Whoop! I'm ready for the work day to be over and I haven't even started it yet. I think I am anxious for the long holiday weekend. Looking forward to four days off, some relaxing moments and a slower pace.
I've started reading another Rachel Vincent book starring Faythe Sanders. Good Stuff. I was at B&N yesterday to have a chat with a friend (Kim, we need to get back to visiting on a more regular schedule) and after our snack and talk, we scanned the shelves. I saw several books I need to put on my to be read list.
But, for now, I need to have some breakfast and get ready to head into the office.
Happy Friday....oops, Thursday!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
guess I was on the news
Hubby came home yesterday with reports of several folks seeing me on the local 10 pm news Monday. So, we found the clip and watched it online last night. They showed about 3 seconds of me urging them to pass the budget and unfortunately that meant a tax increase. Okay, not so bad.
Not much else to reports. I woke feeling a bit groggy and tired. I need coffee and a newspaper.
Happy Wednesday.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
speaking my mind
Hubby and I hadn't planned on attending the third and final reading of our town's budget and property tax increase proposal. The phone rang about 4:00 and one of the alderman was on the phone. She called to make sure we were coming and she was quite upset about what could possibly happen at the meeting. We went. I filled out a comment card and when my name was called, I spoke, unprepared, to the Board and those gathered.
I thanked the Board for their hard work and reminded them I had addressed them weeks before at one of the public information sessions on this issue. I commented that audience contained some faces of folks who I hadn't seen before at the over 5 meetings on this issue and I congratulated them on attending and participating. It is important. I reminded the Board that I'm one of the 714 Town volunteers who donates a lot of time and talent to the Town, in my case, the Library. I thanked those on the Board who take an interest in the Library and said we don't see several of them over 'there' very often, if at all.
I spoke on how I love our Town and how we all understand times are tough. I spoke on how after 17 years of being at home, I've returned to work because times are tough and we need the money I can bring in to the family. I spoke on how taxes are an issue of perspective and that moving here from another part of the country, we felt we were getting a huge deal for our tax dollars and that after 8 years, we are still getting a huge deal. A lot of other places pay so much more and get so much less.
I asked them to support the budget and the proposed tax increase as I felt that it was our last option. Then I sat down.
Shortly thereafter a 'man'....I use that term loosely, leaned forward from three rows back and told me to get out a checkbook and pay his taxes then move back north.
Really. My hubby said, "That is not necessary." The guy sat back down.
The vote went 3-2 and the budget and increase passed. Ironically, on the first and second readings, the two alderman who cast nay votes voted in support of both the budget and the increase...they were the ones who actually initially proposed the .25 cent number and made the motion and the second.
As soon as the vote happened, the 'man' got up and stormed out with several of his friends. I was only one of three tonight who spoke in favor of the budget. The other five folks spoke against it.
Afterwards, several Town employees thanked me. Well, that is nice, but it wasn't really about them. It is about us. You get what you pay for and I like the life we live here. I'm willing to pay a little more for it. Other folks aren't. They are entitled to voice their opinion just like I am, even if they get a bit Ugly about it.
But, our Town is a small one, and I bet I hear more about the man who scolded me. I'm pretty sure he's in the Sunday school class of one of the gals who also spoke in favor! Now isn't that funny!!
Just some excitement for a Monday night.
I thanked the Board for their hard work and reminded them I had addressed them weeks before at one of the public information sessions on this issue. I commented that audience contained some faces of folks who I hadn't seen before at the over 5 meetings on this issue and I congratulated them on attending and participating. It is important. I reminded the Board that I'm one of the 714 Town volunteers who donates a lot of time and talent to the Town, in my case, the Library. I thanked those on the Board who take an interest in the Library and said we don't see several of them over 'there' very often, if at all.
I spoke on how I love our Town and how we all understand times are tough. I spoke on how after 17 years of being at home, I've returned to work because times are tough and we need the money I can bring in to the family. I spoke on how taxes are an issue of perspective and that moving here from another part of the country, we felt we were getting a huge deal for our tax dollars and that after 8 years, we are still getting a huge deal. A lot of other places pay so much more and get so much less.
I asked them to support the budget and the proposed tax increase as I felt that it was our last option. Then I sat down.
Shortly thereafter a 'man'....I use that term loosely, leaned forward from three rows back and told me to get out a checkbook and pay his taxes then move back north.
Really. My hubby said, "That is not necessary." The guy sat back down.
The vote went 3-2 and the budget and increase passed. Ironically, on the first and second readings, the two alderman who cast nay votes voted in support of both the budget and the increase...they were the ones who actually initially proposed the .25 cent number and made the motion and the second.
As soon as the vote happened, the 'man' got up and stormed out with several of his friends. I was only one of three tonight who spoke in favor of the budget. The other five folks spoke against it.
Afterwards, several Town employees thanked me. Well, that is nice, but it wasn't really about them. It is about us. You get what you pay for and I like the life we live here. I'm willing to pay a little more for it. Other folks aren't. They are entitled to voice their opinion just like I am, even if they get a bit Ugly about it.
But, our Town is a small one, and I bet I hear more about the man who scolded me. I'm pretty sure he's in the Sunday school class of one of the gals who also spoke in favor! Now isn't that funny!!
Just some excitement for a Monday night.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Queen of Kings by Maria Dahvana Headley
I really wanted to love this book. Rome. Egypt. Cleopatra. Mark Antony. Octavian. In some ways, the Cleopatra story has been done to death. No pun intended. But, I hoped this fresh voice and new twist on the tale would provide hours of reading pleasure.
The writing was fine. The story rolled out at a nice pace. Some of the scenes were really good. But, I never connected with Cleopatra and found myself enjoying the chapters featuring some of the supporting characters more.
This is a decent read, yet I finished a bit disappointed. The novel blends elements I truly enjoy: history, fantasy, mythology. But, for a character driven novel, something was missing. Bummer.
Monday has arrived after a very nice weekend. I feel well rested and ready for the week ahead. Looking forward to seeing some friends and some Friends at different gatherings. Looks like I will wrap June up in a good way!
The writing was fine. The story rolled out at a nice pace. Some of the scenes were really good. But, I never connected with Cleopatra and found myself enjoying the chapters featuring some of the supporting characters more.
This is a decent read, yet I finished a bit disappointed. The novel blends elements I truly enjoy: history, fantasy, mythology. But, for a character driven novel, something was missing. Bummer.
Monday has arrived after a very nice weekend. I feel well rested and ready for the week ahead. Looking forward to seeing some friends and some Friends at different gatherings. Looks like I will wrap June up in a good way!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
don't. like. surprises.
I've always lived under this misconception that I'd enjoy a surprise birthday party. I'm not sure why I entertain that fantasy as I really don't like surprises. I'm too much of a planner to enjoy the whole unexpected, out of the blue experience. Yesterday, just as I was about to leave, my expectation that the board meeting today would involve my sitting and taking notes while everyone else talked was, well, shattered.
I will be assisting someone I've never met in a presentation on the online learning library and the new courses developed and planned. Now, this is the work I've been doing for the past two months, but I didn't plan on being an integral part of the agenda item.
Okay. I know I will be fine. I can handle this and not make a fool of myself.....but, again, I don't like surprises. It is going to be an interesting day. I'm rather excited to meet these folks and put faces to names. And I suspect that dinner tonight will be a hoot.
In other news, it is now time to start recruiting a new bookstore manager. This, I fear, will be a monumental task for the current manager. I've offered some suggestions, and my assistance, but bottom line is, I'm not sure who will step up and take the reins. The novelty has worn off for those of us who have labored countless hours for the store over the past 4 years. It is now work, fun work, but still work.
Keeping my fingers crossed that the search goes well and a new manager is in waiting in the wings before July is out.
Off on my adventure......BOD meeting, here I come!!
I will be assisting someone I've never met in a presentation on the online learning library and the new courses developed and planned. Now, this is the work I've been doing for the past two months, but I didn't plan on being an integral part of the agenda item.
Okay. I know I will be fine. I can handle this and not make a fool of myself.....but, again, I don't like surprises. It is going to be an interesting day. I'm rather excited to meet these folks and put faces to names. And I suspect that dinner tonight will be a hoot.
In other news, it is now time to start recruiting a new bookstore manager. This, I fear, will be a monumental task for the current manager. I've offered some suggestions, and my assistance, but bottom line is, I'm not sure who will step up and take the reins. The novelty has worn off for those of us who have labored countless hours for the store over the past 4 years. It is now work, fun work, but still work.
Keeping my fingers crossed that the search goes well and a new manager is in waiting in the wings before July is out.
Off on my adventure......BOD meeting, here I come!!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Cleopatra as a vampire
One of the books I picked up at the library this week is the debut novel "Queen of Kings" by Maria Dahvana Headley. Lots of praise for this book from authors like Neil Gaiman, Peter Straub and Garth Stein. I'm on page 82 and have to admit that I'm intrigued, but not yet totally enthusiastic. The story begins with Cleopatra and Anthony readying for battle with Octavian. Cleopatra, suspecting she will need otherworldly assistance to defeat Rome's army, has asked her children's tutor to translate an ancient spell and summon the goddess Sekhmet to assist her and Egypt. But, the spell is incomplete and when the translation is cobbled together, something apparently, went wrong. Sekhmet appears and Cleopatra is changed, forever.
I keep flashing back to the Anne Rice novel, Queen of the Damned. Are Egyptian, vampiric queens all the same?
I will keep reading and find out!
I keep flashing back to the Anne Rice novel, Queen of the Damned. Are Egyptian, vampiric queens all the same?
I will keep reading and find out!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
jackpot at the library
Sometimes when I go to the Library I leave with a frown on my face. Other times I leave smiling from ear to ear. Yes, it all depends on what I've found to read. Yesterday I was smiling, skipping and feeling quite happy.
I found five books to read and have the promise of one more to come soon. Now stacked on my nightstand are a book about a vampiric version of Cleopatra, two mysteries set in Arthurian England, a book featuring Elizabeth I as a vampire slayer and the next book in the Faythe Sanders series.
Whoop! Lots of good reading ahead. I've stacked them in the order I will read them and have already started the Cleopatra book.
Comments and thoughts to come. My only disappointment is the lack of new YA fiction in the Library now. Not sure what is going on with that, but the shelves of new books has been reduced to handfuls of new books. Blech. Need to find out what is what in that department.
Happy Tuesday!
I found five books to read and have the promise of one more to come soon. Now stacked on my nightstand are a book about a vampiric version of Cleopatra, two mysteries set in Arthurian England, a book featuring Elizabeth I as a vampire slayer and the next book in the Faythe Sanders series.
Whoop! Lots of good reading ahead. I've stacked them in the order I will read them and have already started the Cleopatra book.
Comments and thoughts to come. My only disappointment is the lack of new YA fiction in the Library now. Not sure what is going on with that, but the shelves of new books has been reduced to handfuls of new books. Blech. Need to find out what is what in that department.
Happy Tuesday!
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