REACHING FORWARD 2009

THANK YOU TO THE LA GRANGE LIBRARY FOR SENDING ME TO REACHING FORWARD 2009.

THIS WAS MY FIRST INSIGHT INTO THE WIDE WORLD OF LIBRARIES. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT DEWEY AND HIS DECIMALS WOULD HAVE BROUGHT US ALL KICKING AND SCREAMING INTO THE 21 CENTURY?

THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER WAS MICHAEL STEPHENS FROM DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY. HE WAS A HYPER KINETIC BUNDLE OF INFORMATION. HE TRIED TO CONVEY THAT THE WORLD IS TRULY ELECTRONICALLY CONNECTED AND THAT OUR LIBRARIES SHOULD BE A PRIMARY REFERENCE SOURCE FOR THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE TODAY. (I AM SURE JUSTIN WILL LOVE HIM AS ONE OF HIS FUTURE PROFESSORS.)

I SIGNED UP FOR THE FIRST PROGRAM BECAUSE THE SPEAKER WAS FROM

LA CROSSE WISCONSIN. (MY DAD GREW UP IN NEARBY PRAIRIE DU CHIEN.) KELLY KRIEG SIGMAN IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE LA CROSSE PUBLIC LIBRARY. SHE WAS BY FAR THE BEST PUBLIC SPEAKER I HEARD ALL DAY. SHE WAS ENERGETIC AND ENTERTAINING. CHANGE HAPPENS AND AND WE NEED TO BE A RESPONSIBLE PART OF IT.

THE NEXT PROGRAM WAS BY THE NAPERVILLE LIBRARY - TITLED SELF SERVICE STRATEGIES. IT WAS NOT CONDUCTED BY PROFESSIONAL SPEAKERS BUT WAS INFORMATIVE.

LUNCH WAS YUMMY AND FUN BECAUSE LA GRANGE CO-WORKERS WERE ALL TOGETHER.

MY FINAL SEMINAR WAS MOST MY ANTICIPATED - CHAMPAGNE DISPLAYS ON A BEER BUDGET. THIS WAS AN INTERESTING AND CREATIVE PROGRAM. I WOULD LIKE TO DO THE TYPE OF DISPLAYS JOYCE BRANTNER SPOKE ABOUT AT OUR LIBRARY. I ALREADY HAVE MANY OF THE RESOURCES, I JUST NEED SOME STORAGE SPACE AND TABLES.

MY ADVICE FOR FUTURE ATTENDEES - DRESS FOR WINTER. IT WAS FREEZING. ALLOW EXTRA TIME. THE ELEVATOR IN THE PARKING GARAGE DID NOT WORK. THE ESCALATOR AT THE CONVENTION DID NOT WORK. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAD MY WORKOUT FOR THE DAY WITHOUT GOING TO THE DOG PARK!

THANKS AGAIN FOR A GREAT DAY!

PARTY ON APRIL FOOLS

WELCOME SPRING! HAPPY EASTER!

I DID IT. I HAVE FINISHED ALL MY LIBRARY THINGS. I HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION. HOW DO I GET SIGNED OUT OF EVERYTHING I SIGNED UP FOR?

I HEARD PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN TWITTERED. I DON'T EXPECT I WILL TWITTER AS I AM VERY SELDOM ON A COMPUTER, EXCEPT WHILE WORKING. I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF IM'S, EVEN THOUGHT MY FRIENDS ARE ALWAYS AFTER ME TO SIGN UP FOR THAT AND FACEBOOK.

THANKS FOR THE THE EXPERIENCE OF ALL OUR LIBRARY THINGS. IT WAS CERTAINLY ENTERTAINING AND ENLIGHTENING.

WITHOUT A DOUBT - THING 13 WAS MY FAVORITE. AND MAKES THE MOST OF SAMMY'S SENSE!

NOW CAN I HAVE A $5 STARBUCKS GIFT CARD?

I AM ALMOST DONE!

I am almost done with all my things. I was stuck on the one that requested 5 books from my home library.

First, I would have to be home and second I would have to find the (some) (any) books! They could be in the bookcase with the DVDs, VHS tapes, and baseball cards. They could be in storage. (Storage for what? Am I moving?) They might be under the TV stand with 9000 photos.

I am caring for my mom this week as she is recovering from surgery. All went well and she is fine.

When I get back home I will find 5 books and finished my last 2 things.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

WELCOME TO FEBRUARY.
ONE DAYS ITS HOT, NEXT DAY ITS NOT. TODAY WE HAVE A STEADY WIND WITH A CHILL IN THE LAND OF LINCOLN. TOMORROW WE MAY BE ROWING OUR BOATS GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM.

BUT ENOUGH ABOUT THE WEATHER. HOW ABOUT THIS BLOG!

COULD IT BE A COINCIDENT OR SHEAR LUCK THAT THE WEEK OF THING 8 I HAD 50 PLUS EMAILS FROM FRIENDS WANTING ME TO JOIN THEM ON FACEBOOK? I HAVE NOT JOINED BECAUSE I VERY SELDOM CHECK MY EMAIL AND CAN'T IMAGINE I WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO BE ON FACEBOOK EITHER.

I HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE YOUTUBE CLIPS. MY FAMILY WATCHED THEM FREQUENTLY DURING THE ELECTION. I WATCHED ONE ON PURPOSE WHEN I HEARD A RADIO PERSONALITY REVIEWING THE BEST YOUTUBE CLIPS OF 2008. IT WAS THE SARAH SILVERMAN/MATT DAMON CLIP. IT WAS FUNNY - BUT BE WARNED: ITS DEFINATELY NOT EVERYONES CUP OF TEA.

FLICKR WAS FUN. BUT CAN YOU SHARE PHOTOS ONLY FROM DIGITAL CAMERAS?

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

what a day

Here we are 17 days into the new year. The weather is extremely cold, and my life is moving slowly. I can't seem to get myself to repack and move all the Christmas boxes back to the garage. But, I am thinking about. AND, yes I can!

(I know I will have to think fast since I will have a house full of company tomorrow.)

I have made it through thing 7 and 8 by myself. I loved the list thing. It would be something I would use. I know my kids love facebook and myspace, but I don't have the time to sit at the computer and I don't want my personal information available to the world.

And this week the world will change, hopefully for the better, whether I sign up for facebook or not. I wish everyone health, happiness and a job.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I MADE IT THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS. HOW ABOUT YOU? WE HAD COMPANY THROUGHOUT FROM 23DEC-THROUGH 4JAN. WE HAD OUT OF TOWN COMPANY FOR OUR CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATION. WE RECONNECTED WITH OLD FRIENDS FOR THE NEW YEAR. WE HAD MANY OF OUR CHILDRENS FRIENDS OVER TO VISIT, SLEEP AND STEAL COOKIES.

I DID FINALLY DECK THE HALLS, DECORATED 3 CHRISTMAS TREES AND TRIED MANY NEW RECIPES SINCE I HAD SO MANY GUINEA PIGS! THREE OF THE APPETIZER RECIPES WERE FROM KRAFT.COM AND THEY ALL RECEIVED RAVE REVIEWS.

ITS BEEN A LITTLE HECTIC AND STRESSFUL. MY OLDEST DAUGHTER AND HER PUG HAVE A NEW APARTMENT. SHE WAS READY TO LEAVE US AND I AM HAPPY FOR HER. OF COARSE, I MISS THE PUG. I CRIED ALL THE WAY TO THE DOG PARK YESTERDAY!

MY HUSBAND LOST HIS JOB , BUT THANKFULLY STARTS A NEW ONE ON MONDAY. I HOPE HE MAKES A LOT OF MONEY REALLY FAST SO I CAN SPEND IT AS USUAL. I ALSO WANT HIM OUT OF THE HOUSE SO I DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT HIM FOR THE TELEPHONE AND REMOTE.

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I DID THING 5 AND 6. I DON'T FEEL AUDIOBOOKS AND PODCAST ARE SOMETHING I WOULD EVER USE. THE TECHNOLOGY IS ONLY FUN IF YOU HAVE THE TIME AND EQUIPMENT. I DO NOT HAVE A CAR, A CELL PHONE, IPOD OR HOME ACCESS TO A COMPUTER. I DON'T NEED OR WANT ANY OF THOSE ITEMS. I DO ENJOY MY BLOG IF ONLY AS A THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HO HO HO

HAPPY BARBIEDAYS TO YOU!

ITS 2 NIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND ALL THROUGH THE LIBRARY - ITS QUIET AS A MOUSE.

THIS WEEK HAS BEEN CRAZY AS USUAL - I HAVE MADE COOKIES, REARRANGED FURNITURE, HELPED MY DAUGHTER PACK AND MOVE, DECORATE THE TREE AND SET UP THE TRAIN. WHAT THE HECK IS EVERYONE ELSE DOING?

THE TREE HAS CAUSED QUITE AN UPROAR AMONGST THE FAMILY. I HAVE ALL BLUE LIGHTS, TINSEL AND VERY FEW ORNAMENTS FOR DECORATION. MY DAD AND BOYS WERE ALL FOR BLUE, BUT IT SEEMS A BIT MUCH FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

ITS ACTUALLY VERY BEAUTIFUL AT NIGHT. JUST DRIVE PAST MY HOUSE AND PEEK IN THE WINDOW!

I THINK I WILL TAKE A SURVEY WHEN MY 30 GUEST ARRIVE FOR CHRISTMAS EVE!

I DID MY LIBRARY HOMEWORK WITH THING NUMBER 5. IT IS MY OPINION THAT SOME PATRONS WOULD LIKE THE CONVENIENCE OF DOWNLOADING A BOOK TO THEIR PERSONAL LISTENING DEVICE.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!