet, I still send out fairly pleasant emails detailing the annual turning-in-all-the-crap-you've-checked-out-from-the-library plans.  I specifically put "please dust off all equipment before returning" instructions in the mix. Now, in my mind, this is an obvious thing. Like when you read the back of shampoo bottles and it says "do not put in eyes" or "do not ingest".  Yet, these instructions are on the backs of potions of all sorts because people do this stuff.  Really.  

Imagine my shock and awe when a *truly* very lovely teacher who shall remain nameless sends 2 students down with this bag.  Did I mention the bag is not tan, nor khaki, nor cammo in color, but rather is BLACK.  Yes, you heard it here.  It is was a black bag. 

I was speechless, and believe you me that is REALLY saying something.  And then, I wasn't.  I think howls of animal-like pain were heard all over the tri-state area.  ;)  I wish I could say this was the only example from this year, but friends, you know it ain't so.  

Yep, it's shocking...but people do this stuff.  Really.  

Mrs. S

What's New, Cupcake?

This cookbook has been tempting me at our school book fairs the last couple of times we've held it.  


The cupcakes in it are DARLING, but of course, my thought is...will I really make these?  Ever?


Well, one of my friends has a daughter who got the book and she and her boyfriend made these super-de-dooper-de cute cupcakes!
(and delish, too, btw...)


I'm hooked....next time around, I'm buying this one!

The Wheels on the Bus by Kevin Honeycutt

Ran across this on my fabulous library list-serve, LM-Net.  It is painfully accurate.  Kevin Honeycutt hits the nail on the head with his school funding allegory.  Read it here and see what you think...

http://web.me.com/khoneycuttessdack/kevinhoneycutt.org/Tradigital_Learning/Entries/2011/4/10.html

Speaking of the economy...

Unshelved rocks.  Today's just cracks me up....as you who know me know I actually LOVE "the teens" but I always find it a bit comical that I have most enjoyed the 2 groups who drive most teachers and librarians nuts--the kinders and the teens. 

At least I have a bit of humor--even dark humor--in these scary, scary times of slashing library programs and librarian jobs. 

sometimes that's all we can hang onto...as long as I can still find humor in it I think I'm okay...

If you don't subscribe to Unshelved, see the link below the cartoon and do so immediately!!!






http://www.unshelved.com/2011-3-24?utm_source=Overdue+Media&utm_campaign=942937371b-UA-127250-5&utm_medium=email

Book Fair

Oh my goodness, but it is book fair time once again.  For a week each fall and spring our library turns into a mini book store. 

Oh! the excitement! (hey!  there's the new book in that series I read!)
Oh! the anguish! (crud!  my parents only gave me $5.00!)

My wish list grows with each pass around the room...my daughter's grows quicker than that.  ;)

The students have steadily purchased fuzzy-topped pens and posters and books.  The girls ooh and ahh over the Justin Bieber collection.  The boys make the talking Zombie book "speak" over and over *and over* again.  The teachers pour over the cookbooks and adult bestseller list. 

This time sales seem a bit slower than usual.  The economic difficulties are definitely being felt by everyone.  And still...people want books...

Thank goodness our sanity hasn't completely left us.

Read on Gentle Readers, Read on
Mrs. S

Proud Mama

Check out my youngest over spring break. Yep, this library diva is one proud mama!

Exciting stuff when you see your little ones begin the life-long love of all things bookish. 

My older daughter is 8 and *excuse the braggy mom moment* but is already quite the reader.  She is a 2nd grader, but reads on a 5th grade level.  

So proud of my girls for so many reasons...not the least of which is they inherited/grabbed onto mama's love of reading!