The Joy of Going to a Library--Not Just to Read Books

One thing that I inherited from my grandmother and mother was the love for reading. That was one fascinating thing I learned after finding my biologic roots. That precious time with a book is a great connection to have. I have the pleasure of knowing two librarians. One is a young enough to be my daughter the other is around my age, but both I consider my friends. I have learned great things from each woman, both with differing knowledge.

When I was a kid I had go to authors I would read during the summer months, in between my time at the ice rink. You  could read between sessions, read in the car (some find that unmanageable but I don't have a problem). I read books dealing with skating history or how to books. Unfortunately, even today the only way you can learn skating is doing not by reading a book. Many former figure skaters have written books on a journey and struggles while skating or after but all in all you can learn so much by reading. My library card has been like my license, I have had it longer than my license but I use it all the time.

But having access to the library just isn't about reading books. For instance, our library has many different programs available I have learned just in the last year. They didn't always have them but social media and a little bit of hard work by the Outreach Program Librarian, Patty Long she is making it happen.

Patty Long, Sedalia Outreach Program Librarian

Trivia Day Prize 

I can see that the times have changed since going to the library as a kid. The still have the card catalogs, but now they are on computers. You can still find things in the archives in most libraries but most things are at your fingertips.

Patty had events: Walk and Read in the Park, Trivia Day, and a Recycled Book Project and has many wonderful ideas planned in the coming months. With a little help from others I can see our library being the go to place for more than just reading, again.

 A little bit of trivia, the Sedalia Public Library was the first library in Missouri that was awarded a $50,000 grant  from Andrew Carnegie to be built. It is on the Missouri Registry of History Places and went through a renovation a few years ago.

I actually like to pick the brains of both librarians in my life because they are so different. Each has a specialty type of book to read and although there are certain books they each of them dislike, sometimes it takes that open mind to maybe find a new path to forge. I know personally having either talked with each of them or since my young librarian is on Goodreads, I know what books she would like to read and what she has read and sometimes go off that list for my own suggestions. With Patty she has recommended some that I also wouldn't have thought of since I started going to the Book Club at the Library a few months ago. 

So while the weather is hot, or when the fall weather approaches, if you haven't visited your local library. Stop by they may have a program you can get involved in.  I still refer to my childhood library the Wilmington Public Library in the Los Angeles Public Library System or where I live now Sedalia Public Library in Sedalia MO. Both have Facebook pages and obviously the Los Angeles Public Library has many branches throughout the area. You don't have to be a reader but you never know you might find something that peaks your fancy.

The Town that Painted Rocks 2016

Isn't it funny how an idea can get started with a snap of a finger? We will do just about anything to get our kids and ourselves doing something constructive or artistic as this case seems to have turned into. Just last week the Pokemon Go became a weirdly strange activity for individuals and families to get involved in.   Actually, while getting some troubleshooting tips from the computer technician at Staples last week, our conversation included whether or not I was seeking Pokemon characters.  I told him I thought I was too old for that but when he was impressed with my knowledge of other social media sites, I felt much better. I guess it is not so strange to those who liked Pokemon cards way back when. But long before Pokemon Go,  someone in town had an idea called Sedalia Rocks. It already has its own Facebook page Sedalia Rocks-MO Official and has reached over 1,200 likes.

Already so popular that one of our newspaper reporters is considering a story about it. While most are listening to political banter, horrific news stories around the world and  all the papers and television is focused on very little positivity, it is refreshing to be able to do something artistic yet fun for everyone.

Haddie finding her first rock.

Found another!

Now this rocky activity has taken on a whole life of its own. Where to get the rocks. How to paint the rocks. What to paint on the rock, make sure you spray the rock with clear coat. (Yes, I have already started to paint one with a figure skate on it, although I will have to find a creative place to hide that fits with it.) I hopped on the rock painting wagon a little early on. Our first rock was a large orange one with a pink butterfly on it. Although we have never heard if it was actually found or re-hidden my story I like to put behind it is--just like a butterfly they come and go from out of know where.

 Some put more time than others into this and although their are official "rules" set aside, really I think the sky is the limit to this activity.  This has become a summer phenomenon in our little town, but I have heard it is also taking off in other towns around the country. A little bit of a scavenger hunt, with color and imagination all rolled into one little or large rocks, smooth or bumpy, you decide.  Also check out Pinterest for the artist in you and check out the varieties available.

Yes, several people snicker at you when they ask "have you jumped on the Sedalia Rocks bandwagon?" Well they may laugh but don't be surprised if you see them in the dark of night, or at noontime with a rock in hand ready to launch that clue on the official Sedalia Rocks MO Facebook page. Thanks to all those who are participating and making it a fun and easy addition to many in town.  I hope it continues on and on and on--one rock at a time.

If you Want it Done, Do it Yourself World we Live In?

Looking for the good in everyday life is and always has been a very big challenge; especially for me.  While I was growing up I probably didn't really realize what a great upbringing I really experienced. Does any child ever; really!. We had food on the table, (not every meal was a gourmet meal) clothes to wear (mom and grandma made just about every stitch of clothing I wore through elementary school, except for undergarments), and I figure skated on a weekly basis.  I was raised in a very regimented, environment to say the least.  No wasn't really an option in our house. You either did it or lived with the consequences. Being also an only child I had not a sibling to turn to for blame or advice.

Today and I admit I sometimes can be just as guilty as the next person when it comes to social media, although lately I stick to a pretty true list of what I do and don't reveal, because one hit of the enter/send button can truly make your life a living H double hockey stick.

With that regimented environment, parents and a time way back when where you learned how to do different things to survive or "it just was how it is" era many recent events lately just make we wonder as everyone is doing in so many instances "is this really what our world has become?"

At this time in my life, one group tells me let go and let someone else take the wheel on issues. On the other hand I try to give the wheel up and no one wants it.

Case in point. We have had in the works for some time putting up a privacy fence around part of our backyard. Growing up literally everyone had a living or privacy fence. One yard didn't go into the next, each person had his/her own yard. No one came into your yard without at first asking. Our yard had locks on both gates and really the only time they were unlocked or opened was when the utility person came to read our meters or when my Dad mowed the yard.

To even get to the point that we are at now, seemed to take an act of congress. Try and figure out based on the temperature when is the best time to put up the fence which of course leaves an approximate window of about six months time in Missouri if you place your bets between rain and heat and other acts of Mother Nature you may or may not be prepared for.  Call to make sure you don't dig where gas, water or power lines are: check. Remove a tree stump where the fence will be placed: check.  Figure what type of fence will last the longest and withstand the weather; vinyl:check.

 So the last thing on the list was find someone to install the fence. First, the choices of actual companies or trustworthy individuals who do this type of work seems to be few and far between in little rural areas and those you do call either don't have time or the inclination to even do the job.Please don't tell me to check Angie's List or any other list that really isn't available to smaller areas, thank you.   You call people to give estimates; they don't show up and don't call to give a reason. I think we have heard every story in the book. I have even asked for recommendations from people and those haven't went well either.

I still am holding out hope that we may still get someone who does things the old-fashioned way and wants to actually work for a living, returns calls as a courtesy to a possible returning customer and appreciates work being sent their way. I would really rather add other accomplishments to my list but am not feeling post hole digger or fence installer to my who cares in business resume.

Oh and by the way the picture I attached is of a golf course and not my back yard. To me that is the only piece of land with grass I don't think should have a true fence around it.

Hopefully, before the good weather season is over I can proudly say we have a private backyard to enjoy.