Desk Time

Classes started up again, so I've been dealing with the backlog of people who are wither new and don't know how the system works (understandable) or people who have managed to forget everything over the summer. Well, or they did no research whatsoever in previous years, which I find sad, but believable.

Anyway, we're busy! Yea! I guess. I like having something to do and helping people, but sometimes I just wish the questions were a little less repetitive.

None of which has anything to do with the story that I have to share. So there's this one regular character who always comes in for a guest login. He seems fairly normal, for a regular, though he has the habit of talking extremely quickly. About everything. And he changes subjects a lot, too. But he's nice and he always smiles when he sees me, so I'm alright with him.

Anyway, today sort of shook my belief that he might be mostly sane. He came in and was excited to see me (since I've been half-timing it over at the Reference office, my hours at the desk have been cut), so he's chattering away when he knocks over the display. No problem, I tell him, he is not the first person who has done that and I can fix it easily. He gets really even more excited, which I didn't think possible, and says, "Oh, I'll fix it, I'll fix it, I did it, didn't I?" He puts all the cards back in and goes to stand it back up, which is nice of him. But then he keeps putting it on sideways and then laughing - really loudly - when it falls over! Finally I reach over and put it up straight; he acts relieved that it's fixed and heads off to a computer.

Such a strange encounter. I am not ready for this at 8am.

Frustration Runs Rampent

I will not murder my patrons. I will not murder my patrons. I - would anyone really notice? Wait, wrong thought.

Argh. I hate new students. Well, I suppose not all new students. Not the ones that need help figuring out how to print, or where to go, or what to do for research, or really any of the normal, polite ones.

Unlike, naturally, the patron that made me want to beat my head against the desk.

Yes, we only have that program at certain computers. No, I am not permitted to ask people to leave a computer for you, though I'm sure if you asked politely they would switch computers for you. Yes, I would be thrilled to tell your friend the exact same information. No, there really is no need to bring me the sign saying that those computers have priority for that program's users, because trust me I know what it says and it is meant as a friendly hint for people to kindly switch computers with you - when you ask them yourself because I'm not allowed to ask.

Oh, the things I wish I could say without getting fired. 'Wench' figures prominently. In the nicer ones.

I need a break.

Meanwhile At the Office

So living with two people isn't that terribly different than living with one, I have discovered. Well, I mean, logically there is greater finagling over the bathroom. :) But, other than that, we cohabitate pretty darn well, I do believe. I suppose it helps that we all have insane schedules and aren't even home all that much.

I started cross-training in the Reference office today, which mostly consisted of me trying to figure things out without asking too many questions of my lame boss. I mean lame in the literal sense - he got himself kneecapped by a drunk in May and just returned to work a few weeks ago. I try not to impose upon the hobbling guy too much, but he did have to show me around the back of the Circulation area to where the Reference department hides the reserved section that I have to update periodically. It's only been one day and I've already discovered more to the library than I ever knew existed! I thought I was pretty conversant with all the levels and hidden staircases, but there are office sections that I never suspected of existing before. I think it's kind of cool, that the working parts of the library are so well-hidden that you never get the impression you're in a very peculiar sort of office building.

If you couldn't tell by my blabbing, I love the Reference job so much more than the EIC desk. I actually do things! Things that don't involve telling people for the millionth time how to print or where the Library classrooms are located. I wish I could completely transfer, but for now I'm stuck working both posts. Maybe I will grow as tired of the office, though, after I've worked there awhile. It could, I suppose, simply be the new experience, but I actually enjoyed the sorting and wandering amuck and filing, so I don't believe my opinion will alter.

If it does, please do me the favor of not mentioning this post. Who am I kidding? I'll probably mention it myself and laugh at my naivete. "You silly girl, how little you knew then, of the wide ways of the world, of the flight and fall of human emotions!"

Um, wow. Maybe I should get some sleep.

Invasion

I didn't really intend to post again so soon, but I just realised that my home is being invaded about this time. All summer, it's just been me and the Bad Vegan (pseudonyms are fun!), which has worked out pretty well. I work all morning, she works all night, and I love solitude. We get to chat in the afternoon, but then I have the whole lovely evening to waltz about the house singing crazy-loud and whatever I want.

Now comes the Historical K.

It's not so much the threat of lacking solitude, although I would be lying if I said that did not worry me, so much as the little things that might change. The Bad Vegan assures me that she is compulsively neat, which is a definite plus, and I am fond of her. But! It's the silly things that worry me. What if she's in the kitchen on Sunday mornings and I can't bake bread? What if she does her laundry on Sunday afternoons, too? The Bad Vegan has come to (at least) tolerate my singing and dancing and old movies, but what if I freak the Historical K out?

I know I'm being ridiculous. We have talked before and we outnumber the Bad Vegan in liking chocolate by the barrel, baking at all times of the day, and romantic comedies in overdoses. I like her and she will be great to live with.

I just want to write in the early evening at the kitchen table.

A Beginning

I think that everything has settled out nicely here, though I do want to add some websites and whatnot. Which is nice, because it gives me something to do at work - where I am now.

Yep, working here in Libraryville.

I'm bored. But I think that probably goes without saying.

I'm sure I'll regret those words next week, once the freshmen begin rolling in with questions designed to make me believe that they have truly never stepped foot inside of a library before.

For right now, though, the only things I have to worry about are the construction workers roping off computers with abandon and why my earplugs won't stay in.

And why there is a latex glove over the fire alarm.

Oh verily, bliss, indeed.

Welcome!

Well, this is my new home. Come in! Enjoy yourselves, while I try to figure out what the heck I'm doing.
Feel free to giggle a little. But not a lot, capeesh?