Bread Fishing

Earlier this week I had some leftover bread and I thought I might try to "catch" some fish in my pond. I threw out about 20 chunks and waited very patiently, for about 90 seconds. Nothing happened so I went inside to clean up my dinner dishes. A few minutes later I noticed large water rings in the pond. I knew it was fish so I ran outside to see if my awesome deductive reasoning skills were correct. I saw about eight huge fish eating the bread chunks. I ran back in the house to get more bread but when I got back to the pond the fish were gone. In the bread went anyway and I waited again. Another 90 seconds went by and I ran back in the house to get my camera. Here are the two best shots I got (and they are pretty bad).



I stayed on the deck for a while just watching these huge fish--at least 12 inches long. The water is black and the fish are black (I've been informed that they are probably carp) and it was getting late in the day so the pictures aren't really post-worthy but they're all I have to work with. I stood there sweating in the humidity until the last morsel of bread was eaten. Then, as I was leaving the house to run an errand, I saw three cats lazily walking down my driveway. I didn't have my camera with me then but I assure you they were cute.

'Shroom Garden

We've had a lot of rain here in Middle GA over the last week or so. Water poured out of the kitchen ceiling one night but I was ready with many large bowls and pots. The grass in my yard has gotten pretty thick again and something new grew as well.


This is my 'shroom garden from late last week




This is my 'shroom garden today. It's grown a good deal in just a few days. It looks like we'll get more rain today but we need it. My house has a tin roof so rainy weather is always a nice experience; the house becomes musical.

I'm enjoying the holiday; watching TV, getting things done around the house, trying not to think about my presentations later this week, and taking odd photos to place on my blog. All in all it's been a well rounded day.

I'm Gone For One Day...

Man, I was away from my house for one day and this is waiting on me when I walk into my living room.

I know it doesn't look that big in this picture but I placed a quarter next to it (seen below) for a comparison.



I grabbed one of my many dictionaries and placed that next to it as well (below). Pay close attention, it's a pocket dictionary. If the beetle were alive, or at least able to do more than twitch, it would probably be able to eat that dictionary.

Enough grossness. On to other news. I finally saw The Dark Knight this weekend. It was really fantastic. Lots of surprises and very long but definitely worth the money. I also saw Smart People this weekend. It was that little Indy flick with Dennis Quaid and SJP. It was pretty good. I'll be watching more Northern Exposure this evening. I can't wait to go to Alaska someday! I'm going to start saving some money each month specifically for that trip.

Work has been very busy and will be for the next couple months. I'm loving the stress and team work. I especially love having a purpose that I can sink my teeth into. I'm so looking forward to helping the faculty and students.

TV on DVD

Nothing has really happened since my last report but I have been enjoying more of my selections from Netflix. When I started my master's I stopped watching TV, meaning I stopped watching sitcoms and series' shows in the evening. I was glued to the computer writing papers and attending class when I wanted to be watching Desperate Housewives. As some of you may know I'm a huge Gilmore Girls fan. I was able to watch the series entirely on DVD rentals and finally by purchasing the series boxed set as my graduation gift to me. Now I am watching My Name is Earl. I watched the show when it first started but I started my master's that same year. Next, I'll start Northern Exposure. I'd love to go to Alaska and I thought I might enjoy the show (although I was informed that it was filmed in Colorado or somewhere but definitely not Alaska). Then I'll watch the only season of Freaks and Geeks. It supposed to be super funny.

(I can't believe I got all these pictures displayed in a row!!!)

Daredevil

This evening marks a momentous event. I have now hanged (hung?) every single piece of artwork I own. Those of you that know me or that have followed my blog may remember that this was a big issue of mine since December of last year. My apartment walls were very bare and for graduation I was given money specifically to purchase and frame artwork. I just put a picture very high on the wall in my living room.

This picture shows the artwork above my 5ft bookcase and a door (the door is nailed shut, I did not block the main door of my house with a bookcase). I left the ladder for scale. I stood on the top step of the ladder and the top of the bookcase. My intestines are still quivering but I did it!! I'm so proud. Also, I listened to the new Jason Mraz song I'm Yours like 10,000 times while I was hanging my artwork. Be sure to listen to it. It will cheer you, I promise.

Here's the youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHTsc9PU2A

New Look

I've changed the appearance of my blog a little. The layout is the same but the dots are gone (which I loved but was a little tired of) and the background is such a lovely color. I also changed the title of my blog from What's Up With Erin ? (a truly lame title) to Erin the Librarian (which is in no way lame!). I was going to keep the old title but when I went to familylobby.com to get the glitter text it would not include the '?' in the formatting. Strange. Any who, it's a little different and may be tweaked some more here and there over the next few days.

I'll be sure to post about my high school reunion I attended a couple weekends ago. Nothing cosmic but I'm glad I went all the same. I'm reading the first installment in the Grimm Sisters series' The Fairy-Tale Detectives. The series is wildly popular with the kids. Hopefully I'll be able to discuss it with a few of them and there will no doubt be a movie adaptation soon. So far the book is very cute. I went to see Wanted at the cinema two weekends ago. Please do not see this movie! The language was awful, the special effects were The Matrix on acid, the acting was pitiful, and I wish I could erase the whole experience from my mind. I did finally see Penelope, also with James McAvoy, and it was a very sweet movie. It followed the book closely and I would recommend it for family viewing or as a g-rated girl's night in. I still have not seen The Dark Knight but I've got my finger's crossed for this weekend. I just read an article about Tropic Thunder and I'd like to see that one as well.

The spider situation at 'Vermin Palace' is under control for the moment. I'll be sure to keep you updated on any future developments: wasps, tarantulas, komodo dragons, and other average, everyday, household pests.

Yikes!

So, have you ever wanted to see a dead scorpion up close? Yeah, me neither. Nonetheless, below is a picture of one in my kitchen. Inside. My. House.

It's a little over two inches. I am officially terrified living here!! For a while I called my rental place the "Spider Palace." Then, when I was woken at 4am by mice trying to chew through the wall, I dubed it "Vermin Palace." Now, I'll just call it Hell.

Pictures!

Here are some of the pictures I promised

This is my new yard

More yard

My pond

And a snake(the one not wearing the hat)!!! It's a king snake, which is a nice snake (cringe!)

My nieces, Lilian and Rose

My friend at her surprise birthday party

That's all for now!

Erin the Librarian

More changes are afoot. I've started a new job in a new town--and I am officially a Librarian! I'm the new reference librarian at a small yet historic junior college in a town that was once the capital of Georgia. I know I've pretty much spelled it out but it's fun imagining that I've stumped my readers (both of them). I get to teach a library orientation class, hopefully go to the classrooms to talk about our resources when research assignments are approaching their due date, weed and update the reference collection, attend conferences, travel to our distance learning centers, and generally be challenged each day and put my experience and master's courses skills to good use.

I'm super excited about this job and living in a (another) new town. I've rented an old 1837 farm house that has been renovated (not exactly updated but some modern conveniences have been made--indoor plumbing. That's it). It has a great view and lots of character. This past weekend was spent cleaning and attempting to hang my pictures. What a chore! My arms hurt in odd places and I'm still not 100% satisfied with the placement of the pictures in my dining room. Insects are also an issue right now. Professionals have visited the premises but have not defeated the overall grossness of spiders. I'm sure they are on their last legs (pun intended!) though and I'll be more relaxed at night once this happens.

In other news, I got to visit with my darling friend Frances and her precocious daughters (my nieces) a few weeks ago (will post photos soon). I finished Fearless Fourteen (so, so funny) and Undead and Unworthy and a few other teen books. Right now I'm listening to Northanger Abbey and reading another teen book Mira, Mirror (which is rather strange, I may not finish this one). I also saw Baby Mama when Frances was in town and finally watched the latest Rambo. It was surprisingly good and one of Stallone's better films (he only had about 10 lines). That's all the new news about me for now--again, I'll post some pictures soon.

@ your library

I'm not sure if most people are aware of this awesome theme that is currently being used at public libraries. Our summer program theme for teens is Metamorphosis @ your library featuring this creepy creature:

They have dozens more themes like Tune in @ your library and Explore your dreams @ your library. This is mostly used with the young adult and teen literature. I get alagraphics magazine through my ALA membership. The summer 2008 issue has all kinds of posters and bookmarks for sale.

These are some of my favorites:

If you've never read Unshelved, I strongly suggest you give it a try. It's funny to everyone, not just witty librarians ;-)

I'm a huge fan of X-men and this poster "speaks" to me.

This one is my absolute favorite. This is how I look when I'm at work and after work. I'm telling the truth, honest!

Anyway, the summer programs are in full swing. We had our henna tattoo workshop last week and it went really well with 20 in attendance--that's the most I've had at any event since I started them in January. We have one this month where we re-design boring T-shirts with cool retro stencils--I'm more excited about that one than the kids I think. Our last will be a theater makeup workshop. I spent a good part of my high school years, and a couple in college, involved in drama and I think this will be really enjoyable for everyone.

In other news, I saw the latest Indiana Jones installment and enjoyed it's foolishness. I also watched The Jane Austen Book Club which was surprisingly interesting. Don't get me wrong, I love, love, love Jane Austen's books but I've never been in a book club (I know, shocking) and I didn't really think it would grab my attention. Jane Austen in the title is the only reason why I requested it on Netflix. I'm currently reading Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson. It's subtitled as The Prequel to Anne of Green Gables. That's Anne spelled with an 'e'--if you've read the book you'll get my poor joke. This has been such a joy to read. I loved Anne of Green Gables. Wilson writes it as if she was the writer of the original series. The author of Scarlett could learn a thing or two from ol' Budge.