Another Librarian to assist!

11/17/2023 - My last post was about leaving a library job that was very dear to me. Many reasons and most were health related. I left and entered the world of small business.

Small business. My shop is doing well, but my husband is unemployed. After months of searching and dipping deeper into our savings, I kicked around the idea of getting a part-time job. Bills, food, gas, that easy-to-use cc that needs attention... it all was adding up and my stress levels were getting out of control. I'm in the business of "Calm the FUCK down!" It was bad.

A very VERY part-time position opened up at a library only a ten minute drive from my house! I decided to apply for the position. I'm so glad I did! I just got off the phone with the Library Director and I was offered the position. I feel such a sense of relief. Bills are one of those things that are a trigger for me. I know it's due to the conversations I've heard my parents have. It was a problem for them. I've broken that cycle and bills and the conversations AROUND bills are not a problem for me. Hubby was raised differently. He has his own things to work through. So, my relief comes in now knowing I am being responsible. I am taking action to get my cc payments made. All is right in my internal world.

As for the shop - she's all good. I have my Assistant Manager to cover for me while I'm out. I have minimal rescheduling I need to do to accommodate being away. The only thing I need to think on is making sure I get to bed early so I can get to the Library on time on Mondays!

Once again, I get to be part of the inside world of libraries. I walked into the library for my interview and felt right at home. The scents, sounds, and the feel of the quiet was like going home. A new home, but a home all the same.

Things will not really change too much at the shop, but I will be experiencing less stress knowing I can get to the dentist, I can pay a bill that bothers me, I will eventually be able to put money away for a car and then be able to make a small car payment if needed.

Another book/journey to begin! How exciting!

No longer at the Library

 July 15, 2021 - My last day at the Library.

Oh how I loved this job!  But, things change. Things must come to an end.

I think my previous post was 2015. After that I opened up a small wellness center. This would grow to include a giftshop. It was a part-time small business. There were many situations, circumstances, and events that would happen between 2015-2021. All worthwile and mostly good.

I loved my job, but I had changed. I could no longer tolerate certain behaviors, situations, etc. I just didn't want to anymore. My beloved job was becoming anxiety ridden. Then, health issues took a front seat. Front & Center. I decided that life is just too short to not be happy. My husband and I went through some hard marital things, but we work through the muck & mire. Love and happiness are a choice. I talked with my family and I explained my heart. The next day, I went to Boss-Man and explained my health issues. Others didn't really believe in my health issues. Others were upset because they thought I said or did things that painted them in the wrong. None of that is true. They will continue to believe what they want. I don't care. It's all petty and not important.

I told Boss-Man that I no longer want to miss out on any autumn days by being stuck inside. My eyes were being affected by health issues and some things that were important to me at one time, no longer were. I gave him my final date of employment - a Thursday, because I wanted Friday off.

I'm the type that can walk away and never look back. I know I have to cut ties and burn that bridge or I will never keep moving forward. Some people can't understand that. I know myself best. I have to sever ties or I won't keep moving forward. I blocked almost all of my co-workers and never looked back. After a year, I struggled to recall last names of some of them. After two years, I have completely forgotten entire names and several last names. I would really have to think about it. Just recently, one of my antagonizers saw me from across the street. The person was with a group and made gestures towards me. I can only guess that everything they had to say was sweet and caring, but since they didn't come over or say hello, it is only a guess. It's been two years. I can't ever recall that person's last name! I guess they are still a fan of mine.

While I loved the job and the resident ghosties, I find that I have more encounters with the paranormal at my business. I'm finding that I love this business so much more than I knew was possible! If you are interested in other ghostie adventures that we may have, please feel free to look up my other blogs.

I wish only the best for my previous co-workers. I always had their back, but they couldn't believe that. I wasn't one to "gossip around the watercooler" and when you don't participate, you become suspect. Whatever. I still wish them all the best. We had lots of fun at times and that's what I choose to remember instead.

"Except for that one monkey. He's really grumpy." ~ book line!

Baby Cries in the Bookdrop

No, there isn't a REAL LIVE baby in the bookdrop, but we will regularly hear a baby crying in the bookdrop!! At anytime of day. At anytime of night. It is really CREEPY!

However, now we are hearing a baby cry while we are in the employee bathroom.  

Just the other day, my co-worker and I heard the baby cry while she was up front at the desk.... we weren't open yet.  She looked at me with a strange look - which I now call "That Ghostie Look" and I knew something ghostie happened. She asked me, "Did you just hear a baby cry out?" Yes, I did.

We really think that the something is distressing the babies and that they are reaching out to this group of Mommas.

But, bossman thinks it's the wind.

Giggle Fits

Last night, a co-worker had to have an unexpected X-ray taken. In a text, we asked her what they were looking for. She texted back, "A penis." We laughed like mad. What made it even more hysterical was when she came back to work. One of our Pages asked "What happened?" Being seriously worried, he asked, "Were they looking for a bone?" Well, since we were just talking about a penis, but didn't want to mention that to him -- he is a minor after all -- we laughed even harder! My sides were splitting wide open from laughing so hard.

Then this morning, we were shelving our "hold" items when the giggles started. I said something quirky about putting the items away and my beautiful co-worker gave me such a look! I laughed and laughed. Then I started to run out of air and my sides started to hurt.

So, I tried to stop laughing.

Yea... that ALWAYS works!! NOT!

Then this funny noise comes out of my throat because I'm trying so hard to NOT laugh... then I snorted.... then another co-worker started to laugh.... then another comment was made and more laughter erupted! It was hyterics!

ahhh.... my sides still hurt.

The ghosties like our library because of the good and positive energy we emit. This was good and positive energy at it's finest.

Mornings

I went to work early and the the stacks were quiet. I was the first one in, even before the cleaning crew arrived. The morning sun was streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows on the east side of the building and it was breathtaking. 

Not a speck of dust was floating through the air. Not a voice to be heard. It was just me and my favorite place to be. It was so quiet. Reverent almost. I had come around a corner to turn the lights on, but the sun was so glorious, I left them off.

It was so peaceful and calming.

Soon enough the cleaning crew would arrive as would be my co-workers and the tranquility would be broken in the busy-ness of the morning duties, but for now, the peace was all mine to enjoy. I just stood there in the morning light and sighed. I told the ghosties how lucky they are to be in such a wonderful place.... to be able to enjoy this regularly.

I didn't even take a picture for you. I was going to, but I thought the moment would be lost and that the photo wouldn't do any justice to the peace I was feeling.

No. Instead, I kept the moment all for myself and enjoyed.

Calf Shit

I swear it was calf shit.

The guy said it was cat shit. If it was, that cat was very ill and needs medications.

I was directly handed five books. Two of them were handed to me separately. Those two were fine. The next three were on one stack. All together. I took the first one off of the stack to scan, but noticed that something crumby was on it. As I'm going to wipe it off the crumbs, I'm noticing that the back is sticky. Then I noticed the smell.

I realized it was sticky and smelly and wet.... I grabbed the sanitizing wipes, but when I got it wet, the smell got even worse and then I looked at the other two books on the counter.  There was something oozing out from between them. I lifted them and WHAMO!!!!!

Stink to high heaven. It was terrible! I went to wipe it off, but it was just awful! I had to get that stench out of the way! I just kept wiping. The patron was still there and I asked him if he had any idea what was on these books. Without bothering to investigate, he just said, "I don't know."

His theory was that it was cat shit. Well, cats don't lift one book, shit on it, put it back down, lift the next book, shit on that, put it back down and then lift a third and extremely heavy book, shit on it and put it back down and squish and squash it all over the edges!

Well, I'll save the rest of the shit details, but suffice it to say, he was charged over $100.00 for the damaged items.

Nasty.

Never a dull moment.

Big book orders

Big book orders....

I used to order every week. That's a pretty good habit actually. 

However, recently, our system has begun the process to REMOVE some libraries from our system.  Because of this, our system will be down, in various stages, at various times.  Therefore, I have been ordering very large amounts of books at one time.  I want to get as much into the system as possible before we are down.