BEING A (WORKING) GUEST AT THE MCPHERSON SQUARE LIBRARY

Yesterday afternoon we got a call that the McPherson Square Branch Library needed an LA (Library Assistant) for the day.  Since Diane and Bob had gone the last three times when someone called for help, I figured it was my turn.  First I checked the calendar and made sure we had enough people at Richmond.

The McPherson Square Library (Google image)

My friend Paul is the LA2 at McPherson.  I knew I would have a good day if he was there.  But then again, I thought, he might be the one that was off and that's why they needed someone.

Fortunately Paul was there.  We had a good time catching up since we hadn't seen each other in quite awhile.  The guard, Corey, was there also.  He and I get along so well.  So even though it was a very busy day, it was an enjoyable day as well.

The McPherson Square Library is a beautiful building, both outside and in.  It has columns around the circulation desk that hold up a domed ceiling with a beautiful skylight.

The interior of the library taken from a Google image.

It sits in the middle of a beautiful park.  You would think people would want to go there.  But it is in a very poor neighborhood with lots of crime.  People don't want to walk through the park because there are a lot of drug addicts that hang out there.  The neighbors are making a big effort to clean up the place.  I hope they do.

Neighborhood children helping to clean the park.  The library is in the background.  (Google image)

But as I said it was extremely busy.  My back and legs hurt by the end of the day from running around so much.  I did 12 library cards for them.  Usually I do 5 at most so you can tell how it was.  Lots of kids.  Lots of people asking me questions I couldn't answer because I didn't know where everything was.


So I was really tired when I got home.  I ended up taking a nap before I made dinner.  It was an easy dinner -- pork chops, summer squash with Italian herbs and mashed potatoes.  Joe also had a couple of peaches.  He said they were good.


Another day of work this week and then the busy weekend.  So much on my plate this week.  But only 17 days till my Sisters' Week vacation.  I'm going to need a vacation by then.

WHAT I'M READING

FALLING IN by Frances O'Roark Dowell (2010)

 

About the book

Do you hear that?  The buzzing sound?  There it is again.  Bzzzzzz.  No?  Well, I really shouldn't have asked.  Most people can't hear it, anyway.  But, if you could, you'd think it sounds like you're teetering on the edge of the universe.  That's what Isabelle Bean thinks...and she's not that far from the truth.

Bzzzzzz.

You really don't hear that?

Well, it's actually not that great to have a buzzing in your ear.  It's distracting for one thing.  And when Isabelle starts listening to the buzz instead of, say, her boring teacher, strange things happen.  She gets sent to the principal's office (that's not so strange), but then, while awaiting her punishment, she tumbles into an adventure -- into another world that's a little bit different, a little bit Hansel and Gretel-y, a little bit like a fairy tale, which would be great, but...did I mention that Isabelle is an unusual dresser?  When she shows up in fairy-tale land wearing her favorite high, pointy boots, the fairy-tale people start thinking that Isabelle is a witch -- and not just any witch, but the witch!

From Edgar Award-winning author Frances O'Roark Dowell comes the unlikely story of Isabelle Bean -- an ultimate misfit, an outsider extraordinaire and not a witch!

My thoughts

This looked interesting, so I got it out of the library.  It took me awhile to get around to reading it and my enthusiasm for it had waned.  But I got my courage together and started in.  I didn't like it.  It was strange.  One of the weirdest books I had ever read and I just couldn't get into it.  I was at work, however, and lunch to boot.  I didn't want to leave the table to look for something else.  So I continued on.  About five chapters in I started to enjoy it more.  By the end of the book I was glad I had read it.  It's still one of the strangest books ever, but the story was intriguing.  I don't think it would be a book I would read again though.  I'm not even going to look for her other books.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

It's just another day except I am VERY sleepy.  I got about 3 hours sleep last night.  I am going to bed very soon.  Tomorrow is an early day for me.

But I wanted to show you the pictures of sunsets on two consecutive days.  The first is Sunday.

And the next day, Monday, at the same time and place.

 
You would never know this was the same sky in the same place.  I think that's why I take so many sky pictures.  It is constantly changing.  Never the same.  But always beautiful.