Yelp!

I don't know how to begin this tale of woe. It starts out simple with such good intentions and ends miserably. I keep a bucket of water with Mr. Clean or something similar in it under my desk for cleaning the unmentionable books that often arrive at the desk. Today, I reached for the Handi Wipe in the bucket to wring it out and thought I felt something. Then, as I was cleaning the book, I moved the rag and there was a huge, albeit dead, cockroach (hear the Psycho music that is playing in my head right now for dramatic effect) stuck to the rag. I didn't really scream like a girl because I'm really a tomboy. I'd call it more of a yelp. After several seconds of doing the creeped - out shake, I retrieved it and placed it in the trash. Now the moral to this is not don't clean the books. Although I have to admit, that was my first inclination. Just check the bucket before you put your hand in. My question is why do roaches like the library so much? Should I call MLC reference and ask them? It doesn't seem to matter if the building is old or new, they still seem to show up. I even found one in the paper tray of my printer one day. (That definitely earned a yelp because it was alive.) I mean it's a library, not a grocery store. I know they can live like a year off the glue of a stamp or something crazy like that, but what are they living on here. I guess Mr. Clean when I'm not looking. The only food here is in the refrigerator or sealed containers. What's an entomophobic librarian to do?

Energy

I have heard through the grapevine that I don't post enough. Then I saw that it had been three weeks since I was on here and realized that they were right. So maybe I'll try to post more often no matter how trivial the material. I know I've talked about story time joys. I just can't emphasize enough the energy that comes from dealing with children. Every Monday I go to the school and read to three kindergarten classes. I have never left the school in a bad mood. I always try to pick a fun book. It's as much for me as them. Today I read Pirates Don't Change Diapers by Melinda Long. It's so much fun to do a pirate voice and watch their faces as they try to figure out which coins they need to make 27 cents. (I always ask them questions like that from the story. It legitimizes me being there.) I don't know though maybe it's just the ego trip. When you walk in the door and hear twenty kids go "It's Miss Selena!" or "Library Lady", I have to tell you it makes you feel like a rock star. I smile and say,"Hey guys! How are you doing today?", but in my mind I'm thinking "And the crowd goes wild!" Needless to say, I highly recommend volunteering at the school.