Right, so the big news is that the Veteran's Project is slowly gathering steam. I've gotten several submissions that are super cool, and more people are asking about it. I hope it goes well, I'm waiting until the last week to start throwing in my family. All those military types are my ace in the hole.

We're getting read for Halloween, bought the decorations and need to put them up. I'm planning out my costumes. I have like, seven for this year. I'm so excited it's a little ridiculous.

In your weekly dose of cuteness, I have a great little story:

A week ago or so I was working the morning shift and because I think the other staff member was on break, I was alone. I was straightening up the picture book section when a woman came in with her young son. He was babbling on about trains, I think perhaps she'd taken him to a library before that had a train set, and he was very upset that there was no train toy here at our library. She was clearly looking for some particular books and trying to appease him and his tone hadn't risen to shrieking yet, but was headed in that direction.

We actually had a new picture book about a little cat who loves trains taking his first train ride. I picked the book up and walked close enough to the boy to draw his attention, and just handed the book to him without saying anything. He looked at the book, and I'm not sure if he could read enough to recognize the words or just saw the picture, but immediately realized the book was about trains. He looked at me with a sort of amazed expression, like I was psychic. I doubt he'd noticed me while he was talking to his mother, or perhaps just didn't understand that people you are not talking to are still capable of hearing what you say.

He took the book with a smile and I went back to cleaning up, and he took the book over to his mother - who had missed the whole exchange - and she exclaimed over it with him and then they both sat down and she read him the whole story.

Moments like this I really enjoy, because it gives a child a positive memory about books, libraries and librarians. For just a few seconds, I was magical to this kid.

Ya'll, I want to see this:

http://www.strangetree.org/currentshow.html

I have two friends in it. I can make almost all the days it's playing. If anyone would like to come with me, let me know.

Well damn, I guess fall really is here, cause my feet are freezing!

After my fabulous weekend, where I got to see my cousin Heidi at a Sandburg game because she was home for Notre Dame, then went to ISU with my cousin Colleen and her daughter Olivia to watch Rosie play with the marching band, I also got to go to dinner at Aurelio's with the lovely Amity and Liss with bonus Kathleen and Mike, whom I haven't seen since I graduated college. All in all good times.

Also slightly chilly times, as when I returned home early from ISU (The cousins had a Girl Scout parade) I found my father getting ready to close the pool. So I donned my suit and hopped into the (mercifully, heated) water to vacuum it out, seal it up and cover it. So depressing, considering that more than half the summer wasn't fit for pool weather.

Yesterday I went to work in a sweater, and today I wake up and even my freakin' CARPETING is cold! I did, however, wake up early enough to get things done before work, so the sheets are in the laundry and I'm gonna go dig up my winter quilt from downstairs, the blankets I have in my room now just barely cut it last night, I don't want to wake up chilly again.

I have this problem where I stay up too late doing nothing important and then am too tired to post anything coherent.

Anyway, the continuing saga of how much I love my job:

Today was Pirate Storytime. I had two toddler sessions and danced them to a song called, "The First Mate is a Monkey" and then read "Bubble Bath Pirates" and we made parrots and by the time they left I could point to any one of them and ask "What does a pirate say?" and they would each answer "Arrrr!" at various volumes. 18-35 months old here folks, the mouths of babes.

I spread the geek, and I start young, this is how I roll.

My clothes for tomorrow are all laid out on my sister's bed (which is now sort of a dressing room for my mother and occasionally me) along with a few fun decorations for the library. I hope we get at least a few people, because I look hysterical (and a touch sexy) and it'd be a shame to waste it.

Also, today I had an elderly woman come in to ask about the Veteran's Day program. She took several forms to fill out after clarifying that the veterans could be present or past, and it was all right to include the deceased. She then told me the whole thing was a great idea. I have this warm feeling inside, it might be pride, but I'm keeping it locked up for it's own safety. We got our first submission via the website, and of course, it was a Marine. Gotta be first, those guys.

My new coworker is totally in the spirit as well, she asked today if I thought it would be ok if she brought a plastic skull from home as a decoration. We both lamented that it would be a very poor idea to bring my authentic Pirates of the Caribbean ride pistol that I got at Disney World. Everyone gets so touchy about guns in the library. :P Also, her name is Celeste. Mary and Celeste are hosting the nautical day at the library, and if you don't get why that's amusing, put your Wikipedia skills to use.

GO! THE DREAD PIRATE LIBRARY LADY COMMANDS IT!

Sometimes the judgmental way people speak hits me like a physical blow.

http://media.movies.ign.com/media/026/026452/vids_1.html

October 30th. It's like, a little Christmas gift the day before Halloween.

Sure, not everyone ages well, but who cares!

Also: Judd Nelson is an inspired choice. I mean, that's just hilarious.

My Mother had her first day back at school today.

Yes, I feel that she makes things worse for herself a lot of the time, but that does not change the fact that she did get screwed, and dreads returning to work at the end of the summer. Topped with that she had her book club today, which I wish she would quit, because she doesn't really enjoy reading books she doesn't choose, but she's staying in it because one of her best friends is part of the club, and that woman is fighting breast cancer again.

So she just walked in the door, and I, like a fool, let my brother know she was home so he could call her. So she's been on the phone with him for the past 20 minutes, sounding more and more exhausted with each passing moment, because I have no doubt, he's talking about things that upset her, and being an insensitive dope.

Stupid me.

www.weregeek.com

I blame you for whatever sleep I miss madame, it is entirely your fault.

Why is it so difficult for people to accept that I don't care to spontaneously spend the night at their houses? I don't mean hooking up, I mean when your friends are all, "you can just crash here!" You have to work in the morning and they act like it's no big deal to wash your clothes and go to work in what you wore the day before. I just don't get it.

I like my bed. I like MY bathroom. I like knowing where everything is and getting up to make my own breakfast. I don't mind crashing with people when I've made plans to, in fact I like it, but there's a reason I call the bag of clothes and whatnot I keep in the car my "emergency bag."

I don't know that I can recommend this book to anyone, because enjoying it is entirely dependent upon enjoying the style of it. It's entertaining for the most part, sometimes made me laugh out loud, but overall did not live up to my expectations. It doesn't straight up -suck- so much as it doesn't fully give itself over to the idea. There are moments when it is absolutely both Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but the majority of the book is rather either/or. It's a shame, if it had been entirely committed, it would have been the best zombie story since World War Z.