Final Day at Work

I have worked at North Harris College as an adjunct Reference Librarian for the past three years. Usually I was at work less than ten hours a week, with an occasional 19 hour week as needed.

Mostly I worked evenings.
Often it hardly seemed like work at all.

That's the way it is when you love your job and have great co-workers to work with.

I almost didn't take the job when I realized the college was a 45 minute drive from my house. But I decided that doing the drive only twice or three times a week wouldn't be too bad.
I can now say I'm glad I did decide to take it despite the drive.
It turned out that the scenery on the way was often quite interesting.

Each time I commuted to work, it took me almost 15 minutes to get out of Kingwood, then about ten minutes more on the 59 freeway to 1960, past the mall and then into rural areas that flanked the Houston airport.
On this last drive to work I was amused to see three turkey buzzards perched on fence posts. Off in the distance you can see the airport control tower.

A turn off from 1960 led to a bumpy road with nothing but prairie on either side. The clouds often are beautiful in the distance and I enjoyed seeing the seasons change in the meadow. Right now small sunflower are brightening up the roadside...merrily disguising the purpose of the land: It is designated for emergency crash landings.

Thankfully it has never has served it purpose, and I hope it never will.

Once I got to work, I was surprised to see Virginia at reference desk wearing the hat I had made for her. She has come through her cancer treatments and is now in remission! Hurrah!
She never actually needed the hat for anything other than a fashion accessory. No hair loss on her head, and she looks just great.
Don't you just love a happy ending to a cancer treatment?

Once I headed into the back I saw Norma our technical librarian also behatted. She looks adorable in a hat...I think she too should add additional initials to her titles: MLS, HFP.

(HFP: Hat Friendly Profile.)

Karen, our collections development librarian was even wearing a hat! She has firmly resisted all my attempts to convert her to the hat wearing, but wore a hat in my honor on my last day.

Hope, the Super Librarian, needs little convincing to wear a hat. She was always eager to give my newest millinery creations a try, and would LOVE to own more hats herself. Despite being quite brainy, she wears a smaller hat size, which is hard to come by.

Olia was under the weather but nevertheless made the effort to show up for the "going away" party. She and my boss Predeep went together to get me a book of poetry written by our next national poet laureate, in honor of my campus Poet Laureat program that I created for the school.

Have I mentioned how really thoughtful this group of ladies are?
They think of everything!

A group portrait.

Yes, librarians have fun AND look good wearing hats!

So it was my farewell appearance at ref desk. The students at the computers by the window didn't bat an eye to the fact that I was wearing an enormous hat.

My last look at the pine trees surrounding the school. It is a beautiful campus in a beautiful location.
The first campus poet laureate David Bell won his title based on this three line haiku on the theme "Achievement":

Achievement

North Harris College,
pine-nestled symposia
Aspirations Soar!

The refence desk is on the third floor; usually I took the elevator to get there, but the stairway gave a great view of outside.

The reference collection, only a small part of the two story library.

The library's circulation staff were greatly appreciated by me. If a book is in the correct place on a shelf, and the library user's records are in order, you have a circulation staff member to thank.
Plus they usually had better goodies to eat than we librarians did upstairs...and Terry was always good for a smile and a cheery greeting as she mange the second floor crew.

I usually made one trip downstairs each shift just to check out our display of our newest books. It was tempting to kick back in the reading area, plus... just beyond that...there were periodicals, which included Vogue and other fashion magazines.

Always good for flipping through during a slow night at desk, and of course for finding new fragances samples to rub on. That was fun too.

Libraries should be fun in my opinion.

The second floor also had an interesting collection of framed photographs of people from other cultures. I thought this girl looked so happy and relaxed that I would find myself smiling just by seeing her.

On the other hand, this little Mennonite lass always made me wonder.

She looks so very unhappy; maybe scared, maybe defiant. What was going through her young mind as the photographer focused upon her and took her picture, forever capturing the complex expression under the great big hat.

I wonder how old she must be now, and what she would think of seeing her photograph presiding over student engaged in learning at a library so far away.



I so enjoyed working with all the staff over the years at the NHC library. Each of them had distinctive personalities and interests, and I think all of them were interesting people to get to know.

In my next job I will be a solo librarian for a fourteen college campus system, with schools in eight different states. I will manage the libraries remotely, ordering books and collecting materials to support the curriculum needs and the student's success.

I know I will miss swinging into work and chatting with other librarians about ideas and activities as I did at North Harris. By the time I start at my new job on September 1st, my old library pals will be doing without both me and Hope, as she has accepted a position at another Lone Star College district campus. Things will have changed there too...it is true, nothing really ever stays the same...

Thankfully we will be able to stay in touch through email, blogs and maybe even professional conferences or two along the way.

And if all else fails, maybe they can make a trip to SLC, see the mountains, and me, and get an massage as well.

(More about that option later!)

Thanks everyone!
Best of luck in the new school year!

Looking about, storing images

Saturday August 2 2008
A walk in the woods with Hope B.
Funny how there are new things to see there a mere 24 hours later.
(See yesterday's post for details of that walk and our all day date.)

Wood lice! The tree is NOT being attacked by spiders, it is being cleaned by wood lice, who are the size of a speck of flour, and are scurrying beneath the web like membrane they have created on the tree. In a few days they will move on as a colony to clean another tree, leaving this tree healthier than when they arrived.

Yesterday's white mushroom has now turned golden, as if the heat of the day had served to bake it like a cookie in an oven.

The second tiny mushroom that I saw yesterday is now fuller, and has a blue damsel fly visitor. If only I had raised my camera back a fraction of an inch...but as it was, the fly was gone before my finger tip was released from the shutter release on my camera.
Pretty good shot anyway I'd say.

The poke berry clusters are still mostly green.

I love that the green berries and the riper blue black berries are supported on PINK stems.

PINK!

How fun!

A large wounded toad hopped wobbly across our path. Had it been bitten or stung, or was his pierced skin from a misadventure in a bramble patch?
It made me sad to see him thus, but I am powerless to change his destiny.

Ski boats disturbed the calm water, forming wakes that turned into a brief episode of crashing surf.

It was hot, and by the time Hope and I finished walking and talking it was almost eleven in the morning. A three mile walk is a great way to start the day, even if it means being drenched with sweat.

Later in the day B. and I ran an errand while our house was being shown. We returned home via a back way and I saw these heart shaped leaves vining up a pine tree. I don't know what the vine is called or if it flowers, but if I was staying I would definitely want some of this in my yard. Much nicer than bare tree trunk, and the heart shape is just so cool.

The gardenia is surprisingly blooming again.

I find myself stepping outside to inhale the fragrance, knowing I will likely never have such gardenia abundance again.

Our "wish bone" flowers are blooming nicely in the patio pots. Can you see the tiny white upside down wish bone on the roof of the flower's mouth?

I enjoy all the colors that wish bone flowers (aka: torenia or monkey flower) come in.

The flower is an annual and self seeds abundantly.
I wonder if it can be grown in Utah?

My Louisiana Walking Lily is also blooming out of season. Are my flowers just coming out to say good bye?
I have read that this lily can be grown as a house plant. Something to think about....

Sometimes the flower's shadow is almost as lovely as the flower itself.

Our "Cowardly Lion" begonia leaves are looking great. I doubt that we will be able to take this hanging plant with us though, and I don't know if it will grow from a cutting.
Dang.
I loved having a plant named "Cowardly Lion". That name makes me smile.

The blue jays have left a feather behind, and I tucked it into amongst the blue berries I was snacking on just to keep track of it. Hmmm..maybe there will be another color theme photo contest sometime.

I wanted to try to photograph the feather, and discovered it was more difficult than I would of thought. The flumes create an optical effect that is different when photographed than what is seen with the human eye. Sort of like what happens when a computer screen or television screen is photographed.

We're getting close to moving now. We have our tickets, and a date to leave. The moving company will be packing everything; whatever I pack will not be insured.

Obviously I am not packing another thing!

Lately I am very much reminded of the final weeks of pregnancy, specifically a second pregnancy. I remember knowing that while it was tiresome being so large and heavy, I also knew that a baby inside is far less work than a baby born. I knew the demands would come, and unstoppable they would be, and that the baby would actually be someone I didn't know at all...perhaps a happy mellow soul or an angry irritable dab of humanity. The changes would take some getting used to!

I remember having everything ready for the baby, and the house cleaned and the suitcase packed. And then waiting....just waiting.

We plan to spend this week taking care of a few minor details, perhaps going on a short trip, perhaps just relaxing with some good books. Lots of conversations. We know we will never have this kind of time to waste again...there will always be vacation or travel or home repairs to address in the future.

I'm still a week behind on my posts...but by the time we leave, I should be caught up. Lots of wonderful things have been happening...things and events that I want to share.

Maybe that is an element of blogging that I had overlooked before: The opportunity to revisit good things as though they were happening right now.

What a blessing to have so many good things happening in my life that I actually got behind on blogging them!

Last Friday: An All Day Date!

August 1, 2008

Oh was it ever hot.
Hot, hot, HOT.
Steaming outside, and my back had spasmed so hard I was uncomfortable no matter if I stood, sat, or stretched out flat.
It was best to just keep moving; walking seemed to help a bit so Bernie and I ignored the weather and headed for the three mile trail through the woods.

On our way to the trail head we passed our neighbor's garden, with photo worthy flowers everywhere.

Pride of Barbados still blooms beautifully there.

The first time I saw this wooden path I was so happy: At last I could walk through the woods without fear of trodding on heaven-knows-what lurking in the foliage.

I love that every time I walk, I see something new.

Isn't this an odd plant: berries on a single stalk?

This time of year I look up a lot. The spiders seem to float in the air around us; this spider in the proper head down position, with her diminutive Mister watchfully positioned above her.

We joke about the rare web with two or three males: do they wish their polyandrous brethren ill, or rejoice in their company?

Dead Bird Point (AKA Otter Point): A gentle unexpected cooling breeze rippling the water.

The greenery flanking each side of the path is sparked with shaggy amethyst blossoms; not thistles, and not quite asters either.

The light playing on the matte finished arrowhead shaped leaves causes them to glow in the deep forest shadows.

More of the purple gems...

The decomposed granite path is groomed regularly; leaves and branches are swept up and fresh fine gravel is added where needed. It only stays pristine for a moment; the forest is determined to reclaim it back to a natural state.

It serves me well to note what has fallen upon the path, and my eyes now easily discern what is flora and what is fauna in the dappled light.
That isn't a branch ahead on the path's right hand side!

Snakes have a particular style of manners: They stop and stare, then it is "Hello to you, I must be leaving..." and they turn and silently retreat from your presences.

Bernie used to hunt snakes in the California deserts, his mother driving in the night as he watched for snakes illumined in the car's headlight. Seeing a snake or lizard, they would stop and he would attempt to capture the snake, to later sell to pet shops.

The experience taught him that snakes wish only to retreat.

If only the WOULD race up to attack; Bernie noted to me as we walked.
The snakes never did, you always had to chase them as they were hell bent on a rapid retreat.

A new sort of mushroom had sprung up further along on the path.

One was the size of a large marshmallow.

Next to it was a tinier version, not fully "mushroomed" out, and only slightly larger than the tip of my thumb.

The larger one, side view. Not a chance of an "under the petticoat" photo shot here.

The red whirligig flowers that had given me trouble with a macro shot before still refused to cooperate. Now how is it possible that I could get that close to the tiny mushroom with precise focus, and a few steps later I can't get a clear shot of this flower?

It has taken two years for it to finally register in my head that this flower IS all the way open when it looks like this.

The walk ended, we returned home to wash up and make a trip to the gym. Perhaps a soak in the Jacuzzi will help the back? A dunk in the pool? Anything is worth a try. It doesn't help much, but at least we are cool.

When we return home, I am hobbling still.
And there is a message: a realtor would like to show our house. We decide to go out to eat to kill some time...and of course not mess up the kitchen!

Besides; after two months of dacronian thrift we can now celebrate. We have jobs to go to in Utah. Let's go out to eat!

For seven years the back of Kingwood has had little to offer in terms of restaurants. We had found one Chinese restaurant with a fabulous spicy eggplant dish, which we frequently order from home on Saturday or Sunday evenings. One rather ordinary Mexican restaurant served Margaritas that pack a wallop; otherwise the menu items were actually rather bland.

We would drive across the bridge to another town to eat crawfish beside the lake, eating on the deck as gulls cried overhead and as the sun set over the water we could pretend it was the ocean and we were back at home in San Diego.

It seemed so odd that with so much shoreline there was but one restaurant capitalizing on the view, and that being a place best suited for drinking long neck beers and wearing cut off shorts, and everything on the menu was deep fried.

A few years back Kingwood opened an exclusive gated development; custom manors to be built overlooking the lake, and each home rose up as a mansion. Such wealthy homeowners would need restaurants suitable for dining with equally privileged guest, and over the course of two years the forest on the edge of the lake was cleared and a new town center was created to serve the newest residents.

We had watched the building go in and waited for the restaurants to open, taking walks and reading signs announcing the new restaurant's themes. One by one they began to open, and we kept saying that we needed to go there and try them out.

I was thinking of the newly opened Mexican restaurant; we were in tee shirts and shorts, which should be fine in such a place.

But we found parking in front of this establishment instead:




It was 99 degrees out...far too hot to walk the few steps over to the Mexican place.

Besides...what exactly was served at a South American Grill anyway?

It was far too hot to eat outside, so we chose to enjoy the waterfront view from inside.

It was still very early, only one other table had diners being served.

We studied the menu munching on fried plantains dipped in garlicky olive oil and parsley mix.
What a combination. I may never crave chips and salsa again!

The appetizer menu...(can I have them all???)

As usual, we probably should have just stuck to the appetizer menu. Delicious right sized portions.

But no. I couldn't resist a main course. I could barely finish it; it would taste great for lunch the next day.

(Smart me: I saved room for dessert! )

The vegetable side dish...grilled along with Bernie's steak dish, each tasting deliciously steak like.

Tres chocolate! Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!
Three small bites of each was all we could manage.
Sadly the heat outside would make them each into puddles if we took them with us, so we had to leave the uneaten portion behind.

(I still regret that.)

After sitting for the meal, my back was stiff again, so we braved the heat to stroll the area.
The splashy fountain had shots of water that randomly fired to various heights; children could chase about playing an aquatic form of tag I suppose.

An anole perched on the edge of a planter, colored green in response to the white bricks.
I wonder if it felt cooler in green skin than in brown?

Over the water thunderheads towered in the distance. The hot breezes twirled the sculpted sunburst overhead.

It is such a pretty place to visit. It felt modern European; on a more reasonable day it would be a perfect place to sit beneath the yellow umbrellas and enjoy a treat from the ice cream parlor or a drink from the soft drink cart.

You know your husband will do anything for you when he agrees to carry your purse because it is just too heavy with a complaining back.

What should we do now to finish out our date day?
We rent a perfect video:

Sitting on our couch we travel to cool clear tropical waters, enjoying the views of both the area and Miss Kate H. and Mr. Matthew M. in "Fool's Gold".
Perfect! We laugh and enjoy the bickering quips between the two stars who spend the whole movie in swim suits.
(Yes, that is our Texas born celebrity in his typical shirtless state on the television screen.)

(Sometimes when you go on a date, three really isn't a crowd after all.)

An all day date.

Now that is my idea of fun.