No more grapefruit vodka for me

I wanted to let you all know that I am soon to be an employed librarian again. I officially accepted a job offer yesterday and my start date is 7/14. I'll be working at a mid-sized university about 30 minutes from where I've been living. I may decide to move closer to campus at some point in the future, but for now I'll be commuting.

This is in every way a better position than the one I had. Better pay, higher status, more opportunities for development, on-site access to caffeinated beverages, and a location in a newly constructed library that isn't run down or overcrowded (yet).

Job Hunt Statistics:

Time since first application submitted: 3 months
Total applications submitted: 13
Rejections, to date: 2
Telephone interviews: 3
In-person interviews: 1
Losers who never even sent a "we've received your application" notice: 4

Finally my knowledge of Japanese demons comes in handy

I had what was probably my most unusual reference question ever today.

A rather large and somewhat scary young man came in with a friend and asked what we had in the way of Japanese literature. This seemed straightforward enough, but as further conversation revealed he was specifically interested in the oni (demons or ogres) and more specifically was looking for artwork depicting such...because he needed some reference images for a tattoo.

I'm not totally sure if he wanted to GET or GIVE an oni tattoo -- he did have several large tattoos on his arms and legs already, but I later heard him talking to a student worker and it sounded like he actually works at a tattoo parlor.

This guy was lucky he came in on my watch, because I don't think anyone else on staff would have known enough about this particular subject to give him much help. He had a specific type of image in mind (ogre-like oni with large teeth), and said he'd already looked on the Web with no success. We probably spent 45 minutes looking at different books of Japanese artwork. I also found a few good images on ARTstor. None of the pictures were exactly what he wanted, but in the end he went away with 8-10 photocopies or printouts of scrolls and statues depicting oni. Oh yeah, and a Tsukioka Yoshitoshi woodblock print of a Japanese warrior on top of a giant skull with bulging eyes, which I have to admit would make a pretty badass tattoo.

What's funny is that this guy was from out of town, and apparently was not very familiar with the college at all. For all I know he was wandering from library to library looking for anyone who knew anything about depictions of demons in Japanese art, but I guess he finally came to the right place.

Like Oscars, but for books!

In case anyone wasn't up at 7:00 this morning to watch the live webcast from Philadelphia (because they have enough sense to get their sleep and just wait for the list to be uploaded), here are the 2008 winners of all the children's and young adult literature awards!

For the slightly less interested, the "big winners" were...

[drumroll, please]

Newbery Medal: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz, published by Candlewick;

Caldecott Medal: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, published by Scholastic;

Michael L. Printz Award: The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean, published by HarperTempest;

...and just because I love Mo:

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award: There is a Bird on Your Head by Mo Willems, published by Hyperion.

With all the award winners and honor books, I've got quite the reading list to tackle! Let me know if you want to discuss any of the titles!

Another one!?

Once again, our favorite family has grown!
17. I am speechless.

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.

Unemployment Things To Do - Part II

Get a really cool article in the Capital Times!

Congratulations Bloggers

I hope your first official day as Librarians and Archivist turns out to be grand! You have entered a profession that is honored, mysterious, and essential to the continued existence of human society. As professionals you are now responsible for all knowledge that has been and will ever be created. Thus, you must treat all knowledge with respect and care. If you do not you will receive punishments beyond your wildest imagination...pain...lots of pain.

I hope they showed you the secret handshake!!!

Who's #2?

Fess up, bitches. Whom can we congratulate for landing the second job? I think y'all should post announcements for these glorious victories.
Oh, and as a consolation to the unemployed come summer: my husband, who also looks to be jobless soon, says anyone who wants to go sailing on Lake Mendota is welcome to join him. Just bring beer.