My Library Qualifications

Last we spoke, I was probably still at uni. I now hold a Master of Library and Information Management.

I even work in a school library now.

But the most essential requirement for me to be able to call myself a real library person came after a solid week of headaches and one "I'm sure this isn't the reason, but I might as well get checked out" trip to the optometrist.

Considering that absolutely everyone in my family wears glasses - and my brother had to get them in primary school - I think I did pretty well to go nearly 28 years without needing them. They're only for reading right now, but I am pretty sure it is a slippery slope to full-time looking like a dork. Luckily, it's kind of expected if I want to work in a library.

So much to tell you

Hello imaginary internet friends. I feel like I have so much to tell you. Yes, well, that's what happens when you tell NOTHING for half a year or so. Today I will just tell you about work (fascinating, no?) and then maybe soon I will tell you all kinds of other stories.

I have a new job! And not just any job. A Full Time job. And it's also an Office Job. And an Into The City, On The Train job. It's only until next January, but hopefully it will look so awesome on my resume that many other people will want to also give me Full Time Jobs. The first couple of weeks I felt like my brain was going to explode, what with all the learning of new things, but it seems to be better now.

At the moment, I am training for it three days a week, but at the end of the month I will be training full time, and then soon I'll be on my own!

The other two days a week I am doing a placement for uni at a small digital library (also in the city), which has been fun and also good-on-a-resume-ish and also good to just talk to people who were/are on kinda the same path.

In addition, I am doing half a day of cataloging at a public library each week, for another uni class, which means on the weekend, since you went and got yourself a weekday job, didn't think that one through, did ya. Actually I did think it through, and it's all working out how I planned, as everyone has been extremely accomodating of the days I allocated to them, which is nice.

And it's all been so educational and everyone's been so helpful, I'm just really enjoying all this practical stuff after learning it all in lectures last year.

And then those last two will end soon, and I will just have my regular 9-5 job, five days a week. You know, as you do.

NaBloPoMo: October 2010, Day 13

I have some BIG NEWS. I have decided what I want to be when I grow up. Not only that, but I am taking steps to make it happen.

I have been accepted to uni! I will be studying a Master of Library and Information Services.

AND

I got a job! A casual job at a library, which will give me some library work experience to go with my new studies.

And you know what that means? (The second part of that, at least.) Battlestar Galactica Season Four! Oh yeah.*

*I told myself I couldn't get the fourth season til I got a "real job." This is not quite that, but since I have decided to study, a real/full-time job wasn't really a viable option anymore. That and I certainly wasn't waiting eighteen more months to watch it. STARBUCK!

Helpful Heroes

Yesterday in the car park at work, we were trying to put my new headlight globe in, and having minimal success, when a nice trolley boy came over and offered his assistance. In five minutes it was all done, and he wandered off back to his trolleys.

Today at work I put through an adidas Originals t-shirt for a young girl and her friend. We were all shocked when it came up at $11.99 and she was justifiably delighted. Unfortunately, we didn't have any left in my size, but wait, maybe the Darwin store does. It does! And now my dad will pick one up for me and a friend from work, and he will send it down to us out of the kindness of his heart.

He doesn't know this yet, but it will happen. Hey dad, I'll call you in a few, ok? We'll chat.

Heroes Of The Roads

Today at work my Crazy Manager was all, "I hope my tire isn't flat when I go home" and "It was on a lean" and "I noticed when I went to get petrol last night." Dude, last night? You went to get petrol, your car was on a lean, and you didn't feel the need to pump up your tires?

Turns out, she'd never done it before, and since my hero of a father forced me to learn how to pump up and change car tires the second I got my Ls, I could be the hero of modern women everyone by spreading the independence a little and teaching her how.

(Not to mention she got to be my hero by driving me home instead of me having to catch the bus then walk from Marion in the cold and the rain and the dark.)

Then on the way home we were stopped at some lights when we saw a car heroically not run over an old man, and cause a three-car rear-ending for his trouble.

PS: Today I bought a car and I will get it on Friday. Emma-From-Work (who is selling her car to me) is my hero!

Back In The Game

Patty [at work]: I don't want to play basketball tonight.
Me [totally kidding]: I'll play for you!
Patty [mostly kidding]: Ok, you go.
Me [totally sarcastic]: Oh, sure.
Patty [mostly serious]: Do you want to play?
Me [still with the kidding]: Totally!
Patty [totally serious]: No, really, do you want to play?
Me [terrified with a side of excited, and also in the habit of saying yes by this point in the conversation]: Okay.

And that was how I found myself playing my first game of basketball in years, and realising that no, I am not even in the same country as the state of fitness I hope to achieve. The treadmill is getting easier, but that does not mean I am ready to run a full game.

It was Social, however, so that was good; we had some fun. AND - Guess who got the first points for our team? And it was a three, too. (Guess who also got four fouls? Old habits die hard.)

I'm going to go lie down now. For about a year.

The End?

So it would appear I have become really crap at this whole bloggy thing. I have to confess it even crossed my mind that there would be a nice symmetry in starting and finishing something (say, a blog) at the start and finish of my time at Flinders. But no, there will always be topics which make me say "I wonder what the internet would think" and "OMG I MUST COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS TO THE INTERNET."

Today is not one of those times, unless you count the fact that I just had to tell you that I might not be posting so much anymore, but I thought an update would be nice, just to prove that I remember how to type things and hit publish with little regard for content. (Check, check, and hell check.)

I have been working at my sports store job four days a week. Which is nice. We're getting busier as everyone realises that their kids are demanding scooters and those wheely shoe things and whatnot, but we're all pretty much all friends now, and three of us went shopping and movieing yesterday even. (I saw Four Christmases twice in two days, what with having uni friends and work friends, not because it was that awesome. It was funny in parts.) I also got a job at a bookshop, the orientation for which is next week. That is also nice.

Graduation is also next week, and I still haven't found my imaginary shoes, but I think I've found some acceptable ones. Our work Christmas party is on this weekend, and I found a pretty purple dress for that so we're all set for the dress-uppy events.

Turns out I am invited to family Christmas, which means that I have to go Christmas shopping (dammit) for random relatives. What do you get for the boyfriend of a cousin you see once a year? Christmas shopping for the boys did not even necessitate a trip to Marion. I am that good (and lazy).

I'm still going to the gym on the days that I don't work. My treadmill routine isn't particularly hard anymore, and I've added some random balls and weights but I'm too scared to use any of the machines or go to classes because I will for sure look like an idiot.

Planning for our Great Ocean Road Trip is pretty much done, without contributions being made from all members of the travelling party, which is great. It will be awesome.

Summer had not kicked in for real yet, and I am not thrilled about this. Although it does seem to be putting in a little effort to overcome the clouds and rain, I would appreciate the sun's appearance more often and continuously.

I still read your blog, I promise, but I think I've left three comments in the last month. I am terrible, Muriel.

Get A Haircut ...

I don't know if I should be telling you this, because if I don't get it, it will be very embarrassing, and that would be bad. On the other hand, it probably wouldn't be, because if we just all don't expect much then we won't be disappointed or embarrassed. And on the plus side, we will have a really cute outfit out of it. One which would be totally wasted if I actually did get it. The job, I mean, not the outfit. I am definitely getting the outfit. Oh, did I not mention a job? Yeah, that's probably a good thing. Because there may not be one. For me, at least. I'm fairly certain there actually is one. There is definitely an interview. For me, even. I am fairly certain of that. That's where the outfit comes in, so you know I would remember that correctly. Rambling skills? I has them, for sure.

The Celebration Continues

Last night was the Hall Musical. I really didn't know what to expect, but I have to tell you, there are some hella talented people at Flinders. It was a murder mystery, with people from the Hall being killed one by one. It was written and performed and musicked and whatever elsed by Hallies, which makes it all the more impressive.

And it was hilarious. They were all playing different people from the Hall, and it was amazing how they managed to capture the mannerisms and sayings and things like that from each of their characters. Love. I also loved the Glossary, specifically some of the things they felt it necessary to include, such as "Ranga," "Tekkin 3," and "Facebook."

This morning was the Christmas Pageant, but I decided that a warm bed was better than an 8am start in dubious weather. Next year!

Tonight was dinner at Hoggies with the work crew. Very tasty, although not the best experience I've had there. Our drinks were sitting out so long that the cream melted, and no, it wasn't even hot inside. I do love me some curly fries, however. And after that we went to Bracegirdle's, which is a chocolate place at the Bay. One word: yummmmmmmm.



Celebration Day Three: Success!

That's all very well, BUT...

My boss: We're cutting shifts across the board. But! Everyone will be getting extra shifts during stocktake.

I won't be here for stocktake, as you well know. Plus, I'm going on this little trip, you may have heard about it. Kinda need the money.

The mobile tech guy: I'm just going to put you on hold. I'm not transferring you, I'm just going to put you on hold.

But you're still putting me on hold. Again. Like I just was, for twenty freaking minutes.

The flights chick: We'll send you your e-ticket when it's ready. It's fine to get it even the day before the flight.

I appreciate it's fine for you, but maybe you could think about my state of mind if I have to wait until THE DAY BEFORE to recieve a plane ticket for a trip I've been planning and thinking and obsessing over for months.

Worth My Time

Sometimes when I'm riding to work I think about how long it takes me. Say thirty-five minutes there, thirty-five minutes back. Some days I only do a four-hour shift. Four hours for an hour travelling time. Is that worth it?

The other day we had a staff meeting. Or, more accurately, "staff meeting." It turned out that an hour and a half of the three hour "meeting" was us doing normal work. When you combine that with the fact that only half the staff were actually there, my crazy-annoying cough that still hasn't gone away, and the fact that I had a not-yet-finished presentation to do at uni the next day, I'm thinking that no, an hour's ride (at night, in fricking freezing temperatures) was not worth it.

It's going to take me approximately a bajillion years to get to San Francisco from Adelaide. In actual Earthling time, that equals about sixteen hours. Bor-ring. Is more than thirty hours flying time worth twenty days of BlogHering, drinking, touristing, meeting, and summering?

HELL YEAH.

Wah. Am Sick.

On Friday night, I woke up every two hours. Almost to the minute. Turns out if you can't breathe, you can't sleep.

On Saturday, I went shopping. I thought I would be ok, and fair enough I didn't die. However, I had a very "meh, it'll do, no energy to decide" attitude going on, which meant I bought pretty much everything I tried on. On the plus side, they are all hell comfy.

Today, I went to work at 1. As it happens, my shift started at 11. Oops, my bad. I was busy though. Those Sunday morning Friends episodes won't watch themselves.

The bottom line:
1 x Annotated Bibliography done and handed in.
5.5 x discs of House season two watched.
1 x sooky Missy.

Dear Work

Dear Manager-Type People,

When you WAKE SOMEONE UP and want to ask them a FAVOUR, you might want to NOT MAKE FUN OF THEM in the process. And also, if you want to get really crazy, maybe you could apologise for waking them up.

Love, Missy.


Dear Payroll-Type People,

Yes, I did in fact want that extra time and a half for working on Easter Saturday, because, as it happens, I worked on Easter Saturday.

Love, Missy.


Attention Customers,

Our fold tables have been completely re-folded and look absolutely perfect. Please make your way over there at your early convenience and fuck them right up.

Thank you for shopping at ASS.

I need a ruler

So, I'm filling out one of those online application forms that I'm pretty sure goes straight into the spam folder, when I come to this:



"Achievements." Let's see.

ASS: I held down counter all by myself for a whole day while Counter Chick and Manager Guy were off enjoying themselves at the Big Day Out. I even managed to count the money right at the end of the night.

Darwin Childcare: I consistently put a kid to sleep who never ever wanted to go to sleep. I managed to convince a kid who never ever ate anything except sandwiches and hot chips that mashed potato was just like fries, here take a bite. I managed to think up a new hairstyle almost every day for the cutest kid in the world.

What is it that they're after, exactly?

Bitch, bitch, bitch

Man, people were annoying today.

I'm talking about annoying manager-type people who think it's ok to tell customers I'll put that through for them when I'm already on the phone and serving the original customer he was too slack to serve.

I'm talking about annoying manager-type people who ask me over and over again if I'm finished a task which hello, was started because I was bored, is not urgent, and has nothing at all to do with you.

I'm talking about annoying co-worker-type people who think it's ok to have fifty "bathroom" breaks a day, leaving me all alone with no-one in the world to help me. (Poor me.)

I'm talking about annoying car-driver-type people who yell at me to turn off my (unturnoffable) light then give me the finger. Repeatedly.

Luckily I can ride and flip someone off at the same time.

The Boogie Board Saga

Today I was tasked with finding two boogie boards, the same (particular) size, but in two different colours.

I was planning to try and get the both from one store, but if that didn't work, get one from one and one from another. And if I couldn't get that exact size, I was allowed to get one bigger. All good, right?

Wrong.

No-one in the whole of Adelaide had either of the two sizes I wanted. They had smaller, and they had larger, but that didn't help me because (a) they didn't want those sizes and (b) we had those sizes anyway.

Eventually, we decided that the size up would be ok, but of course, we only had one of them, and we needed two.

So, I started calling every single freaking store all over again.

Luckily, I managed to get one reasonably quickly, they promised to hold it, making me fall in love with them, and I went to Subway to buy celebratory cookies.

BUT THEN: they called back and said oops, wrong one. So I told them it was over between us. It's not me, it's YOU. You and your WRONG BOOGIE BOARD. And I'M going to eat ALL THE COOKIES.

So I went back to the phone YET AGAIN oh my lord.

Finally, FINALLY, I tracked down the right one, the right size, the right colour AND the right price, and organised a transfer.

That was my freaking awesomely good deed for the day, and my karma should be golden from now on.

Things I Don't Understand

So, I really thought that there was a Dr Cox rant from Scrubs about "Things I Don't Understand" and it was hilarious, and it would have been the perfect start to this post.

Apparently, such a thing does not exist. We will soldier on, regardless.

Sunday's Thing That I Don't Understand:

How it is that people can not lock the door to the change room when they go to try things on?

Unfortunately, this is not a hypothetical. Nor did it, like, happen to me today and I thought I'd blog about this random occurrence. It is not a random occurrence. People do it all the freaking time. I just do understand how they do it. You go in, you shut the door, you lock the door, you take off all your clothes and try on those Speedos that no-one in the history of the world really looks hot in. It's not that hard.

Feel free to chime in with your own Thing I Don't Understand or Stupid Shoppers story.

And I assume the quote I was thinking of was this one (all you need to do is change 'care' to 'understand' and it's all good!):

Dr Cox: I suppose I could riff a list of things that I care as little about as our last week. Let's see... low carb diets, Michael Moore, the Republican National Convention, Kabbalah & all Kabbalah-related products, Hi-Def TV, the Bush daughters, wireless hotspots, the OC, the UN, recycling, getting Punk'd, Danny Gans, the Latin Grammys, the real Grammys, Jeff that Wiggle that sleeps too darn much, the Yankees payroll, all the red states, all the blue states, every hybrid car, every talk show, everything on the planet, everything in the solar system, everything, everything, everything, everything, everything, everythingj every-everything that exists past present & future, in discovered and undiscovered dimensions! Oh, and Hugh Jackman.

And I'm back in the game

I'm pretty sure that it was Ikea that got you all so excited, but thanks for all the comments on the post that was actually about me possibly no longer facing unemployment.

Turns out, instead of doing a couple of hours voluntarily, I did a whole day (ok, it was a short one, and I'm still buggered from it). And I got paid for it.

Obviously, it was not going to be identical to other centres I've worked in, but it was still pretty nice. Lots of
Where's your hat?
Would you like milk or water?
I don't know, where did you leave it?
Pack away now please.
We do not throw toys.
Go and look for it.

OH, AND guess what I read?

Yep, my favouritest book. Haha, not even back for a day and I'm right back into it!

Who's a big girl then?

That'd be me.

After handing in resumes at the only two places I knew of, and compiling my huge list of Noooooooooooooooooooo's, I offered my services to another centre this morning.

And they accepted!

Well, pretty much. I'm going in on Friday for an hour or two to prove I'm not a psycho person, and then they'll put me on the relief roster. Whoo!

AND THEN...

We went to Ikea, to spend all the money I haven't yet earned.

And I bought a bookcase!

Yes, I am crazy, why do you ask?
No, I have no idea where it's going to stay for the next couple of weeks before I move out.
No, I do not plan on moving it down the stairs for myself. (I've been assured the delivery guys will carry it up for me!)

And I decided which wardrobe I want!

I hadn't really, but then I found my bookcase and only one of the two wardrobes I'd been considering matched it, so my mind was made up. It doesn't come in til the end of January, which is fine, cos that's when I'm moving, as long as it does come in.

OMG I just realised I have to move in a couple of weeks! Help!

That's it. I'm starting my own centre.

I'm looking for a job. And I mean actively looking now, not just being all, 'wouldn't it be nice if someone offered me a job?' I don't even mean handing in resumes at the two childcare centres I knew existed in Adelaide.

I pulled a list of all the licensed centres ... in South Australia. Twenty pages worth. (Incidentally, I was suprised at the number of Montessori schools here.)

Then I crossed off the ones that were logistically inappropriate. Mount Gambier was dismissed as being too far away. As were Port Pirie, Port Augusta, and Bordertown. Then I was really harsh and cut all the ones north of the city and south of Noarlunga.

(This would work so much better if you all knew where these places were. And that's why God invented Google Maps.)

AND THEN. I realised I had to cut out a lot more. Based solely on their names.

Most of them went [Suburb] [Optional direction indicator] [Optional 'Community'] Childcare Centre. Which is fine, if boring. But I have a problem with some of the others.

For example, "[Area] Community Childcare Centre - [Suburb] Campus." Campus? Campus?! They're not at uni. They're not even in primary school! They don't have 'campuses.' (Campusi?)

Oh, and "[Suburb] Childcare Centre - Baby House," I realise you have two separate 'campuses' and one is for the older kids and one is for the babies, but couldn't you come up with something better than 'Baby House'?

I'll let all the "Kindergarden"s go, because even if I think it goes creche-preschool-primary school aka big school, I know that you people down here don't talk good. What I will not let slide, however, is "Kindy."

Then we have all the ex-hippies who feel the need to add some sort of explanation about their environment into the name of the centre. Here's a hint: almost everyone has "Blossoms" "Blue Skies" and "Horizons." It is Adelaide, "The Hills" or "The Ranges" don't really narrow it down at all. Neither does "The Neighbourhood."

Plus, some of these names may lead to some confusion. I assume that "Rainbow" refers to the colourful things in the sky, and not to the fact that you're churning out gay three-year olds by the trike-load. Likewise, I may assume that the "Emu Children's Centre" is located somewhere with 'Emu' in the name. Of course, I may be wrong. Maybe they're bringing up the emu children.

I hate all the lovey-dovey ones, peace and harmony bullshit. "Parent Child" "New Friends" "Next Generation" and "Stepping Stone": give me a break. Conversely, I also don't like the ones who try to pretend all they have to do is watch the kids play all day: "Playhouse" "Playschool" and "Toy Box": do some work.

The final ones can be divided into three categories:

1. Nursery rhymes: "Goldilocks" "Pied Piper" and "Nanna's." Just ... no.

2. One who can't spell or feel the need to make a mockery of the English language: "Iddy Biddy Kids" "Kiddywinks" and "Kidz Club." If you can't spell, why should I believe you would be able to teach the kidz kids to spell? Or do anything else for that matter.

3. Grr. People referring to children at Little Anything, or any derivation thereof: "Lil Sprouts" "Little Rascals" "Little Treasures" "Mini Gems" "Precious Cargo" and "Tiny Tots." We know they're lil little. They're children.

And finally, things that make me go 'uhh...?' "Edge Kids Life." "Tri-Skills." Yeahhhhh nope. I have no idea.

PS: Should anyone at any of these centres have the urge to give me a job, call me! I was just ... kidding. I love your name!