Week-End Review (or is it Week In Review?)

Why have I not blogged lately? I've been asking myself the same question. I started to notice that I was getting pissy about the blogs I frequent and how none of them had very current posts. Then I was like, "Shoot. I bet they are pissy with me, too!" Well, here is how my week went...

I met an author on Thursday. I grew up with these Amelia Bedelia books - you know, the books with that silly maid who takes everything totally literally. She dusts furniture by sprinkling powder all over everything... She literally "dresses" a turkey dinner in knickerbockers... She "puts out the lights" by unscrewing all the light bulbs and hanging them outside on a clothes line... Too silly! These were a staple in my household growing up. Well, one of the perks of being a children's librarian in a major metro is that, on Thursday, I got to go to a school for a read-aloud and meet Herman Parish. (His aunt actually wrote the original books that I grew up with, but he is carrying on the family name by writing new Amelia books that are just as good.)

After meeting Parish, we (me and other "famous" people from the town, such as the town supervisor, the police chief, fire chief, local principals, etc.) all were given a class to read a book to. I read The Lorax by Dr. Seuss to a fifth grade class. It was cool. I even knew five of the girls in the class! Go me.

Yesterday, I went to another read-aloud (this time with no author). I read to a kindergarten class The Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon and Misery Moo by Jeanne Willis. And afterward, I thought to myself, "Self, why are you not a kindergarten teacher?!?" Those kids were absolutely adorable. And talk about self-esteem booster; they wouldn't let you leave without giving you tons of hugs. I don't remember the last time I felt so loved! And I tell ya, the books I picked were total winners, too. They wanted me to reread the Shannon book, even. Cute kids.

Okay, speaking of cute kids, want to see my reading group? They are the cutest kids ever. Are they not?!? (Can you tell who the big kid in the middle is?) We met this past Wednesday for our monthly Read 'N' Rant group. We just finished reading Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Gantos. This next book we are reading is awesome - it's The Case of the Missing Marquess by Springer. It's an "Enola Holmes" mystery - she is Sherlock's little sister. Should be a good one.

So, enough about work. I also got to meet an old friend in the city Thursday night. My buddy Lynnae was in town, reading a paper for a convention here. I'm in her wedding this summer. I haven't had the chance to see Nae in like FOREVER. We went to dinner and just talked and caught up. It was so nice. Here is a picture from the night. We look like sisters almost, eh? Well, we grew up like family, that's for sure! I think of her and her other sisters, Rach and Kelly, like family (especially my Rachel, who I miss terribly, who is WAY FAR AWAY in South Africa)!

And since this was so long of a post, I'll call it a wrap. I have other things to say (like the movie Babel was a huge disappointment; and I have a new favorite kids book - The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Selznick; and the word "kindergarten" is hard to spell because you would think it should be spelled "kindergarden;" and the weather here is starting to turn nice and I've even spotted some new growth in my future garden, like irises and tulips and such...) but I'll save all that for another post. Gotta spread the love, you know?