The Staff Association Bus Trip to New York was great.. only three and a half hours up, generous snacks included! The hardest part was getting up really early, though its just as dark at 5:30 as it is at 6:30, so there's no noticeable difference ... dark is dark!
Bagels and lox for lunch, holiday crowds at Rockefeller Center, catching Mass at St. Pat's, walking 5th Avenue, and Central Park...it was cold! We saved enough time before catching the bus home to step inside the home of the Letterman Show (Ed Sullivan Theatre), be overwhelmed by the lights on Broadway and enjoy two pints at the Pig and Whistle. As good as the pint was, what I really loved was overhearing the Italian commentary from the Stealers fan sitting at the bar. Warned that the bus leaves at 7PM sharp, with or without you, we grabbed a couple of slices of pizza for the trip home. Thanks to those who organized the trip and to John our driver who gave us a great ride up and back!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Sunday Bus to NYC
Monday, October 13, 2008
Checking out the boatshow
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Old dog learns new tricks...
I have come full circle, sitting on the same sunporch couch where this all started. I enjoyed a full day of Hanna. It was much like a snow day; however I decided to designate it a Lump Day. (Lump Day is a family tradition begun by my brother-in-law Tim and his family for the day-after Christmas. You don't get out of your pajamas and you play with all your toys). I have watched two movies, one on Instaview, I Twittered and listened to Pandora. I added friends, links and stuff to my Facebook account, and I made three Animoto videos. Soon after I added a link in Facebook to a Newsweek article, "A letter to Hillary," I was called by a national issues survey. Do they monitor Facebook? And yes, one mo' time, Brian reminded me how I said I didn't see how people could sit in front of a computer all day.(This was in the "I- told-you-so" yada, yada, yada spirit but with a smile.)
The reason for this post is that the last holdout on my Exploration was Facebook. I had several reasons. There was privacy, and the fear of invading that of my sons. I had also observed all those kids on the computers huddled over posts and smirking. I know it has been used for negative purposes. But like any other tool, I now realize that its all in how it's used.
I signed on because a coworker said it was fun. She had connected with a friend of her daughter's, and she said it was creative (making your own Flair!). So I joined in. My son said 'Whoo-hoo'; he was happy to be my first friend. Initially I hesitated asking people if they wanted to be my friend. Would they say no? What about the man from Columbia, South America who shares my maiden name? Should he be my friend? I have since learned there are many others in Columbia and the Mideast. I lurked and watched. It took me a while to realize that this is just a way to keep in touch; and if it was really private no one would post it, although I have still not gone international.
Last, but not least, I want to give some thanks to Father Andy at St. Mary's. He has a blog (www.reflectbay.blogspot.com). Months before I began this project, he mentioned his blog in the church bulletin and I periodically check in. Beside looking forward to his posts and poetry, he was the inspiration for my figuring out a way to get the picture of the moon rising over the Chesapeake Bay in my header.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Good people at Pandora.../ Birchmere
My husband really loves all kinds of music...rock, reggae, blues. Irish punk rock, Irish folk rock, jazz, opera, contemporary Hawaiian, Jahwaiian, Zydeco, classic...and on and on to generate about 80 stations on Pandora. All this led him to an email back n' forth with one of the listener advocates at Pandora. I didn't realize all this was going on. In one very nice email they offered us our choice of several Pandora logo gifts. Thanks Pandora. I like my new bag and thanks for Brian's "Fidel" hat. FYI...my list of stations is fairly short. I lean towards things that fill in the background like alternative or instrumental New Age or jazz etc. to listen to while I work The station generated by the movie "Once" was really addictive. All I could do was listen.
Wednesday night I made my first trip to the Birchmere and saw The Saw Doctors. So far this year, we've caught the Saw Doctor's once in New York and twice at the Ram's Head on Stage. I would have twittered that I bumped into the Gov again, but my cell phone is a very uncool cheep utilitarian thing. I wish I could have taken a picture. According to the W.P. I was part of the raucous crowd (Reliable source, Style, page 3). The Saw doc's were great. (2 1/2 hr set) It was was a lot of fun and the Birchmere was not at all what I expected. It was like an old-fashioned warehouse behind a tire store. The best part is that you can be very close and move around. I had expected something like the Ram's Head live or the Norva in Norfolk.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Wrapping up and moving on
Setting up a blog was simple, and I soon realized that I could have the same results as several of the blogs I followed. It was easy to be creative, and the possibilities seemed unlimited. What I'd most like to pass on to people who shared my previous misconceptions and prejudices is that the creators of Web 2.0 have made the process very simple. Mistakes are easy to correct. With a little bit of trial and error, or a friend's help, it's easy to add all the bells and whistles. Linking one application to another was simpler than I imagined. The most important points for me have been:
1. Ease of use.
2. I enjoyed the sharing of information along the way. One discovery often led to another. An upgrade to another's blog or twitter account often led me to a "how did they do that?"
3. Several of the tools could be used to personalize the library's homepage, make it more timely, highlight programming, promote library resources, and in general, pass along information to our patrons. A static homepage is boring...Updating with photographs, feeds, etc. will have the patron coming back to see what's new.
4. I've been introduced to a Wiki at one branch, and it seems to be a great tool that allows each staff member to check in and update their areas of responsibility, plan programming, and keep everyone on the same page.
5. Knowledge of business applications on the web is important to our patrons. In my position at work I do not need these applications, but I can pass the information on to our patrons.
6. I enjoyed having this style of guided learning available. It was always available during the slow times.
7. My only negative is that I signed up for so many things; the only exception being Facebook (one step too far for me). I logged onto everything with my work email. I imagine the system has much better filters and entire ISS staff to deal with any mischief I may have stirred up. Sorry....
Though I've finished the nine explorations, I realize I've only just begun to look at all the possibilities. My view of what was out there was pretty narrow and I couldn't understand how people could just sit in front of a computer for hours. Now I actually lose track of time because I'm more involved in doing than reading.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Success!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Animoto...
Animoto was a great time waster. I kept hoping for something wonderful, and so I kept trying one more time. I'm sure there is something out there that is fun, simple to use, and offers more control. I've just got to find it. Any ideas?
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Tagging, Folksonomies, and Del.icio.us
Re Del.icio.us: I am trying to come up with some sort of a mental device to remember where those periods are. I liked the search option and checking out favorite bookmarks. I could spend a lot of time here. I agree with those who have said they have signed up for so many things and hesitate to do one more. I also do not want to have to download a toolbar.
Del.icio.us is really a personal 'Recommended Sites' that links to huge community of contributors. A branch account would allow staff to organize and contribute to bookmarks. With several people contributing, there should be some thought given to tagging/organization. I can see a branch bookmarking sites for programming, crafts, marketing, summer reading. etc.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Google Docs
Monday, July 14, 2008
Zoho 2
unidentified LA
July 14, 2008
This is my second Zoho login. Last Thursday I made my first document while at work. The first problem I encountered was that the Zoho screen ran off the monitor. I phoned ISS and Clint corrected the problem remotely and explained how to correct it myself in the future. All in all, Zoho felt very clunky. It could have been the screen at work or maybe just not giving the exercise full attention. In order to fit Zoho on the screen, the text and the "buttons" were extremely small. Things look much clearer at home on the laptop and now that I know what the finished product looks like when I hit "publish," I think I can do a better job.
The image I chose to upload was of the Nepenthe on Big Sur. It has been on my mind because of the wildfires in California and the fact that the manager was trying to save it. We first found it back in the late 60's when we were camping in a puptent on our way from San Diego to Whidbey Island.
- outside fire pit on the deck
- mountains behind us, Pacific in front
- cheeseburgers and wine
- candle holders made of driftwood
- at night, the tables were lit just by the candles
- I believe Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman filmed a movie there
San Diego | San Luis Obispo | Big Sur | Carmel | Monterey |
San Francisco | Sausalito | Mt. Tamalpais | Redwoods | |
Deception Pass | Whidbey Island |
- Redoing the table, It is frustrating changing the text and text size, and adding color. I may be missing something. It keeps reverting back to Verdana and 10 pt.
- All things considered, this is a much better experience then my first attempt. I can see why this would be helpful to our patrons.
- Publishing to a blog and adding images was extremely easy.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Pandora! best new thing...
A few months back I told my husband Brian I didn't see how anyone could just sit in front of a computer for any length of time. (other than the info desk and that was work...) He's been tossing that up to me ever since I began this project. I needed a mission! The new HP laptop zooms, where the old Dell plodded and every week there seems to be a new toy. This time it is Pandora and big thanks to Hravan. Pandora is streaming a playlist that began with Keb'mo, and I haven't had this much fun since I had my own cubby and computer at an unnamed location. (sorry, forgot the secret code). Also, thanks to Hravan for getting me onto a Wiki.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
It pays to read...
Monday, June 9, 2008
Frustration
Tomorrow I will ask Bookpusher and Chocolate Chai for help. Uraghhhh...must be the heat. This is not the day to do things...for me at least.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Trying to upload a video...Bellows Beach..
RSS feeds
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Flickr done
My only regret is that this morning I was rushing to upload photos so I could follow through at work. Now that the link is done I want to see what else Flickr can do and set up an RSS feed to the blog.
Thinking about ways we could use Flickr: Our website could create links to Flickr where we could post pictures of past programming events and use them to generate publicity for future programmming. Of course we would need to have patrons permission if their pictures were involved. It could also be used to generate interest in workshops and programs, illustrating what we can offer. At on branch, a staff member set up a slideshow of an SRC program and turned the monitor around so that the children and parents could see themselves. It was very popular.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Day that the snakes came out...
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Just checking things out....
Saturday, May 17, 2008
My Roadtrip...Day 1
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need....Cicero