best. job. ever.

Today I had one of those stand on a mountain and sing at the top of your lungs moments.  No, I didn't travel to the Alps, but to the library at my new school.  I thought about unpacking my boxes for about 30 seconds, but couldn't focus on anything except for the books.  I was surrounded by them.  After standing there and taking it all in, I heard those books talking to me.  "Pssssttt.  Jenn.  Come here.  It's okay.  You can unpack another day.  Come read me!!"  I was powerless at that point.  I HAD to start looking at our book collection.  It felt like a kid on Christmas morning.  I can't think of any other profession where your entire classroom is a library and every student is "your" student.  At one point I stood in the middle of the library, put my arms out, and spun around just like Julie Andrews does at the beginning of "The Sound of Music." 

Yes folks, I realize life as a librarian isn't all unicorns and glitter, but I just want to stay on cloud 9 for a little while longer.  Obviously I have LOTS to learn about the day to day functions of running a library, but right now I'm ok not knowing everything.  Sometimes it's better not knowing the full gravity of a situation all in one sitting.  I'm grateful that there are many supportive people who have offered to help in whatever way possible.

What do you do when you work in a library?  You bring home books to read.  Duh!  After spending 3 hours in the school library, I walked into my apartment carrying 6 issues of School Library Journal, 3 teacher reference books about reading strategies, and 2 William Allen White award nominees.  Something tells me this is going to be the best job EVER!!

Even though my birthday isn't until June 17, I'm continuing my week-long birthday celebration, and today's moment was dinner at Freddy's (compliments of a birthday gift card I received today).  What a perfect way to end a perfect day!!

The Truth About Poop

This title caught your attention, didn't it?!?  Poop is just one of those taboo topics that most people don't discuss.  But, a couple years ago I bought The Truth About Poop by Susan Goodman.  This is one of the most engaging, educational books that I've ever read.  Goodman uses a sense of humor to address the topic of feces in a tasteful manner.  Ok, maybe the words feces and tasteful shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence...Another Goodman book my cherubs love is Gee Whiz! It's All About Pee.  Both books are a must-have for any teacher, and were the hottest books in my classroom library.  I also stumbled upon Goodman's blog, I.N.K. (Interesting Nonfiction for Kids).  I can't wait to check out some of the books she recommends on this blog!

Speaking of poop--I'm really annoyed with the darn pigeons pooping on my flowers!  Lots of people have offered ideas for getting rid of the pigeons, but the problem is that the spot where they sit is up really high--higher than any ladder will reach.  Check it out.

I think the easiest thing to do is just shoot them with a BB gun (scare them--not kill them), but I'm not sure that's legal.  My sister Emily reminded me this weekend of Mo Willems' books with a pigeon as the main character.  The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog is my favorite Willems book.  That got me thinking about how weird it is that there are books I enjoy that are about animals I hate.  Another favorite book of mine is Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt...and squirrels are my LEAST favorite animals on the planet!

Ok, you've figured out that the theme for this blog post is actually books--not poop.  Today my roomie and I went to the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library to sign up for their summer reading program for adults.  Thanks to my friend Kathy for telling us about this program.  The part that enticed me was that the program has a theme: "Novel Destinations."  Not that either one of us needed inspiration for checking out books, but some of my happiest memories as a kid include the summer reading program.  It was great coming home and curling up with a great book this afternoon--although it's been hard to put the book down!

Hopefully you have books on the brain after reading this.  Now, go forth and READ!!  By the way, I'm always up for a good book suggestion, so let me know if you have any books I should add to my summer reading list!

Sarge, Smells, Starbucks, & Storms

I discovered last night that the title of your blog post can either make or break you, because more people read last night's post than any other post.  Either it was the title or word is starting to spread like wildfire that this blog is a fun one.  Ha ha--couldn't resist.

I have to admit that I have a pretty cool Grandma.  At some point when I was a kid, Grandpa gave her the nickname of Sarge.  It totally fits Gran.  She's one of those people who gets things done her way.  She means business.  Today Sarge was a blessing--she came to help me pack my classroom.  She didn't even bat an eyelash when she walked in and saw my stuff EVERYWHERE.  She packed all my books in about 15 minutes and then started scrubbing my empty baskets.  FYI--it was no fun, but she plugged away without complaining.  Gran is like that though.  She knows a lot about almost every topic under the sun.  She asked lots of questions about my new job, and by the end of the day, she was itching to get into the library to see what it looks like.  I know she's already planning how to help me decorate.  That's our "thing"--Gran LOVES coming to help me set up my classroom for school...only this year she has a bigger canvas to work with.  Can't wait to take her to my new school and let her work her magic.  Here she is below packing a box.  Look at her go!

Yes, I can proudly say that Grandma got SEVERAL boxes packed, and here's the proof:

Can you tell that the title for tonight's blog is the letter S?  I'm a nut when it comes to themes.  I believe that themes make everything in life a lot more fun!  Well, in sticking with the S theme, let me tell you about my smelly car.  Sunday when we got home from the lake I left my windows down so my car wouldn't smell like the lake...but forgot to roll them up.  Sunday night it rained, and when I went out yesterday morning, my seats were soaking wet.  They dried during the day, but this morning I was greeted to the most disgusting smell when I opened the doors of Jimmy Wayne (yes, my car is named Jimmy Wayne).  It smelled like something died in my car.  YUCK!  I kept my windows down all day, but that didn't help.  I'm going to have to google "How to get the stench out of your car seats" or something because it isn't pleasant riding in Jimmy Wayne right now.

Shout out to Starbucks tonight!!  Besides making the yummiest beverages in the world, I also discovered (thanks to Dad & Julie) that they bag up coffee grounds and give them to people to put on their flowers.  Hopefully this magic fertilizer will help my flowers keep blooming--especially my daisies.  Check them out--they're going to bloom any day.  Wahoo!  I'm a proud flower mama!!  By the way, did you know there's a great love song about Starbucks?  Check out "Taylor the Latte Boy" sung by the great Kristin Chenoweth.  I'm still searching for my Taylor!

Go figure...I choose the letter S as a theme for my blog and now it's storming.  Nothing in JC yet, but my fam bam in Cow Town just got slammed by softball size hail.  I'm not even kidding you--I didn't make that up just so it would go with the theme!  Saying prayers for everyone in the storm's path.  STAY SAFE!!