Using My Time and Talents

As if it isn't enough that I spend 40+ hours of my week surrounded by books at work or that I am constantly rearranging my bookshelves at home, I have spent the last year using my time and talents to reorganize the church library.  It has been a long process that came to a culmination last night at the Bethlehem Fallies, a slideshow presentation and fall festival.

I was charged last summer with the task of reorganizing the library by the evangelism committee.  And to be honest, it was a much bigger task than I ever expected.  Realizing that I wouldn't be able to do this by myself, I quickly put together a committee of faithful volunteers to help me with the project. I all of them I great deal of gratitude for assisting with this project.

Our first step was to get rid of books!  My favorite part actually!!  Together we spent an afternoon last fall weeding the collection.  We were able to get rid of an entire trunk full of books.  Now, I'm sure you can imagine the condition of the majority of these church library books - old, vintage looking, yellowing covers, etc., which to a young librarian like myself means TRASHED!

Then my volunteers and I organized the books into categories and did away with the old Dewey Decimal System.  Really?  Who wants to use that in the church library?  Then we labeled the books.  I made shelf strips and some small displays.  I also pulled together a donation list, which brings us to our debut of rave reviews last night at the Bethlehem Fallies.

I am blessed that I had the opportunity to assist the church in this often forgotten ministry but still needed none the less.  The church library often provides resources not found in the public library, those niche to the church, religion and their beliefs.  In addition, it is the archive for a very fundamental institution in the community. 

So my gift to Bethlehem, a church that has been the pillar of my faith journey, an organized library using my time and talents.

And here my friends...the final pictures of what I have been doing the last year.

On a side note, I found some real gems while cleaning the library this weekend.  Pictures of my sisters and best friends over the years at camp, church picnics and other youth group activities.  Priceless.

Tie-Dye Fun!!!

Last Thursday (I know I haven't posted for awhile because I was out of town), the tweens and I had a tie-dye explosion at the library.  I only had four register, which had me quite dismayed beforehand but to my surprise 14 attended!

The tweens tie-dyed pillow cases and made tie-dye cupcakes, which was definitely the best part.  I had seen pictures on Pinterest but didn't really know how to make them myself but with some experimentation the cupcakes turned out fabulous.

There would be more pictures but the tweens ate them way too fast!

Tie-dye cupcakes after coming out of the oven.

The tweens mixing the colors together.

Colored mix (made with food coloring) ready and waiting for the tweens.

Using My Books As Art

With all the buzz on Pinterest about using books as art, I've had the urge to reorganize my books and do something fun with them.

 

So, earlier this week I decided to rearrange my four bookshelves by color.  It took me approximately four days but I finished.  I'm not sure how I feel about it.

 

Before my books were organized by category, so all of my fiction was on one shelf, Christmas books together, presidential administrations in the same place and so on.  Now I'm struggling with the fact that my books are in no apparent order except for color coordination.  For a librarian, this is killing me not to have my books in a specific order.

 

Here are some before and after snapshots.  Let me know what you think.

Before:

After:

RADical Days in Pittsburgh

So, today I'm going to give a little shout-out to the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD).  Not many people know who they are or what they do but they are a fabulous organization that supports and finances regional assets, including libraries.  The organization also sponsors RADical Days, which many Pittsburgh residents probably have never heard of but should definitely take advantage of. 

 

 

Basically, RADical Days are approximately a month's worth of free admission to local Pittsburgh attractions, including the zoo, museums, stadiums, aviary,etc.  This year's schedule looks pretty awesome or for once I think I'm actually going to get to go to some of the events.  So, if you are like me and are too cheap to pay the admission to some of these places, get out and go for free in the next few weeks.  Trust me.  It will be worth it.

 

Here is this year's schedule of events: http://radworkshere.org/interior.php?pageID=61.

It's Like Christmas Morning...New Tennis Courts!!!

Two-three days a week I pass the tennis courts at the Shaler High School.  It kills me to watch others play on days that I know I'm too busy to pick up the racket and get a game in.  Normally and unfortunately, the courts are vacant since not enough people play tennis.

This summer, Shaler FINALLY got new tennis courts and I have been watching the entire process progress on my commutes.  It's about time!  And I must say, I have been aching to go and try the new courts now that the nets are up.

It's not often that a person gets to play on brand new courts.  Remember, tennis if often the sport that gets the last straw when budgets are tight or is overlooked because it is not as popular as baseball or soccer.  It's a great sport though that more people should try.

During my tennis career, I played on the terrible courts at Shaler, got some nicer ones at Mount Union but they didn't have the budget to get us nice uniforms and then had to play on the incredibly crappy North Park courts at La Roche because we didn't even have tennis courts there!!

Now, I'm waiting patiently (OK, not really) to hit the courts.  This is like a once in a life time opportunity.  New tennis courts!! Let me just say this is absolutely freaking awesome!!  OK, so I'm a little more excited than a normal person but hey its fabulous for a tennis player.

 

My Recent Running Fears

Due to recent events both in the news and to people I know, I am hesitant to run alone or on busy roads.  Thank God I am not training for a race at the moment and am approaching the time of the year when I return to the gym for workouts rather than run/bike/blade along the nearby roads.

 

First, there was the incident in the South Side of Pittsburgh where an enraged motorist slashed a cyclist who may have accidentally cut him off.

 

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/s-side-bicyclist-stabbed-in-road-rage-incident-652272/

 

Then, there was the reported incident in North Park (where I frequently run and bike) where a female teenage runner was apparently attacked.

 

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-north/police-investigate-possible-north-park-attack-652730/

 

And finally, my neighbor in the Lakeside trailerhood was hit by a car while running near her home in North Carolina and life-flighted to the nearest hospital.  We are still waiting to hear her condition.

 

I already try to follow the running rules of the road.  Don't run at twilight or after dark unless wearing reflectors.  Don't run alone at these times either.  Don't run in unsafe areas alone.  Don't listen to an iPod while running on the road.

 

Now, I think I'm more cautious and a little scared...

 

 



Tis A Gift of Pinterest

I love giving presents, especially creative ones.  Thanks to Pinterest, I am not presented with a wealth of affordable and heartfelt gift ideas.  Before Pinterest I wasn't too bad either but now it's like a door has been opened to a whole new world of gifting possibilities.

 

Due to the fact that some of my readers are going to be recipients of these gifts in the coming weeks I can't release all of the details.  However, I will try to give at least a glimpse of my gifting projects.  After the birthdays, weddings and births happen, I hope to make a full post for each gift.

 

I'm pretty excited about each and everyone of these gifts and I think that each one will provide the recipient with something special and memorable, whether to celebrate an upcoming nuptial, new family member or milestone birthday.

 

The best idea I think I've found so far is what Meg and I will be making for my mom.  Hopefully, it will all work out and she will appreciate it, which I think she will.  Like I said, that will be a post in itself after her birthday in October.

 

 

Stay tuned...



Fitness Pro? Not!

Last week, I switched gyms and me being the fitness nut that I am took advantage of the free fitness consultation offered for new members. 

 

After meeting with the trainer, I was surprised to hear that I was just barely of average fitness.  Say what?  I run three miles two or three times a week and circuit the other days.  I ran a half-marathon in May (granted I'm not a fast runner but I did it).

 

The test consisted of five sections: BMI, flexibility, cardio, strength and endurance.  As the trainer explained the steps, I thought to myself that this sounded relatively easy.  It was actually too but my results apparently weren't good enough.

 

First, I failed the BMI.  I'm overweight.  Lovely.  I actually knew that and wasn't surprised I failed that.  I hate BMI.  It doesn't take into account muscle mass, which I know I have a lot of and the trainer agreed because I had my muscle mass tested.  Strike 1.

 

Second, to my surprise I got the highest level possible on flexibility.  This was the one section I thought I would fail instantly.  The test was reminiscent of elementary school V-sit and reach, which I was terrible at.  I've improved.  I stretched 23 inches.  Props for that one I suppose.

 

Third, I completed the cardio, which was a piece of cake.  Walk at a three percent incline at 4.5 miles per hour for five minutes.  Nothing.  Luck was still on my side because I passed that section too.  It was probably all my walk and run training.

 

Fourth, I had my strength tested.  I lift weights fairly often and never really thought that I could fail this but I did.  Apparently you are supposed to be able to lift 80-85 percent of your body weight.  I probably could do that in my lower body but my upper body only managed to chest press a measily 85 pounds.  Strike two.

 

Finally, the last part was endurance.  Stupid me thought I had this one in the bag too.  I ran a half-marathon.  That takes endurance.  Wrong again.  You had to do as many sit-ups as possible in a minute. I'm a cruch girl.  I hate sit-ups...always have, always will.  I failed miserably at 24.

 

With that being said I walked out of the gym on Friday a bit speechless but motivated to improve my poor fitness level.  I'm not discouraged though.  I feel healthy and my doctor says I'm healthy, so isn't that what really matters.  I'll never be a size two.  I realize that.  Yes, I'd like to lose a few pounds but in my case I think losing a few inches may be more realistic.  It's probably the first time in my life that I can honestly say I'm happy with my body, so I'll take it and continue what I'm doing.

 

Not everyone is an athlete.  Not everyone is a model.  I'm an average girl and I'll just strive to improve my average fitness.

 

 

Happy Grandparents Day!

If I could offer one piece of advice today on Grandparents Day, tell your grandparents you love them.  Hug them.  Call them.  Spend time with them even if its going to their house for lunch.  Trust me they'll appreciate it and you'll be happy you did because when they are gone it leaves an awful hole in your heart.  Nothing can replace the love of a grandparent.  So, if you are lucky enough to still have your grandparents, treasure them.

I was blessed to have three amazing grandparents and I'd like to think that the fourth, my paternal grandfather, would have also held a special place in my heart if he would have lived to meet his grandchildren.  And as the first granddaughter on both sides, I also held a special place in their hearts.

I had such wonderful relationships with my grandparents.

My grandpa taught me how to fish.  He taught me how to play tennis.  He paid for me to learn to sail.  Together we made a dollhouse and he refinished the most beautiful dollhouse for my sisters and I.  I thought I would dance with him at my wedding.

My Grandma Grace loved her grandchildren unconditionally.  She called us her CHARMS (our initials spelled it).  She called me Serenity.  I loved discussing books with her and she would have been so proud that I had become a librarian.  Sadly, she didn't live to see me graduate from college.

My Grandma Kay could have been my best friend if we had grown up in the same era.  She wrote me every week when I didn't live here.  We loved talking about our favorite shows, Gilmore Girls and Sex and the City.  We went for Chinese all the time.  Her unexpected death felt like I lost all three at the same time.

Like I said, if you still have your grandparents - tell them you love them as much as you can.  I didn't do it enough.  I didn't hug them enough.  And now I miss them still to this day more than anything in the world.

I wish my grandpa and Grandma Grace would have seen me receive my Master's.  I wish all three could have met my boyfriend.  There is so much I want to tell them and never will.  So, please treasure your grandparents, they are a true gift from God.

"And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand."

The early bird does catch the worm.

Way back in May at the Pittsburgh Marathon Expo, I visited to the Great Race booth to get information.  I decided to wait to see who I would be running with so that I could do the 2 for deal.

 

Then in July I got my reminder email and after determining that I would most likely be running by myself I decided to wait.  That was the cheapskate in me talking.  Wait until after vacation to register I thought.

 

So, at the beginning of the week I excitedly went on the Great Race to website to register only to find out that registration had been capped.  Capped at 15,000!!  A month before the race!!  And I lost my opportunity to run my second 10K.  I was very disappointed.

 

Thinking that my training was a waste, I moped for a day or two before I realized later in that week that I had received in email on Monday or Tuesday from the Pittsburgh Marathon seeking volunteers for upcoming races.  The Great Race was one of them and all volunteers received a free registration for the Half-Marathon.

 

Perfect, I thought.  I will register to volunteer and then I can run for free.  I was excited again and thought that I could now continue training and focus more on the half rather than the 10K.  Well, luck isn't my friend this week.  The only race that still needed volunteers was Toronto Marathon.  No running the Great Race.  No volunteering at the Great Race.  I learned my lesson.

 

The early bird does catch the worm.

 

 

It's OK though.  I am going to keep running.  I am definitely doing the half and I am registering the day registration opens.  I'm not missing out again.  I guess that's how I know that I'm still new at this whole runner thing.  I didn't realize how quickly an event fills up especially a month out.  Next year I won't make the same mistake.

Turning off the tube...

Hi! My name is Carrie and I'm a recovering TV junkie.

We all know I very rarely watch TV - every now and then I catch an episode of Parenthood or a rerun of the Golden Girls.  However, I would much rather read a book, watch a movie or socialize with my family and friends.

So, that's why I am shocked at the amount of TV I have watched in the last five weeks.  It's more TV than I've probably watched in the last 10 years combined!

First, there was the Olympics and I swear I didn't leave the couch for two weeks.  My boyfriend, cousins and I went to a bar and I had to watch it there.  I couldn't relax and socialize until I made sure that Michael Phelps was on a nearby TV.  It did motivate me even more though to run faster, swim harder and slam that tennis ball with more power.

Thought I would leave my comfortable spot on the couch by mid August - wrong - hello Shark Week!  I couldn't miss watching people getting limbs ripped off in a live version of Jaws.  I was busy this week so I didn't spend as much time watching the waters of nearby oceans get bloody.  Too bad...

Then I did take a little bit of a respite to vacation at Lakeside where I watched absolutely no television but kept my head buried deep in book.

I came home from the lake to more TV.  As if the Olympics and Shark Week weren't distractions enough, the Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention are an even bigger interruption in my life.  If I was at home, I was watching the convention - glued to PBS, especially intent on hearing Ann Romney, Dr. Jill Biden and Michelle Obama.  I'm disappointed that I missed Jimmy Carter but I can't completely adjust my life for TV.  I'm bipartisan and a political junkie who absolutely loves the speeches and glimpses of famous politicians.

And now tonight...Stand Up 2 Cancer.  I try to watch it every year. I've donated a few years.  It's a fabulous and inspiring event.  We all know someone that has been affected by cancer.  Watch it if you never have.

Starting tomorrow though, the TV is going to remain off probably until ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas.  I've had enough.  I'm ready to get back to my books.  I'm ready to watch some episodes of Downton Abbey.  I'm ready to reconnect with my friends and family.

And so folks, I'm turning off the tube.

The First Day of School

Every year around this time I always get sad that I'm not going back to school.  I miss the excitement of going school shopping and buying new highlighters, pens, Post-It notes, etc.  I honestly can't say I had these same emotions when I was in school but there is just something about fall that makes me want to go buy school supplies.  That's one thing I definitely don't need to buy though because when I was in grad school, I went overboard with pens and Post-Its and notecards and now I'm still using all of it at work.  So, for all of you going back to school, enjoy it and those of us that aren't, make a freshly sharpened bouquet of pencils as in You've Got Mail.

 



Goodbye Summer

Well, it's been more than a month since my last post!  The end of summer was much more busy than I had expected I suppose and now its hard to believe that my favorite time of year next to Christmas is over.  

I'm sad at the realization that I can no longer go barefoot, read on the porch long into the evening or wake up as easily since it will be getting darker in the morning.  This summer was busy so I'm looking forward to a calmer and more relaxing fall.

2012 was different from other summers.  I didn't go on any vacations.  I didn't get to Lakeside as much.  I didn't play tennis. I didn't lay in the hammock.  I didn't have any fires. I didn't relax enough.  It's OK though.

What did I do?  I worked - a lot.  I will admit that it was another great summer of teen programs but looking back I think I was too invested in the library.

Don't get me wrong.  There were a lot of bright spots.  I did enjoy more pool time at Kiwanis and North Park.  I did spend a lot of time with my wonderful boyfriend.  I did read more.  I did enjoy my friends and family at my Fourth of July party.  I did reenact pedicures with my fabulous best friend.

I guess that's what getting older is all about.  Summers are not as carefree as our youth.  I had a wonderful summer though and I enter fall with no regrets.  

I'm excited for fall.  My best friend is having a baby.  Another dear friend is getting married.  I'm running my second 10K.  And of course I will remain busy with board meetings, committee meetings, projects and programs as well.

I'm looking forward to wearing warm, cozy sweaters; drinking hot apple cider; enjoying delicious, crisp apples; the wonderful sound of colorful leaves crunching under my feet; exploring haunted houses and enjoying all the other pleasures of fall.

So, goodbye summer.  You were wonderful but welcome fall.