What One Librarian Enjoys

No, this blog is not about baseball. Well, not exactly.

Last week was my husband’s birthday so I decided to make the ultimate sacrifice and take him to a Mariner’s game. I thought it would be a good one, because the Mariners were playing the Red Sox and my husband hates Red Sox fans. He thinks if they love Boston so much they should move back there. What I didn’t realize was that my husband had already given up on the Mariners because they were so bad this season. But it was an unusually lovely evening, and we were only 17 rows behind 3rd base so it was a good night for baseball. Until we lost.

I say “ultimate sacrifice,” because I don’t really like sports, except figure skating, and there is some debate as to whether or not figure skating is really a sport. So as I sat watching the game wondering when was a suitable time to excuse myself to go get more food (or something!), my mind wandered away from Jose Lopez and Ichiro to what I really enjoy doing.

“Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo...” (Twilight Zone theme)

I love walking on the beach at sunset.

Who am I kidding?

It’s more like pink fuzzy slippers, a bowl of Ben & Jerry’s and the latest episode of Survivor.

Or receiving my new cookbook from "The Cookbook of the Month Club" and trying five or so of the dishes in one day only to be thanked for my efforts by my husband saying, “Who’s going to eat all of this food?” and “What were you thinking? (That part kind of ruins the enjoyment).



I also enjoy attending outdoor concerts at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery. You can take your hamper of food, purchase wine and settle in to listen to some great music (Jackson Browne, Moody Blues, Harry Connick Jr.) as the sun goes down behind the trees. However, be cautious with the purchasing of wine part, as it can result in not remembering the second half of the concert. (I’m not talking about myself, of course, but it could happen).

Going to the gym is enjoyable as long as I have a juicy celebrity biography to read while on the elliptical (currently reading Andrew Morton’s take on Angelina Jolie – yum).




I enjoy long walks around Capitol Hill in the fall at dusk.
I love kicking up the damp leaves and ending the evening with a meal at one of Seattle's great restaurants and a night cap at the Fireside Room in the Sorrento Hotel.

Speaking of great meals, I not only enjoy eating, but I enjoy reading about food, especially restaurant reviews. I have a list of all of the fine dining restaurants in Seattle that I want to try, and I have been making my way through them alphabetically. I made it through "F" before I was forced to sidetrack because of so many new restaurants opening with names that began with letters between A and E. What's a foodie to do?
Latest discovery: Cascina Spinasse. The Chef, Jason Stratton, was selected as one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs for 2010.





Musicals at the Fifth Avenue Theater and the Paramount.
I have loved musicals ever since watching Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald movies with my Dad. To pass on the tradition, I weened my daughter on them too. Though I have seen many of the “new” musicals like "Spring Awakening" and "Bombay Dreams" (awful), I keep coming back to the classics – West Side Story being the best of the best.

Reality TV.
Duh. I’m sure you have figured that out already. I Tivo so many programs that when I had engagements two days in a row last week, I had to do a reality TV marathon to get caught up. My husband has to watch too if he wants to spend any time with me. The other night while deeply embroiled in the latest episode of Project Runway, where there was a discussion about tailoring and whether or not Jackie Kennedy would have worn the garment, my husband asked me, “Are you surprised I watch this program with you and care about this stuff?” Sad.

When my kids were teens, I thought it would be cool if they got on Real World. Now that they are educated and in the workforce, I fantasize about one of them being on The Apprentice. Then I would at least see them every week. Even sadder.

(But, hey, can't you just see him on "The Apprentice?")



My dogs.
I especially enjoy dressing them up.




I enjoy traveling to Europe, especially if I am in business class on the plane. Ah, pasta in Bologna, lighting a candle in Notre Dame Cathedral and a kiss on the Millenium Bridge in London. My version of Eat, Pray, Love.



Oprah.
Even though I am currently mad at her for inviting her “most loyal fans” to her opening show this season and didn’t invite me, probably the most loyal of the loyal. I have been there from the very beginning and invoked her name from everything to disciplining my children to what to eat on my diet. I have followed her from the days when she had programs like “Sixth Graders Gone Wild” to her adoration of Marianne Williamson and Elizabeth Gilbert. I have also repeatedly entreated her to devote a show to librarians since she loves teachers so much and loves to read. But noooooo. I have been there through it all and to add insult to injury, she gave all those wannabes trips to Australia. Oprah...whyyyyy?

I also enjoy my job.
When people learn I am a librarian, they invariably say, “You must love books!”
Yes, I reply, I do love books, but I also love people. You have to love people to work in a library, because that is the nature of the business – people. What many people don’t realize is that libraries are in the customer service business as much as they are in the book business.

I love the little old lady who calls me “dearie” as I print out the latest recipe from her favorite Food Network show.

I love the earnest 8-year-old boy looking for a Star Wars book who shares his obsession with me in great precocious detail.

I love the little preschooler who crawls up on the chair next to my desk and stares at me intently and giggles when I admire her pink ballet slippers.

I love seeing the light bulb go off for the students in our computer classes.

I even love the teens who ask for their library card numbers for the millionth time(especially when they are polite).

I am working on the seemingly annoying caller who asks the same question every day and the guy who scares customers by doing his back exercises on the floor of the men’s room. But I have learned that a little patience and kindness goes a long way, even when it isn't easy.

We librarians have the power to make a difference in the lives of everyone we interact with. Most of the time we don’t even realize it.

And that is something I enjoy.

What do you enjoy?