A lull

[ceitfianna]

I have today off and seem to have really needed it as I'm currently not feeling that healthy. I woke up with my back hurting and my body feels a little wobbly. A lot of this seems to be coming from the stress I've been under and I'm still waiting to hear if I got the place I want to rent, which sucks. Being in-between and waiting is one of my least favorite feelings ever especially as the weather's starting to get colder and all my winter weather stuff is in storage.

Yesterday ended up being a better day than Monday as I was able to understand more of the context of what overwhelmed me. I think the school I'm working at doesn't have a good handle on how the tech they have is used, so I'm going to investigate it. Since its just weird that there are computers in the library and a tech lab, but the tech lab is only used sometimes and the tech guys bristled at the idea of students playing games on the expensive computers. That kind of make me blink and go, um, that doesn't make sense. Those computers seem to have specific programs on them for things like yearbook, but still, there are more computers there. If equity of everyone having access to a computer is key, get more use out of those. Also it turns out that the Minecraft, Facebook comparison was more about students using school resources, so its fine to be on Facebook on your own laptop or smartphone but not a school computer. It doesn't really make a lot of sense to me and I want to figure out how they think the computers should be used, as multitasking is what everyone does. I also asked Upper School kids to help me by supervising the Minecraft guys and I got a cheer from the Upper School meeting at the idea of getting them out of the library. That was an incredible moment of knowing I had picked up on something that needed to be dealt with and I've had four different volunteers, because this school is good on mentorship.

Another good thing that happened yesterday was I was able to sit and watch a marathon of SyFy's Face Off and my host didn't change the channel, so I could type and watch TV. It was so nice and reminded me just how much I want my own space again. Oh and at work I ended up getting fed by people. I think people have started noticing how I don't really grab lunch, because my host brought me leftover pizza and someone else gave me a bagel. I do try to bring snacks, but I haven't been able to get into a place of properly making my lunch and someone even said, you need to eat or else you'll get sick. And the college counselor told me that a lot of the kids really like me, I think what I said on Monday about I think the kids see what I'm doing more than the administrators and teachers is true. I'm pretty okay with that, there are teachers who talk to me about projects as other teachers see what I've done for them, then they'll want me to help. In terms of creating a library culture, having the kids truly understanding is going to be more powerful since they'll talk about what I'm doing and make it real.

At the moment, I'm sitting at one of my favorite cafes drinking mint tea after having chicken noodle soup and just enjoying having a day when I don't have to be on. I'll head back later in the afternoon and start my laundry before probably trying to sleep slightly early.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): There's a good chance that your rhythm in the
coming days will resemble a gentle, continuous orgasm. It won't be
stupendously ecstatic, mind you. I'm not predicting massive eruptions of
honeyed bliss that keep blowing your mind. Rather, the experience will be
more like a persistent flow of warm contentment. You'll be constantly
tuning in to a secret sweetness that thrills you subliminally. Again and
again you will slip into a delicious feeling that everything is unfolding
exactly as it should be. Warning! There are two factors that could possibly
undermine this blessing: 1. if you scare it away with blasts of cynicism; 2.
if you get greedy and try to force it to become bigger and stronger. So
please don't do those things!

Uncle Rob, this does feel kind of true to me, because I'm starting to figure out what works for me at this job. One of the things I love about being a librarian is that my day is full of variety and when it works, I do get a real thrill from it. Students applauded me yesterday and I still get a kind of silly smile on my face when I think of it.

I realized that I almost forgot yuletide, which I really shouldn't do. My three nominations were for The Seven Realms books by Cinda Williams Chima, Tommy and Tuppence by Agatha Christie and the Magids series by Diana Wynne Jones. All of them were approved, which was a nice feeling.

Comments

[silveraspen]

One thing I will suggest - and this is coming from someone who has a long history of forgetting to eat or to bring lunch and then not eating, and who has learned some hard lessons because of that -- do you have access to a freezer and microwave in the break room or similar?

Kashi and Amy's Kitchen both make a very good range of frozen/microwaveable meals that are ready in under 5 minutes, that are made of things that are healthy and not stuffed with preservatives, and that actually taste good. It has made a HUGE difference to me to be able to just grab one while I'm running out the door and then have that available at the office. It cuts down on prep time an amazing amount, and helps me make sure I'm operating with all proper resources.

Which in itself makes a huge difference in terms of energy levels and health.

So. Yeah.

[ceitfianna]

Yes, there's a fridge in the staff break room, that's where I refill on my tea throughout the day. I've seen other staff people with those and they seem great.

It will all be easier when I have my own kitchen to work out of as there's not a lot of extra space in the kitchen of the place where I'm staying and I haven't felt comfortable laying in supplies. My host keeps her kitchen so very clean, it kind of intimidates me.

[thebattycakes]

The thing with students and computers and Especially Facebook is, well, kids are dumb.

It's nice and all to get them into games that make them think and give them time to relax or whatevs, but when you give them that access on super fancy (expensive) computers, you invite things like viruses and trojans and all those other nasty critters that come off of social media sites and the internet. That is probably a major concern of tech guy.

If it's on their own devices, fine, but the school probably is, and should be, concerned about the threat to their stuff, because you know if it gets broke they're going to be the ones to fix it, not the student.

And there's the whole procrastination effect. How much time do you spend dicking around on the internet instead of doing what you're supposed to? Multiply that by a hundred for a kid.

So the school has legitimate concerns, and you'll need to find solutions or responses to those if you're going to push forward with this. Going in prepared with responses to the arguments they're probably going to pose is a good way to keep from being blindsided again.

Also seconding the frozen food thing. They take up almost no freezer space, and nuke pretty quick. No prep or mess required.

[ceitfianna]

Yes, I can see that and I do want to try and educate the kids when I can. That's why I'm looking forward to talking to the tech guys and seeing how much a sense they have of how computers and other devices are actually used.

Its also one of those issues where its not fully my job but I don't know what else has been or will be done.

[saphyria]

Saw these vintage ads for school libraries today, and thought of you.

*hugs* Hope you feel better, and things at work start settling nicely towards what you are trying to create there.

[ceitfianna]

Thanks, its just a lot of different things and I've ended up having to focus on stuff that I didn't expect.