Meanderings – Page 42

Morning Meanderings… Librarian For A Day Experience

Published on February 26, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

Good morning! Happy Wednesday 😀

Yesterday afternoon I was able to go into the Library and learn about working the Reference Desk. This is part of a program called “Librarian For A Day” where Library Board members and Friends Board Members are invited to come in and see what it is like to work the library. It’s an amazing idea and really gives you a feel for what is really happening at the library.

My designated area yesterday was the Reference Desk. I was able to work with Laurel (who is awesome!) as she explained to me all the Reference Desk does. First off, we were surrounded by people with questions. I found this interesting as we have the computers set up for people to look up book titles and availability – they can find book locations from there and reserve them if they are not available at this time – However people really seem to like to talk to a person with their requests, which was pretty great. We assisted with checking on book availability, book titles, books by topic… From the Reference Desk we could see if perhaps we did not have the book but another library in our system did and we could reserve it for the person to be sent to our library.

The Reference desk is also the area where the new books that are to be shelved come in. This is interesting because our branch does not bar code the books, they go to a larger division of us that bar codes our purchases before they come to us. We then need to check them into the system. ( notice how I am saying we 😛 )

Laurel was able to show me how to check in a couple new books. We (there it is again) put wide clear shipping tape on the spines of paperbacks when they come to help reinforce them from wear. That is interesting! They also receive a red removable tape that says New! to let people know that this is a new book at the library. If a new book comes in and has holds on it, it then goes to the shelf for the hold if it is our Library, or into a bin to be sent to another library if the hold is there. Pick up and delivery to the other libraries in our group happens 4 times a week. In this case, the book that was just checked in was 12 Years A Slave, and that book had a hold on it for the Wadena Library so off we ( ahhh the “we” again!) went to drop it in the tote going to Wadena. As pick up was in the morning, Laurel said that this book would be in Wadena tomorrow for the person who requested it.

The lady who works at the reference desk does all the book ordering for the library by looking through magazines of what is popular and what is coming. What a fun job that would be!

I was only there a short time but it was worth it and I can not wait to do it again!

Morning Meanderings: Librarian For A Day

Published on February 25, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)23 Comments

Not going to lie… I am kind of excited 😀

Our Library offers an occasional opportunity to City Board Members and Friends Board Members to get a real taste of what it is like to work at the library. These LUCKY people will work behind the circulation desk assisting in checking out books, answering questions about library cards, and talking books. AND if they choose, they will also have an opportunity to work at the reference desk, researching questions that come up about books.

EGADS, does that not sound like fun? 😛

My shift starts today at 2 pm. Do you have any idea how long I have wanted to be behind that counter? I mean…. ummmm…. yeah, it might be great.

😳

If you are in the area stop in and see me 🙂

As for the rest of my day – I am home tonight, starting my running training program late afternoon and then moving on to a book this evening. Should be a wonderful day. 😀

Does your local library offer opportunities for you to work or volunteer there?

Morning Meanderings… Weekend Time Suck Vortex

Published on February 23, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

What a great low-key weekend. The winter storm on Thursday and Friday cancelled my plans and kept me inside, and the aftermath of slick roads and warnings kept me from going to the cities yesterday for a run with my friends today, I have completed some tiny tasks and enjoyed a nice quiet weekend. Quite a different feel then the past few weeks of activity.

I have spent time listening to audio while cooking and cleaning, and even some time reading. I updated the Wine and Words website and announced our author line up. I rented a movie for my husband and I that scared me (The conjuring). I napped. I talked with friends on the phone and ran a bit on the treadmill. I finished watching the second season of New Girl and I will miss them. I have barely left the house and that is ok.

Today I have also decided to lay low. The week will take off soon enough with dinner plans tomorrow night with friends, a library board meeting mid-week, and board planning for camp next Friday. March will bring a possible Polar Plunge, a ST Patrick’s Day Run, a girls weekend in Detroit Minnesota, the spring library sale, and a glow in the dark run.

I guess today is a good day to relax. 😀 Books, reviews, treadmill, and cooking are on the agenda. Here are the the books that came in my home this week:

Unveiling The Wine and Words 2014 Line Up

Published on February 22, 2014February 22, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)39 Comments

Ok this is probably stretching Saturday Snapshot a bit… but I am excited so PLEASE allow me this stretch just this one – puh-lease? *batting my eyes*

Wine and Words is the literary event myself, my co-chair Gail and an amazing team from the Friends Of The Brainerd Public Library debuted last year. We created an event around free wine and amazing authors just to see what would happen and it was amazing. (Wow! Can I say the word amazing any more times)? 😛

My concern this year was could we do it again? We have no budget so we ask our authors to come out of the love for libraries, a chance to talk to a group of book lovers, and an opportunity to sign books. I value people’s time, so we worked hard making sure it was a great experience for them as well, putting welcome baskets in their beautiful hotel rooms with fresh flowers, a Minnesota magazine, chocolates and a thank you card.

After plugging away on the author line for about 5 weeks, we have our authors! I am super excited to show you who they are:

Benjamin Percy is a Minnesota author who’s book Red Moon is now being filmed to become a TV series!

Minnesota Author, Nicole Lee Helget’s new book Stillwater is creating quite a stir! I can not wait to read it.

Catherine McKenzie is from Canada. Her first three books have won many awards and her new one, Hidden, will be coming out yet this spring.

Randy Susan Meyers lives in Boston Massachusetts. Her first two books have created quite the buzz (both are on my shelves!) and her third book, Accidents Of Marriage (due out in September) , will make an early debut at Wine and Words!

Barbara Claypole White lives and gardens in North Carolina. Her books also grace my shelves. The In-Between Hour is newly released and won a 2014 Okra award.

and back by popular demand…. our emcee, Lorna Landvik:

Lorna Landvik is a known comedian and author. Her books include Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons.

There it is! That’s our group! I am so excited. Tickets will go on sale in the next couple of weeks. We had some pretty amazing authors say they could not do this year but to give them a try for next year. Authors that excite me so much I will not even share who they are because I may jinx (does that still happen???) it. 😀 Now I switch into silent auction mode, looking for items for the auction.

If you have some time, check out the Wine and Words website, freshly updated. There are pictures from last years event as well as our authors and team. Also, be sure and check out other Saturday Snapshot posts! They are a fun way to see what is happening around our world 😀

Morning Meanderings… CANCELLED

Published on February 21, 2014February 21, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)33 Comments

Ha! As I read the title of this post I have to laugh. Or wince maybe… I am not cancelling Morning Meanderings although by the looks of Brainerd right now, I could…. I could cancel everything…. hope, joy… they are just a LARGE shovel of snow away.

GAH.

😯

We were hit yesterday afternoon with yet another snow storm. My Bunco fun was cancelled… today schools again are closed… I think this is the 5th or 6th time that schools have been closed this season due to either extreme cold or extreme snow. I don’t remember there ever being a year like this before. POO.

1ca — **The front porch this morning. GAH. The wind really blew it into a nice heap for me.**

**My driveway – is in there somewhere….**

I am supposed to be all the way across town and looking at camp applications at noon today. I am still debating if I am going to make the trek or once again have to postpone. We had this same meeting set up for this past Monday but once again the snow came in and caused poor driving conditions.

Have I mentioned lately that I am SOOOOOO over winter?

Today may just be a stay in, do a little reading, a little house work, website work for Wine and Words, and yes yes… the treadmill.

What is everyone else doing with their Friday?

BUNCO NIGHT!!!! What???? Help…..

Published on February 20, 2014February 20, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)5 Comments

Good morning … flowers and I don’t know… books I guess, for everyone. It is Thursday! My last work day of the week and tonight I play Bunco!

😯

My friend Laura apparently has this dark unknown side to her life that I was unaware of and she is on a Bunco league. (Visions of The Pink Ladies from Grease come to mind… yes, women that are THAT cool)

I didn’t even know there were Bunco Leagues. Probably more importantly… I have not played Bunco in years… and that was once… at church.

I love games so I am super excited to fill in as a sub tonight. Just this morning I looked through the basics of the game to refresh me… good grief…. WhAt? It sounds like it is fast-moving, you switch seats and partners a lot and well…

we will see.

Any Bunco players out there that give me any advice? Do not crack under the pressure…. It’s only a game and maybe leave the Pink Ladies jacket at home? 😀

Morning Meandering…. It was painful… but it is finished :)

Published on February 19, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)23 Comments

Good morning. 😀 After my heavier topic on censorship yesterday, I need something lighter. Well, ha ha maybe lighter is not the correct word in this case… after all this topic is 350 pounds of OUCH.

On Friday I went into our local sports shop and purchased a really nice running treadmill at a pretty significant deal with in store sales and I had an additional 20% off coupon. I was super excited to get moving on this one. Literally. 😛

With Valentines Day and then a busy Saturday as well I did not get a chance to work on it until Sunday late afternoon. The first step was I had to put wheels on the lower frame so I lifted the one side up, attached a wheel, went to lower it back to the ground and dropped the heavy metal track (probably at least 300 of the 350 pounds) on my left foot.

Does anyone else ever notice it is always on my left????

I took this picture right away and posted it on Facebook.

On Monday – I took these pictures:

It didn’t hurt a whole lot but my friends urged me to go have it looked at. On Monday afternoon I did go to Urgent Care where they x rayed my foot and found it severely bruised… but not broken. YAY!

Last night.. I finished assembling the treadmill.

I have not taken a stroll on it yet but I plan to after work tonight. My foot is still a little tender so we will see how it goes. I have a run I really want to do this weekend and I need to see where I am at with this . 😀

Yes yes… it is ironic to drop a treadmill on your foot… but if anyone is going to do it, it would be me. 😛

Morning Meanderings… Books In The House!

Published on February 16, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

Good morning! Popping in to let you know that a few books hit the mailbox and doorstep this past week…

There are some amazing titles here I can not wait to sink into!

I am off to get ready for church now but this afternoon this will be the project:

Scary right? 😯 I bought a better treadmill for running. Now I just have to put it together.. 🙂

Morning Meandering…. Board Games And Locked Out!

Published on February 15, 2014February 15, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)32 Comments

Good morning! Hope you are all having a wonderful start to your weekend. I am enjoying coffee that my cousin brought over. mmmmmmm

A few weeks ago I had went to our cabin with friends for a weekend of celebrating my friend Sheila’s birthday. It was the weekend that we went dog sledding – and this is the rest of the story of that weekend for this weekends Saturday Snapshot. (Check out other peoples pics at this link)

First up – gamers. I love board games and the new one I bought up for the weekend was Quelf. This is a great party game! There are cards like STUNTZ where if you draw a STUNTZ card you may be told to do something like “set the timer and find three things you would find in a first aid kit before the time runs out”…. or it may ask you to hum the star spangled banner. Many of the STUNTZ cards will have bonus points for the rest of the players if they react or do something that plays into your STUNTZ card.

QUIZZLE cards: Trivia cards from hilarious to impossible… or so you think 😉

ROOLZ cards: follow the ROOLZ on the card – if you do not, pay the penalty

SCATTERBRAINZ cards: gets everyone shouting , but you must stay on task!

SHOWBIZ cards: You are in the spotlight… shine baby shine – do what the card says 🙂

We had a blast with this game! Laughing so hard we were crying.

Then… that Sunday morning the plan was I was going to leave earlier than the girls as I had to be back in Brainerd, drop the dog off and go to a work retreat that afternoon. In order for me to do that successfully my plan was to leave at 10 am. I loaded my car with all my goodies – used my super cool electric starter to warm it up, threw my purse and keys in the passenger seat and went in to tell everyone good-bye.

When I went back out to my car to go – it was locked. My keys were inside. I was in Finland Minnesota… on a Sunday morning, no idea who to call, and my phone as well as my jacket, purse, and KEYS, were all inside the car. 😯

Thank God for friends to the rescue. While I was knocking on doors at the neighbor’s house, Farrah jumped on her phone and found me a guy out of a town near by who would come in about 30 minutes. It was closer to 45 minutes, but he did arrive.

As all good friends would do… they took pictures from inside the house of our progress of getting the car unlocked. 😛

I was late to my retreat in Crosslake Minnesota, but only by about 15 minutes. I made up time by not stopping on my way home at all and dropped the dog off quickly. It was about a 5 hour drive total from the North Shore to Crosslake. 😀

Morning Meanderings…. A Couple Of Winners :)

Published on February 14, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

Good morning… late morning but morning all the same. Honestly… I just want to read today but have a pretty full afternoon and possibly a dinner and movie thing with the hubby tonight.

Which reminds me…

♥Happy Valentines Day!♥

I have a winner to draw for the Literary Blog Hop that I participated in this past weekend. Using random.org the winner is:

Helen from My Novel Opinion

Woo hoo! Give it up for Helen!!!! YAY! She already mentioned in her comment she would love a copy or Orphan Train so that is what will be sent to her 🙂

I also had a bonus give away for my birthday, a $10 Amazon gift card. This one was for the awesome people who searched out my Easter Egg on the blogs and found it at Always With A Book (thank you Kristin for keeping the egg for me 😀 )