I have been back from Seattle for almost a week. It rained. Then it snowed. I ate seafood. There I said it. Is anyone really surprised about that though? I had some swanky scallops at this very popular, never-would-have-found-it, thanks-mom-for-the suggestion, seafood place called Ray's Boathouse. Stupendous views of the mountains in Olympic National Park, fishing boats crusing by in the twilight. Ultimate Seattle eating experience (unless you include eating fish cheeks at the Space Needle).

We checked out Archie McPhee, REI and played pinball at a creepy little dive called Shorty's (that checked our IDs since it was mainly a bar).

I did attend my conference. It was informative and gave me lots of great ideas on what to do at the library if I could get people jazzed about information literacy. First I need to get myself jazzed about it though. The big event for the conference was at the EMP/Sci Fi Museum. My personal favorite exhibit was the one of the Hatch Show Print collection. If you are unfamiliar with them, here's a link from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville showcasing some of their work. The event also had cupcakes.
We stayed at a cool hotel call the Artic Club Hotel. Very original. Unfortunately they are in talks to join Hilton so they will probably lose some of their cool. I'll post pics of the room when I get a chance. But let me just say that any hotel that has a frieze of walruses on the outside is a good place to stay.

As for my real life, th job is going on smoothly. Next week is Spring Break. Yay. I am working out the details of this mysterious thing called maternity leave. I might get as much as a whole semester it seems, which isn't too shabby. We have not bought a thing in preparation for the little butterbean, but my mother has gotten us a few things. That's okay.

In light of preparing for the butterbean's arrival, we have started to reevaluate the space issues in our house. I have also come to the conclusion that I do not have the patience for multiple, endless craft projects. I have made a list, checked it about ten times and have set a goal of finishing all half-finished craft projects before the butterbean gets here. This is not as daunting as it sounds and also includes baby annoucements, which will probably be the only after-baby thing I have the patience for. So if you are on my good crafty side expect something interesting from me soon!

My job as glorified office supplies clerk.
I spend most of my time refilling the stapler at the Ref desk. There are two statements (not questions, mind you) that come out of students when they are stapling something. the first one is "This one is out of staples." the other statement is... nothing. They try the empty stapler, say nothing and then use the electric stapler about a foot away. It leaves me wondering which one of these situations bothers me most. The fact that I am here to supply everyone with staples (and highlighters and binder clips and index cards)or the fact that I am sitting here, waiting, hoping for a question and getting nothing. Hrmph.

I had a comment from Lulalu about people in the bathroom talking on cell phones. This happens to me on an almost daily basis. I try to flush the toilet as much as possible and make it impossible for them to carry on a conversation. Sometimes the coversations are extremely loud and juicy and gossipy and I am kind of curious, but not enough to quit flushing and such. I do think that the folks who are actually using the toilet and talking on the phone are the winners in this weird wacky contest.

Other than strange, typical library stuff, things are progressing along nicely. For those of you that do not know yet, M and I are going to have a little butterbean in early July! Butterbean is our word for baby if you couldn't figure that out. OUr parents are excited, my mother has gone crazy over the whole thing, but I think in the end it will work out well. We are not going to find out the gender so don't ask!

I am working on marketing events for the library. The best one I have come up with so far is something based on this little gem:



Just replace the word Playboy with Library and you get the idea. Unfortunately this will be wihtout an appearance by Sammy Davis jr. :( Sid Caesar is still around though...

I'm heading off to Seatlle tomorrow for ACRL. Wish you all were going to be there!