Who is this guy?

Yeah, that's me; though these days the glasses are smaller and the goatee is shorter.

I'm at home today listening to music and cleaning up the house. First it was the new Ben Harper - Both Sides of the Gun. Great stuff. Then it was classic Jimi Hendrix - Band of Gyspies. Good live recording. Great guitar. Highlight for me was "Changes." Now I am spinning a relatively new artist, Lizz Wright -dreaming wide awake. This is a lovely CD.

Had the exterminator here today. We've had this dilemma. Part of my philosophy of living is "to be kind and gentle to every living thing." Yet we've had carpenter ants in the kitchen. I'm afraid they are eating the walls. Is it still killing, if you hire the killing done? I'm afraid it is.

We have mice outside my office at the library. They are delightful to watch. We have a large bird feeder in an atrium. The mice help eat the seeds that fall to the ground. It is a whole ecosystem on display. The mice were discovered by the public on Wednesday, our Storytime day. Some of the mothers freaked out, talking about disease and vermin. The staff got involved...fears of disease, mouse bites, droppings; the general mess and nuisance. I got an assistant director involved and discovered he and I think along similar lines. Ultimately, we have decided to place bait inside the storage areas inside the building but leave all the area outside alone (though we may give the public the perception that more drastic means have been employed). The plan is to let nature take its course. My supervisor told me there have always been mice in the atrium. We don't want to poison or birds or chance hurting larger raptors that may come to feast on well-fed mice. He told me he used to have a hawk visit and hunt from the railing outside my window.

Sunflower

I was supposed to grow a sunflower for a contest. I waited all summer. I think the birds or a rodent got my seed. have you read The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss? Well, Dylan didn't want me to fail, so he drew me a winning entry.

The seeds for the new contest are called the Kong variety. We should get multi heads on stalks reaching to the heavens.

Momento Mori...

Momento Mori. A drawing by my son. He might have been 4. I have always been fascinated by Skulls. Here, he indulged me.

Getting perspective...

I was helping my stepdad move his elderly mother's things from the retirement home she has inhabited the past 10 years or so. He has worked as a shop owner and traveling salesman among many other occupations. He shared an anecdote I thought was really helpful in thinking about those patrons that cause us grief or difficulty in our busy days. Here goes:

"He who knows not and knows that he knows not is a 'not nose."

It gives a little perspective, I think. Here is the original:

Men are four:
He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool. Shun him.
He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a child. Teach him.
He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep. Wake him.
He who knows, and knows that he knows, is a leader. Follow him.
Attributed to :: Omar Khayam, 13th century philosopher
Also attrributed to Lady Burton.

Jim also told me that someone once said to "Eat a live frog every morning. After that, things can only get better."

First Post...

My dear friend Susan, fellow librarian and advocate for kids (of all ages) has inspired me to create a blog. I am looking forward to sharing thoughts of librarian ship; as well as anecdotes, frustrations, rants, etc. In addition, I will share music reviews, forays into creative writing, pictures, and whatever else floats thorough my transom.

If you want to see her wonderful blog, go here: http://cowgirlonafence.blogspot.com