Snow White rejection

I wish some of my rejection letters would have come on pretty Disney stationary!

Super Hella Cool!

If you get bored, fast forward to 7:12.

Thursday night

What are the plans for Happy Hour this week?

More breaking news...

that perhaps only Shawn will be interested in....

If it's on BBC News, it must be true!

The Today Show - Covering the HARD news!

Over heard this quote from Meredith Vieira on the Today Show this morning.

"There's no other way to say it. The long national nightmare is over...Paris Hilton was released from jail this morning."

Thnk G!

Funniest diet pill post EVER

Ok, so if you don't like poo jokes, you should probably skip this. But if you do, and you want to hear one more reason that the pharmaceutical industry is evil, enjoy!

Non-early Birds Still Get Worms

Although my application process started much later than it should have, I'm happy to report that my attendance at the ALA conference appears to have paid off! (See job #8.5 above!!)

With two interviews (only one that I really wanted... but it's sure nice to be sought after), I just received my own happy job offer from my first choice library! While it's all contingent on my final transcript, it was a pretty great interview (despite being slightly flustered by one literature-specific question), and I am feeling majorly relieved that this is going to work out, even though it will take a little while to actually get into a library branch.

Now the Registrar's Office had better be prepared to talk to me on a daily basis. I'm going to stalk that office until they get fed up and hand over the transcripts they are holding hostage (a.k.a. haven't deigned to print yet).

Off to watch the Book Cart Drill Team Championships! See you later this week, bitches.

Thursday music?

I know some of y'all need to go home to wake up bright and early for work on Friday, but Locksley is playing at the Annex on Thursday night. Anyone interested in a little post-happy hour music?

this one's for you, theshortkatie

Sorry, this is Times Select. But in her column today, Maureen Dowd declares "Archivists are the new macho heroes of Washington." She couldn't be more right. I love me some archivist machismo.

the mcsweeney's version of my job search

Total applications submitted: 41
Rejection letters, phone calls, and emails received: 16
Percentage of libraries or information agencies that never deigned to confirm the receipt of my application (Not included in total number of rejections received): 25%
Letters received stating that position openings had been withdrawn after I spent several hours compiling elaborate application packages (See also: dollars spent on official transcripts): 2
In-person interviews: 6
Phone interviews: 2
Applications withdrawn due to the weird cataloging questions asked by the library director in an interview: 1
Times I was offered the privilege of checking out library books, in response to a question I asked about professional development opportunities (See also: withdrawn applications, creepy library directors): 1
Hours spent in prison (Not jail ala Paris Hilton, but prison. There is a difference): 2
Metal detector searches: 1
Level of embarrassment in discovering that my underwire bra set off the detector wand alarm, scale 1-10: 6
Body cavity searches: Just kidding. Or am I?
Pee tests: 0
Unsolicited phone calls Gabe made to the Library of Congress Human Resources Department on my behalf (Guess I can forget about working there. Ever.): 2
Score, scale 1-100, received on an application for a Librarian 1 position in a public library system: 45
Score, scale 1-100, received on an application for a Temporary Librarian 1 position in the same public library system: 15 (For serious, WTF ________ County? That bad?)
Dollars spent ordering official transcripts: $15
Miles driven between the Badger and North Star states in pursuit of library work: 2216
Hours spent crying on the phone to my mom: 4
Hours spent crying on the phone to my fiancé: 1
Library directors I met: 4
Percentage of library directors that creeped me out: 50%
Times I was asked to identify my personal weaknesses: 4
Times I almost shouted, “Cripes, my number one weakness is my total deficiency for mathematics. I can’t even fucking add without using my fingers. I can’t calculate an accurate gratuity on a ten dollar restaurant bill. Why the fuck do you think I went to library school?”: 1
Thank you notes sent: 17
Job offers: 1

If you want to know more about the offer, come to happy hour on Thursday and I'll tell all. Bitches better be there, it's probs going to be my last happy hour before I move.

what's next for Dubs? birkenstocks and black knee-highs? uggs? skinny jeans?

Honestly. The leader of the free world.

From the WaPo today: "...all those adults walking around in Crocs, going on about how comfortable they are, look like overgrown children. They are like the workday Peter Pans who carry backpacks in the city. Not grown-up leather backpacks, but the kind made of nylon with water bottles stuck inside a web of bungee cords and a canister of Bear Be Gone hanging off the side. They have mistaken their walk to the office for a climb to the summit of the Grand Tetons. Why, oh why, must people assimilate perfectly reasonable, functional and cheeky sports attire into street clothes?"

Happy Thursday

Could any of you bitches be persuaded to commence happy hour at an earlier than usual hour this week? Employment is not all it's cracked up to be: I need to be tucked in bed and sleeping before 11, and I probably shouldn't be more hungover than the undergrads who I boss around. So drinking at 5PM is my only option. Join me.

Should we try the Orpheum? Or go back to the good ol' Terrace?

I went to New York, and I got a job interview

Note: The two events in the title line share no causal relationship.

I am finally back from my almost absolutely fabulous trip to New York. I say "almost" because everything went swimmingly until I attempted to LEAVE the city yesterday afternoon. I think the only thing that needs to be said about this is that 24 hours passed between the time I arrived at La Guardia and the time I touched down in Madison today.

This was a very trying ordeal, and I am currently engaging in some serious M&M therapy to help me get over it.

List of famous people I saw in Times Square:

1. Paul Schaffer (crossing the street outside the Ed Sullivan Theater)
2. Eddie Vedder (probably not really him, but "a guy who looked like kind of like Eddie Vedder" isn't very exciting)
3. THE NAKED COWBOY!

Then about 30 minutes after I finally, finally, FINALLY got back to my apartment, I got a phone call to inform me that one of the places I applied at wants to interview me...as soon as possible! So I'll be getting back on a plane again in a couple of weeks.

I should probably stock up on M&Ms.

PS: I missed you, bitches.

Book Cart Drill Team in the News

Mo Willems linked a YouTube video of last year's ALA drill team performance on his blog, and Fuse #8 Production (my favorite kidlit blogger, now featured on School Library Journal online) picked it up! You are famous, bitches! :-) Now make them hire you.

cause the unemployed don't get no respect

and spend way too much time on the internets...

Ask...and God may answer

Last night this topic was discussed by those in attendence. And, I was accused of being too professional. Please note that Nelson Mandela will be pleased at the rumor. More SPICE would sure be nice! Maybe they can start the trend of neverending farewell tours!!

Iced Storm

By popular demand, here's the recipe for New Orleans Cold Drip Coffee from the NYT:

1 pound dark roast coffee and chicory, medium ground (I just used regular coffee - eds)
10 cups cold water
Ice
Milk

1. Put coffee in a nonreactive container, like a stainless-steel stock-pot. Add two cups water, stirring gently to wet the grounds, then add 8 remaining cups water, agitating the grounds as little as possible. Cover and let steep at room temperature for 12 hours.

2. Strain Coffee Concentrate through a medium sieve, then again though a fine mesh sieve. (I used a sieve, and then strained it thought a paper coffee filter which worked fine - eds)

3. To make iced coffee, fill a glass with ice, add 1/4 cup of coffee concentrate and 3/4 to 1 cup milk, then stir. To make cafe au lait, warm 3/4 to 1 cup milk and add 1/4 cup coffee concentrate.

Makes 8 cups coffee concentrate
Concentrate will keep in fridge for up to two weeks.

For those who want to be all authentic, I believe they have coffee w/ chicory at Whole Foods, or you can order it @ www.frenchmarketcoffee.com or www.bluebottle.com

Happy caffeinating!

And...

Who else just got a job?!?!?

Happy Hour Thursday

What time do festivities at the Vintage kick off tomorrow?

Our future in pictures

Unemployment Things To Do - Part II

Get a really cool article in the Capital Times!

Unemployed stuff to do

Does this photo looks familiar to anyone else?

Bocci in the park

There was talk of bocci ball in Wingra park, is anyone still interested playing this week?

How to Enjoy Sushi -- The RIGHT Way!

Andi recently asked me a question about sushi etiquette. I am embarassed to admit that I was badly mistaken in the information that I gave her, viz., that you can eat sushi pretty much any way that you like and there's no formal ritual associated with it.

Then I found this fine educational video and discovered how wrong I was! I am filled with shame at the thought of my barbaric past behavior. I'm amazed that no one ever openly laughed at my improper use of soy sauce. I don't even want to talk about the salt dish, it's too disgraceful for words. I only hope that by sharing this video, I can help others avoid such humiliation and dishonor.

Placement Specialist

My co-workers were at SLA this week. One of them got a card from a placement specialist who works mainly in the New York area, but elsewhere as well.

Donna Conti, Placement Specialist
DC On-Line Inc.
Career Resources
305 Madison, Ave. Suite 1166
New York, NY 10165
212-557-1152
donnaconti@earthlink.net

Saddest thing I've seen in months

Yep, Bruce Campbell singing Duran Duran to hawk Old Spice. The end is nigh....

how much do I hate the Bush twins? let me count the ways.

Did I already blog about this? I might have. Apologies. It's just that every time I see those stupid, privileged, misbehaving, all-noblesse-and-no-oblige First Twins in the news for their antics or for their "accomplishments," my blood pressure heats up and the words on my computer screen get all blurry and red. So I'm sharing my rage with you, friends. Check out the dumb cover of the stupid book that Jenna Bush "wrote" based on her "work" with UNICEF. And here's the description on Amazon. There's no link to submit a review yet, but when the book comes out this fall, I'm going to write a doozy.

Can we all agree, as new librarians (employed or not), that none of us will waste a collection development dime on this drivel? I'm not talking about censorship--I may even read this piece of crap book just to make myself miserable for an afternoon--I'm just saying that asshole First Twins with trust funds financed by torture, minority subjugation, and environmental annihilation (to name just a few offenses) shouldn't be allowed to exploit the narratives of people victimized by their father and grandfather in order to make a buck (I don't care if she's going to donate the profits; it's blood money) or to improve their reputations. Thanks, yo.

just like buying a new car:

The minute you drive the car off the lot (or the degree off campus) it starts to depreciate. Check out this story (on CNN!) about the faculty exodus from our alma mater.

We'll Say We Knew Him When...

I don't know what has possessed me to post so many reviews lately. Lack of comments should tell me you aren't interested. Still, you should be thrilled to know that Pitchfork Media (yes, that once magical barometer of all things musically cool that has since morphed into a mainstay for a certain part of society's consciousness...enough to be name-dropped on Veronica Mars) loved The White Rabbits' debut album, Fort Nightly. Go ahead, read the review, check out their myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/whiterabbits) and recall your fond memories of everyone's favorite former librarian turned rockstar drummer.

Knocked Up gets a rave in the Times!

The headline pretty much says it all. The article is glowing, despite the fact that it emphasizes "social commentary" over good old fashioned laughs.