Jules Hearts the Library

I have always loved going to the library. My original library card is still on file at the Herbert E. Jones library in my hometown. I've probably spent months in that building if you add all of the time together. At one point it felt like I had read everything that there was to read in those shelves.


I loved the library at Wheeling Jesuit as well. I loved the fact that they could track down what ever books I needed. If there was an obscure journal article that struck my fancy the librarians could get it for me. I loved hiding in the back corners where the fiction lived...never was as happening a place as the research section; but it afforded pleasant distractions from my studies. I would not have a 10+ year love affair with Nick Hornby novels if it weren't for a copy of High Fidelity distracting me from writing my thesis.


My current library, Westlake Porter, is the number 2 library of it's size in the country. It is a posh suburban number. You could probably fit the library of my childhood in it twice. Even though it is shiny and state of the art...I love it as well. I love the room of new releases...all of these brand new books that I wouldn't pay any attention to at a book store catch my attention. Some of them are brilliant and some of them aren't my cup of tea. I love that 9 times out of 10 when I've mentioned something that I was looking for that they didn't have...they've ordered it.


I also love watching the people...watching them pick out their books; especially the kids. I generally don't have much use for small children that aren't related to me, but at the library I like them. I love how they are so excited for story time. I like watching them chew on their bottom lip as they are picking out the book they get to check out. Their tiny faces have such a look of concentration...that it makes me smile as I realize that I am making the exact same face.

Are You Kidding Me?

I've spent the past couple of weeks working in a center with a laundry list of issues trying to help get them squared away. They have had all of the staff turn over. They work with a very difficult population of students, 98% have multiple issue IEPs. Just bad all the way around. They are getting better...they are working on getting the right people in the right places and if everyone can locate and get their shit together things will be fine.

There is a kid there that has been diagnosed with one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders...and it isn't on said kid's IEP. How do you not address this. You will put down that said kid doesn't interact well with peers and get all hot and bothered that the kid isn't making progress on that front. Here's a news flash you freakin' idiot...the kid isn't wired for social interaction. I was so angry talking to the "professional" who needs to evaluate progress...that I walked away for fear of calling said person names or placing said person's head through an inanimate object. Unfucking believable!

Updates...

I know that I have been scarce as of late, but not much has been going on in my world. I got to luxuriate in 3 whole weeks of not traveling for work; at which time I was on the down low...Benedictine monks were getting out more. After traveling for 9 consecutive weeks with 3 weeks of not even making it home on the weekends, I had 0% desire to do anything.

I am now in the middle of what will probably end up being 3 straight weeks of being back on the road; mercifully the mandatory attendance family wedding will break up what could have turned into another 7 week workfest. I am in the process of helping to salvage a large contract in metro Atlanta. The village idiots were left in charge and they did everything but burn the house down. I love cleaning up after others!

I swear I'm trying to become a runner!

I thought I would update my vast (ironic) readership on how the running is going. I am getting ready to start week 4 of my Couch to 5K training program. This week's fresh hell has 5 minute running stretches at a time...I only think there are two of them mixed in amongst some shorter ones. Seeing as how I was sucking massive amounts of wind during today's 3 minute run; I hold little optimism for the 5 minute intervals. I may repeat week 3 as to build some confidence.

I need to pick a race to run. There are a couple in October that jive with my schedule, but I don't know if I will be able to run the whole 3 miles by then without having to walk any of it. So it is looking like I may need a November race. There are a couple of them on the Hermes website, but with limited info.

I will, however, need to break out my passport and schlep over to the East Side to visit the boys at Second Sole to get a new pair of kicks to run in. They are good eggs there and their major concern is pairing my deformed, wide, flat, pronating feet in the shoes that are right for them...meaning they never would have sold me the ratty assed Nikes that make me feel like I've been knee-capped by the time I'm done running in them. The Mizunos are taking a beating and need some friends.

Long story short...I have stopped hating running even though I am wicked slow. I need to pick a race to run and get some new shoes.

Dans la Maison

From the news of the "About Damn Time" bureau...I am home for the next two weeks. No work related traveling for this girl. However, because no good deed goes unpunished, I do have weeks of reporting to get caught up on. I think it is a fair trade off.

There are rules...

...about wearing dirty librarian glasses. You may not wear them, would be Republican VP, and try to ban books from public libraries!!! You are hereby required to wear old lady glasses, surrender your Karen from "Will and Grace" hair piece, keep your mitts away from my uterus, and go back to the hellmouth from which you came.

Less=More

To your immediate left if 50 pounds. If you add 2 to that then you have how much less of me there is.

As a follow up on the afore mentioned shoes that I was going to gift myself when I got here...I tried them on at Nordstroms today and they pinched like a mother. I must go back to the drawing board on this one...maybe I need the Burberry ballet flats.