Stewed and Solved

Hello,

I opened an online account for myself at the Ely Library. Part of the reason for doing this was so that I would know how to help patrons and offer suggestions so they could renew their books at home. It was quite simple to open this account, but I did not use it for some time. The other day when I wanted to renew a book, I could not get in. It seems that I could not remember my user name. I was frustrated, but not stopped as I could sign as the person working the circulation desk even though I was at home and renew that way, but it felt like cheating. Also I wanted to access my account. I knew I had written it down, but could not longer find the paper.

Last night a patron told me that she had signed up but also seemed to have forgotten her password or perhaps her user name. Unfortunately I was little help to her as I could not even help myself.

Today was the day to solve this issue that I had stewed about and dreamed about. At home, I finally went into the system as the administrator. That is the user name and password I use to open cataloging. When in the system at this level I have access to almost everything or perhaps everything. It is necessary to be careful so I do not make any unwanted global changes.

I could get deep enough into my account that I could find my user name. By adding my birth date I could then create a new password. I have put that all on a piece of paper, but surely I will remember it? I filed it in a good place that I searched when looking for the last paper. I could have gone back out of administration and tried the password that I thought I had with the proper username, but I did not want to go through all the steps again, plus, I really do not care who knows how old I am.

Leroy put up two more shelves last night. He now has two and maybe three more to put in. He said, “I am ready to be done with shelves.” Soon it will be so.

Paula

Shopping Again?

Hello,

It is hard to believe that I would go shopping two days in a row. However, I bought nothing for myself except scotch tape that we were out of. Leroy however made up for that. All I did was urge him to get more. He had been complaining that his supply of jeans was either too large or too worn out. He got a new pair of jeans, a pair of causal almost dress black pants, a pair of navy blue dress pants, and a tan pair of jeans that are a bit towards the dressy spectrum. Besides that he also got a new pair of sneakers which he needed as the old pair was promptly thrown out when we got home. Leroy does not go clothes shopping often, but when he does he gets himself resupplied. Sales/clearance was the reason for some of these purchases as he got all of this for less than $75. We thought that was good.

We also got two picture frames. One was for a silk painting that Andy had given me some time ago and one was for a watercolor that we have had for 37 years. I was ready to get rid of the watercolor after the frame got broken, but Leroy likes it so we are going to try to get a cheap new frame to work with it.

Leroy thought he would work on the simple to assemble silk picture. Well half an hour, groans, and moans later it is still not done, but abandoned for the purpose of preserving Leroy’s mental health. The other picture is still waiting to be treated to that new frame home. Life is not always what it seems to be at first glance.

After that tension Leroy got out his stamps and worked on those. I am not always sure that that means, but he told me that he got three new stamps put in their proper spot. Following that we took a walk in new walking territory for us. I was rather glad to have Leroy with me as it was later in the evening and the streets were not square, but winding making it a bit more difficult to figure out the way home. My sense of direction pulled us through, however it was longer than either of us had anticipated. Challenging but successful, that is how life should always be. Good feelings follow that.

Paula

Visiting

Hello,

We had a wonderful visit with my sister and her husband. We learned that we can indeed have overnight guests in this place comfortably. So when you are in the neighborhood, come visit. We are ready. There are walks and talks we could experience as well as locations to tour and restaurants to savor if you like.

There is no expectation that you would contribute in such a way, but brother-in-law Gerald earned his keep by helping Leroy get the refrigerator up allowing gravity to assist with door closing. Then there was the fixing of the shower enclosure door. Leroy had helped a bit, but now it is perfect. After that it was measuring (that was the hard part for Leroy) and cutting boards for the corner shelf over the washer. The light in the attic had stopped working so it was determined that a new switch was needed. While out they got a good looking board for the shelf in the new cabinet. It was cut and in place promptly. For some reason the kitchen sink faucet unit had been put on backwards. So that now is in the proper forward facing alignment. Wow, this all makes a great improvement to these quarters. I had adjusted to the faucet but it was no problem to unlearn that skill.

While the guys were working on some of these things, my sister Carolyn and I went shopping. It was an interesting experience with me urging her to buy this and that. She listened some of the time and went home with five new clothing items. Maybe I do best not spending the money and helping someone else to.

In the evening we watched a movie that I had brought home from the library. Amazingly enough we all liked it.

Paula

Mind Changing

Hello,

My sister and her husband are coming to visit this weekend. In preparation I actually wrote down what I thought I would serve at two of the meals. I tried copying my kids, or at least two of them, who plan meals and then shop according. I must be at best an unfocused shopper. Leroy and I seldom eat meat, but I saw two meat bargains at the grocery store and I changed one entire meal plan. The other stayed mostly the same with just slight changes. At least I know I will not change the menu again as I do not want to have all that meat to eat on our own. I could freeze any remainder and serve it when Miriam and girls are here in August. Or perhaps Leroy would eat it since I believe he likes meat better than I do.

On my shopping trip this morning I drove to a store that I do not usually go to because it is a bit farther away. I wasn’t paying attention and I missed the exit on the Interstate making my trip quite a few miles farther as I was at the edge of town. I tried almost unsuccessfully to enjoy the scenery as I made this extra jaunt.

I am pleased to have the Christmas cacti at home. They are settling in, in the shady back yard. It has cooled off for them so hopefully they will appreciate that. I now have the hanger for the airplane plant and it is residing at the opposite end of the clothes line from the fern. Good to have my babies home.

I just finished a good book called Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult. The only thing about reading a good book is that it always ends which makes me a little sad. After all, “Now what do I have to do and think about?” I must confess that before the end I am usually reading as fast as I can because I want to know, but also there is a nagging thought that it will be over too soon.

Paula

Life Goes On

Hello,

Yesterday was garbage day. I did not know if recycle was being picked up or not. It was, but I was late getting out the glass jars that I had wanted to eliminate. They need to be put in a separate bucket so it takes a little more effort. I checked to see that the recycle bin was out so I went back upstairs, collected the jars, found a bucket, and started to put it by the bin when I looked in the bin to find that it had already been picked up. “Oh shoot, I will have to find an out of the way place in this small garage for these jars,” I thought as I looked down into the empty container.

At that moment I heard a big truck pull into the alley. Sure enough it was the recycle truck where it stopped at the house next door. I started to walk over there when the truck started up. “Oh heck, now I am between houses,” I moaned in my head.

The truck slowed and stopped just as came even with me. “You have some glass?” the driver wanted to know as he swung out to grab my bucket handle, unload it, and handed it back. There are good people all over willing to do the little extra. I am indeed blessed.

I got a letter from IPERS that had been addressed to our last address, at first I thought that it came on its own power, but then I noticed a barcode on it with our current address printed under it. Now all I have to do is tell them I have moved again. They are crediting my account with the money I make in Ely so they do know that, but not where I live. This moving around all the time is really for the birds who do not have to get mail forwarded or money credited to their accounts.

I have used a backpack that was Brian’s from college. Brian graduated in 1999. The zippers were giving me trouble so since this has a lifetime guarantee, I sent it in, greedily hoping for a new bag. Miriam did that once. Not only did she get a new bag, but she got an upgrade. My bag? It came back but it took me a while to realize that it has new zippers. Hopefully, that will be good. I do like this bag and it certainly has given me a lot of service in more than one country. My needs were met. I have a usable bag once again.

Paula

Excited too Soon

Hello,

That site for the z sources has 16 million records. I think it checks all of them by sending a guy running around to look for it. Some records it did not find and some took almost 15 minutes. One site on the internet talked about the software that the library has as not being so good after they updated it. In fact, while waiting for the record to be found it is possible to make a pot of tea including putting the kettle on. I did find six records and that is still very nice. I am not sure that all of the time is justified. I must figure out something that I can do as I am waiting for it to search.

Leroy tells me he has never heard of it taking so long. I suspect that someone goofed in the update for this software. When questioned the tech support people had no help or suggestions. I do not know what this software costs, but I would guess it is a few thousand.

Leroy’s work place is getting new cataloging software. He is a little excited about that, but they are having two hour training sessions everyday this week. That is overwhelming because of the amount of information that is passed on and there is no “hands on” so he is not sure he will remember much. At least two others are listening as well so they can ask each other. Leroy said he almost took a nap. I suspect that means he snoozed a little. Soon the move to the new building will be complete and the software in place.

My special girls were in again last evening. We had a nice time together. Perhaps it was good that I had asked them to leave the day before. I know that others have some trouble with them too. At least it is not just me, but how to solve these issues is tricky. It is nice that it is not school so they do not have to stay with us and when they are too out of control they can go some other place.

Paula

Excitement

Hello,

Yesterday at work I found a “good” Z source for cataloging. I did use if for one set of audio discs. Then I was busy with other things so did not get to truly test it out by working on the cart of movies that is waiting for someone to catalog them and add them to the library. All of those discs were donated so they are just waiting.

It was exciting, but not the excitement that I like when three local junior high age girls were in the library. I did not see it happen, but they spilled some pop on a chair as well as the carpet. It was in a closable bottle, but they are not the most responsible people in the world. I asked them to leave and with a bit of struggle they did just that. The rest of my time was quiet and peaceful in spite of a steady stream of people.

This morning we again had a bit of excitement as Leroy came back about 5-10 minutes after he had left for work. “Would you take me to work?” he wanted to know.

“Why?” I asked. Notice I do not leap to respond until I know what for.

“I have a flat tire,” he said. And this is a new tire, sigh, but covered under warranty. It will be ok, just a bit of fuss and bother.

I did drive him. He is now working closer, but it is more time consuming to get there as there is much construction downtown. I came home a bit more quickly, but not a lot. Leroy does not now have a place at work where he could leave his bike otherwise I think riding the bike and using the bike path would be much faster.

On my walk this morning, I stopped to admire some flowers on a woman’s porch. We had a nice little plant talk. It is so much easier for me to meet my neighbors when they are out and about. Knocking on doors does not interest me.

Paula