Petey survived his surgery. He’s still quite manly.

Went to Borders today before work…my typical Sunday: stop at Borders and load up on books for the rest of the week.  I’m trying to find books written by Paulo Coelho and the Borders computer tells me they are located in the Metaphysical section.  Cruising the store I find no Metaphysical section so I try to get help from store personnel.  That was the problem.  Being a librarian, I have certain “standards” when it comes to organizing books and public service.  So it’s frustrating for me not to be able to locate my own books and then having to wait a long time for help.  I admit that I got a little bitchy to one of the Borders staff.  Not mean bitchy, but bitchy nonetheless.  As soon as I left the store I felt awful.  I don’t need to bring down others because of my bad mood.  Not finding a book is such a little thing.  I’m sorry Borders man!  Next Sunday I’ll try to find that guy and tell him I’m sorry.  Maybe I won’t wait until Sunday.

but I think I killed it: 

I have never had a green thumb. The only plants that have lived under my “care” are the kinds of plants that would live through pretty much anything.

Got this idea from another blog. This to-do list is not for everyday things like laundry or grocery shopping, but a place to remind myself of some of my goals and desires.

1. Travel to…everywhere.
2. Live by the ocean.
3. Learn to play the guitar accordion.
4. Become debt free (even student loans).
5. Train Ruby to be a therapy dog.
6. Get a job where I have a badge.
7. Learn Contra dancing.
8. Read Don Quijote in Spanish.
9. Be a lounge singer.
10. Forgive myself.
11. Get (another) Beetle car.
12. Learn how to make a “specialty” such as pie or cake.

Made this from David Bowie’s Lady Grinningsoul lyrics at Wordle:

Since I’m broke, I don’t do a whole lot of clothes shopping and  I no longer shop at my favorite store, Macy’s .  I only buy what I really need after I have needed it for a while at a discount store or Walmart (imagine!).  So one of my favorite hobbies, shopping, is now a thing of the distant past and I get sad when I end up at the mall or in a nice department store.  Walking past the purse and shoe sections of Macy’s is probably the hardest part.  Sigh.

Last night, however, I dreamed that I was invited by a handsome stranger to attend the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony — I said YES! — and I had to go shopping for the perfect gown.  I don’t think I’ve ever dreamed of shopping before; shows what deprivation can do to a person.  Anywho, I tried on several beautiful designer gowns (with the help of an attendant no less).

I’m pretty sure I had a big smile on my face when Ruby woke me up this morning.  The pleasure of my dream shopping trip has lasted all day.  Maybe tonight I’ll dream about my mystery date at the Academy Awards ceremony.

After years of suffering in freezing libraries & offices, here comes a story in the New York Times about compensation for when the temperatures dip too low inside some NYC public libraries:

Under a little-known contract provision titled “Extreme Temperature Procedures,” unionized workers at branches of the New York Public Library can accrue compensatory time when the temperature inside dips below 68 degrees for a couple of hours. Similar clauses exist for libraries across the city.

Officials with all three public library systems say they do not track the number of days awarded to chilled employees, but they estimate the clause is invoked only a few times each year because the heating systems at the branches are well maintained.

I somehow feel vindicated even though I don’t directly benefit: library officials have determined that it’s really unpleasant to work when it’s too cold inside.  Oh the many times I have hidden an unauthorized space heater so it wouldn’t be confiscated.  

I have found that the cold can be worse during the summer due to air conditioning.   You would think one could wear short-sleeve dresses on hot, sunny days, but not unless you bring a jacket or sweater for inside the freezing office.    There was yet another article in the New York Times (last summer I think) about scarves being in style even during the hot summer months because people were wearing them inside their offices then forgetting to take them off when they left the building. 

I am lucky now, however; the library where I work is pleasantly warm.  I hope it stays that way during the summer.

I don’t think I have ever wanted anything so much in my life as this bright pink beetle:

I heart pink

Today was a Ruby day.  First we went to the dog park at Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno.  It’s a huge dog park, a wide open space with nothing but grass and dirt.  The grass is kinda brown because it’s winter.  Ruby didn’t mind, though.  She loved it.  She would run off, look back at me to see where I was, then run some more.  Ruby seemed to do okay with all the other dogs…except for Paco.  He was a long-haired chihuahua with a Don Juan complex.  Apparently not neutered, Paco fell in love with Ruby but she wanted NO part of him.  She would growl and snap at him but he would not leave her alone.  Paco followed Ruby around and around the park.  I believe it was true love.  I give him props for his persistence.  I tried to get him to leave or get his owners to take him away but no luck.  Overall, though, the experience was a good one for us.  We saw lots of fun dogs and Ruby got to play.  Since we stayed only one hour I promised Ruby I would take her for a walk when we got home.  That’s why it was a Ruby day today.  We walked for an hour in our neighborhood until she was tired.  She’s such an easy going dog; it really doesn’t take much to make her happy.  If Ruby’s happy, I’m happy.  Right now she’s in my lap as I type this.  Yes, I am happy.