Tinfoil + Raccoon

It's the End of Meteorological Summer: T+R back from vacation

On the morning August 31 radio weather report, I heard that summer was over.  Those pesky meteorologists cut my summer fun short by three weeks. Hearing this bit of news was quite liberating, however as it gave me a tangible excuse to explain my barely-there online presence since last spring. 

I suddenly realized that I would not have to offer the following excuses for my dearth of posts:

• I was painting my kitchen which
• Set off acute neck pain
• (which was triggering serial killer migraines)
• all of which led to physical therapy, exercises that made my kids laugh, not enough massage appts, and an understanding of why Dr. Gregory House is such a fan of hyrdocodone (not to worry--I still have half the bottle left, after a month).
• Darn that genetic legacy of melancholia;
• I was busy dirtying as many plates as I could, so as to use my new (and first-ever) dishwasher;
• My riverboat cruise was fabulous, dahling! All 90 minutes of it.
• Juniorina had my laptop all the time;
• I had so many good books to read;
• The dog ate my domain (not quite...note to self: time to renew).
• I spent all my online time on Twitter, Facebook, and the much beloved Library Society of the World HQ in Meebo Rooms,
• when I wasn't debasing myself by feverishly checking for new posts on TMZ.com, which is merely a gateway drug for PerezHilton.com;
• Perimenopause is a hoot, let me tell you;
• I become a devotee of the Sunday NYT Crossword (one completely completed);
• I really didn't feel like writing about my profession,
• or my personal life;
• and that I was finally working on a serious writing project (in my head).

Of course, it was solely due to my delusion of importance that I felt like I owed anyone an explanation about my Barely Blogging status. (Although it was nice of a couple libraryland friend to note my absence.) But, now, thanks to weatherpeople everywhere, all I need to do is offer you this postcard saying, "Vacay over. Had a wonderful time, wish you'd been here."   So, here we are.  Happy Fall, y'all.   

Five Things Meme

Apologies to Sylvie f(who Rambles on) for my delayed reaction to her two week-old tagging of me for the "Five Things You Don't Know about Me" meme. And Sophie over at Pop Goes the Library just tagged me today.  I'm just now scouring over two weeks of unread Bloglines posts and feeling the meme love.  ;-)

So, there are the things you don't know about me, and the things you don't know about me.  You will have to buy me at least two drinks to hear the italicized version.

I am a shameless name dropper.  There, I said it.  The thing is, the names I drop are not necessarily people that everyone knows.  I'm not sure I have five droppable names to do a complete meme on, but I will try.  It seems that some of these are recycled from a previous meme for quite some time ago.

1. I went to high school with John Le May, who had a co-starring role on Friday the 13th: The Series. We were on the state championship speech team for Normal Community High School in 1980 and pretty good buddies. We still keep in touch every year or two.
2. Also from the same high school and speech team--David Baker, who played Marcellus Washburn in the 2003 remake of The Music Man. I see from IMDB that he has had quite a TV career since then. Sex and the City! 
3. I am listed in the acknowledgments of David Foster Wallace's book, Everything and More: A Compact History of Infinity, for providing research assistance.
4. I had lunch with Andrei Codrescu right before he appeared at the President's Program at ALA's Midwinter meeting last year and brought up the "C" word. He only hinted that he was going to "piss off the librarians," and I couldn't imagine where he was headed with that.
5. I guess that's it for name-dropping. So, here are some bonus random tidbits to make up for the low-level name-dropping: I've never smoked a cigarette in my life; one of my girls was born at home; I was bedridden for seven months during sixth grade with rheumatic fever, and.....um....I dated my first cousin when we were both consenting adults (I was adopted and didn't meet him until I was in my 20s--that makes it better, right?). 

Shout-out to the Warrior Clanmembers

It's been a little over a year since I posted a story about the big Harry Potter v. The Warriors series battle in my house.  The Warriors is a fantasy series about clans of cats, and is the third most popular series over at SFBookcase.  It was one of those look-look-aren't-my-children-amusing posts that I thought might amuse a few librarians or other moms of darling children.  But, more than a year later there's seldom a day that goes by without at least a couple comments left on the post from a Warriors fan.  Some days, there are as many as 6-10 comments left.  Almost all the fans who post use their Warriors clan names such as Goldenfur, Featherstar, Fireclaw, Fernface, and the all-caps SHADOWHEART. At one point, I offered to set them up a message board or their own blog, but there wasn't huge interest. In fact, they are not much interested in me at all, and I'm not sure many of them even know that they are posting to a blog about librarianship. I've gotten a few emails from fans who thought I was the series author, Erin Hunter, and even became online friends with a very bright and interesting member of the community who asked me for reading recommendations.   

Several in this cobbled-together community point others to sites, message boards and fanfic that they've created, and I'm still puzzled as to why they still keep coming back to this one post.   On rare occasion, they'll talk a little bit about their interests and lives outside of Warriors, but the comments are largely focused on the books themselves, or even moreso, the clan characters they've created. 

I thought I had found a way to look at comment stats on Typepad, but can't find it, if it ever existed.  The last time I tried to count, I think there were roughly 500 comments.  That was a couple months ago, so I'm guessing there are at least 6-700 comments by now. Pasted into a Word document, the word count for all the posts combined is over 34,000.  That includes post author and date information, but still, I'm impressed.  It's a year-long conversation that just keeps going and going, and I'm pleased to be the salon hostess.

Not that they will even read this, but I'd like to thank the Raccoon Clan of Warriors for making themselves at home and creating such a hospitable environment.  (And for making this blog look so much more widely-read than it actually is!)   MEOW!    

Happy Birthday to Online Raccoon

I was awoken this morning at 8 a.m. (on a Sunday, no less) by a dinging coming from Mr. Raccoon's side of the bed. We both jumped and he assured me that it was okay--it was just coming from the pulse oximeter attached to his finger (loaned by clinic to test for sleep apnea).  It was enough to wake me up, so I went downstairs to make coffee and get the paper.  The next time I went upstairs, Mr. R realized that the sound had come from his cell phone.  It was notification that today is the 2nd birthday of Tinfoil+Raccoon.  Not bad for a project I thought wouldn't keep me interested for more than a few weeks.  I also noticed that sometime in the past week I hit 100,000 views. Not a monster stat, not significant in the blogosphere, or even the biblioblogosphere, but it tickles me.  So, yay, it's my birthday!  Now--where's my cake?

Of Raccoons, Facials, Faces and Fascia

When I first started this blog, I was obsessed with checking the Google searches that brought people to the site.  After awhile, it became much less amusing, with few surprises.  Today, though I randomly clicked on a referring link and found this search: "how do i get the raccoon out of my facial."   All I could picture was a raccoon going to town with a jar of Pond's cold cream.  After a bit of pondering, I determined that the searcher had a raccoon in his or her fascia.  Michael McGrorty, was that you? 

Speaking of raccoons and facials.  While doing my morning ablutions, I noticed that I was growing sideburns.  I mean, they've always been there--everyone has hair on his or her face--but these were a little longer than the previous downy fuzz. Maybe they've been that long for awhile, but this morning, they were back lit perfectly.  I suppose it's a matching complement to the one wiry hair that I have to pluck out of my chin every few months. At first, I was vaguely alarmed, but quickly embraced it as another one of those precocious perimenopausal things.  And, far from being distressed, I'm sort of tickled.  In a few years, with some dark rinse, I might be able to launch a career as a Vegas-era Elvis impersonator.  Now I'm wondering if there is a goatee in my future.  I need a new affectation, and I would love to have a cone of hair on my chin to stroke thoughtfully.  That's so much more artful that furrowing my brow.

I'm hoping this is not TMI and I debated whether or not to write about it.  I decided, however, to offer it as a public service message to women of a certain age who know that a body changes as it ages, but are blindsided by all the little details.  As classes of 5th and 6th grade girls are told every year, it's perfectly normal.

Changes: The story continues

Hi all!  I can't thank you all enough for your comments and support on the blog and via email and IM about my announcement of a possible life change coming my way.  There's already been meaningful change because the hard part was making that initial paradigm shift.  I know that I have a lot to offer, that challenges shouldn't make one automatically dive under the covers, and that there are many positive things that could come from moving my family from what we've always known. I'm selling it to my girls (and myself) as a great adventure.

In terms of specifics, I've decided to err on the far side of caution.  No details about location, key players or specifics from the institutional process.  I want to be respectful of my potential employer--not just the person I've been in contact with, but with all potential colleagues.  Here's what I am willing to tell: I've been offered an interview for a public library management position on March 20.  Thus far, the process and contact have been entirely positive, collegial and astoundingly expeditious.  I've participated in a few academic searches, so have been pleasantly surprised about the fact that I sent my application less than two weeks ago, and already have an interview on the calendar.  I already like how this library works!  I'll write more, soon, about the sort of homework I've been doing to prepare for this project, starting with my cover letter.

I'm feeling very confident about my qualifications and suitability for this position, and don't feel particularly anxious about the interview. Now that I've opened the door, I'm ready to bust out. It's been a trick to balance my extreme enthusiasm and high expectations against not only the possibility that it might not work out, but the possibility that it might!   It's given me new admiration for those of you who have gone through multiple job searches.

"Things do not change; we change"

Things do not change; we change.

I wish I'd found this quote by Henry David Thoreau a little sooner. No matter, I guess. I doubt that it would have done much for me, as change doesn't happen until a person is ready. I'm here to announce that I am officially ready. To be less cryptic:  I'm job hunting.  And not within the city limits of where I've lived, more or less, for the last 40 years.  I live in a community where the main corporation moves employees around like chess pieces.  I've always marveled at patrons who introduce themselves as new to the community.  Moving has always seemed unthinkable to me. At least until my girls were older (like gone older).  But, via a rather Rube Goldbergish process, the switch was flipped and I was able to see a new path, or rather a trailhead with several paths. There's no guarantee that I'll be moving, but having made this huge decision makes me feel like there's movement in my life. At least I'm studying the map.

I have one application out for a job that sounds wonderful, in a place that looks wonderful, near friends who are wonderful (and who I've missed). Aside from making an inventory of all the things I'd need to do should I need to sell my house, I'm not counting any unhatched chicks just yet.  I've also not decided how much to write about specific searches. I'm leaning toward exercising restraint and keeping a lid on particulars.  Of course, if you know how to get in touch with me, I'll spill the beans.

Thanks to all of you who have provided advice, support and cheerleading the past few weeks. I'm a lucky gal to have you all.

Catch Me over at Teleread

My friend Ted, for whom the category "Sorry Ted" was created, will be happy to know that I won't be cluttering up Tinfoil + Raccoon with any more boring ebook posts.  My colleague David Rothman, ebook warrior and proprietor of Teleread, asked if I'd consider posting any ebook-related content at the Teleread blog.  Makes sense to me, and talk about moving up in the world!  Thanks, David. 

Meme of Four

Thank goodness I've been tagged by Miss Quiddle (vote for Heidi!).  I was starting to feel like a memeflower.  2/13/06...Looks like Librarian in Black tagged me almost two weeks ago. I tol' ya I was behind in blog-reading!

Four jobs I’ve had:

1. Archaeological assistant (I dig digging!)
2. Beauty salon assistant (I was going to apprentice with the manager and start my career in the exciting world of beauty and fashion!)  I decided I was done when assigned to shampoo the head of a woman with the coarsest hair, ever. I could see that I was torturing her, and myself, and resigned shortly thereafter.
3. Administrative assistant in a university provost's office (I cried the first two weeks)
4. Nanny (my two kids, 2 & 4, and my charges, an infant and a 4 year old)

Four movies I can (and do) watch over and over:

1. Animal House
2. Napoleon Dynamite
3. Sixteen Candles
4. Any of the Harry Potter movies

Four places I’ve lived (please note that these locales are located in a three-county area and that I have never lived any place outside said three-county area):

1. Bloomington, Illinois
2. Normal, Illinois
3. Champaign, Illinois
4. Garber, Illinois (which is too small to even show up on a map. I think it's population last I checked was 12 or 6).  It's the address of the family farm where my parents were living when they adopted me.

Four TV shows I love:

1. That 70s Show
2. Colbert Report
3. Daily Show
4. Anything on FoodTV

 Four places I’ve vacationed:

1. Grant City, MO (population 63)
2. Hannibal, MO
3. Las Vegas, NV (for a Vegas wedding, complete with fist-fight at reception)
4. Cleveland, OH

Four of my favorite dishes:

1. Good mac & cheese
2. Pork in green chile sauce
3. Whatever is on an Indian buffet
4. A good, fresh peach

Four sites I visit daily:

1. Bloglines (and the 80+ feeds contained therein)
2. Drudgereport.com
3. Weather.gov
4. myspace.com

Four places I would rather be right now:

1. Honestly, there's no place like home. I'm usually pretty happy being at home.
2. New Orleans, pre-Katrina
3. The "Holy Shit ArsoNick Scum's 30th Birthday Spectacular" at Paulie's tonight, but I'm too old and tired.
4. In some high-end hotel room with a really good bed and TV and excellent food close by.  In a temperate climate (San Diego was really pleasant in January). 

Four books (or series) I love:

1.  Most Sherman Alexie (Reservation Blues, not so much)
2. Donna Parker series
3. Ruth Reichl's foodie memoirs
4. Catcher in the Rye

Four video games I can (and do) play over and over:

1. I'm not qualified to answer this since I don't play video games. I've tried, but my children shake their heads in shame, and politely offer to finish games for me because, as they say, "you suck at this, Mama."

Four bloggers I am tagging:

1. Check back later...I don't know who's left!
2. http://connectinglibrarian.blogspot.com/ (Aussie librarian)
3. The Elfin Ethicist
4. Wormtalk and Slugspeak
5. Loriene Roy (Loriene's Campaign)

Catch up: Books, Flatulence and Grant-writing

I'm still catching up from Midwinter, or at least it feels like it. As soon as I got back, I had to dig into a grant narrative. It's the sort of work that I live for--last-minute, adrenaline-soaked productivity in which I brainstorm, send a million emails, bounce and reject ideas, talk outloud to  myself, laud my brilliance, curse my procrastination, extract information from our business manager that I should keep handy, but only need every 18 months or so, and beg for new outside partners.  For once, I had it done before the very last minute, even letting it sit on my desk for a day, in quadruplicate, before Fed-exing it.  Now it's gone and in the loving hands of the grant readers at NVR.  It's a good one, too! 

So, here's a smattering of this 'n that, a fluffy placeholder to assuage my guilt over not regularly offering more substantial content.

I used to regularly check referring URLs for absurd searches leading to the blog, but soon learned that it was the same ones over and over (hats, raccoon food, hermione granger xxx). Yesterday, during a random check, I got a really good one via a Google search:

How to handle a personnel situation where a staff member farts loudly and often

Now, that's not a good situation for anyone, not the offending pooter or his or her colleagues. While I'm pretty sure there's no solution offered within the contents of this blog, I hope that the air is, er, cleared soon for all concerned.

I have been reading quite a bit, and was finally able to pull myself away from my obsession with 1950s vintage doctor/hospital romance.  I've read through section 3 of the OCLC Perceptions report, and for any of you who have been talking about how the library is not just about books, I suggest you have a look-see at what everyone else thinks.  It really gave me pause and I hope to find time for sufficient mastication. It's a lot to digest.

Katharine Hepburn: The Untold Story by James Robert Parish was plucked off the shelf to satisfy my voyeuristic tendencies and fondness for celebrity biography. I was curious to see what new material Parish could possibly offer on Hepburn, and was not disappointed.  The book is part of of the Advocate Life Stories series, which issues biographies of high-profile GLBT people.  I'd read tidbits over the years that hinted at Hepburn's very secret private life, but Parish gives a more fully developed treatment of Hepburn as a bisexual woman and questions the whole premise of the Hepburn/Tracy romance-of-the-century story. There's also plenty of transgender subtext. As an editor, I was a bit distracted by some less than careful writing and editing, but overall, it was a worthwhile read (okay....I devoured it in two days).

Last night, I started Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen, by Julie Powell.  It's funny and entertaining enough to have kept me reading while nursing a migraine last night, and I imagine I'll polish it off tonight.  Powell has done what many of us only dream of--parlaying a blog into a book contract. In the midst of an extended life crisis, Powell decided to cook her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year, recording the feat in a blog called the Julie/Julia project.  It works as angsty, comedic memoir, and it's great food writing for those of us with ill-equipped kitchens and unsophisticated palates.

My favorite title among recent reads, however, is Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach. Never mind that it was a perfect book for someone who has had to quelll the urge to stop by the coroner's office to see if there were any autopsies going and and whose favorite reference book is Mosby's Medical Dictionary  (notable for its lavish color photos of disease and injury).  Somehow, Roach managed to write a book about a gruesome, squirm-inducing topic that is impeccably researched, devoid of sensationalism and damn funny.

I owe David Rothman a treatise on literacy, from a public library perspective. Branko Collin, an occassional contributor to the Teleread blog, wonders about the assumptions made about the definition of literacy and adds:

Other assumptions seem to be for one, that literacy is good, and for another, that anybody supportive of the digital library must support literacy and denounce any observed decline. But why should digital libraries support a product that patrons do not want, and why should they support patrons that are clearly not interested in the product on offer?

Anything I can pass along?