Tinfoil + Raccoon

Refreshed and Ready for 2007

  Fireworks--New Years 2007 
  Originally uploaded by rochelle, et. al..

Three of the best things about our house in La Crosse are location, location, location.   When we first got here, one of the first things we heard about was the New Year's Eve fireworks from Granddad Bluff.  Because of some horrible tree blight about 30 years ago, there are few mature trees in La Crosse, and as a result, we have a great, unencumbered view of Granddad Bluff.  Juniorette and I were able to sit on our sun porch/family room) and watch a 30 minute fireworks display on New Year's Day night.  Juniorina, whose room is directly above the sun porch, watched from upstairs. 

Traditionally, there are two shows--a children's show at 6 pm on New Year's Eve and one at midnight.  Owing to warm temps and a full day of rain, the Skyrockers postponed the show til New Year's Day at 6 pm.  As I was sleepy from too much turducken, spiced nuts and wine on New Year's Eve, I was quite happy with the schedule change.

I had my first multi-day vacation in years from Dec. 20 to the end of the year.  I've traditionally taken a couple days here and there, but have generally not taken long vacations.  This year, I didn't get any vacation until Dec 1, and had to take it all by the end of the year.  I was more than ready.  It's also the first time I've truly stayed away from work.  I didn't check work email, I didn't call in to see how things were going, I didn't go near my Bloglines account, and I didn't log in to Tinfoil+Raccoon.   I'm pretty sure there were a couple days in which I didn't even write any email. It was a library-free, relatively off-line vacation, and I can't tell you how nice it was to stay away.

Not that I was a lay-about for two weeks.  It was still pretty jam-packed.

• I started on a kitchen painting project that I hope I can finish before next Christmas
• Made a trip to Bloomington to deliver the girls to their dad and to visit with my mom.  Also got to see Big Dad, who is just fabulous, even after a year that included a stroke, triple bypass surgery and colorectal surgery.  Timex has nothing on him.
• Made bunches of fudge and cookies
• Spent lots of time with friends and neighbors
• Celebrated Juniorina's 13th birthday
• The Mr. returned to public radio.  Although it's been 18 years since his last regular gig as a jazz announcer on public radio, he sounded really great on his inaugural gig as an occassional host for the Saturday afternoon jazz program on WLSU.

I've been giving a lot of thought to Tinfoil+Raccoon in the three weeks that I've stayed away.  I'll be doing a follow-up post about the direction of this blog and about my general thoughts on the state of the biblioblogosphere. 

Two Too Many--A Halloween Story

  Two Too Many--A Halloween Story 
  Originally uploaded by rochelle, et. al..

This is the cover from my favorite Halloween book of all time.  Two Too Many (D. McKay, 1962), by Nora S. Unwin is the story of two lost black kittens who stumble onto a witch's cottage in the woods right before Halloween.  It was my all-time favorite book in grade school, one that I even checked out as a mature, worldy sixth-grader.  I loved it for the detailed orange and black illustrations, which made me feel like I was right there for the whole adventure.  I've also had a life-long fascination with witches and magic, starting with Bewitched, and liked to think that there really were gatherings of witches and such things as broomstick races.  Since then, I have befriended witches (sadly, none fly and they are pretty normal people) and it has been suggested by more than a few people that I am one myself,  (including Mr. Raccoon who was impressed that I was able to conjure him back after a several-year absence).  I have also counted among my companions several black cats (two at present) all as interesting as the cats in this book.

Nora S. Unwin, the author and illustrator was not a prominent children's author, although she did write and illustrate other children's books.  From what little I've been able to find out about her online, she appears to have been largely known as a wood engraver. Maybe this is the day I will remember to order a book about her on interlibrary loan.   

This copy of Two Too Many came into my hands when it was weeded from the children's collection at the last library where I worked. One of the librarians had remembered me talking about it, and put it aside for me when it was weeded. Every year I pull it out around Halloween and am just as charmed by it now as I was at Hudson Grade School.

Nightmare on Kane Street

Nightmare on Kane Street is the La Crosse Public Library's annual haunted house event.  Held at the North Community Library, staff transform the library into a themed haunted house (with lighter fare and games for younger patrons).  The Wizard of Oz was chosen as the theme for the 9th annual nightmare.  After a day of driving and helping my neighbor get settled into her new assisted living space, my only contribution to NOKS was as roving photographer.  Flickr set here.

Happy Valentine's Day

I'm letting Jason over at ZenFoPro give this year's Valentine greeting. Jason is my favorite blogger right now. He's a librarian, but I'm glad he doesn't write about that.  He's just a great, unbridled storyteller and risk-taker.

Happy New Year from Casa Raccoon

  New Years Baby Through Club Soda 
  Originally uploaded by rochelle, et. al..

Best wishes for a perfectly lovely 2006!

In My Book: Shameless Commerce Division

If you're looking for a greeting card to go along with the books that you'll be giving during the holiday, please have a look at Birdie's nifty In My Book cards, that become a bookmark with the simple rip on the dotted line.  They're beautifully illustrated on textured ivory stock.  Birdie is a regular LISNews contributor and good friend of the library community. If you are a person of influence, these also make great library fundraisers at the circ desk or for your Friends group.

Unthanksgiving

How Thanksgiving is viewed by some Indigenous Americans (via Agence France Presse).

"What we call it is Unthanksgiving," Bear Lincoln of the Wailikie Tribe told AFP as he waved burning sage to purify the area and ward off evil spirits.

"It was the saddest day for us. It was a big mistake for us to help the Pilgrims survive that first winter. They betrayed us once they got their strength."

Your Fairy Bookmother (Rachael Vilmaer) has a different take and responds to Deconstructing Thanksgiving, an essay that tears apart what most of us have been taught about Thanksgiving.

Should I stop celebrating Thanksgiving altogether? Oyate lists "Thanksgiving is a happy time" as number 11 on its list of myths about the holiday.  "For many Indian people," they caution, "`Thanksgiving' is a time of mourning." Well, what if it's still a happy time for me - does that make me a heel? What if it's a time of celebration, of remembering my blessings, and of reconnecting with family and friends? Even if I don't pay much attention to the old Plymouth Rock story, am I still playing the part of the oppressor by perpetuating an insensitive ritual?   

 

Happy Halloween!

Spike
Originally uploaded by rochelle, et. al..

With three black cats, it's Halloween every day at my house, but we do embellish when seasonally appropriate. Photo courtesy, Mr. Raccoon.  More H'ween pix over at Flickr, including the Nurse of Doom.

Witch in the Basement

On the day before Halloween, Mr. Raccoon was greeted by this shadow on the basement wall as he headed downstairs to tackle laundry. Sometimes, young raccoons shapeshift into witches when seasonally appropriate.

Lucky

Juniorette found a four-leaf clover in our backyard on Friday the 13th.  And she wasn't even looking for one.

Juniorina, my subversive-in-training, tempted the fates and attempted to "freak out" her skittish classmates by taking an umbrella to school and opening it inside. She also asked if she could take Lucy, our black cat, to school.  I told her that wouldn't be bad luck for anyone but Lucy, but that she was welcome to take the extension ladder and a mirror.